You Are Invited! 

Africana Studies Week is coming up! The week full of events will take place from September 26 to October 1. With the exception of the ExtraVOLganza, registration is not required for in-person events. 

All events are co-sponsored by the Division of Diversity and Engagement and the College of Arts and Sciences. Event details and registration links are below.

Monday, September 26: Africa Day

“The History of Africa"

11:30 AM -12:20 PM | In-person and virtual
Student Union 362 | Zoom: tiny.utk.edu/Falola

Public lecture by Professor Toyin Falola, Professor; Jacob & Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities; University Distinguished Teaching Professor, University of Texas, Austin.

“Alex Haley and Connecting the African Diaspora”

7:00 PM - 8:15 PM | In-person and virtual
Hodges Library Auditorium | Zoom: tiny.utk.edu/Haley

Public panel by Jennifer Benedetto Beals, Alex Haley Collection Hodges Library at University of Tennessee; Professor Amadou Sall, Senior Lecturer, Department of Africana Studies, University of Tennessee.

Tuesday, September 27: Afro-Caribbean Day

“Transforming the World: Slavery in Its Global Setting”

11:30 AM - 12:25 PM | In-person and virtual
Student Union 169 | Zoom: tiny.utk.edu/Walvin

Public lecture by Professor James Walvin, Professor Emeritus, Department of History, University of York, UK.

Public Afro-Caribbean Dine and Dance

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM - In-person
Frieson Black Cultural Center

“Heart & Soul” Catering Presentation about Afro-Caribbean cuisine; with Afro-Caribbean Food and Music, DJ, and Day Party

Wednesday, September 28: Americas Day

Afro-Mexican History

10:20 AM - 11:10 AM | In-person
McClung Museum Auditorium

Public “The Spirit of Día de los Muertos” Exhibit and talk with Katy Malone, McClung Museum and Professor Beau Gaitors, Department of History, University of Tennessee.

Black Tennessean History

4:30 PM - 5:45 PM | In-person and virtual
McClung Museum, Room 63 | Zoom: tiny.utk.edu/BlackTNHistory

Public fireside chat with Dr. Beverly Greene Bond, Professor, African American History, University of Memphis and Rev. Renee’ Kesler, President and CEO, The Beck Cultural Center.

Artist's Exhibit

6:30PM - 7:30 PM | In-person
Frieson Center Gallery

Public, art talk with Nori Clark, mixed-media artist.

Thursday, September 29: Commemoration Day

AFST Symposium

9:30 AM - 2:45 PM | In-person and virtual
Student Union 270 | Zoom: tiny.utk.edu/AFSTSymposium

Welcome & Opening Remarks: 9:30 AM–9:45 AM
AFST Faculty & Affiliates Research: 9:45 AM–11:00 AM
Lunch: Undergraduate Experiences: 11:20 AM–12:35 PM
Emergent Topics in Africana Studies: 12:55 PM–2:10 PM
Closing Remarks: 2:15 PM–2:45 PM

“Ain’t I a Woman”

7:30 PM - 9:00 PM | In-person
Student Union Auditorium

Free and public performance from Core Ensemble, featuring Professor Shinnerie Jackson, Department of Theatre Faculty Member, University of Tennessee.

ExtraVOLganza Dinner

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM | In-person
Student Union Ballroom
Purchase tickets here. **Required 

Vice Chancellor Tyvi Small will lead the ceremony and Professor Ossoubouy Sacko, Former President, Kyoto Seika University, Japan, will be the keynote speaker. Audience members are invited and ticketed through the university and community.

Friday, September 30: Community Day

“Ain’t I a Woman”

9:30 AM - 11:00 AM | In-person
Student Union Auditorium

Local high schools will join together for a performance and dramaturgical discussion by Core Ensemble, featuring Professor Shinnerie Jackson, Department of Theatre Faculty Member, University of Tennessee.

Saturday, October 1: Afro-Brazilian Celebration

Interactive Maculelê Workshop

10:30 AM - 12:30 PM | In-person
Student Union Ballroom 

Coordinated by Portuguese faculty Wanessa Velloso and professional dance instructors from the Capoeira-Maculelê Art Center of Atlanta. A production of the Portuguese Program, Dept. of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures.