Launch

The Engaging Borders Africa project was officially launched at a Zoom-hosted virtual event on the 12th of February, 2022.

It comprised three 10-minute keynotes delivered by Brigadier Saleh Bala (rtd) of the White Ink Institue, Nigeria, Dr. Jacob Zenn of Georgetown University, and Jeannine Ella Abatan of the Institute of Security Studies, Dakar; also, a launch address by Project Manager, Richard Ali, as well as readings from Mali, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and Kenya, in English, Kiswahili and French, in addition to a community engagement session with representatives from our two major linguistic communities. Closing remarks were made by the STRADA Director, Suleiman Usman Yusuf, with proceedings ending at 2:54 pm. 

Click on thumbnails to play multimedia.

Keynotes

Richard Ali

Engaging Borders Between Africa’s Two Immensities

Project Manager, Richard Ali, details the realities of the continent, conflict, the peculiar threat of violent extremism, and how the Engaging Borders Africa project is designed to address these. . . working with writers and journalists to mainstream soft approaches to preventing and counterring violent extremism in the Sahel and farther afield. 

https://engagingborders.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Saleh-Bala-Keynote-1.mp4

Brigadier Saleh Bala (rtd)

The African Story Telling Tradition as a Fundamental Tool for Preventing and Countering of Violent Extremism

In this keynote, Brigadier Saleh Bala (rtd) makes an eloquent case for elite sensitivity and consensus in centering African storytelling, in both its pedagogical and identity framing abilities/potential, for the modern struggle against violent extremism which is, at heart, antisocial. 

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Jacob Zenn

Creating Sustainable, Long-term P/CVE Programmes

In this keynote, Dr. Jacob Zenn speaks extensively on Boko Haram as well as what must go into creating sustainable P/CVE programmes re: lasting peace in the Sahel. 

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Jeannine Ella Abatan

“How and why I got Involved in or Resisted Recruitment by violent extremist groups operating in the Sahel”

In this keynote, Jeannine Ella Abatan speaks of research at the Institute for Security Studies, Dakar, on violent extremism based on human angle stories re: violent extremist recruiting.  

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Community Session

Project M&E Officer, Muazu Habibu, hosts a conversation comprising Sonnia Gitome (Kenya) and Alkassoum Abdourahamane (Niger); members of our community.

Readings

Fanidh Sanogo

Fanidh Sanogo reads from her story, “The Vultures of Loumbila”.

https://engagingborders.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Alkasim_ed.mp4

Alkasim Abdulkadir

Alkasim Abdulkadir reads from his story, “The Baobabs of Waroba”.

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A. Hali Aboubacar

Abodulaye Hali Aboubacar lit son histoire, “Une Seconde Victime”.  

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Isaac Anyolo

Isaac Anyolo anasoma kutoka kwa hadithi yake, “Nipe Nafasi”.

Audience

Welcome Speeches

Sada Malumfashi (Comms Officer) and Janice Malachi (Admin Officer) welcome assembled guests and stakeholders. 

https://engagingborders.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/AP-Saleh-Bala_ed.mp4

Brig. Saleh Bala (rtd)

What is the main challenge to the implementation of storytelling as a tool in PCVE?

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Catherine Angai

What are your thoughts about the Engaging Borders Africa project?

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Alkassoum Abdourahamane

What inspired your story in the Engaging Borders Africa project?

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Richard Ali

Vote of thanks from the Project Manager; immense appreciation for the Open Societies Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).

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Suleiman Usman Yusuf

Closing remarks from Suleiman Usman Yusuf, Director of STRADA Initiative; Engaging Borders Africa is a project of STRADA.