African Studies Center - TUFS (ASC-TUFS) will host the 64th ASC Seminar in collaboration with Kanto branch of Japan Association for African Studies and African Weeks 2021 Committee. We invite Dr. Eria Olowo Onyango from Makerere University, who currently stays in Japan as our visiting associate professor, as a speaker.

At the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885, almost all of the states in contemporary Africa were arbitrarily parceled out in ways that would meet the most needs for the European imperialists. Dr. Onyango will use the case of Uganda to examine how these boundaries impact African socio-political insecurity.

◆Speaker: Dr. Eria Olowo Onyango (Visiting Associate Professor, African Studies Center - TUFS, Lecturer, Makerere University)

◆Title: East African Borders: From Colonial Partition to Contemporary Disputes

◆Abstract: The borders of African states today began with the Berlin Conference of 1884-1885. This meeting saw European powers portion most of Africa and drew boundary lines that remain to date. With the exception of Ethiopia and Liberia, all the states in present day Africa were arbitrarily parceled out in ways that would meet the most needs for the European imperialist. The creation of these borders impacted adversely on Africa's social structures culminating into the contemporary socio-political disputes that bedevil the continent. Using an ethnographic study of the borders of Uganda, an extensive desk review of relevant literature was done, complemented with focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with key participants and established that most African states are imbued in socio-political insecurity arising from the boundaries created by the Berlin meeting. Whereas ethnicity was never echoed in the conference, the social interaction across borders continue to give rise to disputes engulfing Africa.

◆Date & Time: Friday, December 10, 2021 5:40 - 7:10 pm (JST) / 8:40 - 10:10 (GMT)

◆Venue: Onsite (Room 113, Research and Lecture Building, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies) & Online (Zoom Meeting)

◆Language: English

◆Admission: Free

◆Pre-registration is required. Please visit here for registration by December 8, 2021. The application will be closed as soon as the capacity reaches 50 for onsite and 300 for online. We will send the Zoom Meeting information to the registered email address on Dec. 9, 2021.

◆Jointly Organized by African Studies Center - TUFS, Kanto branch of Japan Association for African Studies, and African Weeks 2021 Committee

【Report】

The 6rth ASC seminar was held hybrid (online & onsite) on schedule. There were 45 participants, including 35 who joined the seminar online and 10 in person.

Dr. Eria Olowo Onayngo gave his lecture on "East African Borders: From Colonial Partition to Contemporary Disputes", followed by lively discussion among Japanese and African scholars.