Preliminary Program of LSA 2021 Pre-conference (Virtual, June 22-26)

 

The Lagos Studies Association is pleased to release the preliminary program of the pre-conference workshops and seminars of its annual conference, which will take place virtually between June 22 and 26, 2021. The preconference features sessions on book and journal publishing, grant and fellowship application writing, teaching pedagogy, women graduate students mentoring, graduate school experience and application, and conducting archival research and fieldwork in Nigeria, among others.

 

All the 120 panels at the five-day virtual conference will be free-of-charge to all participants, across the world, because of the financial support of LSA members, especially life members, the British Academy, and the Nigeria Office of the French Institute for Research in Africa. To aid attendance, we are giving 15gb of Internet data to 500 Nigeria-based participants. You can donate to LSA via our secured PayPal platform: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=7MGBJQ8ALWH6L

 

For regular updates on the conference, including date and time of final schedule, follow LSA on social media (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/205111409881162; Twitter: https://twitter.com/LagosStudies), request to be added to our listserv (lagosstudiesassociation@gmail.com), or check our website (https://lagosstudies.wcu.edu).

 

 

• Publish That Book: A Roundtable of Series and Acquisition Editors

This roundtable is on the nitty gritty of academic book publishing. It complements our usual sessions on “From Dissertation to Book Manuscript” and “Journal Article Publishing.” We are excited that acquisition and series editors from four leading international presses, whose books we are also presenting at the conference, have agreed to participate in this session. They will answer the big question: What do editors look for in a book manuscript? This session serves as a bridge between book writing process, which we regularly teach at the preconference and the final product that we celebrate at the book panels. The roundtable promises to attract early career scholars who are revising their doctoral dissertations into publishable book manuscripts, among other categories of academics looking for credible outlets for their rigorously-researched works.

 

Panelists

Chair: Adélékè Adéẹ̀kọ́ (Ohio State University)

 

Discussants

Elizabeth Ault (Acquisition Editor, Duke University Press)

Atifa Jiwa (Acquisition Editor, Cambridge University Press)

Ola Uduku and Taibat Lawanson (Co-editors, James Currey Series “Making and Remaking the African City: Studies in Urban Africa”)

Derek Peterson (Co-editor, Ohio University Press Series “New African Histories”)

 

 

• Publish that Article: A Roundtable of Journal Editors

One of the biggest debates in African knowledge production is what constitutes a good journal manuscript. The debate is exacerbated by the expanding gap in resources and professional development opportunities for scholars, especially Africa-based junior academics. This roundtable is designed to help prospective authors with core information about quality research and writing, determining where to send manuscript, and the entire peer-review process.

 

Panelists

Chair: Carli Coetzee (Editor, Journal of African Cultural Studies)

 

Discussants

Nwando Achebe (Editor-in-Chief, Journal of West African History)

Remi Adekoya (Editor, Review of African Political Economy)

Stephanie Kitchen (Editorial Manager, Africa: The Journal of International African Institute)

Mojubaolu Okome (Editor, Irinkerindo: Journal of African Migration)

Kayode Samuel (Editor, African Notes)

 

 

• Pedagogy of Teaching

There is no gainsaying the fact that the art of teaching is rarely offered as part of curriculum and professional development in many institutions. Yet, colleges and universities expect new and established instructors to “grow on the job,” while providing little to no resources to aid quality teaching. Expanding teaching load, poor resources for effective teaching, and disconnection between research interest and teaching concentration all have a negative impact on quality knowledge dissemination. Many instructors struggle to teach effectively as they grapple with conflicting expectations of how best to impart knowledge. Yet, every component of teaching pedagogy is teachable to both new and established instructors.

 

Topics for discussion include but not limited to the following:

 

• Developing a teaching philosophy
• Designing a syllabus: Course objectives and goals
• Reading list and access to teaching materials
• Beyond the Classroom: Designing a travel abroad course
• Virtual teaching and technology
• Classroom management
• Teaching to strengths
• Developing field trip and travel courses

 

Panelists

Chair: Hakeem Ibikunle Tijani (National Open University of Nigeria)

 

Discussants

Kolawole Adekola (University of Ibadan)

Adeyemi Ademowo (Afe Babalola University)

Kwame Essien (Lehigh University)

Ivy Mills (University of California-Berkeley)

John Thabiti Willis (Carleton College)

 

 

 

• Doing Research in Nigeria: Reflections on Archival and Fieldwork Experience

Nigeria is one of the most studied countries in Africa. The dense trove of sources on the country continued to motivate scholars to conduct research across multiple disciplinary confines. This roundtable seeks to reflect on the changing landscape of research in Nigeria from scholars at different stages of their career. Panelists will reflect on how they conduct research in Nigeria, their experience on the field and in the archive, how they navigate the cultural and linguistic landscape of their research area, and their relationship with Nigerian academics on the ground. We anticipate discussion about new frontiers in Nigerian studies, how new theoretical perspectives shape data collection and interpretation, and some ethical issues relating to human subject research.

 

Panelists

Chair: Lynn Schler (Ben Gurion University of the Negev)

 

Discussants

Kudus Adebayo (University of Ibadan)/Sociology/African Diaspora/Migration

Grace Adeniyi-Ogunyankin (Queen’s University)/ Gender, Feminist and Women’s Studies/Urban Studies/Black Futurity

Abidemi Babatunde Babalola (University of Cambridge)/ Archeology/Museum Studies Culture/Comparative Civilization

Maria Martin (University of California- Merced)/ Women and Gender/History/ Black World Feminist Theory

Portia Roelofs (St Anne’s College, University of Oxford)/African Politics/Development Studies/Political Theory

Tara Reyelts (University of Texas at San Antonio)/History/Women’s and Gender Studies

 

 

• Meet the Money Bag: A Roundtable of Research and Fellowship Grantors

 

This roundtable features representatives from research and fellowship grantors. Access to money for research is fundamental for professional development. As fellowship opportunities decline, the competitiveness of the few ones has increased. We hope that this roundtable would provide core information about expectations for research grants and other opportunities.

 

Panelists

Chair: Laurent Fourchard (Sciences Po)

 

Discussants

Tade Aina (Head of Research, Mastercard Foundation)

Vincent Hiribarren (Director, The French Institute for Research in Africa)

Cyril Obi (Program Director, The Africa Initiatives, Social Science Research Council)

 

 

• From Thesis to Book: A Roundtable of First Book Authors

 

Revising a doctoral thesis into a book is one of the greatest feats that any scholar (especially in North America) can achieve. This process takes an average of six years and requires a lot of mentoring. This interactive session with scholars who have successfully revised their doctoral dissertation into a book promises to unmask the myth and realities of first book publishing.

 

Panelists

Chair: Moses Ochonu (Vanderbilt University)

 

Discussants

Shola Adenekan (University of Amsterdam), author of African Literature in the Digital Age

Oluwakemi Balogun (University of Oregon), author of Beauty Diplomacy

Robin P. Chapdelaine (Duquesne University), author of The Persistence of Slavery

Sam Daly (Duke University), author of A History of the Republic of Biafra

Simidele Dosekun (London School of Economics and Political Science), author of Fashioning Postfeminism

Ndubueze L. Mbah (University at Buffalo), author of Emergent Masculinities

 

 

• Gender and the Academy (Organized by the LSA Mentoring Program for Women Graduate Students in Nigeria)

 

Launched in 2019, the LSA mentoring program is one step towards creating opportunity for women graduate students to work with established scholars in the humanities and the social sciences. Through regular conversation about professional development opportunities, the mentoring program equips women graduate students with the confidence and skill to develop as strong intellectuals. The senior scholars in the program serve as role model for the graduate students as they develop competent skills for a sustainable productive academic life. In addition to meeting with individual mentees, the mentors had two successful interactive sessions with Nigeria-based women scholars at LSA 2019 and organized two well-attended webinars on sexual harassment in higher education in October 2020.

 

Part I

 

Panelists

Chair: Louisa Egbunike (Durham University)

 

Discussants

Belinda Achibong (Barnard College- Columbia University)

Judith Byfield (Cornell University)

Abosede George (Barnard College-Columbia University)

Taibat Lawanson (University of Lagos)

Peju Layiwola (University of Lagos)

 

 

Part II

 

Panelists

Chair:  Mojubaolu Olufunke Okome (Brooklyn College, CUNY)

 

Discussants

Lisa Lindsay (University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill)

Oyeronke Oyewumi (Stony Brook University)

Lynn Schler (Ben Gurion University of the Negev)

Ola Uduku (Manchester School of Architecture)

Bamidele Wale-Oshinowo (University of Lagos)

Yetunde Zaid (University of Lagos)

 

 

• Postdoctoral Fellowship Application and Experience

 

At every LSA Conference, we organize a pre-conference session on postdoctoral fellowship application, featuring Nigeria-based academics who have won residency awards across the world. Panelists will share their experience of writing proposal, applying for fellowship, conducting research, and publishing. This session promises to demystify postdoctoral fellowship application.

 

Topics for discussion include but not limited to the following:

• How did you know about the opportunity?
• Sourcing information on fellowship
• Writing proposal
• Networking and professional development
• Letter of recommendation and application requirement
• Financial and professional reward of fellowship
• Overall benefit of fellowship to professional development

 

 

Panelists

Chair: Ọláyínká Àkànle (Postdoctoral Fellow, SARChl Chair in Social Policy, University of South Africa/Research Associate, University of Johannesburg/University of Ibadan)

 

Discussants

Adeyemi Ademowo (African Humanities Program of the American Council of Learned Societies Fellow/Afe Babalola University)

Morenikeji Asaaju (Leventis Postdoctoral Fellow, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London/Obafemi Awolowo University)

Eniola Boluwaduro (AfOx-TORCH Fellow, University of Oxford/Redeemer’s University)

Babajide Ololajulo (African Humanities Program of the American Council of Learned Societies Fellow/Leventis Fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London/University of Michigan African Presidential Scholar/University of Ibadan)

Samaila Suleiman (Social Sciences Research Council Fellow, New York/African Humanities Program of the American Council of Learned Societies Fellow/Bayero University)

 

 

• Graduate School Application and Experience in North America: Perspectives from Graduate Students

 

Every year, the LSA organizes a session on graduate school application and experience featuring Nigerian graduate students studying in North America. As always, the session promises to demystify application process to make applicants more competitive. Topics for discussion include but not limited to:

 

Panelists

Chair: Chijioke Azuawusiefe (University of Pennsylvania)

 

Discussants

Adebisi Alade (McMaster University)

Waliu Ismaila (West Virginia University)

Mosunmola Adeojo (University of Florida)

Chijioke Kizito Onah (Cornell University)

Titilope Salami (University of British Columbia)

 

• Pre-doctoral/Dissertation Completion Fellowship

LSA predoctoral fellowship workshop continues the tradition of exposing Africa-based graduate students to scholarship and fellowship opportunities for completing their MA and PhD on the continent. Featuring previous winners of notable predoctoral fellowships and scholarships, the workshop promises to demystify application process to make applicants more competitive.

 

Topics for discussion include but not limited to the following:

 

• How did you know about the opportunity?
• Sourcing information on fellowship
• Writing proposal
• Networking and professional development
• Letter of recommendation and application requirement
• Financial and professional reward of fellowship
• Overall benefit of fellowship to professional development

 

 

Panelists

Co-chair: Akeem Akinwale (University of Lagos) and Olusola Ogunnubi (Carleton University and the University of the Free State, Bloemfontein)

 

Discussants

Adejoke Adetoro (Doctoral Fellow in the Remoboko Research Group at Leibniz Zentrum Moderner Orient, Berlin/University of Ibadan)

Fisayo Ajala (SSRC Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship/Stellenbosch University)

Folaranmi Olorunnibe (African Multiple Cluster of Excellence Scholarship/Rhodes University)

Oriade Temitayo Omigbule (Erasmus Mundus Scholarship/Obafemi Awolowo University)

Oluwatosin Samuel Orimolade (SSRC Doctoral Dissertation Research Fellowship/Makarere University)

 

 

• Graduate School Application and Experience in Europe: Perspectives from Graduate Students

 

Every year, the LSA organizes a session on graduate school application and experience featuring Nigerian graduate students studying in Europe. As always, the session promises to demystify application process to make applicants more competitive. Topics for discussion include but not limited to:

 

Topics for discussion include but not limited to the following:
• Things to consider when picking graduate program
• Contacting prospective supervisors: Dos and Don’ts
• What admission committees look for in application dossier
• Writing competitive PhD proposal
• Funding for graduate education

 

Panelists

Chair: Adeyemi Balogun (University of Bayreuth)

 

Discussants

Immaculata Abba (Oxford University)

Vivian Chiamaka Ejezie (The Graduate Institute, Geneva)

Augustin Farinola (University of Birmingham)

Ayotunde Ojo (University of York)

Simeon Meshack Imologie (University of Bayreuth)

Michaels Iziegbe Omwanhiaokpa (University of Bologna)

 

 

• Graduate School Application and Experience in Europe: Perspectives from Graduate Faculty

 

Every year, the LSA organizes a session on graduate school application process featuring graduate school faculty in European universities. As always, the session promises to demystify application process to make applicants more competitive.

 

Topics for discussion include but not limited to the following:

• Things to consider when picking graduate program
• Contacting prospective supervisors: Dos and Don’ts
• What admission committees look for in application dossier
• Writing competitive PhD proposal
• Funding for graduate education

 

Panelists

Chair: Simon Heap (Oxford Brookes University)

 

Discussants

Wale Adebanwi (University of Oxford)

Ayokunu Adedokun (Leiden University)

Davide Casciano (University of Bologna)

Elizabeth Cobbett (University of East Anglia)

Christine Scherer (University of Bayreuth)

 

 

 

• Graduate School Application and Experience in North America: Perspectives from Graduate Faculty

 

Every year, the LSA organizes a session on graduate school application process featuring graduate school faculty in North American universities. As always, the session promises to demystify application process to make applicants more competitive.

 

Topics for discussion include but not limited to the following:
• Things to consider when picking graduate program

• Contacting prospective supervisors: Dos and Don’ts
• What admission committees look for in application dossier
• Writing your statement of purpose and choosing writing samples
• Funding for graduate education
• Comprehensive examination and dissertation committee
• Conducting fieldwork and sourcing for external funding
• Writing your dissertation and preparing for the job market

 

Panelists

Chair: Susan Rosenfeld (University of California-Los Angeles)

 

Discussants

Tyler Fleming (University of Louisville)

Nduka Otiono (Carleton University)

Nathan Suhr-Sytsma (Emory University)

Stacey Vanderhurst (University of Kansas)