FABIan, Prof. Irene Barnes chaired a meeting on 23 January aimed at reviving the African Mycological Association. Delegates from across the continent, including Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia attended this online meeting along with guests from Germany and the Netherlands.

The Association had become inactive during the last few years and was essentially non-functional. As part of her role as an executive committee member of the International Mycological Association (IMA), Prof. Barnes committed to help facilitate the revival of the AMA. The aim of the Association is to promote all forms of mycological research amongst members in Africa and globally and foster opportunities for research and collaboration. 

Interested individuals in helping to revive the Association were identified from across the continent and invited to this meeting. A Council was selected for the next three years and include:

President: Prof. Ahmed M. Abdel-Azeem (Egypt),

Vice Presidents: Prof. Francisca Iziegbe Okungbowa (Nigeria) and Prof. Norou Soulemane Yorou, (Benin),

Secretary and Treasurer: Dr Neriman Yilmaz (South Africa) and Prof. Tonjock Rosemary Kinge (Cameroon)

Other Council members: Prof. Irene Barnes (South Africa), Dr Joyce Mnyazi Jefwa (Kenya), Dr Lobna Hajji Hedfi (Tunisia), Dr Sarah Ahmed (the Netherlands & Sudan), Dr Sara Raouia Noumeur (Algeria) and Prof. Saida Messgo Moumene (Algeria).

The Council will now focus on getting the Association up and running by first building a solid foundation with a new constitution and, most importantly, choosing a new acronym for the association. Further promotion of the Association will take place via several social media platforms.