On 16 May 2026, people gathered in the Sibson building on the University of Kent campus, to hear Edward Said, Palestinian-American founder of postcolonial theory in his own voice, as we played excerpts from original recordings of his lectures delivered at the University in 1985.
We explored emerging debates on Palestine, West Asia, the legacies of empire, the role of the intellectual, and the global importance of Humanism, and discussed the enduring influence of Said's ideas on the most urgent questions of our times, and how his thinking still shapes how we understand culture, power, and empire in 2026.
Special guest Professor Wadie E. Said, Professor of Law at the University of Colorado School of Law, joined us to speak about his father's legacy.
Professor Wadie E. Said, Jessica Elias, Dr Haifa Mahabir, Dr Khawla Badwan, Dr Basma El Doukhi, Dr Shahd Hammouri opened the debate at Humanity at a Crossroads.
Universities can be spaces for dialogue and public engagement during periods marked by global war, displacement, and uncertainty.
We hold the original audio recordings of Edward Said's ‘Culture and Imperialism’ lectures that he delivered at the University of Kent for the T.S. Eliot Memorial Lecture Series in 1985. These have been preserved and digitised by our Special Collections and Archives team and can be accessed on request and in person in the Templeman Library’s Reading Room. Please email specialcollections@kent.ac.uk to book an appointment or explore the webpages to see more of our unique and distinctive collections.
