Dialogues: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Successful conference of TF at 60: Gratitude

My Prof,
Congratulations again, again and again. You deserve to. Be celebrated by ALL. You have really done us proud. May God protect and preserve you in the years ahead. Amen!

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

From: Toyin Falola <toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu>

Sender: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com

Date: Mon, 14 Oct 2013 02:05:10 +0000

To: townendp@uncw.edu<townendp@uncw.edu>; Ezekiel Walker<Ezekiel.Walker@ucf.edu>; Samuel Oloruntoba<soloruntoba09@gmail.com>; theai@earthlink.net<theai@earthlink.net>; fleming_tyler@columbusstate.edu<fleming_tyler@columbusstate.edu>; oyeniyib@gmail.com<oyeniyib@gmail.com>; Caroline Tushabe<tushabe@k-state.edu>; Hallie Ringle<hallieringle@gmail.com>; bimbola adelakun<adunnibabe@yahoo.com>; Paul Brenard Chiudza Banda<pbchiudzabanda@mix.wvu.edu>; Michael Vickers<mvickers@mvickers.plus.com>; misschristines@yahoo.com<misschristines@yahoo.com>; esperanza26@mac.com<esperanza26@mac.com>; morenikeji_asaaju@yahoo.com<morenikeji_asaaju@yahoo.com>; Daniel.stephen@colorado.edu<Daniel.stephen@colorado.edu>; ShainR@philau.edu<ShainR@philau.edu>; tonyafejuku@yahoo.com<tonyafejuku@yahoo.com>; chikowero@history.ucsb.edu<chikowero@history.ucsb.edu>; Omar H. Ali<ohali@uncg.edu>; Professor Rosalyn Howard<rhoward@mail.ucf.edu>; babatunde@lincoln.edu<babatunde@lincoln.edu>; Segun Ogungbemi<seguno2013@gmail.com>; benweiss13@gmail.com<benweiss13@gmail.com>; ARIBIDESI.USMAN@asu.edu<ARIBIDESI.USMAN@asu.edu>; agoyito2006@yahoo.co.uk<agoyito2006@yahoo.co.uk>; Doron, Roy S.<doronrs@wssu.edu>; mickie@mwanzia.com<mickie@mwanzia.com>; Daniel Jean-Jacques<daniel.jean-jacques@hotmail.com>; rparise@emory.edu<rparise@emory.edu>; Kofi Asante<kofiasante2015@u.northwestern.edu>; Bridget Teboh<bteboh@umassd.edu>; umukoro_nathaniel@biari.brown.edu<umukoro_nathaniel@biari.brown.edu>; bisolafalola@gmail.com<bisolafalola@gmail.com>; ngithuku@mix.wvu.edu<ngithuku@mix.wvu.edu>; oabegunrin@Howard.edu<oabegunrin@Howard.edu>; Murrell, Samuel<murrells@uncw.edu>; Silvia Lorenso<silvialorenso@gmail.com>; meh3xa@virginia.edu<meh3xa@virginia.edu>; Heaton, Matthew<mheaton@vt.edu>; aborisade<olaaborisade@msn.com>; emeagwali@mail.ccsu.edu<emeagwali@mail.ccsu.edu>; udoguei@appstate.edu<udoguei@appstate.edu>; Steven J Salm<sjsalm@xula.edu>; nana Amponsah<amponsahn@uncw.edu>; dialogue<USAAfricaDialogue@googlegroups.com>; Yoruba Affairs<yorubaaffairs@googlegroups.com>

ReplyTo: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com

Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - Successful conference of TF at 60: Gratitude

Dear all:

In the wake of so successful a conference as the one we have shared this weekend, I find myself compelled to express my deep gratitude to all involved. This was truly an incredible event, and the contributions necessary to make it happen are certainly not lost on me. To all those who traveled great distances to share this time with me, I extend my thanks. The life of a scholar is not one of leisure, and so I appreciate the sacrifices the participants in this conference made to be present. To those who could not be present, I also extend my warm regards. Though you could not be in Wilmington in the physical sense, I know that it would have takenmany more tables to accommodate all those who were there in spirit.

Most of all, I would like to thank those who gave of themselves to make this conference a reality. I wish to thank the Department of History, University of North Carolina, Wilmington for hosting this event on a beautiful campus – a setting truly befitting the distinguished scholarship which this weekend has witnessed. I further wish to thank those who contributed from their own means in order to finance this conference. That so many great scholars would give of their own purse to honor me in this way is humbling to consider. I cannot thank all of you enough. Of course, in addition to treasure, it is clear that this conference also required a great deal of sweat. To all those who put their backs to this burden, especially Dr. Nana Amponsah whose leadership in this effort was the firm foundation upon which this conference was built, I am eternally grateful. The effort that went into pulling the plough has truly shown itself in this weekend’s rich harvest.

This conference has been a tremendous experience. To join respected colleagues, former students, and old friends – fromall over the world – in coming together to share in scholarship is the best way I can imagine to celebrate my sixtieth year. This conference has been a celebration of the intellectual pursuits to which I have dedicated my life, and it has not only reminded me of the accomplishments of Africanists in the past but also has assured me that such accomplishments will continue well into the future. Perhaps the greatest honor of all, however, was to be able to look across rooms full of colleagues and friends and know that my humble efforts over the years have had a real impact in my field and on thelives and careers of my colleagues. I count myself a truly fortunate man. Thank you.