Dignitaries arrive New York for 3rd International Estebanico Symposium holding in New York, USA, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025

As part of the Black History Month Celebration for this year, the 3rd International Estebanico Symposium will hold in New York, United States of America (USA), tomorrow, Friday, February 21, 2025, on the theme: “Tracing the Footsteps of an Extraordinary African Explorer: The Atlantic Connection.”

Already, dignitaries from across the world, especially from Morocco and different parts of the U.S have started arriving New York for the epoch making event.

Focusing on the exploits of the legendary Moroccan explorer, Mustafa Al-Azmouri, known as Estevanico, the historic event, which will take place from 1PM to 4PM, will feature an array of award winning Academics, Diplomats and other stakeholders, and is targeted at strengthening the Atlantic ties between Morocco and America.

It will also reinforce the significant contributions of Africa to the early history and development of the Americas, challenging some of the distortions of the past.

Being hosted by the College of Staten Island, of the City University of New York (CUNY), in partnership with the Consulate General of the Kingdom of Morocco in New York, the symposium, according to the organizers, “continues an initiative aimed at highlighting Estevanico’s pivotal role in the exploration of the New World (America) during the 16th century.”

The first edition of the symposium was held at CUNY in February 2024, while the second edition took place in Azemmour, Morocco, in August 2024. “This third edition in New York seeks to deepen the understanding of the historical ties between the Kingdom of Morocco and the United States,” and “aligns with the Atlantic Initiative launched by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, which aims to solidify strategic links between African countries bordering the Atlantic Ocean and their counterparts on the other side, including the United States.

“Mustafa Al-Azmouri embodies this historical connection, being the first Moroccan and African to cross the North American continent as part of an exploratory mission in 1527, reflecting the deep-rooted historical ties between the two shores. The symposium will explore his role as a cultural bridge between Africa and America and will seek to demystify the myths surrounding his persona by reassessing it through an academic lens based on verified historical documents and sources.

“Additionally, the event will highlight African influences in American culture, shedding light on the civilizational heritage that Estevanico carried and helped disseminate during his travels.

“Within the context of the royal Atlantic Initiative, which seeks to enhance economic and cultural cooperation between Atlantic-bordering African nations, this symposium serves as an academic platform to foster mutual understanding and deepen research on Morocco’s historical role in linking continents.

“Estevanico represents the archetype of the Moroccan explorer, who, centuries ago, contributed to building bridges between Africa and the New World—an effort reaffirmed today through strategic projects strengthening cooperation between both Atlantic shores,” the organizers stressed.

Dr. Abdeslem El Idrissi, a Cofounder of the Estevanico International Symposium and a Professor of Neuroscience at the College of
Staten Island of The CUNY will give welcome remarks and introduce the symposium while H.E. Abdelkader Jamoussi, a frontline Moroccan Diplomatic, literary icon, the Consul General of Morocco in New York as well as a Cofounder of the Estevanico International Symposium, will give introductory remarks and an overview of previous symposia.

The Inaugural Lecture, on “The Transatlantic Initiative and the Evolving African-American Relations,” will be delivered by H.E Ambassador Youssef Amrani, the Moroccan Ambassador to the United States. Other Key Speakers at the event will include Dr. Hsain Ilahiane on “Homo Atlanticus: The Career and Legacy of Estevanico de Dorantes,” Dr. John T. Wing on “The Shifting Frontiers Between Iberia and North Africa,” and Dr. Sylviane Diouf on “Experiences of Africans in the Americas.”

Other Key Speakers are Dr. Ephraim Isaac on “Africa Cultural and Historical Narratives on a Global Stage,” Dr. Paul Schneider on “Estevanico: A Cultural Bridge in Indigenous North America,” Dr. Chouaib Halifi on “Perception of ‘Estevanico’s Story’ in Moroccan Culture and Society,” and Dr. Taoufik Jaafari on “Estevanico: A Preliminary Bibliography.”

To be moderated by Professor Wilma L. Jones, a Professor and Reference/Instruction Librarian, Professor El Idrissi and Dr. Abdelaziz Boudlal, an experienced academic and educator, the Conference will, besides the Keynote Addresses and Panel Discussions, also feature Cultural Exhibitions showcasing artifacts, music, maps, and artistic representations that depict Estevanico’s journey and the diverse cultures he encountered during his explorations.

The symposium will, as well, include an Art exhibition about Estevanico, displaying paintings by the Artist Abdelkarim ElAzhar from Azemmour (Morocco), and feature a short film “Estevanico in the land of Zuni” by the Moroccan Filmmaker, Hicham Regragui and Abdelkader Jamoussi.

In his reflection on the Art Exhibition component of the event, Abdelhakim Azhar invites all to come on an “artistic odyssey, where
the boundaries of tradition are pushed, and new frontiers of expression are fearlessly explored.”

Co-Organizers of the Conference are The General Consulate of the Kingdom of Morocco, the Department of Biology and Center for
Developmental Neuroscience, the Department of History, the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Professional Development, the Department of World Languages and Literatures, the African and African Diaspora Studies Program, the Black and Latino Urban Male Initiative and the Center for Global Engagement.

The Sponsors of the program are The College of Staten Island, The City University of New York, The General Consulate of the Kingdom of Morocco, College of Staten Island Student Government, Royal Air Maroc, OCP Group and Casablanca-Settat Region.

The organizers are inviting researchers and enthusiasts of African-American cultural interactions to attend this unique opportunity to exchange knowledge about a historical figure who epitomizes Morocco’s and Africa’s deep influence in the Atlantic sphere.