African Studies Association Calls for Papers
JANUARY 6, 2015 BY AKEEM LASISI
Nigerian Punch
The African Studies Association has called for papers towards its first conference, scheduled to hold at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, between October 13 and 17, 2015.
The theme, according to a statement from ASAA, is African studies in the 21st Century: Past, Present and Future.
The conveners note, “The theme itself is not new, given the volume of literature globally available on the issues involved. Yet, it is very significant for the inaugural conference of ASAA at Ibadan where the Institute of African Studies was established in 1962 under the leadership of the Late Prof. Kenneth Dike.
“This theme would enable us to return to the task of properly defining African Studies and its domains. For instance, is it what is done in the extant “Institutes of African Studies” on the continent or an aggregation of what is practised globally in the respective departments and faculties about Africa, the African continent and her Diasporas? Once this question is more clearly answered the future roles of ASAA in African development and the network of relationships it has established around the world would make the field easier to navigate.”
The conveners recalled that the first international congress of Africanists took place in Accra, Ghana, from 11 through December 18, 1962. The proceedings were subsequently published in 1964 for the International congress of Africanists by Longmans Press. The congress divided the sessions into nine distinct disciplinary headings which focused on specialisations.
“Today, 52 odd years on, those disciplinary boundaries are as diffused as national and continental borders. It is, therefore, for pragmatic reasons that our call for papers recognises disciplinary boundaries without being delimited by them. The two-dozen or so sub-themes and sessions listed here are not meant to circumscribe the skill, perception or abilities of scholars, practitioners or generalists on the emergent fields in African Studies. It is diffused to give room for inclusiveness and the freedom that the field truly deserves.
“African Studies is not in any way limited to Africa nor is it limited to the Diasporas of Africa. It is a field now cultivated by the world in all the disciplines available on the school curricula and in scholarship from botany to quantum physics to literature and political science.
Indeed, it has become, methodologically, one of the most puzzling, most challenging and most diverse areas of intellectual pursuit. There naturally arises the primary question of what it is and how to define it. This will give room for both a conceptual and an empirical study of this overwhelmingly peculiar and protean field.”
The conference envisages that presentation could be made in any language of the world as long as an English translation or abstract is provided. Organisers will make efforts to have translators of French, Spanish, Arabic and Swahili at the venue.
The conference contacts include Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. Prof. Dele Layiwola; Prof. Olawale Albert of the same institute; Prof. Olutayo Adesina of Department of History, UI; Prof. Tunde Babawale of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos; Prof. Pius Adesanmi, c/o Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon and Mr. Odia Ofeimun, Hornbill House of the Arts, Lagos.
Others are Dr. Sola Olorunyomi and Tunde Awosanmi, both of UI; and Mr. Jahman Anikulapo of Culture Advocates Caucus, Lagos.
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| Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, President of Ghana, convened the First Congress of Africanists in Accra, Ghana in 1962. |
Nigerian Punch
The African Studies Association has called for papers towards its first conference, scheduled to hold at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, between October 13 and 17, 2015.
The theme, according to a statement from ASAA, is African studies in the 21st Century: Past, Present and Future.
The conveners note, “The theme itself is not new, given the volume of literature globally available on the issues involved. Yet, it is very significant for the inaugural conference of ASAA at Ibadan where the Institute of African Studies was established in 1962 under the leadership of the Late Prof. Kenneth Dike.
“This theme would enable us to return to the task of properly defining African Studies and its domains. For instance, is it what is done in the extant “Institutes of African Studies” on the continent or an aggregation of what is practised globally in the respective departments and faculties about Africa, the African continent and her Diasporas? Once this question is more clearly answered the future roles of ASAA in African development and the network of relationships it has established around the world would make the field easier to navigate.”
The conveners recalled that the first international congress of Africanists took place in Accra, Ghana, from 11 through December 18, 1962. The proceedings were subsequently published in 1964 for the International congress of Africanists by Longmans Press. The congress divided the sessions into nine distinct disciplinary headings which focused on specialisations.
“Today, 52 odd years on, those disciplinary boundaries are as diffused as national and continental borders. It is, therefore, for pragmatic reasons that our call for papers recognises disciplinary boundaries without being delimited by them. The two-dozen or so sub-themes and sessions listed here are not meant to circumscribe the skill, perception or abilities of scholars, practitioners or generalists on the emergent fields in African Studies. It is diffused to give room for inclusiveness and the freedom that the field truly deserves.
“African Studies is not in any way limited to Africa nor is it limited to the Diasporas of Africa. It is a field now cultivated by the world in all the disciplines available on the school curricula and in scholarship from botany to quantum physics to literature and political science.
Indeed, it has become, methodologically, one of the most puzzling, most challenging and most diverse areas of intellectual pursuit. There naturally arises the primary question of what it is and how to define it. This will give room for both a conceptual and an empirical study of this overwhelmingly peculiar and protean field.”
The conference envisages that presentation could be made in any language of the world as long as an English translation or abstract is provided. Organisers will make efforts to have translators of French, Spanish, Arabic and Swahili at the venue.
The conference contacts include Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan. Prof. Dele Layiwola; Prof. Olawale Albert of the same institute; Prof. Olutayo Adesina of Department of History, UI; Prof. Tunde Babawale of the Department of Political Science, University of Lagos; Prof. Pius Adesanmi, c/o Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon and Mr. Odia Ofeimun, Hornbill House of the Arts, Lagos.
Others are Dr. Sola Olorunyomi and Tunde Awosanmi, both of UI; and Mr. Jahman Anikulapo of Culture Advocates Caucus, Lagos.
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