Spring 2006
African Studies/English Colloquium
Dr. Carey Snyder of the English Department will present "Reading Chinua
Achebe's_Things Fall Apart_ Meta-ethnographically" on Thursday, April 27 at
5:00 PM in the Yamada House Seminar Room. “(Snyder) argue(s) that we need
to read the novel not naively as providing a window onto an alien
culture_the ‘real story’ to contrast with colonial delusions_..but
meta-ethnographically, in a way that attends to the complexity inherent in
any ethnographic situation.” Papers can be picked up from Steve Howard in
Yamada House (or e-mailed by request from Acacia Nikoi) for review before
the discussion.
Afya - African Campus Health Network
The AFYA-African Health Network- invites all for a presentation this Friday
April 28, 12-2 pm, Baker Center room 327. George Gathigi will present on
"Health Communucation Initiatives in East Africa: Media and Participatory
Approaches". George Gathigi is a graduate student in Communication and
Development.
Race & The Spectrum of Critical Consciousness
The final panel of this colloquia will examine "Diversities, Ethics,
Appropriations and Opportunities." Speakers will be George Hartley
"Anti-Essentialism as Institutional Racism," Amado Lascar "Race, Class,
Ethnicity and Consciousness," and David Descutner "Opportunities in
Context." The discussion will take place on Friday, April 28 from 3:00 -
5:00 in the Elizabeth Baker Room.
Amandla: A Revolution in Four Part Harmony
The African Studies Association and African Student Union are showing
Amandla: A Revolution in Four Part Harmony on Wednesday, May 3.
"The Whale Caller" Book Discussion
The African Studies Association invites you to participate in a book
discussion with Zakes Mda, author of "The Whale Caller" on Thursday, May
18, 2006 from 6-8 in Baker Center Room 304. Books are on sale at The Little
Professor.
Athens International Film and Video Festival
African films include:
Nominated for the 2005 Academy Award for Best Feature Documentary.
Tsotsi Director: Gavin Hood, South Africa
In Zulu, Xhosa, and Afrikaans with English Subtitles Rated R, 94 min.
FRI April 28, 7:15 pm Athena Cinema
SAT April 29, 1:15 pm, 5:15 pm Athena Cinema
SUN April 30, 3:30 pm Athena Cinema
TUE May 2, 5:30 pm Athena Cinema
THU May 4, 5:00 pm, 7:00 pm Athena Cinema
This vivid crime story beautifully demonstrates the human condition at its
most raw. For Tsotsi, (Presley Chweneyagae) an angry, young gang leader
living in extreme social and psychological deprivation in the Johannesburg
township Soweto, survival is the primary objective. His young life consists
of repression, anger, and violence. One night Tsotsi gets in fight with
some of his gang members. Angry, Tsotsi carjacks a woman and accidentally
kidnaps a baby. Somehow he is compelled to take care of the child and seeks
the help of a young widow, Miriam, (Terry Pheto) with a baby of her own.
Miriam gradually takes on the role of both mother and mentor to the
desensitized young gangster, which compels Tsotsi to confront his demons.
Lucky Dir. Avie Luthra 20 min.
Lucky is a South African AIDS orphan who learns about life via a bond with
a racist Indian neighbour. Sunday, April 30, 3:00 pm, at the Athena Cinema
Mo and Me Dir. Roger Mills 95:30 min.
The turmoil of Africa’s emergence into the 20th century has long been the
focus of the critical eye of the western world. No one has caught its pain
and passion more incisively than Mohamed Amin, photographer and frontline
cameraman extraordinaire. He covered every major event in African and
beyond, braving torture, surviving bombs and bullets, even the loss of his
left arm, to emerge as the most decorated news cameraman of all time.
Monday, May 1, 1:00 pm, at the Athena Cinema
Darwin’s Nightmare Director: Hubert Sauper, France/Austria/Belgium
In English, Russian and Swahili with English subtitles
Not rated, 107 min.
FRI April 28, 8:00 pm Stuart’s Opera House
SAT April 29, 7:00 pm Stuart’s Opera House
“Darwin’s Nightmare” is a cautionary cine-essay on the chilling effect
globalization has on ecology, local communities, and even the planet’s
long-term prognosis. In Tanzania’s Lake Victoria, the Nile Perch,
introduced in the 1960s, has eaten off all the native fishes. The local
people, whose livelihood has always depended on the ecological diversity of
Lake Victoria, are in turn facing economic and social disaster. The result
is a breakdown of community, a rise in death and disease, and a growing
sense of despondency. The film asks us to connect the dots between this
“fish story,” the distribution of wealth, and the global market in weapons
and military goods. Who are the winners and losers in this global market
of fish, guns, and the future?
Liberia: A Fragile Peace Director: Steven Ross
In English, 60 min. For mature audiences TUE May 2, 7:00 pm Athena
Cinema “Liberia: A Fragile Peace” tells the story of a war weary people’s
struggle to rebuild their nation. This timely film goes behind the
headlines to explore what really happened to this nation founded by former
American slaves, and to realistically appraise the hopes and fears about
what may happen there next. As Liberia tries to refute a quarter century of
bloodshed, corruption, and collapse, the film tells its story with a
stunning diversity of perspectives, voices, and personal experiences.
Filmmaker Steven Ross will be present to discuss the film.
Past Events, Winter 2006
Feb 10: African Health Summit from 1-5 pm in Walter Hall Room 235. Keynote address by
Salih Booker, Executive Director of Africa Action.
Feb 24-25: Women, Gender and Sport in Africa Symposium. Venue: Ohio U.
For more information, contact Gerard Akindes at: akindesg@ohio.edu. Visit the
conference website at: http://www.ohiou.edu/sportsafrica/womengender/
Past Events, Fall 2005
Jan 27: UNICEF Awareness Fundraising Dinner at the Lindley Cultural Center. The dinner is free and
donations will be accepted to help children affected by disaster.
Jan 24: The African Studies Association presents the South African movie "Drum" starring Taye Diggs
in Bentley 132 at 7 pm.
Jan 23: Department of Classics and World Religions presents a lecture by Islamic scholar Mohammed Zakyi
Ibrahim on "The Qu'ran's First Lady: Depictions of Mary in Islamic Sources" in Ellis Hall room 114 at 4 pm.
Jan 21: African Art Exhibit and African Dance Night. "Dispatches from Africa" from 3-6 pm at the 1954
Lounge, in Baker Center. The art exhibit will feature films, poetry, paintings, fiction and non-fiction writing
and photographs.
Jan 20: Afya-African Campus Health Network meeting from 12-2 pm in Baker Center room 327. Presentation
by Rosemary Mburu and Basetsana Maposa on "HIV/AIDS Promotion and Awareness: Experiences from Kenya and Botswana."
Jan 13: International Studies Forum. 'Building Cultural Bridges in Iraq' by Lt. Colonel Rick Welch of the
U.S. Army Reserve. Bentley Hall room 124 at 3 pm.
Jan 12: African Studies Association invities you for coffee and cookies. 5 pm at Yamada House.
Jan 12: Africanist faculty search. History Department Candidate Dr. Ousman Kobo in 235 Walter Hall at 5 pm.
Jan 8: African Studies Association Meeting to plan activities for remainder of this school year at Baker Center
room 330, 5 pm.
Jan 9: Africanist faculty search. History Department Candidate Dr. Nick Creary in Walter Hall room 235 at 5 pm.
Nov 16-20: National African Studies Association Conference, Washington, D.C.
Nov 11: Ochanya - The Ethnic Soul Music Concert: 90 minutes for victims of
Katrina. 7:30 pm at Baker Center Ballroom.
Nov 9: 'Conservation, Education and the Future of Malagasy Biodiversity.'
Yamada House at 2pm. By Dr. Jonah Ratsimbazafy.
Nov 4: Afya - African Campus Health Network. 'A Call to Action: An Integrated
HIV Prevention for Ghana. From Research through Policy to Practice.' By Dr. Anthony
Sallar. 12-2pm, BakerCenter room 327.
Nov 4: International Studies Forum- "Poverty - An Evil Possible to Overcome:
Implications and Repercussions of a Multidisciplinary Poverty Study in Venezuela.'
By Dr. Ricardo Villasmil. 3 pm at Bentley, Hall room 124.
Nov 2: Showing of 'Sarafina' - a movie depicting the struggles against apartheid.
7 pm, Bentley Hall room 140.
Oct 28: International Studies Forum. "Why Don't Financial Institutions Lend in Latin
America" by Mike Goldbery. 3pm @ Bentley Hall, room 124.
Oct 28-Oct 30: Conference: "Crisis in Darfur" - a conference for scholars, students,
activists and other concerned citizens @ the University of Western Ontario in London,
Ontario, Canada.
Oct 21: International Studies Forum. Lecture on "Islam, Education and the Public
Good" by Dr. Richard Kraince. 4pm @ Bentley Hall, room 124.
Oct 21: Afya-African Campus Health Network. 2pm; location TBA. Topic: "Physical
Disability Among Persons Living with HIV/AIDS."
Oct 14: Global Travels in Gordy Hall - Ghana. Brown bag lunch organized by the Office
of Education Abroad. 12-1pm Gordy room 113.
Oct 14: World Food Day Teleconference. Reflections on 'Fighting Hunger-Roads
not Taken; Goals not Met; the Journey Ahead.' Featuring Frances Moore Lappe. 12-3pm at
Grover Center room W113.
Oct 11: African Languages for Development. Lecture by Dr. Neville Alexander,
renowned South African thinker and scholar. Dr. Alexander is a former prisoner of Robben
Island and his lecture will discuss the importance of African languages in development.
6-7:30pm, Bentley room 245.
