Programme in African Studies

School of Humanities, University of Hong Kong

News 

2012-2013 SUMMER SEMESTER COURSES New!

African Studies Timetable 2012-2013 New!

视频: Storyteller of Africans in Guangzhou 广州非洲社区

(Click here to watch the full interview)

Dr. Adams B. Bodomo, Professor at Hong Kong University wrote a book Africans in China, which is the first book-length study of the process of Africans travelling to China and forming communities there. During the process of writing the book, he and his group did lots of qualitative and quantitative researches across six main Chinese cities. One of them is Guangzhou, which gets the largest African community in China, and where we meet Adams with a talk on the new African Diaspora in China and Guangzhou.

 

We have many interesting, credit-bearing summer courses. Click on the link above for general information or on individual courses on the right!

"Culture key to understanding", an interview of Prof. Adams Bodomo, by Li Lianxing for China Daily Africa. (Click to read the full interview)

Africa Week 2013!!

The African Studies Programme (ASP) at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has the pleasure of inviting you to Africa Week celebrations at HKU. This comprises a week-long demonstration of aspects of African culture, including music, dance, fashion show, and finger-food tasting on HKU campus. This programme is part of ASP's commitment to engage the Hong Kong public, in particular Africans resident in Hong Kong, as a way of promoting the programme and African issues at large to the public. All activities take place at the Global Lounge, University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, as follows:

February 18th, Monday: Opening ceremony: 12.30-18.00pm

  • 12.30pm: Opening remarks by African Studies Programme director, Prof. Adams Bodomo
  • 13.00pm: Brief Speeches by African Consuls-General or their Representatives
  • 14.00-17.00pm: African Music Demonstration (Senegalese group)

February 19th, Tuesday: 14.00pm-18.00pm

  • AFRICAN CINEMA 14:00pm-16:00pm
  • 16.30-18.00pm: South African wine tasting (See Poster)

February 20th, Wednesday 15.00pm-19.00pm

  • 15.00-16.00pm :Makumba, African Live Music
  • Until 16.30pm :African Fashion Show
  • 16.30-17.30pm: Prof Bodomo Lecture CCGL 9013 (Globalization, African experiences)

February 21st, Thursday: Spotlight on… African Cinema: 14.00-17.00pm

  • African Movies Afternoon

February 22nd, Friday: Closing Ceremony 16.00-19.00pm

  • 16.00-17.00pm: African Music Demonstration (Senegalese group)
  • 17.00-18.00pm: African finger food tasting
  • 18.30pm: Closing remarks by African Studies Programme director, Prof. Adams Bodomo

We look forward to seeing you all during Africa Week. For further information, contact Ms. Hyacintha Faustino at: faustino@hku.hk and 67397334; and Ms. Yuky Liu at yukyliu@hku.hk and 93622319.

Click HERE for Event Poster!

 

Africa Table:

"Linguistic incarceration and its effects on learning Africa's languages"

Talk by Dr. John Mugane (Ph.D., University of Arizona), Director of African Languages and culture in the Department of African and American Studies at Harvard University.(Click to see the poster event)

Wednesday, January 9th 2013, 3.00pm to 4.30pm

Venue: Room CPD. 2.37, The Jockey Club Tower, Centenial Campus HKU.

Democracy in Africa: The puzzle of Kenya's 4th Multiparty Elections and growth promise"

Talk by Mr. Erick Komolo, an advocate of the high court of Kenya, he is currently a doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Law, HKU.(Click to see the poster event)

Wednesday, January 9th 2013, 4.40pm to 6.00pm

Venue: Room CPD. 2.37, The Jockey Club Tower, Centenial Campus HKU.

All are Welcome!

_____________________________________________________________

Africa Table: "Five years of promoting the African presence in Hong Kong"

Talk by Honourable Tembi Tambo

Wednesday November 14th, 12.30-14.30

Venue: Room CPD 3.29 , the Jockey Club Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU.

The Honourable Tembi Tambo is leaving Hong Kong after more than four years as Consul-General. She shared with students and staff her experience of promoting South African and general African Unity and development agenda in Hong Kong among other duties. (See the poster of the event)

Honourable Tambo shared her five-year experience as the South African Consul General in Hong Kong

Dr. Bodomo, Director of the African Studies Programme, presenting a gift to Honourable Tambo

The audience listenning to Honourable Tambo

 

African Studies Open Day 2012-2013(see the poster)

November 10, 2012, 10:00-18:00

Dr. Bodomo, Director of the African Studies Programme, HKU

Dr. Bodomo with students and visitors

African artist, Mr. Atsu Dagadu, demonstrating the art of drumming to visitors

African Studies Programme display boards

 

 

非洲人在中国 Africans in Hong Kong

Presented by Adams B. Bodomo 香港大学教授的演讲

—— Lecture and Book Release by Hong Kong University Professor Adams. B. Bodomo

华南师范大学                             
South China Normal University   
9月28日2012年                        
Friday September 28th                
15:00-16:30文科楼530                  

暨南大学Jinan University
9月27日2012年
Thursday September 27th
20:00-22:00社会科学大楼616

For details, please click HERE

China’s Engagement in Africa – Blessing or Curse for Africa’s development?
—— A talk by Dr. Sven Grimm, the director of the Centre for Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch University, South Africa.

Venue: Room 245, Main Building, HKU
Time:   Wednesday July 11


(Photo taken at the event. Dr. Grimm leading the discussion.)

Class Photo Collection for African Studies Programme Summer Courses 2011-2012

(Prof. Elizabeth Boyi teaching AFRI1001 Foundations in African Studies)

(Prof. Sam Mchombo teaching AFRI2003 Proficiency Course in an African Language (Swahili) )

(Prof. Sam Mchombo teaching AFRI2004 Introduction to African Linguistics)

(Dr. Manolete Mora (third person from the left) teaching AFRI2006 African Music; African musician Mr. Makha (first person from the left) demonstrating to students)

(Mrs. Marry Bodomo teaching AFRI2007 African Nobel Laureates in Literature )

 

NEW BOOK ON AFRICANS IN CHINA
 
"Africans in China is the first book-length study of Africans travelling to China and forming communities there. Employing combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods involving prolonged interaction with approximately 800 Africans across six main Chinese cities--Guangzhou, Yiwu, Shanghai, Beijing, Hong Kong, and Macau--Professor Adams Bodomo (The University of Hong Kong) has constructed sociolinguistic and sociocultural profiles that illuminate the everyday life of Africans in China.

This unprecedented book provides insights into understanding issues such as why Africans go to China, what they do there, how they communicate with their Chinese hosts, what opportunities and problems they encounter in their China sojourn, and how they are received by the Chinese state. Learn more about the book, which was published by Cambria Press in 2012 at HERE.

Watch a 6-minute Video Clip

Transcript of Q&A Session with Author
 

 

African Experience @ Global Lounge: Music, Food and Fashion

Date: Feb 17th, 2012

Time: 12:00-17:30

Venue: Global Lounge

Dr. Adams Bodomo introducing African Studies Programme to guests

Honorable Tambo, Consul General of South Africa, giving a brief address at the beginning of the event.

Students dressed in traditional African clothes

Guests and students dancing with African live music performance

African finger food tasting session

Ms. Amina, owner of an African bar in Hong Kong, introducing African textile and clothing

 

Stanford Humanities Interview: How Migrant Africans in China Communicate

Click Here to view the Stanford Humanities Center interview about how migrant Africans in China communicate.

(Picture retrived from:
http://stanfordhumanitiescenter.blogspot.com/2011/10/international-visitor-spotlight-adams.html)


Information  about two new books:

(Click Here for details of this book)
 

(Click Here for details of this book)

 

African Cultural Experience at Makumba

 -- for SCHO36 Understanding Africa in an Era of Globalization: Issues of Language, Culture, Health and Socio-Economic Development

Date: June 24, 2011

Time: 20:00 - 22:00 p.m.

Venue: Makumba (A famous African bar in  SoHo, Hong Kong)

Group photo taken at Makumba: SCHO36 students with Dr. Adams Bodomo (the second from the right), Prof. Sam Mchumbo (in the middle),  Mr Charles Msonde (the third from the left)

(The bar owner, Ms. Amina demonstrating African dance to the students.)

(Students dancing in Makumba.)

 

Africa-China relations: The Role of the Confucius Institute

-- A seminar by Professor Pedzisai Mashiri, Dean, Faculty of Arts and Director of the Confucius Institute, University of Zimbabwe

(Co-organized by African Studies Programme and English Department)

Abstract: Please click here

Date: June 9, 2011

Time: 5:00pm

Venue: Room 113G, Main Building

(Photo taken at the event. Professor Mashiri giving his talk)

 

(From left to right: Dr. Otto Heim, Professor Mashiri, Dr. Adams Bodomo)

 

"Towards Sustainable Chinese Investment in Africa"

-- Workshop on Africa-China Relations

(Co-organized by African Studies Programme and Oxfam Hong Kong)

Time schedule: Please click here

Date: May 6-7, 2011

Time: 9am - 6pm each day

Venue: Convocation Room, Main Building

(Group photo taken in the event) 

(Student Rapporteurs from our Programme)

 

"Remnant classes in Oti-Volta (Gur) with a focus on noun class degradation and renovation"

-- An African Studies-Linguistics seminar by Dr. Manfred von Roncador, University of Bayreuth

Abstract: Please click (http:www.hku.hk/linguist/sem/sem1011/M-vonRoncador.htm)

Date: March 31, 2011

Time: 4:30-6:00pm

Venue: Room 201, Main Building

(Photo taken at the event. Dr. Roncador giving his talk)

 

HKU100 Kick-off Ceremony

Date: Jan 9, 2011

Time: 1400-1500

Venue: Stanley Ho Sports Centre
 

 

"Caught in the Crossfire: Chinese in Lesotho"

-- A Seminar by Dr Yoon Jung Park, Senior Researcher, University of Johannesburg

Date: May 12, 2010
Time: 1730 - 1900
Venue: KKLG106

(Photo taken at the event. Adams Bodomo (L), Yoon Jung Park (R))

 

 

A double lecture by two South African writers

Mandla Langa, “Censorship versus creativity - lessons from South Africa”

and

André Brink, “South Africa and the world in post-apartheid fiction”

Date: March 12, 2010

Time: 1400 – 1530

Venue: MG07, Main Building

(Photo taken at the event. Front: Mandla Langa (L), André Brink (R);                Back: Grant Hamilton (L), Adams Bodomo (M), Manolete Mora (R))

 

Africa Day

(Photo on SCMP, MAY 22, 2009, for promoting Africa Day)

 

We proudly present Africa Day - a day when Africans in all parts of the world get together to celebrate and reaffirm their unity. We welcome each of you to join us for this fascinating event. Details are as follows:

Date: May 25, 2009

Time: 1030 – 1800

Venue:

The Convocation Room, Main Building, HKU Campus

Speakers: 

Hon. Magda Nasr, Consul General of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Hong and Macao

Hon. Tembi Tambo, Consul general of the Republic of South Africa in Hong Kong and Macao

Hon. Jose Bravo da Costa, Consul-General of the Republic of Angola in Hong Kong

Hon. David Obasa, Consul-General of the Republic of Nigeria in Hong Kong

Prof. Ato Quayson, University of Toronto

Prof. Horace Campbell, Syracuse University

Prof. Kenneth King, University of Edingburg

Prof. Mark Mason, Hong Kong Institute of Education

Events: Film Screening, Talks
             (For details, please refer to Rundown)

Supported by:

Consulate-General of Egypt

Consulate-General of South Africa

Consulate-General of Nigeria

Consulate-General of Angola
 

For attendance registration and general enquiries contact: Africa@hku.hk. For media enquiries contact: Adams Bodomo, African Studies Programme Director at abbodomo@hku.hk.

 


2009 - 2010

Dear student,

We are proud to say that the new Programme in African Studies - launched last year, and the first and only programme of its kind in Hong Kong and southern China - will enter its second year in the academic year 2009-2010. It aims at exploring Africa as a study area from interdisciplinary perspectives. At present, the Programme offers a Minor in African Studies.

African Studies is part of the Bachelor of Arts programme and is situated within the School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts but it is open to all students from other faculties.

Why do a Minor in African Studies?

The importance of Africa to China in economic and political terms has increased dramatically in recent years. This is indicated, for example, by the frequent visits of top Chinese leaders to Africa, the doubling of Chinese aid to Africa over the last year, the extension of loans by China to Africa amounting to USD5 billion over three years, and a 40% increase over the last year in the trade of oil and other natural resources totaling USD32 billion. It is important, therefore, that we develop a pool of well-trained people who can contribute to the growing relations between Africa and China. As the only institution of higher learning in Hong Kong that teaches African studies, the University of Hong Kong is poised to become a leader in this field within the region.

While this Minor is new, African Studies at the University of Hong Kong has been gestating for some years. The African Studies Group, started by Adams Bodomo and Manolete Mora in 2001, and actively supported by other faculty members, has been developing research and teaching in African studies for the past seven years. A variety of activities have been provided by the African Studies Group over these years, such as, sending students and staff members to Africa on study and research trips, and organizing summer courses and workshops in African languages and musics on a credit-free basis.

These activities, among others, have now been consolidated into a Minor, which aims at the following:

1. To develop historical, cultural, and linguistic knowledge of Africa in order to provide local expertise for China’s burgeoning economic, cultural and diplomatic relationship with Africa;

2. To foster a facility for communicating and interacting in cross-cultural situations that involve Africans and Chinese;

3. To contribute to the internationalization of the curriculum at HKU (a major goal of the new curriculum for 2012);

4. To provide specific support for the multicultural and intercultural components of the new core curriculum.

Having provided this background information on the Minor in African Studies we now invite you to take advantage of the opportunity that this new, exciting, interdisciplinary programme in African Studies offers you. A Minor in African Studies in combination with a major in Arts, Social Science, Education, and Science subjects is an ideal way to add a cross-cultural and global dimension to your study requirements at the University. For instance, a Minor in African Studies can be combined with a Major in Linguistics, Music, English, Fine Arts, History, Sociology, Education, Medicine, Biological Sciences, to name just a few.

We invite you to discuss with us your subject choices and possible programme combinations in the interests of advancing both your education and African Studies at the University of Hong Kong.


Dr Adams Bodomo
African Studies Programme Director