Celebrating Africa

May is Africa Month at UCT. What does this mean, and why do we celebrate? Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo - who's responsible for UCT's African and international connections - shares his vision for the celebrations, and highlights for 2014.

"The celebration of Africa Month at UCT is important because it influences perceptions of the continent among members of our community," says Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Thandabantu Nhlapo. "We see our place in Africa as a place in a vibrant, dynamic and progressive continent with a wealth of future prospects. Africa Month is our antidote against Afro-pessimism."

What's in store for Africa Month 2014? "The university-wide Africa Month Steering Committee has done a wonderful job in populating this year's calendar with activities. For the first time, in addition to popular sporting events such as the mini-Africa Cup for soccer, we shall be featuring indigenous games (yes, stick-fighting and morabaraba) and popular township games in which everyone will be able to participate. The month is also going to be a very musical one, with no fewer than three concerts planned. On the serious side, we will continue our tradition of scholarly engagements in the form of lectures, seminars, workshops, roundtables and debates. All in all, there will be something for everybody."