The fifth edition of the TOAfrica Summer School will take place this year from June 17th to 21st at the Einaudi Campus in Turin.
The theme for this year is “Mobility and Migration in Africa: A South-South Perspective.” The Summer School, which originated within the Erasmus exchange program with Makerere University in Kampala (Uganda), counts among its partners the Nordic Africa Institute (NAI) in Uppsala, the “Les Afriques dans le monde (LAM)” laboratory at the University of Bordeaux, and the Consortium of Piedmontese NGOs (COP). It is a week-long intensive program of lectures, debates, and group work, providing university students and professionals with a thematic framework of the African continent, with particular attention to sub-Saharan regions.
Africa is often portrayed as a continent characterized by significant emigration towards the global North, but most migrations occur within the continent itself. The intricate dynamics of intra-African migration highlight historical and geographical patterns of mobility among African regions. South-South mobilities also encompass movements between countries of the Global South, increasingly recognized in migration discourse. While traditional narratives emphasize migration from the Global South to the Global North, there is a growing acknowledgment of the importance of South-South migration in shaping economic development and knowledge transfer. Economic factors often dominate narratives about migration, but cultural factors, which significantly influence migration dynamics, affecting identity issues and transnational connections, should also be recognized and highlighted.
A frequently overlooked aspect of migration and mobility is the non-human aspect, particularly of animals, which can have significant implications for disease transmission and health. Changes in patterns of non-human migration due to factors such as climate change or habitat destruction can influence disease dynamics. Furthermore, non-human migration affects ecosystem health and biodiversity, influencing human health.
Migration patterns in Africa are also linked to infrastructure development and vice versa. Urbanization and city growth generate demand for investments in infrastructure, while migratory flows shape population distribution and the need for essential services.
The TOAfrica Summer School 2024 aims to provide a nuanced understanding of South-South migration and mobility, viewed as a spectrum of complex realities shaped by historical, economic, cultural, and environmental factors.
The event will take place from June 17th to 21st at the Luigi Einaudi Campus in Turin. For further information, please visit the website: https://www.toafrica.it