Following the great success of the first Institute of African Studies’s first Undergraduate Research Conference last October organized by the Institute of African Studies Students Association,  we are pleased to announce the Call for Papers for the 2nd Annual Conference to be held at Carleton on October 15, 2016.

Theme: Africa after Africa Rising: Politics, Development, Youth and Innovation in an Era of Globalization

Calling all undergraduate students with a passion for African Studies! The Institute of African Studies (IAS) at Carleton University (carleton.ca/africanstudies) is hosting its second international undergraduate research conference, organized by the Institute of African Studies Students Association (IASSA). The goal of this one-day interdisciplinary conference is to provide a platform for emerging researchers in the field of African Studies. It is understood that this may be a student's first time completing a scholarly paper, therefore this conference has been timed to allow students the summer to work on their research papers and present at Carleton University in mid-October.

This year's theme, Africa After Africa Rising: Politics, Development, Youth and Innovation in an Era of Globalization,seeks to encourage interdisciplinary engagement with a new generation of continental and diasporic Africans confronting questions such as: Is Africa really rising? What is the future of the continent—politically, economically, and culturally? Are "Afropolitans" the new face of the Diaspora? In what ways are African youth using technology and innovation? What are the new directions for political participation and development? In a time of political, developmental and innovative transition, we ask: Which Way Africa? This conference encourages students not to simply replicate the usual discourses of victimhood or reproduce information obtained from a variety of sources, but to generate new and innovative ideas that address the challenges and opportunities for the new generation as well as provoke further research.

More information here.

The Centre for Transnational Cultural Analysis and ICSLAC invite you to attend the last session of the Cultural Transfers Workshop series for this academic year, titled 'Decolonizing Lusophone Africa’, on Friday April 8th, 2-4, SP 2010D (ICSLAC Seminar Room).

This session will feature Candace Sobers (Global and International Studies) and Joana Pimentel (Cultural Mediations PhD Candidate).

Workshops are organized as follows: two 20-minute presentations followed by a question/discussion period.

Cultural Transfers is a workshop series co-organized by the Institute for Comparative Studies in Literature, Art and Culture and the Centre for Transnational Cultural Analysis, Carleton University.

• When: April 14, 2016
• Time: 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
• Location: Dunton Tower
• Room: 2017 (Arts Lounge)
• Cost: Free
• Intended Audience: Anyone
• Email contact: African.Studies@carleton.ca

"The South Sudan Crisis: Human Rights and the Challenges of Governance" with Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada & Hüstin Läkü, Center for Peace and Development (University of Juba) and Seed for Democracy for South Sudan

Moderator and Discussant: Professor David Carment, NPSIA (cross-appointed to African Studies, Carleton University)

Thursday, April 14, 7:00 – 9:00 pm

2017 Dunton Tower (Arts Lounge)
Carleton University

This is part of the African Studies Umeme: African Flashpoints Series
Umeme: African Flashpoints brings together experts in a roundtable format to discuss such current experiences which confront the people in different locations in Africa, and which roll across media screens and pages across the world. Umeme is KiSwahili for lightning, the perilous bolt of electricity flashing across the sky which demands attention and reactions

This year’s gala will be held on:

Date: Saturday April 23^rd, 2016

Time: 6:30pm-930pm

Location: 4899 Uplands Drive (EY Centre -Halls C&D), please note that there will be free parking.

We have had huge turnouts the last few years thanks to our wonderful supporters such as you. Therefore, this is why we are hosting this year's gala at a bigger venue and we would greatly appreciate to count on your support once again.

As always, thank you so much in advance for your wonderful support and I hope to see you there. Please share it with all your contacts.

Should you wish to help, please see the following ways:
– Donate an item to the silent auction
– Purchase a table of eight seats for $640

–https://www.gofundme.com/aejjxa38

Saturday, April 9, 2016
6:00pm
The Centurion Conference & Event Center, 170 Colonade Rd. South, Ottawa, Ontario K2E 7J5
 What is an Afro-Caribbean Cotillion. The Afro-Caribbean Cotillion is a formal ball at which young women of African or Caribbean descent are presented to the greater community after training and guidance by Mentors who are specialist in their field of mentorship. The vision of The Afro-Caribbean Cotillion is a modern combination of the African and Caribbean rites of passages and values creating a valuable and unique experience that emphasize positive social interaction, showing respect to others and increased self-confidence for young women of African and Caribbean decent in an ever changing society. HIGHLIGHTS: Presentation of 2016 Protégés; Grand Cotillion Dance by Protégés and Cavaliers; Cultural Interlude; elegant three-course dinner; Keynote address by Ms. Rubie Jean-Baptiste (ACCA 2015). Master of Ceremony: Ms. Toni Francis. Music by DJ Kane. Advance tickets: $60  Cultural Arts Studio of Afro-Caribbean Dance 613-863-3495 or online at www.afrocaribdance.webs.com

Out of the Box Fibre Artists are pleased to announce our Fifth Annual Fibre Fling and Tea at Kitchissippi United Church, 630 Island Park Drive, Friday, April 8, 10 am to 8 pm, and Saturday April 9, 10 am to 5 pm. A delicious high tea will be served on Saturday April 9. Light refreshments will be available throughout the rest of the show. Once again we are partnering with Kitchissippi United Church to raise money for the Stephen Lewis Foundation which supports AIDS orphans and their caregivers in Africa. At the same time we hope to raise awareness about the rich diversity of fibre art being created in the Ottawa area. What could be better than an art show coupled with a delicious high tea and at the same time providing much needed help for a worthy cause!

Our members are passionate about fibre art. Last year at Fibre Fling, 44 members of Out of the Box exhibited 253 pieces of framed art work, quilted wall hangings, mixed media, wearables, felting, embroidery, beadwork, rug hooking and much more! Again this year, in addition to our exhibition, we will have an extensive sales area where you can purchase small artworks, wearables such as scarves, hats and bags, jewelry, felted items, books and journals, bookmarks, art cards and an array of other handmade gift items.

Admission is $5 and if you wish to indulge in the High Tea the cost is an additional $10. An array of mouth-watering sandwiches, scones and sweets will be provided and served by volunteers of Kitchissippi United Church, raising much needed funds for the Stephen Lewis Foundation. Fibre Fling has raised over $15,000 for the Foundation over the past four years and we hope to raise more this year for this important work. So please plan to join us for our fifth annual exhibition, tea and sale! Bring your friends to enjoy the artwork and sales area then take a break for tea surrounded by colourful works of art. We hope that our exhibition will be eye candy for people who love fibre as well as those of you who are being introduced to fibre art for the first time.

You might even be inspired to join Out of the Box or visit one of our meetings. We are happy to answer your questions about our group and process your membership form on the spot! We are always pleased to welcome new members to Out of the Box – a place where we can learn from each other, challenge ourselves, and grow as artists.

École d’été (8ème édition) du GIERSA (Groupe interuniversitaire d’études et de recherches sur les sociétés africaines) à l’Université Laval: Dynamiques des sociétés africaines (2-20 mai)

L'objectif de l'École d'été du GIERSA est d'explorer les grandes transformations économiques, politiques, juridiques, démographiques, sociales, culturelles et communicationnelles à l'oeuvre en Afrique subsaharienne contemporaine. Privilégiant une approche pluridisciplinaire, le séminaire abordera les grands enjeux de société auquel le continent fait face aujourd'hui en les situant dans le contexte de l'environnement international mouvant. Le but est également d'explorer et de déconstruire plusieurs idées reçues et stéréotypes sur l'Afrique et les populations africaines et de mettre l'accent sur la diversité du continent. Il s'agira, enfin, de créer un lieu d'échanges et de débats pour les étudiants de maîtrise et de doctorat de différents disciplines qui effectuent, ou envisagent d'effectuer, des recherches en Afrique subsaharienne. Sous le regard croisé de sociologues, d'anthropologues, d'historiens, de juristes, de démographes et de politologues, et sur la base de méthodologies propres à chaque discipline, plusieurs thématiques seront abordées : l'État, la gouvernance et le processus de démocratisation, l'économie africaine et le bilan des politiques de développement, l'urbanisation et les dynamiques migratoires, les transformations démographiques et les nouvelles dynamiques familiales, les rapports intergénérationnels, les rapports sociaux de sexe et l'émancipation féminines , la culture populaire, et l'individualisation «à l'africaine».

A QUI S'ADRESSE L'ÉCOLE D'ÉTÉ DU GIERSA ?
Aux étudiantes et étudiants inscrits dans un programme d'études supérieures en sciences sociales et humaines (maîtrise et doctorat) et qui s'intéressent à l'Afrique. La priorité est donnée à ceux et celles qui se proposent de produire un mémoire ou un essai de maîtrise ou encore une thèse de doctorat qui porte sur l'Afrique subsaharienne. En suivant l'École d'été du GIERSA, les étudiants de 2e et 3e cycles peuvent se faire reconnaître 3 crédits dans leur programme en s'inscrivant au cours intitulé Dynamiques des sociétés africaines (SOC7139) à l'Université Laval. Les étudiants de l'Université de Montréal peuvent obtenir automatiquement une équivalence du cours PLU6059 de l'Université de Montréal en en faisant la demande dans le cadre des ententes CRÉPUQ. Les étudiants des autres universités québécoises pourront aussi s'inscrire à ce séminaire et se faire reconnaître 3 crédits dans le cadre des ententes CRÉPUQ. (www.crepuq.qc.ca)

PROFESSEURS ET CHERCHEURS
Cette 8ième édition de l'École d'été du GIERSA sera dirigée par Charles Moumouni (Département d'information et de communication, Université Laval) avec la collaboration de Rozenn Diallo, chercheure post-doctorante au GIERSA. Comme chaque année, des collaborateurs et les autres membres du GIERSA seront associés à ce séminaire et y interviendront, notamment, Anne Calvès, (Département de sociologie, Université de Montréal) Mamoudou Gazibo (Département de sciences politiques, Université de Montréal), Richard Marcoux (Département de sociologie, Université Laval) et Bob White (Département d'anthropologie, Université de Montréal).

APPUI FINANCIER POUR LES ÉTUDIANTS ET ÉTUDIANTES
Le GIERSA bénéficie d'un financement du Fonds québécois de recherches – Sociétés et cultures dans le cadre de son programme «Soutien aux équipes de recherche». Les étudiants et étudiantes qui participeront à l'École d'été du GIERSA et qui sont inscrits dans un programme d'études d'une université québécoise de l'extérieur de la région de Québec peuvent obtenir une bourse du GIERSA qui couvrira les frais d'hébergement aux résidences de l'Université Laval et les frais de transport. Le dossier de demande d'appui financier doit être déposé avant le 1er avril 2016

RAPPEL : Cette 8e édition de l'École d'été du GIERSA prend la forme d'un séminaire de trois crédits à l'Université Laval, à l'Université de Montréal et dans plusieurs programmes d'études supérieures au Québec (ententes CRÉPUQ)

POUR PLUS D'INFORMATIONS www.giersa.ulaval.ca

African Gallery
Agnes Etherington Art Centre
Queen’s University
36 University
Kingston, ON30 April 2016 –8 April 2018
Spring/Summer Season Launch: Friday 29 April

Bringing a new perspective to the Justin and Elisabeth Lang Collection of African Art, guest curators Marc Epprecht and Allison Goebel developed a community-based exhibition that challenges the problematic history of colonial-era appropriation, collection and display of African art in Western museums. They invited members of the African and diasporic communities at Queen's, and in Kingston and the region to select a piece or pieces from the collection and respond in a personal way. These fascinating contributions include short essays, poetry, art, and personal reflections, some of which are captured in video form. The resulting exhibition showcases a rich, fresh engagement with and interpretation of the Lang Collection.

Marc Epprecht is a Professor in the Departments of History and Global Development Studies, and Allison Goebel is an Associate Professor in the School of Environmental Studies, at Queen's University.

Supported by the Justin and Elisabeth Lang Fund.

More information here.