CALL FOR PAPERS
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON THE BENIN/EDO DIASPORA

25-27th JULY 2007, BENIN CITY, NIGERIA.

THEME-HARNESSING BENIN-EDO DIASPORA FOR DEVELOPMENT

Great Benin in South-central Nigeria was one of the earliest forest Kingdoms founded in Africa by the Edo speaking people. Outside the Edo heartland, the Kingdom spawned a diaspora which played a vital role in establishing and consolidating Benin Kingdom ’s influence and spreading Edo culture. This diaspora's link with Benin was terminated by colonial fiat and resulted in the disconnection between Benin and the diaspora,increasing loss of knowledge of the state of existence of the diaspora and loss of the mutual benefits of the relationship. The Institute for Benin Studies is organizing an international conference in July 2007 to address these problems of the state of the Benin-Edo Diaspora and reawaken the pride of the Diaspora in their Benin Edo identity.

SUB-THEMES:
1.) Historiography of Benin/Edo Diaspora and relations with Benin

2.) Origins of Benin/Edo Diaspora

3.) Edo Diaspora in Yoruba land- Akure, Ekiti, Owo, Akoko, Ilorin,Ikale, Ijesha and Eko-Lagos

4.) The Edo ne Akure in Benin and Yoruba Politics, Economy and Society
5.) Edo Diaspora in Igbo land and the Niger Delta

6.) Benin Kingdom, the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and Edo Diaspora and influences in Sao Tome and Principe, West Africa and the Americas.

7.) The impact of Colonialism on the Benin/Edo Diaspora

8.) The new Benin/Edo Diaspora in a globalized World-Europe,
Americas and Asia

9.) The future of Benin (Homeland) and the role of the Benin/Edo Diaspora