Africa Seminar 2005

  I was fortunate to have been permitted to join Winston-Salem State University in NC on its Seminar in African and Diaspora Studies to Benin and Ghana, West Africa through the International Programs Department. The seminar lasted from June 4th through the 27th. There were nine individuals on the trip: two WSSU staff members, five students from WSSU, NC A&T, and NCCU, and two members from the community of which I was one.

We were exposed to an incredible amount of information via lectures, discussions, and field trips. We met govermnent officials, university administrators, historians, curators, and many others to included the American Ambassador to Benin.

This was my first trip to the Motherland and I could not have asked for a better vehicle for my initial experience. It was really a watershed event and now I am figuring out how to quickly return.

We all kept daily diaries that are so filled with thoughts and experiences but it would be impractical to try to post mine here. Just let these few photos tell some of the story and hope that they might inspire those of you who have not been to move it up to to top of your list.

                                   ________Mel White

Photo credits: L. Smith, G. Garms, K. Henderson, M. White 

Traditional Dahomey Welcome

Ancient African Kingdoms/Empires

Photo courtesy of The Schomburg Center in Harlem, USA