Ethiopian singers to open Africa Institute academic year in UAE

The event will run from 11 to 12 October, marking the beginning of the institute's 2019-20 academic year, also known as the "scholarly and cultural season".

The season seeks to highlight the complex histories in Africa and to discuss its contemporary issues. The programme for these seasons usually includes scholarly, cultural and artistic activities from a specific country in Africa or the African diaspora.

The soon-to-be-launched academic year is themed Ethiopia and will be dedicated to the search of Ethiopia’s roots, covering the country’s ancient and postcolonial history, as well as the current challenges and conditions faced by its citizens.

“The Africa Institute is an interdisciplinary academic research institute dedicated to the study, research and documentation of Africa, its people and its cultures, it's complex past, present and future, and its manifold connections with the wider world,” the institute said.

"It is a globally oriented institution with a focus on the humanities and social sciences that will have a postgraduate studies programme offering both masters and PhD degrees with the aim of training a new generation of critical thinkers in African and African diaspora studies.”

Previous musicians who have performed at the annual opening ceremony include Youssou N’dour (Senegal), Oumou Sangare (Mali), Somi (US/Rwanda) and Mulatu Astakte (Ethiopia).

Apart from the concert, Prof Elizabeth Giorgis of Addis Ababa University and Cornell University associate professor Dagmawi Woubshet will present a lecture on Ethiopian history.

Also speaking will be media and communication strategist Surafel Wondimu and Salah M Hassan, a professor of African and African diaspora art history and visual culture at Cornell University.