October 2, 2003

Scholars gather to discuss Africa

Subjects as diverse as hip hop music, the struggle for racial reparations, African tourism, and rites of passage for African American girls will be explored from today through Saturday at Northwestern.

The lectures and panel discussions are part of the second biannual conference of the Association for the Study of the Worldwide African Diaspora that is attracting scholars of Africa and African descent from around the world to the three-day gathering at Norris University Center.

President Henry S. Bienen will welcome conference visitors at 1 p.m. today. His remarks will be followed by those of Richard Joseph, director of the Program of African Studies that is sponsoring the event with Smith College.

In a keynote address at 6:30 p.m. today Joseph will discuss ways that the African Diaspora can more effectively address the severe economic, social and political problems facing the African continent today.