AFST Hosts Its International Conference

Since the 1960s, 22 of the 54 African countries have witnessed civil wars that resulted in mass violence, displacement and refugee crises, economic and infrastructural destruction, and political and regional instability. Caused by complex historical drivers and experiences rooted in the colonial legacy of fragile constitutional and institutional structures, ill-prepared political leadership, sectarianism, ethnonationalism, religious intolerance, poverty and inequality, and stiff competition for scarce resources, among other factors, the wars have had devastating impacts on Africans especially women. Leading experts, activists, students, policymakers, and others will discuss these issues, including women, gender, conflict resolutions, and peacebuilding/peacemaking in Africa.

Join keynote speakers Aili Mari Tripp, Ph.D., Vilas Professor of Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and Cyril Obi, Ph.D., Program Director at the Social Science Research Council, NYC and leader of the African Peacebuilding Network (APN) and the Next Generation Social Sciences in Africa programs along with a special panel of UMBC students for two days of discussion, African food, and music.

RSVPs/Registration is required no later than April 30, 2023 to reserve a seat. UMBC attendees should RSVP via Google form: https://forms.gle/H2VdVVY3dNDiHWSf8, also by April 30, 2023. Questions can be sent to: afst-conference@umbc.edu.

Guests should use the registration link on the website. Paid guests receive meals, a conference tote bag, event program and attend the evening banquet.

This event is hosted by UMBC’s Department of Africana Studies, and co-sponsored by the Office of the Dean of College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; the Center for Global Engagement; the Dresher Center for the Humanities; the Center for Social Science Scholarship; The Shriver Center; Language, Literacy and Culture PhD Program; and Departments of Gender, Women’s, + Sexuality Studies; Political Science; and Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health.