MSU Tuesday Bulletin, 04/18/08

The African Studies Center at MSU
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Tuesday Bulletin for March 18th, 2008
Topics covered in this issue: Events | Announcements | Other Announcements

Events

New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Science and Technology Programs and Biosciences Initiative Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Seminar with Dr. Aggrey Ambali and Dr. Diran Makinde on the "New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Science and Technology Programs and Biosciences Initiative," 12:00 noon, Room 303 International Center. Their visit is part of the NEPAD-MSU Partnership Project to bolster Africa's Biosafety Capacity. Mr. Jean-Rostand Kamga from Dakar Senegal will also accompany the team. (See MSU Announcements for more details).

The Representation of Zulu's in America, 1880s to 1940s Thursday, March 20, 2008
African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Robert Edgar, Faculty (African Studies, Howard Univ., Washington, DC), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center.

Zimbabwe

Endgame or More of the Same?
Thursday, March 27, 2008 African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Michael Bratton, Faculty (Dept. of Political Science, MSU), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center.

Film series

"This is Nollywood" (Nigeria) Thursday, March 27, 2008 Shown at the Snyder-Phillips residential college theater, 7:30 p.m. THIS IS NOLLYWOOD explains why Nigerian video production is becoming recognized as a phenomenon with broad implications for the cultural and economic development of Africa.

Deadline to apply for the 2009-2010 Fulbright Informational Workshop for Faculty/Professionals and MSU Students Friday, March 28, 2008
If you plan to attend, please RSVP Kathy Riel at 355-2350, or riel@msu.edu, to ensure that sufficient resource materials and refreshments are available.

MSU Students Graduating in 2009 – 2009-2010 Fulbright Informational Workshop Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Fulbright Informational Workshop, 5:00-7:00 p.m, Room 303 International Center.

MSU Graduate Students – 2009-2010 Fulbright Informational Workshop Wednesday, April 2, 2008
MSU Graduate Students – 2009-2010 Fulbright Informational Workshop, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Room 303 International Center.

U.S. Policy in Africa in the Context of Globalization and National Security Thursday, April 3, 2008
African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Jendayi Frazer, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs (Dept. of State, U.S.A.), 12:00 noon, Room 303 International Center.

MSU Faculty and Professionals 2009-2010 Fulbright Informational Workshop Thursday, April 3, 2008
2009-2010 Fulbright Informational Workshop for U.S. Faculty and Professionals, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m., Room 204 International Center.

Film series

"Les Noms n'habitent nulle part" (West Africa & Belgium, with director, Dominique Loreau) Thursday, April 3, 2008 Shown at the Snyder-Phillips residential college theater, 7:30 p.m. Les noms n'habitent nulle part (Names live Nowhere) Docu-drama about a griot, a storyteller who weaves tales of modern Africa and the African diaspora from Senegal to Belgium. The story traces the lives of two Senegalese men whose encounters in Brussels estrange them from home, and yet who maintain those ties in their own ways. The griot's account evokes powerfully the pull of migration and the ties that refuse to unbind.

Justifying the Scramble for Africa: The Opponent of Colonization as `Fanatical Muslim' Friday, April 4, 2008
Catherine Vigier, Commonwealth Civilization, (Univ. of Rouen, France). Part of the Muslims, Race and the Public Sphere conference, 9:15 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Panel 1, 3rd floor International Center. Details at: http://www.isp.msu.edu/muslimstudies/calendar/event.php?id=9.

Darkness and a Blade: The Battle of Algiers in the Black Power Imagination Friday, April 4, 2008
Sohail Daulatzai, African American Studies/Film and Media Studies, (Univ. of California-Irvine), 11:15 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., Panel 2, 3rd floor International Center. Details at: http://www.isp.msu.edu/muslimstudies/calendar/event.php?id=9.

Announcements

NEPAD-MSU Partnership Project
Dr. Aggrey Ambali and Dr. Diran Makinde will give a seminar on Wednesday, March 19, 2008 at 12:00 noon in Room 303 International! Center titled "New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) Science and Technology Programs and Biosciences Initiative. The Seminar will also cover the Biotechnology and Biosafety Capacity Building in Africa. Their visit to MSU is a part of the NEPAD-MSU Partnership Project for establishing African Biosafety Network of Expertise (ABNE) project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Mr. Jean-Rostand Kamga from CORAF Office in Dakar, Senegal will also accompany the Team.

Dr. Aggrey Ambali is the Director of the NEPAD Biosciences Initiative based in South Africa. Dr. Ambali has a Ph.D degree in Population Genetics from Dalhousie University in Canada, a Masters degree in Fish Breeding from Asian Institute of Technology in Thailand, and a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture from the University of Malawi. He served as a full Professor of Biology at the University of Malawi for many years. He is a founder of the Biotechnology-Ecology Research and Outreach Consortium (BioEROC) of social and natural scientists that is actively involved in biotechnology and ecology research and development; and served as its Executive Director from 2001 to March 2004.

Dr. Diran Makinde is the NEPAD West African Biosciences Network Director based in Dakar, Senegal. He received his degrees of doctor of veterinary medicine (1976) and Ph.D. in veterinary physiology (1986) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. He was a Professor of Animal Science at the University of Venda, South Africa. He served a five-year term as Dean of the School of Agriculture, Rural Development and Forestry of the same university. He has also lectured at the universities of Ibadan, Nigeria and Zimbabwe. He is a member, from inception, and current President of the Board of AfricaBio, a non-profit making biotechnology stakeholders association based in South Africa and in-charge of biosafety. For more information on the seminar, contact: Karim Maredia at kmaredia@msu.edu. To view the Press Release, go to: http://newsroom.msu.edu/site/indexer/3332/content.htm.

Nelson Mandela

A Biography - New Book
Congratulations to Dr. Peter Limb, MSU Libraries, History Dept., and African Studies Center, on the publication of his new book: Nelson Mandela: A Biography, 2/28/2008, 168pp, photos, Greenwood Press, ISBN: 0-313-34035-8.

Greenwood Press description:
Everyone should know the life story of Nelson Mandela, one of the greatest leaders of all time, the first black president of South Africa, the most famous African, and a major world statesman. His inspiring life receives a fresh retelling in this new biography written especially for students and general readers.

Lilly Teaching Fellows Program
Six MSU faculty are participants in the 2007-08 Lilly Teaching Fellows Program, which provides junior faculty with opportunities to improve their teaching skills. This year's Africanist program participants, their projects and mentors are:

- Ravi Bhavnani, assistant professor of political science, College of Social Science and International Studies and Programs, "Developing Excellence through the Study of Political Conflict and Violence"; Michael Bratton, University Distinguished Professor of political science, College of Social Science and African Studies Center, International Studies and Programs.

- Rita Edozie, assistant professor in the James Madison College, "Politics and Prose: Teaching (Interdisciplinarity) in the Public and International Affairs Classroom"; Linda Racioppi, professor in the James Madison College.

The program, now in its 17th year, pairs Lilly fellows with experienced faculty mentors within their colleges or outside their departments. Participants engage in a year-long exploration of college teaching and learning with their peers from other disciplines throughout the university. Each fellow is responsible for a personal teaching and/or curriculum development project during their fellowship year. Reprinted from the MSU News Bulletin, Vol. 39, No. 12 - Feb. 21, 2008

MSU Students for Fair Trade Bash - April 8, 2008 This year's bash will be held April 8, 2008 from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m. in room 303 of the International Center.

Speakers include: Dean Cycon, Founder of Dean's Beans and supporter of the Coffeelands Landmines Victims' Trust; Michael Lundquist, Chief Executive Officer of the Polus Center for Social & Economic Development; Gail Catron, Fair Trade advocate and retailer, owner of new local 100% Fair Trade store, Kirabo; and Rebecca Meuninck, Ph.D. Student specializing in Gender, the Environment, and Fair Trade Coffee, MSU Department of Anthropology.

Please RSVP to Vice President Scott Dombrowski, e-mail: dombro38@msu.edu as soon as possible. Due to limited availability, those wishing to set up displays will be given tables on a first come basis. Please indicate a preference in your RSVP, as well as an individual and/or organization name. A donation of $25.00 or one Fair Trade item as a door prize is encouraged.

Other Announcements

World/Teach

Harvard University
The World/Teach organization is based at the Center for International Development at Harvard University. Following is information about the unique teaching opportunities offered by World/Teach in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, and Namibia. World/Teach offers several summer teaching opportunities lasting two months, directed at undergraduate students. Additionally, they offer numerous year-long teaching assignments for college graduates. Both offer complete immersion and hands-on education in the culture of the destination country that would prove invaluable to someone with an interest in the African continent. Please visit the following websites which provides information on the World/Teach African program:

Year long programs:
http://www.worldteach.org/programs/south_africa_year/ http://www.worldteach.org/programs/rwanda_year/ http://www.worldteach.org/programs/namibia_year/

Summer programs:
http://www.worldteach.org/programs/namibia_summer/ http://www.worldteach.org/programs/south_africa_summer/

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                  African Studies Center
100 CIP, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824-1035
           Phone (Area 517): 353-1700 - Fax: 432-1209
                             www.africa.msu.edu

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