The African Studies Association is a non-profit organization of scholars, administrators and other specialists on Africa. Founded in 1957 with the mission of promoting African studies, the ASA is holding its 50th Anniversary Meeting in New York City at the Sheraton Hotel, October 18-21, 2007. For four days the conference will bring to New York over 2000 scholar specialists on Africa, from all academic fields, development officials, government representatives, artists, linguists, language teachers, performers, and technicians. This offers an unprecedented opportunity for the public to have access to expertise on Africa.

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To mark this anniversary the LAC has organized a "New York Celebrates Africa Week," when organizations, businesses, restaurants, art galleries, theaters and have scheduled events focused on Africa. The LAC will launch the week’s festivities with an event at the Schomburg Library. A glossy printed advertisement/ glossy brochure listing all Africa-related events and venues will be distributed to the conferees and throughout the city to the general public in hotels. The Committee is also planning a major dance party to include local African bands and performers, and tours of Africa-related sites in the city.

The conference is launched on October 18th with a Gala Reception featuring a Durbar of Ghanaian Chiefs in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the Republic of Ghana at TheTimesCenter at Times Square . Invitations have been extended to city, local, and national politicians, UN representatives and representatives from the African immigrant organizations in New York City. The reception will both honor the 50th Anniversary of the Association and the independence of the Republic of Ghana. The National Council of Ghanaian Association will conduct a durbar of Ghanaian chiefs to commemorate the country's independence.