ASA/AAI Claude Ake Memorial Awards Program

The Claude Ake Memorial Awards Program seeks to encourage young and mid-career African scholar-activists to carry out research, reflection and writing about their ideas and activities. The award is intended for Africans who are engaged in knowledge-based and reality-informed problem solving to address the continent's development challenges, in the tradition of Claude Ake, an activist for democracy, a visionary, and a scholar of global standing. The award recognizes the work of African intellectuals functioning in various capacities on both sides of the Atlantic. It supports research projects that are applicable to a country, region, or other defined setting within Africa. Successful applicants receive stipends of $6,000 to conduct innovative research aimed at meeting challenges that face the continent of Africa. Ake award recipients travel to the United States to present their research during the ASA Annual Meeting and to participate in study tours that are designed to support their individual research interests.

The Ake scholars are scheduled to arrive in the United States on October 27, 2003. They will visit AAI in Washington, DC to receive a brief orientation on their stay in the United States. The Ake scholars will then travel to Boston to participate in the 46th ASA Annual Meeting, "Youthful Africa in the 21st Century," from October 30-November 2, 2003. The scholars will then begin their study tours, which are scheduled for November 2-16. Funds are available to support the scholars throughout their stay in the United States.

Interested universities should prepare an itinerary including some or all of the following activities:

* A student component, e.g., a classroom lecture or a brown bag presentation with undergraduate and graduate students.

* A faculty workshop, which would allow the scholar(s)' and faculty to exchange ideas and to network.

* A public lecture.

* A tour of the library and an appointment that would allow the scholar to receive targeted library assistance for his or her specific research topic.

* Outreach opportunities to allow the Ake scholar(s) to interact with the local community, such as teachers in grades K-12 and/or non-governmental organizations.

* Home hospitality, such as dinner or a stay in a home.

Please identify a sponsor who will be responsible for the smooth implementation of the proposed itinerary. Suggestions for logistical arrangements, e.g., potential hotels in the area, would also be appreciated. Please also identify a mentor, an expert or a senior professor who is working on a similar topic and/or who will assist the scholar with accessing academic and professional networks related to his or her research.

Below are brief descriptions of the Ake Scholars and their projects. If you are interested in hosting one or more of the Ake Scholars, please respond with a proposed itinerary by mail, fax, or email to the African Studies Association, Rutgers University, Douglass College, 132 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1400; Fax: 732-932-3394; Email: callasa@rci.rutgers.edu. An abstract and a full description of each scholar's proposed research is available upon request. Please reply on or before September 19 to ensure ample time to plan the scholar(s) travel.

The 2003 Claude Ake Memorial Awards Scholars:

Mr. Ebrahim HARVEY, from South Africa, whose research topic is: "Researching the Public's Perceptions, Views, and Concerns about the Planned Installation of Pre-paid Water Meters in Soweto, Johannesburg (South Africa)"

Ms. Annet KOOTE, from Uganda, whose research topic is: "A Situational Analysis of Child Headed Families in Luwero District (Uganda)"

Mr. Gidion Kaino MANDESI, from Tanzania, whose research topic is "An Investigation into the Plight of Disabled People in Politics and Elections in Tanzania"

Ms. Adebobola NATHANIEL-IMEH, from Nigeria, whose research topic is "Integration of Indigenous Knowledge of Rural Women in Sustainable Ecology, Agricultural Productivity and Environmental Conservation; Nigeria Case Study, Do Rural Women do More Harm to Ecology and Environment than Good?"

Mr. Richard NYIRENDA, from Zimbabwe, whose research topic is "Committee or User Based Forestry Management? Alternative Approaches to Community Involvement in Community Based Forest Management: Case Studies from Mafungautsi Forest, Zimbabwe"

Mr. Abdoulaye TALL, from Senegal, whose research topic is "Begging Children, Their Hope, Their Future! Do Children's Rights Mean Anything for Them?"

The African Studies Association (ASA) was founded in 1957 as a nonprofit organization open to all individuals and institutions interested in African affairs. Its mission is to bring together people with a scholarly and professional interest in Africa.With over 3,000 individual and institutional members worldwide, ASA is the leading North American organization that promotes African studies.

The mission of The Africa-America Institute (AAI) is to promote enlightened engagement between Africa and America through education, training and dialogue. Founded in 1953, AAI is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, nonprofit organization, with offices in New York and Washington, DC, and a presence in 20 African countries.

---- Date: Tue, 09 Sep 2003 From: Carol L. Martin
African Studies Association <clmasa@rci.rutgers.edu>