Wendi Manuel-Scott and Benedict Carton on the  ‘African Identities in the Age of Obama’ conference they organized recently at George Mason University. Bridging the gap between studies of Africa, African America, and the Caribbean, participants debated who and what does Obama represent? How do cultural aspects of the Obama phenomenon intersect with political and economic aspects?  What does Obama mean to people in Africa?

Africa Past and Present: Episode 35 [ 26:45 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Prof. Abebe Zegeye (Chair of Genocide and Holocaust studies at UNISA) on Africans’ multiple identities and genocide studies in Africa.  Is there a need for a different model than that of Holocaust studies to analyze political violence in colonial and post-colonial Africa? Zegeye closes with thoughts on his recent appointment as Director of WISER at Wits in Johannesburg.

Africa Past and Present: Episode 25 [ 30:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Solomon Addis Getahun (Central Michigan University) discusses the history of Ethiopian immigrants and refugees in the USA. He describes the diversity of Ethiopians in the diaspora and their community organizations. For example, to overcome isolation and carve out an autonomous space within US society, in 1984 Ethiopians established the Ethiopian Sports Federation in North America. Its annual football (soccer) tournament provides a festive place where Ethiopian identity is negotiated, recreated and modified.

Africa Past and Present: Episode 11 [ 29:55 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download