CALL FOR ACTION! MADAGASCAR 2001!!Third International Conference on Women in Africa & the African Diaspora
(WAAD III)
Theme:
FACING THE NEW MILLENNIUM:
GENDER IN AFRICA & THE AFRICAN DIASPORA--RETROSPECTION & PROSPECTS
ANTANANARIVO & TAMATAVE, MADAGASCAR
(OCTOBER 8-17, 2001)
PREAMBLE
"Onye amaro ebe nmili si bido mabaya ama ama onye nyelu ya akwa oji welu
ficha aru" (Igbo proverb)/If you do not remember where the rain started to
beat you, you will not remember who gave you the towel with which to dry
your body.The relationship between history/memory and progress evident in the above
Igbo proverb reflects the Janus-faced enterprise that will be undertaken
by the third international conference on Women in Africa and African
Diaspora (WAAD III), to be held in magnificent Madagascar at the dawn of a
new millennium (October 2001). In the tradition of WAAD conferences, WAAD
III will focus on issues relating to women of African descent but more
than before, the meeting in Madagascar will draw attention to the urgency
and pertinence of a sense of history as participants engage simultaneously
in stocktaking and mapping forward-looking strategies for future
engagements.WAAD has its own history. The first conference (WAAD I), which was held in
1992 in the rural Igbo town of Nsukka (Nigeria), brought together over 700
men and women from all continents. The sub-theme of WAAD I, "Bridges
across Activism and the Academy," underscores the conference's primary
goal of providing an arena for the equal participation of researchers and
grassroots women, men, and organizations. The second conference held in
the American city of Indianapolis in October 1998 gathered hundreds of
participants from 35 countries and 48 national and international
organizations to examine issues related to the health and human rights of
women of African descent. This third conference to be held in the historic
and beautiful island of Madagascar will examine, in cross-disciplinary
terms, gender in relation to history, the arts, peace, democracy, and
development.As we enter a new age, what should be the African response to non-African
structures as they relate to women and gender, gender synthesis, etc.?
What constitutes the Africanness of the woman? What is "woman" in Africa
and the Diaspora? An examination of any of these issues and questions
directs an inward look into the African political, cultural and
socio-economic structures and history in order to engage development. What
kind of development? Whose development?Discussing the issue of development, K. Y. Amoako, the Executive Secretary
of the Economic Commission for Africa asserts that "Africa is experiencing
a renaissance." What is the gender implication of this renaissance? Can
women in Africa and the African Diaspora traverse the millennial highway
with their male counterparts?What techniques, tools or skills are needed for this enterprise? Constructive
analysis of governance, race relations, economic and legal reforms, war
and peace, cultural norms, oral and written literatures, the media and
information technology aimed at gender-friendly reconstruction is the
starting point of engagement for the WAAD III gathering of individuals and
organizations.PARTICIPANTS:
WAAD does not discriminate on the basis of gender, class, race, religious
affiliation, ethnicity, national origin, etc. Researchers, students,
activists and policy makers, members of the media, writers and
artists as well as all those who are interested in issues relating to
women in Africa and the African Diaspora are invited to participate in
this conference.FORMAT:
There will be keynote/plenary speeches, panel presentations, workshops,
forums, town-meetings, art exhibitions, photo/slide presentations, and
film screening. Because the conference is designed to encourage maximum
participation from students and grassroots men, women, and organizations,
we will create an environment conducive to a free flow of information and
exchanges.LANGUAGE:
English and French are the official languages of WAAD. Proposals
and papers in both languages will be accepted.PAPERS:
We expect papers that deal with the nature, strengths and weaknesses of
gender as well as the forces and structures that impact gender, those that
have continued to shape gender, and those that are expected to influence
it in the new millennium. Aspects of this broad field should be tackled
as they relate to various fields and concerns such culture, theory, arts,
development, economy, education, politics, science, ethnicity and
diversity, war and peace, post/neo-colonialism, globalization etc.THEORY:
Papers should address concepts, theoretical questions, and issues such as
womanism, feminism, gender, biologism, sex and sexualities, masculinities,
race/racism/race relations, female underdevelopment, patriarchy, gender
education, structural inequality, motherhood, empowerment, power systems,
polygamy, matriarchy, gender attitude etc. Is gender significant in the
social, political and economic agenda of African states? What is the
panacea for change--gender rhetoric, symbolic action, tokens, policies,
civil disobedience, non-violence strategies, etc.? In light of the
multiple relegation of women due to race, gender, class and caste, etc.,
how should government policies and programs be packaged and targeted?CONFLICTS/PEACE, IMMIGRATION, HUMAN RIGHTS & THE LAW:
How do issues such as women's rights, human rights, and legislation relate
to rape, femicide, and other forms of violence against women? How
do African traditional institutions and practices such as circumcision,
marriage, family, widowhood rites and ceremonies construct "woman"? What
is the status of women in traditional, statutory, religious (Islamic,
Christian etc.) and international laws? How have global emigration,
border-crossing and immigration policies affected women in Africa and
the African Dispora? What are the consequences of wars/social conflicts
on women not only as victims of wars but also as makers of peace?HEALTH--RESEARCH & SERVICES:
We expect papers to address issues in traditional and modern health
delivery systems; evaluate health care policies and research, sanitation
services, cultural practices related to women's health, and child and
maternal care; rethink issues in children's socialization, aging,
emotional and mental health, and propose strategies for tackling endemic
diseases such as malaria, HIV/AIDS, cancer and tuberculosis.ARTS AND HUMANITIES:
Construction, deconstruction and reconstruction of images and myths (of
women and gender) that inhibit progress are major issues in the
discipline. Papers should address African/African Diaspora gender
construction, reconstruction, influences and projection in the work
of story-tellers, writers, poets, artists, dramatists, performers,
musicians, film-makers, information technicians, and media experts. What
is and should be the place of women in professions in the arts (film,
theater, plastic and fine arts etc.), publishing, information technology,
and communication? What role does/should the arts play in development?EDUCATION:
The nature and value of existing education/educational systems will be
investigated. Is the colonial/Western-oriented education adequate
in preparing Africans to question gender realities and women's education,
tackle the massive globalization and aggressive world capital, and
transform rather than conform to such realities? What are the prospects of
non-institutionalized education--radio, video, the television and
tele-centers? Is there a place or need for feminist/womanist/gender
conscientization in the educational systems?POLITICAL ECONOMY:
The gap between Africa and African Diaspora as well as widening gulf
between African and Caucasian worlds are of serious concern--women and
governance, democratization, militarization, activism, constitutional
changes, war, peace and security, African women and global economy,
prospects of small holdings and free market in the reign of capitalism,
pre-industrial, industrial and post-industrial experience and complexes,
indigenisation, privatization, non governmental organizations (NGOs),
political and economic emancipation, urban/rural, African/Diaspora,
north/south, role/work are possible areas of investigation.RELIGION:
What is the status of women in the old and new religions, sects
and cults? What is its impact on the new world order, diversity and
feminist/womanist ideology/theology? What is the role/use of religion in
women's predicament/lives and what are the prospects for women's
development and empowerment?SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
Traditional and modern science, the role of women in science and the use
of science for women and gender categorizations are important areas of
concern. For example, the implications of male-centered and women-hostile
equipment are topical issues.CULTURE:
Papers should use the broad perspective of culture to engage any
aspect of the above categories in their inter-connectedness. For example,
traditional role-sharing can intersect with marital stress which is a
health issue and poverty which is an economic issue.NETWORKING:
The regionalization of WAAD operations will allow the different regions
(through the country representatives and regional co-ordinators) to bring
to the the table agendas which reflect regional realities and specificity.
The conference will provide a fertile ground for networking as participants
search for solutions to these issues in their uniqueness and similarities.
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