The Center for African Studies proudly co-sponsored the Opulence Africana Gala, a dynamic cultural celebration marking the grand finale of African Graduate Student Union (AGSU) Week 2025. The gala brought together students, faculty, and community members for an immersive evening celebrating the richness and diversity of African cultures.

The Center for African Studies co-sponsored Dialogues & Connections, a professional development and networking event aimed at fostering career guidance and mentorship opportunities for African and African diasporic students and community members in Pittsburgh. The panel featured accomplished African professionals from diverse sectors including science, law, data analytics, and government service.

The Center for African Studies (CAS), in collaboration with five other Title VI centers under the University Center for International Studies (UCIS), coordinated a dynamic in-school workshop program for 187 students at Environmental Charter High School. Themed “Global Perspectives: Exploring Traditions, Celebrations, and Cultural Understanding,” the event featured five interactive, concurrent sessions, each offered twice to allow students to engage with multiple cultural experiences.

The Center for African Studies at the University of Pittsburgh attended and presented to 187 high school students during Environmental Charter High School’s Black History Month Celebration, which was organized in collaboration with the student group Young, Gifted, and Black.

The Center’s presentation highlighted African languages, music, dance, and cultural traditions and promoted upcoming in-school workshops designed to integrate these elements into K-12 classrooms.

Outcomes:

As part of the Center for African Studies outreach efforts, Fulbright Scholar Faraja Ngogo visited Upper St. Clair High School to engage students in an interactive session on Tanzania’s political history and international engagement. Speaking to high school students, Faraja highlighted Tanzania’s participation in major international organizations such as the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), and the European Union (EU).

The Center for African Studies coordinated a school visit featuring Fulbright Scholar Faraja Ngogo at a local middle school for a series of five presentations. Speaking to groups of approximately 20 to 40 seventh-grade students (ages 12–13), Faraja introduced students to Tanzanian culture, daily life, and language. The 35-minute sessions provided an engaging, interactive opportunity for students to learn about East Africa and expand their global perspectives.

As part of our partnership with Upper St. Clair, the Center for African Studies arranged a cultural visit featuring Fulbright Scholar Faraja Ngogo. Faraja shared her experiences and insights about Tanzanian culture with approximately 50 middle school students (ages 13–14). The visit provided an opportunity for students to engage directly with a native Swahili speaker, explore East African traditions, and broaden their global understanding through an interactive cultural exchange.

In partnership with the Center for African Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, the Nigerian Community in Pittsburgh and Western PA hosted a community engagement event and public lecture to celebrate Nigeria’s 64th Independence Anniversary. The event provided an opportunity for Nigerian and other African students at Pitt to connect with the local community, discuss contemporary developments across the African continent, and engage in meaningful dialogue about African leadership, identity, and global engagement.

At the 2024 African Studies Association Conference, the ASA Outreach Council presented Decolonizing the Classroom: Approaches & Open-Access Resources. The Center for African Studies at the University of Pittsburgh contributed to this collaborative session, which provided strategies, definitions, and free resources for educators seeking to create more equitable, accurate, and inclusive curricula about Africa. The session emphasized responsible teaching practices, the amplification of African voices, and the importance of challenging stereotypes in education.

The 2024 ASA Teachers’ Workshop, held virtually on December 7, 2024, explored the theme "Islam in Africa." Organized in partnership with the Center for African Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, the workshop highlighted the history and cultural impact of Islam across the African continent. Sessions included discussions on Ajami manuscripts, the diversity of Muslim identities, Sudano-Sahelian architecture, and historical resources from the Gold Road Project, providing educators with content and teaching tools to enrich their classrooms.