Call for Papers: African Literature Association, 03/03

African Literature Association 29th Annual Meeting ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT March 19-23, 2003

Of Lighthouses and Libraries: History ReLit Keynote speaker: Edward W. Said

http://academic.udayton.edu/ala CO-HOSTS & SPONSORS THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON AND BIBLIOTHECA ALEXANDRINA

The ALA has chosen Alexandria, Egypt, as the site for the 2003 conference to participate in the events of the inaugural year of the new library-- Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This new monument to learning serves both as a look back through history to the ancient storehouse of knowledge on the coast of Africa and forward to Africa's role in preserving, constructing, and revising history for future generations. The year 2003 also marks the 25th anniversary of the publication of Edward Said's Orientalism, a text that has significantly contributed to our understanding of the constructed histories of African cultures and to the postcolonial scholarship of the last generation.

"Of Lighthouses and Libraries: History ReLit," the conference theme, is intended to bring together the lighthouse and the library as symbols of the preservation and illumination of knowledge. It also refers to the significance of the site--Alexandria: home of Pharos, the Lighthouse (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) and the Library (both the ancient and the new).

Papers and panels on all aspects of African literature are invited, but a particular focus on the conference themes and historical perspective is encouraged. Following are some suggested topics: o The role of history in determining the movement of ideas between Africa and the West. o The role of African literatures in the preservation and the construction of knowledge/culture--past and future. o Women's quests in African literatures. o After Orientalism: the contributions of postcolonial writing to the construction and/or illumination of knowledge. o Interdisciplinary approaches in postcolonial studies. o Transnational cultural study of literature from the African continent and elsewhere. o Libraries as resources in the 21st century. o The Bibliotheca Alexandrina--Past and Present o The Mediterranean coast of Africa as the cradle of mystical, spiritual, and religious knowledge. o Heritage, history, memory, memoirs, and autobiography. o Orature as historical record.

While most of the topics suggested above assume literary texts as a point of departure, speakers and whole panels may choose to address these topics (or alternative ones) using visual culture, text-image relations, and/or performance arts as texts. Papers combining literature and film, photography, architecture, or music are also welcome.

For more information visit our website: http://academic.udayton.edu/ala

The deadline for submission of paper and panel abstracts for the African Literature Association Conference is January 15, 2003.

These should be sent to: Faiza Shereen, ALA 2003 Conference Convener, Department of English, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio 45469-1520. e-mail: shereen@udayton.edu