EACA History
From a 2011 founding meeting of East African media scholars to a thriving regional association with international reach.
The East African Communication Association (EACA) was established in 2011 by a group of Journalism, Media, and Communication scholars working in East Africa. The founders shared a conviction that the region needed a dedicated platform to bring together researchers, mentor emerging scholars, and respond collectively to a rapidly transforming media landscape.
From its earliest gatherings, EACA prioritised regional dialogue while remaining open to international collaboration. Members from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Ethiopia have been joined by colleagues from Germany, South Africa, West Africa, Norway, the United States, and El-Salvador, among others.
Since 2014 EACA has hosted an annual conference that has grown in attendance and academic rigour, and has run the Africa Journal of Communication (AJC) as a peer-reviewed outlet for African communication scholarship. Today, EACA is recognised as one of the most active communication research associations on the continent.
Looking forward, the association continues to invest in graduate student mentorship, regional research networks, and partnerships with universities and media institutions across Africa and beyond.