This past summer, Howard University hosted its Summer Institute for Educators. The virtual webinar, entitled Voices from the Gold Road: Medieval Ghana, Mali, Songhai, explored places, people and objects - grand and ordinary - connected to medieval Trans-Saharan trade, focusing on Medieval Ghana, Mali and Songhai.
This three day virtual summer institute reframed this historical period to include more than just limited discussions about gold for salt, silent barter, trade across the Sahara, Mansa Musa, and the influence of Islam on West Africa. Through discussions, the institute reframed this historical period to include the various goods exchanged, monetary based exchange systems, regional West African trade routes, the diversity of peoples engaged in trade and West Africa's impact on Islam. Additional topics included oral history, Sunjata epics, and introductions to the Songhai and Mande language families.
View the full Summer Institute for free by watching the recordings below, and keep an eye out of future summer institutes and professional development opportunities from Howard University's Center for African Studies.
Voices from the Gold Road: Medieval Ghana, Mali, Songhai | Recordings
Sponsored By:
Day 1 Agenda
Songhai Language Family | Aissata Sidikou. Ph. D.
Trans-saharan Trade and African Islam | Khaled Esseissah, Ph. D.
Reframing the approach to teaching medieval Ghana, Mali and Songhai | Barbara Brown, Ph. D.
The Geography of West Africa: Geo Spatial Inquiry through a Historical Lens | Elsa Wiehe, Ed. D.
Let’s Explore the Gold Road Map and Teaching Resources | Brenda Randolph, M.A., M.L.S. and Vanessa Oyugi, Ph. D.
Day 2 Agenda
Mande language family | Sidiki Traore
Medieval Africa: Roads, Routes as Conduits of Culture | David Conrad, Ph. D.
Elements of Praise Poetry | Lesina Martin
Connecting to the Gold Road | Lesina Martin
Day 3 Agenda
Songhai Language Family | Aissata Sidikou. Ph. D.
Medieval West African Epics | Aissata Sidikou. Ph. D. and Mbye Cham, Ph.D.
Myths, Legends, and Lyrics as Pathways to Understanding the African Past, Endogenous Knowledge and Personhood | Jeanne Toungara, Ph.D.
Share Your Gold Road Connection
To find more professional development opportunities and events from the various African Studies National Resource Centers, view our Events Calendar.
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