> xposted from H-NET List for African Literature and Cinema
> From: MIRIAM_TESCHL <teschl@kfunigraz.ac.at>
>
> As the co-cordinator of a conference with the title "Sketch of an
> African
> Portrait. An attempt of a basic reflection to identify men and
> culture" I
> would like to present it in the H-Net. I am open for any advice I can
> get
> about writers, producers and other artists (plus their address), who
> could be interested in this conference.........
>
> The aim of the conference lies in the first place to emerge from the
> one-sided viewpoint of Africa, that means Africa and the famine, the
> dictator-ships, the under-development, etc. We want to try to sketch
> a
> holistic, all-embracing portrait of Africa. This conference shall not
> only
> be a political reflection, but also a cultural, social, economical
> and
> above all a reflection on humanity.
>
> The themes will be
> A. History:
> Historical background of the today's Africa, under the consideration
> of
> African historians, beginning with the pharaonian Egypt, through the
> different kingdoms, the Nubie, Ghana, Mali, Kusch, Adamoua, Congo,
> Angola
> one, to the occurrences of this century with colonisation,
> independece,
> civil wars and other events. A historical working up, so to reach to
> a
> definition of Africa in all her cultural, social, and political
> viewpoints, shall be the fundamental of all the following
> discussions.
> Who
> are the African "heroes", who influenced and formed the political
> landscape and the way of thinking of African people? We would like to
> listen to eyewitness reports or respectively hear about those men and
> women, who fought and fight for a modern, self-reliant Africa and her
> values.
>
> B. Society:
> The traditional African society shall be explained, its structure,
> its
> function and its conflicts with the imported democracy model...
> Which role play women in the society between all this different and
> changing world, tradition and religion pectures of the past and the
> modern
> times. How can it come to thos drastical decline of values in the
> African
> society which leads to corruption and abuse of power inside the
> government, the administration, and the economy? What kind of methids
> and
> ideas can be applied to stop this mismanagement?
>
> C. Art, Mythology, Literature, Religion
> What kind of mythology and religion do we talk about? What does those
> cultural components mean to an African today? Artists should tell
> mythologies and their significance and implication African art.
> Writers,
> often go to exile because their poetry, prose and appeals are still
> unwelcome. They should talk about freedom, liberties and duties of
> the
> people in a self-confident Africa.
>
> D. Economy
> With what kind of economic model is Africa compatible? African
> economists should talk about an African solution......
>
> So if you have any ideas about books to read, films to watch, people
> to know, writers to invite...... please let me know!
>
> miriam.teschl@kfunigraz.ac.at
>
In-Reply-To: 199801221610.IAA06439@abraham.xc.org