The Global Africa Gateway + What's Next at The Africa Center
Dear Friends,
As world leaders and decision makers gathered in New York City for the United Nations General Assembly, an equally important and unique event was taking place at The Africa Center. This year’s Future Africa Forum: Integrating Africa into a Polarized World welcomed some of the African diaspora’s most influential voices, decision makers, and creatives across policy, business, and culture. It was a true representation of the Center’s mission to foster connections between Africa, its diaspora, and the global community, bringing together key players who are shaping the future of the continent.
During the event, we were proud to officially launch the Afreximbank Global Africa Gateway, in partnership with Afreximbank. This first-of-its-kind initiative will serve as a vital platform for strengthening commercial and cultural ties within Global Africa, while harnessing the power of the African Diaspora to create meaningful and transformative engagement with the continent. The Global Africa Gateway will serve as a platform to improve information flow, foster economic development, and shape policies that benefit both Africa and its Diaspora.
The evening featured keynote addresses by Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank, Mr. Aliko Dangote, and Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, among many others, all of whom emphasized the critical need for collaboration in building a stronger, more interconnected future for Global Africa. This was followed by a dynamic panel discussion on Africa’s role in a polarizing world, featuring Mr. Yusuf Daya, and Ms. Rosa Whitaker Duncan-Williams former Assistant United States Trade Representative for Africa.
The event also celebrated African Diasporic creativity, with a stunning showcase of fashion from designers across the Atlantic including Adebayo Okelawal, Christie Brown, David Tlale, Meiling, and Taibo Bacar. Diasporic culinary experiences were curated by renowned chefs, including Chef Coco Reinarhz, Chef Papa Assane Mbengue, Chef Diana Tandia, and Chef Hawa Hassan. The evening’s artistic programming featured performances by LaTasha Diggs, Mystic Marley, and Danaya Band, with music from DJ Wemi.
A few days prior to the event, we also opened “Points of Resonance: Contemporary Photography in Africa,” showcasing the work of twelve African artists. This exhibition, curated by Tintera Gallery (Heba Farid andZein Khalifa) and Sarah Sarofim, is on display at The Africa Center through January 2025.
This launch event and the programming we continue to offer our community such as our Films at The Africa Center series in partnership with the African Film Festival and our recently launched Swahili language classes in partnership with the Swahili Cultural Institute, are not just one-off celebrations or moments to indulge in the best of what Africa continues to offer. Everything we do at The Africa Center is a powerful demonstration that Africa exists with a richness far beyond the limited narratives that have often been imposed upon it.
The community brought together by the Global Africa Gateway and the Future Africa Forum serve as clear proof that Africa and its people are a driving force in global culture, business, and policy. It is no longer about African potential—it is about the reality of Africa’s influence and innovation, which the world can now clearly see. Through the leadership of our partners, decision makers, and creatives, this event underscored that Africa is shaping the future, and its role in the global conversation is both critical and undeniable. We are extremely proud to have The Africa Center as the platform for these connections, this community, and this conversation.
Lastly, I must say, with only a few weeks left until the U.S. elections, we encourage all of our friends and supporters in the United States to ensure that you are registered to vote and know your polling location. If you live in New York City, you must register by October 26, 2024 to vote in this election. To live in a democracy is a privilege that carries a great responsibility to maintain this democracy. Many of us hail from or have ties to places where the right to vote or the people’s right to participate in governance is far from guaranteed. If you live in the United States and are eligible to vote, we urge you to make your voice heard in this process by casting your ballot.
As always, thank you again for your ongoing support of The Africa Center and for being part of this journey with us.
Sincerely,
Uzodinma Iweala
CEO, The Africa Center
What I’m Reading: The Message by Ta-Nehisi Coates
This book has caused so much controversy as a result of Coates’s sharp observations about Israel and Palestine, that people have overlooked Coates’s reflections on what it means to be a diaspora African visiting Senegal for the first time. Don’t let all the podcasts and TV spin influence you; save your judgment until you’ve read Coates’s message for yourself.
What I’m listening to: Louphoria by Smino
I have no idea what this song is about, but it is captivating in an insane way. Spacious, expansive and yet simultaneously claustrophobic in its structure, the song’s repetitiveness will trance you into another contemplative plane.