Harvard University Center for African Studies

What a momentous and memorable conversation with musical icon #ThandiswaMazwai at the Harvard University Center for African Studies!!! Many braved the biting Cambridge weather on 12 November 2024, to attend "A Conversation with Thandiswa Mazwai" in person; many in South Africa stayed up till 1am, to attend as the online audience. There was unanimous consensus that Ms. Mazwai delivered unique, authentic, and eloquent insights that articulated South Africa's 30-year journey and evolution with democracy; and that demonstrated how her own 28-year journey in the music industry reflected the euphoria and dysphoria, ebb and flow of the country's mood. Her strong Afrocentric and Pan-African heritage and influences were evident in her conception of African cosmology, spirituality, culture, traditions and rennaissance. Her political views were backed by early engagement with the Black intellectual literary heritage from her parents, who exposed her to the likes of Frantz Fanon, Chinua Achebe and Steve Biko. Special thanks to the following people for making this event possible and successful: Director of Harvard University Center for African Studies (CAS) Zoe Marks CAS Associate Director Rosaline Salifu CAS Student Support and Outreach Officer Lindsay Moats CAS Africa Office Director Nthatisi Quella Ms. Mazwai's team: Anokhi Parikh Matt Morell Chis Mees Samantha A big thank you to my family away from home, who helped and supported in tangible and intangible ways - the Harvard South Africa Fellowship Program 2024/2025 Fellows: Dr Cherise Dunn Thabang Molapo RGA Mahashane Anne Shabangu-Myakayaka Tryphina Lindiwe Mathebula,Pr Eng PMP An additional thank you to our photographer, and my friend Zeran Lu

Join us on Tuesday, November 12th, at 6pm ET, in-person and online, for a conversation with South African artist, activist, and philosopher, Thandiswa Mazwai. Dr. Sarah Setlaelo, a writer-philosopher, and fellow at the Harvard University Center for African Studies, will facilitate a dialogue on culture, spirituality, identity, race, gender, politics, and their intersections with music and the arts. Register for the in-person event: https://lnkd.in/e54aPEjP Register for the Zoom webinar:  https://lnkd.in/enqBVm-m

We are hiring! The Center is currently seeking a Communications Specialist to join our team. The Communications Specialist is tasked with leading the development and implementation of CAS's comprehensive communications strategy. This strategy spans content creation, marketing, media relations, and brand management to enhance visibility and engagement for the Cambridge and Africa offices. This role involves autonomy and strategic decision-making to meet the center's communication objectives and goals. Learn more and apply: https://lnkd.in/epq5ySus

Join us on Friday, October 11, from 12-2pm ET, in-person and online, for a pre-launch opening discussion on to be free..., a multimodal experience of art, music, and text, that calls us to pause and reflect on the social foundations of democracy and the pursuit of justice and civil rights in South Africa and the United States. About the Exhibition: Conceived as a multimodal experience of art, music and text, to be free is a call to pause and reflect on the social foundations of democracy and the pursuit of justice and civil rights in South Africa and the United States of America. Drawn from the project’s founding concept, Petitions for Freedom, Liberation and Democracy, this exhibition is aimed at sounding the ideas and concepts of liberation, freedom, and democracy as reflected in art. Conceptualized in collaboration by Africa Office of Harvard University Center for African Studies and University of Fort Hare, this exhibition is curated by Nomusa Makhubu based on the art collection of 20th century art by South African Black artists under the stewardship of the National Heritage and Cultural Studies (NAHECS) Centre at the University of Fort Hare. Through this collection, we map the trans-Atlantic pan-African networks of solidarity between Black artists in (south) Africa and the USA. About the Opening Talk: The Africa Office at the Harvard Center for African Studies invites you to join the opening talk of the digital exhibition investigating the ideals of the artists during the apartheid regime, and to reflect together on the activism of the artists examining what freedom, liberation, and democracy meant for them at the time of their work compilation versus what democracy has come to mean after 30 years of liberation.  In-Person Attendance Registration:  https://lnkd.in/eQ5vmyNa Virtual Registration:  https://lnkd.in/e9AqsJ9R (The virtual portion of the event will take place from 12-1pm ET)

This past week, we had the pleasure of welcoming an International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) from Burkina Faso focused on “University Collaboration Best Practices”. While here, they met with multiple community resources, including the Boston College Center for International Higher Education, Harvard University Center for African Studies, and the Colleges of the Fenway Thank you to everyone who helped welcome this delegation!

Join us for our largest social event of the year on Wednesday, October 9, from 6-8pm ET! The Harvard Africa Mixer brings our community together from across Harvard College and the graduate schools for a night of African food, music, dancing, and fellowship. All Harvard affiliates are welcome! HUID required. Please register to attend.

Attention Harvard College students! Join us tomorrow, Thursday, 10/3, from 12-1pm ET (Lunch provided!), to learn more about internship and funding available for opportunities in Africa through CAS and other Harvard centers. We hope to see you there! Registration required.

Attention all Harvard students: Stop by today from 2-5pm to learn more about the Center's events, programming, and funding opportunities. We can't wait to meet you!

Take a moment to read our weekly newsletter for news, events, funding opportunities, and more for the week of September 9-15: https://lnkd.in/eapr7W9w