Towards a Critique of Democracy in West Africa

This symposium explores everyday forms of democratic governance in West Africa. It examines not only contemporary modes of governance but also the pan-Africanisms and militarisms of the early postcolonial period that continue to haunt West African political imaginaries today. The papers are attentive to the times we inhabit: after the end of "FrancAfrique," at a moment when new hegemons are plundering the continent, at a time of democracy's global travails. They also remain keyed into new modes of digital and diasporic belonging.

Speakers: Achille Mbembe (WITS), Felwine Sarr (Duke), Rose Ngengue (York); Gary Wilder (CUNY), Alioune Sow (Florida), Mamadou Diouf (Columbia)

Discussants: Michael Hardt (Duke), Anne-Maria Makhulu (Duke), Sarah Balakrishna (Duke), Laurent Dubois (UVA)

SCHEDULE

9:30-10:15 am | Keynote
Achille Mbembe, WITS

10:15-12:15 pm | Speakers
Mamadou Diouf, Columbia University
Alioune Sow, University of Florida
Gary Wilder, CUNY
Felwine Sarr, Duke University
Rose Ndengue, York University

12:15-12:45 pm | Lunch

12:45-1:30 pm | Discussants
Michael Hardt, Duke University
Laurent Dubois, University of Virginia
Anne-Maria Makhulu, Duke University
Sarah Balakrishnan Duke University

1:30-3:00 pm | Q&A

This event is organized by the Africa Initiative at Duke University and cosponsored by the Franklin Humanities Institute.