USA Africa Dialogue Series - TOYIN FALOLA ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA July 4 - 6, 2011: A report.

TOYIN FALOLA ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA July
4 - 6, 2011: A report.

A REPORT ON THE INAUGURAL TOFAC 2011
TOYIN FALOLA ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON AFRICA AND THE AFRICAN DIASPORA July
4 - 6, 2011.

Theme: Creativity and Cultural Expressions in Africa and the Diaspora

Venue: Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Host: Ibadan Cultural Studies Group, Faculty of Arts, University of
Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Convener: Professor Ademola Dasylva, Coordinator, Ibadan Cultural
Studies Group & Director, General Studies Programme, University of
Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.

The first conference participant, Dr. Ayo A. Coly, a Senegalese
American from Dartmouth, arrived Ibadan on the evening of July 1,
2011. More participants arrived on 3rd July, some more on 4th July,
the day the conference began; a few others who missed their connecting
flights in Atlanta, finally arrived Ibadan in the morning of Day 2 of
the conference.

Day 1 of the conference began with a courtesy call by the TOFAC
honoree, Professor Toyin Falola and wife Mrs Bisi Falola, Prof. Tunde
Adeleke one of the two keynote speakers, Ibadan Cultural Studies Group
coordinators (ICSG), Professors P.A. Ogundeji and A.O. Dasylva, on the
Vice-Chancellor (President) of the University of Ibadan, Professor
Isaac Folorunsho Adewole, and his management team, including the two
Deputy Vice-Chancellors, Professors Idowu Olayinka (Academic) and
Elijah Bamgboye (Administration), the Registrar, Mrs. Omotayo Ikotun,
the Dean of Science, Prof. Adebowale; Director, University Advancement
Centre, Mr. DeboAdeosun, the Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Akinpelu,
among others. Although the Vice-Chancellor was away on official
assignment, he was ably represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor
(Academic), Prof. Idowu Olayinka. While welcoming the honoree, Prof.
Falola and wife, and others on TOFAC delegates, Professor Olayinka on
behalf of the Vice-Chancellor commended the Ibadan Cultural Studies
Group for the vision that gave birth to TOFAC and for the hosting of
the inaugural TOFAC. He congratulated the honoree, Prof. Toyin Falola
who, he agreed, "more than merited the honor, knowing his pedigree and
his scholarly accomplishments locally and internationally." He
expressed his delight at colleagues' acknowledgments of Prof. Falola's
giant academic strides in the Humanistic studies clearly unattained by
anybody before him. "? the fact that he is an African, a Nigerian and
an Ibadan indigene- the city where our university, Nigeria's premier
university, is located is worth the celebration." He emphasized the
importance of the forum, TOFAC as a welcome platform for distillation
of ideas that can propel Nigeria, Africa and the Diaspora forward in
the right direction.

TOFAC 2011 opening ceremony commenced at 10.00am. The conference was
formally declared and the TOFAC Plaque unveiled by the Dean of Arts,
Prof. Adedotun Ogundeji who represented the Vice-Chancellor,
University of Ibadan, at the event. The opening ceremony was chaired
by Prof. Akinwumi Isola, poet, playwright, novelist, actor and Yoruba
scholar culture activist. Other dignitaries on the high table included
the two keynote speakers, Prof. Femi Mimiko, the Vice-Chancellor,
Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Ondo State, Nigeria, and
Prof. Tunde Adeleke, Director, Center for American Intercultural
Studies, Iowa State University, Baba Adebayo Faleti, poet, novelist,
playwright, actor, Yoruba scholar and culture activist; Chief T.A.
Akinyele, rtd. Former Head of Service of Oyo State and Registrar,
University of Ife (now, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife); Prof.
MrsBolanle Awe, rtd. Director, Institute of African Studies,
University of Ibadan; Prof. Babatunde Babawale, Director, CBAAC,
Lagos; and Prof. Bayo Amole of the Department of Architecture, Obafemi
Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Other dignitaries in the audience were
Prof. Ayo Banjo rtd. Vice-Chancellor, University of Ibadan, and fmr.
National President, Nigerian Academy of Letters (NAL); Prof. Olawale
Albert, Director, Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan;
Prof. Olayemi Akinwumi, National President of the Nigerian Association
of History Scholars; Prof. Tayo Adesina, fmr Chair, History Dept.,
University of Ibadan, and the current Acting Head, Dr. B. Sofela;
Deans of Faculties, Directors, Heads of academic departments, graduate
students, etc.

TOFAC 2011 convener, Prof. Ademola Dasylva, while emphasizing that
TOFAC was named after the honoree, Prof Toyin Falola and not about
him, drew attention to the collective responsibility of all who shared
the vision of TOFAC to remain steadfast and committed by contributing
intellectually and in every other way they could to help nurture and
sustain the ideals and objectives of the annual international
conference. He commended the commitment and efforts of the keynote
speakers who self-funded their trips to the conference, and expressed
the hope that a time would come when TOFAC would be able to fund such
guests and offer sponsorship to would-be participant-graduate
students. The two keynote speakers emphasized the need to take a
critical look at the existing curricula on African and the Diaspora
studies everywhere it exists on both sides of the globe with a view to
correcting its many contradictions, and repositioning it for greater
global relevance. Prof. Tunde Babawale, one of those who contributed
to the subsequent debate generated by the keynote papers, lamented
that the study of History as a discipline in a country like Nigeria
was hardly encouraged, and the reason why it was hardly subscribed by
students. He traced the current crisis to irresponsible governments in
Africa, especially, to loss of memory and disconnect. The study of
history, he argued, is central to memory, continuity and sustenance.
ICSG/TOFAC Excellent Leadership Award (ELA) was announced and
conferred on three deserving personalities whose leadership style,
penchant for hardwork and excellence, as well as integrity are worthy
of emulation, after a brief citation on each of them: Prof. Toyin
Falola, Prof. Femi Mimiko and Prof. Tunde Babawale. Prof. Bolanle Awe
presented the beautiful plaques to the awardees on behalf of the
Board. It marked the end of the opening ceremony.

Tea/coffee break, spiced with a cultural dance performance.
A total of 63 participants formally registered, however, 71 academic
papers were presented. This is partly due to participants submitting
more than a paper each, among others.
There were two venues to run two parallel sessions throughout the
conference. Each session had lasted two hours thirty minutes. The
panel chairs includedProf. Segun Ogungbemi, Dr. Remy Oriaku, Dr. Ayo
Kehinde, Dr. Ibigbolade Simeon Aderibigbe, Prof. Mbajiorgu, Prof.
Gloria Chuku, among others. On the first day only two parallel
sessions could be accommodated in the programme in light of the
opening ceremony which took the period that could have been the
morning session. Day 2 of the conference (5 July) had three parallel
sessions, morning, afternoon, evening. Participants had tea/coffee
break after each morning session, and free lunch after the afternoon
sessions. Day 3 (6 July) also had two sessions because of crowded
programme for the tourist entertainment of the participants: a guided
tour of the University of Ibadan campus, and the Ibadan city, the
third largest black indigenous city in Africa. In the evening,
participants were treated to a very exciting EYO/Adamuorisa (Lagos)
and Igunnuko (Nupe, Middlebelt-Nigeria) masquerade dance performances.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
Submission of revised papers: the deadline for the submission of all
revised conference papers is 31st August, 2011. No late submission
will be entertained since the publishers already set a tight timeline.
The essays will be peer-reviewed and the selected ones will be
published into book series by the next TOFAC first week in July, 2012.
Africa World Press, Carolina U. Press and Cambridge Scholar Press,
among others, have indicated interest to publish into book series the
finally selected papers. Some journals have also indicated interest in
publishing some of the essays, including the keynotes. This
information is important to propel participants to turn in their best
since the selection will be strictly on merit.
TOFAC 2011 BEST RESEARCHED PAPER AWARD: An official TOFAC Award in the
same name shall be given to the selected best essay. It shall be
announced during the year ending, while the award will be presented to
the author at the opening ceremony of TOFAC 2012 at the University of
Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.

TOFAC 2012 will be hosted by Centre for Black Arts and Civilization
(CBAAC), and the venue is the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.
Convener: Prof. Tunde Babawale, Director, CBAAC, Lagos.
THEME: Cultures, Identities, Nationalities and Modernities in Africa
and the African Diaspora
Details on the conference theme, etc. shall follow shortly.
Please, endeavor to visit the conference website regularly. Comments,
suggestions, and relevant information are welcome. Efforts are being
made to enrich the site with exciting, well researched topical essays,
inaugural lectures, etc. We hope to invite such postings very soon,
and to be coordinated by Prof. Ademola Dasylva.
REPORT BY THE BOARD OF TOFAC

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