DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | University of Iowa Afro-American Cultural Center, 1968-2009 | 1970-11-16 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: "Programs on Cultures of Africa Set at UI"

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University of Iowa Afro-American Cultural Center, 1968-2009

1970-11-16 Iowa City Press-Citizen Article: "Programs on Cultures of Africa Set at UI"

[handwritten]
P.C 11/16/70 

Theme: Africa Remembered - 

Programs on Cultures of Africa Set at UI

" Africa Remembered" is the theme of a program of public lectures and demonstrations on the cultures of Africa which starts Wednesday at the University of Iowa at 8 p.m. in 3407 Engineering Building. 
   Yaw Akyeampong, a graduate student in hydraulics and mechanics from Ghana, is coordinator of the series, which will include two presentations each month during the academic year. 
   The series is sponsored by the UI Afro-American Cultural Center as its first program of the year. Other speakers, films and art exhibits will also be scheduled. 

The opening lecture of the series which is free to the public, is entitles " What is Africa?" Akyeampong said it would stress the fact that Africa continent, rather than a country. 
   Akyeampong said the series would include demonstrations of African ceremonies, cooking music and costumes. He will be aided by other Africans on the UI campus.

African culture has been largely overlooked by the American education system, he said. As a result the names of a few white explorers and missionaries and the memory of the slave-trade are the extent of many people's knowledge of the continent. he said. 

The series will touch on African language, religion, social life, politics and economics as well as a historical survey covering the early civilizations, invasions, the slave-trade, the colontal system, independence reconstruction and the issue of pan-Africanism. 

Ted Hughes, director of the Afro-American Cultural Center, said the organization's head-quarters at 3 East Market Street has been widely considered just a meeting-place for minority group students. 
    The center does provide means of social adjustment required by the "cultural shock" experienced by some minority group students, said Hughes, and it exists to provide them with means to acquire historical, cultural, social, economic and political awareness. 
   But among the center's principal roles will be to develop experimental programs for UI students, staff and faculty members, and for the Iowa City community as a whole. 

Miss Lilia Abron a PHD candidate in environmental engineering from Memphis, said that as house manager of the center she will encourage its development into a combination of museum, library and art studio. It is open to the general public, as well as to people from the UI community, she said.

The Afro-American Students Association also has an office in the center.

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[handwritten] P.C 11/16/70 Theme: Africa Remembered - Programs on Cultures of Africa Set at UI " Africa Remembered" is the theme of a program of public lectures and demonstrations on the cultures of Africa which starts Wednesday at the University of Iowa at 8 p.m. in 3407 Engineering Building. Yaw Akyeampong, a graduate student in hydraulics and mechanics from Ghana, is coordinator of the series, which will include two presentations each month during the academic year. The series is sponsored by the UI Afro-American Cultural Center as its first program of the year. Other speakers, films and art exhibits will also be scheduled. The opening lecture of the series which is free to the public, is entitles " What is Africa?" Akyeampong said it would stress the fact that Africa continent, rather than a country. Akyeampong said the series would include demonstrations of African ceremonies, cooking music and costumes. He will be aided by other Africans on the UI campus. African culture has been largely overlooked by the American education system, he said. As a result the names of a few white explorers and missionaries and the memory of the slave-trade are the extent of many people's knowledge of the continent. he said. The series will touch on African language, religion, social life, politics and economics as well as a historical survey covering the early civilizations, invasions, the slave-trade, the colontal system, independence reconstruction and the issue of pan-Africanism. Ted Hughes, director of the Afro-American Cultural Center, said the organization's head-quarters at 3 East Market Street has been widely considered just a meeting-place for minority group students. The center does provide means of social adjustment required by the "cultural shock" experienced by some minority group students, said Hughes, and it exists to provide them with means to acquire historical, cultural, social, economic and political awareness. But among the center's principal roles will be to develop experimental programs for UI students, staff and faculty members, and for the Iowa City community as a whole. Miss Lilia Abron a PHD candidate in environmental engineering from Memphis, said that as house manager of the center she will encourage its development into a combination of museum, library and art studio. It is open to the general public, as well as to people from the UI community, she said. The Afro-American Students Association also has an office in the center.