African Continent session at Champaign Public Library (Douglass Branch). Photo by James Kyung

Once called the “Dark Continent,” Africa is now in the spotlight at the Champaign Public Library.

“The African Continent,” a 10-part series of lectures and film presentations geared for teenagers at the Douglass Branch of the CPL, is the library’s first cooperation with the University’s Center for African Studies.

Children’s librarian Amanda Raklovits described the initial segment, titled “Africa: Past, Present and Future,” as an opportunity to “reintroduce the continent to the kids.” Raklovits said that while the beginning of the series is a broad introduction, the topics will become more specific as the program continues, for instance the upcoming lectures “Islam in Africa” and “Africa and the Challenges of the 21st Century.” In anticipation of the next lectures Raklovits remarks, “I’m looking forward to Castles of Ghana,” a film that will be shown July 13.

Instrumental in the development of the program is Tage Biswalo, who works in outreach at the Center for African Studies. Biswalo, whose parents are native to Tanzania, first became interested in African studies as an undergraduate. He hopes the program will allow children to “see Africa in a way they have never seen before.”

On Wednesday, the film The Africans provided a new visual aspect. Before starting the film, Biswalo asked the kids, “What do you think when you hear ‘Africa’?” The question brought a variety of responses, including “animals,” “wars,” “economy” and “weird country names.”

For Biswalo, this type of brainstorming is a good way to challenge assumptions about the continent, which, he said, the media always depict as negative. By dispeling certain myths, Biswalo hopes to show the kids that “Africa is pretty much the same as places you are living — and sometimes better.”

Another aim of the program, according to Biswalo, is “linking the Diaspora back to the continent.” Lectures such as “Haiti: Independence and Beyond” and “Brazil and the African Experience” bring in elements of the Diaspora. Biswalo finds the lecture on Haiti particularly important because as the first black nation in the world to gain independence, Haiti inspired the liberation of other African countries.

Biswalo believes that the most important aspect of the program for the community is creating a dialogue. “The University talks a big deal about including the surrounding community, but historically, it has not happened,” he said. “Imagine how many resources we have that kids can explore.”

The series will continue on selected Monday and Wednesday afternoons throughout June and July.