UNIOSUN Set to Host 14th Toyin Falola International Conference on Africa and the African Diaspora

Read 40 times 27 June 2025

In what promises to be a major intellectual and cultural convergence, Osun State University, in partnership with UNESCO-IFCD-UNIOSUN Cultural Project, the Toyin Falola International Conference Board, the College of Humanities and Culture, and the Department of History at the University of Texas, Austin, is set to host the 14th Toyin Falola International Conference on Africa and the African Diaspora (TOFAC) from July 1st to 3rd, 2025 at the Olagunsoye Oyinlola Auditorium, Osogbo Main Campus.

This year’s edition of the globally acclaimed conference is themed "African Cultural Creativity and Innovations", and it aims to provide a multidisciplinary platform for scholars, creatives, policymakers, and cultural enthusiasts to explore the intersections of tradition, innovation, and the future of African cultural production.

TOFAC 2025

The conference will feature Professor Nemeta Blyden of the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, as the Keynote Speaker. Also billed to present are two influential thought leaders: Dr. Wale Okediran, Secretary General of the Pan African Writers Association (PAWA), Accra, and Dr. Lasisi Olagunju, award-winning columnist and Editor at the Nigerian Tribune.

Adding further prestige to the event, the Honourable Minister of Arts, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq, is expected as the Distinguished Guest of Honour, while Honourable Abiodun Bankole Ojo, Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Osun State, will serve as the Special Guest of Honour.

The Toyin Falola international conference is in honour of the celebrated scholar and historian, Professor Toyin Falola of the University of Texas at Austin in recognition of his global contributions to African and African Diaspora studies.

Speaking ahead of the event, the Vice-Chancellor of Osun State University, Professor Odunayo Clement Adebooye, described the conference as “a prestigious intellectual and cultural gathering that reflects UNIOSUN’s growing reputation as a hub for research, innovation, and global academic partnership.”

“The hosting of TOFAC 2025,” he said, “is a strong testimony to the calibre of scholarship at UNIOSUN and the University’s commitment to preserving, interrogating, and promoting African knowledge systems in partnership with global institutions like UNESCO and the University of Texas.”

This is the first time the TOFAC conference will be hosted in Osun State, bringing with it an array of international scholars and researchers from across the African continent, Europe, the Americas, and the Caribbean. The conference will also feature panel sessions, cultural exhibitions, artistic performances, book presentations, and networking opportunities for both established and emerging scholars.

The cultural enthusiasts are encouraged to participate in what promises to be a groundbreaking dialogue on African creativity, cultural identity, and global relevance.