Lauren Sinclair at American University on the Role of US Academia in the Nigerian Civil War

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Africa Cold War, African Studies Association, American University, Biafra, Carl Levan, CIA, Congo, Conor Cruise O'Brien, international education, Lauren Sinclair, New York University, Nigeria, Nigeria Civil War

Cold War African history is one of my favorite topics to discuss, so I had to manufacture an excuse to get out of work yesterday and hear Lauren Sinclair, a PhD student at NYU speak at American University on ‘Situating the Nigerian Civil War in US-Africa Cold War Policy.’  My already high levels of excitement soared to even greater heights when I discovered that she is managing to tackle this topic while pursuing a degree in International Education – my ideal career field.

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Good Things at the ASA

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African studies, African Studies Association, FRELIMO, impostors in Africa, Kwara State University, Marcus Garvey, Mozambique, RENAMO, UNIA

I ventured up from DC for the Friday sessions of the 56th annual meeting of the African Studies Association.  I missed the first session and I was presenting at another, so I only got to attend two sessions (which collectively constitute hundreds of panels).  Fortunately they were both outstanding.

Meeting Readers at the African Studies Association Meeting this Friday, Talking about Belgian Refugees in Africa

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African Studies Association, Afrobeats, Baltimore, Belgian Refugees in Kenya, Congo, Nairobi

As previously mentioned, I’ll be presenting at the ASA’s in Baltimore this Friday (that’s the only day I’ll be there – no one came through with housing support).  If anyone would like to meet, discuss, or chastise me, I’d love to connect with new faces.

I’ll be presenting on Belgian Refugees who fled the Congo via Kenya, following the independence of the former country in July 1960.  I don’t know a lot about either country and I’ve never been to the Congo, but I’m counting on the fact that my topic is sufficiently unique that there won’t be anyone able to call me out on any weaknesses in my paper.

I think that this topic is fairly novel (though it was of great import in Nairobi in July 1960) and mirrors what I try to do on this blog, which is to take full advantage of my personal soapbox to call things out that upset me, praise those that please me, and trying to (somewhat) gently remind others about a few of the important currents that are getting overlooked in the mainstream.

After covering a series of Afrobeats shows and querying why many of my young professional peers with academic African interests do not seem to match their professed love of African culture with the appropriate corresponding actions, I’m looking forward to examining ‘white Africans’ of Belgian origin, a short-lived phenomenon if ever there was one.

Educating Americans About What They Can Do For Africa Through Metro Adverts

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African Studies Association, Aid for Africa, DC metro, Dupont Circle, International Relief and Development, SAIS, USAID, WMATA

I find it very interesting when organizations engaging in the development field spend money to advertise on the metro.  International Relief & Development had a big campaign about a year ago.  I’ve even seen a USAID ad at the Dupont Circle Metro.  Are they trying to target SAIS students?  Do they think the interest is not already there?

I spotted this poster as I exited the metro on my morning commute.  I’m not familiar with Aid for Africa, but they apparently have a diverse array of members, from the African Studies Association, to country specific organizations (Ghana, Guinea, Rwanda, Mali, Uganda), and faith-based institutions.

My thoughts are that it is ‘time to do something’ beyond advertising on the metro.  Am I being unfair?