SESSION I
9:45 – 10:45 AM
Africa and the African Diaspora all Use Praise Poetry
Fabu
This session will have praise poetry from Africa, the United States and the Caribbean. There will also be an opportunity to write a praise poem with Poet Fabu, the third Madison Poet Laureate (2008-2012) and the 2019 Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Calendar Editor. Students will leave with a greater appreciation of African, African American and African Caribbean poetry.
The Power of your Aesthetic
Rita M. Benissan
Everyone has an ‘Aesthetic’ – from how you pose for a photo, to your style, to the things you like. The Power of your Aesthetic is a two-way activity session where you can be photographed amongst different African themes, and also have fun creating a collage representing your aesthetic! Students should bring an item –such as a piece of clothing, accessory, headware, shoes or anything else that you love to wear, or something from your cultural heritage that gives you confidence! Rita Benissan will describe her work as a photographer and how she uses photography to explore themes of African and African American culture. Students will get to participate in one of her photography projects and will design their own collage using some African materials.
Please note that students who would like to take part in the artist’s photography project will need to fill out a consent form. If they are under the age of 18, their parent/guardian will need to fill it out. We will provide the form to all registered participants in advance.
Umlabalaba
Logan Shallow
If you enjoy games of strategy, come to this session to learn about Umlabalaba (Zulu Chess). You will learn the rules of the Zulu version and some of its origins in southern Africa. After learning about Umlabalaba, you will have the opportunity to play the board game yourself and compete against other Day in Africa attendees.
Africa in the Musical Traditions of Capoeira
Brendan Loula
Capoeira is a dynamic martial art, dance, music, and acrobatic tradition from Brazil that was created by African slaves over several centuries of Portuguese colonial rule. It is performed in a circle, with two people “playing” in the center, who are given energy by the people that comprise the circle, who play percussion instruments, clap, and sing. Brendan Loula, AKA Graduado Capivara, will give an interactive workshop in Capoeira music for attendees of this session, focusing not just the basics of performance, but on the oral history of capoeira, in which a popular imagination of Africa and African customs plays a central role.
Adinkra Symbols and Printmaking
Charles Korankye and Wheelhouse Studios
Adinkra symbols represent concepts and aphorisms and have a long cultural history throughout present-day Ghana and Cote D’Ivoire. In this workshop, you will learn more about what these symbols are and where they come from, learn the Alphabet, and make a print using symbols that have meaning to you.
West African Drum and Dance
Limanya Drum and Dance Ensemble
Join drum and dance ensemble Limanya to learn more about the movement and music of Guinea and Mali in West Africa. Students will learn more about the origins of these dances and get the chance to learn the movements.
Swahili Kangas in Our Lives
Perpetua Owese
Kangas form a beautiful body of East African culture. They are colorful fabrics are used daily for many different purposes – as a skirt, headwrap, apron, towel, etc. Join this session to learn about how to use and wear these kangas, and also make your own kanga. Our instructors will help translate a phrase for your Kanga into the Swahili language!
The Art of African Beadwork
Isabella Annan, African Student Association
Beautiful, colorful beads are often associated with African art. In this session, students will learn more about the history and significance of beads and how they are used today. Students will then have the opportunity to make some beadwork of their own with the help of UW-Madison’s African Student Association.
How Should We Talk About Africa?
Kathryn Mara
How is Africa represented in our lives? There are a lot of representations of the continent and its cultures, ranging from Toto’s “Africa” to Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness, from Marvel’s Black Panther to Disney’s The Lion King, from media reporting on the “West African Ebola virus epidemic” to the more user-generated #ArabSpring, and it’s hard to know what to do with all of this information. In this session, students will share ideas and thoughts about our various conceptions of Africa. We will consider questions like who is doing the representing? Whose voices are being represented? Who gains what from representing Africa in this particular kind of way? How is Africa represented in mainstream media, including social media? We will explore and try some critical exercises on our ideas and pre-conceptions of Africa and African people.
Global Villages with the Peace Corps
Alexandra Walters, Ron Geason, Sara Schwartz, and Kate Schachter
Peace Corps Volunteers return from their experiences with knowledge of different cultures, an understanding of cultural practices, and also memorabilia of their services and travels. Join this session to see, touch and feel some of these items from their travels and project work, hear the individual stories attached to each item, and ask questions about the different Peace Corps adventures. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers from the Gambia, Uganda, Zambia, and Ghana will all be in attendance.
SESSION II
11:05 – 11:45 AM
Africa and the African Diaspora all Use Praise Poetry
Fabu
This session will have praise poetry from Africa, the United States and the Caribbean. There will also be an opportunity to write a praise poem with Poet Fabu, the third Madison Poet Laureate (2008-2012) and the 2019 Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Calendar Editor. Students will leave with a greater appreciation of African, African American and African Caribbean poetry.
The Power of your Aesthetic
Rita M. Benissan
Everyone has an ‘Aesthetic’ – from how you pose for a photo, to your style, to the things you like. The Power of your Aesthetic is a two-way activity session where you can be photographed amongst different African themes, and also have fun creating a collage representing your aesthetic! Students should bring an item –such as a piece of clothing, accessory, headware, shoes or anything else that you love to wear, or something from your cultural heritage that gives you confidence! Rita Benissan will describe her work as a photographer and how she uses photography to explore themes of African and African American culture. Students will get to participate in one of her photography projects and will design their own collage using some African materials.
Please note that students who would like to take part in the artist’s photography project will need to fill out a consent form. If they are under the age of 18, their parent/guardian will need to fill it out. We will provide the form to all registered participants in advance.
School to Community Transition for Persons with Disabilities
Ngonidzashe Mpofu
More than 15% of the world’s population are affected by disability, including physical, sensory, developmental, intellectual, etc., forms of disability. This session will look young people’s experiences of disability in Zimbabwe, and compare these programs to those of the United States. We will look at how both countries can learn from each other; where they are similar and where they are different in approaching issues of youth with disabilities. You will also participate in an activity where you get to apply what you’ve learned.
Connecting with Africa
Jared Winoker, Biana Speed, and Makeela Magomolla
Are you wondering how you can pursue your interest in Africa in the future? In this session, students will explore different opportunities available for connecting and communicating with African societies and peoples. A panel of UW-Madison undergraduates will share their stories and experiences of making their interest in African topics come to life.
Yoruba Dance Drama in Nigeria
Tolu Akinwole
Come learn the Yoruba art of dancing. In this session, you will hear about the amazing use of dance as a medium of expression and persuasion among the Yoruba people of Nigeria. This session will have two parts. In the first part, you will hear the interesting ways dance is used for persuasion, and in the second part, you will learn a simple Yoruba dance move. Remember to bring your dancing shoes!
Keeping African Traditions Alive in Madison
Madison East High School Students
Food, religious traditions, social norms, and other family and society-specific practices contribute to a sense of belonging and a sense of self for people throughout the world, including all of the varied national, ethnic, and linguistic groups of the African continent. During this exciting panel, a number of students from East High School in Madison who come families from a variety of regions in Africa will share their stories and experiences practicing African traditions in their homes here in Madison. The session will end with a question and answer section to allow for audience members and the panel to share thoughts and ideas about the importance of these traditions for families of African origin living in the United States.
Experiencing the Peace Corps in Africa
Molly Vaux, Sara Schwartz
Most Americans know about the Peace Corps, but have you ever wondered what life is really like as a Peace Corps Volunteer? Join these returned volunteers to hear about their diverse experiences in different African countries. Students will have the chance to learn more about projects related to health and agriculture in Zambia, and Burkina Faso.
The Wildlife of Madagascar: Diversity and Conservation, and Lemurs!
Mary Dinsmore
In this talk, students will learn about the unique flora and fauna of the world’s fourth largest island, Madagascar. Over 80% of the species found in Madagascar are found nowhere else in the world (including lemurs, chameleons, and baobab trees), making the island a biodiversity hotspot. While the country has some of the most unique animals and plants on earth, many of these species are threatened with extinction (perhaps most notably, the lemurs). We’ll discuss some of the reasons for their rapid decline and how researchers and conservationists are rushing to learn as much as they can about these species before it’s too late.
A Swahili Day in Kenya
Mwita Muniko
In this presentation, students will learn Swahili greetings and some other useful phrases. We’ll also explore what daily life is like in Kenya, and learn about contemporary music and films enjoyed in the Swahili language and culture.
Storytelling in Yoruba Names
Omotola Okunlola
Do you know that Yoruba names tell stories? In this session, we will regale you with the profound stories underlying certain Yoruba names. And perhaps you would like to also have your own Yoruba name along with the story it has to tell.