Meeting of Russian-African Club Held on May 3 at The Faculty of Journalism
03.05.2023
More than 50 experts from Russia and Africa gathered at the milestone meeting of Russian-African club of Lomonosov MSU on May 3. The hybrid-format event organized by Lomonosov Moscow State University Faculty of Journalism and Faculty of Global Studies attracted speakers and listeners from 15 countries across the two continents – Russia, Cameroon, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Togo, Mali, Senegal, Algeria, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Morocco, Benin, Nigeria.
The event was timed to 30th anniversary of the World Press Freedom Day and the 32nd anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic African Press. It chiefly revolved around the signing of Memorandum on Information Interaction between African and Russian Media. The document establishes the Association of Journalists of Russia and Africa and enshrines specific cooperation strategies, such as mutual inclusion of the Russian and African media in the national media networks, opening of correspondent stations at the partner territory, and funding independent media resources. Cooperation strategies suggested by the Memorandum formed the core subject for the lively discussion on May 3.
The meeting was opened by the Vice President of Russian-African Club Elena Vartanova, who stressed that the newly-developed document expands the initiatives proposed 32 years ago by the Windhoek Declaration. Executive Secretary of Russian-African Club Alexander Berdnikov viewed this initiative as an important milestone in the rich history of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two continents.
Together with the above-mentioned chief moderators, Deputy Dean for International Affairs at Lomonosov MSU Anna Gladkova, President of Public Diplomacy Fund Ilya Shershnev and President of Cameroon’s Diaspora in Russia Louis Gouend steered the conversation and provided constructive feedback to the speakers. The latter made a speech of his own where he pointed out the need to create joint data base of Russian and African media.
Many participants have become regular contributors to this important discussion - including RT International Cooperation Director Vasilij Pushkov, Representative of the Association for Economic Cooperation with African Countries Today Galli Monastyreva, Head of the Travel Institute Congress and Expedition Center Igor Sid and ‘Le Panafricain’ publishing director Diakate Abdu Karim. At the meeting on May 3, they explored media cooperation paths, shared their experience in launching joint projects and introduced the paradigm of afro-intellectual principles in journalism.
African colleagues reflected on the international status of African media. Researcher at North-West University Abiodun Salawu raised the question of visibility and highlighted lack of targeted support of independent African media, while Guinean reporter Sow Mamadou Alpha shared drawing from the experience of his motherland spoke on other challenges faced by African journalists.
Avenues for cooperation between the continents formed another line of conversation. In this vein, researcher at RUDN University Mustapha Muhammed Jamiu analysed Russian-African joint media market potential, while President of the 3E-Bridge Association Dowie Wafaa advocated for the short-term education initiatives.
The participants conversed on the systemic issues as well – for instance, Researcher at Cape Peninsula University of Technology Sisanda Nkoala deconstructed the impact of Covid-19 on African media development. Meanwhile President of Union of African Diasporas Kinfu Zenebe Tafesse pondered the existential dilemma of free mass media within the imbalanced global order.
International relations and balance of power on the global arena was another topical issue set for discussion. The event attracted government officials and political scientists who uncovered the specifics of inter-state relations. Dean of the Higher School of International Relations and World Politics at Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University Svetlana Kolobova shared her expertise in building regional-level youth cooperation between the two continents. Director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies of the Institute for Innovative Development Dmitrij Rodionov zoomed in to analyze ties between Russia and South Africa. Representative of the Fidel Castro Foundation Igor Luk’yanov unpacked the US influence on African countries, while Adviser to the President of Somalia Abdi Nur Said Dahabo Dzhama Dode viewed how the same phenomenon played out in the history of his own country.
Altogether, more than 30 speakers gauged the potential for Russia-Africa cooperation and contributed specific proposals in this regard. Signing of the Memorandum became the chief highlight that completed the event.
Photo: Yuliya Tsyapa, Eugeniy Phillipov.
Author: Darya Maluchenko.
More than 50 experts from Russia and Africa gathered at the milestone meeting of Russian-African club of Lomonosov MSU on May 3. The hybrid-format event organized by Lomonosov Moscow State University Faculty of Journalism and Faculty of Global Studies attracted speakers and listeners from 15 countries across the two continents – Russia, Cameroon, Somalia, Ethiopia, South Africa, Togo, Mali, Senegal, Algeria, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, Morocco, Benin, Nigeria.The event was timed to 30th anniversary of the World Press Freedom Day and the 32nd anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration for the Development of a Free, Independent and Pluralistic African Press. It chiefly revolved around the signing of Memorandum on Information Interaction between African and Russian Media. The document establishes the Association of Journalists of Russia and Africa and enshrines specific cooperation strategies, such as mutual inclusion of the Russian and African media in the national media networks, opening of correspondent stations at the partner territory, and funding independent media resources. Cooperation strategies suggested by the Memorandum formed the core subject for the lively discussion on May 3.
The meeting was opened by the Vice President of Russian-African Club Elena Vartanova, who stressed that the newly-developed document expands the initiatives proposed 32 years ago by the Windhoek Declaration. Executive Secretary of Russian-African Club Alexander Berdnikov viewed this initiative as an important milestone in the rich history of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two continents.
Together with the above-mentioned chief moderators, Deputy Dean for International Affairs at Lomonosov MSU Anna Gladkova, President of Public Diplomacy Fund Ilya Shershnev and President of Cameroon’s Diaspora in Russia Louis Gouend steered the conversation and provided constructive feedback to the speakers. The latter made a speech of his own where he pointed out the need to create joint data base of Russian and African media.
Many participants have become regular contributors to this important discussion - including RT International Cooperation Director Vasilij Pushkov, Representative of the Association for Economic Cooperation with African Countries Today Galli Monastyreva, Head of the Travel Institute Congress and Expedition Center Igor Sid and ‘Le Panafricain’ publishing director Diakate Abdu Karim. At the meeting on May 3, they explored media cooperation paths, shared their experience in launching joint projects and introduced the paradigm of afro-intellectual principles in journalism.
African colleagues reflected on the international status of African media. Researcher at North-West University Abiodun Salawu raised the question of visibility and highlighted lack of targeted support of independent African media, while Guinean reporter Sow Mamadou Alpha shared drawing from the experience of his motherland spoke on other challenges faced by African journalists.
Avenues for cooperation between the continents formed another line of conversation. In this vein, researcher at RUDN University Mustapha Muhammed Jamiu analysed Russian-African joint media market potential, while President of the 3E-Bridge Association Dowie Wafaa advocated for the short-term education initiatives.
The participants conversed on the systemic issues as well – for instance, Researcher at Cape Peninsula University of Technology Sisanda Nkoala deconstructed the impact of Covid-19 on African media development. Meanwhile President of Union of African Diasporas Kinfu Zenebe Tafesse pondered the existential dilemma of free mass media within the imbalanced global order.
International relations and balance of power on the global arena was another topical issue set for discussion. The event attracted government officials and political scientists who uncovered the specifics of inter-state relations. Dean of the Higher School of International Relations and World Politics at Nizhny Novgorod State Linguistic University Svetlana Kolobova shared her expertise in building regional-level youth cooperation between the two continents. Director of the Center for Geopolitical Studies of the Institute for Innovative Development Dmitrij Rodionov zoomed in to analyze ties between Russia and South Africa. Representative of the Fidel Castro Foundation Igor Luk’yanov unpacked the US influence on African countries, while Adviser to the President of Somalia Abdi Nur Said Dahabo Dzhama Dode viewed how the same phenomenon played out in the history of his own country.
Altogether, more than 30 speakers gauged the potential for Russia-Africa cooperation and contributed specific proposals in this regard. Signing of the Memorandum became the chief highlight that completed the event.
Photo: Yuliya Tsyapa, Eugeniy Phillipov.
Author: Darya Maluchenko.