Regional celebrations go online

Although live events weren’t able to be held, we celebrated two regional events, Celebrate South Asia and Africa Week, digitally instead.

Restrictions on events didn’t stop the Edinburgh Global teams from creating a jam-packed programme to celebrate two of our regional events.

Both series of events celebrate our connections as well as the history and culture of the regions. Celebrate South Asia took place from the end of September to the end of October and Africa was held in the last week of October.

Being held digitally had the advantage of more people being able to attend from anywhere in the world, with Africa Week seeing attendees based everywhere from Nigeria to USA, Jamaica to France!

Celebrate South Asia

This year events celebrating the University’s connections to South Asia took place from 30 September to 23 October.

Harish Lokhun, Regional Manager – South Asia, said: "Celebrate South Asia offered the opportunity for our staff and student community and external partners to engage with our connections to the region online during the Covid-19 pandemic. From literary greats such as Arundhati Roy to a live streamed Sitar Performance, the series of events offered something for everyone!"

The programme started off with the South Asia Students Association’s Bol 2, a special event dedicated to showcasing South Asian experiences through poetry, spoken word and discussion.

Professor Patrick French, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Ahmedabad University held a talk entitled The Indestructible Gandhi discussing why his ideas continue to resonate 151 years after his birth. If you missed the live event, then you can watch the recording here.

Three University alumni for India joined Dr. Sumeet Jain, Senior Lecturer in Social Work from the University’s School of Social and Political Science, along with the Mariwala Health Initiative to offer their perspectives on the impact that Covid-19 can have on mental health.

Celebrate South Asia also saw a first for St Cecilia’s Hall, which live streamed an event for the first time. The Sitar project performed a lunchtime concert which has been streamed more than 300 time since. The concert included music in the dhrupad tradition performed on the very rare Rudra Veena as well as sitar and tabla duos. Watch the videos.

Africa Week

This year's programme of events focused on the theme of movement, including travel, online movements and campaigns, forced movement and the exchange of knowledge.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars held a special live version of their Ekasi podcast presented by Julian Mashinagidze and Geofrey Njovu, supported by Blossom Kafumbata and Jesse Jedidia. You can learn more about the Ekasi podcast in our feature.

The impact of the pandemic can be felt everywhere, and TIBA Partnership researchers in Edinburgh and Africa have been at the forefront, at both national and international levels in undertaking cutting edge research on frontline health workers, and contributing to the production of high quality, high level policy briefs for African governments. The TIBA Partnership event showcased the various and vital pieces of work that they had been conducting over the past few months.

With most of our lives being increasingly digital at the moment, Teaching Matters shared their new blog series looking at digital movements. Joe Arton and Joséphine Foucher from Teaching Matters, Johanna Holtan from the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, along with current Scholars and MCF alumni discussed the how blogging can be a place to inspire campaigns, movements and push boundaries. You can read the blog series, Spotlight: Voices of Movers and Shakers on the Teaching Matter's blog.

The University was proud to welcome award winning author Helon Habila who was in conversation with Edinburgh students, Tanatsei Gambura and Zoe Mebude-Steves. Helon Habila discussed his recent book Travellers which was shortlisted for the 2020 James Tait Black Prize.

Africa Week wrapped up with a virtual After Party hosted by Cynthia Gentle, Zimbabwean born singer/songwriter, now based in Edinburgh, who will have a range of guests talking about music from their home countries and why music is so important in their lives. There was also an hour long set by Glasgow based Jambo! Radio who played play some of the most recognised songs from across the African continent.

To be involved with next year’s Celebrate South Asia events contact Harish Lokhum

Email Harish

To be involved with next year’s Africa Week events contact Nick Rowland

Email Nick