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Colloque annuel de l'African Literature Association

Colloque annuel de l'African Literature Association

Publié le par Marielle Macé (Source : Mary Harvan Gorgette)

CALL FOR PAPERS INFORMATION
African Literature Association
29th Annual Meeting
ALEXANDRIA, EGYPT
March 19-23, 2003



CO-HOSTS & SPONSORS
THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON AND BIBLIOTHECA ALEXANDRINA



THEME: Of Lighthouses and Libraries: History ReLit



Keynote speaker: Edward W. Said



CO-CONVENERS
Faiza Shereen, University of Dayton
PHONE: 937 229-3434; EMAIL: shereen@udayton.edu
Edris Makward, University of Wisconsin-Madison
PHONE: 608 238 0338; EMAIL: emakward@facstaff.wisc.edu
Amira Nowaira, Alexandria University
PHONE: 011 201 05165944; EMAIL: anowaira@internetalex.com
WEB PAGE: http://academic.udayton.edu/ala


The ALA has chosen Alexandria, Egypt as the site for the 2003 conference in order to participate in the events of the inaugural year of the new library-Bibliotheca Alexandrina. This new monument to learning serves both as a look back through history to the ancient storehouse of knowledge on the coast of Africa and a look forward to Africa's role in preserving, constructing, and revising history for future generations. The year 2003 also marks the 25th anniversary of the publication of Edward Said's Orientalism, a text that has significantly contributed to our understanding of the constructed histories of African cultures and to the postcolonial scholarship of the last generation.
"Of Lighthouses and Libraries: History ReLit," the conference theme, is intended to bring together the lighthouse and the library as symbols of the preservation and illumination of knowledge. It also refers to the significance of the site--Alexandria: home of Pharos, the Lighthouse (one of the seven wonders of the ancient world) and the Library (both the ancient and the new).
Papers and panels on all aspects of African literature are invited, but a particular focus on the conference themes and historical perspective is encouraged.


Following are some suggested topics:
o The role of African literatures (oral and written) in the preservation and the construction of knowledge and culture -- past and future.
o The role of history in determining the movement of ideas between Africa and the West.
o The gateways of African literature.
o Women's quests in African literatures.
o The role of Orientalism in reorienting African studies.
o After Orientalism: the contributions of postcolonial writings to the construction and illumination of knowledge.
o Interdisciplinary approaches in postcolonial studies.
o Trans-national cultural study of literature from the African continent and elsewhere.
o Libraries as resources in the 21st century.
o The Mediterranean coast of Africa as the cradle of mystical, spiritual, and religious knowledge.
o Heritage, history, memory, memoirs, and autobiography.


While most of the topics suggested above assume literary texts as a point of departure, speakers and whole panels may choose to address these topics (or alternative ones) using visual culture, text-image relations, and/or performance arts as texts. Papers combining literature and film, photography, architecture, or music are also welcome.


Papers may be presented in English, French or Arabic. The deadline for submission of paper and panel abstracts for the African Literature Association Conference is: December 15, 2002.
These should be sent to:
Faiza Shereen, ALA 2003 Conference Convener, Department of English, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio 45469-1520; e-mail: shereen@udayton.edu.
Members sending abstracts from Africa may send them to:
Amira Nowaira, Department of English, Faculty of Arts, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; e-mail: anowaira@internetalex.com
Only members in good standing of the African Literature Association may present papers. Please refer to the ALA website for more information about becoming a member. http://www.pages.drexel.edu/~pmw24/ALA/