From: Olufemi Akinola (akinola@fas.harvard.edu)
Date: Mon Apr 24 2000 - 20:10:14 EDT
Dear colleagues,
By all means, include all subjects-matter pertaining to Eritrea. The
underlying issue though is ESA and Eritreanists need to
a) adapt to the changing operational environment of Eritrean studies;
b) engage in some critical introspection, and
c) develop "rules" of method that take account of the possible
"professionalization" of the discipline.
Professor Bairu's suggested theme, "Perspectives on Eritrean Studies...",
offers sufficient room within which to pursue these tasks and others. A
2001 date also looks ambitious. I might have more to say as the discussion
develops.
Best,
Femi.
*********************
Olufemi A. Akinola, Ph.D.,
Harvard University
W.E.B. Du Bois Institute
Barker Center - 12 Quincy Street
Cambridge, MA 02138.
On Mon, 24 Apr 2000, Pamela DeLargy wrote:
> I, also, enthusiastically endorse the idea of this conference (ah - I
> remember our dreaming about this possibility way back when ESA was born!
> ESA mtg in Asmara!!).
>
> There has been so much interesting work going on about and in Eritrea that
> I also hope that we can make the theme sufficiently broad to include the
> natural sciences, health, physical science and energy, business, etc. and
> not get focussed on the social sciences to the exclusion of these. (This
> may help to keep us tougher on the quality of research, too? Sometimes the
> general enthusiasm for Eritrea's uniqueness results in less than strong
> research and what may be seen as more cheer'leading!)
>
> Given the situation, I would lean towards the later date - to ensure that
> there is time for full planning and participation (and also we hope, for
> consolidation of peace). I recall that the Against All Odds conference in
> January (on African Languages and literature) actually took a number of
> years of planning and quite a lot of work by the planning committees
> outside and in Eritrea. Of course, itwould be nice to do it soonest - but
> it's more important to do it really right.
>
> Please count on my support///
>
> Pam delargy
>
>
>
>
> Sondra Hale wrote:
>
> > Dear Colleagues,
> >
> > I am in accord with the excellent statement below, which basically
> > advocates defining "development" in a progressive and enlightened way,
> > i.e., broadly. I may add some comments later.
> >
> > Sondra Hale
> > Adjunct Professor
> > Anthropology Department
> > University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
> >
> > ==============================
> > At 11:41 AM 4/24/00 +0200, you wrote:
> > >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. )
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
>
>