After a tumultuous recent past, the Institute of African Studies now seems to be enjoying some stability under new director Mamadou Diouf.
Diouf is now in his second year leading the multidisciplinary organization, which is sponsoring research programs in southern Africa, art exhibitions throughout New York, and charting a new course for the University’s revised African studies major.
“We try to bring every discipline together,” Diouf said during a recent interview in his spacious Kent Hall office overlooking College Walk. “We incorporate alumni and recruit scholars interested in African issues from all over the world. This is an academic institution that serves faculty and students. But we’re also working on education and health, AIDS, and family issues especially.”
At this time two years ago, the Institute faced an uncertain future. Problems including a funding shortfall, insufficient space, and a lack of administrative involvement had left the Institute defunct. A previous director had stepped down, and there was not enough faculty participation or, more importantly, money to maintain the department.
But Diouf’s June 2007 arrival immediately boosted the spirits of students and faculty who had worked to reinstate the Institute, which is based out of the School of International and Public Affairs.
“What excites me is having an institutional base where we can meet our colleagues,” anthropology professor Hlonipha Mokoena said. “That had fallen away. But now we’re putting African studies in the public eye of the University and the local community. We’re also fortunate the University’s administration is interested in promoting Africa.”
Diouf is especially proud of the Institute’s outreach efforts to local neighborhoods and to African immigrant communities throughout New York. He cited last spring’s exhibition of urban Senegalese art at Harlem’s Schomburg Museum as a major success, and an indication that the Institute has made significant progress. He looks forward to hosting the annual African Economic Forum this spring.
“Things are coming along fine,” Diouf said. “We’ve rebuilt the Institute administratively, hired new staff, organized activities which demonstrate our ability to attract Africanists. We engage each other and the outside community.”
None of this progress would have been possible without a small group of SIPA students who spearheaded efforts to revitalize the institute. Led by Christabel Dadzie, SIPA ’07, and once the head of the SIPA Pan-African Network, this small band petitioned University President Lee Bollinger to provide the Institute with sufficient resources and to hire a new director.
“I wanted to maximize my education and the education of students who will follow me,” said Dadzie, who worked closely with Diouf for two months after he was hired. “It almost didn’t matter to me that the Institute would begin to function again only after I had graduated. It was a group effort.”
Faculty members involved in the Institute deeply appreciate the efforts of Dadzie and her classmates. “Even though [Columbia College] students are probably better served than SIPA students vis-à-vis African studies, the Institute may have languished for another year or two without her [Dadzie’s] work,” history professor Gregory Mann said. “I never believed we’d be left without an Institute, but I’m very pleased that we now have a strong Institute with strong faculty and strong student interest.”
Mann admits that the Institute still faces obstacles, especially a persistent space shortage. “These things take time,” he said. “But I am optimistic because we’ve gotten off the ground, brought in more faculty, and accomplished some very good programming.”
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