April 16 & 17, 2004
Temple University
Philadelphia, PA

AKOBEN: SYMBOL OF A CALL TO ACTION

The graduate students of Temple University's Department of African American Studies continue to create an environment in which graduate students in African American Studies discuss their research, theories and perspectives within the discipline of African American Studies and any of its subject/content areas.

The 2004 conference is sub-titled: Call to Duty: Continuing the Mission of African American Studies.

The conference seeks to explore different aspects of the African Diasporan experience. The theme and scope of the conference is inspired/motivated by the above adinkra symbol, AKOBEN, which symbolizes a wind instrument used in summoning warriors to the battlefield. This symbol signifies alertness and readiness to serve a good cause. It encourages people to be ready at all times to serve their nation even in times of war. It also stresses the need for loyalty to one's nation. In this case, our nation is the Africa and her Diaspora. It is, therefore, our responsibility, as intellectuals, cultural workers, activists, and representatives of the discipline, to assess the issues that are of concern to us and our nation, this will ultimately aid in furthering the discipline. We have been summoned!

Panels/Proposals/Abstracts deadline: March 26, 2004.