The Joyner Institute for Gullah and African Diaspora Studies is the only interdisciplinary institute dedicated to a critical understanding of the experiences of Gullah Geechee people and other descendants within the global African diaspora.
The Charles Joyner Institute for Gullah and African Diaspora Studies examines the historical migration and scattering of African populations to local geographical areas and the subsequent evolution of blended cultures, specifically Gullah. CCU’s location at the northern tip of the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor puts it in a unique position for diaspora study and research. The work of the institute provides students with experiential learning opportunities, both at home and abroad, that center on interconnections among local, national, and global peoples and their societies. The Institute is also a catalyst for community involvement.
The Joyner Institute engages students and faculty in grant-funded experiential learning projects, special events, and a minor in African and African Diaspora Studies.
The Charles Joyner Institute for Gullah and African Diaspora Studies at Coastal Carolina University invites abstracts, poster sessions, lightning talks, workshops, performances and panel proposals for its fifth International Gullah Geechee and African Diaspora Conference (IGGAD), February 20-22, 2025. This year’s theme is Reconstruction Through the Lens of Gullah Geechee and Communities within the African Diaspora.
Reconstruction (1865-1877) was a period following the United States Civil War aimed at rebuilding and reunifying the Nation. The IGGAD Conference 2025 will explore how the Gullah Geechee people and other African American communities organized, strategized and worked during the reconstruction period. They improved the political, legal, social, and economic conditions they faced as the Nation charted a course forward without the legal institution of race-based chattel slavery.
IGGAD 2025 will also examine how the African Diaspora has throughout history reconstructed, reclaimed, and redefined themselves after conflict and colonialism.
Though brief, Reconstruction challenged and changed this country’s institutions, creating the possibility for a more inclusive America and shaping a path towards civil rights, and social and economic justice for African Americans. IGGAD 2025 aims to encourage thought and dialogue about how communities within the African Diaspora can continue to transform and reconstruct societies that work to benefit all its citizens.
IGGAD 2025 encourages US and International researchers in areas such as Afrofuturism, gender studies, Pan Africanism, theories of race and politics, as well as other topics that intersect with the heritage, culture, and independence movements of the global African Diaspora.
The mission of the IGGAD conference is to center a community-based participatory model. We recognize the importance of cultural practitioners and community participation to the success of the conference. To this end, the last day of our conference is a public-facing community day held in the Historic city of Conway, South Carolina. Gullah Geechee Community Day will combine workshops, performances, project presentations, and lectures. Submitters should indicate interest in giving a public-facing presentation on their initiative or project when submitting their proposals.
Deadline: Abstracts accepted on a rolling basis until November 15, 2024.