The Africa Center, a New York institution, is taking new strides to expand people’s understanding of Africa through dynamic and varied events. With new leadership and programs, the center is now a landing place for the African diaspora and a venue for changing how Americans interact with the African continent.
New Programs and Vision
Under the leadership of Uzodinma Iweala, its chief executive officer since 2018, the center is organizing various events. Iweala’s vision is to create a community space where people can come together to eat, drink, and talk about Africa, building a shared understanding of the continent.
The center is not just a museum, but a space for the African diaspora to explore and celebrate their identity. Plans are underway to expand the center to include an auditorium, cafe, administrative offices, an events venue, artists’ studios and galleries, a performance space, and a learning laboratory for science and math. However, significant fundraising and increased staffing are necessary to realize this vision.
Building a 21st Century Institution
Thelma Golden, director and chief curator of The Studio Museum in Harlem, believes that The Africa Center’s complicated history is an important part of its identity. Iweala’s background in both America and Nigeria, as an accomplished author and medical doctor, enables him to mingle both worlds in this institution. Golden believes that Iweala is charting a truly 21st-century path that will create a model for the future.
Iweala opened Teranga, a restaurant with West African food designed by Senegalese chef Pierre Thiam. Food is culture, policy, and economics, and Iweala believes it is a great way to get people together.
The center continues to organize events that help people from the African continent come together. Iweala tries to reorient people’s understanding of Africa’s importance in shaping the history of the world.
This year an art exhibition titled “States of Becoming” showcased the works of 17 modern-day African-American artists. The exhibition explored the themes of assimilation and culture clash, with many pieces reflecting on the experiences of African-American artists living and working in the United States.
Overall, the Africa Center is making great strides in expanding people’s understanding of Africa through dynamic and varied events. The center’s programs is focused on building a community space for the African diaspora to explore and celebrate their identity, bridging the gap between America and Africa.
