Dr Sylvester Bongani Maphosa

Dr Sylvester Bongani Maphosa, Chief Research Specialist & Head of Unit: Peace & Security will be attending the 64^th Annual Conference on World Affairs (CWA) from 9 – 13 April, 2012 at the University of Colorado in Boulder, Denver, USA.

 The 2012 conference will be hosted under the theme ‘Everything Conceivable’ and will host over 100 participants from around the globe.

 Dr Maphosa will be promoting AISA’s research work. He will also engage with global scholars who will be discussing a variety of topics including, From Arab Spring to Nuclear Winter, Africa: Peace building from within, Sovereignty: If and when to violate it and many more through the research presentations and reports that will be presented at the conference.

 The CWA will offer not just political sessions, but a broad range of subjects and speakers. Conference panels and performances encompass everything from music and literature to environment and science, journalism, visual arts, diplomacy, technology, film, business, medicine and human rights.

 Dr Maphosa will also use his visit to network with other researchers and scholars as well as:

• Working meetings on the “Peace from Below” book project (meetings with AISA Fellow Dr Laura DeLuca and other chapter contributors Prof Ajume Wingo, Prof Keasley and Prof Goldman).
• Collaborate with Fellow (Dr Laura DeLuca) in reviewing of chapter drafts which were submitted on 1^st April as we near conclusion of the edited volume. 
• Meet with Mr. Jeff French of One Earth Future (OEF) Foundation who are interested in collaborating with AISA.
• Methodology lectures arranged for post-graduate students (with a special focus on field experiences in data collection)

 This year’s keynote address will be delivered by Alice Rivlin, Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution and Founding Director of the independent, nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. Her topic will be “Can the Center Hold: Democracy and Governance in a Polarized America”

 AISA wishes Dr Maphosa a successful trip

Ms Yolanda Mokoena

 The Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) Publications Division will be one of the 1,500 international exhibitors, including publishers, literary agents and international retail buyers that will be exhibiting at the 41^st London Book Fair (LBF) at London’s Earls Court from 16–18 April 2012.

AISA will partake in LBF 2012 with financial backing from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Sector Specific Assistance Scheme (SSAS) as coordinated by the Publishers’ Association of South Africa (PASA).

The Division will be represented by Ms Yolanda Mokoena, Assistant Editor, who will be coordinating the set-up of AISA’s book exhibition in collaboration with the DTI to showcase AISA publications at the Book Fair.

As part of her visit, Ms Mokoena will also attend various publishing seminars, networking sessions and investigate potential international partnerships as well as rights in line with the Publications Division’s strategic objectives.

The 2012 exhibition will host over 400 seminars and events, including ‘The Future of Creative Media’ and ‘Why Reading Non-Fiction is Vital for Children’ and will assist the Publications Division in its objectives of creating awareness for AISA and the publications.

The Division will also have the opportunity to sell publications to the more than 20,000 visitors who are expected to attend the exhibition.

 “We will also be using the Book Fair to increase visibility and distribution of our publications, and to foster working relationships with other organisations, representing AISA as an entity that produces knowledge for development, globally and internationally” said Ms Mokoena .

The London Book Fair, is an international exhibition that hosts business professionals from all over the world and provides publishers with a marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, television, film and digital channels. In 2011, the total attendance of the London Book Fair was 24, 802.

Mr Solani Ngobeni

 AISA takes pleasure in informing you that Mr Solani Ngobeni, Director of Publications at the Institute has been awarded a Research Fellowship at the African Studies Centre in Leiden, Netherlands.

 Mr. Ngobeni, who is also a Research Associate in the Department of Languages and Literatures in the Faculty of Arts at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, will be undertaking a visit to the Netherlands from the 1^st to the 31^st May 2012.  

The African Studies Centre is an independent scientific institute that undertakes social-science research on Africa, and aims to promote a better understanding and insight into historical, current and future social developments in Sub-Saharan Africa. The institute is located in the Faculty of Social Sciences of the University of Leiden.

AISA congratulates Mr. Ngobeni on his fellowship, and  wishes him a successful and enriching trip.

Mr. Randall Robinson

The Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA), in collaboration with the South African-American Partnership Forum (SAAPF) hosted a seminar on Reflections on the South African Freedom Agenda: Past, Present and Future, presented by the 2012 Recipient of the South African Presidential Order of Companions of Oliver Tambo Award, Mr.  Randall Robinson.

Mr Robinson said he was extremely pleased to be back in South Africa, and to receive this great honour (Presidential Order of Companions of Oliver Tambo Award).

Mr Robinson was one of leading voices in the United States that campaigned against apartheid. “The African American and American community in general, had supported South Africa in its quest to get rid of apartheid. On November 21, 1984 we had a meeting with the then South African Ambassador to the United States, and we told him that we would not leave the embassy until they had released Nelson Mandela, freed all political prisoners and begun to dismantle the apartheid system. The ambassador refused and this was followed by the arrest of over 5000 people at the South African embassy, which later set the tone for talks with Senator Kennedy and others which mapped out the Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986 which turned out to be the first and only ever override of an American Presidential veto in the 20^th century on American foreign policy” he added. This eventually led to sanctions and more pressure on the apartheid government in South Africa which would later result in the end of apartheid.

 He stated that the reason the campaign was so successful against apartheid, was due to people like Lindiwe Mazibuko, and others who from the ANC played a prominent role in the USA and were friends to the American community due to the relationships forged through these testing times. Randall pointed out that it was an extraordinary experience for him to come back to South Africa now, and see a different South Africa.

 On the way forward for South Africa, Mr. Robinson emphasised the importance of continuing to foster and build the relationships and bonds between both South Africa and the African American communities, as it is important because they both share a tragic history, and it is a chance to continue to build the relationships they had forged during the past struggles.

 “South Africans should realise that social problems take more time to fix. Slavery was ended, but discrimination continued. There is always one problem after the other. Patience is important in democracy” he concluded.

Mr. Moeletsi Mbeki who is the Co-Founder of SAAPF, congratulated the ANC for recognising the African Americans and former senator Edward Kennedy. He also thanked government for the name changing process. The name changing initiative recognises people who fought for South African liberation.  He promised to make an appeal to the Department of Arts and Culture to include other people outside the borders of South Africa who also helped in liberating South Africans; people like Randall Robison and Malcolm X. He also mentioned that he is working on documenting history of the role of America in the liberation of some African countries, and the relationship between Africa and America. 

Mr. Michael Sudarkasa, Chair of SAAPF said he  was very happy that AISA chose to host this event to pay tribute to Mr. Randall Robinson, and their immense efforts in creating a platform and continuing  the partnership between both the American and South African communities.

Randall Robinson, an internationally respected social justice advocate and author, is also a Professor of Law at Penn State University.

Second International Symposium
May 23- 25, 2012
The African Union after a Decade: African Unity Now! “Putting African Unity First means Putting Humanity First”

The Africa Institute of South Africa (AISA) in collaboration with the Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) and the Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute (TMALI), City of Tshwane, Department of Science and Technology (DST), National Research Foundation (NRF), Department of International Relation Cooperation (DIRCO), Statistics SA and DITSONG Museums  will host an international conference from 23- 25 May 2012 in Tshwane. There will be an Africa Day exhibition during the day on 25 May 2012, highlighting  Africa’s way of life, tourism, and investment and trade opportunities at the DITSONG Museum of National History, 149 Visagie Street, Tshwane.

The annual Thabo Mbeki Africa Day Lecture will take place on the 24^th of May 2012  in the evening at the UNISA Campus, Tshwane. 

The 23rd and 24th will be devoted entirely to presentions of papers from African scholars exploring in depth the African Union and the way it has succeeded or failed to carry out the functions it mandated itself to do.

Please visit http://www.africadayexpo.co.za/ for more information

If you have any questions or queries please contact Mr Sam Lekala +27 12 304 9700 or email us on slekala@ai.org.za

AISA’s mandate is to produce knowledge aimed at informing sustainable political and socio-economic development in Africa. AISA’s vision is to be ‘An indispensable African voice on African Affairs’ and our 2011-2015 Research Agenda is ““Seeking solutions for Africa’s developmental challenges”