From: Prof. Dr. Bairu Tafla (af6a005@rzaixsrv2.rrz.uni-hamburg.de)
Date: Mon Apr 24 2000 - 05:41:19 EDT
Dear colleagues,
I am glad that you have come round at long last to planning a conference
on and in Eritrea. For months rumouurs circulated about the intention,
but this is the first reliable information I got on the plan, for which
I should like to congratulate the committee and ESA.
As to comments regarding the theme and objectives of the conference, I
have very few to make. Maybe you have already discussed the points I
should now like to raise, in which case you may ignore them.
1. I think the aim of the conference should be not only "to commemorate
the 10th anniversary of Eritrea's independence or liberation," but also
to found a permanent institution which provides an opportunity to
national and international scholars working on any aspect of Eritrean
studies to know one another, exchange ideas, co-ordinate their research
activities and exert their influences upon various institutions of
higher learning to promote Eritrean studies. This has been the case with
the international conferences pertaining to Ethiopian, Somali and
Sudanese/Nubian studies since the late 1950s. Those conferences have
certainly had influences on the establishment or promotion of some
sub-departments and/or research projects related to those countries
within African or Middle-Eastern area study programmes. It is no secret
that quite a few of the scholars have in times of crises acted as
advocates (in some cases propagandists) on behalf of the respective
countries they studied. Many of those conferences were initiated and
founded by foreigners abroad and, hence, they experienced difficulties
at one time or another to be well integrated with the country of study.
Eritrea has now a unique opportunity to initiate and host the first
international conference of Eritrean studies. The permament secretariat
should of course be located in Asmara, but it may be useful in many
respects if some of the subsequent conferences are held in some other
countries.
2. The proposed theme of the conference - Post-independence development
experience in Eritrea and opportunities for scholarships - is excellent
and has a clear purpose. But it is rather narrow in scope so that probably
a small number of academics (primarily economists, educationalists,
political scientists and sociologists) may attend the conference. Other
fields like anthropology, archaeology, ethnology, geography, history, law,
languages and literature are likely to be marginalized. Certainly one can
organize a symposium attended by a select group of experts and perhaps
attain better results. But such an exclusive meeting should be called by
its appropriate name. I for one would wish to see a reall conference under
such a theme as: "Perspectives of Eritrean Studies - Past and Present".
On account of its importance, the standing theme should of course claim a
separate session of its own within the big scheme.
3. Regarding the last point in your e-mail, namely whether 2001 or 2003
should be the year of the conference depends entirely on the required
preparations. As far as development in Eritrea is concerned, 1993 is as
good as 1991. The task of clearing the war debris and the work of
reconstruction predate the complete liberation anyhow. What is important
is whether the Association is in a position to raise the necessary funds
and to arrange for conference halls, hotels and transportation. The
invitation for 2001 should in any case be issued in May of this year at
the latest, because the participants need ample time for research and to
plan their trip.
I hope these lines are enough to trigger off some constructive
discussions. By way of closing my remarks, I should like to assure you of
my unreserved co-operation in this noble project, and please do not
hesitate to call upon my humble contribution if and when necessary.
With best regards
yours,
Bairu Tafla
On Thu, 20 Apr 2000 gtesfagiorgis@uneb.edu wrote:
> Dear colleagues,
>
> Yacob and I, as co-chairs for the proposed 10th anniversary conference to
> be held in Asmara, have been thinking about the possible theme and
> objectives for that conference. Below you will find a draft of what we came
> up with for your consideration. Please review and send your comments either
> to Yacob at <Fissehay@msu.edu> or myself at <gebretes@uneb.edu> as soon as
> you can. In addition to suggesting any changes to the general theme and
> objectives, we would particularly like to get your opinion on whether the
> conference should be held in 2001 or 2003.
>
> Following your comments, the plan is to widely announce an expanded version
> of this draft as an invitation for participation in the conference.
>
> Gebre H. Tesfagiorgis
> ________________________________________________________________
>
> Theme for the 10th Anniversary Conference in Asmara
>
> The Eritrean Studies Association (ESA), in cooperation with the University
> of Asmara, and the Research and Documentation Center of Eritrea, is
> planning on a conference to commemorate the 10th Anniversary of Eritrea's
> independence (or liberation*). The main theme and objectives of the
> conference are as follows:
>
> Theme: Post-Independence Development Experience in Eritrea and
> Opportunities for Scholarship
>
> Objectives:
> 1. To assess Eritrea's development experience of the
> post-independence decade in its wider sense.
> 2. To evaluate the status of Eritrean Studies - retrospective and
> prospective.
> 3. To identify existing and potential research and scholarship
> opportunities related to Eritrea.
> 4. To explore organizational and resource possibilities for the
> establishment of a national research institute.
>
>
> (* If organized for Year 2001, it should be "liberation;" if for Year 2003,
> it should be "independence." Which year should the conference be organized
> for is in itself an issue we need to decide. )
>
>
>