Lunch Lecture Series

September 23 | “African Refugees, Gender and the Global Polycrisis” by Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso - Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at Brandeis University

October 8 | "The Second Battle for Africa: Writing New Histories of Global Africa" by Dr. Erik McDuffie - Professor, African American Studies/History and Director, Center for African Studies at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

On October 8, 2025 the Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity and the Center for African Studies brought Dr. Erik McDuffie, Professor, African American Studies/History and Director, Center for African Studies to talk about his recent book. This talk was also part of the Series on Gendered Displacement and Erasure. The talk took place on October 8, 2025 in room 306 Coble Hall and Virtually

February 26 | "Transcending the In-Between: Provocation, Humor & Joy in Performance" by Anida Yoeu Ali - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Alumna

On February 26, 2026 Illinois Alumna Anida Yoeu Ali gave talk, "Transcending the In-Between: Provocation, Humor & Joy in Performance" as part of the Series on Gendered and Displacement and Erasure at the Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity.

This visit and event was made possible by co-sponsorship support from The Office for Arts Integration at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign; IGI Grant Team on Leveraging the Arts in Global Dialogue at the School of Social Work; Global Arts Performance Initiative and Civic Engagement and Social Practice at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts; International Education; Asian American Cultural Center; Center for Global Studies; Women’s Resources Center; Department of Gender and Women’s Studies; and the Department of Anthropology. 

April 16 |  “Aimé Césaire in the Era of Black Lives Matter” by Dr. Frieda Ekotto - Lorna Goodison Collegiate Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies, Comparative Literature, and Francophone Studies at University of Michigan

On April 16, 2026, Dr. Frieda Ekotto (University of Michigan) concentrated on contemporary issues of law, race and LG BTQIA2S+ lives, inviting attendees to think critically about justice, identity, and the lived realties! Her talk, "Aimé Césaire in the Era of Black Lives Matter" was hosted by the Center for the Study of Global Gender Equity with co-sponsors: Center for Advanced Study; Center for African Studies; Center for Global Studies; Department of African American Studies; Department of Gender & Women's Studies; Unit for Criticism & Interpretive Theory; African Students Organization; and the Bruce D. Nesbitt African American Cultural Center.

More info to come.

More info to come.