Videos, photos and report of the conference 'Africa: 60 years of independence'

On 30 January 2020, LeidenASA and the ASCL organised the conference 'Africa: 60 Years of Independence' in Leiden. It was the kick-off for 'Africa 2020', the year in which 17 countries on the African continent celebrate 60 years of independence. Keynotes were given by Lungisile Ntsebeza (University of Cape Town), Birgit Meyer (Utrecht University), Carolyn Hamilton (UCT) and Jan Abbink (ASCL/Leiden University), who gave their views on current and past affairs in Africa, in the field of decolonising the academy, religion, the use of oral archives, and changes of leadership in Ethiopia and Sudan. Their disscussants, respectively Ton Dietz, Rijk van Dijk, Jan-Bart Gewald (all ASCL) and Mohamed Salih (International Institute of Social Studies), as well as the questions from the audience, made for vibrant discussions! A big thank you to all participants and to David Ehrhardt, co-chair of LeidenASA and cheerful moderator of the day. 

See the pictures below, or watch the videos of the speeches. 
(Photos: Eelkje Colmjon)

Read the keynote speech by Professor Lungisile Ntsebeza.
Read the response by Professor Ton Dietz.
Read the keynote speech by Professor Jan Abbink.
Read the response by Professor Mohamed Salih.

Read a report of the conference in English or Dutch.
Read the ASCL's knowledge products on 60 years of independence.

  • Prof. Lungisile Ntsebeza, University of Cape Town, on the #RhodesMustFall movement and what is has meant for decolonising the academy. Photo: Eelkje Colmjon.
  • Ton Dietz, ASCL and Leiden University, on the ASCL's commitment to contribute to decolonising knowledge about Africa. Photo: Eelkje Colmjon.
  • The audience, attentively listening... Photo: Eelkje Colmjon.
  • Birgit Meyer, Utrecht University, on the false opposition between 'religious Africa' and 'secular Europe', creating stereotypes. Photo: Eelkje Colmjon.
  • Rijk van Dijk, ASCL/Leiden University, discussing the influence of faith-based organisations with Birgit Meyer. Photo: Eelkje Colmjon.
  • Carolyn Hamilton, University of Cape Town, argues for recognising the extent of the available oral archive. Photo: Eelkje Colmjon.
  • Jan-Bart Gewald, ASCL/Leiden University, discussing historiography: It's only in the present that we decide what aspects of the past we want to deal with. What sources do we privilege? Photo: Eelkje Colmjon.
  • Jan Abbink, ASCL/ Leiden University, on the protests in Sudan and Ethiopia leading to regime change. Will we see lasting political stability in these countries? Photo: Eelkje Colmjon.
  • Discussant Mohamed Salih, International Institute of Social Studies: Reversibility of the situation is not likely in Sudan. Photo: Eelkje Colmjon.
  • Time for a break! Photo: Eelkje Colmjon.
Posted on 31 January 2020, last modified on 28 February 2020