NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–On March 4th at 12 noon, poet and Chair of the Rutgers University Women’s and Gender Studies Department will visit the New Brunswick Free Public Library to speak on the life and work of Nelson Mandela.

The Public Library is located at 60 Livingston Avenue and this program is offered as part of their Brown Bag Luncheon series. Guests are encouraged to bring their own lunch. The event, free and open to the public, will be held in the Carl T. Valenti Community Room.

Nelson Mandela, who passed away 2 years ago, was President of South Africa, and is known for his revolutionary work dismantling various systems of oppression including the apartheid that lasted for almost fifty years in his country.

Mandela is remembered to this day as a peaceful and fearless leader internationally.

Since 1981, Professor Abena Busna, born and raised in the country of Ghana, has been working at Rutgers University in New Brunswick.

She teaches a variety of courses involving social justice, feminism and African-American and Africa diaspora literature. There are several types of diaspora literature, involving many countries and cultures. There are also several types of African heritage diaspora literatre. 

African heritage diaspora literature speaks about people whose lineage can be traced to somewhere in the continent of Africa, but whose ancestors were moved, frequently due to slavery, to another part of the world such as North America, South America, or the Caribbean.

Busia, a published author of two poetry books, “Testimonies of Exile” and “Traces of Life,” also heads the Women Writing Africa project in connection with City University of New York (CUNY), where she is both the director and editor. 

Reporter at New Brunswick Today | mobrien@nb.today

Molly O'Brien started writing for New Brunswick Today as a freelance reporter in February 2013.

Molly writes stories on government, arts, free events, bilingual events, education and more.

Molly graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in French Linguistics and Linguistics, where she also studied Writing and Journalism. Molly also graduated Rutgers Law School.

She is open to any suggestions for stories or tips. You may contact her via text at 732-743-8993.

Molly O'Brien started writing for New Brunswick Today as a freelance reporter in February 2013.

Molly writes stories on government, arts, free events, bilingual events, education and more.

Molly graduated from Rutgers University with a B.A. in French Linguistics and Linguistics, where she also studied Writing and Journalism. Molly also graduated Rutgers Law School.

She is open to any suggestions for stories or tips. You may contact her via text at 732-743-8993.