The organizing committee of the CAAS annual conference would like to draw your attention to the following special events taking place during the conference period. For further details, please download the final program via the link on the left of the page.
Special Events:
* the CAAS Annual General Meeting where a light lunch will be provided (I.C. 1., on Wednesday May 1, from 12:45-2 pm).
* a plenary panel, “Africa Communicating: Digital Technologies, Representation, Power,” with Gado Alzouma (American University of Nigeria), Monica Chibita (Uganda Christian University), and Wisdom Tettey (University of British Columbia) (I.E. 1., on Wednesday May 1, from 4-6 pm).
* the welcome reception with a few words of welcome from Dean John Osborne (Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences) and Dean André Plourde (Faculty of Public Affairs) (I.F. 1, on Wednesday May 1, from 6-8 pm).
* a screening of the documentary film “Beatrice Mtetwa and the Rule of Law,” which features one of the bravest lawyers in Africa — Beatrice Mtetwa in Zimbabwe. In spite of beatings by police and being arrested and jailed in March of 2013, Beatrice has courageously defended in court those jailed by the Mugabe government—peace activists, journalists, opposition candidates, farmers that had their land confiscated, ordinary citizens that had the courage to speak up. Through interviews with Mtetwa and some of her defendants, the film tells the story of what happens when rulers place themselves above the law and why defense of the rule of law is a crucial step in the building of a civil society. Although Beatrice Mtetwa’s arena is Zimbabwe, her message and bravery are universal. Open to the public (I.G. 1., on Wednesday May 1, from 8-10 pm). Beatrice Mtetwa herself will also be present.
* a plenary panel, “Africa Communicating on the Global Scale,” with Harry Garuba (University of Cape Town) (II.C. 1., on Thursday May 2, from 1-2 pm).
* a plenary panel, “L’Afrique en communication : Technologie numérique, representations et pouvoir,” with Michel Tjade Eone (University of Yaoundé) and Naffet Keita (University of Bamako) (II.E. 1., on Thursday May 2, from 4-5:30 pm).
* the Canadian Journal of African Studies presents a book launch, Engaging with a Legacy: Nehemia Levtzion (1935-2003) edited by E. Ann McDougall (II.F. 1., on Thursday May 2, from 5:30-7 pm).
* Book Presentation : Postcolonial Life-Writing & Public Service in Africa: Nasir El Rufai’s The Accidental Public Servant. Since its publication in January 2013, The Accidental Public Servant has gripped Nigerian public discourse and imagination, exciting vigorous debate and passion among those who love it and those who vehemently disagree with and challenge it. It is one book that has not left any Nigerian indifferent. Beyond its political tenor, the memoir throws up issues germane to contemporary theoretical discussions of life-writing as postcolonial genre in Africa and the reviewer, Professor Harry Garuba, will frame his lecture along those lines. Open to the public (II.G. 1., on Thursday May 2, from 7-9pm).
* a screening of the film, ”L’affaire Chebeya, un crime d’État,” which documents the historic process in the DRC related to the murder of one of the most respected human rights defenders in the country and internationally. It is famous because it raised as much coverage at the national and international level as did the assassination of President Kabila in 2001. The legal effort tries (without success) to break through the domination of impunity in a country that has just come out of an armed conflict and is struggling to establish the state of law. The film shows how, on one hand, everything works against justice, and on the other hand the efforts people deploy to bring about change. Me Jean Joseph Mukendi, national president of the bar (Bâtonnier national) and President of the “Collectif pour la défense des parties civiles Chebeya et Bazana” is the guest speaker. Open to the public (II.G.2., on Thursday May 2, from 7:30-9:30 pm).
* a bilingual professional development round-table that will provide tips and insights concerning publishing and academic networks in the internet age, with three stellar scholars — Bob White (University of Montreal), Pius Adesanmi (Carleton University), and Muriel Gomez-Perez (Laval University) — whose publications have won awards and who have successfully engaged in a range of scholarly communication and networking using a variety of media (III.A.6, on Friday May 3, from 9-10:30 am).
* a panel of four of the six scholars who each won the prestigious Banting postdoctoral fellowship offered by the Canadian government, highlighting the excellent work carried out by scholars whose work fall within African Studies (III.B.4, on Friday May 3, from 11-12:30 pm).
* The unofficial “committee of concerned scholars” invite you to join us for an “African Liberation Lounge,” featuring Pan-African beats by DJ Redfoot and friends at the Eri Cafe, 953 Sommerset Street West (just west of Preston Street), Friday May 3rd at 9:30. The Eri Cafe serves exceptional food from the Horn of Africa and conference participants are encouraged to enjoy dinner there beforehand. To ensure space please contact Alem Berhane @ berhanealem@hotmail.com as early as possible in advance.