Professor Diedrich Westermann, whose international reputation in the field of African studies needs no emphasis here, was intimately associated with the foundation and early development of our Institute. As a former missionary in Togoland and as Director of the Seminar für Orientalische Sprachen in the University of Berlin, he attended the Conference at High Leigh in 1924 when the proposal to found an International Institute for the study of African languages and cultures was first formulated. He served on the provisional committee which gave effect to this proposal and, at the first general meeting of the Institute in 1926, he and Professor Delafosse1 were appointed Directors of the Institute to serve with Harms Vischer as Secretary General and Lord Lugard as Chairman.