Women of Power
Office of Multicultural Affairs
Arturo Schomburg Afro-Latino Speaker Series
presents
Women of Power Panel Discussion
MARFA INOFUENTES
(Afro-Bolivian cultural activist)
&
ROSANA SILVA CHAGAS
(Afro-Brazilian political activist)
Monday, March 23rd
4:15 p.m. Benjamin Mays Center
Co-sponsored with the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI)
This series highlights contemporary Afro-Latino/a scholars and artists who focus on topics including Afro-Latino/a identity, politics, culture, literature and history. The Women of Power panel marks the last of the three lectures in this series for this academic year.
Ms. Marfa Inofuentes has been fundamental part of the creation Cultural Movement Saya Afroboliviano born 20 years ago to recover and re-evaluate Afro-Bolivian culture. She has worked very hard to ensure the Bolivian people recognize their presence and contribution to the country. In 2006 Ms. Inofuentes advocated for the establishment of the Afro-Bolivian Center for Integral Development and Community (CADIC) that aims to create a strong political impact in Bolivia. They were able to get the dance of Saya to be recognized as part of Department of Intangible Heritage. In December 2007 with CADIC, Marfa advocated with the Bolivian government to present and officially recognize Mr. Julio Pinedo as the Afro-Bolivian King, the first and highest authority of Afro-Bolivian people.
Ms. Rosana Silva Chagas (Brazil) is a scholarship recipient of the project, “Race, Development and Inequality”, of the “Color of Bahia” program set up b the Federal University of Bahia (UFBA) in collaboration with Howard University. She has worked with organizations such as the Steve Biko Cultural Institute (Brazil) and the Your World Consultant Group Educational Foundation. She is one of the leaders of the Black University Student Union (NENO) at the Federal University of Bahia. Chagas is involved in direct social work at the grassroots level rather than in strictly political agitation. She organizes within her densely populated, crime-ridden community to provide residents basic social services. She works on issues of concern to the Afro descendant majority in Brazil.
