Reviving Tradition with Innovation: Ajami Readers in Wolof, Mandinka, and Hausa
Frederick S. Pardee School’s Readers in Ajami (RIA) project has developed three African Ajami Readers in Wolof, Mandinka, and Hausa.
Dr. Mali Delivers 2024 Winnie Mandela Speaker Series Lecture at UMass Boston
Dr. Zoliswa O. Mali, Director of the African Language Program at BU’s Pardee School – African Studies Center, delivered the 2024 Winnie Mandela Speaker Series lecture at UMass Boston. Her presentation analyzed “Uprize,” a 2024 South African film about the historic 1976 student protests against Afrikaans language use in schools.
The Long 1948: Dr. Oumar Ba Examines the Intersection of Human Rights and Colonial Violence at Pardee School Event
The Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies hosted Dr. Oumar Ba from Cornell University on Thursday, May 2, 2024, as the second event in its inaugural Global Security Series. Dr. Ba, an Assistant Professor of International Relations, delivered a talk titled “The Long 1948: Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” In his presentation, Dr. Ba…
The Role of Eco-Villages in Tanzania
In another installment of the Spring 2024 Walter Rodney Seminar series, the African Studies Center hosted Dr. Christopher Graham, Research Affiliate at the Boston University African Studies Center, on March 25 to lead his presentation, titled “Eco-Villages Revisited: the Role of the Media, Political Ideology, and Public Opinion in Regreening Africa.” In a far-reaching…
African Studies Center Hosts Delegation of International Visitors Leadership Program Members
The African Studies Center hosted a delegation of nine International Visitors Leadership Program members from eight African Countries on March 20, 2024. The program, organized by the Department of State brings emerging leaders from around the world to the U.S. for focused study trips. The delegation included members from Cameroon, Central African Republic, Mali, Morocco,…
African Ajami Scholars Publish New Special Issue in Islamic Africa
The “Ajami Literacies of Africa” special issue explores the rich literatures of Wolof, Mandinka, Hausa, and Fula, challenging misconceptions about Africa’s written traditions. Co-edited by BU scholars, it unveils the historical significance of Ajami, countering Eurocentric biases. Exploring digital technologies, the issue sheds light on grassroots communities and fosters participatory knowledge-making.
Amb. Mary Beth Leonard (CAS’84) & Pardee Alum Discuss Upcoming Nigerian Election
Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard (CAS’84) and Sterling Roop (Pardee ’09), Deputy Director of Peace and Democratic Governance at USAID, Nigeria explore the significance of this election in Nigeria, the wide field of candidates, the potential for violence and intimidation, as well as the country’s current and future political landscape.
Mondesire Presents Walter Rodney Lecture on South Sudan and East African Cultural Politics
Professor Mondesire discussed the accession of South Sudan into the East African Community, issues that have cropped up amidst South Sudan’s membership, the challenges of a burgeoning state undertaking global citizenship, and the process of broader regional cooperation within the EAC.
Year In Review: 2022 Highlights from the Pardee School
In 2022, the Pardee School went through numerous big changes, welcomed new members to our community, and set the stage for a period of substantial progress as we approach our second decade as stewards of global studies education at BU. As the New Year approaches, we want to highlight some of the biggest stories and moments from the year.
ASC Hosts Panel on LGBTQIA+ Advocacy in African Continent and Diaspora
Drawing on their experiences organizing with communities in Ghana, Morocco, Kenya, Zambia, and beyond, speakers commented on how institutional mechanisms – legal, organizational, or societal – have impacted the perception of LGBTQIA+ populations across Africa and the African diaspora and thus made collaboration and advocacy more difficult.
ASC Publishes New Hausa Ajami Workbook for Public Health
The new workbook from Boston University’s African Language Program offers twelve chapters spread over more than 200 pages that cover topics including childbirth, family health, hygiene, the body and environment, sexually transmitted infections, infectious diseases, and death.
ASC NEH Ajami Literature Project Develops New Resources
The ASC project – “Ajami Literacy and the Expansion of Literacy and Islam: The Case of West Africa” – is the first systematic comparative approach to several major African languages written in Ajami.
ASC Awarded Over $2 Million in Title VI Grant Funds
ASC’s National Resource Center (NRC) and Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) grants total just over $2.4 million and will support Africa-focused education, including African language instruction.
Hefner and Storella Appointed New Directors of Asia and Africa Centers
Professors Robert Hefner and Mark Storella both bring important leadership experience and a passion for the regions they work in; in these roles, they will continue the tradition of Asia and Africa-focused scholarship and Boston University and further enhance the great reputations that both of these Centers enjoy.
Policy Leaders Forum: Ambassador Mary Beth Leonard (CAS ’84)
Ambassador Leonard remarked on U.S.-Nigeria relations, highlighting the impact current events are having on this relationship, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the rise of China, and the ever-changing geopolitical landscape.
CSE, ASC & CURA Host Lecture on Human Capital Investments in Africa
Wake Forest University Professor Lina Benabdallah discussed China’s human capital investments in Africa, current versus historical arrangements, as well as some of the factors driving human capital investments.
ASC Launches Fall 2021 Walter Rodney Seminar Series
During the premier lecture, Mai Hassan, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan and an award-winning scholar of authoritarian and hybrid regimes in Africa, presented her new research on the Sudanese popular uprising of 2018-19.
ASC Hosts Second International Colloquium on African Studies
ASC convened scholars to share research on topics including structural changes in Africa after COVID-19, decolonial production and South-South cooperation, lusophone Africa, migration and human rights for women and children, and the Black Pacific
ASC Launches 2021 Walter Rodney Lecture Series
The Walter Rodney lecture series kicked off its 44th year with a webinar exploring “Youth, Pop Culture and Terror Warfare in Sierra Leone.”
Woldemariam Named Director of African Studies Center
Michael Woldemariam appointed next Director of the ASC. Longman to serve as Interim Director during AY 2020-21.