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JUA: Penn African Studies Bulletin, (11/29/2010)
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER
SEMIMONTHLY BULLETIN
Issue No. 7, Fall 2010
29 November, 2010
Dear JUA Readers,
Below, you will find the sixth edition of JUA for the Fall of 2010. You can also find a copy of this and previous issues on our website: http://www.africa.upenn.edu/africa/jua.html.
Your submissions are always welcomed, so please send your announcements to pennjua@gmail.com by 6 December, as the date for our next publication is 13 December. Furthermore, if you want to learn more about Penn African Studies and other happenings in the Northeastern African community, check us out on Twitter (http://twitter.com/PENNAFRICA), Facebook (http://bit.ly/cc7YC3), and Tumblr (http://jua.tumblr.com/).
Cheers,
Zachary Propert,
JUA Editor
EVENTS
CALL FOR PAPERS
FELLOWSHIPS & GRANTS
ACADEMIC JOBS
EVENTS
"Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic in an African Kingdom of the Indian Ocean"
November 30, 2010 4:30 History Lounge (College Hall 209) Johns Hopkins' Pier Larson will give the lecture.
"Black Atlantic/ African Diaspora"
December 1 Wednesday 4:30pm-6pm Rutgers-NB RCHA Seminar Room 88 College Avenue The Rutgers Center for Historical Analysis presents a "Black Atlantic/ African Diaspora" seminar by Samuel Roberts (History, Columbia University) entitled, "Sifting 'Addicts' from 'Criminals': Race and the Pre-History of New York's Rockefeller Drug Law, 1950-1973." Respondent: Donna Murch, History. For further information or to receive a copy of the paper, please contact rcha@rci.rutgers.edu.
"Intersecting Zones: The Art World in Ghana"
A bi-continental symposium and photo exhibition The Drop Shot Space - Haverford College - Philadelphia Parallel exhibition with the Junior Art Club at the DuBois Centre in Accra, Ghana Opening Events in Phila.: Thursday 12/2, 4:30-7:30 pm; Saturday 12/4, 2:30 pm Ghanaian food from Aku's Kitchen will be served at the gallery opening Thursday, 5:30. An exhibition featuring photographs of daily life from Ghana and Haverford, linked up to a parallel exhibit in Ghana via Skype - an art show happening simultaneously here and there. Inspired by work with students and artists at the Junior Art Club, an NGO in Ghana that helps at-risk youth to develop creative and career-oriented skills in the arts. With a series of talks and events to contextualize the topic. An unusual opportunity to see the photographic work of Ghanaian artists.
"Seeds of Memory: Africa's Botanical Legacy in the Atlantic World"
December 3 Friday Rutgers-NB RCHA Seminar Room 88 College Avenue The Graduate Study in the History of Science,Technology, Environment, and Health Seminar Series presents a talk by Judith Carney (Geography, UCLA) entitled, "Seeds of Memory: Africa's Botanical Legacy in the Atlantic World."
Thinking Gender 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011 UCLA CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF WOMEN 21st Annual Graduate Student Research Conference at the UCLA Faculty Center. To learn more about the event, visit http://www.csw.ucla.edu/research/thinking-gender/. If you would like to submit a paper, please see the information in "Call for Papers".
Reframing Knowledge Production on 1970s Uganda
February 5, 2011; University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI Hosted by the African History and Anthropology Workshop Scholars of Africa regularly cast Uganda in the 1970s as a transitional period in the country's history as well as a symbol of Africa's postcolonial ruination and failed struggle for cultural and economic independence. Transnational mythologies of Idi Amin in film, music, and literature have produced a rich, if highly questionable, body of knowledge on his rule. However, the 1970s have produced remarkably little scholarly consensus. Scholars struggle to move beyond worn-out chronologies and seemingly contradictory generalizations of social fragmentation, state collapse, and economic decline alongside cultural self-assertion, national pride, and economic empowerment. This state of affairs can be partly attributed to the assumed dearth of written sources for this period (though the recent openings of personal and government records in Uganda and Great Britain are exciting developments). It may also be related to scholars' difficulty reckoning with the ideological potency of the 1970s in contemporary political discourse, as activists of all sorts seek to draw contrasts or parallels between their situation and a constructed past. If you would like to submit, please see "Call for Papers".
11th Graduate Student Conference on International History (ConIH) at Harvard University
ConIH encourages methodologically innovative approaches and agendas which emphasize long-distance influences, utilize multi-archival and multi-lingual research and offer vistas for historical comparisons across time and space. Perspectives from related disciplines such as law, social science, economics, business or anthropology are welcome and encouraged. Faculty from Harvard and beyond will provide commentary onthe papers. The conference will conclude with a plenary session, at which several leading scholars in the fields of international and global history will discuss broad issues pertaining to the themes and terms of the conference. To learn how to participate, see Call for Papers.
Global Health & Innovation Conference 2011
Presented by Unite For Sight, 8th Annual Conference at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA, Saturday, April 16 - Sunday, April 17, 2011. Unite For Sight's must-attend, thought-leading conference convenes leaders, changemakers, and participants from all fields of global health, international development, and social entrepreneurship. The conference convenes 2,200 people from all 50 states and from 50 countries. Conference registration is now open. Register during July to secure the lowest registration rate. The registration rate increases after July. For more information, please see the website: http://www.uniteforsight.org/conference.
CALL FOR PAPERS ++++++++++++++++++++++++
Habari -- Penn's African Studies Journal
This School year, Penn will be inaugurating Habari. If you are an undergrad and have academic papers about any aspect of Africa, feel free to submit. Please send to pennafrica@gmail.com
African Journal of Political Science and International Relations
AJPSIR is currently accepting manuscripts for publication. AJPSIR publishes rigorous theoretical reasoning and advanced empirical research in all areas of the subjects. We welcome articles or proposals from all perspectives and on all subjects pertaining to Africa, Africa's relationship to the world, public policy, international relations, comparative politics, political methodology, political theory, political history and culture, global political economy, strategy and environment. The journal will also address developments within the discipline. Each issue will normally contain a mixture of peer-reviewed research articles, reviews or essays using a variety of methodologies and approaches. Manuscripts should be sent as e-mail attachment to ajpsir.acadjourn@gmail.com
Economic Development in Africa
Held at St Catherine's College, Oxford, 20-22 March 2011. The CSAE is celebrating its 25th anniversary during 2011 and we are planning to expand our conference both in the range of topics and in the numbers of available places. Papers addressing economic analysis of the broad issues relevant for economic development in Africa are invited. Papers on countries other than those in Africa are welcome, providing they deal with issues central to African development. If you are interested in presenting a paper, please upload an abstract by Friday 10 December 2010 at <http://www.csae.ox.ac.uk/conferences/>http://www.csae.ox.ac.uk/conferences/ Student applications PhD/DPhil students must complete the submission form on the conference website and submit a full paper for consideration.
Exploring Corruption as a Failure of Political Accountability in Africa
Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley Massachusetts, February 25-26, 2011 While we anticipate that the conference conversation will focus on Africa, papers considering the question of corruption as a particular manifestation of the failure of political accountability in any region will be welcomed. Please let us know if you are interested in presenting a paper: we also want to know if you are interested in attending, without presenting. You can reach us at african-accountability@mtholyoke.edu. We would like to hear from potential presenters by December 15.
Cultural Sociology of the Middle East, Asia, and Africa: An Encyclopedia
This comprehensive project will be published by SAGE Reference in 2012 and will be marketed to academic and public libraries as a print and digital product available to students via the library's electronic services. The General Editor, who will be reviewing each submission to the project, is Dr. Orlando Patterson at Harvard University. If you are interested in contributing to this cutting-edge reference, it is a unique opportunity to contribute to the contemporary literature, redefining sociological issues in today's terms. Moreover, it can be a notable publication addition to your CV/resume and broaden your publishing credits. SAGE Publications offers an honorarium ranging from SAGE book credits for smaller articles up to a free set of the printed product or access to the online product for contributions totaling 10,000 words or more. We are now making final assignments with a final due date for submissions of December 15, 2010.
"BLACK IS...BLACK AIN'T": RECONCEPTUALIZING THE AFRICAN DIASPORA
An Interdisciplinary Symposium Held At Indiana University-Bloomington MARCH 25-26, 2011 We welcome submissions from graduate and undergraduate students, educators, creative artists, and community and cultural workers. Interested panelists should submit a one-page abstract of an unpublished paper, and a one-page CV or a 50-75-word bio. Presenters who are interested in displaying visual art should submit a digital CD of their work along with a one-page abstract discussing the details of their piece(s). Those interested in exhibiting their topic via poster board should follow the guidelines for submitting a paper abstract and visual art. Panel proposals should include a description of the panel's theme, a one-page abstract from each paper, the name of the panel chair, and a one-page CV or a 50-75-word bio for each participant. All abstracts should include the academic or organizational affiliation of each participant. Submission Deadline: January 12, 2011 Please email abstracts and accompanying information to the attention of Abegunde, Abstract Committee Chair, at hchs@indiana.edu. If submitting a CD, please indicate this in your email. CDs should be mailed to the attention of Abegunde at the address below. Herman C. Hudson Symposium 2011 Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies Indiana University Memorial Hall, M18 1021 E. Third St Bloomington, IN 47403
Whose ideas of persons?
Theories of personhood in African Philosophy and Anthropology: epistemological and political issues We invite paper that explore the field of these transformations of local concepts of personhood philosophically and/or anthropologically. One possible approach to test is the praxeological concept, because it avoids essentialism by emphasising the complementarity of (local) agency and (global) structure. Examining those transformations of local notions of personhood gives us a chance to determine whose basic terms of personhood are at the centre of the debate. Don't hesitate to send any further question concerning the topic to stefan.skupien@fu-berlin.de. Deadline: 22.12.2010 Convenor: Stefan Hoffmann, Stefan Skupien (Humboldt University, Berlin) Discussant: Dr. Kai Kresse (Zentrum Moderner Orient, Berlin) Link to the conference CfP's: http://www.nai.uu.se/ecas-4/call-for-papers/
SLAVE TRADE, SLAVERY AND TRANSITION TO INDENTURE IN MAURITIUS AND THE MASCARENES 1715-1840
11 April – 13 April 2011 Location: University of Mauritius, Reduit, Mauritius. The Conference is particularly interested in papers which shed new light on the impact of slavery and slave trade on these societies, as well as papers that use new sources or review the existing historiography. The Conference would like to promote reflection that emphasizes the place of the Mascarene in the wider Indian Ocean basin, through links with Africa, Madagascar, India, South-East Asia, or the Atlantic economy. Activists and community based organizations based in Mauritius are also welcome. Contributors may submit their proposals to be presented in a maximum of 20 minutes. These will be combined into sessions of four papers. Titles and abstracts are due by 15 December 2010. To apply, please send the following: - Title - Abstract (maximum of 200 words) - Short, one-page, curriculum vitae. Conference languages are English and French. All proposals will be reviewed and decisions will be made by 15 January 2011. According to contributors' specific situations, travel expenses may partly be funded. Please send your participation and abstract as an attached Word file to both the Conveners: Vijaya Teelock: vijteelock@yahoo.com and Thomas Vernet: thomas.vernet@univ-paris1.fr and/or to the Research Coordinator, Truth and Justice Commission, at tjc@mail.gov.mu
RELIGION AND GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA
2011 ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES, UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, IBADAN 20-23 February, 2011 Abstracts of proposed paper should not exceed two hundred and fifty (250) words. Each abstract should reflect the title of the paper and author's contact details (institutional affiliation, email address and phone number). All submissions are to be made electronically and mailed to: kehindejacob@yahoo.com, kunbial@yahoo.com, oritaibadan@yahoo.com. Abstracts are to be received by January 16th, 2011. Full papers should be submitted by February 7th, 2011.
Governance for Development in Africa Initiative
To be held in Mozambique on 04-08 April 2011 Organised by: Instituto de Estudos Económicos e Sociais (IESE)School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)Funded and supported by: Mo Ibrahim Foundation Applicants should have proven research and/or professional experiences in fields relevant to the theme of Governance and Development in Africa. All costs for successful applicants, including economy flights, accommodation, and subsistence, will be covered. The school will run from April 04th to April 08th, 2011. Applications should include: 1. CV (including email address for correspondence) 2. one reference letter ( or names of referees in CV) 3. Proposal of max 1500 words outlining research interest and professional background and how the applicant will benefit from attending the Summer School Deadline for applications: 15 January 2011 To be sent electronically or by postal mail to: Angelica Baschiera Centre of African Studies SOAS-University of London Thornaugh street, Russell Square London WC1H 0XG Email: ab17@soas.ac.uk Tel.: +44 (0) 207 898 4370
Maghribi Histories in the Modern Era
Special issue of the International Journal of Middle East Studies (IJMES) Julia Clancy-Smith This special issue invites submissions from scholars in the historical sciences* working on various periods from the late eighteenth century on, whose primary focus are the peoples, societies, and states in what we now know as Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya. We seek research that questions older periodizations, chronologies, binaries, and moments of rupture, or that is comparative and/or transnational in nature, as well as scholarship that rethinks historical narratives that were earlier conceptualized as bounded, e.g., for the colonial eras, the histories of the peoples assigned to the monolithic category of "settlers" or resident "Europeans." Submitting authors need not be historians, but papers should have a historical perspective. The deadline for submission is March 15, 2011. Authors should follow the regular guidelines for submitting an article to IJMES (http://web.gc.cuny.edu/ijmes/pages/submissions.html). All articles in special issues must be accepted individually through the IJMES peer review process. Any accepted article that was submitted before March 15, 2011 and that fits the above description may be considered for publication in the special issue.
Creativity and Cultural Expressions in Africa and the African Diaspora
Dates: July 4-6, 2011 Venue: Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria Convener: Ibadan Cultural Studies Group Participants will be drawn from different parts of the world. Graduate students are encouraged to attend and present papers. 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 similarities in theme, topic, discipline, or geographical location. Additionally, selected papers will be published in book form. The deadline for submitting paper proposals is March 30, 2011. 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: Professor Ademola Dasylva <dasylvang@yahoo.com> or <a.dasylva@ibadanculturalstudiesgroup.org>
Colloque "Esclavages, traites, travail contraint en Afrique: logiques politiques et dynamiques sociales" 3èmes rencontres atlantiques du Musée d'Aquitaine Bordeaux, France, 12-14 mai 2011
Colloque coordonné par le CIRESC (Centre International de Recherches sur les Traites et les Esclavages, Acteurs, Systèmes et Représentations) (GDRI CNRS), le Musée d¹Aquitaine, le Centre d'étude d'Afrique noire (CEAN), l¹Université Montesquieu-Bordeaux IV, l¹Université Paris Diderot et le laboratoire Sedet Proposition de communication: Les organisateurs du colloque favorisent la diversité des approches et des formats de présentation. Les résumés des communications d¹une page maximum devront parvenir au plus tard le 10 novembre 2010 accompagnés d¹un court CV (6 lignes au maximum) et mentionnés l¹institution de rattachement et une adresse électronique valide. Les communications devront être soumises aux organisateurs le 28 février 2011 au plus tard, selon les normes de présentation communiquées ultérieurement afin de permettre leur édition électronique.
ACME SPECIAL ISSUE ON ENFORCED DISAPPEARANCE
Spaces, Selves, Suffering, Societies: Global Perspectives on Enforced Disappearance This special issue of Acme: An International E-Journal for Critical Geographies, seeks to expand current research and scholarly analysis of the phenomenon of enforced disappearance, and its impact on spaces, selves, families, societies and futures, by explaining the spatio-political logics of enforced disappearance as a tactic of terror, and its impact on an array of spatialized, social-relational and political scales across the globe. This call for papers thus seeks contributions which advance perspectives on societal responses to enforced disappearance, and its aftermath, in a variety of global contexts. Particularly, we solicit papers which employ critical geographic thought, methods, and interpretation, with the aim to further scholarship concerned with how this complex phenenomenon may be studied in radical ways. Geographers have much to contribute in mapping and analyzing enforced disappearance as an evolving, immensely geographical phenomenon of political violence and human suffering.
African Programme on Rethinking Development Economics
Applicants must demonstrate first-class intellectual capacity and (at least some) prior knowledge in economics, as well as proficiency in English. However, the objective of APORDE is to draw participants from a broad range of backgrounds; persons who have demonstrated exceptional capacity in their professional lives are invited to apply. The main body of participants will be drawn from Africa, but we welcome applications from Asians and Latin Americans who have research or work experience related to Africa. Prospective applicants should send: A completed application form (available on www.aporde.org.za); An official transcript (showing courses taken and grades obtained); 2 reference letters, where possible 1 academic and 1 professional, which should be sent directly to aporde@ifas.org.za or faxed to +27 11 836 5850 ; Proof of English proficiency for applicants whose main medium of instruction or work is not English. Results of standard English proficiency tests (e.g. TOEFL or IELTS) will be preferable, but other proof may also be accepted (e.g. a sample of written work in English). Applications, accompanied by a covering letter indicating the applicant's full contact details (including e-mail address and telephone numbers), should be sent to aporde@ifas.org.za to the attention of Nicolas Pons-Vignon. The application should actually reach Nicolas Pons-Vignon by Monday 6 December 2010 at midnight at the latest.
9th European Social Science History Conference
Glasgow, Scotland, UK, 11-14 April 2012 The ESSHC aims at bringing together scholars interested in explaining historical phenomena using the methods of the social sciences. The conference is characterized by a lively exchange in many small groups, rather than by formal plenary sessions. The Conference welcomes papers and sessions on any topic and any historical period. It is organized in a large number of networks: Africa Antiquity Asia Criminal Justice Culture Economics Education and Childhood Elites Ethnicity and Migration Family and Demography – Health and Environment - Labour Latin America – Material and Consumer Culture - Middle Ages Oral History – Politics, Citizenship and Nations - Religion Rural Sexuality - Social Inequality – Spatial and Digital History - Technology Theory - Urban Women and Gender - World History The deadline for pre-registration on our website is 1 may 2011. The 9th European Social Science History Conference is organized by the International Institute of Social History in co-operation with Glasgow University Further information and the online pre-registration form for the conference please go to the Conference website at www.iisg.nl/esshc
SOAS Literary Review: Literatures of Africa, Asia, and Middle East (grad)
SOAS Literary Review (http://www.soas.ac.uk/soaslit/home.html) is an online?journal of postgraduate research. It seeks to provide an international forum?for research students working on the literatures of Africa, Asia, and the?Middle East. We welcome contributions on all aspects of postgraduate?literary research including articles, translations, fieldwork commentaries,?and book and media reviews. We hope to stimulate dialogue between research?students and scholars and forge links across institutions. For contributors' guidelines, please refer to the following link: http://www.soas.ac.uk/soaslit/contributors.html
"World Literature"
NeMLA 2011, April 6-10, New Brunswick, New Jersey. contact email: deepikamarya@aol.com?The panel will explore what "world literature", that has embedded in it the conjunction world-historical, mean today. By the time Goethe coined the term in the 1800's much of the non-Western world was already colonized.The impact of this reorganization was far reaching for the West and the non-Western world.What role did colonial structures play in creating a unified global systems theory such as Orientalism? Can Orientalist literature claim to be "world literature"? Many of the challenges posed by the paradigms of "world literature", global translation, linguistic imperialism, nationalism and modernity open the discussion to new reflection and debate. Have its claims been obscured by assimilations and homogenizations as a result of globalization? We will examine some of the dilemmas facing "world literature" in our times. Is there a need for shifting categories and bring newness to the study of "world literature"? Abstracts of 300 words maximum are invited.
Sudan Studies Association
The tradition of the SSA conference is to give priority in timing and prominence to papers that address the theme of the conference, but papers on all other issues relating to Sudan--past, present and future-- are also very welcome. Abstracts of proposed papers (please, limit to 150-200 words) should be sent by January 1, 2011 to Dr. Randall Fegley, 2011 SSA Panel Organizer, Coordinator of Global Studies, Pennsylvania State University, Berks Campus, Tulpehocken Road, Reading, PA, USA 19610, Tel. (610) 396-6092, e-mail raf8@psu.edu<mailto:raf8@psu.edu>. A preliminary program will be announced by April 1, 2011. Late proposals for papers will be considered only if space is available. Proposals and paper abstracts submitted earlier will receive preferential treatment in scheduling. Acceptance for presentation will depend on the quality of the abstract and the judgment of the program committee. Pre-registration is required in order to secure a place on the conference program. Stipends of $200 are available for assistance to a limited number of graduate students and interested persons should contact SSA President Dr. Stephanie Beswick, Ball State University: sfbeswick@bsu.edu<mailto:sfbeswick@bsu.edu>
The Art of Citizenship in African Cities
The World and Africa Series Committee on Global Thought Columbia University Abstract deadline: December 10, 2010 Conference date: May 6, 2011 Conference location: Columbia University, New York, New York The African metropolis represents one of the most challenging and important spaces of our time. Insight on African cities has driven some of the most innovative and provocative recent scholarly debates considering development, the nature of citizenship, and the postcolonial urban condition. In contrast with a familiar, sometimes apocalyptic reading of "failed" African cities which characterizes them as dysfunctional, chaotic and decaying, there is a burgeoning scholarship which explores the way that African cities actually work and the very orderly, dynamic, and creative processes which animate them. This is part of a larger literature emphasizing the need to incorporate African political systems into more cosmopolitan urban and development theories. Building on those insights, this conference seeks to highlight the emergent citizenship practices through which urban Africans enact and reconfigure their cities, while asking some hard questions about the implications of these strategies and their limits. Paper proposals should include title of the paper, name, affiliation, email and a 250 word abstract. Proposals must be submitted by December 10, 2010 to: artofcitizenshipconference@gmail.com.
SOCIAL MOVEMENTS IN AFRICA
The study of African social movements remains a neglected field of research in at least two respects. On the one hand, Africa remains largely absent from research using a social movement perspective. Indeed, social movement theory largely focuses on socio-political movements in Europe, North- and South America. On the other, the social movement theory literature has so far hardly been taken up from within African studies, even though there is a growing number of empirical studies dealing with different forms of civil action and political mobilisation in an African contexts. As a result, social movements in Africa remain under researched and under theorised, in particular compared to Latin American Studies where labour unions, landless workers' movements or feminist movements are central objects of both empirical and theoretical investigation. This is particularly true for African studies in German speaking countries, but to some extent the neglect of a social movement perspective applies to African Studies more generally. For this issue, we welcome empirical case studies (single cases and comparative studies) as well as to theoretical perspectives on social movement research in Africa. Abstract deadline: December 15, 2010 Full text deadline: March 30, 2011 Publication date: Autumn 2011 Please send your proposal of about 500 words and some information about yourself as an attachment in MS Word or PDF form to the editors: Nikolai Brandes (FU Berlin), nikolaibrandes@gmx.de Bettina Engels (FU Berlin), bettina.engels@fu-berlin.de
African Diaspora in Brazil: Remapping the Black Atlantic
"...there is no way to pay back our historical debt to Africa." -President Luis Incio "Lula" da Silva - President of Brazil One of the most heavily traveled routes of the Atlantic during the slave trade was the dangerous passage that linked West Africa, the Angolan and Kongo coastal region with the Americas. In the space of two and a half centuries, an estimated 2 million African slaves were forcibly dispersed through this "middle passage" (and millions lost at sea arriving mainly in Bahia and thus established Brazil as the main destination point for the largest population of Africans in the African Diaspora. The historical geography and the specificities of trajectory of African Diaspora in the South Atlantic led to the spirited Herskovits-Frazier debates during the first half of the 20th century. The study of the African Diaspora in the historical geography of the Americas has been reinvigorated in recent decades by a robust debate as scholars have shifted their inquiry from the explicit study of cultural "survival", "hybridity" and "acculturation" towards an emphasis on placing Africans and their descendants at the center of their own histories. Going beyond the notion of cultural "survival" or "creolization", scholars now explore different sites of power and resistance, gendered cartographies, memory, and the various social and cultural networks and institutions that Africans and their descendants created and developed, reflecting an array of cultural richness and diversity. Prospective contributors are invited to send proposals for articles in the form of a 400-500 word abstract by December 30, 2010. Accepted proposals will be notified by January 30th, 2011. Authors of accepted proposals will be asked to submit articles in final form (in English) by August 30, 2011. Proposals should be submitted to the Guest Editors, indicated below, by e-mail as a Word attachment. All communications regarding the special edition should be directed to the Guest Editors, Fassil Demissie (Department of Public Policy Studies) fdemissi@depaul.edu, and Silvia Lorenso, (Department of Spanish and Portuguese), University of Texas, Austin, silvialorenso@gmail.com.
British Foreign Policy in sub-Saharan Africa since 1957
Université Paris Diderot, Institut Charles V, 10 rue Charles V, 75004 Paris Friday 25 March 2011 Following its victory in the 1997 general election, New Labour gave the African continent renewed attention, as Tony Blair built on an initially limited experience in international affairs. Official speeches focused on democracy, human rights and internationalism and New Labour's Third Way placed conflict resolution, good governance and development at the heart of British foreign policy and diplomacy (Williams, 2004; Casey, 2009). During the successive New Labour Governments, a number of key developments were put in place: the creation of the Department for International Development (DfID) in 1997, which devotes half of its budget to Africa, the British military intervention in Sierra Leone in 2000, reconstruction and assistance programmes, support for the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) since 2001, the establishment of the Commission for Africa in 2004 and increased coordination across Whitehall on African issues. However, substantial ambiguities behind British decision-making and clear limits to the implementation of a new engagement with Africa claiming to foster new international principles on the rights of people have surfaced (Porteous, 2008 ; Gallagher, 2009). How significant are these evolutions in relation to British foreign affairs and diplomacy since the first formal retreat from empire? The purpose of this conference is to shed light on the objectives and modalities of contemporary relations between Britain and Africa by investigating evolutions since 1957, when Ghana became the first British territory south of the Sahara to be granted independence, join the Commonwealth and move from colonial possession to international partner. Proposals (500 words maximum) and a brief CV should be sent to Mélanie Torrent (melanie.torrent@univ-paris-diderot.fr) before 20 December 2010. All papers may be considered for publication in the Revue Française de Civilisation Britannique (autumn 2012). All articles will be peer-reviewed before a final decision is made by the editorial board. Anyone interested in the publication project but unable to attend the conference is invited to contact Mélanie Torrent.
Africa Here; Africa There
Canadian Association of African Studies York University Toronto, Canada 5-7 May, 2011 The Canadian Association of African Studies (CAAS) extends a special invitation to scholars and professionals working on all aspects of African Studies for its next annual conference. The conference, to be held on May 5-7, 2011, at York University - Université York, Toronto, Canada, will be hosted by the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on the Global Migrations of African Peoples, York University, with support, amongst others, from YU's African Studies Program and Founders College. Our aim is to attract an international group of specialists at all stages in their careers to facilitate discussion and dialogue, in both of Canada's official languages, across disciplines and between scholars and professionals based in both the North and South. The deadline for submitting paper, as well as panel, proposals is February 01, 2011. For information on submitting paper and panel abstracts, conference registration payment (on-line or by cheque), requests for funding for graduate students in Canada, and accommodation possibilities please go to http://www.arts.ualberta.ca/~caas/en/2011conference.html
African Borderlands Research Network
ABORNE will be held in Lisbon, Portugal on 21-25 September 2011. ABORNE (http://www.aborne.org/) is an interdisciplinary network of over 170 academic researchers and institutions in Europe, Africa and North America. The Organizing Committee will invite individual speakers to give keynote lectures on the conference's main theme. Parallel events will be organised during the conference, including the annual steering committee meeting of ABORNE and a preparatory meeting for the 6th annual conference of ABORNE in 2012. The conference will also include a rich cultural program accompanying the event and an excursion. The CEA and the Lisbon University Institute have a solid experience organizing international meetings and all social sciences' departments - including the Master and PhD in African Studies - will be mobilised to actively participate in the event. Titles and abstracts are due by January 21, 2010. To apply, please send the following information to both aborne2011lisboa@gmail.com AND the panel coordinator(s) (see below): name, institutional affiliation and position, contact details (email and phone), paper abstract (max. 200 words). Panel coordinators will send selection results to the applicants by February 15, 2011. Full papers are due on August 31, 2011.
Africa Connected: Movement, Flow, and Change
28-29 January 2011 Gainesville, FL The South Eastern Regional Seminar on African Studies (SERSAS) and the South East Africanist Network (SEAN) are pleased to announce an initial call for papers for a joint conference to be hosted by the University of Florida and co-sponsored by University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. The call for papers is open in terms of topics and methodologies to any aspect and region of Africa, though the general theme for the conference will be "Africa Connected: Movement, Flow, and Change." Papers addressing issues such as migration/remittances, regional/global capital flows, international assistance/development programs, information/communication technologies, and transnational forms of popular culture are particularly welcome. SERSAS/SEAN invites the participation of advanced undergraduate and graduate students in addition to established scholars. Multi-media presentations will be facilitated and are encouraged. SERSAS also awards the Jim Brown Prize for the best paper presented by a graduate student at the conference. This award is $100.
Voices - The Wisconsin review of African Literatures
Voices is a forum for exploring issues of written and oral artistic production in Africa and the Diaspora in relation to the continent. Submissions that stretch and challenge such disciplinary boundaries are welcome and will be considered for publication. We will distribute copies of Voices to American universities with interest in African studies, and to African institutions which may have more difficulty in maintaining/developing their collections of research in African literature. We invite submissions from writers world-wide. Voices is complemented by a web site with the aim of cultivating a broad readership and interactive academic network. Call for Papers?We invite the submission of articles, essays, book reviews of recently published works, translations and original creative works (short stories, poetry, art, drama, renderings of oral narratives). Written in: Languages of Africa (as well as English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, German). Format: 4 copies of typed, double-spaced manuscript up to 20 pages; include one copy of an 100-150 word abstract (in English & in the language of the submission). Please remove author's name from 3 of the 4 copies. If the work is accepted, we will request a copy of the submission on 3.5 floppy disk. To learn more: http://scoutbanana.org/articulate/
African Diaspora Archaeology Newsletter
The African Diaspora Archaeology Network and Newsletter works to provide a focal point for archaeological and historical studies of African diasporas, with news, current research, information and links to other web resources related to the archaeology and history of descendants of African peoples. Through this engagement with African diasporas, the ADAN seeks to connect an intellectual community that considers the historical processes of racialization, gender, power, and culture operating within and upon African descendant communities. Our quarterly Newsletter issues reach an international readership of at least several thousand for each issue. Please contact me if you have essays, articles, analysis papers, book reviews, project reports, announcements, or news updates that you'd like to contribute to the African Diaspora Archaeology Newsletter, available at: http://www.diaspora.uiuc.edu/newsletter.html.
GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Postdoctoral Researcher in African Studies
Institutions: Penn Lauder Center for International Business Education and Research, and Center for African Studies, University of Pennsylvania. Description: The Penn Lauder Center for International Business Education & Research (CIBER) and the Center for African Studies seek a Postdoctoral Researcher in the area of African Studies for the fall and spring semesters of the 2011-2012 academic year. The holder of this position must have earned a recent PhD or doctorate in a relevant social science discipline (e.g. economics, history, political science, sociology, anthropology), be actively engaged in research on some aspect of African economy, business or politics, and speak fluently Arabic, Swahili, French, Portuguese or Spanish. S/he will be expected to reside in the greater Philadelphia area, to develop and teach a one-semester, graduate-level course on the political economy of Africa, to meet regularly with graduate students and provide them with advice regarding their research projects and language proficiency development, and to attend events and participate in other relevant projects or activities organized by the Penn Lauder CIBER and the Lauder Institute. The Postdoctoral Researcher will have shared office accommodation at the Penn Lauder CIBER facility but will hold an appointment through the relevant academic Department at the University of Pennsylvania. The stipend for the academic year will be $40,000. Deadline: Applications will be considered beginning December 1, 2010. Documents Required: A brief letter summarizing the applicant's qualifications for the position, a current CV, and three letters of recommendation. Contact Information: Director, Penn Lauder CIBER, c/o kanorton@wharton.upenn.edu Please submit all files electronically.
Penn Humanities Forum - Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Humanities
The Penn Humanities Forum awards five one-year Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowships each academic year to junior scholars in the humanities who are not yet tenured (may not be tenured during the fellowship year). The Fellowship carries an annual stipend of $46,500 plus health insurance and a $2500 research fund, requires that the scholar spend the year in residence at the University of Pennsylvania, and is open to international applicants. The current Call for Applications is for the 2011-12 fellowship year, when our topic will be Adaptations. Applicants must be no more than eight years out of their doctorate (e.g., for the 2011-12 Fellowship year, you must have received or will receive your Ph.D. between December 2002 and December 2010). The Ph.D. is the only terminal degree eligible. The broad interdisciplinary nature of the program allows fellows to become fully integrated into the life of Penn. Fellows conduct research that relates to the Forum's topic of study for the year in residence, participate in the Forum's weekly faculty research seminar where they present their research, and teach one undergraduate course on a subject that relates to the annual theme. Preference will be given to candidates whose proposals are interdisciplinary, who have not previously used the resources of the University of Pennsylvania, and who would particularly benefit from and contribute to Penn's intellectual life. Please see the following website for more information: http://www.phf.upenn.edu/mellon_description.shtml
Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship of Scholars in the Humanities at Stanford
Stanford University invites applications for postdoctoral fellowships in the Andrew W. Mellon Fellowship of Scholars in the Humanities, a unique opportunity for the best recent Ph.D. recipients in the humanities to develop as scholars and teachers. Up to six fellowships will be awarded for a two-year term. Fellows will teach two courses per year in one of Stanford's humanities departments, and are expected to participate in the intellectual life of the program, which includes regular meetings with other fellows and faculty to share work in progress and discuss topics of mutual interest. It is expected that Fellows will be in residence during the term of their appointment. Fellows will also be affiliated with the Stanford Humanities Center and will have the opportunity to be active in its intellectual life.
New York University Research Grant
Each year the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University, makes about 8-10 appointments of visiting research scholars. ISAW's scope embraces research and graduate education in the history, archaeology, and culture of the entire Old World from late prehistoric times to the eighth century AD, including Asia and Africa. Projects of a theoretical or comparative nature relevant to this domain are also welcome. Academic visitors at ISAW should be individuals of scholarly distinction or promise in any relevant field of ancient studies who will benefit from the stimulation of working in an environment with colleagues in other disciplines. Applicants with a history of interdisciplinary exchange are particularly welcome. They will be expected to be in residence at the Institute during the period for which they are appointed and to take part in the intellectual life of the community. For details about the categories of fellows, the financial support, and the application, please visit http://www.nyu.edu/isaw/vrs-program.htm. The deadline for applications is December 10, 2010. New York University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
Two-Year Post-Doctoral Fellowship in African History at Monmouth College
Monmouth College invites applications for a two-year Post-Doctoral Fellowship in African history to begin in August 2011. Subfield and time period open, but applicants must have expertise in transatlantic history. The Fellow would teach courses in African and transatlantic history while serving as a resource for the growing group of faculty members interested in studying and teaching about the transatlantic world. Expectations for this position include teaching three courses per year and maintaining a scholarly agenda of his/her choosing. The salary and benefits package are commensurate with that of a first-year assistant professor (tenure track) at Monmouth College. ?Please send a letter of application, vita, statement of teaching and research interests, graduate transcripts, and three letters of reference to: Professor Simon Cordery, Department of History, Monmouth College, by e-mail to facultysearch@monm.edu. Review of files will begin October 15, 2010, and continue until the position is filled. For more information about the college, please visit www.monm.edu. A full description can be found under Employment Opportunities. ?Monmouth College, an Equal Opportunity Employer, is committed to diversity and encourages applications from women and minority candidates.
Boston College - African & African Diaspora Studies Program
Boston College's African and African Diaspora Studies Program (AADS) announces its second dissertation fellowship competition. Scholars working in any discipline in the Humanities or Social Sciences with projects focusing on any topic within African and/or African Diaspora Studies are eligible. We seek applicants pursuing innovative, preferably interdisciplinary, projects in dialogue with critical issues and trends within the field. This 2011/2012 fellowship includes a $30,000 stipend, health insurance, a $1,500 research budget, and a fully equipped office. The fellow must remain in residence for the 9-month academic year, deliver one public lecture, and teach one seminar course. The successful applicant will have full access to BC's seven libraries as well as several rare books and manuscripts collections. Of particular interest is the Nicholas M. Williams/Caribbeana Collection, consisting of materials from and about Africa, Jamaica, and the British West Indies. The fellow can also benefit from BC's newly founded Institute for the Liberal Arts, as well as events sponsored by programs/installations in International Studies, American Studies, Asian American Studies, Middle East Studies, Islamic Civilization and Societies, as well as the internationally renowned McMullen Museum. Applications must include: 1) a 3000 word project proposal that includes a plan for completion and description of how this fellowship will assist applicant in achieving future professional goals, 2) a 25 page (MAXIMUM) writing sample, 3) three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the dissertation advisor and 4) an updated Curriculum Vitae. Eligible applicants must be ABD by the start of the fellowship year. Applications must be submitted by 21 January 2011, either electronically to aads@bc.edu or postmarked.
Kay Postdoctoral Fellow - Brandeis University
Brandeis University invites applications for a two-year Kay postdoctoral fellow working on culture and politics in the francophone world, to begin in Fall 2011. Areas of interest could include, but are not limited to, legacies of colonialism and post-colonialism, literary and cultural representations of the immigration experience, or language, culture and politics in francophone countries. Every year, the fellow will teach one class in French in the French and Francophone Studies program and another in English in the International and Global Studies Program and receive a stipend of $54, 807, plus a research fund of $4,000. Please send dossier, teaching materials, and three letters of recommendation to Michael Randall, Chair, Kay Fellowship Search Committee, Shiffman 102, MS 024, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA 02454-9110. First consideration will be given to applications received by December 1, 2010.
Fulbright Student Program
The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals, and artists to study or conduct research abroad for one academic year. In addition, Critical Language Enhancement Awards are available to grantees for study of critical need foreign languages before or concurrently with their grant period. More than 1,500 Americans receive grants to study abroad with either full or partial support from the Fulbright Program. Please see the following website for more information: http://us.fulbrightonline.org/home.html
African Women Public Service Fellowship
The African Women Public Service Fellowship, made possible by a donation from the Oprah Winfrey Foundation, offers African women the opportunity for graduate study at Wagner to prepare them for public service in their home countries. Please see Wagner's website for more information: http://wagner.nyu.edu/international/fellowships.php Rockefeller Foundation Through grantmaking, the Rockefeller Foundation works to spread the benefits of globalization to more people in more places around the world. The Foundation is a proactive grantmaker. We seek out opportunities to fund work that addresses the Foundation's areas of focus and contributes to one or more of our initiatives, rather than simply reacting to unsolicited proposals. Only proposals that fall within the Foundation's initiatives are considered. The Rockefeller Foundation does not give or lend money for personal aid to individuals, or, except in rare cases, provide general institutional funding, contribute to endowments, or support building or operating funds. Please see the following website for information: http://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/grants
Africa-Related Fellowships and Internships at the Wilson Center
The Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars offers a number of residential fellowships for the study of Africa, and internship opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students. Unless otherwise noted, all awards are open to citizens of any country. Brief information about each of these fellowship programs appears below, along with links to application materials and further details, where available. For more information and application guidelines please contact the Center at: Tel: 202-691-4170; Fax: 202-691-4001; E mail: fellowships@wilsoncenter.org. You can also consult the following website: http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?topic_id=1417&fuseaction=topics.item&news_id=161820
ACADEMIC JOBS |
Wayne State University: Department of History
The history department at Wayne State University invites applications for a full-time tenure-track assistant professorship in the history of West or South Africa, to begin August 2011. Specialization in the period before 1900 preferred; topical specialization is open. Demonstrated commitment to excellence in teaching and scholarship is essential. PhD required by August 2011. The successful candidate will teach African history survey courses and advanced undergraduate and graduate courses in area of specialization. Deadline for applications is December 1, 2010. Each candidate must submit: a cover letter, a current vita, a writing sample, a statement of teaching philosophy, a transcript showing highest degree earned, and three letters of recommendation. Resumes will only be accepted at http://jobs.wayne.edu.
Claflin University: World History
Claflin University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor in World History. PhD. preferred. Period and specialization are open but the department is particularly interested in historians of Africa and/or the African Diaspora. The successful candidate will teach four courses per semester consisting of World History surveys and advanced undergraduate courses in their area of specialty. Faculty publication is encouraged and research opportunities are available. Other responsibilities include academic advising and University service. Review of applications will begin immediately. Applicants should send a letter of application, curriculum vitae, three letters of recommendation, and an article or chapter length writing sample to: World History Search Committee Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs Claflin University 400 Magnolia Street, Orangeburg, SC 29115
BRIDGEWATER STATE UNIVERSITY: Department of History
Assistant Professor, History of Africa or History of India The History Department of Bridgewater State University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professorship in the history of Africa or the history of India, to begin fall 2011. Duties include teaching upper division courses in the areas of specialization, and lower-division courses in world history, as well as 1st and 2nd year seminars; advising undergraduate and graduate students; and participating in departmental and college decision-making processes and activities. Special Instructions to Applicants: Interested applicants should apply online at http://jobs.bridgew.edu and attach the following documents to their online application: a letter of interest, current curriculum vitae. The names and contact information for three recommenders should be listed in the application. In addition, applicants are required to send three letters of recommendation to the address below: The Department of History
Georgia Gwinnett College: History Department
In anticipation of increases in enrollment for the 2011-2012 academic year, GGC invites applicants for faculty positions in History starting SPRING semester 2011. Successful candidates will be expected to teach the world history and/or US history survey and will have specializations in one or more of the following fields: Latin America, the Indian Subcontinent, Sub-Saharan Africa, East Asia, Colonial America/Early Republic, African-American history, 20th Century US political history, early modern Spain, or the modern British Empire. Applicants should demonstrate significant innovations in teaching, superior service to the institution, and established research credentials. Commitment to building a new college is also essential. GGC emphasizes a student-centered learning environment. Faculty will be expected to teach lower-division courses in addition to upper-division courses. SALARY: Commensurate with education and experience with excellent benefits. Minimum qualification: Ph.D. in History: At least 18 graduate hours in history courses. MUST APPLY ONLINE TO: jobs.ggc.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51117
Hobart and William Smith Colleges: History Department
Tenure-track assistant professor in African history beginning Fall 2011. The department welcomes scholars in all periods and geographical areas as well as those representing all specialized areas and interpretive approaches. Because of the Colleges' strengths in environmental, global, and gender studies, candidates with teaching and research interests in these areas are preferred. Teaching will include undergraduate survey courses in African history and upper-level courses of the instructor's choice. Courses that are interdisciplinary and that place Africa in a global perspective are particularly appealing to our students, who participate in many study abroad and community service programs. Ph.D. preferred, AbD considered. Please send a c.v., cover letter, graduate transcript, and arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent to Prof. Derek Linton, Chair, African Search Committee, History Department, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, N.Y. 14456-3397. Preliminary interviews will be held at the AHA meeting. Applications received after Dec. 20, 2010 cannot be guaranteed full consideration.
Tufts University: Department of History
Applications for the position of the Edward Keller Professor in the History of North Africa and the Middle East. We are seeking an outstanding scholar and excellent teacher. The appointment will be made at the level of tenured Associate Professor. Candidates specializing in any period of Arab history from the emergence of Islam to the present are encouraged to apply. Teaching experience should include the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Send application, cv, examples of scholarly work, and names of three references to Prof. Ayesha Jalal via e-mail (ayesha.jalal@tufts.edu). Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty. Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Bard College: Assistant Professor, African History
Bard College invites applications for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in twentieth-century African History to begin in July 2011. Regional and topical specializations are open; candidates whose work focuses on the African Diaspora will also be considered. Bard is a highly selective college of the liberal arts and sciences with 1900 students, located 90 miles north of New York City in the Hudson Valley. For more information on Bard, please visit www.bard.edu and for the Africana department, http://africana.bard.edu/ The college's new Achebe Center provides unique opportunities for scholarly dialogue and outreach related to African studies in the arts (literature, film, and music especially).
College of the Holy Cross - African History
The Department of History at the College of the Holy Cross invites applications for a full-time tenure-track faculty appointment to begin in August 2011. We are seeking a historian specializing in pre-colonial Africa and the African diasporas. Fields of specialization might include: comparative slavery, Islamic World, or comparative religions. Our new colleague is expected to teach general courses that explore broad global connections from the vantage of pre-colonial Africa, such as courses that stress exchange and circulation of peoples, goods, and cultures from the first beginnings of human activity in Africa into the colonial period, as well as to teach more specialized courses in his/her particular area of expertise. This position carries a 3-2 teaching load with a full-salary one-semester leave prior to tenure review and generous sabbatical and fellowship leaves for senior faculty. Candidates must demonstrate commitment to, and excellence in, undergraduate teaching as informed by current practice and scholarship in the field. We are a department of eighteen tenured and tenure-track historians teaching in areas that are global in scope. There are also interdisciplinary programs in Africana, Middle Eastern and Latin American Studies. Website: http://www.holycross.edu
Morgan State University - Assistant Professor of African History
Morgan State University seeks an assistant or associate professor of history to teach courses in African history and the history of the African Diaspora. Area of specialization is open, but preference will be given to specialists in east, central, or southern Africa. Teaching experience at an urban university, potential for scholarship, and ability to advise graduate students desirable. Ph.D. in history required. For best consideration applicants should send cover letter, c.v., three letters of recommendation, and transcript to Dr. Annette Palmer, Chairperson, Dept. of History, Morgan State University, 1700 East Cold Spring Lane, Baltimore, MD 21251 by December 1st. Interviews will be held at the AHA convention in January.
Page Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.
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