AfricaGSD
AfricaGSD seeks to provide an informative platform for the discussion of African urbanism and architecture. The group seeks to explore relationships among the larger social, economic, and environmental challenges of the continent as a means to identify the relevance of architectural practices within both African and global contexts. A home for Africans and African enthusiasts, this group is both culturally diverse and multidisciplinary in nature.
This group is currently seeking new leadership, contact [email protected] to inquire.
Staff Advisor: Mike Hopper
Recent Activities:
The Harvard African Development Conference
The Harvard African Development Conference brings together distinguished players working towards Africa’s development. At each conference, among other roles, AfricaGSD organizes a city-focused panel at the conference, drawing eminent architects, property developers, academics and urban planners to discuss Africa’s urban past, present and future. The theme for the 2016 conference was The African Renaissance: Re-imagining engagement and opportunities and was organized in collaboration with student groups from various Harvard University schools: Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Harvard Law School, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard School of Public Health and Harvard College.
African Movie Night
The African movie night uses the medium of film to share stories from Africa and the Diaspora. Last year’s movies included Sarafina, the Broadway musical turned movie (released in 1992, just prior to the end of Apartheid) that centers on the Soweto Uprising near Johannesburg in 1976; and Bound, a documentary by Kenyan filmmaker Peres Owino exploring the relationship dynamics between Africans and African Americans in the United States. The documentary screening was held in partnership with the AASU and was followed by an honest conversation about the subject matter of the film.