Accra, Ghana
Following the very successful 1st ICASAD (International Conference on Afro-Hispanic Studies across the Disciplines) held in 2007 at the University of Ghana, the conference organizers believe it would be more beneficial to broaden the scope of this important intellectual dialogue. ICASAD, then, becomes ICALLAS, which inserts the concerns of peoples of African ancestry suitably within the wider coordinates of Luso-Brazilian and Latin American Studies.
ICASAD initiated an important dialogue among the various disciplines that are engaged in the study of issues related to Africa and the peoples of African ancestry in the Spanish-speaking world. The conference brought together scholars, writers, and artists from all over the world. In over seventy papers and workshops presented, conference participants examined contributions made to Hispanic studies in general by Afro-Hispanic writers, artists, and intellectuals. The 1st ICASAD fulfilled the conference's goal in a fundamental way: it provided a framework for cross-disciplinary interactions and offered a forum for scholars from diverse fields of study related to the Afro-Hispanic world to share their research and scholarly endeavors. The second gathering - ICALLAS - is intended to foster a continuation of this important dialogue by building on the gains made in 2007.
