Call for papers : International Conference on African Culture and Development (ICACD)

The Secretariat for the International Conference on African Culture and Development (ICACD) invites you to submit abstracts / presentation ideas for ICACD 2011

Closing date: Friday 6th June 2011 by 12 noon GMT

Academics, Artists, Cultural and Development workers, Government agencies and Policy makers and all people committed to working to see Culture included on all development agenda are encouraged to submit their abstracts or ideas. Presentations at ICACD 2011 can be in a range of forms including lecture, formal paper presentations, workshops, collaborative panels, performances (music, song, theatre, dance, spoken word or film) as well as through visual and audio visual representations and installations.

ICACD 2011 will be held in Accra, Ghana from July 24th to 27th 2011.

ICACD 2011 will also be hosting focused events on:

1. Water and food security in Africa'.
2. Post Independent Africa: Cultural Imperatives for Development'.
3. Africa's Future Direction: the role and significance of the Diaspora.

CULTURE AND GLOBAL SECURITY: Analyzing current threats and harnessing
The polarization of the States of Africa along ethnic, religious, social class, etc. has been identified as a source of conflict and security breaches which needs urgent attention. Also, the exodus of Africa's human resource through illegal and unauthorized routes mainly to Europe and other parts of the world is a security concern for the states of Africa as precious lives are lost and rights abused. It also raises security concerns for potential destination states including Italy, Spain and Greece. Moreover, terrorism and its ever changing methods with which orchestrators execute their actions are of great concern to our current and future generation.

Submissions on the above issues including and any issue related to global security or how we can together build a safer world is invited for presentation at ICACD 2011.

Submissions are also invited on any of the sub themes;

1. WATER AND FOOD SECURITY IN AFRICA

Global water resources management is facing serious crises with implications for food security and public health. With growing world population, experts predicts that one third of the current global population will face severe water shortages by 2025. In Africa, Water security has been elusive as the continent continues to face a lot of challenges when it comes to the provision of portable water for its citizenry. Many attribute the problem to so several factors including corruption in water delivery in Africa, mismanagement, poor long-term investment etc. Are there other identifiable causes and solutions to the water problems on the continent? Where are water problems most acute in Africa and what are the underlying socio-cultural factors ? How do we improve access to water in Africa?

Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it (Wikipedia). The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing "when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life".

Food security is a complex sustainable development issue, linked to health, trade, environment etc. The multiplicity of forces acting on different nations' prospects for food security means that a broad range of issues must be considered at the global level if countries are to become food secure. At the focused on food Security in Africa, we are looking forward to highlighting the many real concerns about food security and how supply could outstrip demand in food production in Africa. We seek ideas on policy level, societal and community levels on how to make food accessible on the continent of Africa.

2. POST INDEPENDENT AFRICA: Cultural Imperatives for Development.

"POST INDEPENDENT AFRICA: Cultural Imperatives for Development" was the theme for ICACD 2010. We are giving the opportunity for papers to be submitted on this theme this year. Africa is celebrating her golden jubilee. In 2010 17 African countries celebrated their independence. This year, Sierra Leone is celebrating her independence. What are the factors that has accelerated or decelerated africa's growth in the post independent era?

3. AFRICA'S FUTURE DIRECTION: The Role and Significance of the Diaspora.

It is undeniably clear that the African Diaspora has a key role to play in the development of the continent. Indeed, the African Diaspora is already playing an important role in Africa's development as it remits an estimated $45 billion each year. The African Union Government has defined the African Diaspora as "consisting of people of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union"

The African Diaspora is increasing day by day. "Nigerians, South Africans, Kenyans and Somalis are the fastest growing African Population in London according to 2001 census data." Many are of the view that it is time for the African Diaspora to move on from paying the school fees of one or two African children to a real investment or a kind of support that can really move Africa from dependency to self sufficiency.

How can Africa reap the full benefits of remittances to Africa through legal and illegal sources? What should Africa do to make itself attractive to African and non Africans outside the continent? What role should the African Diaspora assume to compliments the continents development effort? This discussion will look at the role the African Diaspora can play in advancing the continent's development.