African Studies Program UCIS – University Center for International Studies

Newsletter 2009-2010

2

and graduate certificates in African Studies

will be presented to deserving students who

have fulfilled the necessary requirements.

All in all, we have had another strong and

productive year.

As we strive to achieve our mission of

excellence in African Studies, we hope we

can continue to count on the support of

Africanist faculty and students for our

activities and programs. Please stay in touch

by visiting our website

http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa/ or by

stopping by our offices at 4136/4137 Posvar

Hall, and looking out for our announcements.

Thanks for your support.

Joseph K. Adjaye

Professor and Director

Since its inception in 2001, the African

Studies Program (ASP) has been committed to

the interdisciplinary study of Africa. Courses

taught by its faculty at Oakland and the

regional campuses promote a greater

understanding and appreciation of the

continent and its peoples within the wider

world. A number of ASP faculty also provide

various consultancy services in the US and

Africa, while our outreach program to schools,

community and service organizations help off-

campus individuals and groups gain a better

understanding of Africa.

Now in its third and final year, the

Undergraduate International Studies and

Foreign Language (UISFL) grant has been a

significant boost to several aspects of African

Studies development including providing

course development grants for faculty,

expanding study abroad initiatives, and

supporting ongoing programmatic activities

such as an annual spring symposium and

foreign guest

speakers. In this

respect, we were

able in the past

year to support

international

visiting speakers

Tompson

Makahamadze (Zimbabwe), Bishop Benson

Bagonza (Tanzania), and Joshua Kivuva

(Kenya). The symposium, ―Haiti, An

Agonized Nation: Which Way Forward,‖ was

singularly successful.

Our long-established tradition of developing

study abroad programs continued with two

Fulbright-Hays grants that supported a

curriculum project for area teachers in Ghana

(summer 2009) and a second that will fund

an intensive Swahili immersion program in

Tanzania for students this June-July.

We are happy to announce that at our award

ceremony on April 9, 2010, 24 undergraduate

From the Director

Contents

From the Associate Director I am very pleased to welcome you all to our

first newsletter ever since the establishment of

ASP at the University of Pittsburgh. ASP has

achieved remarkable progress since its

inception. The 9th Annual Recognition

Reception and the launching of this newsletter

are milestones we are very proud to share

with you. We have witnessed tremendous

expansion in terms of student enrollments in

the graduate and undergraduate certificate

programs, the number of students participating

in study abroad programs in Africa, and the

wide variety of activities that enable students

and faculty to engage in conversations about

the continent. These include: (1) Good

Afternoon Africa lecture series, (2) African

Film series, (3) African Studies Annual

Symposium, and (4) the Annual African

Festival. The activities are designed to help

the program achieve prominence for fostering

the production of innovative scholarships, the

training of African specialists, and the

development of

new ways of

thinking about the

African world. We

will continue to

strengthen our

involvement in the

continent through

study abroad

opportunities for students, partnerships with

African institutions, and through promoting

cooperative approaches that will serve to

increase international understanding. We

appreciate the continued support of each and

everyone interested in African Studies and

we thank you all for your participation in

promoting African studies on campus and

beyond. And most of all, I wish to

congratulate the staff of African Studies for

their hard work and commitment to the

program and ensuring a successful year under

the apt leadership of the Project Director. I

especially acknowledge Ms. Sandra

Matoushaya our Administrative Assistant

who has worked extremely hard to put

together this newsletter and ensure that it was

ready for distribution at this event. Sandra

graduated from the Graduate School of

Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) at

the University of Pittsburgh. She received her

Masters degree in International Development

and has been offered a position as the

Zimbabwe Partnership Coordinator for the

Western Pennsylvania Annual Conference.

We congratulate her for her new position but

we will surely miss her in African Studies

when she leaves at the end of April.

Macrina C. Lelei

Macrina C. Lelei Associate Director and Assistant Professor of

Education

Lectures by Rt. Rev. Dr. Benson Kalikawe Bagonza ……………..…………...page 3

ASP receives the Global Academic Partnership (GAP) Grant……. …………..page 3

ASP receives the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad (GPA) Grant…….....page 3

Study Abroad

Swahili Language and Culture Immersion…….……………….………....page 4

Community Health in Tanzania ……………………………………...…..page 5

Pitt in Africa ……………………………………………….……………..page 6

Teachers in Ghana ………………………….………………………….....page 6

Moses Katende, 2009-10 H.J Heinz Fellow…………………………………...page 5

From old to new– ASP Launches a new website …………………………..…page 7

ASP is pleased to announce two new Africanist Faculty……... .page 7

Mpho Letima, 2009-10 Carl Mamberg Fellow from Lesotho …page 7

ASP Alumni and Graduates 2010 ……..………………..page 8 and 9

Student Groups………... …………..………………………... page 10

A Year in Review…………...…………………………….….page 11

Student Spotlight …………...………………………………..page 12

3

―This past

summer, I had

the opportunity to

travel to a village

in rural Kenya

called Enoosaen

to conduct

preliminary

research for my

doctoral

dissertation. I am

developing a

distance learning

model to be used

as a tool for

upper-primary

education and I

truly valued the

opportunity to

talk to teachers,

administrators,

and students

there. Reading

about education

in a context much

different from our

American way is

one thing; having

the chance to

travel and

experience it first-

hand is quite

another. I am

anxiously

anticipating my

trip back this

summer.‖

Robyn Bracco,

Kenya

Rt. Rev. Dr. Benson

Kalikawe Bagonza

Religion in Africa In December 2009 the ASP hosted the

Rt. Rev. Dr Benson Kalikawe

Bagonza, bishop of the Karagwe

Diocese in the Evangelical Lutheran

Church in Tanzania (ELCT). Africans

are notoriously religious, and societies

have their own religious systems with

a set of beliefs and practices. Religion

permeates into all the departments of

life, so it is not easy or possible to

isolate it. Africa is home to many

different religious traditions and the

study of religion in Africa is important

in building a better understanding of

African peoples, cultures, and

societiesin Africa.

While in Pittsburgh, the Bishop

presented two lectures. These were

―The Role of the Church in

Community Development in Africa‖

and ―Religion and Politics‖. Within

these two lectures the Bishop gave

continued reference to his experience

in Tanzania.

―The Problems facing a poor country

such as Tanzania are overwhelming.

Like in any society, these problems

affect members of any society in

different ways. Some problems touch

only certain groups, while others

pose a threat to everyone‖(Bagonza).

―Christian churches in Tanzania are

concerned with economic issues

because of the basic Christian

convictions about ethical values,

structures, and change. There are

more reasons for this involvement

given that churches participate in

economic development projects and

they ought to have a guiding

theology, which is contextual.

Conviction alone is not sufficient.

But also economic issues are

complex in nature and thus demand a

special theological attention in

analyzing their in-built deficiencies

and thereby providing an alternative

(s)‖ (Bagonza).

Bishop Bagonza earned a Master of

Sacred Theology (STM) from

Wartburg Theological Seminary in

Dubuque, Iowa, and a PhD in

Theology from the Lutheran School

of Theology at Chicago (Illinois),

with a focus on theology and

development. He has also done

extensive studies on African

theology, ethics and Dietrich

Bonhoeffer. Since his ordination in

1993, he has served with ELCT as

parish pastor, mission developer and

general secretary within the

Karagwe Area.

African Studies Program receives Global Academic Partnership

African Studies Program receives Fulbright-Hays Group Projects

Abroad (GPA) Short– Term Grant Award 2010

ASP is pleased to announce that it has received a Global Academic Partnership (GAP) grant from the Global Studies

Program, University Center for International Studies (UCIS), and the Office of the Provost at the University of

Pittsburgh. The grant will help ASP host an International Conference on ―Achieving Sustainable Development in

Africa‖ to be held in March 2011 at the University of Pittsburgh . This conference will be in collaboration with The

Ford Institute for Human Security, School of Education, Public Health, and the Graduate School of Public and

International Affairs (GSPIA). The aim is to bring together partners with a major focus on sustainable development in

research, policy and practice from universities, research centers and community based organizations to share their

mutual experiences and research regarding the constraints and opportunities for sustainable development in the areas

of: (1) Health and environmental sustainability; (2) Education improvement; (3) Gender equality and empowering

women; (4) Conflict mitigation and institutional governance. Participating institutions from African will be the Forum

for Africa Women’s Educationalist (FAWE), The University of Ghana, School of Public Health (SPH) and The

University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The conference will be an opportunity for an interdisciplinary discussion

of sustainable development that will also result in a useful publication which could be instrumental in moving Africa’s

Sustainable Development agenda forward.

ASP is pleased to announce that it has received funding under the FY 2010 Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad

(GPA) program to conduct a six-week (4 Credit) ―Summer Study Abroad Program‖ in Tanzania. The program will

provide graduate and undergraduate students an opportunity to learn Swahili language and culture through classroom

instruction and immersion in cultural activities, and service learning – where students will apply classroom learning to

the real world context. A total of 15 students from the University of Pittsburgh and from other institutions across the

United States will be selected to participate in the program. They will have a wonderful opportunity to acquire first-

hand experience of Tanzania, East Africa, as they study the local geography, history, environment, culture and other

areas of concentration. Credit for the course will be assigned and transferred to student’s home institution by the

University of Pittsburgh no later than August 31st, 2010.

For more information please contact Dr. Macrina C. Lelei, Associate Director, African Studies Program & GPA 2010

Project Director @ 412-648-2058: or by e-mail: macrina@pitt.edu. Office 4137 WWPH or go to our website.

http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa/

4

Swahili Language and Culture Immersion- Inaugural Group Summer 2009

The African Studies Program launched the

―Swahili Language and Culture Immersion‖ study abroad program last summer, June-

July 2009. The inaugural group comprised

5 students: Corinne Gibson, Nosakhere Griffin-El, Lowre B. May, Eliada Nwosu,

and Emily Perrotta who traveled to Tanzania under the leadership of Dr.

Macrina C. Lelei.

The four week study abroad program was

designed to offer students a variety of

learning activities such as Swahili language instruction, immersion activities, field trips

and excursions. The host institution for the program was Karagwe Secondary School

(KARASECO)- a co-educational boarding

school owned by the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Tanzania, Karagwe Diocese. The

Swahili instructors were Mwalimu Joseph Kabalimu, the headmaster of the secondary

school and Rael Sospeter Kakulima, the

Swahili teacher. The local coordinator responsible for all activities including field

trips and excursions was Mr. Innocent

Teulas, a student at Ruaha University College in Tanzania. The driver was Mr.

Shadrack, the school driver. It was a great team that helped to make the program a

success.

The group travelled extensively within the

district of Karagwe and also visited the city of Bukoba. Students learned about the

culture and society, the history, geography

and language. In participating in all scheduled cultural activities students

developed a deeper, more critical cultural

immersion experience that included empathy—the ability to see things from

another point of view; critical reflection – an awareness of how one is informed by

one’s own culture and makes sense of

cultural differences subjectively. The

students appreciated having a local coordinator at all times who was very

helpful making them comfortable and helping them move with ease through the

community immersion activities. During the

evenings and other free times, students participated in group discussions, essay

writing, field reports and journal writing to

enhance their learning and reflection process. It was a transformative experience

for all who participated as evidenced in what the students said in their evaluation

survey forms:

―I felt like a new process of learning had

begun for me. I started to observe things from a different perspective. I felt a

dramatic change in the way I see a different

culture and try to learn the language. The language instruction sessions were

extremely insightful providing us with the

technical ―how-to‖ and a cultural ―why‖ which reinforced the relationship between

language and culture. I came out with a more clear understanding of both the

differences and similarities of the culture to

my own (E.P).

―I really enjoyed the cultural immersions which I think were a great opportunity to

know the community firsthand. I gained so

much from this experience! Since it was my first time in Africa, I did not know what to

expect. But I think learning the language,

living in the rural community, and participating in community activities

definitely gave me a new understanding.‖ (C.G)

―I was very blessed when speaking to the

members of the community involved in

progressive initiatives to move the community forward in development, and I

appreciated both hearing about their

experiences and seeing their work. I came to the trip asking the question of what does

development look like and these visits

helped to answer my question. I also enjoyed speaking to the Bishop as well as

visiting the farmer Bwana Boaz. From both, I received a realistic impression of the role

of institutions-such as those of faith-

in a community as well as life within

a community. The visit to Bwana Boaz’ farm was the most natural. It

illustrated the extent of wealth families have when they practice

farming. It is one thing to read about

development but another to see it firsthand.‖ (E.N)

―Cultural immersion has been an excellent aspect of this experience.

Having the opportunity to visit many facilities of Karagwe and other

neighboring cities has been very

informative, and has given me the opportunity to learn about Tanzanian

culture, language and the people. I am glad I was given the

opportunity.‖ (L.M)

The students in the program were

able to function successfully in a new

and different environment and under a different set of ground rules from

those they are used to in their own culture. They completed the program

requirements and received credit.

The next study abroad program in

Tanzania is scheduled for summer June 18– July 31 2010. Students will

have an added opportunity for field

research and service learning. Students interested in staying on to do

internships or further field research

on their own will have the opportunity to do so.

"Being an intern at the Netherlands Development Organization (SNV) in Benin last summer has been one of the most joyful and

rewarding internship experience I ever have had. People were so warm and valued so much my contributions to the strategic planning

process of the organization that I really felt I had been really useful. Praise God!" Joachim Boko, Benin

5

Community Health in Tanzania

-term prerequisite 3-credit ANTH 1725 / AFRCNA 1725

course on East Africa. While in Tanzania, students will be

required to do ethnographic research in order to revise and rewrite this research paper using the in-country data

obtained during the program. This course will be taught by the Study Abroad program

director Dr. Linda Winkler and her program assistant, Ms.

Jessica Heathcote. This course presents an overview of African history and geography with the second half

focusing on East African issues.

Please contact Professor Linda Winkler at lawupt@pitt.edu or Jeff Whitehead at jrwst43@pitt.edu

The African Studies Program, University of Pittsburgh at

Titusville, and the Study Abroad Office offer Pitt- in-Tanzania, a

four-week summer study program in which students spend four weeks in Karagwe District, Tanzania. This program is led by

Linda Winkler, Vice-President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Biological Sciences and Anthropology at the

University of Pittsburgh at Titusville.

This summer two students from the University’s Titusville campus (UPT), Estrellita Olvera and Molly Knapp who have

received the Vira I. Heinz Scholarship for Women in Global

Leadership, will be participating in the Community Health in Tanzania program.

Olvera, an anthropology major at UPT says, ―With the help of the VIH program, I am positive that I will gain valuable

knowledge and first-hand experiences that will enable me to

achieve my dream of becoming an anthropologist.‖ Knapp is majoring in pre-physical therapy at UPT. ―Studying

abroad in Tanzania will be a fulfilling experience. I will proudly reflect on this trip the rest of my life. It has always been a dream

of mine to travel to Africa and immerse myself in a completely

different culture and the VIH program is helping to realize this goal.‖

In July 2010, students will experience a cultural immersion in

rural area of Tanzania where they will learn about the community health and social programs of East Africa. The

local collaborators are various agencies in rural northwestern Tanzania including the Nyakahanga district hospital, the AIDS

control program, and numerous other NGOs. This program is

designed to expose students to a broad variety of topics related to health services, public health, issues related to the United

Nations Millennium Goals and international development in Africa. Students will be expected to keep daily journal entries

and will also be given reading assignments and journal topics

while in Tanzania. All students will have done an initial paper on a social or health issue in Tanzania during the required spring

Estrellita Olvera

Molly Knapp

Moses Katende, 2009-10 H.J Heinz Fellow

Moses Katende is from Mpigi, Uganda. He earned a Masters in Public Health Leadership from the Uganda Christian University in 2009. He is currently the H.J Heinz Fellow in

Public Health, and the Internships Program Coordinator, IISE. Moses has been a champion in the reduction of maternal and child deaths in Uganda. He has been involved in public

health related activities especially in the integration of the safe motherhood teaching into the

curriculum at the Nsamizi Training Institute of Social Development. He is a real advocate for family planning and speaks out for responsible fatherhood as a core foundation for

healthy families. As a community health advocate, Moses has implemented programs in the

awareness of HIV/AIDS, malaria prevention, family planning services, and advocacy work in improving quality and access to health care facilities in Uganda.

6

Pitt in Africa - Students in Africa Summer 2009

Morgan Kronk: Liberia

Research for Doctoral Jurisprudence

Adrienne Lester: Liberia

Research for Doctoral Jurisprudence

Julie Moore: South Africa

Caitlin Newman: Uganda

Employment

Eliada Nwosu: Tanzania

Swahili Language and Culture Immersion

Program

Mari Paz Ortega: Rwanda

United Nations Volunteer

Emily Perotta: Kenya and Tanzania

Swahili Language and Culture Immersion

Program and research

Austin Price: Cameroon

Public and International Affairs Internship

Sesi Aliu: Malawi

Student Leaders in International Medicine

(SLIM)

Joachim Boko: Benin

Public and International Affairs Internship

Robyn Bracco: Kenya

Preliminary research for doctoral dissertation

Erika Chowa: Zambia

Medical Internship

Camille Davidson:

Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania,

Zanzibar,

Zambia and Zimbabwe

Semester Abroad in South Africa

Kate Dickerson: Tanzania and Ghana

Amizade Volunteer

Nosakhere Giffen– EL: Kenya and Tanzania

Swahili Language and Culture Immersion

Program and research for doctoral dissertation

Rachael Hellman: Lesotho, South Africa

and Zambia

Study Abroad in South Africa

Phiona Kanabimanya: Uganda

Public and International Affairs Internship

Group of students that

presented their summer

abroad programs at the

African Festival 2009

with the ASP

Administrative

Assistant Sandra

Matoushaya

Pittsburgh teachers venture on a Cultural Journey in Ghana

Last summer in July 2009 Dr. Joseph Adjaye took 12 teachers from Western Pennsylvania to Ghana. This was a project conducted through the Fulbright-Hays Program administered by the U. S. Department of Education, which provides advanced overseas study

and research opportunities for teachers.

While in Ghana the teachers attended lectures conducted by authorities in geography, music, educational systems, literature and

cultural values. The group studied at the University of Ghana, Legon, University of Cape Coast an KNUST, Kumasi. Participants also visited places of historic and cultural interest in Ghana including the Dubois Centre, Kwame Nkrumah Park, slave dungeons

and Kente-weaving and wood-carving centers. Above all, the trip was geared toward enabling each teacher to develop a specific

curricular project that they would integrate into their teaching after their return. They also spent some time in Ghanaian schools, which ranged from preschool to high school. Through this they were able to see the scarcity of resources and funding.

7

From old to new– ASP launches a new website

On December 1, 2009 The African Studies Program launched its new website. The ASP wanted to create a website that was

simple, user friendly and immediately grabs attention as well as informing the browser about the program. ASP encourages

you to take the time to browse the website at http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa/ for information on the program, events and student experiences.

ASP is pleased to announce two new Africanist Faculty

Pittsburgh, Dr. Covington-Ward teaches Introduction to

Africana Studies, Women of Africa and the African Diaspora,

Cultures of Africa, and looks forward to teaching other courses on performance in Africa.

Charles Jalloh

Charles Jalloh is an Assistant Professor of Law. He joined the University of

Pittsburgh School Of Law in July 2009.

His teaching and scholarly activities focus on International Criminal Law,

International Human Rights Law, Public International Law and Criminal

Law. He holds Common and Civil Law

degrees from McGill University, Canada. He also earned a Master’s in International Law, with distinction, at Oxford

University, U.K., where he was honored as a Chevening Scholar.

In 2007, he edited a book that is now a leading reference on the

legal texts of the Sierra Leone Tribunal. He has also authored or co-authored various scholarly works published in reputable

peer-reviewed journals and books. His current research seeks to

expose the growing tension between Africa and the International Criminal Court. The primary thrust is on

questions of selectivity and jurisdiction and their impact, if any, on the growth and legitimacy of international criminal law.

Professor Jalloh, who is the founding Editor-in-Chief of the

African Journal of Legal Studies, is a member of the American Society of International Law and the Canadian Council on

In addition to over 41 African Studies affiliated faculty, we

are pleased to announce two new members of faculty:

Yolanda Covington-Ward and Charles Jalloh.

Yolanda Covington-Ward

Yolanda Covington-Ward is an Assistant

Professor of Africana Studies. She joined the

University of Pittsburgh in September 2009. She is an anthropologist whose scholarly

interests revolve around performance, group identity, the embodiment of religion and

history, and everyday negotiations of power

and authority. Her dissertation, ―Embodied Histories, Danced Religions, and Performed Politics: Kongo Cultural

Performance and the Production of History and Authority‖ (2008) was based on a year of ethnographic

research in the Democratic Republic of Congo and six and a

half weeks of archival research in Belgium. Her study examines two types of embodied cultural

performances, makinu—Kongo dances—and bimpampa—

Kongo body gestures, to investigate changes and continuities from the late fifteenth century to the present in the ways that

the Kongo people both represent cultural memories and social values through cultural performances, and use these same

performances to create, confirm, and contest political and

religious authority. Dr. Covington-Ward is currently revising her dissertation for publication as a book. At the University of

Mpho Letima, 2009-10 Carl Malmberg Fellow from Lesotho

Mpho Letima is from Lesotho and is the 2009-2010 Carl Malmberg fellow at the University of Pittsburgh.

Her work at the University of Pittsburgh involves evaluating maternal health services for low income women.

She is involved in evaluating Culturally Responsive Arts Education in Pittsburgh Public Schools with

educational evaluators at Duquesne University. Mpho has a Masters in Educational Research and Evaluation

from the University of Botswana and has been a high school teacher and a lecturer at the National University

of Lesotho. She and a team of HIV/AIDS activists won a grant by the World Bank and USAID for the Paray

High School HIV/AIDS drama project. Students who were part of this project facilitated open

communication between, adults, the infected and affected and their peers, to break the silence that surrounds

issues of HIV/AIDS. Her goals include being a researcher and evaluator in educational, public health and

policy issues.

8

2010 Graduates

Matthew Auflick, Joachim M Gbethoho Boko, Dawn Close, Ngalula Kapinga Trice Kabundi, Phiona K

Kanabimanya, Jana Melpolder, Josephine J Mills, Rosemary K Muliokela, Anne Marie Nagy, Eliada Nwosu,

Jeffrey Austin Price.

2010 Undergraduates

Paula Marie Cox, Miranda A Dore, Kathleen Elizabeth Fitzsimmons, Mary E Griffith, Rachael E Hellman,

Jamillia Nyampu Kamara, Lynette M Miller, Johanna O Ojo, Abiola Nike Oke, Brendin Giuseppe Rogers, Carly

A Stasak, Raina Denise Warren, Negede T Yilma.

2009

Michelle Cocker, Nathan A. Emery, Christopher D Jones, Sandra M. Matoushaya, Justice Kofi Gbolonyo, Aaron

M. Arnold, Marcelius L. Braxton, Halima Buhari, Betty J. Busey, Brigid E. Cakouros, Megan E. Davis, Timothy

M. Dempsey, Redeate Dessalegn, Kathryn B. Dickerson, Sandra O. Dike, Joseph R. Enten, Melissa S. Estrada,

Ashley Green, Sharae J. Graham, Graham, Kathleen M. Henschel, Jaerhyn Rose Lowery, Kristie Dawn McVay,

Eleanor M. Ott, Emily E. Perrotta, Sarah T. Powell, Norman D. Richardson ,Nana Ama A. Sarfo, Alexandra C.

Teale, Lether C. Vavassoeur, Henry Clay Webster, Bezawith Y. Wossene.

2008

Rachel Ann Barron, Lauren Dobbin Brooke, Tara Constock-Green, Erika Chowa, Megan E. Davis, Marie Adia

Effiong, Molly, L Ferra, Laurel I Friend, Natasha Hoyte, Mary Beth Hutchinson, Sheila Eka Ema Isong,

Mamothena Carol Mothupi, Shawna, E McCallin, Abigail Owens, Latosha A Sanders, Jonathan, D Swank,

Jasmine Monique Woodson, Abigail L Owens.

2007

Tahir U Abdullah, Remi Yewande Ariyo, Autumn Renee Burgess, Kevin Edward Cox, Sara Paige Fatell ,Sheba

K Gittens, Michele Gwendolyn Greene, Patrick, L Kiprotich, Pamela K Kirkland, Susan P Maniwoski, Patrick

Jo Millord, Nicole A Rearick Emily E Trostel, Allison Tiffany Walker, Natia Lashae Williams, Pamela S Wint.

ASP Alums

ASP 2010 Certificate Recipients

"I thank God for the Medical Experience I gained while in Zambia. First of all, being ½ Zambian, I got to go back to my beauti-

ful and humble beginnings, reuniting with family I have not seen since I was a child. I traveled to Mwami SDA Hospital in

Northern Zambia where I scrubbed in surgeries of all sorts and helped set up temporary village clinics. Seeing the amount of

people that lined up every morning, really touched my heart and helped me realize the need of more health professionals in re-

mote parts of the world. While in Lusaka the capital city, I also had the opportunity of setting up my first ever Research Project

at the University Teaching Hospital looking at the correlates of Hypertension among Zambian women. I had a fabulous time,

while still learning a lot!!!" Erika Chowa, Zambia

9

ASP Alumni Cont...

"I only spent a few days in Lesotho, but they were some of the best of my entire experience abroad. I felt at peace in the quiet and

simplicity. Away from the internet and cell phones and TV, I felt like I was living. I miss the mountains and the strength of the

sun. I miss the markets, musicians on train rides, and women singing inside bus stations. I miss the babies that I held at the

hospital where I volunteered and the kids I tutored at Baphumelele Children’s Home where I spent my Monday and Wednesday

afternoons. I have not forgotten what I saw on the ride through Khayelitsha township—the hundreds of shacks, the makeshift

barbershops, the people selling grilled corn outside. My experience in South Africa and the country itself is embedded in my soul.

Although I can never recreate my semester abroad, I hope to one day return. I think I need to." Rachael Hellman, South Africa,

Lesotho and Zambia

2006

Deborah E Allison, Chinyere Anyanwu, Leah Baldwin, Shanika Brown, Benjamin S Case, Hilery Farrell,

Kiley Jade Kunselman, Emily M Lovallo, Riedolia Monique Moore-Ellis, Erin Elizabeth Morgan, Rebecca

Ann Mrljak, Harlyn Jabbar Owens, Jamie Christine Pelusi, William J Schlachter, Katherine Emily Shuler,

Bahdua Sirleaf, Anna A Vitriol, Amanda M Wertz, Alison Todd West, Megan Wilcox, Laura C Yealy,

Meghan Elizabeth Young, Lesmarie A Singleton.

2005

Agnes Munaku Aboka, Amarty Daniel,Yemsrach Dessalegn, Jasmin N Dobson, Leah Anne Ghoston, David T

Gourley, Gary B Hudson, Charis Jones, Autumn Long, Kianga Mungai, Peter O Okemwa, Razwel R Reed,

Monique Rogers, Edward S Smith, Kharee H Staten, Jamal-Francis Tariq, Nickki Lee Weyant.

2004 Alums

Michelle Anita Agostini, Abolaji Awosogba, Bryan Bancrof, Paula Bell, Kate Bernic, LaChelle Green El-

londa, Tiffany Imani, Green David Brown, Bruce Q. Naquana, Brandon Cohen, Cole J Tabia, Carla Daniels,

Dehanna A Daughty, Angela K Davis, Daniel Feller, Holly Ann Fenner, Stephanie M Fernandez, Heather

Gadonniex, Allison Hahn, Kenneth B Henderson, Brandiese E. Jacobs, Raymond Merriweather, Shereena S

Morrow, Steven D Narumo, Christopher D Nolan, Johnson Oluwakemi, Inola Hector Pamphile, Nidirha D

Rogers, Sabrina Spipher, Athena Whiting, Ross Farrell.

2003 Alums

Nkaiso Akpabio, Rachel Brinson, Jeana Carlins, Raheem R Dawson, Michael Idiokitas Doe, Kelly Eleazer,

Jason Flint, Ayanna Christine Fortson, Danielle Hamner, Kierstin Homblette, Risi Marie Johnson, William

Edward Louey, Tendai Matambanadzo, Folasade Olowude, Josephine Mary Paolello, Meghan Rice, Shaunika

Robinson, Deshan Sewell, Michele Lynn Steenson, Altavese Terrill.

2002 Alum

Shanna Ardis, Stacey A Atkins, Ariel BenYishay, Selena M Brown, Jay H Dworin, Abimbola Fakinlade, An-

drea L Girvan, Jamel Idris, Courtney Martz, Mofoluwaso Olowude, Emmanuel Onosode, Samana Pamphile,

Keisha N Senior, Beth M Strittmatter, Tara N Turman, Shayna, J Watson, Jamel Idris, Courtney Martz.

10

Student Groups

Initiative for Sustainable African

Development (ISAD) formerly The

African Synergisitic Think Tank (ASTT)

When the Graduate School of Public and

International Affairs (GSPIA) announced

support for new student groups, it was a

golden opportunity for students to create

unique social forums. For ISAD, the new

student initiative fund would allow African

students to institutionalize a passion for

their homelands. ISAD was developed to

explore alternative approaches to African

development issues. It is one of the first

student groups at GSPIA to focus

exclusively on African topics.

As a group, ISAD hopes to focus on the

synergistic" aspect of participation; students

are encouraged to engage in discussions

about Africa by honing their own interests.

The group consists of a number of "PODS"

focused on particular policy areas including

the impact of the financial crisis on Africa,

the Millennium Development Goals,

governance, and post-conflict initiatives.

"As future policy leaders, it is important to

participate in policy dialogue," stated

Ngalula Kapinga Kabundi. "ISAD provides

an organized research venue to create and

present policy solutions for a key region."

Board members hope to share their cultural

ties with other GSPIA students. The group

hopes that the policy POD structure fosters

unique solutions to enduring problems in

Africa. GSPIA's diverse student body and

research tools could greatly add to the

creativity of policy proposals. "We can't

afford to be divisive in creating solutions,"

stated Rosemary Muliokela. "More insight

will lead to bigger and better solutions."

Policy proposals will

be presented and published throughout the

year.

African Student Organization (ASO)

ASO is an African Students Organization

based at the University of Pittsburgh's main

campus. ASO is comprised of Staff, faculty

and students of various ethnic backgrounds.

ASO is committed to creating and

maintaining a cohesive African community

in Pittsburgh and the surrounding regions as

well as organizing various forums to share

information about, and develop an

understanding of the economic, social and

political development needs of Africa

Student Leaders in International Medicine

(SLIM)

Our purpose is to foster interest in issues and

professions within the realms of international

medicine and global health. We hope to give

students a route to further their interest and

advance their education in such topcis

through networking and experiential

learning. The ultimate goal of "Student

Leaders in International Medicine" is to

progress and amplify the development of

health care professionals that are looking to

spread their knowledge beyond the borders

of the United States. Members of this

organization interact as family, helping one

another to achieve their own personal goals

in global health.

Facilitating Opportunities for Refugee

Growth and Empowerment (FORGE)

The purpose of FORGE is to advocate for

refugees and the poor. We have four

objectives. FORGE educates the University

of Pittsburgh community, the Pittsburgh

community and the nation about the

challenges facing these vulnerable

populations. FORGE members advocate for

solutions to refugee problems. FORGE

provides opportunities for refugees to

advocate for themselves by sharing refugee

artwork and messages with our community.

FORGE empowers both students and

refugees as agents of social change.

Keep it Real (KIR)

Our Mission: Keep It Real’s mission is to

provide quality, personal tutoring to support

the educational development and cultural

adjustment of refugee kids and their families

in the Pittsburgh communities.

Who We Are: KIR is a student-run volunteer

organization at the University of Pittsburgh

comprised of over 85 dedicated members, the

vast majority of which are undergraduates at

Pitt. Our tutors stretch across a range of

majors and backgrounds, but we all share an

enthusiasm that has earned us a reputation as

one of the most motivated, involved, and fun-

loving organizations on campus.

What we do: Afterschool tutoring at Arsenal

M.S. twice a week, in coordination with Big

Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh.

Afterschool programming with MGR

Foundation's Murals program at Arsenal

M.S. once a week: cultivating

cooperation, conflict resolution, and

expression through art, music, drama, and

movement.

In-home tutoring for Somali Bantu

families in Lawrenceville.

Site-based tutoring for refugee kids in

Greentree.

Model African Union (AU)

The University of Pittsburgh is currently in

the process of organizing a simulation of

the Executive Council of the African

Union (AU), set to take place in late

March.

We are currently looking for students who

would be interested in serving as delegates

to this simulation. This is a great

opportunity to learn more about political

and social challenges facing Africa, and,

more importantly, possible solutions to

these problems. Delegates will also gain a

better understanding of the roles and

responsibilities of the African Union, and

the viewpoints of individual African

nations. As a delegate, you will be

participating in the first Model AU ever

held at Pitt. You will gain invaluable

experience in research and public

speaking, and participation in this event

will enhance any resume.

As a delegate, you will represent the

viewpoints of an AU member state. You

will discuss assigned topics with other

delegates, and work to develop a plausible,

effective resolution for each topic. If

desired, you may also work with a partner

at this simulation.

Please e-mail Scott Crawford at

sec66@pitt.edu if you are interested in

participating or if you have any questions/

concerns. Also, you may request a specific

nation that you wish to represent. Once

again, this is a great opportunity, and we

hope to hear from you!

" Traveling to Tanzania as a student, allowed me to immerse myself in a way of life that was so different then what I am used to. What

inspired me and was most touching was how warm and beautiful the people were despite the adversity they face daily. My experience this

past summer is something I will remember and reflect on for the rest of my life." Kate Dickerson, Tanzania and Ghana

11

A Year in Review 2009-2010

September 2009 - Theme: “Education” Our theme this month was Education. We looked at education in Africa – challenges and opportunities as we

continued our conversation on improving African educational systems

Open House

Lecture: ―Robert Mugabe: An asset or liability for Zimbabwe‖ - Dr. Tompson Makahamadze

African festival

October 2009 - Theme: “Conflict” In October, we had to STOP, LISTEN, THINK and TALK about the causes of conflict, what has

been done in the past and gave suggestions and solutions towards bringing these conflicts to an

end.

African Film: Sarafina

November 2009 - Theme: “Culture” We focused on Culture and how it has affected societies in Africa as well as how it is reshaping the future.

Taste of Africa - Guest speaker Siamak Malek

December 2009 - Theme: “ Health” As we celebrated World AIDS Day, we looked at how health has impacted African nations particularly in

development efforts.

Lecture: ―The role of Church in community development.‖ Rt. Rev. Dr. Benson Kalikawe Bagonza

Lecture: ―Religion and Politics in Africa.‖ Rt. Rev. Dr. Benson Kalikawe Bagonza

African Film: Where the water meets the sky

January 2010- Theme: “Music” As we started a New Year we embraced the sounds of the mother land and swayed and rocked to its beat.

Lecture: ―African Musical Prcatices: Journey from the traditional to the global.‖Eric Beeko

February 2010- Theme: “History” We took a look back in time. In order to work on successes and improve on failures to help advance the African

Continent.

Lecture: ―Haiti an Agonized Nation: Which Way Forward.‖ Dr. Joseph Adjaye, Matthew Casey, Rev. Dr. Leon

D. Pamphile and Dr. T Alerte

African Film: The Bible and the Gun

March 2010: Theme: “Human Rights” We learned more and analyzed these injustices as well as helped increase awareness

concerning the issue.

African Film: Sometimes in April

April 2010- Theme: “Leadership” As the year comes to a close we reflect on the year’s topics and themes and see what type of impact

they have made on African Leadership.

Student Recognition Reception

"My semester abroad in South Africa was like nothing I could have ever imagined. I was given the unique opportunity to live in a country

with an extremely rich history and the promise for an even fertile future. Studying abroad in any African country will guarantee to give

students a rare juxtaposition of both the modern and traditional culture. I will forever cherish the experiences I had while living and

learning in Cape Town. " Camille Davidson : South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania and Zanzibar

12

prevention project and works with the Office of Refugee

Resettlement. She studied French because she wanted to be able to

communicate with non-English speakers, and also studied Swahili and two dialects of Arabic. Finally, she said she felt learning

history was important to understanding and ultimately solving any

problem.

She spent two summers in 2006 and 2008 volunteering in Kala

Refugee Camp in Zambia, developing and helping continue education projects. She worked directly with Congolese and

Zambians. She worked with Congoloese refugees fleeing the civil

war in the Democratic Republic of Congo. She helped set up a camp newspaper and a computer lab, powered by solar panels

While here in Pittsburgh, she continued to volunteer with Somali Bantu and Burundian refugees at least once a week. She has

always had a passion to do non-profit development work

particularly working with refugees and/ or UNHCR. At Oxford, she plans to study forced migration and evidence-based social

intervention.

Once asked, ―Why did you choose the undergraduate certificate

in African Studies?‖ Eleanor responded, ―I love studying about

Africa.

Eleanor Ott, an African Studies Program

undergraduate 2009 Alum received the

Rhodes scholarship. In November 2009 Eleanor was chosen to be a Rhodes scholar,

a prestigious distinction given to only 32

Americans this year. The scholarship will

pay for two or three years of study at the

University of Oxford in England. Ms. Ott is the sixth Pitt graduate chosen to win the

international Rhodes award since 1983.

Eleanor received her Certificate in African Studies in April 2009. She also majored in

Chemistry, History and French. Eleanor realized that if she was going to effect real change for refugees, she was going to have to

change policies from the ground up. So she set her sights on

working with the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees.

With an interview with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette she stated that studying chemistry enhanced her ability to break down and

solve a problem, a skill that's useful in her current position as a

social science research analyst in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, where she works on a teenage pregnancy

Contact the ASP

University of Pittsburgh

African Studies Program

University Center for International Studies (UCIS)

4138 Wesley W. Posvar Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260

412.648.2058

africast@pitt.edu

http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/africa/

Director

Dr. Joseph Adjaye, jadjaye@pitt.edu

Phone: 412-648-1802

Associate Director

Dr. Macrina Lelei, macrina@pitt.edu

Phone: 412-648-2058

Administrative Assistant

Sandra Matoushaya

Workstudy

Nick Bennett

Writer/Editor Sandra Matoushaya

The Program was established in 2001 to support and coordinate the interdiscipli-

nary teaching and research of Africa as an area of concentration for students and

faculty interested in this world region

The Mission of the program is to promote the interdisciplinary study and research

of Africa as an area of concentration for students and faculty interested in African

affairs and the African experience. This is in strong support of the University Cen-

ter for International Studies’ mission to integrate and reinforce all the strands of

international scholarship in the University through research, teaching, outreach

and public service. African Studies coordinates both the undergraduate and gradu-

ate certificate programs designed to provide students with opportunities to expand

and widen their knowledge of Africa as a world region, and foster a greater under-

standing of the forces that shape the extremely diverse and richly endowed conti-

nent. The program also serves the wider Pittsburgh community through outreach

activities to schools, church communities, private businesses and non-profit or-

ganizations to meet their needs as they seek to engage with the continent. African

language training and the coordination of country-and region-specific seminars on

contemporary topics are also key components of the Program’s efforts to meet the

demands of individuals and institutions seeking to expand their engagement with

the continent of Africa.

Student Spotlight-Eleanor Ott