Royal African Society, in partnership with UrbanBetter, is pleased to invite you to the Sankofa Dialogue Diaspora Launch, taking place on in the evening of 28th January, 226 at SOAS in London. This inaugural dialogue marks the first public expression of a new strategic partnership between Royal African Society and UrbanBetter and launches what is envisioned as an annual flagship series creating a youth-led and leading platform for advancing new thinking and action on Africa’s urban futures.

This further strengthens the role of the African diaspora as a driver of global intellectual, civic, and policy influence especially as relates to the Continent. Rooted in the Ghanaian concept of ‘Sankofa’, which means learning from the past to shape the future, the dialogue will convene leaders across generations, sectors, and geographies to explore how Africa’s histories, lived experience, and global intellectual capital can be mobilised to build healthy, climate-resilient, and hopeful cities.

The Sankofa Dialogue is intentionally designed as a highly interactive, coalition-building forum, rather than a traditional conference. Participants will engage in shared reflections, strategic discussions, and practical co-design focused on translating hope into specific institutional action. The event also marks the launch of UrbanBetter Academy’s Diaspora Hub, a new institutional platform dedicated to mobilising diaspora intellectual capital through transnational knowledge diplomacy.

The Dialogue Structure

Part I: Remembering the Future – Hope as Infrastructure · Why hope must be built into the systems, institutions, and leadership shaping Africa’s urban futures.

Part II: Transnational Knowledge Diplomacy for Healthy Cities · How diaspora knowledge, youth leadership, and cross-sector coalitions can be institutionalised to drive impact.

PART III: Legacy and Momentum: Channelling the Energy in the Room into Tangible

Next Steps Date: 28 January 2026

Location: Brunei Gallery Building, School of Oriental and African Studies,

10 Thornhaugh Street, London WC1H 0XG

Time: Doors open at 5:30pm for registration