On a semi private note: Just received news from Kano, from CADDAK – remember the arts and craft association that came out of a joint project by the British Council in Kano and the Prince School of Traditional Arts here in London. The project was called Celebrating the Traditional Crafts of Northern Nigeria – and the catalogue is still available online. Anyway, the news is that CADDAK is still going strong and has just exhibited in Port Harcourt. They were invited because of the successful exhibition in Lagos in February 2008. I’d love to give you more details on the exhibition and the works they showed. But currently I don’t have that information. If I find out more I’ll update you.
The Jefferson Scholars’ Foundation and the Jefferson Graduate Fellows at the University of Virginia present the second biannual Forum for Interdisciplinary Dialogue, Sept. 17 and 18, 2010. The Forum is an interdisciplinary conference for students, faculty, and community members from around the globe. The theme for 2010 is “Icons and Iconoclasm,” and we are pleased to have W. J. T. Mitchell, Professor of English and Art History at the University of Chicago and editor of Critical Inquiry, giving the keynote address.
Abstracts of 250 words or less will be accepted until 01 April 2010 through our online submission (see website). Some topics may include: • iconic ideas (scholarly theories, religious beliefs and practices, culture) • mechanics of icons (construction, transmission, perception, and reception/destruction) • iconic images (scientific models, branding, maps, artwork) • iconic figures (historical, religious, literary, political)
That came into my inbox today and might be of interest to some …
CONCEPT OF A PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR TO BE ORGANIZED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ARABIC STUDIES USMANU DANFODIYO, UNIVERSITY, SOKOTO, NIGERIA IN CONJUNCTION WITH INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC UNION.
THEME: Arabic Manuscripts In West Africa Their Preservation And Publication. VENUE: Department Of Arabic, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. DATE: Monday 7th June - Sunday 13th June 2010
Arabic manuscripts in West African region became an area of serious attraction after Accra Conference to African Anglophone countries when some decisions were taken which consequently resulted in establishing the University of Ibadan in 1948; with a view to exposing the life of the inhabitants of the area and resuscitating their civilization. The authorities did not hesitate in implementing the decisions reached at by exploiting the available Arabic sources which serve as the data bank of the history and culture of the inhabitant documented in Arabic since the time they began recording the glory of their ancestors for the attainment of the citizen's goals.
Ironically, these books are still in manuscript forms neglected in corners, looted sometimes , distorted in some instances and frozen in some instances. Despite the above obstacles some patriots have taken upon themselves to collect, comment and edit the works at different levels. The area which suffers great set back is their preservation, typing and publishing them, which has become very necessary. From the 31st January to 3rd February 2007 an international conference was held at the institute of research in the Humanities (IRSH), Abdou Moumounii University of Niamey. The theme of the conference was "The African Manuscripts as Historic Sources" organized in collaboration with International Academic Union. The conference gathered eminence University personalities and researchers of diverse horizons of knowledge from France, Slovakia, Hungry, USA, Australia, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria. It was decided at the end of the conference that, the venue of the next conference will be at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto Nigeria.
It is in this light that a determination to organize this international seminar was born, so that ideas and ways to go about exposing these manuscripts exchanged.
This we hope to achieve by Allah's grace.
Aims of the Seminar
1.Bringing to light the academic and intellectual efforts made by our predecessors.
2.Enabling researchers to undertake their work effectively.
3.Connecting the past to the present by acknowledging sources as part of academic honesty.
4.Exchanging ideas among people whose culture is in Arabic with a view to evolving enlightened thoughts.
5.Equipping Arabic library with materials in science, literature, rhetorics, thought, etc as contained in these documents.
Themes of the seminar:
i. Arabic Manuscripts: concept and terminology.
-Beginning of Arabic manuscripts, and their development among the Muslim Ummah
-Improving the preservation of Arabic manuscripts among the Muslim Ummah
-The role of Arabic manuscripts in fostering academic linkage among the Muslim Ummah.
-Arabic manuscripts in the intellectual renaissance era.
-The idea of cataloguing Arabic manuscripts.
-Emergence of Arabic transcription in West Africa.
-Ajami transcription in West Africa and its role in documenting sciences.
-Rules and orthography of Ajami in West Africa.
-Disappearance of Ajami transcription and its revival in the area
-The relationship between Arabic and Ajami transcriptions.
ii. Introducing Arabic Manuscripts in Nigeria.
-Centres of Arabic manuscripts in Nigeria and key personalities.
-Stages of collecting manuscripts in Nigeria and the extent of their success.
-Factors responsible for assessing Arabic manuscripts in Nigeria namely:
·Scientific and cultural factor.
·Literary and technical factor.
·Political and economic factor.
·Social and civilisational factor.
iii. Book writing on Nigerian Arabic culture in the following areas:
-Anthologies of poets and poetesses.
-Collection of Nigerian male and female orators.
-Collection of Mutarassilin mutarassilat.
-Intellectual perspective.
-Civilizational perspective.
-Social perspective.
v. Presentation of school books on the following topics:
-Grammar and morphology.
-Language and its sciences
-Literature and texts.
-Rhetorics and criticism
-Lexicography
-Culture and civilization.
vi. Evening functions:
-Poetic display.
-Oratorical display.
-Dramatic display.
Languages of the Seminar: Arabic, English and French.
Submission of Abstract: Interested participants should send abstracts with name, institution via email to reach the following, on or before 31st March 2010:
Submission of Seminar papers: Participants should send their papers to the addresses mentioned above, on or before 30th April 2010.
Programme of Events:
Day I (Monday 7/6/2010):Registration, opening ceremony and lead papers presentation.
Day II (Tuesday 8/6/2010):Plenary sessions.
Day III (Wednesday 9/6/2010):Plenary session continued. Day IV (Thursday 10/6/2010):Book Fair & Closing ceremony and dinner Day V (Friday 11/6/2010): Visits to special places e.g.:
-The Sultanate Council of Sokoto, and its historic monuments.
-The palace of the Emir of Kebbi and its monuments
-Wazir Junaidu History and Culture Bureau.
-Manuscripts library of C.I.S. of UDUS.
-Wazir Junaidu Personal library.
-Alkalawa the defunct capital of Gobir Kingdom, Kiyawa, Silame, and Gwandu monument
Day VI & VII (Saturday 12th and and Sunday 13th June 2010): Departure.
Wassalam alaikum,
………………….. …………………. ………………… Prof. S.W. JunaiduProf. A.S. Agaka Prof. S.U. Musa