Call for Papers: 19th Century Commerce & Communities in Niger River Basin,
06/04
2004 SUMMER CONFERENCE
IMO STATE UNIVERSITY, OWERRI, NIGERIA
JUNE 11-12, 2004
CALL FOR PAPERS
NINETEENTH-CENTURY POST-ABOLITION COMMERCE AND THE
COMMUNITIES OF THE LOWER NIGER RIVER BASIN (NIGERIA)
Being organized jointly by the Department of History,
University of Guelph (Canada), with the support of the
Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
and the Department of History of Central Michigan University
(USA) in association with Imo State University (Owerri,
Nigeria).
This two-day conference to be held on the Imo State
University campus from June 11-12, 2004, will bring together
scholars in history and related fields to discuss the
"Nineteenth-century post-abolition commerce and the
communities of the lower Niger River basin in the nineteenth
century." The conference will focus on local level social,
economic and political developments in the communities
fringing the basin of the lower Niger River, its
tributaries, and the Niger Delta, arising from the effect of
or participation in international trade in the 19th century.
Presentations are welcome on:
*Biographies of wealthy individuals, famous traders, or
families; farmers, canoe operators, and any other
professionals whose activities came down in the local
peoples' memory as significant, distinctive, important or
unusual.
*Historical analyses of traditional rituals, ceremonies,
songs, stories, and the general orature alluding to or
describing 19th-century commerce- related issues. Research
reports by advanced graduate students working on any aspect
of the subject areas relating to the foregoing themes
*Bibliographical examination of research carried out within
and without Nigeria in the past 15 years on the riverine and
overland 19th-century commerce (produce and slaves) of the
societies of the lower Niger River system.
*Further suggestions on possible topics: transportation
networks; intersection of riverine & overland trade; credit;
guilds; trade secrets & trade professionals; local,
subregional contexts of trade and political power; local
production; imports; security & trade; trade practices; and
the intersection of gender with any of the above
themes/topics
Additional funding is being sought with the hope of
subsidizing the cost of attending the conference for paper
presenters from within Nigeria who qualify. On application,
junior non-academic sector/independent researchers
interested in presenting papers will also be considered for
such subsidies.
The conference is supported by:
- Department of History, University of Guelph, Canada
- Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada
- Department of History, Central Michigan University, USA
- Department of History, Imo State University, Owerri,
Nigeria
- Office of Dean, College of Humanities, Imo State
University, Owerri, Nigeria
- Office of the Associate Vice-President for Institutional
Diversity and International Education, Central Michigan
University
Submit a 500 word abstract via e-mail not later than January
31, 2004
For further information or to submit a proposal, contact the
coordinators:
Femi J.Kolapo (Phd)
Department of History
University of Guelph
Guelph, On. Canada
N1G 2W1
- E
- mail: kolapof@uoguelph.ca
Fax (519) 837-8634
Chima J. Korieh (Phd)
Department of History
Central Michigan University
Mt. Pleasant. MI 4885. USA
E-mail: korie1cj@cmich.edu
Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar