Certain broad trends are identifiable in the transformation of Africa during the last four decades. Beginning with the period of decolonization, the entrenchment of dictatorship with the intervention of the military in the art of governance, the ethnic conflicts, the dismantling of apartheid and the ongoing democratic engagements in some parts of Africa- some attention has been drawn to postmodernist discourses- interpreted in some sense as the revisioning/revamping of the world, making colonial centres heterogeneous spaces or decentrering the colonial presence and demilitarizing Africa for development.

Despite the fact that Africa‘¦s development from pre-colonial to the capitalist mode of production is yet to take firm roots; the process has unleashed new social challenges, adopted some and transformed others under a totalitarian clime hitherto directed by dictatorial regimes. With the emergence of some young democracies in Africa, the continent has since 1989 been experimenting with a wide variety of options to transform her culture, institutions and peoples and de-entrap itself from the troas of double edged globalizing forces. Most of these options are scientifico-technological in nature, driven by economic theories of liberalism and free market enterprise to the neglect of more humane and human driven philosophies that seek and promote human personhood. There are also some attempts not only to further democracy, but to create a corrupt free, just and humane society that guarantees fundamental human rights, basic freedoms and creates the Africa worth living in and dying for.

The 2011 Faculty of Arts International invites discussion on the interface between the Humanities and postmodernism in the transformational agenda of African nations. The conference is intent at providing a unique opportunity for Africans, Africanists and other serious scholars from all corners of the World to meet and interrogate the question of What, if any, can the Humanities contribute to a better future for Arfica.

SUB-THEMES:
„« Theoretical Issues in the humanities/African Development
„« Theoretical perspectives in postmodernism
„« Philosophy, Religion and African Transformation
„« Language, Literature and African Transformation
„« The Arts (performing and creative, etc) and African Transformation
„« African Knowledges and African transformation/Sustainable Development
„« Ethical Issues and African Politics and Development
„« The humanities, Ethics of politics and the politics of Values in African Democracies
„« Indigenous African leadership and African Development
„« Terrorism, Globalization and African Cultural Heritage
„« Postmodernism and African Transformation
„« African Cultural Renaissance and African development
„« Language, Technology and African Development
„« Pluralism and Dialogue in Africa in the 21st Century
„« Ethnic Identities and Inter-group Relations in Postmodern Africa
„« Any other related issue that contributes to a better future for Humankind
Submit an electronic version a 200 word abstract to either of the following emails: bsuartsinterconference@gmail.com;
alloyihuah@yahoo.com; nyityoatsea72@yahoo.com on or before August 31st 2011. Registration, accommodation, Travel Arrangements and Exhibition shall be announced later.

LEAD PAPER PRESENTERS: Prof. E.K. OGUNDOWOLE(UNILAG); Prof. R.B.BADEJO (UNIMAID); Dr. ZACHRTS A GUNDU (ABU, ZARIA)