Over the years, since the 12 Day Revolution of Isaac Adaka Boro, agitations in the Niger Delta have taken various forms and dimensions. Contesting Spatiality, Radical Temporality, and Ijaw Leadership, the theme of this conference, uses biblical tropes of darkness to interrogate some existential issues surrounding the various, and often complex, struggles of the Ijaw people, and their quest for survival. Specifically, this conference examines the shapes, histories, and natures of contests and quests for nationhood, individuality, and identity among different Ijaw groups and organizations.

Organized as a Comparative Heritage Studies event, Contesting Spatiality will explore critical conversations that are pertinent to the layers of intellectual formations among, and beyond the Ijaw people. Participants and Speakers during the events will include university professors, environmental activists, including prominent legal analysts and practitioners, students and representatives of various organizations.

Demographically ranked to be the fourth largest group in Nigeria’s ethnic configurations, the term Ijaw (also written as Ijo or Izon and eponym for the language) depicts the aggregation of autochthonous peoples and their ancient cultures in contemporary oil-rich Niger Delta region of present-day Nigeria—the most populous black nation on earth.

This conference (which holds on October 3, 4, and 5, 2019) aims to engage discourse around the presence, absenteeism, paucity, and significance of Ijaw leadership in the explorations, exploitations, excavations of the heavily-freighted concept “resources” as the Niger Delta region in Nigeria is presently constituted. We therefore seek papers in the humanities—and beyond—that articulate a nuanced reconceptualization, and recontextualization of Spatiality, Marginalization, and Leadership among the Ijaw.

Themes to be interrogated during the events will include:

Knowledge, Transformation and Ijaw People
Women, Activism, and Ijaw People
Comparative Experiences: The Nigeria Example
Competitions, Complementarities, and Ijaw Progress
Leadership and Women Organizations in Ijaw Politics
Oil Politics and Leadership among Ijaw People
Currencies of Power and Violence among Ijaw People
Poverty, Multinational Oil Corporations, and Fatal Future
Herdsmen Colony in Ijawland: Government of the People, By the Foreigners, For the Invaders
Space and Power Contests among Ijaw Organizations
Women, Youth, Violence and National Marginalization
Memory, Myth, and Marginalization
Ijaw Traditions, Cultural Atavisms and the Impossibility of Progress
Education, Social Advancements, and Ijaw People
Brain Drain and Drain Brain among Ijaw People
Too Many Chiefs no Indians and Chaos among Ijaw People
Youth Engagement, Empowerments, Armaments
Sports and Ijaw People
Tourism and Recreations, Leadership, and Opportunities for Ijaw People
Religion, Culture, Leadership, and Darkness
Ijaw Leadership, Education, and the Youth
Investments, Security, and Development
Government, Oil Power, and The Worth of An Ijaw Life

WHO CAN ATTEND?
University communities (professors, students, staff), Non-Government and Government Representatives; Private Secular Organizations; Religious Institutions;
Private Individuals and Citizens

REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED FOR ALL PRESENTERS AND PARTICIPANTS

Pre-Reregister here.

Full Registration Opens July 1, 2018: here.

In need of group registration? Email: ijaw2018conference@ijawproject.org

Looking for Hotel Suggestions in Metro Atlanta? Check these out!

SPONSORS
Comparative Heritage
ijaw Journal
The VALOR Group

INQUIRIES
For Marketing and Sponsorship inquiries, email: info@ijawproject.org.