Jenny gives an inaugural lecture at the Centre for Arts La Regenta

On March 23rd, Jenny Mbaye was invited to open up a series of seminars with an inaugural lecture at the Centro de Arte La Regenta (Las Palmas, Gran Canaria). Coordinated by visual artist and researcher, José Otero, this sphere of reflection entitled ‘Cosmopolitics: World citizenship, Identity and Globalisation’ invites sociologists, ethnomusicologists, historians and philosophers to rethink the notion of ‘cosmopolitanism’.

In her talk ‘Cultivating African Cities: Reflective notes on the decolonial potential of urban cultural elites’, Jenny explored the role of a new generation of cultural makers in Sub-Saharan Africa who have contributed in redefining from their creative practices (fashion, architecture, contemporary arts and digital arts) what it means to be from African cities and in this world. Her contribution reflected an emerging research project dedicated to a contemporary inquiry into the current dynamics of urban cultural governance in African contexts.

The discussions raised by this intervention will be further developed in a panel convened by Jenny on the same topic at the next European Conference on African Studies (ECAS, Basel Switzerland) in June. José is expected to contribute to this panel with an original perspective on Tri-Continentality providing unique insights onto urban cultural elites from the insular and historical perspective of Canari Islands and its relation with the African continent.

More information on The Art Centre La Regenta and its seminar series can be found here: http://www.laregenta.org/actividades/conferencias/cosmopolitica-ciudadania-del-mundo-identidad-y-globalizacion

More information on ECAS 7 and the panel ‘Cultivating African Cities’ can be found here: http://www.nomadit.co.uk/ecas/ecas2017/panels.php5?PanelID=5186