MSU Tuesday Bulletin, 04/17/07

The African Studies Center at MSU

Tuesday Bulletin for April 17th, 2007

Topics covered in this issue: Events | Announcements | Other Announcements | Jobs Events
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. Re-Centering Undergraduate Education: Integrating Ghanaian Authors into Teacher Education and Women's Studies

Monday, April 16, 2007

Partnership to Prepare Global and International Educators Seminar Series with Amy Damrow, Valerie Struthers, and Chris Pereira, Graduate Students, Dept. of Teacher Education (MSU), 12:00 noon, Room 252 Erickson Hall. Fulbright Informational workshop

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Fulbright Informational workshop for Graduate students, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Rooms 303-305, International Center. Contact Kathy Riel at 355-2350 or e-mail: riel@msu.edu to register. National [Senegal] Fund of Youth Promotion

Thursday, April 19, 2007

African Studies Center Brown Bag talk with Maimouna Kebe, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellow (Senegal), 12:00 noon, Room 201 International Center. S.C.O.U.T. B.A.N.A.N.A

Friday, April 21, 2007

Banana Split Day, 12:00noon - 6:00 p.m., MSU Brody Hall Complex. Scout Banana is a global, nonprofit project dedicated to raising awareness for the lack of basic healthcare and providing funding to effective, sustainable projects and organizations working on the ground in Africa. The MSU Chapter is currently supporting the Partners in Health Rwanda pro! grams, which work to build the health infrastructure of Rwanda! . World Languages Day

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Third Annual "World Languages Day" at Michigan State University. Students, teachers, and parents from Michigan high schools and colleges come to campus to learn more about international and world language opportunities at MSU, as well as admissions, financial aid, student life, language education, and international study. Registration begins 8:30a.m. in the Business College Complex Lobby. For registration and further information about the event, visit: http://clear.msu.edu/wld/schedule/html, or phone (517) 432-2286. Announcements
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 st! udents 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. Fulbright-IIE Award Announcement

Congratulations to Leslie Hadfield who has been awarded a Fulbright-IEE award to South Africa. Leslie is a graduate student in the History department at MSU. Books for Africa - April 16-May 4, 2007

The MSU student organization, "Books for Africa" will host 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. Graduate Seminar available on the Intern! et
< p>RD876, International Rural Development, is a 3 credit graduate seminar available every semester on the MSU ANGEL Program. The course simulates a small group 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.

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 largely limited to local cases an! d have been hampered by a lack of systematic 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. Conference papers will be available at http://www.polisci.msu.edu/about/2007microMPA.htm by April 15, 2007. Performances at Wharton Ctr. - Mark your calendar

The following performances will be performed in the Cobb Great Hall at the ! MSU Wharton Center. For ticket information, call 1-800-WHARTON! , or (51 7) 353-1982 or visit www.whartoncenter.com.

-Sweet Honey in The Rock - Fri., Nov. 16, 2007, 8pm, an international -renowned a cappella ensemble, which has a vital and innovative presence in the music culture of Washington, D.C., and in communities of conscience around the world. Sweet Honey in The Rock possesses a stunning vocal prowess that captures the complex sounds of blues, spirituals, traditional gospel hymns, rap, reggae, African chants, Hip Hop, ancient lullabies, and jazz improvisation.

-African Children's Choir- Sat., April 12, 2008, 8pm, Features delightful children ages 7 through 11, from Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda. Many have lost one or both parents through the devastation of war, famine and disease, and in spite of the tragedy that has marred their young lives, these musically-gifted children are radiant with hope and wonderfully entertaining. 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. This year HCC is especially pleased to welcome Rose Gakwandi to Michigan.

The coffeehouse will feature music and dance by local artists and performers, 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 Ch! urch is located at 1427 Haslett Rd, Haslett, MI 48840 (½ mile east of Marsh Road). Call for Submissions
Ghanaian Women and National Development

As part of the celebration of Ghanaian women and their contributions to national development during the past 50 years, the Gender Programmes Unit (GPU) of the University for Development Studies (UDS) in collaboration with the Ghana Journal of Development Studies (GJDS) is putting together a special issue on Ghanaian women in National Development.

The coordinator of the GPU and Editorial Chair of GADS, extends an invitation for participation in the form of paper or artistic/aesthetic contributions to the special issue.Women tend to express themselves in a variety of ways. As such, the hope is that this special issue will capture and reflect that variety. Hence, submissions in the form of articles, poems, reviews, biographies, songs, etc. are encouraged. Unfortunately, audi! o-visual submissions cannot be submitted at this time. Articles may cover areas such as economics, politics, health, education, agriculture, culture, religion, community development, ICT, women's organizing and leadership, and related social issues such as poverty, violence, human rights, migration, etc. Papers that deal with policy, programmes, projects, and practices are encouraged. The main requirement is a link to national development during the last fifty years. The deadline for submission is June 30, 2007. A slightly modified standard guide for paper contributions to the GADS can be accessed at http://www.wid.msu.edu/Documents/GJDS_Notes_to_Contributors.pdf. Those interested in paper submissions may find it useful. Jobs
Visiting Faculty/Lecturer in Swahili - Princeton University

The Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies and the Program in African Studies at Princeton University! invites applications for a half-time visiting faculty/lecture! r langua ge position in Swahili for the 2007–8 academic year. The instructor will be appointed in the Department of Comparative Literature and will be expected to teach the following three courses plus advising.

Fall 2007: - Introduction to literature and literary criticism in Kiswahili

- Swahili Novel

Spring 2008: - Swahili Drama

The courses focus on introducing undergraduate students who have studied elementary and intermediate Swahili to the basic vocabulary/concepts and aspects of theory, criticism, and reading of authentic texts in all genres of literature in Kiswahili language. Applicants must have proven qualifications and experience in teaching and scholarship in Kiswahili literature or a related area. Salary will be determined by qualifications and experience - Ph.D. preferred. This is a one year, half time teaching position. The application deadline is April! 30, 2007. Applications must include: (1) a letter of application, (2) a current curriculum vita, (3) teaching evaluations, (4) sample syllabi for at least one of the courses above, and (5) three letters of recommendation, and be sent to: Visiting Faculty/Lecturer in Swahili, Program in African Studies, Princeton Institute for International and Regional Studies, 334 Aaron Burr Hall, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544. Applications may also be sent via fax: 609-258-3988 or e-mail to piirs@princeton.edu. African Librarian - Ohio University Libraries

Ohio University Libraries seeks applications and nominations for the position of Africana Librarian. The successful applicant will provide leadership in providing reference services, instruction, collection development and outreach activities. The Africana Librarian will work closely with the faculty and students in the African Studies Program and outside researchers with an! interest in the continent. We seek applicants with a commitme! nt to wo rking effectively with students, faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds. To submit an application and see a detailed job description, go to: http://www.ohiouniversityjobs.com. To view the position details, click "search positions" on the left drop-down menu, under Department choose "Library" from the drop-down menu. Click "view" for Africana Librarian position. The application deadline is May 15, 2007.

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.