Dusé Mohamed Ali (1866–1945) was an Egyptian political activist known for his African nationalism. He was also a playwright, historian, journalist, editor, and publisher. In 1912,he founded the African Times and Orient Review, and while living in Lagos, Nigeria, his novel Ere Roosevelt Came was serialized in 1934 in The Comet newspaper. He inspiredmany Black nationalists, including a young Marcus Garvey, who he mentored. Alicontributed to the political and literary project of Pan-Africanism and to global BlackMuslim diasporas. This symposium is to mark the publication of Ali’s novel, Ere Roosevelt Came and to probe the complexities of Ali’s biography.

Friday, October 6
8:30 a.m.–6:00 p.m. EDT via Zoom, Register Here: https://psu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUldOitrD4pH9cxLBBrFrvQKxUzPJfeTevT#/registration

Schedule:

Welcome and Introduction

8:30–9:00 a.m. EDT

Panel 1: Duse Mohamed Ali, the UK, and West Africa (tentative 9-10:30am EDT)

• Tomi Onabanjo (NYU)
• Stephanie Newell (Yale University)
• Michael West, moderator/comment, (Penn State University)

Panel 2: Duse Mohamed Ali as early 20^th Century Intermediary (tentative 10:45-12:15pm EDT)

• Leslie James (Queen Mary University of London)
• Musab Younus (Queen Mary University of London)
• Alex Lubin (Penn State University)

Panel 3: Understanding Duse Mohamed Ali’s Biographies (tentative 1:00-2:30 EDT)

• Rey Bowen (University of Chichester)
• Jacob Dorman (University of Nevada Reno)
• Hakim Adi, moderator/comment, (University of Chichester)

Panel 4: Duse Mohamed Ali and Literary Pan Africanism (tentative 2:45-4:15 EDT)

• Marina Bilbija (Wesleyan University)
• Tanya Agathocleus (CUNY)
• Brent Hayes Edwards, moderator/ comment, (Columbia University)

Closing Plenary: Ere Roosevelt Came (4:30-5:30 EDT)

• Marina Bilbija
• Alex Lubin