The University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) and the Saint-Michel Library will be buzzing this weekend, November 8-9, with the first North American edition of Gingembre Littéraire, a lecture series initiated by Senegalese journalist El Hadji Gorgui Wade Ndoye, accredited to the United Nations in Geneva. This concept, which originated in Dakar and has already taken root in Harlem, places Africa at the center of the global agenda, exploring "Africa's place in the 21st century: sovereignty and democracy." Guests of honor include writer Boubacar Boris Diop and Professor Emeritus Khadim Fall, along with a dozen intellectuals of various nationalities.

A flashback on diasporic engagement

This symposium is not just an event: it is a vivid flashback to the pivotal role of the African diaspora, from Harlem to Dakar, in the struggles for freedom, dignity, and sovereignty. “From Harlem to Dakar, the African diaspora has always been at the heart of the fight for freedom, dignity, and sovereignty. Even today, it embodies a force for innovation, creation, and transformation,” emphasizes Dr. Khadim Ndiaye, Chair of the Scientific Committee and a Senegalese historian living in Canada. By organizing this edition, the team—in partnership with the UQAM Migration Observatory and Débrouille Art—aims to “offer a moment for fruitful exchange around the theme ‘The Role of Diasporas in the Sovereignty of States,’” a gathering to “think together about the Africa of the present and the Africa of the future.”

Three key areas for reinventing relationships

The program, structured around three pillars—economic development, continental integration, and cultural diplomacy—explores how diasporas catalyze the economic, political, and cultural sovereignty of African nations. How can we reinvent the links between memory, development, and global influence? Speakers from diverse backgrounds will debate diasporic innovation as a lever for a united and prosperous Africa, moving beyond victimhood narratives. This Literary Ginger, which is already making waves around the world, illustrates the commitment of an active diaspora: Ndoye, journalist and founder of the concept, transforms a Senegalese idea into a global platform to reposition Africa at the heart of international debates. With Diop, master of the African novel, and Fall, expert in postcolonial thought, Montreal becomes the stage for a crucial dialogue for the continent's future.