Speaking about her vision, founder and director of FACE, Dr Foluke Adebisi, said:

“In the UN Decade for People of African Descent, it is important that universities contribute to the conversation of improving our Pan-African student experience and employment prospects and ensure that our research does not erase but contribute equally to the knowledge of ALL humanity.

As a teacher and researcher committed to decolonising educational curricula and eradicating the ‘attainment’ gap, my vision for the world is one in which African peoples, knowledges and cultures, regain a sense of place that is uniquely ours. FACE is committed to that.”

The event was opened on 9 June by the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Cleo Lake, who spoke about the culture that binds the African community together and the importance of creating a meaningful narrative to advance the community’s story.

Panels included topics such as the Pan-African student experience in higher education; entrepreneurship, employment and development; tackling issues such as attainment gaps and decolonising curriculums.

Commenting on the event, Sheila Bamugemereire, second year Law student, said:

"I have been inspired by the vision of Dr Foluke Adebisi. FACE 2018 will show students of colour, particularly black women, that our intellectual work is fundamental to the expansion of knowledge in the Academy and that, where there isn’t currently space for us, we can create it."

The Organising Committee of FACE 2018 included several Law students, including Sheila Bamugemereire, Antony Thegeya, Kelly Emelle, Modupe Lucas, Delina Yohannes, Julio Mkok, Oluwaseun Matiluko, Akosua-Rose Moore, and Chidinma Ogbonnaya.

Third year Law student Oluwaseun Matiluko said:

“The thing I found most inspiring here is the power of students to create change. At school I often felt as though my options were limited and that my thoughts and ideas were not taken seriously by the people around me.

At Bristol I have found space to grow and have been offered a variety of support from people to bring the ideas in my head into real life, including facilitating the introduction of a new module in Law and Race at the Law School.”

Read Oluwaseun's story here.

For further details about the event and its programme and speakers please click here to read a full event summary written by Dr Foluke Adebisi.