Social Movements and African Renaissance

Historic changes are often brought about by social movements. In the beginning of 2011 the two decades-old dictatorships of Tunisia and Egypt were swept out of power by social movements that held their governments accountable for their failed socio-economic policies. But there is evidence that this might only be the beginning of a truly continental movement of social unrest and uprisings. Some already talk about a crisis of the postcolonial state model. At the same time there are signs of new imperial and colonial endeavors of foreign powers on the African continent.

This project “Social movements and African Renaissance” aims to open the discussion on some of the core issues that bind all these otherwise heterogeneous social movements together. These issues were also raised and discussed at this year’s World Social Forum that took place for the second time on African soil in February 2011. So what are the goals of these movements and against what developments are they reacting?

By giving the floor in Dialogue Forums, Films, an international Conference as well as in Publications to some renown activists, politicians and intellectuals from Africa the project aims to provide the German audience, especially the community of cooperation workers, with some rare insights and analysis of the changes taking place on the continent – thereby establishing the necessary prerequisites for a true dialogue and partnership at eye-level between Africa and Europe.

Seit 2011 haben auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent grundlegende soziale, politische und ökonomische Umwälzungen stattgefunden, die gleichermaßen Hoffnung wie Verzweiflung wecken. Während die sozialen Proteste und Bewegungen gegen Landraub, Deregulierung, Privatisierung und Gentechnik zunehmen, finden neue und durch 'humanitäre Interventionen' legitimierte geostrategische Kriege auf dem afrikanischen Kontinent statt. Die in dieser Publikation versammelten Artikel, Vorträge, Interviews, Blogs und literarisch-musikalischen Texte geben eben diesen Moment in der Geschichte des afrikanischen Kontinents wieder. Afrikanische AktivistInnen, Intellektuelle und Kreative haben eine Stimme, und in dieser vorliegenden Publikation haben sie auch das Wort.

"Die Stimmen zum sozialen Aufbruch in Afrika wirken entschlossen, mutig und optimistisch. Mal äußern sie sich in radikalen ökonomischen Analysen, mal in ansteckend begeisternden politischen Initiativen. Ein anspruchsvolles und lesenswertes Buch über die Perspektive des Südens, die hierzulande viel zu selten wahrgenommen wird." Birgit Morgenrath, DLF, Andruck

Mit Beiträgen von: Samir Amin, Mahmood Mamdani, Firoze Manji, Louisa Dris-At Hamadouche, Yash Tandon, Kum’a Ndumbe III., Aminata Traoré, Emmanuel Iduma, Papy Maurice Mbwiti, Nigel C. Gibson, Ntone Edjabe, Arame Tall, Winfred Nyirahabineza, Masaké Kane, Nathan Irumba, Daouda Ouédraogo, Didier Awadi, Asume Osuoka, GRILA.

AfricAvenir organises in cooperation with the Rosa-Luxemburg-Foundation an international conference on "Social Movements and African Renaissance" with the participation of some of the most renown activists, politicians and intellectuals like Asume Osuoka, Director Social Action (Nigeria), Oumar Mariko, Presidential candidate and Director Radio Kayira (Mali), Winfred Nyirahabineza, KADINGO/Kalangala (Uganda), Timothy Kondo, ANSA (Zimbabwe), Masaké Kane, League of Revolutionary Pan-Africanists (Senegal) and Nathan Irumba, Exekutivdirektor SEATINI (Uganda). We want to open the discussions about some of the core topics that are at the heart of the struggles for social justice in Africa, e.g. military interventions, geopolitical interests, market liberalization and structural adjustment programmes, the role of the Youth within Social Movements in Africa, Landgrabbing and the struggle for a sustainable agriculture aiming the establishment of food sovereignty, the role and future of development cooperation and concepts and perspectives of independent ways of development.

Four young African artists give a personal account of this year's World Social Forum in Dakar through their art. Paint brushes, cameras and microphones are used to convey the hopes, perspectives and aspirations of young Africans today. AfricAvenir International e.V. will host the exhibition "For a Better World" from 23 June to 14 July 2011.

Led by Dr. Youma Fall, curator of the Dak’Art Biennial for Contemporary African Art, young artists from different art schools in Dakar came together to look into the themes discussed at this year's World Social Forum, using art as a means to portray their views and impressions. Themes discussed at the Forum, such as migration, the interplay between art and science as well as the coming together of a most diverse range of people, opinions and expectations are taken up by the artists through five video-works, a comic strip and over 30 photos. The atmosphere and the activities on the ground are captured, assimilated and analysed.

Der Katalog führt in das Ausstellungsprojekt ein und präsentiert die Künstler/innen und ihre Werke. Zudem enthält er kurze Interviews, die sich mit dem Weltsozialforum, Sozialen Bewegungen in Afrika, den aktuellen Revolutionen in Nordafrika sowie dem Verhältnis von Kunst und Sozialen Bewegungen befassen. Interviewt wurden der senegalesische Journalist Tidiane Kassé (Mitorgnisator des Weltsozialforums), Prince Kum'a Ndumbe III. (Historiker und Gründer von AfricAvenir), der senegalesische Rapper Didier Awadi, die algerische Politikwissenschaftlerin Louisa Dris-Ait Hamadouche, der kongolesische Autor und Theatermacher Papy Maurice Mbwiti sowie die kenianische Fotografin Mimi Cherono Ng'ok.

"Pour un monde meilleur!"
Ausstellungskatalog
64 Seiten, Pocket-Format, 4-farbig mit zahlreichen Abbildungen
4,- Euro

Bestellungen: info(at)africavenir.org; Fax: 03212-1258815; Tel: 030-26934764

Inhaltsverzeichnis:

• Vorwort von AfricAvenir International e.V.
• Einführung von Dr. Youma Fall
• Interview mit Didier Awadi
• Werke von Mohamed Mansaré
• Interview mit Mimi Cherono Ng'ok
• Werke von Adiouma Ndiaye
• Interview mit Prince Kum'a Ndumbe III.
• Interview mit Louisa Dris-Ait Hamadouche
• Werke von Fary Sakho
• Werke von Dabdou Thiouf
• Interview mit Tidiane Kassé
• Biografien der Künstler/innen