retriever and bearer of indigenous Afrikan lifeways and practices
So as much as I am all for African Studies conferences having a base in Africa, I have to say the registration charges for the upcoming African Studies Conference by the African Studies Association in Africa (ASAA), make me question which Africa the conference – whose focus is on African and Africana knowledges – is aimed at. Tickets range from $45 for an Africa based student’s daily entry (which students…
I am hosting a crowdfunding campaign to raise the fees for participation in the Global Environments Summer Academy (GESA) 2018, hosted by Global Diversity Foundation in Oxford, UK. GESA brings together 18-21 environmental professionals, students and activists from around the world “whom they believe have the capacity to become environmental leaders who impact academia, civil society, the private sector and government”. The 3 week programme involves discussions, networking, collaborative work,…
I am back in Mexico after 2 years. I came for a few reasons. One being that the programme I am about to embark on begins in San Francisco and I didn’t know when I would be this close to Mexico again. So I took advantage of that to come visit my friends and family here. Tambien, I felt that I needed a “top-up” of my spirit before this programme…
…with an African passport. So, I am due to travel for the next 5 months on a programme delving into all things food. Sounds great right? And don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to it. Enter all the visa applications I have to make. Alright, a necessary evil. Enter the consulate people I have to interact with to get this done……not as fun. This was a recent Facebook…
I managed to attend two side sessions of the UN environment assembly last week thanks to my communications consultancy for the waste management company Takataka Solutions. I was duly impressed. The conference was focused on the environmental aspects of the sustainable development goals (which include goals like peace and justice and inequality). The format was assembly meetings of states, and side presentations from states, non-profits and business entities on the…
I am looking forward to attending some sessions of the United Nations Environmental Assembly #2 which will be meeting in Nairobi next week from the 23rd to 27th of May. This infographic on food waste shows one of the topics on the table for country representatives to discuss. See more on the UNEA website
The bodaboda guy drops me off on the grounds in front of an old colonial-style mansion. I’m not sure this is the place but there’s a few people looking as lost as I am beginning to feel. A short walk around confirms the beauty of the setting- the edge of the Arboretum forest in Nairobi. I am here for the beginning of what will be a 7 weekend long course…
I attended some events of the Kwani? Literary Festival that was held 2 weeks ago in various locations around Nairobi. The festival brought together authors from countries including South Africa, Somalia, D.R.C., Senegal, U.S.A., Ghana, Tanzania, Italy and our very own Kenya to consider questions of language in new ways. If you are familiar with African writing, then you know that the question of what language to write in, and…
It has recently been making itself known to me that it is a year since I finished my travels on my fellowship. Perhaps it’s because it’s now getting warmer in Nairobi- and it had been a while since I was in one place long enough to see all the changes in weather over a period of time. The year after the fellowship has not been one where I have come…