Prof. Kofi Anyidoho, Professor of English and Director of the CODESRIA African Humanities Institute Program speaking at the Conference. At the table are from left, Professor Akosua Anyidoho Director-NYU, Accra and Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, Director-IAS, Professor Nana Aba Amfo, Chairperson for the ceremony and Dean of the School of Languages, Dr. Janet Alperstein, Assistant Vice-President, Office of Global Programs, NYU, and Professor Esi Sutherland-Addy, IAS.
The Institute of African Studies, (IAS) and New York University (NYU) Accra, have held a two-day conference on the theme: The Humanities and a 21st Century Africa: Towards Alternative Models of Human Development.
The conference brought together participants from different backgrounds including Historians, Psychologists, Linguists, Geographers, Sociologists, Philosophers, Literary Analysts, Creative and Performing Artists and Scholars as well as Medical Practitioners, Scientists, Physicists and Nutritionists.
The Chairperson for the opening ceremony, Professor Nana Aba Amfo, Dean of the School of Languages, congratulated NYU on the occasion of its 10th anniversary, and described the theme for the Conference as apt since it underscored the need for scholars to interrogate the challenges facing 21st century Africa within a holistic context. She noted that over the ten year period, NYU had collaborated intimately with many institutions including the Department of Linguistics, and that this had resulted in mutual benefits for the collaborating institutions. “These partner institutions have been afforded the opportunity of cross breeding as we have shared ideas as students and faculty,” she said.
Professor Amfo stated that the study of the human experience of Africans through their histories, cultures, philosophies, literatures, performing arts and languages was a critical component for Africa’s quest for development and advancement. She observed that the diverse background of the participants was a testament that Africa’s multifaceted problems require multidimensional approaches. She urged the participants to take into consideration “not only our science and technology deficiencies, but also understanding and interpreting our actions and inactions within our cultures, histories and philosophies, among others.”
In brief remarks, the Directors of the two institutions, which organized the Conference, Professor Akosua Anyidoho, NYU, Accra and Professor Akosua Adomako Ampofo, IAS, as well as the Assistant Vice-President, Office of Global Programs, NYU, Dr. Janet Alperstein, took turns to stress the need for new strategies to make the study of the humanities more relevant.
Professor Akosua Anyidoho
Professor Akosua Anyidoho stated that the 10th anniversary of NYU, Accra, was the perfect time to celebrate the many accomplishments of the institution as well as reflect on its core vision and future steps. She noted that since its establishment in 2004, NYU, Accra, had succeeded in developing a curricula for US students to study the African continent in its historical, cultural, linguistic, religious, economic, political and scientific dimensions. She added that NYU was in the process of introducing new courses that are tailored to students’ exploration of key subject areas in an African context. “NYU Accra will continue to be a magnet for accomplished faculty across disciplines thereby making us a leading global study destination on the continent,” she stated.
The Director of the CODESRIA African Humanities Institute Program, Professor Kofi Anyidoho, who is also a faculty member at NYU, Accra, delivered the Keynote Address on “Reaching for the Stars: Tellurian Dreams for a 21srt Century Africa.”
Professor Anyidoho argued that what a 21st Century Africa needed was not Development but Civilization. He made a passionate call for a human kind of civilization in Africa, which was founded and grounded in the arts and humanities even as it aspires to incomparable levels of scientific, technological and engineering innovation. He traced the history of world civilization to its African roots and critiqued modern forms of development, which he described as anti-human and even anti-life. Quoting from a poem by the late Kofi Awoonor, Professor Anyidoho advocated for a “Tellurian Imperative of a Human Kind of Civilization,” where Africa’s future lay.
The Vice-President for Institutional Vision Advancement, African University College of Communications, Accra, Professor Kofi Asare Opoku, delivered a Plenary on Traditional Foundations of Development.
A highlight of the two-day conference was a special edition of the IAS Thursday Seminar Series, which was delivered on Race, Immigration Reform and Heteropatriarchal Masculinity: Reframing the Obama Presidency by Prof. Seth Asumah, a Professor in Political Science at SUNY Cortland, and a Visiting Carnegie Diasporan Scholar at the IAS.
Additionally, there were panel discussions on various topics on the contribution of both the humanities and the sciences in relation to development in Africa.
In brief closing remarks, Professors Akosua Anyidoho and Akosua Adomako Ampofo were hopeful that papers presented would be published, and made accessible to the general public.
Professor Akosua Anyidoho used the occasion to express appreciation the Professors Adomako Ampofo Sutherland-Addy and Kofi Anyidoho as well as to other NYU/IAS faculty and staff for their various contributions towards the success of the conference.
The Ghana Dance Ensemble, IAS, provided some performances at the opening ceremony.
Some members of the audience at the Conference
Members of the Ghana Dance Ensemble performing at the Conference
