Mirjam de Bruijn is trained as a socio-cultural anthropologist. The perspective from society and the ethnographic method have always remained central to the various interdisciplinary projects in which Mirjam has participated. Since 2012, Mirjam has been Professor of African Studies at the History Institute and the African Studies Centre in Leiden. In her research, she has focused primarily on West and Central Africa, particularly the Sahel region. Her recent research projects focus on the rise and integration of digital communication technology in the Sahel and how this transforms social relations and leads to radical war, in which social media are seen as a vector in the expansion and shaping of Sahel conflicts. Her research is also rooted in the projects of her foundation, Voice4Thought, in Mali and Chad. These projects create alternative knowledge about the region with young people. Mirjam is a frequent guest on radio programs and in public lectures when context needs to be provided regarding developments in the Sahel. She is eager to further her mission to draw attention to the Sahel issues with her contributions to HIG.