<p>The 2012 Achebe Colloquium on Africa at Brown University will focus on several crucial issues that are impacting the continent and the world, including the security situation throughout northern, central, and eastern Africa, ethno-religious insurgency and regime change in West Africa, and peace-building efforts taking place in southern Africa. The colloquium will be held Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7-8, 2012, at Brown University and will be available <a href="http://www.brown.edu/web/livestream/">live online</a>.</p>

PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] — The 2012 Achebe Colloquium on Africa, convened by Nigerian novelist Chinua Achebe, the David and Marianna Fisher University Professor and professor of Africana studies, will be held at Brown University on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 7-8, 2012, in the Perry and Marty Granoff Center for the Creative Arts. Sessions will be carried online at brown.edu/web/livestream/

The Achebe Colloquium on Africa brings together an international group of scholars, officials from African governments, the United Nations, the United States, the European Union, and other organizations for two days of intense deliberation and exchange of ideas on the importance of strengthening democracy and peace on the African continent. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required as space is limited.

This year’s colloquium, titled “Governance, Security and Peace in Africa,” will focus on several key issues that are defining political and economic developments in Africa and the world. Panel discussions will highlight the security issues that challenge the establishment of institutions and principles of good governance on the continent. Invited panelists will discuss the complex security issues confronting African nations, security challenges surrounding the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, piracy and terrorism, and the continuance of ethnic and religious conflict.

Distinguished keynote speakers for the 2012 Achebe Colloquium on Africa include Ambassador Dhanojak Obongo, deputy head of mission for the Republic of South Sudan to the United States; Mohamed Ibrahim, founder of the Mo Ibrahim Foundation; Mamphela Ramphele, former managing director of the World Bank; Shehu Sani, Nigerian activist, playwright, author, and the president of Civil Rights congress; Bisa Williams, U.S. ambassador to the Republic of Niger; and Johnny Moloto, deputy chief of mission for the Embassy of the Republic of South Africa in the United States.

In addition, novelist, activist, and filmmaker Tsitsi Dangarembga, and singer, poet, and lyricist Nneka will participate in the deliberations.

This will be Brown’s fourth annual Achebe Colloquium on Africa. The 2011 colloquium explored several challenges facing the region, including the Arab Spring and the crisis in Darfur. The 2010 colloquium focused attention on three African nations — Rwanda, Congo, and Nigeria — and the crucial issues impacting the countries, the continent, and the world. The inaugural 2009 colloquium addressed the problems and prospects of the 2010 Nigerian elections.

This year»s colloquium schedule and other details are available online at www.brown.edu/conference/achebe-colloquium/.