TOFAC 2020
The 10th Toyin Falola Annual International Conference on Africa and the African Diaspora (TOFAC)
Date: July 1-3, 2020 (arrive June 30 , depart July 4)
Namibia University of Science and Technology (NUST) in association with the University of Namibia (UNAM)
DEVELOPMENT, DEMOCRACY AND RESOURCES
Africa has the unique position of being the continent with the richest natural resources. This places Africa in a complex developmental situation. Some note that 'the resources curse' of the continent can be blamed for its trajectory of negative development. Others highlight the opportunities or the resources endowment as an opportunity for Africa claiming the 21st century. The relationship between resources, democracy and development is highlighted by the system of effective or ineffective democracies of the continent's 54 states. The 2020 TOFAC Conference intends to critically examine the highly intricate and contested processes of resource development and democracy building on the continent. Furthermore, the conference will reflect on the construction of effective and ineffective political systems that are intimately linked to movements of colonialisation, coloniality and de-colonialisation. The primary aim of the conference is to reflect on the multifaceted relationship between resources, development, and democracy, as well as their effects on contemporary Africa and African societies. The questions will also focus on how Africa's resources can be re-cast in respect to Africa's futures. Simultaneously, the conference intends to create an intellectual space for examining the complex economies that exist in the region, including informal, illegal, and foreign economies. Beyond the specific emphasis on Africa, the overarching focus of the conference is to engage with the effects of the global political economy and Africa's role within that context. Additionally, the conference seeks to explore the histories of resources and resource development within the continent, both by indigenous and non-indigenous populations.
Scholars are invited to examine diverse aspects of the foreign aid and investment channels that flow into the continent's politics and businesses. This includes tackling the conversations surrounding dead aid and corrupt governments that hold unsavoury positions within African economies. The conference intends to address critical questions such as how political unrest, terrorism, extreme terror formations and civil wars relate to the extraction and exploitation of resources and thus, the larger economy and market and impact on Africa's safety and security. Participants are invited to critically analyse the role of pan-African campaigns in the process to democratisation and facilitation of inter-regional trade. From the viewpoint of Africa's economy and development, issues relating to aviation, marine resources exploitation will be interrogated particularly in view of the losses to the economies of resources rich countries. Further, themes of gender and diversity will also be addressed in this conference, especially the role of women and youth in the economy as business owners, innovators and entrepreneurs and their access or lack thereof to micro-loans and other financing systems. This, then further correlates with the role of women with the political sphere and democracy building, both as voters and leaders. The objective of these dialogues is to pluralise the narratives on certain assumed and ambiguous positionalities in African societies.
Following the tradition of past years, the conference will provide a platform for scholars from various disciplines and geographical locations to interact, exchange ideas, and receive feedback. Submitted papers will be assigned to various panels according to the similarities in theme, topic, discipline, or geographical focus. Thematically focused panel proposals (with 3-5 participants) are encouraged. TOFAC 2020 will particularly welcome postgraduate students and emerging scholars to attend and present their work. The conference aims to support publications from this conference and will publish selected papers in a series of book volumes.
We invite submissions on the following sub-themes:
- Histories of African democracies and dictatorships
- Resource governance and distribution
- Land, legacy and leadership
- Nationalist formations and the state in Africa
- Minorities, nationalism and regionalism in Africa
- Citizenship, nationality, and identity politics
- Sustainable development and Africa's industrialisation agenda
- Environment management and resource attrition
- Mining, resources and effects of colonisation
- Water resources management and regional economies
- Climate change, conflict and security issues
- The politics of resource allocations – access, exclusion and ring-fencing
- Migrant workers, human rights and labour politics in Africa
- Economic nationalism and processes of development
- African feminisms and politics of gender in Africa
- Women empowerment in business
- Foreign direct investment in Africa
- Micro-loans and foreign banking systems in Africa
- The business of Africa in local and global contexts
- Effects of international and inter-regional trade in Africa
- Illegal economies and illicit financial markets in Africa
- African movements of liberalist economics
- African big businesses and consumer patterns
- Branding Africa, consumerism and youth entrepreneurship
- Philanthropy, politics and elections in Africa
- Political economy of resource development
- Marine economy
- Africa - China relations and the global world order
- African bilateral and multilateral trade agreements
- Migrations, internally displaced persons and human trafficking
- Terrorism, organised crime and instability in Africa
- Aviation safety and security in Africa
- Maritime safety and security in Africa
- Pan-Africanism and Africa identities in the 21st century
- Heritage management, tourism and culture
- African innovation systems, creative industries and future business
- Africa and the Fourth Industrial Revolution (A4IR)
- Africa 2.5 - Africa's generation Z and African futures
Proposals for additional sub-themes and other ideas that the participants may have are welcome. Submissions will be accepted for paper presentations; posters and performative and artistic productions. Each individual proposal must include: 1) title of the work, an abstract of up to 200 words 2) name of the presenter (with the surname underlined) 3) mailing address, 4) phone number 5) email 6) institutional affiliation 7) three to five keywords that best characterise the themes and topics relevant to your submission. Participants are expected to follow these guidelines.
Proposals for panel sessions (3-5 presenters) must include: 1) title of the panel and a collective summary of 250 words on the panel's theme, including the title of each individual work 2) a 200-word abstract for the presentation of each speaker 3) mailing address 4) phone number 5) email and 6) institutional affiliation of each presenter.
Proposals will be accepted by email to:
tofac2020@nust.na with a copy to Professor Alinah Segobye at: asegobye@nust.na and Dr Richard Iroanya at: riroanya@unam.com. The official conference website will feature additional information. Proposals will be accepted from 1st September 2019 to 30th March 2020.
A mandatory non-refundable registration fee will be payable immediately upon the acceptance of the abstract. Registration fees will cover the conference programme, a conference t-shirt and bag, admission to the panels, workshops, and special events, as well as transportation to and from the hotel and conference events. Registration includes refreshments for all three days, cultural events and a closing banquet on Saturday evening. Details of the conference fees will be communicated in due course.
Participants will be responsible for their transportation, accommodation and visa costs including the conference registration fee. Reasonable hotel rates will be negotiated and information communicated well in advance. Participants will also be responsible for costs for post-conference tours which will be organised.
The conference organisers will not be liable for any other costs incurred by participants other than what will be communicated and updated on a regular basis.
For further information please contact:
Conference Coordinators:
Professor Alinah K. Segobye (NUST) asegobye@nust.na
Dr Richard O. Iroanya (UNAM) riroanya@unam.na
Toyin Falola
Department of History
The University of Texas at Austin
104 Inner Campus Drive
Austin, TX 78712-0220, USA
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