Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • |
  • Alumni
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • Videos
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Library
    • Research
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit

Syracuse University’s Africa Initiative to host statewide conference April 3 and 4

Tuesday, March 24, 2009, By News Staff
Share

Syracuse University’s Africa Initiative to host statewide conference April 3 and 4March 24, 2009Judy Holmesjlholmes@syr.edu

The Africa Initiative in Syracuse University’s College of Arts and Sciences will host the 33rd Annual New York Africa Studies Association (NYASA) Conference, “Reconstruction, Peace and Transformation in Africa,” April 3-4. The conference will feature scholars from across the United States and abroad who will present a series of discussions on the political, social, economic and cultural issues affecting the African continent.

The conference is open to the general public, but registration is required. The cost is $100 for the general public and $50 for senior citizens and students. The registration fee includes two meals, as well as NYASA membership. Further information is available at http://www.nyasa.org/conference/ or by calling (315) 443-9353.

The keynote speaker for the conference is Adigun Ade Abiodun, former chief of Space Applications in the United Nations Outer Space Affairs Division and founder of the African Space Foundation. He will speak at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 3, in the Shaffer Art Building’s Shemin Auditorium.

A native of Nigeria, Abiodun served as the United Nations expert on space applications and chief of the Space Applications Section of the U.N.’s Outer Space Affairs Division from 1981 through his retirement in 1999.

Abiodun holds a Ph.D. in civil and hydraulics engineering from the University of Washington, Seattle. He began his career at the U.N. in 1977 as a remote sensing specialist. During the course of his career, he initiated, designed, implemented and supervised the U.N. Space Applications Program.

Since his retirement, Abiodun has served as the senior special assistant to the president of Nigeria on space and science technology (2000-03); as a member of the College of Commissioner for the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (2000-present); and chairman of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (2004-06).

A special Teachers Conference will be presented from 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Friday. This part of the conference is designed to offer teachers in upstate New York new insights on teaching about Africa.

In addition to the keynote presentation, the two-day conference will include a series of concurrent panel discussions. Ali A. Mazrui, the Albert Schweitzer Chair in the Humanities and director of the Institute of Global Cultural Studies at Binghamton University, will host a roundtable on “Kwame Nkrumah and the Birth of Modern African Diplomacy: A Centenary.”

Other discussions include “Peace and Reconstruction in the Horn of Africa;” “Between Liberating and Enslaving Religious Traditions in Africa’s Transformation;” “Feminisms and Their Impact on Africa’s Reconstruction;” African Writers and Writing Advocacy for Healing, Change and Reconstruction;” “Democracy and Criminal Injustice in Africa;” “Africa’s Youth and Voice in Discourse of War, Peace, and Social Change;” and “The Other Competition: Brazil, Russia, India and China in Africa.”

One panel discussion will be presented entirely in Kiswahili, the primary language spoken by people living in East Africa. SU undergraduate students from The College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Visual and Performing Arts will also present a panel discussion called “Humanitarianism and Economic Reconstruction in Africa.”

The conference will conclude on Saturday evening with a banquet, music and dancing. The evening celebration will include presentation of distinguished scholar and service awards and a keynote address by James Turner, founder of the Africana Studies and Research Center at Cornell University and professor of African and African American politics and social policy.

Further information about the program is available at http://www.nyasa.org/conference/.

The New York African Studies Association (NYASA), founded in 1967 as the SUNY African Studies Faculty Association, is a nonprofit membership association, incorporated as NYASA in 1975. The association is dedicated to advancing the discipline of Africana Studies and promoting opportunities for the scholarly and professional development of educators, and enhanced education for community members, leaders and activists.

  • Author

News Staff

  • Recent
  • Drama Department to Virtually Present New Theatrical Work Inspired by University’s 150th Anniversary
    Saturday, January 23, 2021, By Erica Blust
  • Professor Rahman Awarded Google Grant to Engage Underrepresented Students in Computing Research
    Saturday, January 23, 2021, By Alex Dunbar
  • Special Collections Research Center Launches Latin American 45s Digital Collection
    Saturday, January 23, 2021, By Cristina Hatem
  • VPA Faculty to Present World Premieres at Society for New Music Concert Jan. 31
    Saturday, January 23, 2021, By News Staff
  • ‘Democracy on Trial: Can We Save It?’
    Friday, January 22, 2021, By News Staff

More In Uncategorized

“People with disabilities desperately need the vaccine. But states disagree on when they’ll get it.”

Scott Landes, associate professor of sociology in the Maxwell School, was quoted in The Washington Post story “People with disabilities desperately need the vaccine. But states disagree on when they’ll get it.” Landes, an expert on the sociology of disability,…

“SU Professor says President’s Closed Social Media Accounts Fall Under Big Tech’s Terms of Service”

Roy Gutterman, associate professor of magazine, news and digital journalism in the Newhouse School and director of the Tully Center for Free Speech, was interviewed for the WAER story “SU Professor says President’s Closed Social Media Accounts Fall Under Big…

“First Amendment doesn’t guarantee you the rights you think it does.”

Roy Gutterman, associate professor of magazine, news and digital journalism in the Newhouse School and director of the Tully Center for Free Speech, was quoted in the CNN story “First Amendment doesn’t guarantee you the rights you think it does.”…

“Big Tech’s Crackdown on Donald Trump and Parler Won’t  Fix the Real Problem With Social Media”

Whitney Phillips, assistant professor of communication and rhetorical studies in the College of Visual and Performing Arts, was interviewed for the Time Magazine story “Big Tech’s Crackdown on Donald Trump and Parler Won’t  Fix the Real Problem With Social Media.”…

Danielle Smith writes “Images of the Capitol Riot Reflect a National Crisis.”

Danielle Smith, professor of African American studies in the College of Arts and Sciences and Director of the Renée Crown University Honors Program, wrote an op-ed for History News Network titled “Images of the Capitol Riot Reflect a National Crisis.”…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • @SUCampus
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2021 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.