(Re)Imagining the Future

Background and Information

(Re)Imagining the future: African perspectives on global inequalities

Both the history and future of 'African' societies have far too often been represented through the lenses of Eurocentric perspectives. However, African and African-diasporic scholars and activists such as Toni Morrison, Audre Lorde or Prinz Kum'a Ndumbe III., have created a vast pool of literature and knowledge in the past decades that challenges the Eurocentric perspectives on the history of people of African descent. Yet there remains an urgent need to (re)imagine the future through the lenses of African and African-diasporic perspectives. The project '(Re)Imagining the future: African perspectives on global inequalities' seeks to trace and analyse critically diverse 'African' perspective on the future(s). Underlying our project is the observation that in social movements such as RhodesMusFall, 'Why isn't my professor Black' or FeesMustFall as well as in literature, art and music, a vision of the future is expressed that redefines the relationship between Africa and Europe anew. In context of our project, we therefore ask questions like How do 'African'/ 'African'-diasporic activists_scholars imagine the future in context of persisting global inequalities? What role does Europe/ the West occupy in these visions? And what changes need to happen in order to realize the vision of the future that is expressed by 'African'/ 'African'-diasporic activists? The goal of the project is to make these different views on the future visible as well as to work towards a realization of these visions.

Background and Motivation

In recent years, German coverage of the African continent has spoken of all sorts of 'opportunities' and 'futures'. Often this affected an economic upswing in certain countries as measured by the gross domestic product or even new socio-cultural impulses. There has been less public debate when colonial monuments are overthrown and replaced in Cameroon, as well as in Namibia, South Africa and other countries, as they are seen as symbols of continuing virulent (neo) colonial relations. While a European public is newly interested in an emerging Africa, at least part of African civil society is increasingly turning its back on Europe.

The project is based on the observation that in various social groups models for the future in and about Africa are being imagined, created and negotiated. However, these models not only negotiate how different "futures" can unfold in African societies. They also always imply a new or different relationship with Europe and especially with the former colonial powers. But it also becomes clear that these are diverse and ambivalent processes that can not be rashly reduced to a common denominator. While in some areas old boundaries between Africa and Europe are actively overcome, new differences appear elsewhere. This not only changes the relationship to Europe, but also the different social divisions. The LGBTI* movement in Uganda criticizes both homophobic attitudes in the country itself and paternalistic influence from the West. In Cameroon, people regularly gather under the slogan 'Generation Change' as pragmatic reformers in a participative network that works to improve municipal infrastructure away from both governmental and NGO-led structures. For some time now, Benin has had successful entrepreneurial counterparts to Western business models that rework, preserve and disseminate traditional knowledge from agriculture and medicine. They explicitly associate their entrepreneurship with a pan-African claim of complete break with the old colonial powers. In order to understand the changes outlined above, not only Africa and Europe but also relations within societies need to be considered accordingly.

Under the title "Determining the Future", speakers from Africa and the Afro-European Community will discuss the effects of the thematic visions of the future on two fields: on the future Afro-European relations in politics, economics and culture and on developmental education work. In addition to presentations of recent developments, actors in educational work should be invited to ask about the consequences of these developments for the contents and methods of their daily work and to include them in their work.

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22. March 2018 13:40 Age: 5 yrs

Audio-Dokumentation der Konferenz 'Zukunft bestimmen: Afro-feministische_LGBTIQ* Perspektiven'

Category: AfricAvenir Berlin News, Audio &...

'Zukunft bestimmen: Afro-feministische_LGBTIQ* Perspektiven auf Bildung, Politik und Identität im Kontext globaler Ungleichheiten' (September 2017)

„Let's think about the future because the past has been crazy!“ E. Niyonsaba

Die Konferenz ‘Zukunft bestimmen: Afro-feministische_LGBTIQ* Perspektiven auf Bildung, Politik und Identität im Kontext globaler Ungleichheiten’ am 8. und 9. September 2017 ist die erste Konferenz, die im Rahmen unseres aktuellen Projekts "Zukunft bestimmen: Afrikanisch-diasporische Perspektiven im Kontext globaler Ungleichheiten" stattfindet. Das Kernanliegen des Projekts ist es die unterschiedlichen afrikanisch-diasporische Zukunftsperspektiven zu erfassen, zu analysieren und sichtbar zu machen.

Anbei finden Sie auch ein YouTube Link.

Das Projekt wurde gefördert durch ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL mit finanzieller Unterstützung des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung.

Mit freundlicher Unterstützung von Brot für die Welt und der Landesstelle für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit.

In Kooperation mit der Heinrich Böll Stiftung e.V. und Generation Adefra - ADEFRA e.V.

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International Symposium: '(Re)imagining the future: Afro-feminist/ LGBTIQ* perspectives on education, (int.) politics and identity in context of global inequalities' (09.09.2017)

“Let's think about the future because the past has been crazy!” Espérance Niyonsaba

Who can we talk about struggles of women* and LGBTIQ* activists without falling into the bias pattern of Eurocentric views about 'Africa' as a place without civilization? What are the dilemmas which emerge in a context of global structures of inequality for activists_scholars in that field? What are the visions of activists_scholars for the future with regard to education, (int.) politics and identity?

The conference '(Re)imagining the future: Afro-feminist/ LGBTIQ* perspectives on education, (int.) politics and identity in context of global inequalities' is an attempts to specifically provide a space for views expressed by 'African' female* activists_scholars on the challenges of the future.

Throughout the conference we would like our speakers and audience to engage in a critical discussion on a postcolonial and intersectional critique of University structure both in 'Africa' and Europe. In this regard we would like to engage for example with scholar_activists as Ncumisa Mdlokolo, Mariétou Mbaye, Awino Okech and Athinangamso Nkopo in order to picture their visions Afro-feminist/LGBTIQ* perspective on the future of education. In addition we envision to have a panel which specifically deals with the challenges, postcolonial dilemmas and possibilities of LGBTIQ* activism in context of postcolonial inequalities. In this regard we would like to invite Ncumisa Mdlokolo, Awino Okech, Athinangamso Nkopo for a conversation on the postcolonial dilemmas which each of them experience in their work.

Invited speakers/ Organizations:

•   Ncumisa Mdlokolo (Student activist UWC)
•   Mariétou Mbaye – Ken Bugul (Senegalese author)
•   Generation Adefra - ADEFRA e.V. (requested)
•   Awino Okech (research scholar SOAS)
•   We are born free! Empowernment radio
•   Athinangamso Nkopo (Student activist Rhodes Must Fall in Oxford)
•   LesMigras e.V (requested)

Save the Date!

Date: Saturday 09.09.2017 in Refugio Berlin
More information will appear on this website soon!
Free entrance.

Contact and registration: m.hellmich(at)africavenir.org

Mit freundlicher Unterstützung des Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung, Brot für die Welt und der Landesstelle für Entwicklungszusammenarbeit.

Documentation

Quotes from 1st panel:

"The men in the space were like, we deal with feminism later, it is race first, and we were like absolutely not. I don't only walk into the room as a black person, I also walk in as a women, I also walk in as a queer." - Ncumisa Mdlokolo

"The idea that Africa cannot produce individuals who are competitive across the world is one that we must begin to demystify." - Dr. Awino Okech

"Some people came up with saying 'All Lives Matter', but no they don't, not to say that not all lives matter, but if that is true then 'Black Lives Matter' wouldn't have to exist. If truly all lives matter, we wouldn't have to say black lives matter." - Ncumisa Mdlokolo

Conference: A Future beyond the color line?! African_diasporic Perspectives on Art, Culture and Literature

“The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the colorline.”

W.E.B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk

We start the year 2018 on 19th and 20th January with an exciting conference under the title: "A future beyond the global color line? African perspectives on global inequalities" and invite you to exchange ideas with our speakers on two days.

Is the "colorline" of the 20th century overcome? The EU's imperialist interventions and systematic neo-colonial exploitations brings this statement by W.E.B. Du Bois back to the discourse - In-visions of African_diasporic activists intend to examine strategies on challenging the global color line.

The conference on January 19th and 20th, 2018 is the second conference to be held as part of our current project "ReImagining The Future: African-Diasporic Perspectives in the Context of Global Inequalities". The core purpose of the project is to capture, analyze and visualize the different African_diasporic perspectives about the future.

The first conference day of "A Future beyond the colorline?! African_diasporic Perspectives on Art, Culture and Literature" taking place on the 19th of January 2018 creates a specific space for African_diasporic concepts of the future in culture, art and literature.

Throughout the conference, our speakers and the audience will engage in discussions on how the future is being negotiated in art, culture and literature. How can the future be re-constructed, shaped and delineated in the context of the current global inequalities between "Africa" and "Europe"? What needs to be done to realize a sustainable decolonized future beyond colonialism? In addition, we would focus on the role of art, culture and literature as Key instruments and channels for African visions of a transformed future.

The program will include, panel discussions, lectures, readings, shortfilms, an exhibition and many other activities.

Moderated by: ShaNon Bobinger

OUR SPEAKERS

Day 1: Eric Otieno, Pascale Obolo, Nathalie Anguezomo Mba Bikoro, Dr. Vivian Timothy, Simone Dede Ayivi, Peggy Piesche, Emo Rugene

Day 2: Dr. Boniface Mabanza, Clotilde Yapi Ohouochi, Elisabeth Kaneza, Pascale Obolo, Eric Otieno

PROGRAM

Further Readings and Links

(Re)Imagining the Future:

Connecting the dots, Lernen aus Geschichten zu Unterdrückung und Widerstand, 2018

Rwanda, first African country to sign African passport agreement by Nduta Waweru, May 28, 2018

Joseph Eze’s Portraitures Celebrate African Women by Jepchumba, African Digital Art, April 11, 2018.

Felwine Sarr über "Afrotopia." "Kulturzeit"-Gespräch mit dem Autor: Einer der aktuell meist diskutierten Denker Africas - Felwine Sara aus dem Senegal. 3 sat, 16. June 2017.

"The revolution will bot be NGO-ised": four lessons from African feminist organising" by Valerie Bah & Felogene Anumo, Awid Women's Rights, 31. July 2017.

"Black to the Future: Queer Afro-feministist perspectives" by Riri Hylton, Siegessäule.de.

"African LGBTI Manifesto/Declaration" by Sokari, Black Looks, 17. May 2011.

"The Future of Sex in Africa" by Nana Darkoa Sekyiamah, Open Democracy, 50.50, 4. August 2017.

Adventures from the Bedrooms of African women. A blog managed by Nana Darkoa
Sekyiamah and Malaka to create a space for African Women to share experiences of Sex and our our diverse Sexualities.

Afrofuturism to everyday futurists: new kinds of artist, power and tech by Jessica Bland, The Guardian, 11. March 2015.

How Africa can use its traditional knowledge to make progress. Chika Ezeanya-Esiobu, Ted.com, August 2017.

These African Women Artists Discuss Using Art as a Language of Resistence to Patriarchy. Nadia Sesay, Okayafrica.com, 3. November 2017.

The Foxy Five. Frauen of Color erzählen ihre Narrative. Miriam Yosef, analyse&kritik:Zeitung für linke Debatte und Praxis, 14. November 2017.

She Called Me Woman: Nigeria’s Queer Women Speak, by Minna Salami on MSAfropolitan, 13. March 2018

The invisibility of poverty in Black Panther’s Wakanda, and why it matters, by Minna Salami on MSAfropolitan, 19. February 2018

What is African feminism, actually?, by Minna Salami on MSAfropolitan, 6. December 2017

The future of feminism must be fearless, illuminating and global-minded, by Minna Salami on MSAfropolitan, 1. October 2017

Interviews for and by The African Feminist Forum (AFF) – This Forum is framed by the Charter of Feminist Principles for African Feminists and has convened in Ghana (2006) in Uganda (2008) and Senegal (2010)

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www.untietotie.org

A future beyond the global color line?! African_diasporic perspectives on art, culture and literature

Freitag, den 19. und Samstag, den 20. Januar 2018
Aquarium/Südblock, Skalitzer Str. 6, 10999 Berlin

“The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color line.” - W.E.B. Du Bois, The Souls of Black Folk

Is the "color line" of the 20th century overcome? The EU's imperialist interventions and systematic neo-colonial exploitations brings this statement by W.E.B. Du Bois back to the discourse - In-visions of African_diasporic activists intend to examine strategies on challenging the global color line.

Moderated by: ShaNon Bobinger

OUR SPEAKERS

Day 1: Eric Otieno, Pascale Obolo, Nathalie Anguezomo Mba Bikoro, Dr. Vivian Timothy, Simone Dede Ayivi, Peggy Piesche, Emo Rugene

Day 2: Dr. Boniface Mabanza, Clotilde Yapi Ohouochi, Elisabeth Kaneza, Pascale Obolo, Eric Otieno

PROGRAM

The Symposium is funded by:

Gefördet aus Mitteln des Kirchlichen Entwicklungsdienstes durch Brot für die Welt - Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst

gefördert durch ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL mit finanzieller Unterstützung des Bundesministeriums für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung.