INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AFRICA AND ITS DIASPORA
November 8 – 10, 2012

The African Studies Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, invites academicians, independent scholars, policymakers, and graduate students to present papers in a three-day International conference from November 8 – 10, 2012 on the theme, “Africa and Its Diaspora: Expressions of Indigenous and Local Knowledge”

The preservation of the unique identity of African Indigenous and Local Knowledge is confronted by a number of challenges within the increasingly globalized and westernized World. The African Studies Institute at the University of Georgia, wishes, through this International conference, to stimulate and document ongoing scholarly discussion on the paradoxical dynamics of preserving this identity. It is hoped that the conference will also enhance the relevance of Indigenous and Local Knowledge. The conference will offer a forum for intensive exchanges between scholars, researchers, and technocrats from various disciplines working in Africa, the African Diaspora, the United States and other parts of the globe.

Within the broad theme of the conference, potential topics for presentation include but are not limited to the following areas:

Language, Literature & Film
Sustainable Agricultural and Environmental Development
Political Systems
Social Studies
Anthropology/Sociology
Religion/Philosophy
History
Medicine & Healthcare Systems
Education and Knowledge Transmission
Musicology
Legal and Judicial Systems
Family, Household & Community
Science and Technology
Conveners:
Ibigbolade Aderibigbe PhD
African Studies Institute
The University of Georgia,
Athens, GA 30602
706-542-5314
iaderibi@uga.edu

Karim Traore PhD
African Studies Institute
The University of Georgia,
Athens, GA 30602
706-542-5314
ktraore@uga.edu

Keynote Speaker The keynote speaker is the distinguished teacher, scholar, novelist, poet and author, Dr. Tanure Ojaide, Frank Porter Graham Professor. Africana Department, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, USA.

Date of Conference: Thursday November 8-10 2012

Venue: University of Georgia, the Richard B. Russell Building Special Collections Libraries. 300 South Hull Street, Athens Georgia 30602.

Chief Host Akinloye Ojo PhD Director, African Studies Institute The University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602 akinloye@uga.edu

Abstracts/Panel proposals Each prospective presenter should submit electronically an abstract of 500 words or less to Betty Booker at bbooker@uga.edu by June 5th, 2012. Abstract prepared as Microsoft Word document should include the presenter’s name, title of paper, institutional affiliation, and contact information (mailing address, phone number, and email address). Please, note that submission of abstract automatically grants conference organizers the right to publish it in the conference program and website- http://asic.frankin.uga.edu

NB. The African Studies Institute will work with presenters from Africa to secure Visas to the United States by providing invitation letters and other needed administrative assistance.

Conference Registration: Mandatory non-refundable registration fees for the conference are:

Regular: $100 ($65 Participants from Africa) Students: $30 $15 should be added by participants wishing to attend the Banquet. Payment is expected upon acceptance of abstract. Please, make your check payable to African Studies Institute, University of Georgia.

Banquet only: $15. Please, make your check payable to African Studies Institute, University of Georgia.

Publication of Selected Papers Selected conference papers will be published as a book.

Addendum With logistic support in publicity, attendance by participants from Africa and editorial work on conference papers for publication from:

1. Center for Black African Arts and Culture (CBAAC), Nigeria.

2. Alloy S. Ihuah PhD
Department of Religion and Philosophy
Benue State University,
Makurdi, Nigeria.

3. Adeoluwa Okunade PhD Department of Music,
Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education (AOCOED)
Lagos, Nigeria

4. University of Maidugur
i Maiduguri, Borno State Nigeria