On Thursday, September 7, 2023, the Institute for Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies hosted a talk by Zambian artist, scholar, and thought leader Ba Mulenga Kapwepwe. The talk was titled "African Women Decolonizing History, Culture, and the Arts Through Digital Humanities," followed by a fireside chat with Mulenga and Dr. Jennie Burnet. Musical accompaniment was provided by Mathew Tembo, musician and Ph.D. student in Ethnomusicology at the University of Pittsburg.
Ba Mulenga Kapwepwe is a distinguished Zambian author and social activist. She has garnered widespread recognition for her remarkable contributions in the field of women's history, having co-founded the Zambian Women's History Museum. This event focused on digital humanities and its potential to decolonize African history, culture and the arts with a focus on The Women’s History Museum, a virtual museum founded to popularize indigenous African knowledge to broad audiences through its online presence and in-person installations and events.
The event opened with introductions by Dr. Carrie Manning, Associate Provost of International Initiatives, followed by remarks by alumna Chita Kubulo (Robinson College of Business BA 2012 and MBA 2013). We were also privileged to have Ambassador Chibamba Kanyama, Zambian Ambassador to the United States of America, present. He spoke about the work of Mulenga Kapwepwe and her contributions to Zambian culture and history. After Mulenga gave her keynote address, she sat down with Dr. Jennie Burnet, Director of the Institute for Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies Professor of Anthropology, for a fireside chat and Q&A session.
The event was well attended by members of the GSU community, as well as members of the Zambian community and diaspora. We are grateful to everyone who made this event possible, and to everyone who was able to join us!
Sponsors: Institute for Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies & Zambians Promoting Leadership in America
Co-sponsors: Women Lead, Department of Africana Studies, Center for Advancement of Students and Alumni, Association of Zambians in Atlanta, and Organization of Zambians Abroad
