The University of Wisconsin hosted “Towards an Africa Without Borders: Unification and Fundamental Change,” a conference exploring the notion of Pan-Africanism, celebrating the struggles and successes of those that have overcome oppression and discussing possible solutions to implement a unified Africa.

The conference drew journalists, political activists and African and American professors, including faculty from UW. The three keynote speakers that lectured at the three-day seminar were Kenyan writer and professor Ngugi wa Thiong’o, American professor and author Angela Davis and Kenyan historian and writer Maina wa Kinyatti. All three speakers have been arrested for their roles as political activists.

A member of the committee who organized the program, UW grad student Christina Higgins, said in an interview that the entire conference was loosely based on the idea of Pan-Africanism.

“The overall message of what Pan-Africanism means [is] how can African issues be improved by seeking solidarity and unity,” she said.

She added that the impressive guest and panelist list attracted UW students.

“A fair number of students came, especially for the keynote speakers,” she said. “The majority of the audience was [of] color,” she continued, but she added that many students of color know the issues at hand, so to have just colored students would be “preaching to the choir.”

She also added that the format of the conference was designed to have white students get involved.

“We tried to make it more conversational,” Higgins said, both to have audience involvement and to “bridge the gap” so all people can get informed.

Higgins added that the conference ended with a lot of questioning of what to do about African issues, such as economic development, globalization, corruption and a definition of Pan-Africanism.

“We didn’t really have concrete plans of action (at the end of the conference),” Higgins said.

This sentiment was seconded by conference coordinator and UW student Mukoma wa Ngugi.

“We have just suggestions,” he said. “You have to dream big but take small steps.”

He noted the student and faculty interest in the conference could indicate a development in political advocacy.

“Maybe this shows a movement away from political apathy,” Ngugi said.

Ngugi urged the importance of this conference and the need for involvement in such organizations to promote a borderless Africa because humanity is at stake.

“At the end of the day, all human societies are connected,” Ngugi said, noting that many African issues are localized and are not generally known about.

“There are oppressive conditions all over the world … and (in some cases) there is tragedy going on in Africa.”

Ngugi added that in order for students to make a difference, they must be informed.

Magdalena Hauner, an associate dean at UW and faculty advisor for the organizational committee, added that the conference had particular importance to the students involved in putting it together.

“It’s a very valuable experience in education, academics and activism,” she said. “It makes them much better citizens.”

Hauner said the committee also made links “all over campus,” overcame all sorts of problems and tackled some very weighty academic issues.

The conference came together with the support of a handful of academic and administrative departments within UW, the PEOPLE Program, the Multicultural Student Coalition, the Multi-Cultural Council, the Associated Students of Madison, and the Pathways to Excellence Program.

The results of the conference will be released in anthology form from a Zimbabwe publisher. There is talk of a similar conference in 2005.