Africa-US Forum

OLD AND NEW AFRICAN DIASPORA:
Before and After COVID-19

ACSUS and its partners would like to thank our presenters and participants for a successful and informative conference. Papers and presentation materials are available as downloads on the presenter profile page.

This virtual conference brought together scholars and intellectuals from the African diaspora, and/or those engaged in African diaspora research and engagement. It offered perspectives on old and new diaspora from various theoretical, conceptual and disciplinary perspectives. The aim was to generate new knowledge that could inform not only scholarship but also work in the policy/government, civil society and business spheres as the world grapples with new and legacy challenges.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

Times below provided in JOHANNESBURG and MICHIGAN Time Zones, respectively.

FORMAL OPENING

1:00 PM-1:35 PM | 7:00 AM-7:35 AM
Introduction to the African Centre for the Study of the United States
Gilbert Khadiagala (University of the Witwatersrand)
Opening remarks
Jamie Monson (Michigan State University)
Pan-African Disaster Resilience: Pre & Post COVID-19
Gilbert Rochon (Tulane University / African Renaissance and Diaspora Network)

1:35 PM – 2:15 PM | 7:35 AM – 8:15 AM
Keynote Address – Diaspora Solidarity and Pan-Africanism: Prospects for the Future
Ansel Kebede Brown (North Carolina Central University)

10 Minute Break

SESSION 1: African Diaspora and Global Connections

2:25 PM – 2:55 PM | 8:25 AM – 8:55 AM
Race and Notoriety in Diasporic Nigerian Life
Vivian Chenxue Lu (Fordham University)

2:55 PM – 3:25 PM | 8:55 AM – 9:25 AM
Contributions and Cooperation: Jewish and African Diasporas and the National Liberation Project Before Independence
Benji Shulman (Independent Scholar)

15 Minute Break

3:40 PM – 4:20 PM | 9:40 AM-10:20 AM
Keynote Address – The COVID-19 Encounter and the State of Africa and the African Diaspora: Our Challenges and Our Opportunities
Mickie Koster (University of Texas at Tyler)