For eleven years, Africa Awareness Initiative has been committed to shaping a holistic image of Africa and its inclusion within academic circles at UBC. We aim to produce outstanding academic forums to encourage critical discussions pertaining to the relevance of the African continent, its Diaspora and globalization through our signature Conference Week.
In order to realize our vision for a firm and competent African Studies Program at UBC, the week’s goal is to offer a wide array of world-class African scholars, writers, artists and activists representative of the high standard of knowledge being produced in and from Africa.
The conference week, under the theme, From Africa, with Love aspires to:
RSVP here and consider the up to date schedule in pdf format below that you can download.
- MONDAY, JAN 16:
Opening Night: The Africa in UBC
High Commissioner of Lesotho in Canada and UBC alumna, Her Excellency Dr. Mathabo Tsepa, will address students, faculty, administration and the Vancouver community on the dire necessity of an African Studies Program and the role it will play in creating truly “international leaders” from UBC. The night will also include cultural performances by AAI members as well as the greater Vancouver African community.
Venue: Museum of Anthropology
Time: 6:00 - 7:30pm
- TUESDAY, JAN 17:
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Africa in Research
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A UBC professor will be presenting the importance of Africa's ecosystems in today's leading Environmental Research
Venue: Global Lounge
Time: 12:00 - 1:30pm Speakers:
- Dr. Gary Bull, UBC Forestry
- A representative from The Africa Forest Research Initiative on Conservation and Development (AFRICAD)
Two UBC professors will be presenting their research projects in Africa and speak on the unparalleled importance of Africa’s ecosystems.
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Africa in Film - The First Grader
The inspiring true story of the struggles and triumphs of an 84 year old Kenyan fighting to receive elementary education
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Venue: Global Lounge
Time: From 7:00pm - 9:00pm - WEDNESDAY, JAN 18:
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Open a Book, Read Africa
World-renowned author and the 2011 Winner for the Caine Prize for African Literature will be speaking to two literature classes, AFST 351 and ENGL 224 about the state of the modern African literature in the world.
Venue: Marine Drive Ballroom
Marine Drive Residence - Building #3 (Wayfinding at UBC)
Time: 4:30 - 6:00pmKeynote Speaker: NoViolet Bulawayo
NoViolet Bulawayo is the 2011 Winner for the Caine Prize for African Literature.
"NoViolet recently earned her MFA at Cornell University where her work has been recognized with a Truman Capote Fellowship. She currently teaches creative writing and composition at Cornell. NoViolet was born and raised in Zimbabwe. Some of her work includes Hitting Budapest, which has attributed to her literary accomplishments. Noviolet has graciously accepted to come to UBC and share her literary work and journey, not to mention the importance of African literature in western higher education. She will also offer words of inspiration to aspiring authors and African students on campus.
- THURSDAY, JAN 19:
- #Revolution, African style
- Venue: The Liu Institute
Time: 5:00 - 7:00pm
Guest Speakers:
Two UBC professors will come together and speak on how the revolutions in North Africa this past spring have creatively connected social media and politics in an innovative and democratic manner.
Artistic Night: Africa in Praise
An open mic night dedicated to celebrating Africa through slam poetry, dance and much more.
Time: From 7:30pm onwards
An open mic night dedicated to celebrating Africa through slam poetry and other artistic performances.
SIKILIZA
An Afro-fusion cultural night with performances, entertainment and a DJ playing music from the continent celebrating the end of a successful Conference Week.
Venue: Abdul Ladha CentreTime: 8:00pm onwards
:Closing Remarks:
By stressing Africa’s impact on western higher education, we hope that the university realizes the necessity of a stable African Studies Program. The presence of such notable speakers on campus shows that the University of British Columbia shows its continued dedication to follow through with the complete and justified ‘creation of global citizens.’
