The School Board of Alachua County, in conjunction with the University of Florida Center for African Studies and the African American Studies Program, hosted its first African and African American Studies Summer Camp. Held from June 3 to June 7, 2024, at the Harn Museum, the camp was organized by CAS Outreach Director Agnes Leslie and the ACPS Curriculum Specialist for Social Studies, Dr. Jon Rehm. The camp gave high school students a well-rounded experience of African American and African cultures through art, music, dance, cuisine, language, and literature.
The camp started with an introduction to contemporary African issues, led by Dr. Barbara McDade Gordon, UF Emerita from the Center for African Studies and the Geography Department. Her session on geography, development, youth, and contemporary issues provided insights into Africa’s current landscape. Students also explored podcasting and listened to a short podcast on an African nation, which sparked discussions and curiosity. Vivien Filer, a notable Gainesville community figure, shared her experiences growing up before and after integration, emphasizing the historical significance of local landmarks like the Cotton Club Museum and Cultural Center.
Students explored African and African American cuisine with Dr. Rik Stevenson, a professor in the African American Studies department, who presented the history of African American food. The culinary journey continued with a cooking demonstration by Flavorful, a local West African and Afro-fusion catering service.In the cooking demonstration Ms. Aïssé Kane introduced the students to African food. She also brought some ingredients for the students to make personalized salads. The day continued with African performance art sessions with West African drummers, Amo and Laila Nelson, who led the students in a lively session of African drumming and dancing.
African fine art was another highlight, with Genesis Leonard and Samuel Aye-Gboyin guiding students through African and African American visual art and photography. Â The focus then shifted to language and literature. Students engaged in activities highlighting African linguistic diversity. Dr. Rose Lugano’s interactive session on Swahili and East African culture provided a hands-on experience with one of Africa’s widely spoken languages.
The final day included an informative session on UF admissions, providing a glimpse into college life. The afternoon was reserved for students to finalize their projects, each focusing on an African country they had chosen to research. Their presentations covered various aspects such as language, flag, culture, dance, and cuisine. The students presented on countries such as Angola, Benin, Nigeria, Ghana, and several others. This project encouraged students to explore and showcase their chosen country’s unique aspects, this not only enhanced their understanding of African cultures but also developed valuable research and presentation skills, culminating in a dynamic sharing of their work on the final day of the camp. To close the camp, students received t-shirts and were given certificates of completion for their hard work and commitment to the program.
The African and African American Studies Summer Camp was a huge success, offering students an invaluable opportunity to explore and celebrate the rich diversity of African American heritage and African Cultures. For more information and to register for next year’s camp, please visit the Center for African Studies event page or contact Dr. Agnes Leslie.
