Honouring U of T's African scholars and alumni

When she started at the University of Toronto in the 1980s, Nakanyike B. Musisi was the first African woman to be a PhD candidate in the history department.

Today, the associate professor of African history serves as a mentor to other students from the continent, many of them women who have gone on to competitive graduate programs around the world.

Her office in the Faculty of Arts & Science’s history department, with a comfy futon and an inviting oak table with coffee stains, has become a familiar basecamp for international students from Africa. People stop by when they’re feeling a little homesick, need encouragement or just seeking academic advice.

Musisi has kept her connection to Africa. She’s taken undergraduate students to Uganda and Kenya for summer abroad and course-based trips. Twice a year, she returns to Uganda – her husband, also a U of T alum, is a psychiatrist there. She also took a 10-year leave to go back home and help reinvigorate her alma mater, Makerere University in Kampala, raising $19.5 million from international foundations for community-based research and becoming the university’s first African woman to lead an institute. 

“I decided to go back to Uganda because I was feeling bad,” she recalled. “I felt like my country had invested in me. Then I graduated, and I didn’t do any service. So I decided to take a leave and go back to my country.” 

For her contributions to Africa and the community here, Musisi is one of two U of T faculty members and several alumni who were honoured Friday by the African Alumni Association.

George J. Sefa Dei (above), a professor of social justice education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, whose expertise lies in anti-racism education, anti-colonial thought and advocacy for an African-focused school in Toronto, was also recognized as an influencer. 

Dei, who is from Ghana, was installed in 2007 as the chief (Adumakwaahene) of the town of Asokore in his native country. In Toronto, he has mentored young scholars at OISE and worked tirelessly to ensure a sense of inclusion and empowerment in schools. He has also advocated strongly for Afrocentric schools.

“These works are so important,” said Dei, who was in South Africa and unable to attend the event. “Our student body is increasingly diverse. Issues of race, anti-racism, equity and social difference continue to implicate schooling and education. As educators, we must confront these questions and address them to ensure that learning happens for all, to ensure equitable educational outcomes for all.”

Vice-President of advancement David Palmer (left) and African Alumni Association's Henry Ssali (right) present one of three community development awards to alumnus Mazin Osman (photo by Matthew Volpe) 

Henry Ssali, executive director of U of T’s African Alumni Association, started the organization in 2014. He says alumni from the continent wanted to start a group where U of T alumni and African community members could share their career trajectories with young alumni and undergraduate students.

Youth worker Bernard Laryea was one of several community organizers recognized with an African Scholar Award (photo by Matthew Volpe)

“The concept of organizing African Scholars Awards arose out of the desire by our members to start a new culture of appreciating and rewarding African excellence,” Ssali said. “Our goal is to encourage a culture of African excellence in our communities by recognizing those who have innovatively contributed to the community by giving exemplary service.”

Tutor and academic mentor Solomon Negash (centre) and lawyer Saron Gebresellassi (right) were recognized for their community work and achievements by the African Alumni Association (photo by Matthew Volpe) 

Other honorees included Saron Gebresellassi, the de facto lawyer to Black Lives Matter-Toronto, Mazin Osman, who has been empowering young Sudanese Canadians in the GTA, Bernard Laryea, co-founder of an organization that helps youth in the city develop better entrepreneurial skills, who received community development awards.

Youth of East Africa co-founder Amran Abdi Mohamed speaking at the African Alumni Association awards ceremony (photo by Matthew Volpe)

U of T student Henry Luyombya, who is engaging Black congregations across Ontario in HIV-stigma reduction activities, and Amran Abdi Mohamed, who works on mobilizing, mentoring and motivating East African youth throughout the GTA, received volunteer awards from the alumni association.

Vanessa Jev, who has written and produced African-based plays that encompass majority Black casts and African themes, and Solomon Negash, founder of SuprAcademy, a Toronto based math, science and technology academic support program for middle- and high-school students, received social innovation awards.

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering PhD candidate Kwesi Parry Apponsah speaking at the African Alumni Association's award ceremony (photo by Matthew Volpe)

Safia Aidid, a PhD candidate in history at Harvard University who started the African Studies Course Union while at U of T and was one of Musisi's students, and Kwesi Parry Apponsah, who is a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies and focusing on developing applications for unmanned aerial vehicle design, received emerging academic awards.

In her acceptance speech, Musisi talked about educating a new generation of African scholars, and remembering her own struggles as a graduate student.

“Many of the students I have taught or teach today are up against some of the very same challenges that I faced as a student,” she said at Friday's event. “That is why I work hard every day to make a difference in my students' lives. I can identify with their struggles.

“To me, meaningful mentoring is really about asking probing questions and listening, being a non-judgmental sounding board and helping the mentee think about his or her options – thinking broadly, but keeping it real – whether to fully leverage an opportunity or to address an issue. For some students just hanging out in my office has been enough to boost their positive energies and have solved their problems without a word from me!”

Associate Professor of African history Nakanyike B. Musisi (left) and U of T student and fellow award recipient Henry Luyombya (right) at Friday's African Alumni Association event (photo by Matthew Volpe)