Speaking about why they are famous for their events, the company’s spokesperson commented, “As an interdisciplinary academic research institute whose dedication is on Africa and its people, we have the mandate of reaching out to the globe. This is because the humanities and social sciences programs we offer are people-driven as they touch on areas that millions have interests in. As such, even as we build the new generation of researchers and critical thinkers, organizing events are the best way of reaching out to the general public.

Since it was decreed on June 6, 2018, the Africa Institute in Sharjah has taken its mandate seriously and, in a short period, attracted worldwide attention. The government of the Emirate of Sharjah purposefully set the institution on the right path as it sought to have a channel for strengthening Afro-Arab relations. As a result, the Africa Institute has been all about modeling itself to be a center of excellence and a platform for bringing together modern scholars. Most importantly, the institute seeks to actualize its objectives while keeping up with the high standards and quality expected in the field of study.

Talking about the 5-plus-1 Rethinking Abstraction symposium, the company’s spokesperson said, “The Sharjah art foundation was driven to revisit the original 5-plus-1 exhibition that was curated by Frank Bowling in the year 1969. This one-day symposium primarily focused on Bowling’s work and his contemporaries by featuring new and original papers on abstraction. It was an excellent opportunity for scholars to discuss and explore the historical tensions between black artists who used abstraction and those who used figuration. Overly, this symposium brought together leading figures in the Bowling exhibition with the young generation, leading to diverse points of view.

One of the major conferences held by The Africa Institute in the year 2019 was the Global Africa conference that took place in the newly rebuilt Africa Hall. Its theme could not be more relevant as it sought to analyze Africa and African Diaspora studies in the 21st century. As such, not only was it held in a world-class venue that has a rich history, but it touched on an area of great concern for Africa and African diaspora studies. This conference by the Africa Institute saw lots of contributions and fostered a conversation on what the future holds.

About the Africa Institute

The Africa Institute is keen on going beyond the current standards that have for long defined Africa and African diaspora studies by being the dedicated institute that will explore the complex past, present, and future of the continent.