10 November 2016
The newly-formed Matariki network of scholars in African Studies convened for its first workshop from 21-23 October 2016 at Queen’s University, Kingston. The workshop, which coincided with the Queen’s Africa Day (QAD) on 21 October 2016, was funded by a Queen’s Research Opportunities Fund (QROF) grant awarded to Professor Marc Epprecht, Head of the Department of Global Development Studies.
Presenters and participants represented Queen’s, Dartmouth College, Trent University, St Michael’s College and Howard University, as well as professionals and activists from the LGBTQI community.
The Matariki African Studies network is intended to foster partnerships in research and grant applications/publications, to provide opportunities for students to share their research, and to build a connection with industrial contacts from various fields. This year, the workshop, themed Reimagining Global Solidarities for LGBTQI “Empowerment” in Africa, brought together scholars and activists from the LGBTQI community to share ideas and deliberate on the rights of LGBTQIs especially in Africa. The workshop sought to understand what the African situations of LGBTQIs are, and how persons who identify as LGBTQIs can access and realise their fundamental human rights, not only within Africa but outside of the continent.
For further information on the Matariki African Studies network, see the earlier feature on the Queen’s website.