PROSPA Publishing Workshop in Kampala

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From the 4th to the 8th of July 2017, seventeen scholars from Uganda, Nigeria and South Africa met in Kampala to discuss publishing in the field of the visual and performing arts of Africa. Organized by the PROPSA research programme at Rhodes University in South Africa and in collaboration with Makerere University in Uganda, the workshop focused on raising the visibility of Africa-based scholars on local and international platforms. 

Research papers included analyses of postcolonial political cartoons, omweso and Baganda material culture, the iconography of the Oyo Palace in Nigeria, landscape and contemporary photography in South Africa, and feminist readings of the production and circulation of paper beadwork. Participants were from Makerere University, Kyambo University, Obafemi Awolowo University, the University of Lagos, Rhodes University and the Durban Art Gallery. 

PROSPA—Publishing and Research of the South: Positioning Africa—is a Mellon-funded programme that falls under the Arts of Africa and Global Souths research programme in the Fine Art Department at Rhodes University. The annual Publishing Workshops are linked to the Rhodes University editorial consortium partnership of the African Arts journal that is produced at the University of California, Los Angeles and distributed through MIT Press.  

The first workshop took place at Rhodes University in 2016, and the 2018 workshop will take place in Accra, Ghana. 

Photo: Back row (left to right) Edward Nobel Bisamunyu, Dr Rose Namubiru Kirumira, Dr Ganiyu Jimoh, Dr Mduduzi Xakaza, Prof Philip Kwesiga, Dr Justine Nabbagala, Sarah Nakisanze.
Front row (left to right): Joan Kekimuri, Dorah Kasozi, Prof Ruth Simbao, Dr Amanda Tumusiime, Dr Stephen Folaranmi, Margaret Nagawa, Dr Amanda Hlengwa, Annette Sebba, Dr Rachel Baasch, Dr Eyitayo Ijisakin