Join us for a special International Book Club featuring Homegoing by Yaa Giyasi.
This educator book club will focus on Homegoing as a teaching text, with particular attention to Ghanaian history, the transatlantic slave trade, and the long arc of diaspora and memory. Designed primarily for high school educators, the session will offer historical context alongside space to reflect on language, culture, and belonging in the classroom.
The first 20 K-12 educators who register for this event will receive a free copy of the book!
The event will feature a presentation by Ephraim Danquah, who will provide historical and cultural background on Ghana and the themes raised in the novel. Ama Esther Ptak, Executive Director of the African Center for Community Development, will serve as moderator, guiding discussion and facilitating Q&A, with reflections relevant to educators and classroom practice.
This session is intended to support educators in engaging Homegoing thoughtfully and responsibly with students, and in situating the novel within broader historical and global contexts.
About Ephraim Seseh Danquah
Ephraim Seseh Danquah affectionately called Fiifi is a PhD student in Communication Arts at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, specializing in Rhetoric, Politics, and Culture. His research interests center on Ghanaian mass culture and Africana mobilities and refugee, with particular attention to vernacular discourses that rutupres yet emerge as political rhetorical repertoire . He holds a minor in African Studies. Originally from Ghana, Ephraim moved to the United States four years ago. He is actively engaged in academic and community service, volunteering with the Center for African Studies’ CASH program at UW–Madison. He also serves as Treasurer of the Rhetoric Society of America’s UW–Madison chapter and Vice President of the Association of Ghanaian Students in Madison.
About Esther Ama Safia Ptak (Ama)
Originally from Ghana, Ama holds two Masters degrees, from the University of Cape Coast and UW-Madison. With a background in sociolinguistics, Ama has a lot of experience navigating different socio-cultural contexts and is a strong advocate of language preservation. To her, language, in whatever form, is a capital gain. At the African Center, Ama previously served as the community outreach coordinator, developing programs and implementing community engagement initiatives. As Executive Director, Ama builds strategic partnerships and coordinates with the board and community to ensure the Center is the pivotal resource our community needs. Ama loves spending time with her family, listening to community members, and participating in community events and research.
This event is sponsored by IRIS NRC and the African Studies Program at UW-Madison.
