WEST AFRICAN RESEARCH CENTER CONFERENCE (WARC) SECOND INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

Fieldwork in Africa, June 12-15, 2002, Dakar
By: John Janzen

Five KU faculty and staff were among over a hundred scholars from Africa, Europe, and North America at the international symposium on "Fieldwork in Africa" at the West African Research Center in Dakar, Senegal: ASRC Director John Janzen, Associate Professor of Political Science Leo Villalon, Assoc. Professor of Linguistics Fiona McLaughlin, Ass't Professor of Psychology Glenn Adams, and Wolof lecturer Allasane Fall. Two days of sessions in French and/or English were combined with festivities and tours of the sites of Dakar. Many participants combined attending the symposium with fieldwork and visits with colleagues and academic exchanges.

Although scholars in the social sciences and the humanities dominated the sessions, there were those who dealt with applied issues in health, nutrition, economic development, environment, and refugees. The strong representation of scholars from West Africa and more widely scattered African countries such as South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Benin (to mention a few) brought together field researchers who were both "insiders" and "outsiders" in their research sites. Several panels addressed the question of how "insider" research differed from "outsider" research, and what the two had in common. Numerous African scholars grappled with the role of the public scholar in shaping national identity or relating to communities and political leaders. Outsiders spoke about collaboration, sharing their findings and materials with local institutes and researchers, and of the dilemmas of being both researcher and participant in a local community.

The West African Research Center is the only Sub-Saharan overseas American Research Center of the Smithsonian Institution's global network of centers. A resident staff led by Wendy Wilson Fall offers courses, workshops, a library, computers and internet access to visiting scholars. An Africa based board of directors shares with a North American board the shaping of policies and fund raising for the Center. WARC depends on grants and memberships (both institutional and individual) for its operating support. KU is an institutional member through the African Studies Resource Center. These funds also support scholarships and travel funds.

Professors Villalon and McLaughlin combined the conference with visits and responsibilities on the part of Leo with WARA American board meetings (of which he is the current president); Janzen traveled north to Saint Louis on the Mauritanian border to confer with Prosper Laleye of Universite Gaston Berger about the KU/ UGB exchange program. Glen Adams also traveled to UGB and extended his stay to conduct research. Allasane was on home visit and graciously helped host the KU visitors

In sum, the WARC conference on fieldwork in Africa was very rewarding. Papers were read, panels were chaired, discussions were held, new contacts were made and old ones renewed. Social highlights included a reception at the residence of the American Ambassador and the final sunset dinner and late night dance at an Atlantic Ocean coast resort. Thanks WARC for a most stimulating conference!!

For further information on WARC check the web: http://www.warc-croa.org