The theme of the 2022 African Studies Association meeting was “African Urbanities, Mobility and Challenges,” which met in Philadelphia in November. A highlight of the meeting was the award of the prestigious Bethwell A. Ogot Book Prize to David Schoenbrun (history) for his book, The Names of the Python: Belonging in East Africa, 900-1930 (Madison: University of Wisconsin Press).
Dotun Ayobade (School of Communication) presented a paper, “Jelili Atiku, Performing Atonement,” and served as a discussant on the panel, “Medicine, Health, and Wellness in Nigerian History.”
David Schoenbrun chaired a panel, “Gender, Ritual and Knowledge Production as Sources of Power.”
Visiting scholar Paul Naylor presented a paper, “Hiding in Plain Sight: Truly Local Knowledge Traditions in the Libraries of Timbuktu.”
Four graduate students presented papers and chaired panels:
- Bright Gyamfi (history) cochaired the panel, :Connecting Space and Challenging the State Politics of Knowledge in the Africana World,” and contributed a paper, “Nkrumahist Scholars and the Project of Black Studies.”
- Austin Bryan chaired the panel, “Social Intervention, Materializes and Technologies in Contemporary Africa, and contributed a paper, “State Narratives on Genocide, Contemporary Art, and Investment in Rwanda’s Economy of Hope.”
- Omoyemi Ajisebutu chaired the panel “Transitions in African Migration Narratives.”
- Fortunate Kelechi Ekwuruke and Sally Nuamah copresented a paper, “Becoming an “Empowered Woman: African Girlhood Development Agendas.
Many PAS alumni participated:
- Lorelle Semley (College of the Holy Cross) chaired a roundtable, “Pivoting, Planning, and Publishing in History in Africa.”
- Lynn Thomas (University of Washington) chaired a panel, US/East Africa Historical Entanglements since the 1980s, and presented a paper, “From North Carolina to Nairobi’s Ward 6: Abortion Provision and Politics between the United States and Kenya,” and participated in the roundtable,” Participant on roundtable Reproductive Rights after the End of Roe: Implications for the Africanist Community.”
- Jean Allman (The Africa Institute) participated in the roundtable, “The Sixth International Congress of African and African Diaspora Studies ICAADS.
- Amy Swanson (Colgate University) chaired the panel, “Performance, Liveness, and Social Justice: Dancing across Senegal and Burkina Faso,” and presented a paper, “The Obscuring the Body: Street Performance in Post-Pandemic Dakar.”
- Brett Shadle (Virginia Tech) served as chair and discussant on the panel, “Women and Gender in Collective Memory and Public History”, Part 2.
- Caitlin Monroe (University of Northern Colorado) presented a paper, “Of Cattle and Kings: Women’s Public History and the Gendering of the Historical Discipline of Uganda, 1870-Present.”
- Raevin Jimenez (University of Michigan), presented the paper “ “It Will Be Said that His Words Are Unclean”: Rethinking Hloipha as a Gendered Site of Marginalization.”
- Nana Akua Anyidoho (University of Ghana) cochaired the roundtable, “Publish that Article: Meet the Editors.” And participated in the roundtable, “When Women Speak.” Parts I and II.
- Christopher Day (College of Charleston) chaired the panel on “Governance and Armed Groups,” and presented a paper, “Wolves in Wolves Clothing: The Role of Uganda’s Military in Uganda’s Parliament.”
- Praise Zenenga (University of Arizona) presented a paper, “The Impact of Covid-19 on Traveling Urban Musicians in Zimbabwe.
- Michael Tuck (Northeastern Illinois University) presented a paper, “The Atlantic Slave Trade and the Cycle of Resistance along the Gambia River in the 18h century.”