University of Zimbabwe land conference: call for papers

UNIVERSITY OF ZIMBABWE: FACULTY OF ARTS 2014 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE

Conference Theme: “Dialoguing Land and Indigenisation in Zimbabwe and the developing countries: A Multi-disciplinary Approach”

 Dates: 13th – 15th August 2014 Conference proceedings

 Venue: Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

 IMPORTANT DATES:

 28 February 2014 – SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS

 28 March 2014 - NOTIFICATION OF ACCEPTED ABSTRACTS

 28 June 2014 - SUBMISSION OF COMPLETED PAPERS

1. Background:
Cognisant of the recent ideas generated by Zimbabwe’s land reform programme and its regional and international impact, The Faculty of Arts, University of Zimbabwe, will host an international conference that will provide a platform for academics, researchers and post-graduate students from the University of Zimbabwe and other institutions, including Agricultural practitioners, to present well-researched papers, insights and case studies on the above theme. The aim of the conference is to provide an opportunity to academics and professionals from various fields of Human, Agricultural and Social Sciences to discuss Land and Indigenisation in ways that promote inter/cross-disciplinary interests and research. The conference’s objective is to dialogue on the afore-mentioned issues with a view to enhancing synergies across disciplines in serving their respective communities and nations. The book Zimbabwe takes back its land (2013) opened up debate internationally on Zimbabwe’s fast track land reform programme. This conference continues the debate. The authors Dr J. Hanlon, Dr J. Manjengwa and Ms T Smart of the book will be keynote speakers.

2. Motivation:

The richness of the Human and Social and Agricultural Sciences is embedded in the diverse material, cultural, spiritual and imaginative spaces manifest through languages, literatures, ideologies, religions, historical records, identities, politics and policy among other forms of media. For this reason, problematic conceptions and perceptions surrounding the subjects such as Land and Indigenisation within a global context embedded in the conference theme call for dialogue from a multi-disciplinary approach. Such dialogue is envisaged to dispel myths, enhance understanding, sharpen insights and court co-operation and reinvigoration of academia on issues that directly impact on people’s daily livelihoods and experiences in present day societies. It is also important to explore the idea of Human, Agricultural and Social Sciences as the vibrant cultural repertoires of many communities the world over, especially on matters pertaining to worldviews on Land and Indigenisation.

 

Papers are expected to be submitted in good time for presentation at the “Faculty of Arts International Conference which will take place from 13^th to 15^th August 2014 hosted by the Faculty of Arts, University of Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. This conference emphasises the need to academically engage each other’s presentation when dealing with how Human, Agricultural and Social Sciences approach issues of Land and Indigenisation in Zimbabwe and the developing countries within a global context.

3. Themes/Topics:

We will consider abstracts and papers dealing with, but not restricted to, the following topics

3.1 Information and Human Sciences

Information and knowledge management on Land and Indigenisation

·         Research trends on Land and Indigenisation within a global context

·         The politics of knowledge production in Human and Social Sciences

·         Ethics and Philosophy on Land and Indigenisation within a global context

·         Human and Social Sciences, Politics and the Law on Land and Indigenisation

·         Land, war, genocide and peace

·         Land, HIV/Aids and sustainable social development

·         Land, the Media and culture

·         Film and media on Land and Indigenisation within a global context

·         Visual arts, Land and Indigenisation

·         Performing Arts on Land and Indigenisation

·         Technology, Land Use and Management

·         Land and Urban Development

·         Managing the political economy of land in a global context

·         Case Studies

3.2 Land, Languages and Literary Discourses

 Traditional literature and land

·         Indigenous literature and land

·         Contemporary literature and land

·         Children’s literature and land

·         Women writers and land

·         Diaspora literature and land

·         African culture and land

·         Theories of literature and interpretation of ideologies on land and indigenisation within a  global context

·         Land, naming and identity

·         Land and Interface of the oral and the written literature

·         Memory, imagination and narrating the nation

3.3 Religion and Land

Theological perspectives on Land and Indigenisation within a global context

·         Land, identity and spirituality

·         Land and disability

·         Religion, law and land

·         Tradition and land

3.4 Land, Languages and Cross-border Identities

Land, Language and mobile communities

·         Land and citizenship

·         Land and trans-frontier  management

3.5 Land and Indigenisation: Connections and disconnections

Gendering Identities in African Arts and Humanities Studies

·         Connections and disconnections between African and Diasporan studies on land

            Languages and literary discourses in the mediation of the past and the future

·         Land and Heritage Management

·         Land and Conflict Management

3.6 Land and Agricultural Sciences

·         Small scale and large scale commercial farmers and land

·         Agricultural adaptation to climate change and climate variability

·         Practitioners and land

·         Land reform and Agricultural production and Markets

·         Land reform and Agricultural Economics

3.7 Multi –Inter- and Trans-disciplinary Approaches to Human and Social Sciences on

      Land and Indigenisation within a global context

 

·         Rethinking ideologies of Human and Social Sciences on Land and Indigenisation in the context of Globalisation

·         Roots and Routes of African cultural Renaissances and Land through Human and Social Sciences

·         Land, Indigenisation, Wealth Creation and Sustainable Human Development

·         Imagination, nation and literature on Land and Indigenisation within a global context

·         Land, Indigenous knowledge systems and Human, Agricultural and Social Sciences

·         Challenging normative theories of land and development through Human and Social Sciences

4. Outputs:

·         Site visits.

·         Conference proceedings containing abstracts and papers.

·         Good papers will be submitted for publication in refereed journals, eg. Development of Southern Africa, Journal of Southern African Studies and Zambezia.

·         We also anticipate publishing some of the outstanding papers in a volume or two of books carrying the conference theme as title.

5. Details concerning conference fees, accommodation and other related costs, including payment modes will be communicated to confirmed participants.

Abstracts of 250-300 words should be submitted to the Conference Committee: ruby.magosvongwe@yahoo.com; amupondi65@gmail.com; pedzimash@yahoo.com; gambahayaz@yahoo.com; imuwati@arts.uz.ac.zw; obertmlambo@gmail.com

Contact numbers: Faculty of Arts Office 00263 04 333529

Prof Pedzisai Mashiri: 00263 772 515953