Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora

The second Conference of Intellectuals from Africa and the Diaspora (CIAD II) was held in Salvador-Bahia, Brazil, from 12 to 14 July 2006.

The conference, under the theme “The Diaspora and African Renaissance”, was officially opened by the President of the Republic of Brazil, Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Alpha Omar Konare, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, and several African and Caribbean Heads of State and Government attended the opening.

Four round tables and twenty-four thematic parallel sessions allowed some 1000 academics, artists, civil society activists and political leaders to discuss thoroughly key issues related to African political, economic and cultural Renaissance and the effective participation of African from within and outside Africa in this mission.

West African Correspondent for Pambazuka News, Hawa Ba, attended the conference last week. Her reports are available at the AU Monitor website.