Boston University Professors Linda Heywood and John Thornton will present a lecture titled: "New Insights into the African American Diaspora: The Central African and West African Waves to North America and Brazil" March 12 at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa campus.

The African slave trade had a profound impact on the Americas, their nations, and cultures. This talk will present recent research into concentrations of specific African ethnicities in the Americas and their influence on American cultures. Special attention will be given to early 17th century Angolans in the Americas, late 17th century and early 18th century Igbo in Virginia, and 18th century Mina in Brazil.

Professors Heywood and Thornton were consultants to the recent PBS series "African American Lives." They are also the authors of several books, including "Central Africans" and "Atlantic Creoles and the Foundation of the Americas, 1585-1660 (2007)," which discusses the first generation of Africans captured by pirates and brought to the Americas, and their influence on the development of slavery, racism, and African-American culture.

The lecture and a book-signing session are set for 7:30 to 9 p.m in the Art Auditorium. A reception will precede the talk, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Sponsored by the Chancellor's Office, the American Studies Department, and the College of Arts and Humanities of the UH-Manoa; and the Hawai'i Council for the Humanities (HCH), with support from HCH and the "We the People" special initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts.

The event is free and open to the public; campus parking, $3.