Upcoming Events

Book Club: His Only Wife

Please join us for an engaging discussion of His Only Wife by Peace Adzo Medie, an alumna of the African Studies Program and the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. A brilliant scholar and a fierce advocate for women's rights, Medie infuses her debut novel with intelligence and humor. We are excited to hear the author's perspective as Medie will be joining us at this Book Club!

This book is a fun read and a great way to fill your free time over winter break! You can access the book for free on Hoopla.
 
Register here.

Let's Talk Africa: The Past, Present, and Future of Women and Law in Africa

Come join The Honorable Ari Tobi, renowned speaker and writer. This conversation will focus on the pre-colonial to postcolonial experiences of African women in law, from a jurisprudential viewpoint.
 
Register here.

Critical Research on Africa: The Persistence of Slavery: An Economic History of Child Trafficking in Nigeria

How can a child’s value be understood in economic contexts where children are items of exchange? It is crucial that scholars and humanitarians recognize that slavery, in all its various forms, has evolved over time. The movement of bodies and the use of labor has always depended on immediate economic, social, and political circumstances, as well as the reiteration and application of force and control. It is only in this nuanced manner that we can truly understand the persistence of slavery as it relates to child trafficking in Southeastern Nigeria today.

Critical Research on Africa: Medical Legitimacy: Childbirth, Authenticity, and Pluralism in Nigeria’s Faith-Based (Aladura) Birthing Homes

Join Dr. Williams in exploring the advent of faith-based maternity homes in Nigeria since the early 1930s, and how they adapted to socio-political and biomedical trends in their search for legitimacy. While scholars have studied the contemporary roles of post-colonial African churches in health and healing, very few have considered faith-based obstetrics. By examining the history and professionalization of faith homes, Dr. Williams highlights the growth and significance of faith-based birthing institutions as primary maternal healthcare providers in Nigeria. She also shows the importance of medical pluralism in Africa and the indigenization of post-colonial African institutions.

African Studies Spring Conference

Information to be announced soon.