MSU Tuesday Bulletin, 03/21/06
Issue No. 10 Spring 2006
March 21, 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
JOBS
EVENTS
March 22, 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.
March 22, 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.
March 23, Thursday
"From Prisoner to Parliament and Beyond in South Africa," African Studies Center Brown
Bag with the Honorable Ahmed Kathrada, Parliamentarian (South Africa), 12:00 noon, Room
201 International Center. His book Memoirs will be sold after the lecture.
March 24, Friday
"Lumumba" The true story of the rise to power and brutal assassination of the formerly
vilified and later redeemed leader of the independent Congo. Romance Languages Film
Series, 5:30 p.m - 8:00 p.m., Room 206 Old Horticulture.
March 24, Friday
"The Boys of Baraka" MSU and East Lansing Film Festival, 7:00 p.m., Theater D, Wells
Hall.
March 24-25, Friday & Saturday
No Place to Hide: Student Activism and the Fight Against the Global AIDS Pandemic conference will be held on the second floor of the MSU Union, Friday, 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Register by going to http://www.mrule.msu.edu.
March 25, Saturday
"Heart of the Congo" MSU Museum and East Lansing Film Festival, 1:30 p.m., Theater A,
Wells Hall (roundtable discussion at 11:00 a.m.).
March 25, Saturday
"Yesterday" MSU Museum and East Lansing Film Festival, 4:00 p.m., Theater B, Wells
Hall.
March 27, Monday
Dr. Mae Jemison will speak at the Wharton Center as part of the World View Lecture Series. Dr. Jemison's many accomplishments are chemical engineer, medical doctor, astronaut, professor, Area Peace Corps Medical Officer in West Africa, lecturer and entrepreneur. The lecture begins at 7:30 p.m., MSU Wharton Center. Tickets are free to MSU students and faculty, $20 to the public. For tickets contact the Wharton Center box office at (517) 432-2000, 1-800-WHARTON; or visit the website at: http://www.whartoncenter.com.
March 30, Thursday
"What is Civic Action? Community Participation as Education Reform in the Republic of
Guinea," African Studies Brown Bag talk with Mark Hamilton, Ph.D. Candidate, Education and
International Development Studies, MSU), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center.
MSU ANNOUNCEMENTS
Explore Africa at MSU, Teacher Opportunity
Teachers are invited to a unique learning experience this
summer. Explore Africa at MSU is a residential
program for gifted and talented students, and offers
teachers the opportunity to join the daily academic and
cultural portions. The program runs June 18-24, 2006,
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily.
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. Teachers
will be able to team with other teachers, while students
team with other students.
Teachers may take the course in one of three ways:
-
For no credit; 2) for 3 SB-CEUs at a cost of $270.00;
-
for 1,2 or 3 MSU Lifelong Education Graduate
credits for TE 890 (Independent study) at a cost of
$329.50 per credit.
For enrollment, registration or other information, contact
John Metzler, (517) 353-1700 or e-mail:
metzler@msu.edu to enroll. (Have your PID and PAN
ready).
OTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS
Africa Measles Initiatives Campaign- March 30, 2006
A child dies from measles every minute in Africa. It
costs less than one dollar to vaccinate a child against this
deadly, yet easily preventable, disease.
Disease of the Wind takes viewers to the heart of Africa
with Jane Seymour and eight Los Angeles youth to
chronicle the tragedy of measles and race to eliminate
the disease. The documentary directed by James Keach,
will premier Thursday, March 30, 2006, 7:00 p.m.., 1130
Wealthy Street, SE, Grand Rapids, MI. Free admission,
donations encouraged. The Measles Initiative is a long-
term commitment to control measles deaths starting in
Africa by vaccinating at-risk children 15 years old and
younger. For more information call (616) 456-8661 ext.
3900 or (616) 456-8661 ext. 3501.
Les Ballets Africans, April 14-15, 2006, Detroit, MI
Les Ballets Africains, National Dance Company of the
Republic of Guinea will perform at the Music Hall in
Detroit, Friday, April 14, 2006 and Saturday, April 15,
2006, 350 Madison St., Detroit, MI 48226.
To see details on the dance company, go to:
http://www.lesballetsafricains.com/index.php. For
ticket information, contact the Music Hall at (313) 963-
2366; or http://www.ticketmaster.com/venue/65560.
Global Youth Partnership for Africa (GYPA)
"THINK AGAIN" - - Call for Submissions
The international media often projects Africa as a failed
continent where famine, crisis and chaos abound.
THINK AGAIN! the title of this initiative seeks to
instill greater understanding and appreciation for Africa.
This educational text-book, think-piece, and
motivational force will supplement our educational
programs and curricula across high-schools and
universities across the United States. The GYPA group
hopes the publication can cut across boundaries and
misconceptions of Africa. The publication will be of
Africa's success stories by African and American
Youth. Once complete, the publication will be sold in
the United States, internationally, to well-wishers and
friends of Africa. 50% of the proceeds from the sale of
the publication (cost has not yet been declared), will go
directly to various projects GYPA supports and that are
associated with "THINK AGAIN".
All Africans and Americans living in Africa, or
studying, volunteering, or working outside of Africa or
the United States between the ages of 15 - 30 years old
are eligible to apply. The goal is to improve the
international image of Africa via-retelling the stories of
success through the youth of Africa. To include stories
from all 53 countries in Africa.
For questions about the project and submission
requirements, please contact Jeremy Goldberg at
jeremy@gypafrica.org; or visit:
http://www.gypafrica.org to learn more about the Global
Youth Partnership for Africa. Submission deadline is
April 1, 2006.
FELLOWSHIPS
Field Research Fellowship Program - CAPRi
Collective Action and Property Rights (CAPRi)
developed a PhD Field-Research Fellowship Program to
link Consultative Group on International Agricultural
Research (CGIAR) projects addressing issues of
collective action and property rights and experts from
academia in this field. This program has the objectives
to: (1) establish or strengthen working relationships
between CGIAR Centers and leading faculty in the
fields of collective action and property rights; (2)
strengthen the capacity of graduate students in
conducting field work on collective action and property
rights; (3) build or strengthen capacity to do such
research in the CGIAR and partner institutions in
developing countries.
There will be five fellowships given out in 2006 to full-
time PhD students in the social sciences or humanities
regardless of citizenship or place of study. Deadline
for application is April 28, 2006. Please, carefully read
the Request for Proposals (available at
http://www.capri.cgiar.org/phd/rfp.asp), and only submit
the application once you have all the necessary
information. It is important to note that CAPRi can only
fund research carried out in collaboration with a CGIAR
research project in a developing country.
If you are a CGIAR researcher looking for a PhD student
or a PhD student looking for a CGIAR project for your
field, CAPRi has set up two searchable Web-based
databases to help students and CGIAR centers to
identify potential collaboration between them. The
databases can be accessed at
http://www.capri.cgiar.org/phd/Fellowship.asp. Submit
projects or proposals to enable your potential
collaborator to find and contact you. Any questions
regarding this Research Fellowship Program should be
directed to Ruth Meinzen-Dick, e-mail: r.meinzen-
dick@cgiar.org or Stephan Dohrn, e-mail:
s.dohrn@cgiar.org.
JOBS
ActionAid International (AAI) - 2 postings
AAI Africa seeks to recruit a dynamic and energetic
team to fill up the following two positions and join AAI
Africa Policy team on a three-year renewable contract:
-
Food Rights Policy Coordinator: Ref. #FR-001
The incumbent will have dual accountability to AAI
Africa Policy and Advocacy Manager and Head of AAI
Food Rights theme. Scope of engagements will be in
Africa in general but with particular focus in Sub-
Saharan Africa. The post will be located in Southern
Africa in any of the following countries: Zimbabwe,
Malawi, Mozambique, or Republic of South Africa.
The search committee seeks a competent, qualified, and
intellectually capable leader and policy analyst with
proven track record in research and policy analysis,
experience on food security issues and in working with
CSOs, governments, regional bodies at sub-
regional/regional level, clear understanding of
development and poverty issues, and social movements.
Good understanding of trade, debt, and aid issues,
especially the impact of WTO, WB/IMF, and EU/ACP
relations and land reform issues in Africa. Bi-
lingualism, especially English and French or Portuguese
will be an added advantage.
-
Governance Coordinator: Ref. #: Gov-001
The incumbent will have dual accountability to AAI
Africa Policy and Advocacy Manager and AAI
Governance Theme Leader. The post will be located in
Western Africa in any of the following countries:
Ghana, Nigeria, or Gambia
The search committee seeks a competent and proactive
governance activist with sound educational background
in law/political science/development studies or any
other relevant field and at least seven years experience
in policy or governance related issues with multi-lateral
institutions, CSOs, and social movements at national,
sub-regional, and regional levels. Good analytical
capability and knowledge base on development, poverty,
and governance issues, democracy, issues of
constitutionalism and human rights, and macro-
economic and policy issues in Africa, good
understanding of Africa Union, Regional Economic
Commissions, and global governance issues are
essential. Bi-lingualism, especially English and French
will be an added advantage. Applications for both posts
should be sent with CV, Cover letter, and at least two
names of your references no later than March 24, 2006,
to Vacancies.africa@actionaid.org. International terms
and conditions of service apply. Applications for Post
1 must indicate Reference Number FR-001 and
applications for Post 2 must indicate Reference Number
Gov-001 in the E-mail Subject Line.
Projects Coordinator - Nigeria
The person in this position will work closely with local
partner organizations, State and Local Government
agencies and other stakeholders as necessary and
appropriate. Key areas of responsibility will be to work
with and support partners in the implementation of
community level Water and Environment Sanitation
work in Cross River and Ebonyi States, as well as
provide support to other projects. Must have worked for
a minimum of two years at the Project Manager level
and enjoy field work. For further details go to:
http://www.concern-universal.org. All applicants must
complete an application. CVs will not be acknowledge
or accepted. The deadline for completed applications is
Sunday, March 26, 2006.
Senior Human Resources Mgr. - Congo (DRC)
Oxfam GB has been present in the Democratic Republic
of the Congo for more than 40 years. The country
program is managed from Goma, East DRC with a
support office in Kinshasa and project sites in five
locations throughout the DRC. The Senior Human
Resources Manager reports to the Country Program
Manager. The purpose of this position is to develop,
advise on and implement the full range of human
resource strategies, as well as build the capacity of the
Human Resources function in DRC. The ideal candidate
must have a degree in human resources or related social
sciences with at least 5 years experience in a similar
role. For details and to apply online, go to:
http://www.oxfam.org.uk/careers.
The application deadline is March 31, 2006.
TrustAfrica foundation - Dakar, Senegal
- Five positions
- Program Coordinator; Finance Manager;
Fundraising and Outreach Manager; Office
Administrator; and Driver/Messenger.
Akwasi Aidoo, former West African director of the Ford
Foundation's West Africa, has established a new Africa-
based foundation called 'Trust Africa'. The foundation,
whose headquarters is in Dakar, Senegal, was developed
at Ford and is currently recruiting staff. To view
positions and get details, visit:
http://www.trustafrica.org/index.php. The deadline to
apply is March 31, 2006.
Page Editor: Ali B. Ali-Dinar, Ph.D.