Fellowship: African Development Dissertation Workshop, 01/98

THEME: The Arts and Humanities in Africa's Economic and Political
Transitions

The wave of political and economic reforms that have swept over Africa in the last decade and the continent's earlier post-colonial experience affected not only people's relationship with markets and governments, but also their modes and content of self-expression, concepts of identity, and value systems.The forces behind these social, political, and economic movements are both internal and external and have expressed themselves in the popular culture as well as formal statements of recognized authorities. Hence theatre, music, film, literature, and the visual arts have both reflected and shaped economic and political developments in the continent.

The dissertation workshop on the arts and humanities in Africa's economic and political transitions will provide a venue for intensive discussion of research proposals relating to the arts in any manifestation to African development.The intent is to help students develop methodologically and theoretically rigorous research designs for doctoral work that is relevant to African development.While methodology will vary with subject matter and discipline, all proposals should include at least nine months of field work in Africa.

ELIGIBILITY:African students enrolled in doctoral programs in the behavioral and social sciences, fine and applied arts, and humanities are eligible.Students need not have advanced to candidacy, but must have a written dissertation research proposal.Applicants should submit a research proposal of 10 to 15 pages, a curriculum vitae, a list of graduate courses completed, and a letter of reference form their academic advisor or research supervisor.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 15, 1998

Address the application to:
Paul Tiyambe Zeleza
Professor of History & Director of AfricanStudies
Center for African Studies
210 International Studies
910 S. Fifth Street
Champaign, IL 61820

FOR MORE INFORMATION:Contact Sue Swisher at the Center for African Studies at swisher@uiuc.edu or by telephone at 217-333-6335