Just when locals are starting to complain that some Africans are making it a profession to travel to Europe just to discuss Africa's problems, an old friend of mine whom I went to the same French high school with, (and even stayed at their Paris flat for a while back then), sent me a message saying: "I was discussing you at ASCU (African Society Cambridge University), and wondered if the president of the association could talk to you about a possible invitation to attend the 'Africa Together' Conference at Cambridge University in the UK." After reading the entire message, I thought to myself it would definitely be a great honour for me to share ideas and have pertinent discussions about Africa and the world at such a prestigious, world-renowned university. According to publicly available information, "Speakers from 15+ different countries attended the last 2017 conference, and ‘Africa Together’ is the largest student-led conference on Africa at the University of Cambridge." They add that "Over the last three years, the conference has grown into a leading platform that convenes some of Africa’s best minds, policymakers, businessmen and women, scholars, students and young professionals to discuss issues of critical importance to the continent’s future." So it sounds like a great opportunity for me to travel to Cambridge. But then I am also wondering isn't it an even bigger opportunity for Cambridge to come to Uganda? Why not travel to Africa and have the next annual conference/symposium here? A chance to talk with, and be heard by the many African students and scholars who cannot travel, but could contribute greatly to debates with home-grown questions and raw knowledge about their continent, its diverse societies, its history, its environment, its resources, economic potential and its real trends, its youth, its women, its changing cultures, its politics and/or its outlook ahead? Also, because I discuss my father President Idi Amin in a particularly enlightening way, I am concerned that while African students in Cambridge might be interested in hearing my views on various issues, the (white) British establishment are the people most inclined to not tolerate anything but demonization when it comes to my father. They are therefore most likely to create controversy over my possible participation in such a conference once they get to learn that I might be part of it. They are known to try and silence anyone who challenges their dwindling neo-colonialism, and their ageing imperialist policies. All Third World leaders who have confronted western countries on those grounds have been systematically demonized by their purportedly ethical/balanced media. So before I respond to Cambridge, I would like to ask the following; Should I even contemplate going there? Should THEY possibly contemplate coming here instead and we all participate? And if you think I should join their discussion panel, what specific subject matters do you think someone like me should tackle at the 'Africa Together Conference' at Cambridge University, UK?
Hussein Lumumba Amin Kampala, Uganda Africa Together Conference 2017: www.gatescambridge.org/news/af rica-together-2017
_______________________________________________ WestNileNet mailing list WestNileNet@kym.net http://orion.kym.net/mailman/listinfo/westnilenet WestNileNet is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/ The above comments and data are owned by whoever posted them (including attachments if any). The List's Host is not responsible for them in any way. _______________________________________________
