As a phenomenon critical to the construction of modernity/postmodernity, globalisation with its (il)logics has precipitated debates, which have continued to constitute a contested and contestable site in cultural discourses. One major discursive formation seeks to present globalisation as a programme meant to democratise the world's cultural space for marginal cultures to survive and thrive without undue threats from dominant others. In radical contradistinction, an alternative perspective imagines globalization as an imperialist strategy to re-colonise former dominated cultures and their economies through the subtle strategy of exclusion through inclusion. The latter argument resonates strongly in peripheral societies like Africa where cultural production modes and their circulation processes have been severely mediated by globalisation. This argument seems compelling because in its latest consumerist phase, globalisation has conquered all cultural spaces of the world without leaving any oppositional strongholds.

This conference seeks to appraise the place and impact of globalisation on African media practice(s) and popular culture and how these have also participated in globalisation as a dialectical process for the construction of identity and re-invention of nationhood in Africa. In particular, the conference is interested in ways in which globalisation has engaged African media and popular culture as mediated processes through new media technologies and how they have in turn engaged globalisation. But the conference is also concerned with problematising the issues involved in the discourse on globalisation and its antinomies in relation to African media and popular culture? For instance, is globalisation an innocent, neutral phenomenon? Has globalisation fostered the dialogue or clash of civilisations and cultures? Is it necessary for the enrichment of African media and popular culture? What has Africa brought to the marketplace of ideas and culture which is globalisation? How best can globalisation be mined by the media and popular cultural expressions on the continent? Indeed, is there one Africa or one unitary African culture or a multiplicity of Africas and cultures? This complex of issues will constitute the fulcrum of discussions during the conference.

The conference organizers, therefore, invite paper abstracts and panel proposals from academics, globalization scholars, media practitioners, culture experts, activists and others around the theme of the conference with the following sub-themes:

• Theoretical issues in globalization, media and popular culture

• African media/culture policies and globalisation

• Globalization and new media technologies in Africa

• Globalization and the politics of media representations

• African popular culture in a glocalised order

• Myth, modernity and the popular imagination in Africa

• Mediascapes and the discourse on globalization

• Globalization and (en)gendered spaces in African media /culture

• African languages/literatures and globalization

• Globalization and African musical expressions

• Globalization and the politics of sports in Africa

• Globalization and African filmic/cinematic traditions

• African oral/written traditions and globalization

• Globalization and the knowledge economy in Africa

• The self/other dialectic in entertainment media and popular culture

• Globalization, the media and new religious experiences in Africa

• Race/cultural identity in a glocalised milieu

• The circulation of media/culture between Africa and its Diasporas

• Pan-Africanism and the politics of media(ted) culture

• Globalization and the future of African media/popular culture 

Contributors should send in a 250-300 word abstract or panel proposal with their biographical details: full name, institutional affiliation, e-mail and telephone numbers on or before 25 April, 2012

Conference Fee:
N10,000.00
$100 (Foreign delegates)

Payment Information:
Zenith Bank Plc
Account name: School of Media and Communication
Account number: 6016503812

Pan-African University, Victoria Island Campus.
2, Ahmed Onibudu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Peninsula Hotel
The Peninsula Hotel is located at Block 94, Plot 16 Providence Street Lekki Phase 1, Lekki-Epe Express Way, Lagos.

Chesney Hotel
The Chesney Hotel is located at 37, Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Abstracts and inquries should be sent by email not later than April 25, 2012 and clearly marked, "GLOBALISING THE LOCAL, LOCALISING THE GLOBAL: GLOBALISATION, THE MEDIA AND POPULAR CULTURE IN AFRICA" on the subject line of the email to:

Tope Akintola - takintola@smc.edu.ng

Vivian Ojiyovwi Adeoti - vadeoti@smc.edu.ng

Tel: 234(0)7029089312