MSU Tuesday Bulletin, 10/21/08

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Tuesday Bulletin for October 21st, 2008
Topics covered in this issue: Events | Announcements | Other Announcements | Conferences | Jobs

EVENTS

Thursday, October 23, 2008
"Metals or Management? Explaining Africa's Recent Economic Growth Performance," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Lisa Cook, Faculty (Dept. of Economics and James Madison College, MSU), 12:00 noon, Room 303 International Center.

Friday, October 24, 2008
"Who Drives Resettlement? The Case of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project," CASID/WID Friday Forum with Robert Hitchcock, Chair, Faculty (Dept. of Anthropology, MSU), 12:00 noon, Room 303 International Center.

Thursday, October 30, 2008
"The Colonial Paradox: Conflict, Policing and Development Along the Kenya-Uganda Border, 1929-1953," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Dave Eaton, Faculty (History, Albion College), 12:00 noon, Room 303 International Center.

Thursday, October 30, 2008
Pre-lecture reading group discussion on Professor Achille Mbembe's article, "Necropolitics." 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Room 213 Morrill Hall, pizza and beverages provided. MSU Faculty and students can access the article from: http://muse.jhu.edu.proxy2.cl.msu.edu:2047/journals/public_culture/v015/15.1mbembe.pdf .

Friday, October 31, 2008
"The Question of Rethinking the Future in a Neoliberal Age: The Case of South Africa," talk by Achille Mbembe, Visiting Professor in the Department of English (Duke University), 4:00p.m., Room 207 Eustace Hall. Reception to follow.

Thursday, November 6, 2008
"The Lost' Boys of the Sudan: Recounting a Personal Experience," African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Jacob Atem, Lifelong Graduate Student (Public Health, MSU), 12:00 noon, Room 303 International Center.

Thursday, November 6, 2008
"`Racial Representation of the Worst Sort': The African Franchise and Decolonization in Central Africa," Department of History speaker series with Luise White, Faculty, ( History, University of Florida), 3:00 - 5:00 p.m., Room 340 Morrill Hall.

MSU ANNOUNCEMENTS

Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa
October 22, 2008 | Wharton Center/ Cobb Great Hall The rich musical traditions of Mali come alive when this incredible ensemble led by Bamba Dembele, musical director and percussionist in the Super Djata band Karkar. The Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa is a powerful group of musicians known for their use of the Kora, N'Goni, the Balaphon, Djembe, Doundouns, and flute. With graceful movements and virtuosity the dancers of Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa meld tradition and modernity as the troupe blends West African ballets, djembés, dunums and balaphons as well as traditional songs and dances.

The Song and Dance Ensemble of West Africa has gained great notoriety around the world due to their unique fusion of traditional folklore with contemporary themes that mold the amazing culture of Mali.

The performance will run from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m.. Tickets are $28, $22, and $15. Contact the Wharton Center at: (517) 432-2000 or 1-800-wharton; or visit the website at http://www.whartoncenter.com.

Africa Podcast
This podcast about history, culture, and politics in Africa - is hosted by Michigan State University historians Peter Alegi and Peter Limb. It is produced by MATRIX - The Center for Humane Arts, Letters, and Social Sciences Online at MSU ( http://www.matrix.msu.edu). Listen and subscribe to the biweekly podcast at: http://afripod.aodl.org/. Direct inquiries to: alegi@msu.edu or limb@msu.edu.

OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Taste of Cameroon

Oct. 25th in Lansing, MI The Cameroonian Ladies Association of Lansing (CALALA) is hosting a "Taste of Cameroon" on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at the Parish Family Center, 3815 S. Cedar Street, Lansing, MI 48910. The event will feature: Authentic Cameroonian cuisine; Cultural events; Dance; Fundraiser and a Fashion show. For tickets and information, contact Melanie at (517) 927-9637; e-mail: roleshus@yahoo.com; or Madeleine at (517) 944-1379; e-mail: nkoumadeleine@yahoo.fr.

United Nations Day 2008 -Greater Lansing Chapter The Greater Lansing United Nations Association (GLUNA) will host their annual Global Education Awards Dinner and Program in celebration of the 63rd Anniversary of the founding of the UN on Sunday, October 26, 2008, 5:30 p.m., East Lansing Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Rd., East Lansing, MI.

For information contact Lee McAllister at: harborc@provide.net or call (517) 349-1845.

U. of Michigan: Wallenberg Medal to be awarded to Archbishop Desmond Tutu - Oct. 29, 2008, 7:30pm Nobel Peace Prize winner and South African cleric Archbishop Desmond Tutu will be awarded the eighteenth University of Michigan Wallenberg Medal by U-M president Mary Sue Coleman on Wednesday, October 29, at 7:30 p.m. in Hill Auditorium on the University of Michigan campus. After the medal presentation, Archbishop Tutu will give the Wallenberg Lecture.

For more information, please visit the website at http://www.wallenberg.umich.edu/.

Lecture by Lucius Outlaw at Calvin College On October 30, 2008, Lucius Outlaw (Vanderbilt University) will speak on "Philosophy" and Africa: What's in Question? His talk at Calvin explores the importance of an "Africana Philosophy" encompassing both Africa and the African Diaspora. The lecture begins at 3:30 p.m. in the Commons Lecture Hall at Calvin College.

For directions and more information regarding the talk, contact David Hoekema, Chair, Calvin College, 1845 Knollcrest Circle SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-4402; Tel: (616) 526-6750; Fax: (616) 526-8505; e-mail: dhoekema@calvin.edu.

UNESCO Young Professionals Program
UNESCO has announced the reopening of their Young Professionals Program for people under 30 who want to start a career in an international organization. The deadline for applications is November 19, 2008. The selected candidates will be recruited with a one-year contract at the P-1 level (approximately $45,000 tax-free). Full announcement can be read here: http://www.state.gov/p/io/unesco/programs/102342.htm.

CONFERENCES

9th Annual Global Perspective Conf.- LCC, Lansing The Center for International and Intercultural Education (CIIE) at Lansing Community College is seeking proposals from potential presenters for the 9th Annual Global Perspectives Conference, which will be held on the Lansing Community College campuses Monday March 30-Thursday, April 2, 2009. The theme for the 2009 conference is "The Realities of Globalization: Past, Present and Future."

Proposal forms or more information can be obtained by phone at 517-483-9963 or 483-1006, or by sending an email to hayhoe@lcc.edu. The deadline for proposals is Friday, October 31, 2008.

Dress, Popular Culture, and Social Action in Africa This conference is organized as part of the Program for African Studies Sixty Year Anniversary at Northwestern University, March 13-14, 2009 by Professors Karen Tranberg Hansen (Anthropology) and D. Soyini Madison (Performance Studies).

This conference focuses on the dynamic range of micro and macro social action and how it is generated, sustained, and may culminate into transnational social movements that are enlivened by dress and popular culture. This two-day event will involve established and up-and-coming scholars (with a preference for graduate students) in small panel presentations, visual, and performance events. Abstracts of 250 words are due by December 1, 2008. Please contact Andrea Seligman at: AndreaSeligman2012@u.northwestern.edu with questions or to send submissions.

JOBS

Gender & Media in the Global South- Amherst College The Amherst College Women's and Gender Studies Department invites applications for a full-time tenure-track or tenured appointment in Gender and Media in the Global South to begin in the Fall of 2009. The position requires a completed Ph.D. in one of the humanities disciplines or from an interdisciplinary program with a strong humanities component. The teaching load is two courses per semester. All members of the Women's and Gender Studies department participate in teaching required core courses (currently these are the Cross-cultural Construction of Gender; and Gender Theory), in addition to teaching courses in their area of expertise and overseeing honors theses. The department also places a strong emphasis on teaching students to write clearly and well, and would welcome applicants with compositional experience. Strong commitments to scholarship and to undergraduate teaching, especially to working with a diverse student body, are essential.

A letter of application that outlines the candidate's scholarly and teaching interests, a c.v., and a one-page description (or, alternately, a syllabus) of an interdisciplinary course the candidate would like to teach that is, broadly speaking, in the topic-area of Gender and Media in the Global South, should be sent to: Search Committee, Department of Women's and Gender Studies, Box 2257, Amherst College, Amherst, MA 01002-5000. Candidates should also arrange for three letters of recommendation to be sent directly to the Search Committee. Candidates who submit their materials by October 31, 2008 will be assured full consideration. Inquiries may be directed to Amy Ford, Academic Department Coordinator, Women's and Gender Studies Department, wags@amherst.edu. More information about the College can be found at http://www.amherst.edu.

Director, African Studies Center- Boston University The African Studies Center at Boston University, one of the nation's oldest and best established programs on Africa seeks applications for the position of Director (pending budgetary approval). This search seeks candidates at a senior level with a tenured faculty appointment in any field of social science (including history). The Dean 's Search Committee is especially interested in candidates with a demonstrated record of outstanding scholarship and administrative leadership.

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter of application and a current curriculum vitae to the Search Committee Chair Prof. James C. McCann, Director, ad interim, at the African Studies Center, Boston University, 270 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215. Applications received by November 1, 2008 will have priority and members of the search committee will meet candidates at the African Studies Association meetings 13-16 November in Chicago. Boston University is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity employer.

African History

Macalester College
The History department at Macalester College invites applications for a tenure-track professorship in African history beginning September 2009. Rank open; Ph.D. required by time of appointment. All relevant specializations and periods will be considered. A willingness to participate in and develop courses for the College's interdisciplinary programs, such as Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, African Studies or Middle Eastern Studies/Islamic Civilization, is desirable.

To apply, send a cover letter explaining research and teaching interests, C.V., and three letters of reference to Peter Weisensel, Chair, Department of History, Macalester College, Saint Paul, MN 55105. Applications received by November 1, 2008 will receive first consideration.

For more information about Macalester College, visit: http://www.macalester.edu/.

Afr. Lang. & Literature - U. of Wisconsin-Madison The Department of African Languages and Literature of the University of Wisconsin-Madison invites applications for a tenure-track position at the assistant professor level. The committee seeks a scholar whose work focuses on African literature, and who has a high level of competence in an African language. Competence in linguistics would be an advantage. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong record in teaching.

Applicants must have completed the Ph.D. by beginning of appointment in August 2009 and show promise of a distinguished career as a scholar and teacher. To ensure full consideration, your letter of application and c.v., three letters of recommendation, and a writing sample (preferred length: under fifty pages of text) should arrive by Wednesday, November 12, 2008. The writing sample may be a self-standing essay, or a chapter from a dissertation or book project. Chapters should be accompanied by a brief outline or statement (less than two pages) that sets the chapter in the context of the larger work and its argument. Send materials to: Prof. Harold Scheub, Chair, Dept. of African Languages and Literature, 1408 Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Drive, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706; Tel: (608) 263-5919; Fax: (608) 265-4151; e-mail: hescheub@wisc.edu.

African Literature -U. of Illinois-Urbana Champaign The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign seeks a full-time tenure track Assistant Professor in African literature, starting August 16, 2009. The successful candidate will hold a joint appointment in two of three departments (Comparative and World Literature, English, and French), depending on areas of specialization. The candidate will also have an affiliation with the Center for African Studies.

A demonstrable commitment to scholarship and the ability to teach a wide range of African literatures and cultures required; familiarity with post-colonial theory preferred. PhD in hand by time of appointment. Salary commensurate with experience.

For full consideration, application materials (letter of interest, CV, three letters of recommendation and a writing sample) must be received by November 15, 2008. Send application materials, including an email address to: African Literature Search Committee, c/o Marita Romine, 4072A FLB, University of Illinois, 707 S. Mathews, Urbana, IL 61801, USA. Phone: (217) 244-3252. The University of Illinois is an Affirmative Action, Equal Opportunity Employer.

from MSU African Studies Center <Africa@msu.edu> date Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 10:02 AM
subject Tuesday Bulletin for October 21st, 2008

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