Africa: Culture and Development Roundtable

The discussion, featuring leaders in the arts and public policy worlds from Africa and the United States, will address the relationship between culture and development in sub-Saharan Africa. Members of the audience, to include Bush Administration officials, Members of Congress and their staff, members from the African diplomatic corps, business and civic leaders, and financial supporters of the Museum, will participate in the discussion. The event will be taped by Howard University Television and made available to U.S. Embassies throughout the African continent for viewing by members of the public.

The panel will open with comments by Dr. Thomas Lentz, Director, Smithsonian International Art Museums Division and Acting Director of the National Museum of African Art, Richard Boucher, Department of State Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, and Constance Berry Newman, U.S. Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator for Africa. Noted journalist Kojo Nnamdi will moderate the discussion. The panel will also include:

• Ambassador Robert Perry, Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs
  Department of State
• Ambassador Edith Ssempala of Uganda
• Academics: Dr, Beverlee Bruce, Program Director of Social Science Research Council with the Andrew Mellon Foundation, Dr. Conrad Kottak Professor and Chair of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Dr. Christine Mullen Kreamer, Curator, National Museum of African Art
• George Dalley, Counsel to Congressman Charles Rangel, United States House of Representatives
• Sandra Taylor, Vice President and Director of Public Affairs, Eastman Kodak.

Following the roundtable, William Bellamy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for African Affairs, will join other distinguished guests in a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the Museum's unveiling of the new entrance pavillion in the Enid Haupt Garden at 6:30 p.m.

Pre-set time for all press: 3:00 p.m.
Take elevator to the third floor, follow hallway to room 3031.