Student-led initiative connects black diaspora at SOAS
The student-led Voices of the Diaspora hosted its first event at SOAS last month - marking the launch of an initiative dedicated to educating, empowering, and bringing together the Black diaspora within the university.
The opening night, coordinated by student organisers Amy, Amal, William and Charlene, helped not only celebrate shared cultural connections, experiences, and diverse artistic expressions (through song, dance and poetry) but also welcomed established and early-career Black academics, who shared insights from their work within and beyond academia.
Initiatives like this ensure that students not only see themselves reflected in the curriculum but also feel supported in shaping the future of SOAS.
Topics ranged from literary translation into African languages to activism inside and outside institutional spaces, as well as lived experiences and perspectives rooted directly on the continent.
On the event, Dr Ida Hadjivayanis - Chair of the Centre of African Studies & Convenor of BA Africa and Black Diaspora at SOAS added:
“The sense of connection and purpose in the room was extraordinary. Initiatives like this ensure that Black and African students not only see themselves reflected in the curriculum but also feel supported in shaping the future of SOAS.”
Voices of the Diaspora aims to support education by and for Black students and communities while also encouraging organising, fundraising, and engaging with wider initiatives and opportunities. By fostering dialogue and collective action, the organisation seeks to bridge local experiences with global perspectives, strengthening transnational connections from across the African continent and worldwide, promoting community‑driven change.
The initiative was supported by the Ebony Initiative and the SOAS Centre of African Studies. It also received support from The School of History, Religions and Philosophies, the School of Finance and Management and School of Anthropology, Media and Gender.
