A slice of North Africa is coming to the high desert by way of Central Oregon Community College’s (COCC) North African Soirée, at the Bend campus’s Cascades Hall from 4:30-6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 3, featuring music, art, presentations by a panel of visiting scholars, and food by Kebaba. This event, free and open to the public, continues with additional discussion by the panelists from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, May 4, at the same location.

A trio of visiting scholars will help illuminate the cultural and ethnic fabric of the region. Patricia Goldsworthy, an associate professor of history at Western Oregon University, will discuss the history of colonialism in Morocco. Nabil Boudraa, an Oregon State University (OSU) associate professor of French and Francophone literature, will provide perspective on the ethnic mix of North Africa. Professor of history Jonathan Katz, also visiting from OSU, will address the complicated identities that exist in North Africa.

Now in its third year, the event is moderated by Jessica Hammerman, assistant professor of history at COCC. “The area of North Africa is filled with dynamic change,” she said. “There are populations—ethnicities and religions—who identify with the area, but whose voices have been muted. The history of colonization connects the area deeply to Europe, in problematic ways that keep historians coming back to study what happened.” The event originated when Boudraa and Joseph Krause from OSU spearheaded a seminar on the African region through the National Endowment for the Humanities that united academics from all over the country.

For more information, contact Jessica Hammerman at 541-383-7235 or jhammerman@cocc.edu. In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability, contact Joe Viola: 541-383-7775. For accommodation due to other disability, such as hearing impairment, contact the Office of Disability Services: 541-383-7743.