Africa Talks is a new monthly talk series purposefully launched by the African Studies Program at UW-Madison in collaboration with the African Center for Community Development, Inc to coincide with the 50th Anniversary of Africa at Noon. This year, we want to celebrate 50 years of sharing scholarships on campus by reminding our community that the work we do must extend beyond the walls of the university. Every last Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., advanced graduate student affiliates of the African Studies Program will present a one-hour talk to community members at the Community Relations office in UW South Madison Partnership (UWSMP).
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Find a Past Lineup
Spring 2025 Events
January 29th
Everyday Citizenship from Africa to Wisconsin
Location: Goodman South Library, 2222 South Park St., Madison, WI 53713
Irène Tombo
Department of Political Science, UW-Madison
Linda Vakunta (PhD)
Deputy Mayor of the City of Madison
Talk Description
In a context where the state often appears dysfunctional and remote, though not always absent, what is the nature of the relationship between rulers and those who are ruled? To shed light on this question, this talk will examine the nature of state-citizen relationship in the DRC and Wisconsin.
Speakers Bios
Irène is a Ph.D. candidate in Political Science at UW-Madison. Her research is centered on norms and practices of citizenship (la citoyenneté) in polities in Sub-Saharan Africa. Her dissertation specifically focuses on the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Linda is the Deputy Mayor of the City of Madison, Wisconsin. She holds a PhD in Environmental Studies, a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Psychology ,and a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
February 26th
Ali Baba Sanchi
Department of Anthropology, UW-Madison
Talk Description
The ongoing crisis in Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria, has resulted in a significant number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) seeking refuge in host communities. These individuals carry the heavy burden of traumatic memories that affect their mental health and social integration. This talk will examine the narratives of recognizing the fear and anxiety faced by individuals, along with how physical violence and displacement affect their social, cultural, and economic well-being. These IDPs live but anticipate what will happen next, explaining that having lived through attacks, “we are alive” yet cannot undo the horrors we have seen.
Speaker’s Bio
Ali Baba Sanchi is a PhD candidate in Anthropology at UW-Madison. His research focuses on the cultural manifestations of trauma among the victims of Boko Haram’s insurgency, banditry, and kidnapping in Northwest Nigeria.
Location: Goodman South Library, 2222 South Park St., Madison, WI 53713
April 30th
Location: Goodman South Library, 2222 South Park St., Madison, WI 53713