Mamadou Badiane

Mamadou Badiane is an Associate Professor of Spanish and Director of the Afro-Romance Institute at the University of Missouri's School of Languages, Literatures & Cultures. His research focuses on Afro-Caribbean literature, cultural identity, and decolonization movements, with particular emphasis on Negrismo, Négritude, and their intersections with the Harlem Renaissance. Recent work explores religious extremism in Central/West Africa, including Boko Haram's impact in the Lake Chad region. He previously chaired the Department of Romance Languages and Literatures and directs the university's Spain Study Abroad program.

Education:

• B.A. French and Spanish, Hunter College (City University of New York), 2001
• M.A. Spanish, University of Iowa, 2003
• Ph.D. Spanish, University of Iowa, 2006

Research Interests: Badiane examines how Afro-Caribbean cultural identities evolve through literary movements like Negrismo and Négritude, analyzing their connections to African decolonization and hybridized identities via Antillanité/Creolité. His work bridges historical analysis with contemporary issues, such as the fluidity of Caribbean national identities and the global implications of religious extremism.

Key Contributions: His monograph The Changing Face of Afro-Caribbean Cultural Identity explores how Negrismo and Négritude poets reshaped cultural narratives, emphasizing gender dynamics and silenced voices like those of Négritude's female writers. His recent fieldwork in Cameroon informs a forthcoming book on Boko Haram's regional threats.

Academic Leadership: As Study Abroad Program Director in Spain, Badiane facilitates immersive language and cultural education. His institutional roles reflect a commitment to advancing Afro-Romance studies and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue across departments.