MSU Tuesday Bulletin, 02/14/06

Issue No. 6 Spring 2006
February 14, 2006

Weekly News from the AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY 100 INTERNATIONAL CENTER EAST LANSING MI 48824-1035

For back issues, see archive <http://africa.msu.edu>

BULLETIN CONTENTS

EVENTS

MSU ANNOUNCEMENTS
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
FELLOWSHIPS

EVENTS

February 15, Wednesday

"Hausa Table," every Wednesday brown bag luncheon with Dr. Ibro Chekaraou. Hausa-phones in the Lansing/East Lansing area meet to practice their Hausa in order to maintain or improve their oral skills in the language, 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center.

February 15, Wednesday

"Meza ya Kiswahili" (Swahili table) every Wednesday in the Crossroads Food Court, 12:30 -1:30. For information, contact Professor Deo Ngonyani, e-mail: ngonyani@msu.edu or call 353-4051.

February 15, Wednesday

SILIVA THE ZULU (1927), film presentation sponsored by the African Studies Center, Department of History, and the Center for Integrative Studies in the Arts and Humanities, 3:30 p.m., Erickson Hall, Room 103. SILIVA was the first all-black feature film made in South Africa. It will be introduced by film scholar Peter Davis and accompanied by South African Ethnomusicologist Theba Tana's musical performance. Photographs are on display in the Library, 4 West. For information, contact Peter Alegi at 432-8222 ext. 129 or alegi@msu.edu.

February 16, Thursday

"The Impact of HIV on Total Factor Productivity," Agricultural Economics Seminar with Dr. Rodney B.W. Smith (Univ. of Minnesota), Associate Professor, Dept. of Applied Economics, 10:30 a.m., Room 75 Agriculture Hall.

February 16, Thursday

"A History of Métissage in Senegal," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Hilary Jones, Visiting scholar (Univ. of Michigan), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center.

February 17, Friday

Deadline for African Studies Center Application for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) 2006-2007. Visit http://africa.msu.edu/FLAS/FLAS.htm for forms. Direct inquiries to Dr. Yacob Fisseha, Assistant Director; fisseha@msu.edu or (517) 353-1700.

MSU ANNOUNCEMENTS

Exhibitions and Activities at the MSU Museum

"Siyazama: Traditional Arts, Education, and AIDS in South Africa" and "Weavings of War: Fabrics of Memory" are two exhibitions currently featured at the MSU Museum. The exhibits will run through June. There will be information on the web site: http://www.msu.edu/msumsp; or call Professor Marsha MacDowell at (517) 355-6511 for more information.

Following are upcoming activities at the Museum: -Sat., Feb. 25, 9:30AM to 12:00 noon, "Expressions of War"/Peace Collage Creation. Adults of all ages and high school youth are invited to participate in a collective arts activity that is designed to capture experiences, beliefs, thoughts, and emotions around the issues of war.
-Sun., Feb. 26, 1PM-3PM/ Mon., Feb. 27, 11AM-1PM "Making it Good, Doing it Right" Learning Fair throughout the MSU Museum (hands on activities for all ages).
-Tue., March 14, 6PM-7PM - "Research & Exhibits," Gallery Talk, Heritage Gallery. Overview of the research issues and methodologies used in the Siyazama exhibition project by Marsha MacDowell, Co-curator, and Professor, Art and Art History.
-Sun., March 19, 3PM-3:30PM - "AIDS and Arts Education" Gallery Talk, Heritage Gallery. Talk by Merit Dewhurst, Ph.D. candidate, Harvard Graduate School of Education and Arts Educator at MoMA, NYC. -Sat., March 25, 4PM - Film screening of "Yesterday" (2005), Theater B, Wells Hall.

"MR. MANDELA" quilt display at the Museum

New on view in MSU Museum's Heritage Hall is the "Mr. Mandela" quilt created by Beverly Ann White to honor Nelson Mandela. White's inspiration for "Mr. Mandela" came from the very strong emotions of elation and relief she experienced when he was released from his years of captivity in South Africa.

2nd Annual Black Scholars Symposium, MSU Conf.

Empowering Our Community in a Changing World is the theme for this symposium hosted by the Black Graduate Student Association, Saturday, February 25, 2006, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Erickson Hall, MSU.

The Black Graduate Student Association of MSU seeks presenters who can exhibit the local, national, or global implications of their work for the African and/or African American community. Presenters may share how their work relates to issues of empowerment for 21st century Black communities. Both expert and novice presenters interested in sharing their work may submit an application by Wednesday, February 15, 2006. For more information, contact Marini Lee at
marini@earthlink.net or leemarini@msu.edu for more information.

2005 African Culture GALA - DVD's available

"Mu San AFRIKA" DVD's from the African Culture performance are available for purchase. To buy a copy, please e-mail Mohammed Bah at bahmoham@msu.edu; or contact Lisa in the African Studies Center, 100 International Center; 353-1700.

MSU Study Abroad in South Africa and Lesotho

The Department of Teacher Education in the College of Education and the African Studies Center at MSU announce the Education, Society and Learning in South Africa and Lesotho study abroad program this summer from May 13-June 17, 2006.
This five-week program will explore the relationship between formal education and society in South Africa and Lesotho, as well as in the larger context of the southern African region. Participants will visit a variety of schools, historical sites and museums, and other places of social importance in both urban and rural areas of Pretoria, Johannesburg, Lesotho, and Durban. The program will focus on issues of human diversity and social institutions. This program is open to students from all majors. Undergraduates as well as graduate students are welcome to apply.

The application deadline is March 1, 2006. Visit: http://studyabroad.msu.edu/programs/saeducsoclearni ng.html for more details, or contact Stephen Backman, Program Director, e-mail: backmans@msu.edu, 100 International Center, Tel: 353-1700. An information meeting will be held on Wednesday, February 15, 2006 at 5:00pm in 204 International Center.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

"Understanding Africa" U of M/Flint- Feb. 22, 2006

The African American Heritage - 2006 program will be held Wednesday, February 22, 2006, 5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. featuring Mezgebou G. Amlak, former Regional Representative and Program Officer for Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society (EDCS) in Kenya and Author of Books on Africa.
Mr. Amlak will speak on "Development Funding of Projects in Africa." There will be a taste of African Cuisine, "SBRIT" A show of Eritrean Ethnic Dances, and music from African countries.
The event will be at the International Institute, 515 Stevens Street, Flint, Michigan. This is free and open to the public. For more information call (810) 762-3169.

LATTICE Zulu Basket Sale - February 24-25, 2006

Linking All Types of Teachers in Intercultural and International Education (LATTICE) is sponsoring a Zulu Basket sale at the All Saints Episcopal Church on Abbott Road in East Lansing, MI. Proceeds from the sale will be used to pay school fees for needy South African students.

The sale is Friday, February 24th from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Saturday, February 25th from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, contact Sally McClintock at: sallyma@COMCAST.NET.

Women for Women International - Call for Papers

Woman for Women International provides women survivors of war, civil strife and other conflicts with the tools and resources to move from crisis and poverty to stability and self-sufficiency, thereby promoting viable civil societies. Additional information about the program can be found on their website (see below).

Critical Half is the biannual academic journal of Women for Women International. The organization is currently seeking submissions for Critical Half's Spring 2006 edition, which will focus on the importance of psycho-social support for women in conflict and post- conflict societies.
Please visit http://www.womenforwomen.org for further details about the journal and submission guidelines. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2006. Past issues of the journal are also available for review at http://www.womenforwomen.org/repubbiannual.htm.

FELLOWSHIP

Rockefeller Foundation/CGIAR Fellowships Call for Proposals

Second Round of Fellowship Program: Enhancing the careers of East African women scientist. This fellowship program is open to women scientists and researchers working in Kenyan, Ugandan, and Tanzanian universities. Minimum qualification for applicants is MSc.
Applicants are requested to submit a maximum four- page proposal. For proposal format requirements, visit: http://www.genderdiversity.cgiar.org. The application deadline is February 28, 2006.

Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program

The Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) provides opportunities for advanced study to exceptional individuals who will use this education to become leaders in their respective fields, furthering development in their own countries and greater economic and social justice worldwide. IFP actively seeks candidates from social groups and communities that lack systematic access to higher education. The program provides support for up to three years of formal graduate-level study leading to a master's or doctoral degree. Applicants must be resident nationals or residents of an eligible IFP country.

Fellows are chosen on the basis of their leadership potential and commitment to community or national service, as well as for academic excellence. Fellows may enroll in master's or doctoral programs and may pursue any academic discipline or field of study that is consistent with the interests and goals of the Ford Foundation. The Foundation currently works in fifteen fields to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, promote international cooperation, and advance human achievement.

Because local requirements vary widely among IFP countries, applicants should carefully follow the specific application guidelines provided by the relevant IFP International Partner organizations listed below, including deadlines for the submission of applications. Most deadlines are March 1, 2006.
All applications must be submitted to the appropriate IFP International Partner listed below in the country or region where the applicant resides.
Following are sites for IFP Partner organizations in Africa:

Ghana, Nigeria, and Senegal
Association of African Universities (AAU) http://www.aau.org/ifp

Kenya
Forum of African Women Educationalists
http://www.ifpeastafrica.org/

Uganda
Association for Advancement of Higher Education and Development (AHEAD)
http://www.ifpeastafrica.org/
Tanzania
Economic and Social Research Foundation (ESRF) http://www.ifpeastafrica.org/

Mozambique
Africa-America Institute (AAI)
http://www.ifpmoz.co.mz/

South Africa
Africa-America Institute (AAI)
http://www.aaisa.org.za/

Education Scholarships in Human Rights for Women

The Native Leadership Scholarship (NLS) program creates educational opportunities for women around the world who are grassroots leaders, organizers, and activists demonstrating financial need. NLS invests in women's leadership and leadership development by supporting non-doctoral graduate education in human rights, sustainable development, and public health.

Scholarship recipients enroll in programs of study that cover a range of human rights and development issues at the non-doctoral graduate level including gender, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, child exploitation, human and drug trafficking, infant and maternal mortality, microbial diseases, conflict resolution, environmental justice, global fair trade, agroecology, and sustainable development. NLS is a secular program and does not support programs of study that promote specific religious beliefs.

The NLS awards four to six scholarships annually, up to US$25,000 per academic year for a maximum of two years. All applicants are invited to fill out pre- applications on the website listed below. NLS pre- applications for the 2006-07 academic year will be available through March 25, 2006 on the website or by request from: info@nativeleaders.org.

For more information please visit:
http://www.nativeleaders.org; or contact: Aline Carton, Program Manager, Native Leadership Scholarship, Channel Foundation, 603 Stewart St., Suite 415, Seattle, WA 98101, USA; Tel: (00)1-206-621-5447; Fax: (00)1- 206-621-2664; e-mail: info@nativeleaders.org.

Page Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.