The Swiss Society for African Studies was founded in 1974. Its primary aims are to advance the research on Africa as well as the organization of conferences to discuss questions of African lifestyles or aspects of African culture.

The SSEA is based on the model of Area Studies. With this view it offers opportunities to connect reseachers and the interested public in a theme-oriented and multi disciplinary exchange.

The SSEA has on its own or in cooperation with other organizations organized colloquia and symposia such as "The Yoruba Artist" (Zürich 1992), der "10. Afrikanistentag" (Zürich 1993), "Überleben im afrikanischen Alltag - L'Afrique part tous les matins" (Bern 1994), "Writing about the past - The C.C. Reindorf Centenary" (Basel 1995), "Scientific Research Partnership for Sustainable Development" (Bern 1996), das "Forum Young Africanists in Switzerland" (Bern 1996) oder "Dilemmes alimentaires - Food controversies" (Freiburg 1997), "Suisse-Afrique, aspects politiques et socio-économiques" (Zurich 1999), "Text in context : langue et écrit face à l’oralité africaine" (Zurich 2001), "Côté jardin, côté cour : regards pluriels sur l’économie actuelle de la maison africaine" (Genf 2003), "Langue, politique et réalité communicative" (Basel 2003), "Débats Sud-Nord sur les relations de protection sociale et le genre" (Ouagadougou 2003), "Religion, Mission et Afrique" (Lausanne 2005), "La SuissAfrique: partenariats scientifique et académique" (Genf 2007).

Until 1992 the SSEA had been publishing the periodical Genève-Afrique for 30 years in collaboration with the IUED in Geneva. A newsletter (40 pages) relating to recent topics is now published quarterly. The Swiss Africa Bibliography is published annually. The SSEA additionally advances African Studies by editing or co-editing anthologies.

The SSEA is a member of the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences.