November 5, 1998
Middlebury College Presents 6th
Annual Sub-Saharan Africa Symposium on Nov. 12-14: “African
Health: Present Pain, Future Hope?”
“African Health: Present Pain,
Future Hope?” is the topic of Middlebury College’s sixth
annual Sub-Saharan Africa Symposium, which will be held Nov. 12-14.
Symposium events are free and open to the public.
“This year’s topic was chosen
to emphasize that a country or continent’s most valuable asset
is its people-healthy people,” said Negar Ashtari, Middlebury
College student from Botswana and member of the organizing committee.
“It’s a timely subject because the media is increasingly
flooded with images of health in Africa. Many negative, some misconstrued,”
said Ashtari. “The symposium brings together diverse experts
from Africa and the United States for lectures and panel discussions.
Also, two cultural performances-one by a professional musical
group from Kenya and the other by a group of our own students
together with students from Mount Holyoke-will celebrate African
music, dance, and drama.”
Leroy Nesbitt, special assistant to
the president and advisor for the symposium, believes this year’s
three-day symposium, like its predecessors, will enrich the study
of Africa on campus and create a constructive discourse among
experts. According to Nesbitt, “One of the best aspects of
the symposium is its ability to provide both the campus and the
broader community with access to outstanding resources in and
about Africa.”
On Thursday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m.,
the symposium will begin in Dana Auditorium at the Sunderland
Language Center on College Street (Route 125) with opening remarks
by Middlebury College student Fordam Wara from Kenya, and a presentation
of African health-related images and information titled “So
Doctor, What’s the Diagnosis?” Following the presentation
will be commentary by a panel of experts: His Excellency Theogene
Rudasingwa, Rwandan Ambassador to the United States and pediatrician
by profession; Eric Chinje of the World Bank; Dr. Seth Appiah-Opoku
of the University of Vermont’s International Development Planning
Program; and Vera Cooper, a health administrator from Liberia.
Middlebury College African Studies Lecturer David Eaton will moderate
the panel.
On Friday, Nov. 13 at 12:30 p.m., four
lectures will be offered at various locations on campus:
- Rwandan Ambassador to the United States His Excellency
Rudasingwa will address health issues in Rwanda in the 21st century.
His talk will be in the library of the Geonomics House on Hillcrest
Road, off College Street (Route 125); - Vera Cooper, a health administrator from Liberia,
will share her experiences and insights on Liberian health issues
at the Chellis House on Hillcrest Road, off College Street (Route
125);
- Eric Chinje of the World Bank will talk in the
Gifford Annex Lounge about the World Bank in 21st century Africa.
Gifford Hall is on Hepburn Road, off College Street (Route 125);- Dr. Seth Appiah-Opoku, environmentalist and visiting
assistant professor at the University of Vermont, will talk about
the impact of structural adjustment programs on the health delivery
system in Ghana, and the roles of indigenous healers. He will
speak in Room 117 of the Science Center on Storrs Avenue, off
South Main Street (Route 30).
- Dr. Seth Appiah-Opoku, environmentalist and visiting
To reserve a seat for any of the
four lectures, call Middlebury College symposium coordinator Beth
Whitney at 802-443-5936.
At 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Charles S.
Finch III, M.D., director of International Health at the Morehouse
School of Medicine, will give a lecture titled “African Science:
Emerging from the Shadows,” in the Geonomics House Library
on Hillcrest Road, off College Street (Route 125). Finch has made
more than 30 trips to Africa, undertaking USAID-funded public
health projects and research as well as independent studies in
African antiquities, comparative religion, anthropology, and ancient
science. He has published more than a dozen articles, essays and
books-his latest book is titled “The Star of Deep Beginnings:
Genesis of African Science and Technology” (1998).
Finch has lectured in more than 600 cities in the United States,
Egypt, Senegal, England, Switzerland, Guatemala, Trinidad, and
the Bahamas.
At 8:30 p.m. on Friday, the musical
group Jabali Afrika from Kenya will perform in the McCullough
Student Center on Old Chapel Road, off South Main Street (Route
30). A multifaceted band, Jabali Afrika musicians use an array
of instruments for their own special fusion of African rhythms,
blended voices, and dance . Originating from the Kenya National
Theater Dance Troupe, the group has performed throughout Africa,
winning the Best Traditional Adaptation Award in Kenya in 1994.
Featured on the BBC, Radio France, Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, and
Good Morning America, Jabali Afrika has also played in cities
throughout Europe, Japan, and the United States-including the
Marley Magic Tour in honor of the late Bob Marley. With two CDs
available in Europe, the band has recently released its third,
titled “Journey,” in the United States.
On Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8:30 p.m.,
“Africa Night in the Green Mountains” will bring the
symposium to a close. A dazzling evening of African and Caribbean
dance, song, and drama, “Africa Night” will be presented
by Middlebury and Mount Holyoke students in the McCullough Student
Center on Old Chapel Road, off South Main Street.
For more information contact Beth Whitney
at 802-443-5936.
Schedule of Events:
Thursday, Nov. 12
7:30 p.m.
“So, Doctor, What’s the Diagnosis?,” a presentation
of African health-related images and information with commentary
by panel of experts: His Excellency Theogene Rudasingwa, Rwandan
Ambassador to the United States and pediatrician by profession;
World Bank representative Eric Chinje; Dr. Seth Appiah-Opoku of
the University of Vermont’s International Development Planning
Program; and health administrator from Liberia, Vera Cooper. Moderator:
Middlebury College African Studies Lecturer David Eaton. Dana
Auditorium, Sunderland Language Center on College Street (Route
125).
Friday, Nov. 13
12:30 p.m.
Four lectures will be offered
at various locations on campus:
- Rwandan Ambassador to the United States His Excellency
Rudasingwa, “Health Issues in Rwanda in the 21st Century,”
Geonomics House on Hillcrest Road, off College Street (Route 125); - Vera Cooper, health administrator from Liberia,
“Experiences and Insights on Liberian Health Issues,”
Chellis House on Hillcrest Road, off College Street (Route 125); - Eric Chinje, World Bank representative, “World
Bank in 21st Century Africa,” Annex Lounge in Gifford Hall
on Hepburn Road, off College Street (Route 125); - Dr. Seth Appiah-Opoku, University
of Vermont environmentalist and professor, “Impact of Structural
Adjustment on the Health Delivery System in Ghana, and the Role
of Indigenous Healers,” Science Center Room 117 on Storrs
Avenue, off South Main Street (Route 30).
4:30 p.m.
Charles S. Finch III, M.D., director of International Health at
the Morehouse School of Medicine, “African Science: Emerging
from the Shadows,” at the Geonomics House Library on Hillcrest
Road, off College Street (Route 125).
8:30 p.m.
Jabali Afrika from Kenya, a special fusion of African rhythms,
blended voices, and dance, at McCullough Student Center on Old
Chapel Road, off South Main Street (Route 30).
Saturday, Nov. 14
8:30 p.m.
“Africa Night in the Green Mountains,” an evening of
African and Caribbean dance, song and drama, at McCullough Student
Center on Old Chapel Road, off South Main Street.