The following article comments on contents and organisation of the 22nd Conference of the African Studies Association in Germany (Vereinigung für Afrikawissenschaften in Deutschland, VAD e.V.), which took place from 30 May until 2 June 2012 at the University of Cologne, Germany. Thirty-seven panels and five round tables organised around four thematic foci (land rights, resource management, models of governance, media) served as a platform for discussions on developments on the African continent. A complex framework programme dealing with similar topics was open to the public and provided insight into recent research projects and their results.