When I worked at the Center for International and Comparative Studies (CICS) at the University of Iowa, I set up a partnership with the university’s well known International Writing Program (IWP). I remember an IWP writer-in-residence at CICS. A poetess from Holland, she traveled across the state of Iowa by Greyhound Bus. Greeted at small [...]
Thanks to the British High Commissioner family in Nairobi for hosting an inspiring International Women’s Day event at the Official Residence. The speakers shared inspiring words that provide hope and direction in these times. As a woman, be confident. Face the world. Bring your competencies. Learn from others. Be collegial. Collaborate. Don’t be grumpy. A [...]
In this travel letter about two days in Halifax, I share about the roles of Viola Desmond and Carrie Best in the fight for civil rights in Canada, and about Pearleen Oliver who fought for Black nurses to be accepted into nursing schools in Canada. I describe my visits to the Black Cultural Centre and the former city of Africville, both of which are well worth visiting. I mention Faith Nolan, a Canadian folk and jazz singer-songwriter of mixed African, Mi’kmaw, and Irish heritage who works to prevent the erasure of Black experiences and contributions in Canada.
Through a “tour” of sessions of the April 2022 African Studies Association of Africa (ASAA) conference, Kathryn Toure tries to show that decolonization, more than jargon or a mere buzzword, is a process in progress.
Africa was largely left out of the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd industrial revolutions. In the 4th, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship will be the norm in all sectors of society. This could greatly benefit the people of Africa, however, any deep societal inequalities will be reproduced. If, on the other hand, inequalities are consciously brought forward and addressed, I anticipate an inclusive 4th industrial revolution that contributes to the Africa We Want. That is why I argue for applying a diversity, equity, and inclusion lens to all policies and programs at national and regional levels.
AiW note: To celebrate the past thirty years of independent publishing at African Books Collective (ABC), we are running a series highlighting the wonderful work of those who make up ABC. We will be talking to some of the publishers from the collective, gathering their Words on the Times, an AiW Q&A series that invites [...]
Kansas City, Missouri, July 11, 2020 – Clay County African American Legacy (CCAAL) Inc. and the League of Women Voters of Kansas City/Jackson-Clay-Platte counties co-organized a panel discussion on African American Women in the Suffrage Movement. Originally planned as an in-person event with a brunch in March 2020, due to covid19, it was held on [...]
Quarantine for some is a time for reading. For inspiration, I’d like to share two lists of potential reads – from the Nairobi book club (which I joined in 2018). Since 2013, members have read over 75 books and short stories by African authors (mainly) from over two dozen countries. These works are chronicled in [...]
It was such a pleasure, from Nairobi, to be with the 2019-20 fellows of the African Leadership Centre for a two-hour session on non-academic writing. We gathered via zoom — from Gambia, Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, Kenya, Malawi, Zimbabwe, and the United Kingdom. The fellows are impressive and inspiring. Enjoy the PowerPoint [...]
It was spontaneous. Joy sent a text asking if we should get together at a spacious café in Nairobi at 2 pm. The prospect of a face-to-face encounter with women friends was attractive. I responded yes, explaining that I would first need to jumpstart my car and drive it around to charge the battery. It [...]