USAfrica LIVE.. from the CHINUA ACHEBE 2012 Colloquium on Africa December 7-8; at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

[Chido Nwangwu]

USAfrica LIVE.. from the CHINUA ACHEBE 2012 Colloquium on Africa December 7-8; at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

Achebe brings billionaire Mo Ibrahim, scholars, leaders to Colloquium on Africa December 7-8; USAfrica's Founder Chido Nwangwu selected as the moderator.

The 2012 Achebe Colloquium on Africa, an international gathering of policymakers, policy executors, officials from African governments, the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, elected leaders, development interests executives, multidisciplinary scholars, business leaders, civic leaders, students and artistes convened by the foremost writer of African descent, globally-acclaimed novelist, essayist and icon Prof. Chinua Achebe, will hold on Friday and Saturday, December 7-8, at the Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, USA.

Achebe, the David and Marianna Fisher University Professor and Professor of Africana Studies, is the author of the masterpiece, Things Fall Apart, upheld factually as the most widely read work of fiction on African pre-colonial and colonial life, selling more than 13 million copies in English language and translated into 50 languages.
According to the statement sent to USAfricaonline.com, "This year the Achebe Colloquium focuses attention on 'Governance, Security and Peace in Africa' and will highlight security issues that challenge the establishment of institutions and principles of good governance on the continent."

It will feature key figures in African affairs, business and strategic studies including plenary addresses by billionaire philanthropist Dr. Mo Ibrahim (of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation); Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, former Managing Director of the World Bank; and many others. In addition, novelist, activist and film maker Tsitsi Dangarembga from Zimbabwe, and singer, poet and lyricist Nneka will perform/participate in the 2012 deliberations.

Several ambassadors, dignitaries and more than thirty other distinguished scholars will participate in the two-day conference, including V. Y. Mudimbe of Duke University; Ephraim Isaac, Director, Institute for Advanced Semitic and Afroasiatic Studies, Princeton, New Jersey; William Bellamy, retired US Ambassador and professor at Simmons College; as well as Horace Campbell of Syracuse. Other speakers will include former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Dr. Jendayi Frazer, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Niger, Bisa Williams, and others.

Invited panelists will discuss the complex security issues confronting nations on the continent, security challenges surrounding the proliferation of small arms and lights weapons, piracy and terrorism, and the continuance of ethnic and religious conflict.

Meanwhile, the Achebe Foundation has selected USAfrica multimedia networks' Founder Dr. Chido Nwangwu as the moderator of the 2012 Achebe Colloquium on Africa. The Achebe Foundation notes that the Achebe Colloquium fosters "two days of intense deliberation and exchange of ideas on the importance of strengthening democracy and peace on the African continent." According to the Brown University, Prof. Achebe oversees the Chinua Achebe Colloquium on Africa, "an initiative in keeping with his life’s work to foster greater knowledge of Africa."

The organizers require all attendees to register, free at the event website: http://brown.edu/conference/achebe-colloquium/registration-0