Next Journalism:
gambia literature

Deadline: 4 May 2011

In decades gone by, research and academic representations on, and engagement with, society, state and politics in Gambia have been fairly steady and encouraging. In the past few years however, transformations in Gambia have been many and varied, occasioning in the production and recreation of avenues for research and epistemological curiosity. Although elements of these have been documented in some research outlets, research in other areas remains thin and far between. It is essential that their nuances in the broader context of Gambia’s present and future be appropriately explored. This is more so because Gambia is at a critical junction, faced by choices and struggles, dilemmas and uncertainties. The challenges this conjures need to be interrogated and their impact contextualised. It is in light of these and related factors, that a call for papers on a special issue on Gambia is being issued.

This special issue will be published by the Law, Social Justice and Global Development Journal (LGD) of the School of Law, University of Warwick, UK. The special issue aims to cover a wide range of interdisciplinary research themes that accommodate possible research areas that have been either under-represented or virtually ignored. The assumption is that transformations Gambia has recently experienced have been profoundly expansive, if not defining. Yet, their exacting ramifications in the context of law, governance, politics, social justice and global development have been scarcely explored. The special issue hopes to provide the outlet through which to interrogate these interfaces. The theme for the special issue is:

Gambia in a Global World: Challenges of Law, Politics, Social Justice and Development.

Contributors wishing to be considered for publication are urged to submit abstracts of not more than 250 words before May 5th 2011. However, although the LGD strives to accommodate interdisciplinary research, it is imperative that contributors capture a representation of the thematic focus of the special issue.

All abstracts should be sent by email to Dr Ebrima Ceesay (Guest Editor)

Email: ebrima_ceesay@hotmail.com and gambiaspecialissue@gmail.com

Contact Information:

For inquiries: ebrima_ceesay@hotmail.com, gambiaspecialissue@gmail.com

For submissions: ebrima_ceesay@hotmail.com, gambiaspecialissue@gmail.com

Website: http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/law/elj/lgd/

Deadline: 31 May 2011

Contributions are invited from scholars and critics of Gambian and African literature to a proposed book of essays on the writings of Tijan M. Sallah, the Gambian poet, essayist and short story writer.

The subject is the second best known writer from The Gambia after Lenrie Peters, and a notable voice in contemporary African literature. To date, Sallah has published nine books: three collections of poetry, a book of selected poetry, a volume of short stories, two edited anthologies of poetry (the second one with Tanure Ojaide, the Nigerian poet), a literary biography of Chinua Achebe, the Nigerian novelist (co-authored with Ngozi Okonjo Iweala), and an ethnographic book on the Wolof, the dominant ethnic group of the Senegambian people. His works have also appeared in several major poetry and short story anthologies. Examples include Charles Larson's (ed.) Under African Skies (Farrar, Straus & Giroux), Achebe and Innes's (eds.) Contemporary African Short Stories (Heinemann AWS) and Ulli Beier and Gerald Moore's Modern African Poetry (Penguin).

Tentatively titled Twenty-One Notes of Kora: Emerging Perspectives on the Writings of Tijan M. Sallah, the book, when published, will represent the first extended work of critical writings both on the author and on Gambian literature. Contributions can be on Tijan Sallah's background, the tradition of Gambian and Senegambian writings, Tijan Sallah's poetry, short stories, literary biography, edited anthologies, published essays, and finally his ethnographic writing on Wolof. They can also approach Sallah's works from comparative perspectives. Of interest will be those which compare him with other Gambian writers (including Lenrie Peters and Ebou Dibba), with other African writers, and with other writers from the African diaspora. Finally, interviews conducted with Tijan Sallah in the past will also be considered for publication. Contributions following an MLA style of referencing, (with short titles and page references included immediately after each citation in the body of the work and a list of works cited compiled at the end of the essay) and which should not be more than 6000 words should be sent as attachments to emails addressed to the editor of the volume. Deadline is May 31, 2011.

Wumi Raji, Ph. D (Editor)
Department of Dramatic Arts
Obafemi Awolowo University
Ile Ife, Nigeria

E-mail: wumiraji@hotmail.com; wumiraji@oauife.edu.ng