Call for Papers: The Media and Social Change in Africa - SOAS, 03/06

From: Wendy Willems
SOAS
<wendywillems@soas.ac.uk>

CAMRI Africa Media Series: 2006
The Media and Social Change in Africa Conference,
25th March 2006, 9am-5pm, University of Westminster, London, UK

This is a 1st Call for Papers for a one-day CAMRI Africa Media Conference on `The Media and Social Change in Africa'. In what ways are the media changing Africa? What role do the media have in a changing Africa? In countries from Egypt to South Africa, Kenya to Zimbabwe, Cameroon to Nigeria, Rwanda to Morocco, the `media', defined as widely as possible, mediate old and new African social realities. Processes of mediation elicit reactions and patterns of change in Africa and, more importantly, in the media sectors. The shift from pre-colonial, colonial to post-colonial social formations has been reflected and affected by changes in media and communication. The media have been harbingers of African social change and are strongly implicated in the change processes taking place in Africa. Traditional and modern communication patterns are increasingly overlapping with mass mediation. Africa now has different kinds of media serving many kinds of purposes. Individual papers may, amongst other topics, focus on the:

• Media's Role in Pre-Colonial, Colonial and Post-Colonial Africa
• Media and Modernisation in Africa
• Changing Media Institutions and Production cultures
• Social Cultural Changes, Continuity and the Mass Media
• Media and Changing Individual, Local and National Contexts
• Changing Media and Changing African Lifestyles

Papers are invited on Media and Change in Africa. The deadline for abstracts is 15th February 2006. Those whose papers are accepted will be notified by 28th February 2006. Completed papers (not more than 6000 words) must be e-mailed to us not later than 15th March 2006. Send 200-word abstracts to Winston Mano at: manow@wmin.ac.uk

Contactperson:
Dr Winston Mano
Africa Media Series
Communication and Media Research Center (CAMRI)
University of Westminster, Harrow Campus
Watford Road, HA1 3TP, UK

Phone: 0044 (0) 2079115000 Ext. 4427
Email: manow@wmin.ac.uk

Forthcoming in the CAMRI Africa Media Series:
The Media and Democracy in Africa: 28th October 2006