Fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent

As Africa and its global diaspora work towards reparative justice, it is essential to reclaim, preserve and share cultural heritage. This side event will explore how heritage custodians, academic institutions and technology innovators can work together to develop tools that support knowledge sharing and cultural continuity.

The event will serve as a learning platform that bridges academic discourse with practical approaches to cultural preservation. Through expert discussions and an interactive workshop, participants will explore how AI and digital tools can safeguard and transmit African knowledge systems.

Aims
1. Understanding Cultural Heritage & Reparative Justice - Exploring how knowing our history strengthens the case for reparations. 
2. Building mechanisms for knowledge sharing - Discussing tools that enable intergenerational knowledge transfer. 
3. Technology & Cultural Preservation - Exploring how AI and digital platforms can document and promote African heritage. 
4. Engaging the Next Generation - Equipping students with practical methods to contribute to heritage conservation.

Event Agenda
Date:13 April 2025 
Venue: Meyer Hall, Room 122, University of New York & Online 
Time: 11:00 - 14:00 (including workshop)

11:00 - 11:15 | Opening Remarks
- Welcome by the representative of the University of New York 
- Keynote Address by a Distinguished Royal Highness from Africa 
- Remarks by the Representative of the Mayor’s office

11:15 - 12:15 | Panel Discussion: Heritage & Reparative Justice
- How understanding our history strengthens the demand for reparative justice. 
- Insights from royal custodians, academics and technical experts. 
- Student Q&A session.

12:15 - 13:00 | Roundtable: Technology & Heritage Conservation
- How AI, digital archives and cultural data encoding can strengthen African heritage. 
- Case studies on encoding African symbols, languages and sounds. 
- Interactive discussion with students, technology innovators and heritage custodians.

13:00 - 14:00 | Interactive Workshop: AI as a tool for cultural continuity
- Hands-on session exploring AI-based documentation tools. 
- Students & participants engage in real-time cultural data mapping. 
- Practical takeaways for participants on using technology for cultural heritage preservation.

Expected outcomes
✅ Strengthened cultural identity - empowering heritage custodians & the next generation. 
✅ Long-term collaborations - Building links between scholars, traditional leaders and technology innovators. 
✅ AI & Digital Integration - Exploring real-world applications for cultural preservation. 
✅ Student Engagement - Equipping young people with practical skills in cultural heritage documentation.