Africa and its Diaspora

The African Studies Institute presents the 4th Annual International Conference on Africa and Its Diaspora (AICAID 2015) from Wednesday, Nov. 11 to Friday, Nov. 13 at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education. The theme for the conference is “Youth, Technology and Knowledge Expansion in Africa and Its Diaspora”:

The featured speakers for the conference include William Kisaalita, a professor in the UGA College of Engineering, and Uchenna Amadi-Ihunwo of Amatriy Consults in Johannesburg, South Africa. More than 50 papers are scheduled to be presented over the three days by participants from North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

AICAID 2015 will build on the work done during the last three conferences. The first AICAID in November 2012 was a State of the Arts conference organized as part of the 25th anniversary of African studies programming at UGA. All AICAID gatherings have focused on interrelated topical issues concerning Africa and its diaspora, including the value and expressions of indigenous and local knowledge; the contents and discontents about globalization; and the relics and innovations in the realm of gender and development.

Kisaalita will deliver the keynote address on "Surviving to Thriving: Empowering the Poor through Technology-Based Solutions" on Nov. 12 at 8 a.m. in Mahler Hall. Amadi-Ihunwo, an educational consultant and chief executive of Amatriy Consults, will be the plenary speaker on Nov. 13 at 8 a.m. She will be speaking on the topic, "South African Education Structure and System a Mirage to African Diversity."

Dr. Kisaalita is one of UGA's outstanding faculty members; his international projects have tremendous impact in Uganda and elsewhere in African. We are happy to welcome Dr. Amadi-Ihunwo to campus. Akinloye Ojo is a UGA professor and one of the conveners of the conference. As Ojo says, "African youths are at crossroads; while some are engaged in new media technologies, creating all sorts of opportunities for sociological and psychological fulfillment, others grapple with globalized forms of identity formation that impact educational or intellectual aspirations and understanding of ethnic identity and citizenship affiliation in global/local contexts."

Welcome to campus and have a great conference.

Image: Initiation, Liberia. 1983. Loïs Mailou Jones, acrylic on canvas. Smithsonian American Art Museum. Bequest of the artist