Purposeful Penny, a GSPIA student organization raising funds for educational development in developing countries, will host its third fundraising dinner. All food will be prepared by our "volunteer chefs." You will get to taste dishes from Korea, Russia, Mexico, Japan, Finland, Nepal, Puerto Rico, Peru, Chile, China, Sudan and the US all at one place! We will also have a raffle basket prize event themed as inter-cultural candy & cookie basket for your use on the Halloween Day.

During the 1960s, Nigeria gained independence from British colonial rule. A renewed self-determination captured all Nigerians, especially the youth. Traditional West African music began to sound like a remnant of the colonial path and young Nigerians turned to Euro-American pop/rock music. This movement was not without its critics, including the notable Fela Kuti who instead of emulating western music, created his own contercultural genre, AFROBEAT. Dr. Dosunmu will be chronicling the various countercultures of Nigerian pop music and how these cultures arose.

The African Studies Program of the University Center for International Studies (UCIS), in collaboration with the FORD Institute for Human Security at the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA) , the Institute for International Studies in Education (IISE) in the School of Education, The Ridgeway Center (GSPIA), and the Graduate School of Public Health will be hosting an international conference on “Achieving Sustainable Development in Africa.” This conference has been organized with collaboration from partners from African institutions namely: the Forum for African Women

As a result of the economic and political crisis in Zimbabwe, many women in the country with political affiliations have become victims of sexual assault. In September 2011 at the University of Pittsburgh, Dr. Matambabadzo hosted a conference on this topic. She continues with this discussion in a lecture hosted by the African Studies Program. This lecture will be preceded by a short documentary on the subject of rape to be followed by Dr. Matambabadzo’s presentation.

Joel Chrispo Dumba comes from the Republic of South Sudan, a newly born country which got its independence on July, 9th 2011 after being in a civil war which lasted for 21 years. He is an MA student of Social and Comparative Analysis in Education, Department of Administrative and Policy Studies, School of Education University of Pittsburgh.

“Prince among Slaves”, a 60-minute PBS film, tells the true story of an African prince in 18th century, Abdul Rahman, who endured slavery in Mississippi and was eventually released and had to return to Africa. During the movie night, African-flavored snacks and beverage will be provided. This is the opening for “International Flavor” event which will last for a week. No registration is required. Just show up and taste the sweaty wind of Mississippi and wildness of African continent.

The group "INVISBLE CHILDREN" will screen the documentary TONY - the film documents the life story of the young Ugandan boy. It follows his life for eight years marked by violence from from rebel groups like the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA). The story revolves around Africa's longest running war, where children are being kidnapped and turned into child soldiers by the LRA. The film will be followed by a presentation of personal stories and experiences from members of the frontline tour group. The Frontline Tour focuses on awareness and advocacy regarding the war.

This is an interdisciplinary conference on human rights violations and will provide a forum for voices from many international perspectives. Featured keynote speakers include: Senator Sekai M. Holland, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office, Zimbabwe; Gabriel Shumba, Human Rights Lawyer based in South Africa; Betty Makoni, Tapestries of Hope documentary; Grace Kwinje, Deputy Secretary for International Relations - Movement for Democratic Change; Dr. Nancy Phaswana-Mafuya, Director for S.A.H.A.R.A. and HAST programs & Honorary Professor, Nelson Mandela Metro University.

This event will explore the experiences of African-Americans who have studied, taught and conducted research in Russia or focusing on Slavic languages, literatures and cultures, an academic field in which they are seriously underrepresented. It will include interactive discussion among the speakers and audience on the unique challenges of studying and traveling, as part of an underrepresented minority, in a region of the world which has historically and recently had an uneasy relationship with racial diversity, despite official Soviet-era pronouncements on the “friendship of peoples.”

Chiharu Kondo is a returning Ph.D. Student at the Social and Comparative Analysis in Education (SCAE) program in the Administrative and Policy Studies (APS) Department at the School of Education.