The Meanings of Popular Culture conference was made possible by a grant from the School for International Training. It was hosted and coordinated by the Swahili Resource Center (dir. Athman Lali Omar). Other organizers: Ann Biersteker (Associate Chair, Council on African Studies, Yale University) and Andrew Eisenberg (doctoral candidate in ethnomusicology, Columbia University).

The organizers would like to offer additional thanks to the Program for Museum Development in Africa, the Fort Jesus Museum, the community of Mombasa at large, and all the conference participants. Also: Prof. Mohamed Abdulazziz, Prof. Alamin A. Mazrui, Mohamed Said Matano, Maalim Saggaf, Ustadh Ahmad Nassir Juma Bhalo, Ustadh Mahmoud Mau, Omar Swaleh Al-Abdi (and Mombasa Taarab), and the Malindi District Cultural Association.