CALL FOR PAPERS
The 21st Annual International Conference of the Igbo Studies Association
Theme: Ụ́kpụ́rụ́ ndi Igbo na Odudu Ha: Igbo Values and Leadership in Perspective
Venue: Enugu, Nigeria
Date: 8-11 May 2024
Abstract Deadline: 31 December 2023
The Igbo Studies Association (ISA) invites research papers and critical reflections from scholars and professionals across disciplinary fields working on all aspects of studies on the Igbo in Nigeria and in diaspora for its 21st annual international conference which will hold on 8-11 May 2023 in Enugu, Nigeria.
Igbo values and leadership remain a central idea in both popular and academic discourses of and about the Igbo, given that peoples and cultures advance based on the values they uphold and the leadership they foster. Numerous internal and external influences impact, among others, the values of Igbo resilience, industry, and ability to negotiate new identities as well as nurture visionary leadership on new and imaginative frontiers. Hence, as the Igbo continue to interrogate the complex question of negotiating the Igbo identity and existence within Nigeria and in a globalized world, discussions and debates about what constitutes their values and leadership within these spaces in the 21st century remain ever relevant.
With the theme of Ụ́kpụ́rụ́ ndi Igbo na Odudu Ha: Igbo Values and Leadership, the ISA 21st annual international conference intends that these debates would not only open up a broader conversation around the topic, but would also further the discussions about the Igbo vis-à-vis their culture, customs, language, religions, epistemologies, gender relations as well as their security, development, politics, economics, and interactions with other groups in today’s Nigeria and in diaspora.
The sub-themes include, but are not limited to:
- Igbo people and culture
- Language endangerment and preservation
- Igbo philosophy of progress
- Translation, language education, teaching and learning of languages
- Igbo and diaspora experience
- Igbo representation in politics and government
- Diplomacy and national/international relationships
- Leadership and development
- True federalism, decentralization, and inclusive government
- Resource extraction, control, and redistribution
- Social infrastructure and development
- Drug use, abuse, effects, and control of mkpuru mmiri
- Crime, kidnapping, and jungle justice
- Stress management and self-care
- Preventive medicine and wellbeing
- Personal lifestyle and wellbeing
- Wealth accumulation, merited and unmerited accolades
- Entrepreneurship and economic development
- Cryptocurrency, security, and investment
- Land ownership and access to capital
- Banking and loaning schemes
- Trade, craft, apprenticeship system, and economic development
- Feminism, gender, and human development
- Youth and child empowerment
- Education and development
- Family, kinship, and village associations
- Religion, morality, and immorality
- Power and wealth
- Poverty and human security
- Literary appreciation of Igbo music and folklore
- Intercultural communication and dialogue
- Nollywood, visual art, and representation of reality
- Media, religion, and culture
- Media, communication, and culture
- New media and artificial intelligence
- Social media and activism
Submission Guidelines
Individual and group proposals should include a 250-word abstract prepared in MS-Word and according to the submission guidelines. Please, submit abstract online through the ISA website. All abstracts not prepared according to the submission guidelines will be rejected. Papers can be written in Igbo or English. The abstract should include the title of the proposed paper, poster, panel, or round-table, the names of the presenter in full, as well as status and institutional affiliation, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.
Click Here To Submit Abstract
Acceptance and Conference Fees
If your abstract is accepted, you will be notified in writing with information on how to pay a non-refundable annual membership fee of $50. You will also be advised on how to pay a conference fee that will permit you to present your paper at the conference.
Deadlines
Deadline for abstract submission: December 31, 2023
Deadline to submit a completed paper: March 31, 2024
Selected papers will be considered for publication in a post-conference edited volume.
For inquiries, please contact:
Chijioke Azuawusiefe, PhD
Conference Chair
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
For conference updates, visit ISA:
Website: www.igbostudies.org
Facebook: Igbo Studies Association