Nominations are hereby invited for the following positions to be filled by the next ALA conference in spring 2018: (i) Vice President (ii) Treasurer (iv) Executive Councilors (2 vacancies) The instructions for submitting nominations are contained in Appendix I (amended in June 2015) of the ALA Bylaws: “ALA members are reminded of their constitutional right to nominate from the membership at large. Any two paid-up members of the organization can nominate another paid-up member for election to the EC by sending a jointly signed letter or electronic communication to the Vice President. The Vice-President will confirm the eligibility of the nominators’ members and the candidates for elections." Please send your nominations to the ALA Vice President, Cilas Kemedjio (cilas.kemedjio@rochester.edu) by Tuesday, September 5,...

The African Literature Association is currently accepting nominations for the following awards. The awards will be presented at the ALA Conference from May 23-27, 2018 in Washington, DC. Fonlon-Nichols Award (Deadline Extended: November 15, 2017) For excellence in creative writing and contributions to the struggle for human rights and freedom  of expression. It is given every year to an African writer. The Award was established in 1992 to honor Bernard Fonlon and Lee Nichols for their contributions to both African literature and the freedom of expression. Authors cannot nominate themselves, and neither can their publishers nominate them. Send nominations as email document attachments to: cilas.kemedjio@rochester.edu Please note: The nomination statement should contain: (1) a biographical profile of the nominee (2) a detailed justification for  the nomination. This should not be more than 2 single-spaced or 4 double-spaced pages ALA Distinguished Member Award (Deadline Extended: November, 2017) For outstanding record of service to the ALA and commitment to teaching and scholarship in African literature. By nomination only. Nominees must have distinguished themselves over the years in service to the ALA, and commitment to teaching and scholarship in, and promotion of, African literature. Self-nominations are not accepted. Send nominations as email document attachments to: cilas.kemedjio@rochester.edu Please note: The nomination statement should contain: (1) a biographical profile of the nominee (2) a detailed justification for the nomination. This should not be more than 2 single spaced or 4 double-spaced pages. Graduate Student Best Essay Award (Deadline: July 31, 2017) For an outstanding paper in African literary studies by a graduate student. Authors must be current members of the ALA. The paper must have been presented at the preceding ALA conference (i.e. in 2017). (The expectation is that authors have had the benefit of comments at the conference and have revised the paper). Send by email to cilas.kemedjio@rochester.edu, the following: (1) the paper and an abstract, in Word document, with no name or any other identifying mark anywhere; (2) a pdf file of the 2017 ALA conference Program page showing the panel in which the paper was presented (3) CV and bio Book of the Year Award—Creative Writing (Deadline:  July 31, 2017) For an outstanding book of African literature, whether novel, non-fiction prose, play, or poetry collection, published in the preceding calendar year (2016) by an African writer. Authors must be current members of the ALA. Authors or their publishers can make nominations. Send an author bio, one-page book description, and 5 copies to: James McCorkle, Africana Studies Hobart and William Smith Colleges 300 Pulteney Street Geneva, NY 14456 mccorkle@hws.edu Book of the Year Award—Scholarship (Deadline:  July 31, 2017) For an outstanding book in African literary studies published in the preceding calendar year...

Nominations are hereby invited for the following positions to be filled by the next ALA conference in spring 2017: (i) Vice President (ii) Treasurer (iii) Secretary (iv) Executive Councilors (2 vacancies) The instructions for submitting nominations are contained in Appendix I (amended in June 2015) of the ALA Bylaws: “ALA members are reminded of their constitutional right to nominate from the membership at large. Any two paid-up members of the organization can nominate another paid-up member for election to the EC by sending a jointly signed letter or electronic communication to the Vice President. The Vice-President will confirm the eligibility of the nominators’ members and the candidates for elections." Please send your nominations to the ALA Vice President, Adélékè Adéẹ̀kọ́ (adeeko.1@osu.edu) by Monday, August 1,...

The African Literature Association is currently accepting nominations for the following awards. Please note the deadlines and the specified individual to whom and all nominations and materials should be addressed. The awards will be presented at the ALA 43rd Annual Meeting and Conference, June 2017, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA. Graduate Student Best Essay Award (Deadline: Thursday, September 1, 2016) For an outstanding paper in African literary studies by a graduate student. Authors must be current members of the ALA. The paper must have been presented at the preceding ALA conference (i.e. in 2016). (The expectation is that authors have had the benefit of comments at the conference and have revised the paper). Send the following by email to: Marie Kruger (marie-kruger@uiowa.edu) (1) the paper and an abstract, in Word document, with no name or any other identifying mark anywhere; (2) a pdf file of the 2016 ALA conference Program page showing the panel in which the paper was presented (3) CV and bio Book of the Year Award – Creative Writing (Deadline: Thursday, September 1, 2016) For an outstanding book of African literature, whether novel, non-fiction prose, play, or poetry collection, published in the preceding calendar year (2015) by an African writer. Authors must be current members of the ALA. Authors or their publishers can make nominations. Send an author bio, one-page book description, and 5 copies to: Onipede Hollist, ALA Awards, Department of English University of Tampa 401 W. Kennedy Blvd Tampa, FL 33606 Book of the Year Award – Scholarship (Deadline: Thursday, September 1, 2016) For an outstanding book in African literary studies published in the preceding calendar year (2015). Authors must be current members of the ALA. Book must be published by a reputable peer-reviewed press. Authors or their publishers can make nominations. Send an author bio, one-page book abstract, and 5 copies to: Adélékè Adéẹ̀kọ́, ALA Awards, Department of English 421 Denney Hall 164 Annie & John Glenn Avenue The Oho State University Columbus, OH 43210 First Book Award – Scholarship (Thursday, September 1, 2016) For an outstanding book in African literary studies, which is the first book by the author, and published in the preceding calendar year (2015). Authors must be current members of the ALA. Book must be published by a reputable peer-reviewed press. Authors or their publishers can make nominations. Send an author bio, one-page book abstract, and 5 copies to: Cilas Kemedjio, ALA Awards, Department of Modern Languages & Cultures 402 Lattimore Hall P. O. Box 270082 University of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627 Best Article Award (Thursday, September 1, 2016) For an outstanding article in African literary studies published in a major peer-reviewed journal in the preceding calendar year...

ALA Panel title: “Moving the Center of War Narratives: Representations of Combat in African Cinema and Literature” Dear ALA Members, The theme of the African Studies Association conference taking place in Washington DC from December 1-3, 2016 is “Imagining Africa at the Center: Bridging Scholarship, Policy, and Representation in African Studies.” Please submit paper proposals for an ALA sponsored panel titled, “Moving the Center of War Narratives: Representations of Combat in African Cinema and Literature.” We are seeking papers that put Africa at the center of representations of war; papers that counter conventional explanations of war in Africa as simply explosions of ancient feuds, ignoring the complexities that shape and sustain acts of war. Your proposal should include a paper title, an abstract, your phone number and institutional affiliation. All participants on the panel must be pre-registered by May 31 in order to be accepted and listed in the program. E-mail your proposal to Juliana Nfah-Abbenyi at jmphd@ncsu.edu by Thursday, February 25,...

Call for Volunteer Media Personnel (Photographers, Videographers) The African Literature Association (ALA) is inviting applications from members to serve as volunteer media personnel. Volunteers will participate in the conference social media platform, and film and/or photograph general events and proceedings at the ALA's 2016 Annual conference in Atlanta, Georgia. This content will be used for archiving, reporting, promotional purposes, and on the ALA website, Facebook, and may also be sent to media organizations. The theme for this year’s conference is “Justice and Human Dignity in Africa and the African Diaspora.” The conference will be held on April 6-9, at the Marriot Marquis Atlanta hotel. For additional information about the conference, please visit the ALA’s conference page. Photographs, videos, and prose will remain the intellectual property of the volunteer, but the ALA reserves the right to use photographs, videos, and writing in the future for publicity and archival purposes. The volunteer will be acknowledged in any not-for-profit use, will be consulted in the unlikely event that the media is used by the ALA in a for-profit project, and will be free to negotiate their own terms of use for use outside the ALA organization. Compensation: While this is volunteer opportunity, financial compensation will not be offered. However, the ALA will however offer the following benefits: complimentary night of lodging at the 2016 Annual Meeting hotel, The Marriot Marquis Atlanta. one ticket to the Annual Meeting banquet. waiver of registration fee. Eligibility: Volunteer applicants must be registered participants or presenters. Individuals with demonstrable photography/film experience are especially welcome to apply. Selected volunteers should have suitable photography/video equipment, with the ability to capture footage of large events and gatherings. Video equipment should be able to deliver clear footage and quality sound, with minimal background noise interference. Duties: Engage with the designated social media platform of the conference. Photograph/video record selected main events and snippets of others. The volunteer will have freedom in deciding where their conference time is spent, but will be required to attend certain major conference events, decided in consultation with an ALA Executive Committee liaison. To Apply: If you are interested in applying, please send a letter of interest, detailing your photography or videography experience to date, the equipment you have at your disposition, and your availability (i.e. will you be available for the duration of the conference, or only for certain parts of it?). Send as email attachment to the ALA Publicity and Media Relations Committee, c/o Beth Willey (aewilley@louisville.edu). Applications received by March 28 will be given priority. Thank you for your interest in the African Literature...