voices from the diaspora
One of the most powerful videos in the afrosphere I have seen is the girl like me video shown above. The whole issues of identity for people in the diaspora is one that is discussed in the halls of academia, on radio and TV, tables at homes and community groups for black Africans.
A precursor to my next post about identity in the Diaspora
Patrick spoke at the TED Africa conference in 2007 about his vision on critical thinking and liberal arts. He is part of a generation of young Africans who after being blessed with education at home or abroad are looking to change the political landscape of the continent through clear thinking and rational. Even though some may see this as a simplified approach which does not take into account a lot of the externalities affecting African countries this is a start. Watch the video and catch the vision.
Fred Swaniker is definitely one of the most charismatic young leaders and social entrepreneurs on the continent. Establishing the African Leadership Academy(ALA) with business partner Chris Bradford.
The ALA is all about 16- to 18-year-olds from every country in Africa training in leadership, entrepreneurship, and African studies. The goal is to prepare future African leaders to tackle the challenges they will inherit, while providing them a long-term support system of mentors, partners, and other leaders. Admission is based on academic merit and leadership potential, with financial aid available for those who need it.
The Academy intends to launch in Sept 2008 and one of the incoming students is a young man I think we both met (well me anyway) this time last year at the TED Global conference in Tanzania. William Kwamkamba is a young man through textbooks and limited resources built a windmill to provide electricity for his family.
I hope to have the opportunity to visit the academy some time in the not too distant future and see the next generation of young african leaders learning and being the change they want to see in the world.
Aluka is an African online digital library. Free access to signed up members up till June 30, 2008.
To quote from their site.
Aluka seeks to attract high-quality scholarly content about Africa from institutions and individuals across the globe. By contributing their collections to the Aluka platform, content owners will have a means of offering access to their collections to an international audience—without having to develop and support their own technology platforms. Aluka’s web-based platform provides powerful tools for research, teaching, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
The site is primarly academic, but anything that provides a platform for information and education is a good thing. Thanks to Harinjaka for highlighting this site.
AfricanLoft launches “History of Africa”, a video series showcasing Africa’s earliest times up to the era of the colonial period. The video covers the history of Ancient Egypt, Kingdoms of Nubia and Axum, Ancient Ghana, Songhay, Mali, the Ancient Kingdom of the Congo, the Great Zimbabwe and the Zulu Kingdom. Continue reading ‘History of Africa’
AIATSIS is a leading publisher and gateway to studies on Aboriginal culture in Australia.
“The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is the world’s premier institution for information and research about the cultures and lifestyles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Continue reading ‘AIATSIS: Gateway to Aboriginal Australia’
SIMPHANI is going into a new phase. We are looking for some writers from North America, Caribbean, Europe and Africa who can write on issues of education, enterprise, the arts and community development affecting those of us in the diaspora. Highlighting the positive and diverse contributions both made historically and in the present.
Please feel free to email me direct to dave.mcqueen(at) gmail.com for further information or if there is anyone you would like to recommend.
I am compiling a list of black academics across the Diaspora who are
- currently teaching or part of think tanks
- have written or are writing books
- have written papers
If subscribers could please send the following
Name and possible weblink
Region (Africa, Europe, North America, Caribbean, Australasia, etc)
Any works they are doing.
I would like to do profile them on here with either a written interview or through podcasts. Please note that these academics can be across any disciplines and is not just restricted to studies of blacks across the Diaspora.
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