Relations between Russia and Africa today are reaching a new qualitative level. The research conducted by pedagogical universities of the Russian Federation under the auspices of the Russian Ministry of Education on scientific and methodological support for the transfer of the best Russian pedagogical technologies to the educational systems of African countries contributes to it. The purpose of this publication is to identify and summarize the significant intentions of studying the Russian language and culture by African students. Methodology. The study covered 170 respondents, which included university students in the Republics of Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana, divided into groups studying and not studying Russian. Russian-speaking citizens of these states who had Russian roots or studied at Russian universities were interviewed as a control group. The ethics of the study included voluntary participation, informed consent of respondents in the study, confidentiality and anonymity. The following methods of sociocultural analysis were used: interdisciplinary theoretical and methodological modeling, content analysis, focus group, questionnaire. Results. The study identifies the key cultural reasons for studying the Russian language and Russian culture by African students. Based on the results obtained, the foundational positions for developing a model for organizing educational activities aimed at promoting the goals and values of Russian education and culture on the African continent are substantiated. Novelty and practical significance. The research materials illustrate the possibilities for expanding the access of African university students to the study of Russian language and Russian culture, opening up prospects for them to continue their education in Russia. The identified sociocultural characteristics of the needs, inclinations and interests of students can be used to develop models of educational activities of Russia in Africa in order to form a positive attitude and high aspirations of citizens of African states to study Russian language and Russian culture.