Association of Concerned Africa Scholars
Analysis and Action on Policies Impacting Africa

Announcements

Conference on Zimbabwe: Dare to Shape the Future (April 15-16, 2010)

The conference takes place at a time when there are major debates regarding U.S. policy towards Zimbabwe in light of the formation of the Inclusive Government. A key question of contention is whether the U.S. should continue with the Zimbabwe Economic and Democracy Recovery Act (of 2001) and the Executive Order of 2003, both of which impose targeted sanctions on Zimbabwe, or move to a new policy of support and engagement with the Inclusive Government. In the last few months there have been congressional initiatives to review current U.S. legislation on Zimbabwe and explore opportunities for a new U.S. policy with both the House and Senate holding hearings on Zimbabwe. As a sign of an already changing U.S. policy, there have been two high-level bi-partisan Congressional delegations to Zimbabwe in the last six months – a major policy shift given the fact that the U.S. had practically cut ties with Zimbabwe prior to the formation of the Inclusive Government.

Bill Sutherland, Pan African Pacifist, 1918-2010

Bill Sutherland, unofficial ambassador between the peoples of Africa and the Americas for over fifty years, died peacefully on the evening of January 2, 2010. He was 91. A life-long pacifist and liberation advocate, Sutherland became involved in civil rights and anti-war activities as a youthful member of the Student Christian Movement in the 1930s.

Dennis Vincent Brutus, 1924-2009

World-renowned political organizer and one of Africa’s most celebrated poets, Dennis Brutus, died early on December 26 in Cape Town, in his sleep, aged 85. Even in his last days, Brutus was fully engaged, advocating social protest against those responsible for climate change, and promoting reparations to black South Africans from corporations that benefited from apartheid. He was a leading plaintiff in the Alien Tort Claims Act case against major firms that is now making progress in the US court system.

Jennifer Davis awarded OR Tambo order by South Africa

Jennifer Davis, Executive Director of Africa Action’s predecessor organizations is set to receive one of South Africa’s highest honors, the Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo.

Call for Nominations Bud Day Award: Due October 1

Each year, in memory of Warren Bud Day, ACAS honors activist scholarship on Africa with the Bud Day Award. The call for nominations is now open. ACAS asks its current members to submit names and brief bios to Frank Holmquist ([email protected]), the award committee chair. The 2009 award will be presented during the ACAS and African Studies Association meetings scheduled for November 19-22, 2009 in New Orleans.

The Future of the South African Dream: Howard University, April 28

The Future of the South African Dream: Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma and the April 2009 Elections. Tuesday, April 28 2009. 6:30PM - 8:30 PM. At Howard University, Ralph Bunche International Affairs Center. 2218 Sixth Street NW. Washington, DC. 20059. Admission free - All are welcome!

Rwanda: Fifteen Years Post-Genocide: Peace Review Call for Essays

In light of the fifteenth anniversary of the 1994 Tutsi genocide, Peace Review is soliciting submissions for a special commemorative issue on post-genocide Rwanda. We invite scholars from all disciplines, NGO workers, activists, writers, refugees and survivors to consider issues related to post-genocide Rwanda that concomitantly, contribute to progressive work in peace and conflict studies.

Will Africa become a priority for the Obama Administration?

University of California at Irvine Faculty Working Group for Middle East and African Studies, Program in African American Studies, Darfur Action Committee and Association of Concerned Africa Scholars Present: “From AFRICOM to oil and Darfur to Zimbabwe: Will Africa become a priority for the OBAMA Administration?” A discussion with activist and educator Prexy Nesbitt

New Journal on Law, Social Justice and Global Development

The first issue of LGD, Law, Social Justice and Global Development, a new electronic law journal published by Warwick University, is now available online.

New Dictionary of African Biography

Oxford University Press and Harvard University’s W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research have announced an ambitious new project, the Dictionary of African Biography, that will include 5,000 entries both online and in print editions. The General Editors of the project are two Harvard faculty, Henry Louis Gates and Emmanuel Akyeampong.