AFRICANA STUDIES DEPARTMENT
University of Pittsburgh

The theme of the inaugural conference, "Africa and Its Diaspora: Interrogating Cultural Identities and Performance," highlights the central role of culture in the works of these founding figures in the development of what has become the discipline of Africana Studies. In choosing this theme we hope to foster contributions that explore the concept of culture in varying and transforming ways, representing various disciplinary and inter-disciplinary approaches. We welcome contributions that examine the formation and transformation of cultural identities at individual, group, national, and transnational levels in Africa and its Diaspora. Contributions should strengthen further the dialogue on the discipline. Submissions from students and community activists are welcome.

The conference is organized around the following Panels:

1. Formation: Interrogates culture within the historical construction of African societies.
(e.g. Memory and the construction of history; Science and the indigenous knowledge systems)

2. Oppression: Explores how African identity and agency were undermined by global activities of pillage and suppression, and the compelling variatioins of cultural interpretation and conveyance that resulted.
(e.g. Transformation in social and cultural institutioins; Critical theory and comparative interdisciplinary approaches; Race gender and identity; The politics of culture; Performance and cinematic representatioins)

3. Recovery: Investigates the on-going reestablishment of Africana perspectives as the driving force of the continental and Diaspora social and cultural restoration.
(e.g. Political economy of Africa and its Diaspora; Popular culture; Africa and the global Polity; Pan-A fricanism; reconstruction of values and socio-cultural identies in Africa and its Diaspora; nation, state and post-modernity)

Submissions:
All submissions, whether for panels, roundtables, or individual presentations, must be based on original research and reflect material not previously published, and should be addressed to the Conference Committee.

Deadline for submissions: November 30, 2005
All proposals must contain: 1) a title page that includes the title of the proposed paper along with the speaker's name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and e-mail address if available; and 2) a 250 word abstract. The speaker's name should not appear on the abstract.

Conference Location:
All conference sessions will be held at:

The Wyndham Garden Hotel, University Place
3454 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213
USA

Information about nearby hotel accommodations (offering special conference rates) and conference travel (directions by air, car, etc.) will be forthcoming.