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Conference Venue

Convocation Hall

Located on the second floor of Wesley building, Room 16, University of Winnipeg 

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The University of Winnipeg’s downtown campus, along with its culture of community dialogue, makes it an ideal location for hosting this national conference. We hope that the conversations held during the conference will further encourage the university administration to prioritize African/African Diaspora/Black Studies within the institution. It is essential to address the significant underrepresentation of African/Black academics at the university, particularly in light of the growing number of African immigrants in the city and province, as well as the increase in international students from Africa attending the university. 

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For those visiting Winnipeg, we highly recommend exploring the various attractions around our university, which include museums, art galleries, markets, to name only a few. As well, there are numerous African restaurants conveniently located near the university, offering the tantalizing aromas and delicious flavours of African cuisine. 

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Conference Agenda

All conference sessions are free and open to the public. 
See the conference brochure for more details of schedules.  

Times indicated in the schedules are Central Daylight-Saving Time (Winnipeg)

DAY ONE 

Thursday, September 19, 2024 | Convocation Hall, U of Winnipeg Campus 

8:30-9:00 (Registration & Coffee) | 9:00-9:30 (Welcome, Land Acknowledgement, Opening Remarks) | 15-min break between sessions | 12:15-1:15 PM (Lunch)

KEYNOTE 1

 

9:30 AM - 10:45 AM

 

“Strangers in Our Midst: Confronting Popular Stereotypes about Africa and its People” 

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SPEAKER: 

Dr. Joseph Mensah 

York University 

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MODERATOR: 

Dr. Eliakim Sibanda 

University of Winnipeg 

PANEL 1

 

11 AM - 12:15 PM

 

“African Immigrant Mental Health” 

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PRESENTATIONS: 

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​​“The Burden of Cultivating Wellness among Immigrant African Families: Thrownness, Transcendence, and Freedom” (Dr. Grace Ukasoanya, University of Manitoba)

 

“Addressing Social Determinants of Mental Health Among African Migrants in Canada” (Dr. Sophie Yohani, University of Alberta)

 

“African Immigrants and Blacks in Canada and the Question of Belonging” (Adey Mohamed, University of Manitoba) 

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“Contours of Joy in the Diasporic Fiction of Téa Mutonji and Djamila Ibrahim” (Dr. Uchechukwu Umezurike, University of Calgary) 

 

MODERATOR: 

Abdikheir Ahmed 

Aurora Family Therapy Centre, University of Winnipeg 

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PANEL 2

 

1:30 PM - 2:45 PM

 

“Structural Barriers and Access” 

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PRESENTATIONS: 

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“Building Inclusive Workplaces: Tackling Black-Coded Racism and Discrimination Faced by Resettled African Migrants in Canada” (Dr. Bolaji Akinyele-Akanbi, University of Manitoba)

 

“Canadian Labour Market: Immigrants’ Employment and Credentialing Barriers” (Dr. Ayodeji Osiname, Brandon University)

 

“Accessing Justice in the Canadian Legal System: Experiences of Sierra Leonean Immigrants” (Dr. Mohamed Sesay, York University)

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“A Literary Autoethnography of Diasporic Hunger” (Olajide Salawu, University of Alberta)

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MODERATOR: 

Dr. Enayon Sunday Taiwo 

University of Winnipeg   

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PANEL 3

 

3 PM - 4:15 PM

 

“Home and Belonging” 

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PRESENTATIONS:

 

“(Re)conceptualizing Home among Ghanaian Immigrants in Canada: Narratives of Ghanaian Canadians on their Return Visits to the Homeland” (Vivien Bediako, York University)

 “‘Go to the Land I Will Show You’: The Expansion and Religious Integration of African Christian Immigrant Churches in Canada” (Dr. James Kwateng-Yeboah, Saint Mary’s University)

 “Representations of Transnational Migration in Afrobeats Music: Home Constructs and the Politics of Return” (Adesoji Babalola, Queen’s University) 

 “Promoting Equitable and Peaceful Integration: Examining the Relevance of Language Proficiency Tests for African Immigrants Educated in Canada” (Joshua Okyere, University of Manitoba)

 

MODERATOR: 

Dr. Etienne-Marie Lassi  

University of Manitoba   

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PANEL 4

 

4:30 PM - 5:45 PM

 

“Migration, Identity, Racism” 

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PRESENTATIONS:

 

“Colonial Aggression and Contemporary Africans’ Migration: Two Sides of White Supremacist Violence?” (Christiane Essombe, U of Cape Town / U of Montreal)

 

“Complex Implication: Privilege, Positionality, and Racialised Immigration in Canada” (Dr. Sakiru Adebayo, University of British Columbia) 

 

“Black in Canada (Abroad), African at ‘Home’” (Dr. Benjamin Maiangwa, Lakehead University)

 

“Experiences of African Women Migrants during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada: A Scoping Review Protocol” (Dr. Abiba Yayah, University of Calgary) 

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MODERATOR: 

Dr. Sally Ogoe 

University of Manitoba 

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