Newsletter

VOL. VIII, NO. 1, SPRING 2003

University of Oklahoma
Norman, OK

1. MAAAS 2002 Meets at the University of Oklahoma
   By Betty J. Harris, Associate Professor, University of Oklahoma
2. Note from MAAAS President
3. Minutes of MAAAS Business Meeting
   University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
4. MAAAS Treasurer's Report post-meeting
5. MAAAS 2003 Call for Papers
6. Further Information on MAAAS 2003
7. Professional Development Grants
8. Roster of MAAAS Officers

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MAAAS 2002 Meets at the University of Oklahoma

By Betty J. Harris, Associate Professor, University of Oklahoma

The University of Oklahoma was the venue for the eighth annual Mid-America Alliance of African Studies (MAAAS) conference held September 20th-22nd , 2002. The conference theme was "Africa: Globalization and its Discontents." The keynote speaker was Professor Maxwell Owusu of the Department of Anthropology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. A political anthropologist who conducts research in Africa and the Caribbean, he is the author of Uses and Abuses of Political Power: A Case Study of Continuity and Change in the Politics of Ghana (University of Chicago Press, 1970). The keynote address, "Globalization and Africa: Bane or Blessing?", was delivered during lunch on Saturday, September 21st.

Papers were presented at MAAAS 2002 by scholars from the region and elsewhere in the US. Professor Loretta Bass (Sociology, University of Oklahoma) coordinated an African film series. Film titles included "Faat Kine", "Daresalam", and "Long Night's Journey into Day". Exhibitors, including Sukari, G & G Designs, World Neighbors (Work of Women), and the University of Oklahoma Bookstore, were present in the Physical Sciences Center lobby all day Saturday.

MAAAS was formed in 1995 at the University of Kansas to promote African studies scholarship in the region. The conference was previously hosted by OU in 1997. The current MAAAS president is Dr. Emmanuel Nnadozie of Truman State University. Dr. Betty Harris, conference coordinator for MAAAS 2002, is a past president of MAAAS as is Dr. Edward Sankowski. Celeste Smith-Warah handled logistics for the conference.

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Note from MAAAS President

As we prepare for the 9th annual Mid-America Alliance for African Studies meeting at the University of Kansas Lawrence and as we continue in our quest to promote African studies in the mid-America region, we need to pause and reflect on the significant role that MAAAS plays. Since 1995 when the organization was founded at the University of Kansas, MAAAS has sought to encourage scholarship and teaching in African Studies by way of conferences and seminars within the region. The organization has also sought to establish academic exchanges and promote the teaching of African languages. Clearly, a lot has been achieved; a lot of progress has been made; but there is still more to do. Through its annual meetings, MAAAS has been able to promote African studies in this region and there is no denying the fact that the organization is waxing strong. MAAAS has served as a vital tool in maintaining the focus on Africa from Manhattan, Kansas to St. Louis, Missouri to Norman, Oklahoma. We must continue in this stride.
The theme of our next conference "Teaching Africa: New Themes, Techniques, and Technologies" deals directly with the mission of MAAAS and is, therefore, important insofar as it will help us provide concrete tools and practices for teaching Africa across the curriculum and at different levels. I encourage every MAAAS member to participate in this important discourse by proposing panels and submitting papers.

How can we move forward from here? What challenges or issues shall we be considering? The organization has done a great job so far, within the limits of available resources, but more needs to be done. For instance, we still need to do more in terms of educating the American public about Africa beyond what they see on the Discover Channel. We need to create more understanding of the realities and disparities that exist between African countries and the rest of the world. We also need to provide information on the implications of decisions made here in the US for African countries and the implications for the US and other rich nations of the socioeconomic difficulties of African countries within the context of international relations, geopolitical concerns, and national security. Finally, we need to reinforce the need for action to promote the needs of African people. These are clearly issues that have a strong bearing on America's geopolitical interests. These are critical issues that we must consider as we continue to strengthen and improve the performance of MAAAS.

As we continue to educate mid-America about Africa, we need to seriously consider having more activities between the annual meetings, as resources permit. We must also act within our individual institutions to create awareness and to encourage all Africanists (existing and potential) to attend our meetings.

We are grateful to our Past President Ken Lohrentz for his invaluable contribution to the organization. Likewise, the members of the executive committee are deserving of a great deal of gratitude for their unwavering commitment to the organization. As we all know, they have all sacrificed a lot to make invaluable contributions to the organization. The Executive Committee of MAAAS believes that participation by all members in and contribution to our 9th Annual Meeting and other meetings will help us fulfill our goals. I look forward to seeing you all at Lawrence, Kansas in October.

Emmanuel Nnadozie, President
Professor of Economics, Truman State University

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Minutes of MAAAS Business Meeting

University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK

The meeting was chaired by Ken Lohrentz. He thanked Betty Harris, Loretta Bass, and Celeste Smith-Warah for their work, and the University of Oklahoma for its hospitality. He announced the vacancies in the executive committee:

Ken is the past president.
Emmanuel Nnadozie is current president but was absent from the conference.
Claire Dehon is Secretary-Treasurer.
Garth Myers is Assistant Secretary-Treasurer.
Betty Harris is Newsletter Editor.
Steve Harmon is Member at large.

Meshak Sagini and Richard Glotzer were nominated for the position of the vice-president. Meshak Sagini was elected. Abimbola Asojo and Lorreta Bass were nominated for the Member at large position. Abimbola Asojo was elected. The Secretary-Treasurer term was changed to a term of two years and Claire proposed to remain on the job and was elected. Somebody asked what should we do if Emmanuel does not want to be President any more. Claire proposed that Ken stays on the job. Garth said that then Ken would not be a "Past- President". The proposal was accepted.

The next discussion was on ways of strengthening MAAAS meetings. Ken proposed encouraging other institutions to organize the annual meetings by preparing a memorandum of best practices, advises and so on, written by past organizers such as himself, Betty, and Claire. The assembly voted yes on that recommendation.
Ken recommended that the name of the keynote speaker be announced early so as to attract participants. He also suggested encouraging the participation of small institutions, and African institutions. He proposed to include in the next Title VI grant that the University of Kansas is preparing now Professional Development Grants. John Janzen requests we make plans on how to choose applicants. Garth proposes that the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer and three members at large form the committee with the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer as chair. The committee will develop a criteria and time line for applications, and it will announce that the scholarships are contingent on the funding. The assembly voted yes for that proposal. Ken Lohrentz will work as Program Assistant at the African Center at KU. He will make sure the website is up to date, list all the MAAAS members, announce the meeting and so on. Because of her traveling, and her responsibilities as the meeting convener, Betty Harris has asked to be relieved of the job of Newsletter Editor for the year. For the MAAAS meeting next year Garth proposed KU and Maxwell Owusu proposed the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Garth encouraged people to think of other venues. The meeting was adjourned at 6.15p.m.

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MAAAS Treasurer's Report post-meeting

Conference in Norman, Oklahoma

Dr. Owusu expenses $2622.36 (paid by University of Kansas)
Fees, memberships, and meals $872.50
Mrs Mulunch Zeleke (dinners) -$450.00
no other expenses at the University of Oklahoma
Total at the end of the meeting $422.50
University of Missouri, Mentan +$22.00*
MAAAS saving account +1515.94
Total in our coffers (Feb. 17, 03) $1960.44

Thanks to the organizational and financial skills of Betty Harris and Celeste Smith-Warah, we are richer this year than last!!!

Respectfully submitted,
Claire Dehon
Treasurer
Feb. 17, 2003

*Anonymous contributor.

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MAAAS 2003 CALL FOR PAPERS

The Ninth Annual Mid-America Alliance for African Studies (MAAAS) Conference

"Teaching Africa: New Themes, Techniques, and Technologies"
Oct. 3-4, 2003
University of Kansas

The ninth annual MAAAS conference theme will explore all aspects of the teaching of Africa, at all levels of the curriculum from Kindergarten through Grade 12, university undergraduate teaching, and outreach activities related to instruction. New classroom techniques and use of technology, as well as low-tech options and themes are all within scope for the conference. Presenters may wish to consider the following possibilities for presentation of papers and organization of panels:

What philosophical and intellectual underpinnings are important for teaching about Africa? What creative responses have been designed to address problems encountered in classroom teaching about Africa? Are the results of current research being integrated effectively into teaching about Africa and African peoples? How are stereotypical notions about Africa and African peoples most effectively dealt with in the classroom? What new methods are being sought to introduce and explore controversial topics into the classroom so as to overcome stereotypes and misinformation? How are African cinema and film resources being utilized to teach African politics and culture? How are themes found in African fiction, drama, and poetry being used to present contemporary problems of the social, political, and natural environment? How are other forms of African material culture being utilized as a means of introducing African cultural themes? How can African popular culture be used to introduce the urban and rural experience? What sources are being used to teach about gender and sexuality in the African past and present? How do we teach African economies, politics, society, environment, and international relations? How can we most effectively teach African development? How is information on Africa integrated into courses in the natural sciences?

How is the new electronic technology of the Web being used for innovative teaching? How are virtual exhibits and electronic representations of African cultures being utilized for the teaching of the plastic arts? What initiatives are completed or underway to develop distance education modules for the teaching of Africa? What Web sites are available for the effective evaluation of instructional resources available for K-12 and undergraduate teaching about Africa? How are GIS applications being utilized to present spatial and statistical data in the African context? What digitization projects of African cultural resources have been/are being undertaken to present African material in the classroom? How can the Internet be used to expand access to African archives or literary texts? What efforts are being made to address the issue of accountability and reliability of electronic information utilized by students in their completion of assignments with African content?
These are but a few of the questions that might be explored in developing a paper or panel for MAAAS 2003. Paper proposals should not exceed one single-spaced page. Panel proposals of 3-4 pages should not exceed one page for each paper included in the panel and a one-page panel proposal. The deadline for proposal submission is June 1, 2003.

A limited number of professional development grants may be available to help defray expenses for Africanists from within the region to attend the conference, contingent on funding. Information on funding for such grants will be available on or soon after May 15th, 2003. See accompanying article below for further details.

Membership in MAAAS is required for all conference presenters. Membership fees are $20 for individuals, $15 for students, and $30 for institutional memberships. All proposals and conference correspondence, including payment of membership and registrations fees, should be sent to:

MAAAS 2003
African Studies Resource Center
10 Bailey Hall
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KS 66045
Phone: 785-864-3745
Fax: 785-864-5330
Email: kasc@ku.edu

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Further Information on MAAAS 2003

An online registration form and information on overnight accommodations are now available. All rooms at the Halcyon House Bed & Breakfast, 1000 Ohio, Lawrence KS, have been reserved for the MAAAS conference. A block of six rooms have also been reserved at the Quality Inn, 9th and Iowa. Further information about the conference keynote speaker, the schedule of panels, parking, and other pertinent information for conference attendees will be added to the ASRC website at a later time. Updates to the site will be announced via email.

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Professional Development Grants

The KU African Studies Resource Center will award several small professional development grants to MAAAS members (students, faculty members, or independent scholars) to help defray the costs of travel to present a paper or participate in a panel discussion at the upcoming (October 3-4, 2003) annual meeting in Lawrence, KS. A very brief application sheet will be made available on the ASRC website shortly and publicized via the Kuafri-L listserver. Our goal is to help as many scholars as possible with as much money as the limited budget allows. MAAAS members interested in learning more about the grants should contact the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer, Garth Myers (gmyers@ku.edu).

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Roster of MAAAS Officers