Dusé Mohamed Ali (1866–1945) was an Egyptian political activist known for his African nationalism. He was also a playwright, historian, journalist, editor, and publisher. In 1912, he founded the African Times and Orient Review, and while living in Lagos, Nigeria, his novel Ere Roosevelt Came was serialized in 1934 in The Comet newspaper. He inspired many Black nationalists, including a young Marcus Garvey, who he mentored. Alicontributed to the political and literary project of Pan-Africanism and to global Black Muslim diasporas. This symposium is to mark the publication of Ali’s novel, Ere Roosevelt Came and to probe the complexities of Ali’s biography.

Schedule:

Welcome and Introduction
8:30–9:00 a.m.

Panel 1: Dusé Mohamed Ali, the U.K., and West Africa 
9:00–10:30 a.m.
Tomi Onabanjo, New York University
Stephanie Newell, Yale University
Michael West, moderator/comment, Penn State

Panel 2: Dusé Mohamed Ali as Early Twentieth Century Intermediary
10:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
Leslie James, Queen Mary University of London
Musab Younis, Queen Mary University of London
Alex Lubin, Penn State

Panel 3: Understanding Dusé Mohamed Ali’s Biographies
1:00–2:30 p.m.
Rey Bowen, University of Chichester
Jacob Dorman, University of Nevada, Reno
Hakim Adi, moderator/comment, University of Chichester 

Panel 4: Dusé Mohamed Ali and Literary Pan-Africanism 
2:45–4:15 p.m.
Marina Bilbija, Wesleyan University
Tanya Agathocleous, Hunter College, The City University of New York
Brent Hayes Edwards, moderator/ comment, Columbia University

Closing Plenary: Ere Roosevelt Came 
4:30–5:30 p.m.
Marina Bilbija, Wesleyan University
Alex Lubin, Penn State