MSU Tuesday Bulletin, 04/24/07

The African Studies Center at MSU

Tuesday Bulletin for April 24th, 2007

Topics covered in this issue: Events | Announcements | Other Announcements Events
Capacity Building in the Agricultural Sector: The case for Bunda College, University of Malawi

Monday, April 30, 2007

African Studies Center `Special' Brown Bag talk with Professor George Kobe Kanyama-Phiri, Vice Chancellor of Bunda College of Agriculture (Malawi), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center. Farm Workers, Farm Dwellers, Farm Owners and Restitution Communities: The Complexities of Land Reform

Thursday, April 26, 2007

African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Bill Derman, Faculty (Anthropology, MSU), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center. The Micro-Foundations of Mass Politics in ! Africa

Sat. & Sun., May 12-13, 2007

Afrobarometer conference to be held at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center on the MSU campus. Please visit http://www.afrobarometer.org/conference.html for conference details or to download papers. The conference is free and open to the public, but please note that all meals are reserved for invited participants only. Announcements
Afrobarometer Conference at MSU, May 12-13, 2007

On behalf of the Afrobarometer Network, the Department of Political Science and the African Studies Center at Michigan State University are pleased to host a conference on the Micro-Foundations of Mass Politics in Africa.

To date, scholars of African politics have concentrated principally on the deeds -- and misdeeds – of political elites. Studies of mass participation have been largel! y limited to local cases and have been hampered by a lack of s! ystemati c data on public values, attitudes and behavior. The advent of the Afrobarometer, now comprising three rounds of national probability sample surveys in up to 18 African countries, 1999-2006, offers unique opportunities to delve into the foundations of individual political action.

The conference will feature 20 original research papers by leading and emergent scholars from Africa, Europe and the United States. The themes of the papers include electoral participation, ethnic identity, economic well-being, social capital, and democratic citizenship. All papers draw evidence from Afrobarometer public opinion data. An edited volume is planned. Please visit: http://www.afrobarometer.org/conference.html to download conference papers. Books for Africa - April 16-May 4, 2007

The MSU student organization, "Books for Africa" is hosting a book drive. Donations of New and Used textbooks, novels, and children's books are ! being collected and will be shipped to Africa. Collection boxes will be located at SBS, the African Studies Center, International Center Book Store, and Mason/Abbott Lobby. Visit http://www.msu.edu/~b4africa; or e-mail: b4africa@msu.edu to learn more about the MSU Books for Africa student organization. Summer Course Announcement

AEC874 "Data Collection and Analysis in Developing Countries," 3 credits. No prerequisites required. Open to graduate students in all Colleges/Departments. This is a course in the theory and practice of survey research. It is designed for graduate students who plan to carry out survey research in the U.S. and developing countries. For more information, contact Professor Rick Bernsten, e-mail: bernsten@msu.edu. Graduate Seminar available on the Internet

RD876, International Rural Development, is a 3 credit graduate seminar available every sem! ester on the MSU ANGEL Program. The course simulates a small g! roup of students sitting around a table with the professor, who has years of hands-on experience designing and implementing many development programs and projects in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. For more information, see the preview at: https://angel.msu.edu or e-mail Professor George H. Axinn at axinn@msu.edu. Other Announcements
Coffeehouse and Cultural Celebration- Haslett, MI

On Saturday, May 5, 2007 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m., Haslett Community Church (HCC) will host the third annual Coffeehouse and Cultural Celebration to continue support for Association Mwana Ukundwa/AMU (Beloved Child) in Rwanda. Under the leadership of Rose Gakwandi, AMU provides food, clothing, housing, and education for approximately 2,000 children who lost their parents in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda or to AIDS.

The coffeehouse will feature music and dance by local artists and perfor! mers, as well as the now-famous buffet of homemade desserts and gourmet Rwandan coffee. There is no admission charge, but donations are appreciated, and receipts will be given for tax purposes. In addition, there will be Rwandan handcrafted items for sale to benefit AMU. All proceeds will go to AMU for their work in Rwanda. Haslett Community Church is located at 1427 Haslett Rd, Haslett, MI 48840 (½ mile east of Marsh Road).

For more information, visit the African Studies Center Website. Please submit information on Africa-related events or news seven to ten days in advance of publication. Send to the African Studies Center, 100 Center for International Programs, Michigan State University. Telephone: (517) 353-1700; Fax: (517) 432-1209; E-mail: africa@msu.edu.

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