2018
AfOx Visiting Fellows Programme
The AfOx Visiting Fellows Program is designed to enhance academic mobility and network building. The program supports African scholars and researchers working in any discipline to spend periods of flexible time in Oxford, for example as sabbatical leave for utilising library or other university facilities or undertaking or planning collaborative research with Oxford based colleagues. Applicants should provide details of an Oxford university host i.e. someone with an academic/research post in Oxford in the applicant’s field of interest who will work with them to maximise the usefulness of the time spent in Oxford. This may be an existing academic collaborator or a new potential collaborator with whom the applicant has established contact before applying for the Fellowship.
Eligibility
– Applicants are expected to hold a PhD or research equivalent.
– Legal resident of an African country holding an appointment in an African academic or research institution.
– With an existing collaboration with Oxford or in contact with a potential collaborator at Oxford.
Application Deadline: Midnight, 11th March, 2018 (GMT)
For further information, visit the website.
2018
Extended Cfp: Religion and the 21st Century
University of Ghana
DEPARTMENT FOR THE STUDY OF RELIGIONS
In Collaboration With
SCHOOL OF ARTS
Call for Papers for an International Conference on
RELIGION AND THE 21ST CENTURY CITY: OPENINGS AND CLOSURES
University of Ghana, 20th-22nd June, 2018
Extended deadline for submission of abstracts: 15 February 2018
For full details, see the Call for Papers
2017
Holiday Greetings from the AASR President
We send you and your families holiday greetings and best wishes for the New Year. Thank you for your membership and support of the Association during the last twenty-five years. Your tireless efforts have strengthened our academic presentations at The International Association of the History of Religions (IAHR) Congresses, our own AASR Conferences in Africa, The American Academy of Religion (AAR), The Society for Biblical Literature (SBL), and the African Studies Association (ASA).
We invite you to attend the 8th AASR Conference in Africa at the University of Zambia and Justo Mwale University 1-4 August, 2018. Our theme is: “Revisiting Religion, Politics, and the State in Africa and the African Diaspora” an appropriate theme for a region that continues to experiences political surprises as it makes progress towards democratic rule.
https://www.a-asr.org//meetings/
Join us as we welcome to that conference our special invitees.
Professor Muna B. Ndulo, Professor of Law; Elizabeth and Arthur Reich Director, Leo and Arvilla Berger International Legal Studies Program; Director of the Institute for African Development, Cornel University, Keynote Speaker
http://www.lawschool.cornell.edu/faculty/bio_muna_ndulo.cfm
Professor Gerrie ter Haar, Emeritus Professor of Religion and Development at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam. Plenary Speaker
https://www.eur.nl/people/gerrie-ter-haar
Professor Erin Wilson, The Director of the Centre for Religion, Conflict and the Public Domain and Associate Professor of Religion and Politics, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Groningen, The Netherlands.
https://www.rug.nl/staff/e.k.wilson/
Professor Afe Adogame, The Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Christianity and Society at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA. Editor in Chief of AASR EJournal.
https://www.a-asr.org//journal/
http://ptsem.edu/people/afeosemime-afe-adogame
The local committee is planning interesting tours of the vicinity of Lusaka.
We wish you peace and success in the new year and look forward to seeing all of you in Lusaka
Sincerely,
Elias Kifon Bongmba
AASR President
December 2017
2017
Cfp: GLOBAL AFRICAN INDIGENOUS & DERIVED RELIGIONS
International, Interdisciplinary Conference
GLOBAL AFRICAN INDIGENOUS & DERIVED RELIGIONS
Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF) Brazil. 22-25 October 2018
The historical encounter of the African continent with the Arab and transatlantic slave trade, colonial/imperial histories and influences, was mostly characterized by exploitation and expropriation, dehumanization and human rights violations, but also the destruction of indigenous religions, cultural patterns, sacred sites and objects. European/Arab cultural imprints are also seen in the introduction of Christianity and Islam. This encounter has led, on the one hand, to the denigration of indigenous religions, resulting in the banning or abandonment of aspects of their cosmologies, ritual symbolism and practices. On the other hand, indigenous religions responded to social change leading to mutual influence, and revitalization of aspects of the indigenous religious cultures.
The significance of indigenous African religions and spirituality is partly demonstrated in their plurality in Africa and its diaspora historically and culturally. Migration, tourism and new media technologies has facilitated the introduction of African religions into new geo-cultural contexts. For instance, in Brazil, Candomblé and Umbanda have remained resilient in the face of racism, public criminalization; just as majority of Afro-Brazilians continue to encounter injustice and socio-political marginalization. Despite threats of survival and extinction, Africans and their descendants strive to preserve their cultural heritage and religious identity.
African and African-derived religions have continued to impact other societies and world religions, while they have been influenced by them as well. Brazil is home to the largest Black population (African diaspora) in the world, besides Nigeria. Brazil’s recent demographics show African-Brazilians in the majority for the first time, with 2010 census showing over 50.7% black/mixed race, compared to 47.7% white population (IBGE). Brazil is home to Candomblé and Umbanda, two of the largest African-derived religions. Brazilian Portuguese was richly influenced by people of African descent and their languages, even as a new Afro-Brazilian vocabulary emerged. Candomblé rituals have been incorporated into the fabric of Brazilian national identity from New Year’s Eve offerings to the ocean (Revellion), Capoeira dance, Samba (rodas) and culinary preferences such as Acarajé fritters. In Umbanda, there is a loose affinity of Roman Catholic saints with African and indigenous deities. Indigenous religions and African-derived religions have also shaped world art, sculpture, painting and other cultural artifacts, which populate the world’s famous museums, galleries, libraries, and art exhibitions. The commodification of African music, art and religious objects is on the increase. The character of indigenous and African-derived religions in conditions of globality will continue to be shaped by how and to what extent they negotiate continuity, identity, and change.
The resilience and dynamism of religions of Africa and its diaspora requires more scholarly attention in exploring how they are central to everyday lives of Africans and its descendants. A proper grasp of their complex religious cosmologies, traditions and cultures will improve understanding of African peoples and its descendants in conditions of globality. To what extent do religious worldviews and practices remain relevant for Africans and their descendants in the face of negative public perception? How can we synthesize indigenous belief systems and rituals into a reference and source book? What makes African indigenous and derived religions tick against the backdrop of xenophobia, socioeconomic deprivation? How and to what extent has African indigenous and derived religions shaped the local contexts, cultures and societies within which they are practiced; and how were they influenced by other religions and cultures globally? How do indigenous religions and African-derived religions respond to global issues of poverty, corruption, conflict, peace, religious freedom and climate change? The 2nd Global African Indigenous and Derived Religions Conference will seek to address these and related questions and issues, and will provide a significant platform for scholars, practitioners of African Indigenous Religions and African-derived religions, policy makers, diaspora community groups, NGOs and FBOs and interested publics to critically appraise the status, nature and role of global African Indigenous and Derived Religions within local-global religious landscapes. The Conference will explore varied approaches to the study of Africa’s Indigenous Religions with emphasis on regional and diasporic focus. It will discuss the inherent challenges faced by students and scholars in studying indigenous and African-derived religions globally. The conference also seeks to encourage scholarly research and explore avenues for the documentation and preservation of African indigenous and derived religions.
Conference sub-themes include:
Defining Indigenous Religions and African-derived religions
Indigeneity, tradition and authenticity
Indigenous knowledge systems and Indigenous methodologies
Racial politics, human rights and social justice
Indigene-ship, Citizenship and Land Rights
Identity construction and negotiation
African philosophy, worldviews, belief systems, rituals, festivals and ceremonies
Ritual studies; social organisation of African indigenous and derived religions
Media, Aesthetics and Material culture
Religious leadership, good governance and corruption
Gender and Power
Women and Youth
Diaspora formation
Poverty and sustainable development
African Indigenous/Derived religions and Political Economy
African Indigenous/Derived religions and Social Impact
NGOs, FBOs and Civil Society
Sources and Documentation of Global African Indigenous Religions
Indigenous peoples and environmental management
African indigenous religions, African derived religions, globalization and modernity
Paper/Panel abstract proposals; and Participation only form should be submitted via the conference website: https://conferenciareligio.wixsite.com/afro/copia-inicio. All additional inquiries should be sent to the conference email: conferenciareligioesafro@gmail.com
Paper/Panel Proposal Deadline: Extended until April 30, 2018
Proposals should include: name, institutional affiliation and status, email address, contact phone, paper/panel title and abstract (250 words)
Notification of successful proposals will be made by May 30, 2018.
Conference Registration: early-bird registration begins on June 1 and ends on June 30, 2018. A late fee will be charged thereafter.
Conference fees: to be announced soon
§ Accommodation: University Hostels and Guest Houses will be negotiated at group rates for the duration of the conference. Bookings will be made online, via conference website: https://conferenciareligio.wixsite.com/afro/copia-inicio.
§Limited travel subsidies may be available for participants from the Global South with accepted paper/panel proposals.
Conference host institution: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Conveners: Afe Adogame, Raimundo Barreto (Princeton, NJ. USA); Jimmy Cabral (UFJF, Brazil) & Pan-African Strategic and Policy Research Group
https://conferenciareligio.wixsite.com/afro/copia-inicio
2017
Job Post: Associate professor in religious studies (with a focus on indigenous religions)
Application deadline: 14. February 2018
Applications must be marked: Ref. 2017/5849
The Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education has a vacant permanent fulltime position as associate professor in religious studies. The position is affiliated to the Department of Archaeology, History, Religious Studies and Theology.
For further information about the position, contact head of department Fredrik Fagertun, tel. +47 776 46176, email: fredrik.fagertun@uit.no, or professor Bjørn Ola Tafjord, tel. +47 776 45289, email bjorn.tafjord@uit.no.
The application must be submitted electronically via the application form available on www.jobbnorge.no.
The position’s affiliation
The Department of Archaeology, History, Religious Studies and Theology is part of the Faculty of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education. The department has 25 permanent academic positions, of which 7 are in archaeology, 12 are in history, 3 are in religious studies, and 3 are in theology. The academic staff of the department teaches and gives supervision to students at all levels from bachelor to Ph.D.
The position’s field of research/field of work
A prerequisite for the vacant position is documented competence in religious studies (through training and/or comprehensive experience in research and teaching). The candidate must have expertise in contemporary indigenous religion(s) in one or more cultural contexts and geographical regions that are not covered already at the department (already covered regions are Sápmi and Central America), including substantial fieldwork experience, relevant linguistic skills, as well as historical and other contextual knowledge. The candidate should also have a strong commitment to further develop methodological approaches and theoretical understandings of indigenous religion(s) in ethically responsible ways. The candidate must be able and willing to teach and supervise students at all levels in a wide variety of topics in the study of religion.
In addition, expertise in one or more of the following fields/topics is desirable: legal and rights issues; environmentalism and climate concerns; politics and activism; identity formation; nation building; colonialism and post-colonialism; performance; materiality; media; translation; art; education; economy; tourism; interaction between local, national, and global actors and levels; and the history of the study of indigenous religion(s).
Relevant teaching experience is mandatory. Teaching experience on all levels from bachelor to Ph.D. is an advantage. Experience with national and international collaboration in research projects is also an asset, likewise the proven ability to initiate and successfully lead research projects.
For further information: https://www.jobbnorge.no/ledige-stillinger/stilling/145427/associate-professor-in-religious-studies-with-a-focus-on-indigenous-religions
