Georgetown to Host Fourth Annual Indian Ocean Symposium

International experts on the Indian Ocean World will be gathering at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) this week for the University’s fourth annual Indian Ocean symposium. Convened under the theme ‘Towards a Re-Mapping of Diasporic Circularities in the Indian Ocean World,’ the event aims to explore the connections in this vibrant region and initiate discussions about the overlapping African and Indian diasporas.

With the Indian Ocean connecting the Red Sea to the African continent, the Middle East, the Asian sub-continent, and the Far East, the region has a long history of travel, trade, and exchange. GU-Q’s on-going study of the region is at the cutting edge of theoretical and ethnographic research, with the upcoming event bringing together GU-Q faculty and scholars from around the world. The symposium will be held at GU-Q’s Education City campus on Tuesday, 25 April from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“Despite a long history of connectivity between the countries bordering the Indian Ocean, this vast region has not received the same level of scholarly attention as its counterpart in the Atlantic Ocean,” said Dr. Rogaia Abusharaf, a professor of anthropology at GU-Q and organizer of the conference. “Through this event and our continuing study of the Indian Ocean World, we aim to increase the global understanding of this diverse region and its people.”

The event will feature panel discussions on a range of topics, including the linkages between India and Southern Arabia, and the historical, political, and cultural impact of Arabian societies on key countries in Africa. GU-Q Dean James Reardon-Anderson will also host a discussion with Dr. Sugata Bose, Gardiner Professor of Oceanic History and Affairs at Harvard University and author of A Hundred Horizons: The Indian Ocean in the Age of Global Empire.