HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY African Studies Program and the
Department of Romance Languages and Literatures cordially invite you to attend
Speaking of African Material Cultures and Histories: A Workshop for New Research in African Studies Friday, December 10, 2010 1-6 p.m. Leo A. Guthart Cultural Center Theater Joan and Donald E. Axinn Library, First Floor, South Campus 1-2 p.m. – Buffet Lunch 2-5 p.m. – Presentation of Projects 5-6 p.m. – Q-and-A Session and Refreshments Panelists: ALBA VALENCIANO MAÑÉ, CSIC, Spain; Visiting Faculty Research Fellow, Hofstra University, Fall 2010. Between Mimicry and Difference: Exploring Clothing and Identities in Equatorial Guinea. This presentation will take some ethnographic examples as the starting point in order to analyze how, through dress, the identities can be constructed, imposed or resisted in Equatorial Guinea. The categories of dress that mediate these identities (African fashion and Western fashion) are based on the principles of mimesis and differentiation. Far from being a contradiction, these principles are managed depending on the specific necessities of each circumstance. The presenter proposes a methodological debate about how to analyze the construction of African postcolonial identities in the global context of transnational circulation of commodities. SASHA NEWELL, Department of Sociology and Anthropology, College of the Holy Cross. Ivoirian Youth Culture: Indexing Excess and the Externality of Brands. This research explores how unemployed urban youth perform successfully beyond their means in order to demonstrate their superior taste and urban savvy in Ivory Coast. Through their knowledge of American street style, they claimed greater access to modernity than the “bosses,” or Ivoirian elite, who continue to dress ”French” by wearing suits, which were labeled as “traditional” by the youth studied as part of this research. The prestige of each group was predicated on its ability to index externality, or cosmopolitan knowledge (Europe and America) of the Beng people. The ability to purchase authentic brands was proof of one’s cultural knowledge of “real” modernity. LLORENÇ PICORNELL GELABERT, University of Barcelona, Spain; Columbia University. Walking on Mandji. First Thoughts PICORNELL on an Anthropological and Archaeological Project in Columbia EquatorialUniversity. Guinea. This presentation focuses LLORENÇ GELABERT, University of Barcelona, Spain; Walking on Mandji. First on the firstonresults of a large research project that is currently a recent survey undertaken Thoughts an Anthropological and Archaeological Project inunderway. EquatorialDuring Guinea. This presentation focuses island of Mandji (known in theproject West as several sites of During the Early and Late Ironundertaken Age were on the first results of a large research thatCorisco), is currently underway. a recent survey recorded. The of most spectacular three burial sites,sites the of largest of which has yielded on the island Mandji (known discoveries in the Westare as Corisco), several the Early and Late Iron Ageseveral were intact tombs many artifacts discoveries (axes, spears, bracelets, pots) 410recorded. Thewith most spectacular areanklets, three burial sites,complete the largest of radiocarbon-dated which has yielded to several 640 A.D. At the same time, seven historical sites anklets, were recorded thatcomplete potentially offer us a great opportunity to intact tombs with many artifacts (axes, spears, bracelets, pots) radiocarbon-dated to 410(re)construct the history of this “terra incognita” in Central West African historiography. These discoveries 640 A.D. At the same time, seven historical sites were recorded that potentially offer us a great opportunity to open an interesting dialogof about discourses and material culture. These discoveries (re)construct the history this local “terramemories, incognita”scientific in Central West African historiography. open an interesting dialog about local memories, scientific discourses and material culture. JOHN CINNAMON, Department of Anthropology, Miami University/Hamilton. Missionaries and the End of SlaveryCINNAMON, in 19th-Century Gabon. ofWhen American Miami Presbyterians arrived in the Missionaries Gabon Estuary in the JuneEnd 1842, JOHN Department Anthropology, University/Hamilton. and of they encountered a world of British, American, and French anti-slavery efforts, as well as early French colonial Slavery in 19th-Century Gabon. When American Presbyterians arrived in the Gabon Estuary in June 1842, imposition. They were alsoof struck by American, an ongoingand Atlantic slave trade as well as widespread African slavery. This they encountered a world British, French anti-slavery efforts, as well as early French colonial presentation explores the perspectives of two American missionaries: John Leighton Wilson, who founded the imposition. They were also struck by an ongoing Atlantic slave trade as well as widespread African slavery. This Gabon mission in 1842, and Robert Hamill Nassau, who served in present-day Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and presentation explores the perspectives of two American missionaries: John Leighton Wilson, who founded the Cameroon fromin1861 1906. Both menNassau, providewho significant insights into processes enslavement, the Gabon mission 1842,toand Robert Hamill served in present-day EquatorialofGuinea, Gabon, and experiencesfrom of the1861 enslaved, and Both anti-slavery efforts, as well as the moral into ambivalence of of Americans in the age Cameroon to 1906. men provide significant insights processes enslavement, the of emancipation. experiences of the enslaved, and anti-slavery efforts, as well as the moral ambivalence of Americans in the age Discussant: of emancipation.
CÉCILE STEPHANIE STEHRENBERGER, University of Zurich, Switzerland Discussant: CÉCILE STEPHANIE STEHRENBERGER, University of Zurich, Switzerland This event is free and open to Hofstra and non-Hofstra faculty members and interested scholars. The workshop is organized by Benita Sampedro Vizcaya, Department Romance faculty Languages and Literatures, andscholars. Renoir The McDonaugh, Studies This event is free and open to Hofstra andofnon-Hofstra members and interested workshop African is organized by Program. Co-sponsored by the Department of Anthropology and the Hofstra Cultural Center. Benita Sampedro Vizcaya, Department of Romance Languages and Literatures, and Renoir McDonaugh, African Studies Program. Co-sponsored by the Department of Anthropology and the Hofstra Cultural Center. For more information, please send an e-mail to Benita.Sampedro@hofstra.edu, Gabrielle.R.McDonaugh@hofstra.edu or Athelene.A.Collins@hofstra.edu. For more information, please send an e-mail to Benita.Sampedro@hofstra.edu, Gabrielle.R.McDonaugh@hofstra.edu or Athelene.A.Collins@hofstra.edu.