Africa Day celebrations endorse UCT's Afropolitan drive

(From left) Rhoda Adonis and Ronelle Steenberg beat out a rhythm on Africa Day during the festivities in the commerce faculty last year.

Africa Day, held annually on 25 May, is a red-letter date for UCT in terms of cementing the institution's position as an Afropolitan university.

Already the university has made significant strides in this endeavour, says deputy vice-chancellor Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo.

"The Afropolitan vision is simple enough to describe: it is UCT's aspiration to play a role on the continent that is commensurate with our pre-eminent position as one of Africa's leading institutions, and to play this role more consistently and more visibly," he said. "We believe we are well-prepared for such a role."

UCT's annual intake of students, for example, is weighted heavily in favour of African students. In 2010, 62% of UCT's 4 671 international students came from 35 African countries, a total of 2 894 students. UCT is also involved in several hundred research collaborations in Africa and in many capacity-building programmes. (A special edition of Monday Paper, Afropolitanism at UCT, will be published in the week of 30 May to 5 June.)

Africa Day events at UCT on 25 May will include:

• A panel discussion on the study of Africa in the post-colonial African university, at 16h30 on Wednesday 25 May, in Lecture Theatre 1 in the Graduate School of Humanities. Panellists are: Professor Adebayo Olukoshi, director of the United Nations African Institute for Economic Development and Planning; Associate Professor Pearl Sithole of the Department of Community Development and Social Work at the University of KwaZulu-Natal; Professor Lungisile Ntsebeza of UCT, who holds the National Research Foundation Research Chair in Land Reform and Democracy in South Africa; Associate Professor Harry Garuba, director of UCT's Centre for African Studies; and Associate Professor Leonhard Praeg of the Department of Political and International Studies at Rhodes University.

• An exhibition at the Robert Leslie Social Sciences Building from 23 to 25 May, from 08h30 to 16h00, showcasing UCT's partnerships and collaborations in Africa.

• The International Academic Programme Office (IAPO) will hold an Africa Day dress competition on 25 May. The winning photograph stands to bag R1 000, and the photographer R500. The photograph must have been taken between 08h00 and 20h00 on African Day. Please send all entries to Brenda Kok by noon on Thursday 26 May. Finalists will be announced on 1 June and will be notified by email or phone. Please include this information: your name, department/unit, country or countries which the garments represent (if possible) and your contact details such as email and telephone number.