Conf: International Society for Oral Literature in Africa, 07/04

1. There has been a very slight revision to the dates of the conference, though these will still be within the middle of July 2004. Rather than July 16-19, as previously announced, the conference will now hold on July 15-17 (Thursday to Saturday). Delegates should plan to arrive on July 14. Registration will take place on the morning of July 15 and possibly the evening of the 14th. The main business of the conference (meetings and discussions, etc.) will occupy the days 15-17th, with the final banquet holding on the 17th.

2. The following day (Sunday, July 18) has been set aside for an excursion to historic sites, but those who wish to take their final leave are free to do so. In the next few weeks we will provide further information about the excursion, to enable participants to make up their minds whether or not to sign up for it.

3. Arrangements for accommodation are being made with the following hotels in the area where the conference will be held. The prices indicated for them here (for single and double occupancy) are the ones currently posted. Negotiations are underway to bring down the quotations considerably especially for the more expensive hotels. Also, more detailed information about these hotels (rating, facilities, etc.) will be provided when the final prices have been agreed:
Kairaba (single $78, double &94). Capacity: all delegates Senegambia ($50, $55). Capacity: all delegates Tafbel Maisonettes ($22, $28). Capacity: 50 delegates Bunkoyo ($15). Capacity: 10 delegates Coconut Residence: $50 all suites. The Kairaba is the classiest of these hotels, and arrangements are being made to hold the entire conference there since it has a large number of conference halls, committee rooms, audiovisual systems, and other conference facilities (e.g., translation). All transportation to and from the meeting places will be arranged by the University of Gambia and the Conference Organizing Committee. For budgeting purposes, I have been informed that the current rate of exchange between the American dollar and the Gambian Dalasi is US$1=D31.50. The prices quoted above for hotels are, however, in American dollars.

4. We are still trying our best to get some international bodies to subsidize the participation of colleagues from Africa who cannot be sponsored by their home governments or institutions. Although no guarantees at all can be given, it might help if such participants could tell me the nature of their needs in any or a combination of these areas: travel, accommodation, registration.

5. Participants are urged to make their individual travel arrangements through reliable travel agents. For those travelling from the U.S., Edris Makward has suggested Laye Thiam with whom he has worked for various conferences and who may be reached through the following contacts:

Telephone: (908) 654-8204
Fax: (908) 654-2954 E-mail: mailto:tilane51@hotmail.com

6. I would like to remind those wishing to present papers to send me their titles and abstracts as previously specified. Preparation of the draft program will begin in the first week of December. I regret that those who do not send me their titles and abstracts by the deadline (November 30) may not be listed in the program. Please do your best to let me have these details soon.

Isidore Okpewho President of ISOLA From: isidore okpewho <iokpewho@binghamton.edu> Subject: ISOLA Conference, Banjul 2004