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The Annual Cheikh Anta Diop International Conference
2010 marks 22 consecutive years of the Cheikh Anta Diop International Conference. Every year scholars from around the world convene in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to advance the Afrocentric paradigm, strengthen and expand this scholarly community (especially those disciplines committed to advancing African agency at all levels), and to address critical issues confronting Africans at home and abroad. Held in October each year, the conference highlights the latest in Afrocentric research through paper presentations, special panels, and publications. Scholars are also recognized for outstanding achievements at the annual awards luncheon.
Dr. Cheikh Anta Diop, the conference’s namesake, asserted that his work was designed to scientifically reestablish the place of Ancient Egypt (Kemet) in the orbit of African history and culture, and recovering Kemet’s rich legacy to expand the horizons of knowledge and history in the interest of the African People in particular and Humanity in general. Further, Diop recommended a “return to Egypt in all domains” or a critical engagement with Kemet as a fundamental source for paradigms of excellence, achievement and possibilities in all disciplines of human knowledge. Diop contended that such a return for critical retrieval and creative reconstruction “is a necessary condition to reconcile African civilizations with human history; to build a modern body of human sciences; and to renew African culture.”
Accepting Diop’s charge, Dr. Molefi Kete Asante advanced the theory, methodology and paradigm of Afrocentricity in the academy. In 1988, Asante and colleagues founded the Cheikh Anta Diop International Conference in conjunction with establishing the first Ph.D. program in African American Studies. From 1996 until the 20th anniversary in 2008, the Association of Nubian Kemetic Heritage (ANKH) sponsored the conference. Beginning in 2009, the conference was convened by the Diopian Institute for Scholarly Advancement (DISA), which is coordinated by DISA's Executive Council.
This year’s conference amends Kwame Nkrumah’s and Cheikh Anta Diop’s challenge to the African Personality—to move beyond mere festivals and cultural celebrations of African identity—to introduce a cohesive Pan-African Personality configured to reflect the distinct cultural character of African aspirations at home and abroad.
The Pan-African personality embodies the historical memory, common sense, collective consciousness, artifacts, social institutions, innovations and creative visions of the composite African People. As such, the Pan-African Personality reflects the contemporary conditions of African people globally. Africans are involved in a wide range of activities to improve our conditions and life chances. The efficacies of our institutions, programs and activities require reflective evaluations that use Afrocentric criteria.The Diopian Institute of Scholarly Advancement (DISA) is committed to utilizing scholarship in order to qualify and advance African agency at all levels. Each year, the Conference theme facilitates panels and papers on various aspects of African and African Diaspora cultures, histories, thoughts and practices from within the Afrocentric intellectual framework. Outstanding books, articles, and other Afrocentric research initiatives are recognized each year at the Awards Luncheon.
October 15 - 16, 2010
Holiday Inn Historic District
Philadelphia, PA
For more information contact:
Adisa A. Alkebulan, Conference Coordinator
phone: 619/384-9868; email: Info@diopianinstitute.org
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