Conference: Jews and Judaism in Black Africa and its diasporas
30-31 October 2010
Introduction
Call for Papers
Further information about ISSAJ
How to Register/Programme
Introduction
The first International Conference of The International Society for the Study of African Jewry (ISSAJ) is dedicated to a broad and interdisciplinary overview of the study of black African Jewry. What is the state of this field of study? What are the main points of discussion?
A number of recent studies have dealt with the construction of Judaism or Jewishness among Black Africans and its relation to the historical experience of migrations, slavery and colonialism. The growth of Judaism, or Jewishness among Black Africans has been nurtured by shared historical discourses about presumed Semitic origins and about Jews, Zionism and blackness that transcend national boundaries.
Particular perceptions of Jewish history have been viewed as a paradigm of African suffering and possible redemption, and can be found in a variety of political and religious discourses among Black Africans.
The topic of Black African Jewry, is not only restricted to the continent of Africa itself, but also includes Israel, the United States, the Carribean and Europe, where increasingly Black African societies are found which profess Jewish identities and practice Judaism in one form or another.
Call for Papers
We invite papers of any kind dealing with the scholarly investigation of African Judaism, the history of African Jews and the development of Semitic discourses to participate.
Submission deadline: 30 April 2010 by email to Edith Bruder, edithbruder@gmail.com
Abstracts should succinctly state the problematic addressed 200 words.
Applications must include the name of the presenter, university degrees obtained, and current institutional affiliation, if any.
Participants will be expected to pay conference fees to SOAS and ISSAJ membership to the association as well.
Further information about ISSAJ
The International Society for the Study of African Jewry (ISSAJ) is a community of scholars and students engaged in the study of African Jewry and its diverse cultures, historical environments, religious beliefs and practices. The objectives of ISSAJ are to facilitate scholarly collaboration, research and discussion and to disseminate research findings through regular conferences and newsletters.
The ISSAJ members are an international and interdisciplinary community of scholars and students in African Studies, Jewish Studies, Ethnology, Social Anthropology, Modern History, History of Religions, and History of Ideas. However, the International Committee cordially invites all academics or students interested in the scholarly investigation of the diversity of African Judaism, whatever their discipline, to participate.
How to Register/Programme
Further details about the fees, how to register and further information
