Call for Papers:
WHERE IS HOME?
NIGERIAN DIASPORA / DIASPORA IN NIGERIA
AN INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
at the
University of Abuja, Nigeria
in collaboration with the
University of Muenster, Germany,
19-22 November, 2018
CHIEF HOST
Prof. Michael U. Adikwu, FAS, FPSN, FSTAN, MIPAN
Vice Chancellor, University of Abuja
Confirmed Keynote Speakers:
Bernardine Evaristo, Writer, and Professor of Creative Writing, London
Sam Egwu, Professor, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Niger State, Nigeria
Siyan Oyewoso, Professor, Director General, Centre for Black Culture and International Studies UNESCO Office, Osogbo, Nigeria
Chudi Uwazurike, Professor, Institute for Governance & Leadership in Africa, Abuja
SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Hon. Minister of Information and Culture, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria
Hon. Abike Dabiri – Erewa, Senior Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora
BACKGROUND
With global mass migration, transcontinental transport and worldwide instant communication, the set-up, constellations and dynamics of societies is changing rapidly. Whereas the organization in nation states is still widely perceived as the primary ordering principle, incisive change has long set in. New patterns of individual as well as group identity formation and social and cultural belonging have emerged as powerful, often transnational force fields competing with more traditional patterns of identity politics and cultural belonging.
Of these, diaspora has evolved as a particularly vibrant and pliable concept which, although not a new phenomenon, has the power to focus important aspects characterizing today’s societies and cultures on the move. With its origins in the migratory patterns going back to Biblical times in Judaism and Greek antiquity, diaspora formations have developed across the globe.
With its multi-ethnic and multicultural society, Nigeria is a particularly striking case in point, both as a site of diasporic formations within and across its political, administrative and cultural borders, as well as the country of origin for vibrant Nigerian diasporas around the globe. Nigeria’s multiple indigene-settler issues and diaspora experiences raise fundamental questions: Where is home? Who is a citizen/settler? What are his/her rights and entitlements? How do the arts, including literature, painting, music and theatre refract and shape diasporic experience and identity? What is the impact of indigene-settler and diaspora formations on nation building and global peace? Can diaspora formations which have proved extremely resilient be supportive of constructing peaceful societies?
Such and similar questions about diaspora in general and with a special focus on diasporas in Nigeria or Nigerian diasporas world-wide are the focus of this international conference. The conveners invite contributions from suggested multiple sub-themes including (but not limited to):
SUB-THEMES
- Conceptual and theoretical issues of Diaspora
- Nigerian diasporas and indigene-settler politics
- Religion and diaspora in Nigeria
- Nigerian economics and diaspora
- Histories of Nigerian diasporas
- Nigerian diaspora literatures
- Nigerian diaspora arts (film, architecture, painting, sculpture, music, theatre)
- Nigerian diaspora formations and citizenship/settler practices
- Legal aspects of Nigerian diasporas
- Nigerian diasporas, indigene-settlers and globalization
- Nigerian diasporas and the new city phenomenon
- Nigerian diaspora and security
ABSTRCT SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Proposals for papers, about 300 words in length, should be sent to confab2018@uniabuja.edu.ng.
Submission deadline: 30 June 2018
Decision on acceptance of papers: 31 July 2018
The conference will take place at University of Abuja, Abuja, Faculty of Management Auditorium, Main Campus, Airport Road, P.M.B.117, Abuja, FCT, Nigeria.
Please follow the conference website at www.diasporaconfab2018.uniabuja.edu.ng for details on the venue, accommodation and travel.
Conference Fees: 60 EUR / N 27.000 (reduced rates for African students and African scholars without permanent employment: N 5000; African scholars in permanent employment: N 15.000; Overseas students and Overseas scholars not in permanent employment: 30 EUR)
CONVENER: NIGERIA
Professor Effiok Bassey Uwatt
Dean, Faculty of Arts,
University of Abuja, Abuja
Phone no. +234-80-652-656-41
Email: profeffiokuwattba@gmail.com
CONVENER: GERMANY
Professor Klaus Stierstorfer
University of Muenster, Germany
Phone no. +49-251-83-24295
Email: stierstorfer@wwu.de