AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER - UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
  

MSU Tuesday Bulletin, 01/01/07

THE TUESDAY BULLETIN

Issue No. 1 Spring 2007 January 1, 2007

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
CONFERENCES
JOBS

EVENTS

January 18, Thursday

"Fiction and Reality in Modern Ethiopian History," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Maaza Mengiste, Master of Fine Arts candidate/Instructor (Creative Writing Program, New York Univ.), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center.


January 25, Thursday - (This Brown bag may be post-poned to a different date. Notice will be sent via e-mail.)

"Future Directions of MSU's African Studies Center I," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with African Studies Center Core Faculty members, 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center.


February 1, Thursday

"The Rise and Fall of the Islamic Courts in Somalia," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Lee Cassanelli, Faculty, (Univ. of Pennsylvania), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center.


February 8, Thursday

"Future Directions of MSU's African Studies Center II," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with African Studies Center Core Faculty members, 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center.


MSU ANNOUNCEMENTS

African Studies Center Application for Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) for 2007-08 AY

The African Studies Center at MSU is now accepting on-line applications for FLAS fellowships for academic year 2007-08 and for the 2007 Summer Cooperative African Language Institute (SCALI). The FLAS fellowship is funded by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI program for the study of African languages and non-language courses on Africa. Up to date information and on-line application forms are available at: http://africa.msu.edu/FLAS/FLAS.htm.

Candidates must have completed application procedures by February 15, 2007. Related application materials are to be mailed to the Assistant Director of the African Studies Center, 100 International Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1035; Phone: (517) 353-1700; Fax: (517) 432-1209; e-mail: fisseha@msu.edu. In accordance with the Title VI centers' agreement of rotating summer course offerings under SCALI, African languages study in summer 2007 will be hosted by the University of Illinois, Urbana- Champaign. For details, please visit: http://www.afrst.uiuc.edu/SCALI07.htm for details.


2007 Compton Africa Peace Fellowships

Michigan State University's African Studies Center (ASC) and Women and International Development (WID) Program are offering Compton Africa Peace Fellowships to graduate students from Sub-Saharan Africa to support their dissertation field research in Africa. This program is an element of the MSU African Higher Education Partnerships Initiative (AHEPI). These dissertation fellowship awards are made possible by a grant from the Compton Foundation through its Peace Fellowship Program for addressing peace, conflict resolution, and security in Africa.

The goal of the Compton Fellowship Program in Peace and Security is to strengthen intellectual capacity in Sub-Saharan African nations and institutions that can address the challenges of conflict resolution, peace, and security issues intra- and internationally. The fellowships will support exceptional Ph.D. degree candidates at MSU from Sub-Saharan Africa who intend to return to their country or region of origin after completing their studies. A secondary goal is to promote the integration of environment, peace, and/or population issues in graduate-level study and research.

The Compton Foundation's peace and security program focuses on a variety of activities and issue areas which include: resolving and avoiding international and regional conflict; reducing the threat from weapons of mass destruction; and broadening the definition of national security to include environmental and population aspects.

Students eligible for the Compton Africa Peace Fellowship Program at MSU must:

  1. Be citizens of a nation in Sub-Saharan Africa and not be seeking citizenship or residency abroad.

  2. Be enrolled in a Ph.D. program at Michigan State University.

  3. Be candidates for the Ph.D. degree in any of a variety of disciplines, such as political science, sociology, anthropology, history, public policy, criminal justice, social work, communications, economics or agricultural economics, and law and pursuing an eligible research topic (see next section).

  4. Provide evidence that all requirements for the Ph.D. degree (including comprehensive examinations and departmental approval of the dissertation proposal) will be completed except for the dissertation fieldwork and write-up by the time they plan to begin fieldwork with the Compton funding.

  5. Be pursuing a dissertation that requires fieldwork in Africa for a minimum of six months and a maximum of 12 months for collection of qualitative or quantitative data.

For Information on eligible research topics and application forms please visit:
http://www.wid.msu.edu/forstudents/opportunities.htm or http://africa.msu.edu/compton.php. Completed application forms must be submitted by mail and e- mail to: MSU-Compton Fellowship Committee, c/o David Wiley, African Studies Center, 100 International Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1035; Tel: 517-353-1700; Fax: 517- 432-1209; e-mail: wiley@msu.edu. The application deadline is March 16, 2007.


Explore Africa at MSU, June 17-23, 2007

Explore Africa at MSU is a residential program designed for academically talented high school students (entering grades 10, 11, and 12) who would like to become immersed in learning about the tremendous diversity found within the continent of Africa. This program is a cooperative venture by the African Studies Center and the Office of Gifted and Talented Education at MSU.

Participants will attend daily language classes in Swahili; participate in sessions on African literature; develop self-selected projects on African topics; participate in African music and dance, as well as assist an African chef in making a traditional dinner.

For registration or other information, contact John Metzler, (517) 353-1700; e-mail: metzler@msu.edu, url: http://www.msu.edu/gifted/exploreafrica/exploreafri ca.htm.


CONFERENCES

Int'l Conference on the Nigerian State, The Oil Industry and Niger Delta - October 22-25, 2007

The Department of Political Science at Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria, now in it's fifth year has decided in spite of it's young age to take up the challenge of inviting scholars from all over the world to participate in a three-day conference to address and discuss the present "state of affairs" of the Nigerian State in the Niger Delta. The conference will be held in the heart of the Niger Delta at Wilberforce Island, Ammasoma.

Today, the most visible presence of the Nigerian State in the Niger Delta is perhaps not found in development projects, but in heavy development of its coercive apparatus. In fact, the region can best be described as one at war with itself, the Nigerian state, and the Multinational Oil Corporations. What is responsible for this state of affairs? What is the role of the Nigerian State, Niger Delta peoples and the Government and Multinational Oil Corporations? What are the historical, political, social and economical forces and factors underlining and fueling the crisis? What can be learned from experiences of other similar situated peoples and places? What can be done to improve the situation? These are some of the issues which need to be addressed through research efforts. "The conference should afford many the opportunity a first-time visit to the Niger Delta, which in itself could be intellectually rewarding."

Sub-themes are following:

  1. Theoretical and historical background The State, economy and society. Imperialism, the Niger Delta and the Nigerian State Colonialism and the roots of conflict

  2. Comparative perspective Patterns of resource exploitation & management in global deltas The oil industry, the state & host communities in different regions of the world Patterns of environmental sustainability Comparative federal arrangements

  3. Political Economy of the Niger Delta Crisis Politics of resource allocation & control Politics of federal restructuring Politics of development including efforts & effects of past and present government

  4. The State and Civil Society The state, Oil induced dislocations & disharmonies Protest movement & Militancy State reactions to civil society's activism

  5. Socio Cultural Dimensions Corruption and the Niger Delta Crisis Ethnic relations & ethnicity The oil industry and societal values
  6. The Future of the Niger Delta Effects of the Oil industry on the environment Alternative economic activities in the Niger Delta

Abstracts of papers on any of the sub-themes should be sent by electronic mail to the conference secretary, Dr. Ibaba S. Ibaba at: ndupolscience@yahoo.com and copied to Dr. W. Ehwarieme at:
wehwerieme@yahoo.com, by January 30, 2007. For more information the telephone numbers are Dr. Ibaba S. Ibaba: +2348037089294; Dr. Ehwarieme: +2348032378751.


Int'l Conference on Ethiopian Development Studies August 3-5, 2007, Western Michigan University

The WMU Center for African Development Policy Research (CADPR) announces the 4th International Conference on Ethiopian Development Studies (ICEDS) on the theme: "The Challenges of Peace and Development in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa."

The Symposium is intended for academics, policy makers, investors and donors, and others interested in contemporary issues in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa. Each contributor is invited to submit the participation form, found at: http://homepages.wmich.edu/asefa/ (click on the 4th ICEDS Conference Announcement) and a one-page typed double-spaced copy of the proposal. Abstracts that do not include a completed "Participation Form" will be regarded as incomplete and will not be accepted.

Proposals on the following are invited: 1) Agriculture, Food Security, and Rural Development; 2) Education for Sustainable Development; 3) Regional Integration for Development; 4) Building Democratic Institutions of governance and civil society; 5) Health and HIV/AIDS Issues; 6) Private Sector, Entrepreneurship and Markets;

  1. Science and Technology for Development; 8) US Policy on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa; 9) Managing Ethnic, Clan, and Religious conflicts; 10) Peace building and Conflict Resolution; 11) Women and Development; 12) The Role of the Diaspora in Development; and 13) An open forum for political parties. Please send all abstracts or proposals by April 1, 2007 to: 4th International Conference on Ethiopian Development Studies (4th ICEDS), Attn: Professor Sisay Asefa, Center for African Development Policy Research (CADPR), Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008, USA; Fax: (616) 387- 0630 e-mail: SISAY.ASEFA@WMICH.EDU.


JOBS

West African Languages - UNC-Chapel Hill

The Department of African and Afro-American Studies in the College of Arts and Sciences at UNC-Chapel Hill invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in West African languages and literature. Candidates must have a Ph.D. in African languages and literature or related field, native or near-native fluency in a West African language, and a demonstrated ability to teach one or more West African languages (with a strong preference for Wolof) at all levels.

The successful candidate will be expected to assume responsibility for coordinating the department's African language program and maintain a strong commitment to scholarship. Submit cover letter and resume by January 31, 2007 to Michael Lambert, Chair, African Languages Search Committee, Dept of African and Afro-American Studies, CB# 3395, 109 Battle Hall, UNC-CH, Chapel Hill, NC 27599.


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

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