Call for Papers: Popular Cultures in Africa, 11/06
2007 Africa Conference
At the University of Texas at Austin
Popular Cultures in Africa
Dates: March 30-April 1, 2007
Venue: The University of Texas at Austin
Convener: Dr. Toyin Falola Coordinator: Tyler Fleming
CALL FOR PAPERS
The University of Texas at Austin is pleased to announce a three-day
conference focusing on the histories, genres, meanings, purposes, and
impact of popular cultures in Africa. Popular culture has long served
an important function in all facets of life throughout the continent.
There is no discounting the fact that popular culture remains a key
part of African cultures and societies today. It reflects the
creativity of the people and can also serve as a means of propaganda by
totalitarian regimes. In the context of past and contemporary
developments, we ask the question: what are the meanings, purposes, and
influences of popular cultures in the continent?
The aim of this conference is to examine how popular cultures have
evolved and contributed to the character of Africa. Among the themes
of interest are the following:
-Activism in popular culture
-Popular culture as a means for diasporic or transoceanic conversations
-The future of TV, radio, cinema, or theater in Africa
-HIV/AIDS and popular culture
-Popular culture in urban vs. rural communities
-Jazz and decolonization
-Popular culturee creating connections across the African diaspora
-Politics and popular culture
-Religion and popular culture
-TV telling history
-Appropriations of African American images in African popular culture
-Literature and liberation
-Manifestations of resistance and/or anticolonial sentiments in popular
culture
-Modes of popular culture
-Western appropriation of African music
-Exile and the arts
-Hip hop in Africa
-Popular culture and the antiapartheid struggle
-Western images of Africa
-The future of popular culture
Conference participants will be drawn from various countries. Graduate
students are encouraged to attend and present papers. Since popular
culture cuts across so many disciplines, we welcome participants from
the humanities, sciences, and social sciences. The conference will
provide time for scholars from various disciplines and geographical
locations to interact, exchange ideas, and receive feedback. Submitted
papers will be assigned to particular panels according to to
similarities in theme, topic, discipline, or geographical location.
Additionally, selected papers will be published in a book form.
The deadline for submitting paper proposals is November 1, 2006.
Proposals should include a 250-word abstract and title, as well as the
author's name, address, telephone number, email address, and
institutional affiliation. Please submit all abstracts to
Conference Convener, Toyin Falola (toyin.falola@mail.utexas.edu)
or
Conference Coordinator, Tyler Fleming (tylerfleming@mail.utexas.edu)
Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712
U.S.A.
It is expected that all participants will raise the funding to attend
the conference. The University of Texas at Austin does not provide
participants with any form of funding support, travel expenses, or
boarding expenses.
--
Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
1 University Station
Austin, TX 78712-0220
USA
512 475 7224
512 475 7222 (fax)
www.utexas.edu/conferences/africa
Page Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.