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African Studies and Linguistics

African Languages

Language showcase to top off summer institute.

Students participating in the Summer Cooperative African Language Institute will perform a night of songs, skits, poetry and more to showcase what they’ve learned during the two-month, nationwide program being hosted this year by units in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Dr. Eyamba Bokamba, director of SCALI and a professor of linguistics and African languages in LAS, says 11 African languages are being taught at this year’s institute. The capstone language showcase – open to the public – will feature each one. The showcase takes place from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 25, in the Illini Ballroom. A reception will follow in the union’s rooms 314 A and B.

Roughly 100 students are learning the African languages of Akan-Twi, Arabic, Bamana, Hausa, Igbo, Kikongo, Pulaar, Swahili, Woloff, Yoroba, and Zulu. The institute is being hosted by the Center for African Studies and the Department of Linguistics.

Besides the showcase, the program is offering a variety of public events before its conclusion on August 1, including dance and cooking classes, cinema features with analysis, research forums, roundtables, and hair braiding. A full schedule of events and other information is available on the website, scali.afrst.uiuc.edu

This is U of I’s second year hosting the event as part of a rotating, collaborative effort between nationwide Africa Title VI National Resource Centers and Foreign Language and Area Studies institutions. Michigan State University will serve as host for summers 2009 and 2010.

By Dave Evensen
June 2008