A group of twenty undergraduate students from Carleton College, a private liberal arts institution in Northfield, Minnesota, USA, visited The Africa Institute, Global Studies University in Sharjah between March 23 and April 4, 2024. This educational excursion, the second since March 2022, emphasized the commitment to fostering knowledge about the global African experience.
During their stay, the Carleton students participated in activities designed to deepen their understanding of African and African diaspora studies. The visit began with an orientation session outlining The Africa Institute’s academic goals, research projects, and expectations.
The students attended lectures by The Africa Institute’s professors and resident fellows, offering insights into various aspects of African studies. Elizabeth W. Giorgis, Professor of Art History, Theory, & Criticism at The Africa Institute, delivered a lecture on “Why Art Matters in the Study of Africa and the African Diaspora,” drawing from her research on Ethiopian modernism and highlighting the significance of artistic practices in Africa and their impact on the Gulf region.
Professor Matthew S. Hopper, Ali Mazrui Senior Fellow at The Africa Institute, provided a historical perspective on “Slavery and Race in the Gulf,” discussing the complex interplay between African and Gulf societies. This was complemented by a workshop on the Sharjah Biennial’s Archive of African and other Black artists, emphasizing the importance of art in documenting and understanding the African experience.
Meg Arenberg, Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at The Africa Institute, discussed “The Gulf and the Swahili Coast: Cultural and Linguistic Contact Zones along the Indian Ocean Rim.” This session explored the relationships between Arabic and Kiswahili languages and their cultural interactions, challenging students to consider African studies beyond the traditional Atlantic paradigm.
The visit also included a tour of the Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies, where students explored historical documents, maps, and manuscripts related to Gulf history and culture. This tour highlighted the deep-rooted connections between the Gulf and Africa.
The visit culminated in student presentations on April 4, where they shared their insights and research findings with faculty and fellows of The Africa Institute. These presentations, based on their engagement with the Sharjah Biennial’s Archive and other academic activities, were followed by the Institute’s annual iftar, providing a moment of cultural exchange and reflection.
The Carleton College students’ visit to The Africa Institute enhanced their understanding of African and Gulf studies and strengthened the academic bridge between the two institutions. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of international academic exchanges in contributing to the production of knowledge about the global African experience, equipping students and scholars to address and understand the complexities of the African diaspora in a global context.
A group of twenty undergraduate students from Carleton College, a private liberal arts institution in Northfield, Minnesota, USA, visited The Africa Institute, Global Studies University in Sharjah between March 23 and April 4, 2024. This educational excursion, the second since March 2022, emphasized the commitment to fostering knowledge about the global African experience.
A group of twenty undergraduate students from Carleton College, a private liberal arts institution in Northfield, Minnesota, USA, visited The Africa Institute, Global Studies University in Sharjah between March 23 and April 4, 2024. This educational excursion, the second since March 2022, emphasized the commitment to fostering knowledge about the global African experience.
During their stay, the Carleton students participated in activities designed to deepen their understanding of African and African diaspora studies. The visit began with an orientation session outlining The Africa Institute’s academic goals, research projects, and expectations.
The students attended lectures by The Africa Institute’s professors and resident fellows, offering insights into various aspects of African studies. Elizabeth W. Giorgis, Professor of Art History, Theory, & Criticism at The Africa Institute, delivered a lecture on “Why Art Matters in the Study of Africa and the African Diaspora,” drawing from her research on Ethiopian modernism and highlighting the significance of artistic practices in Africa and their impact on the Gulf region.
Professor Matthew S. Hopper, Ali Mazrui Senior Fellow at The Africa Institute, provided a historical perspective on “Slavery and Race in the Gulf,” discussing the complex interplay between African and Gulf societies. This was complemented by a workshop on the Sharjah Biennial’s Archive of African and other Black artists, emphasizing the importance of art in documenting and understanding the African experience.
Meg Arenberg, Assistant Professor of Comparative Literature at The Africa Institute, discussed “The Gulf and the Swahili Coast: Cultural and Linguistic Contact Zones along the Indian Ocean Rim.” This session explored the relationships between Arabic and Kiswahili languages and their cultural interactions, challenging students to consider African studies beyond the traditional Atlantic paradigm.
The visit also included a tour of the Dr. Sheikh Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi Centre for Gulf Studies, where students explored historical documents, maps, and manuscripts related to Gulf history and culture. This tour highlighted the deep-rooted connections between the Gulf and Africa.
The visit culminated in student presentations on April 4, where they shared their insights and research findings with faculty and fellows of The Africa Institute. These presentations, based on their engagement with the Sharjah Biennial’s Archive and other academic activities, were followed by the Institute’s annual iftar, providing a moment of cultural exchange and reflection.
The Carleton College students’ visit to The Africa Institute enhanced their understanding of African and Gulf studies and strengthened the academic bridge between the two institutions. This collaborative effort underscores the importance of international academic exchanges in contributing to the production of knowledge about the global African experience, equipping students and scholars to address and understand the complexities of the African diaspora in a global context.
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