campus news and events

Student-Planned Neo Pan-African Conference Urges Action over Discussion

The African Students Association (ASA) at Colby-Sawyer College hosted the Pamoja60: Neo Pan-African Conference in April. About 100 participants from Colby-Sawyer, Wellesley College, University of New Hampshire, University of Rhode Island, Bunker Hill Community College and the New London community attended the three-day conference to discuss African unity and development in the 21st century. Through presentations, panel discussions and networking sessions, the conference promoted the ideals of Pan-Africanism and explored ideas for African development.

“The possible change of Africa lies in the ability of the African youth to organize on the African continent and the diaspora to take charge of their own destiny,” said Bernard Botchway '15, conference director. “[This conference] acknowledged this fact, and so must every stakeholder of African development.”

Conference executive board members included Stephanie Afari '15, Nneoma Aguguo '14, Nischal Dhakal '17, Abhineet Kumar '17,Munaya Sa-eed '16, Waitta Vainga '14, Gaelle Wagnac '15, Michellina Wuddahmartey '14 and Binyam Yilma '16. “ASA members, who represent the youth from various African nations, worked hard to ensure that the conference took a multidisciplinary approach to examining African development over the past 50 years and an action-oriented look at moving forward,” said Projects Coordinator Wuddah-martey.

“We are among the privileged to be pursuing a college education, and to have this platform to discuss African development,” said Yilma, publicity director. “It is imperative that we aid there conciliation of varying [African] identities to work toward a shared, progress-oriented vision.”

The conference opened with the documentary “An African Election,” about the 2008-09 Ghanaian presidential election. Following the screening, the panel discussion “Pan Africanism in the 21st Century: A Strategic Roadmap for Development” was led by Divine Muragijimana, founder and president of the Council of Young African Leaders; Tom Hull, former U.S. ambassador to Sierra Leone, former deputy chief of mission and charge 'd affaires in Ethiopia; Priscilla Jeffrey, founder of Community Partnership of Ghana; and Nana Poku and Kwaku Awuah, co-founders of Creative and Media Operating Group. They urged attendees to examine developmental possibilities through both their native African lenses and their experiences in developed nations.

Keynote speaker Semhar Araia, founder and executive director of Diaspora African Women's Network, explained the disconnect between West African countries eager for continental unity, and countries like Eritrea and Southern Sudan that are still growing accustomed to independence.

Lisa Purvis, educational specialist at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and adjunct Colby-Sawyer faculty member, along with Erwin Boateng, president and founder of Quality Health Africa, led the discussion “Changing Healthcare in Africa,” which focused on cost, access and quality of healthcare on the continent.

In a contest for the $1,500 Nkrumah Lumumba Toure-60 Fellowship, brainstorming sessions challenged attendees to develop strategic plans for African development that were evaluated on creativity, originality, scalability, measurability, achievability and passion.

The winner was “One-on-One Volunteer Mentoring,” developed by Colby-Sawyer business administration major Yanick Macuacua '16 and community members Sidiki Swaray and Nancy Allenby.

The W.E.B. Du Bois Award was presented to Akua Dziffa, volunteer at the African Day Parade, while the Patrice Lumumba Award was presented to Gold Label Africa for its success in popularizing African culture. The Kwame Nkrumah Award was presented to Muragijimana, and the Pamoja60Award recognized Colby-Sawyer College for its support of the conference.

-by Anurup Upadhyay, business administration major and a student writer for College Communications


Colby-Sawyer College is a comprehensive college that integrates the liberal arts and sciences with professional preparation. Founded in 1837, Colby-Sawyer is located in the scenic Lake Sunapee Region of central New Hampshire. Learn more about the college's vibrant teaching and learning community at www.colby-sawyer.edu.

Colby-Sawyer College, 541 Main Street, New London, N.H. 03257 (603) 526-3000