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
Religion, LGBT Activism and Queer Politics in Africa
Call for Papers for AASR Conference Panel
Ezra Chitando (World Council of Churches/University of Zimbabwe) and Adriaan van Klinken (University of Leeds)
The African Association for the Study of Religions holds its biennial conference on the theme “Revisiting Religion, Politics, and the State in Africa and the African Diaspora”, in Lusaka, 1-4 August, 2018. Please find the general Call for Papers here.
As part of this conference, we plan to convene a panel on the theme of “Religion, LGBT Activism and Queer Politics in Africa”. Moving beyond a focus on the politicisation of homosexuality and LGBT rights by the state as well as by religious actors, in this panel we draw attention to the counter-mobilisations of LGBT activists and allies. We solicit papers that examine the strategies and methods of LGBT activism in various parts of the continent, specifically exploring the ways in which LGBT actors appropriate, negotiate and reclaim religious beliefs, practices and symbols. Papers not only investigate the relationship between African LGBT activism and faith, but also explore the underlying queer political and religious imaginations informing. Hence the panel as a whole seeks to make a twofold intervention: putting the category of religion central in the emerging field of African queer studies, and putting matters of sexual diversity and queer politics central in the field of African religious studies.
Anyone interested in being part of this panel: please submit a 300 words abstract, as well as your contact details (name, position, institutional affiliation, email address, and phone number), to the conveners by email (chitsa21@yahoo.com and a.vanklinken@leeds.ac.uk) by 15 January, 2018.
2017
Cfp: Religion and the 21st Century City
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
History of Religions post, Divinity School, University of Chicago
The University of Chicago Divinity School seeks to make an appointment (tenured or tenure-track) in the History of Religions effective July 1, 2018. Rank and salary are open. Junior candidates are encouraged to apply; all applicants will be given the most serious consideration.
For further details and application, visit https://academiccareers.uchicago.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_css.jsp
Application should be made online, at https://academiccareers.uchicago.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=55300
2017
Job Posting: 3-Year Position in African Religions at Berea College
Berea College invites applications for a full-time, three-year position in African Religions (rank open), conditioned upon successful grant funding. Applicants will hold a Ph.D. (or anticipate completion of the degree by 1 August 2018) in religious studies, with a primary focus in one or more of the following fields: Religions of Africa, Indigenous or Traditional African Religions, Religions of the Caribbean Region, and/or Religions of the African Diaspora. Additional qualifications include a record of excellence in teaching at the collegiate level, an established or a developing agenda for research that indicates potential for sustained and excellent peer-reviewed scholarship, and abilities to promote interdisciplinary collaboration and multi-disciplinary research. The College welcomes applicants from diverse disciplinary, theoretical, and methodological perspectives, as well as those applicants whose teaching and research may intersect with one or more of the following areas of study: (1) Women, Gender, and Religion in Africa; (2) Islam in Africa; and/or (3) African Christian Religion.
The successful candidate for this position will receive a joint appointment to both the Religion Department and the African and African American Studies Department, although the Religion Department will serve as the administrative home for this position. The annual teaching load of six courses combines periodic shared responsibilities for introductory and other courses in religious studies, curricular contributions to the General Education Program of the College, and courses in the applicant’s area of specialization. The College seeks a scholar/teacher who will aid both the Religion Department and the African and African American Studies Department in enriching their interdisciplinary connections and broadening the scope of their shared service to key features of the institutional mission.
The successful candidate will display professionalism when interacting with members of the Berea College community and will demonstrate a commitment to carrying out the mission of Berea College. Applications should include the following components: (1) letter of application; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) most recent transcripts, (4) a teaching portfolio that includes a statement of educational philosophy and teaching interests, sample course syllabi, and student evaluations of teaching; (5) three letters of recommendation; (6) a completed Faculty Application available at http://www.berea.edu/FacApp; and (7) samples of scholarship and a description of a continuing research agenda. Application materials should be sent electronically to afrelsearch2017@berea.edu. Review of applications will commence on 1 November 2017, and will continue until the College has filled this position.
Berea College achieved national distinction as the first coeducational and interracial college in the South. With an emphasis on service to the people of Appalachia and beyond, Berea enrolls 1,600 students from 40 states and 70 countries. The College has a longstanding commitment to interracial education; here, people of different races seek to learn from and about each other, while also living together. Berea is among the most racially diverse private liberal arts colleges in the United States. It admits only students whose families are unable to afford the high cost of tuition and awards each of them a Tuition Promise Scholarship, meaning no student ever pays tuition. Berea’s students excel in the College’s supportive but demanding academic environment, and many are the first in their families to graduate from college. The College is one of nine federally recognized Work Colleges, and all students hold a position in which they work 10-12 hours per week. Washington Monthly Magazine has consistently ranked Berea in the top 3 of Liberal Arts Colleges for its success in educating and graduating academically talented, low-income students who become service-oriented leaders in their professions and communities; in 2016 and 2017, the magazine ranked it number 1.
Located where the Bluegrass Region meets the Cumberland Mountains, the town of Berea (pop. 15,000) lies forty miles south of Lexington and is approximately two hours from Cincinnati, Louisville, and Knoxville. More information about Berea College is available at www.berea.edu.
