The New York African Studies Association (NYASA) founded in 1967 traces its roots to the SUNY African Studies Faculty Association. NYASA is one of only two regional Africanist organizations in the United States providing the opportunity, particularly for Africanists throughout New York and the Northeastern United States, to have discourse about developments in Africa and the African Diaspora.
NYASA provides avenues for Africanists and their allies to present papers on various subject matters; nurture an atmosphere of cultural interaction among diplomats, scholars, teachers and students; and create a link to teaching and pedagogical techniques among elementary, secondary, and college teachers. A primary raison d'etre stated in the Association's bylaws is to sponsor different forms of scholarly interchange, including workshops, seminars and an annual conference.
The first annual conference was in 1974 at SUNY New Paltz, and the second annual conference was at Syracuse University in 1975, the same year NYASA was incorporated as a nonprofit organization. Cornell University hosted the third NYASA conference in 1976. Professor Walter Rodney, author of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, was one of the featured speakers at that conference. Many SUNY campuses and private universities and colleges have organized the NYASA conference in past years, including SUNY Binghamton and SUNY Oswego.
In the past, NYASA has recognized distinguished Africanist scholars, precollegiate teachers and organizations that have provided outstanding services to Africa and the African Diaspora. Doctors Without Borders and Africa-American Institute (AAI) are examples of recipients of the NYASA community service awards. Professor Chinua Achebe, Professor Molefi Asante, Professor Ali A. Mazrui, Professor Iris Berger, Professor Maulana Karenga and Professor Wilbert LeMelle are examples of distinguished Africanist awardees.
