General Administration

 
25 Years of Sankofa! 

We are proud to announce that the Africana Institute at Essex County College is celebrating its 25th Anniversary. Join us on this historic celebratory journey! 
 
As ECC’s hub for the exploration and critical examination of the African global experience, the Africana Institute has long served as a space for academic discovery, cultural celebration, and social engagement. We welcome all students, staff, alumni and community members to participate in a year of dynamic programming, highlighting the diverse experiences of people of African descent from Africa, the Americas, the Caribbean, and beyond. 
 
From Fall 2025 through August 2026, we will be Revitalizing, Reconnecting, and Strengthening African Global Cultural, Social, and Intellectual Heritage through:   

  1. Engaging lectures and academic dialogues 
  2. Art exhibitions and live performances 
  3. Scholarship celebrations and honoree spotlights 
  4. Visits from renowned African scholars, activists, and artists
  5. International Study Abroad Experiences
  6. Our milestone Sankofa Royal Celebration & Dinner in Spring 2026! 

25th Anniversary Events 

Your Invitation to a Historic Celebration – Be part of the Africana Institute’s 25th Anniversary!  

Date & TimeEvent Details
September 2, 2025 – 12 PMVisit by His Majesty Kaleuk Mongoue Pierre, King of Babouantou in Cameroon
October 7, 2025 – February 28, 2026On View – Lens of the Streets Art Exhibition (The Gallery)
October 10, 2025 – 5 PM – 9 PMLens of the Streets Opening Reception
October 21, 2025 – 10 AM – 2:30 PM13th State of Black Writers Symposium
December 11–12, 2025 – 10 AM – 4:30 PMAfrican Marketplace
December 12, 2025 – 6 PM – 8 PMPre-Kwanzaa Celebration Featuring Egun Omode Arts Collective (with Student Life and Activities Office – SLAO, Mary Burch Theater)
January 27, 2026 – 10 AM – 12 PMAnnual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Program with SLAO – Keynote Speaker: Raymond Brown, Jr.; Special Participation: Arts High School Choir (Mary Burch Theater)
February 3, 2026 – 10 AM – 4:30 PM / 12 PMAfrican History Month Flag Raising Celebration (12 PM, 2nd Level Forum) & African Marketplace (10 AM – 4:30 PM, 2nd Level Forum)
February 19, 2026 – 11 AM – 1 PM14th Annual Garvey/Nkrumah Lecture and African Marketplace (Smith Hall)
March 21, 2026 – 11 AM – 5 PM8th African Spirituality Conference – Spiritual Power: Building Healthy Relationships Among African Traditional Spiritual Communities (Smith Hall)
April 7, 2026AI Conference: Tomorrow is Today – Preparing for AI and the New Global Frontier (Hosts: Africana Institute/Social Sciences Division; Co-Hosts: Business, Math, Science & Engineering, Humanities, and Online Learning Divisions; Smith Hall & Mary Burch Theater)
May 13, 2026 – 11 AM – 1 PM25th Anniversary Sankofa Lecture – Dr. Greg Carr (Invited) (Mary Burch Theater)
May 14, 202625th Anniversary Sankofa Royal Celebration & Dinner (More details to come)
May 25 – June 6, 2026Travel to Ghana – Affiliated with SOC 108 & ECO 101 SAH Study Abroad Hybrid (Instructors: Dr. Khalfani & Prof. John Hammond)
June 13, 2026 – 11 AM – 4 PM11th Pan African DrumFest & 4th Annual Juneteenth Celebration (Outside Grove at West Market & University Ave.)
July 27 – August 8, 2026Travel to Trinidad and Tobago – Affiliated with SOC 108 & ECO 101 SAH Study Abroad Hybrid (Instructors: Dr. Khalfani & Prof. John Hammond)

Reserve your spot for one or more events today.

RSVP Here

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Stay connected with the Africana Institute 
Essex County College-Main Campus, 2nd Floor 
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: (973) 877-3140