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The conference was one of the best I have ever attended. There are so many recollections I could share with you, as I have shared with countless friends and colleagues since my return. First, my hat off to Ron Hoffman and his staff for orchestrating what must have been nightmare logistics and all the while keeping good humor and graciousness befitting a host of international caliber.

Second, the level of intellectual exchange was unsurpassed. To have a conference on this topic in Ghana was a stroke of genius. Not just the sightseeing, but the opportunity to meet and hear so many scholars from Africa was a great learning experience that I could not have had anywhere else. My session was top-notch.

Third, the diasporic connections were beyond expectations. I am a recent convert to African economic history, having spent most of my scholarly life studying African Americans. To be able to meet so many new colleagues from around the world in one fell swoop was almost overwhelming. On top of that, at the convocation on the first morning I walked into the conference center only to see my graduate school roommate whom I have not seen for over thirty years. He has been living in Wales for the past twenty years, was visiting Ghana with a friend of his, heard about the conference and extended his stay to attend. Getting reacquainted with Glen was by itself worth the price of admission. Then, less than two months later I am attending a conference in Barbados, WI, and the keynote speaker is Hilary Beckles, someone I had just met in Ghana. All I could say as he walked on stage was “He looks familiar. I know that guy from somewhere?” Later we hooked up and reminisced.

Fourth, a trip to Ghana was a promise I had made to my sixteen-year-old daughter four years ago, long before planning for this conference had begun. Carmen accompanied me to the conference and had the most wonderful time meeting people from around the world and taking the side trips planned by the conference organizers. Again, thanks.