Celebrating the work of Souleymane Bachir Diagne

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CU Maison Française

Two days with contributions to celebrate the academic career of Professor Souleymane Bachir Diagne on the occasion of his retirement

Maison Française

Conference in honor of Souleymane Bachir Diagne

This three-day conference will celebrate the academic career of Souleymane Bachir Diagne on the occasion of his retirement from Columbia University. Colleagues and former students from Africa, Europe, and the U.S. will present talks related to his work.

Celebrating the work of Souleymane Bachir DiagneWith contributions by:Salim Abdelmadjid, Mouhamadou El Hady BA, Alioune Bah, Etienne Balibar, Akeel Bilgrami, Ali Benmakhlouf, Françoise Blum, Charles Bowao, Jean-Godefroy Bidima, Hamid Dabashi, Daniel Dauvois, Penelope Lisa Deutscher, Mamadou Diouf, Thomas Dodman, Pierre Force, Lewis R. Gordon, Philippe Gouët, Nadia Yala Kisukidi, Anais Maurer, Ramatoulaye Diagne Mbengue, Christia Mercer, Bado Ndoye, Nasrin Qader, Emmanuelle Saada, Felwine Sarr, Achille Varzi, Frédéric Worms, and Souleymane Bachir Diagne.Full program below.These two days will be preceded by a Keynote Lecture by Souleymane Bachir Diagne, In Praise of the Universal, on Thursday, April 3, 6:30-8:00 PM. Register <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-praise-of-the-universal-souleymane-bachir-diagne-tickets-1223787143289?aff=oddtdtcreator" title="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/in-praise-of-the-universal-souleymane-bachir-diagne-tickets-1223787143289?aff=oddtdtcreator" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">here</a>. This conference is organized by the Columbia University Maison Française and Department of French, with additional support provided by Columbia’s Institute of African Studies, Office of the Dean of Humanities, Department of Philosophy, Committee on Global Thought, The Society of Fellows and Heyman Center for the Humanities, Alliance Program, Arts and Sciences, and Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies, and by Villa Albertine, Cultural Services of the Embassy of France.

PROGRAMThursday, April 3, 2025 The Lantern, Lenfest Center for the Arts, 615 West 129th Street5:30 PM Doors open 6:30-6:45 PM Opening remarks by Bruno Bosteels and Emmanuelle Saada 6:45-7:45 PM In Praise of the Universal Keynote Lecture by Souleymane Bachir Diagne 8:00-9:00 PM ReceptionFriday April 4, 2025East Gallery, Maison Française, Buell Hall9:30-9:45 Introduction by Shanny Peer9:45-11:00 AM Panel 1 in EnglishEtienne Balibar: For Souleymane Bachir Diagne: Universalization as Becoming Frédéric Worms: The Common Problems of Mankind: Continuing Discussion with Souleymane Bachir Diagne Lewis R. Gordon: Shifting the Geography of Reason with Souleymane Bachir Diagne Chair: Shanny Peer11:00-11:15 AM Coffee break11:15-1:00 PM Panel 2 in FrenchDaniel Dauvois: Africa’s Presence in Abbé Dubos’ Réflexions critiques Françoise Blum: Socialism Was Also African: Thinking with Souleymane Bachir Diagne Salim Abdelmadjid: Souleymane Bachir Diagne, creating the Possible Chair: Fanny Guex1:00-2:00 PM Break2:00-3:45 PM Panel 3 In FrenchCharles Zacharie Bowao: The Epistemological and Ethical Turn of "African Philosophy" Ramatoulaye Diagne: Building Humanity Together: The Universal in Three Questions Alioune Bah: Translate-Dialogue-Universalize: Three Action Concepts of Souleymane Bachir Diagne Chair: Thomas Dodman3:45-4:15 PM Coffee break4:15- 6:00 PM Panel 4 in FrenchPhillipe Gouët: Fraternity, a Prospective Intuition Bado Ndoye: Souleymane Bachir Diagne: Sharing the Universal Jean-Godefroy Bidima: Conversation as Germination: Diagne, Through the Furrows Chair: Antoine CompagnonSaturday April 5, 2025East Gallery, Maison Française, Buell Hall10:00-10:15 AM Introduction by Pierre Force10:15-12:45 PM Panel 5 in EnglishNadia Yala Kisukidi: From the Humanities to Humanity: Decolonize, Translate, Universalize Anaïs Maurer: “Ensemble habiter la terre:” Environmental perspectives on Négritude and Océanitude Nasrin Qader: Souleymane Bachir Diagne-Camara Laye: A Conversation on Aesthetics Ali Benmakhlouf: Family, Commercial and Spiritual relations: Saint Louis and Fez Chair: Mamadou Diouf12:45-1:45 PM Break1:45-3:30 PM Panel 6 in EnglishPenelope Deutscher: Hountondji From the Balcony: Diagne and The Translation of Philosophy’s Address Mouhamadou El Hady Ba: Bachir and the Pitfalls of Decoloniality Felwine Sarr: Ubuntu and Relationality in the Thought of Souleymane Bachir Diagne Chair: Christia Mercer3:30-4:00 PM Coffee break4:00-5:30 PM Panel 7 in EnglishAkeel Bilgrami, Hamid Dabashi, Mamadou Diouf, Thomas Dodman, Pierre Force, Christia Mercer, Achille Varzi Chair: Emmanuelle Saada

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Celebrating the work of Souleymane Bachir Diagne

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