Keynote speaker
The lecture:
“African Orature Artists and Writers birthing humanizing Sankofa-visions of Utu, Ubuntu and Justice for All.”
Professor Mĩcere Gĩthae Mũgo, a world-renowned poet, playwright, literary critic, and scholar, will deliver the 4th International African Writers Lecture as part of the 4th Africa Century International African Writers Conference taking place on the 6th and 7th November at UNISA Little Theatre, 287 Corner Nana Sita &Lilian Ngoyi Streets, Tshwane, South Africa. Professor Mũgo is widely studied across the disciplines in the arts, humanities, social sciences and education.
Click the links below for more information:
http://asnews.syr.edu/newsevents_2015/releases/mugo_profile.html
http://aas.syr.edu/about/mugocelebration.html
Condensed Biographical Statement
Prof Muxe Nkondo
Topic
“The Arts Policy in Public Policy and Development Plans: Strategic Management for Fundamental Change in Government”
Profile
A social policy, national strategy development, and discourse analysis scholar and
practitioner, former Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) at the University of North
(now Limpopo) and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Venda, South Africa, a Harvard
Andrew Mellon Fellow in English, and currently Volume Editor for the 2013/2014 and
2015/2016 HSRC State of the Nation Publication. Muxe Nkondo believes that in modern
society, whether in the arts or in the sciences or in education, there has been growth in
technical skill and professional competence, but there is no necessary connection between
this vast increase in means and the successful bringing about of the end they exist to serve
a caring and cohesive society. read more…
Thato Magano
Topic:
What of Culture, Music and Consciousness: A critique on the legacy of Miriam Makeba and the contemporality of Simphiwe Dana
Profile
Thato Magano is currently pursuing his MA in Political Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is co-partner at Vanguard Media, the publishers of www.vanguardmagazine.co.za as well as Strategy Director at Ponelesego Youth Development Projects. In a previous life, he was the youngest academic in the Department of Marketing and Communication Management at the University of Pretoria and a branding enthusiast at Cadbury South Africa.
Nondumiso Lwazi Msimanga
Topic:
De-stressing race: documenting the ‘trauma of freedom’ in post-apartheid South Africa from the viewpoint of a black female born during the national state of emergency (1985–1990)
The South African Theatre Journal 2015, Vol. 28, No. 1, 17-28
Profile
Msimanga’s undergraduate degree was at Rhodes University where she graduated with distinction in Drama. She furthered her interest in academics at Wits University where she completed her Honours, also with distinction, and there she also did her Masters. Her Masters’ thesis was awarded a distinction and published in the South African Theatre Journal. She has participated in festivals and headlined her own productions as a theatre-maker and performer. She is a researcher, writer, director, choreographer, performer and theatre-maker. She has taught at Wits University and The National School of the Arts. She continued to pursue her verve for theatrical praxis and research; delivering a paper at the 6th Annual Drama for Life Conference, presenting at the NAPTOSA conference, and has been invited to: Germany for AFFECT at Agora, Heima in Iceland, and IUGTE in Italy. She is involved in the SA/UK Seasons, facilitating the CONNECT Project. Her fervor for theatrical critique has led her into arts journalism as a Features writer for Creative Feel Magazine and newspapers; and is publishing a book. Recently, her production Barbed Wire Wallpaper won a Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award at the 2015 National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.
C0-Presenters
Topic
Struggles of the ‘grass roots people’: In conversation with Emma Darko’s Faceless
Prof Puleng Segalo
Department of Psychology, University of South Africa
Puleng Segalo is presently employed as an associate professor at the University of South Africa where she teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate students in community and social psychology. She is also a faculty member at the Unisa Gender Institute. Her research focuses broadly on issues of historical trauma and suffering, gender, power, sexuality and how these interplay. She is inspired by and draws heavily from critical feminist theories, decoloniality, and narrative research approaches.
Theresah Ennin
Department of English Studies, University of Cape Coast
De Ennin is a lecturer at the department of English, University of Cape Coast, Ghana. She teaches African literature, gender studies and critical theory. Here research interests include representations of men and masculinities in African literature, African women writers and advocacy.
Zonke Majodina
Topic
Have human rights been applied equally to men and women?
Profile
In the course of her professional career which spans almost four decades, Zonke Majodina has been involved in academic, clinical, research and human rights work in South Africa and abroad. She initially obtained a B.Sc (Hons) degree from the University of South Africa, and followed this with an M.Sc degree from the University of London. She spent 18 years in Ghana, lecturing and working as a Clinical Psychologist at the University of Ghana Medical School.
Before returning to South Africa she went on a 2 year Visiting Fellowship at Oxford University. She completed her doctoral degree at the University of Cape Town. read more…
Malusi Ntoyapi
Topic
Women nurturing children’s literacy journeys through sharing stories that stimulate their imaginations
Profile
Malusi Ntoyapi is the Programmes Support Officer and early literacy community trainer for the Nal’ibali campaign. He is an initiator and core facilitator of the KwaFaku-Vulindlela reading club with youth from the community of Lower Crossroads, and a mentor to community volunteers. He has a Degree in Social Science and Linguistics from The University of the Western Cape, and a certificate in Community Storytelling from The International School for Storytelling. Malusi is passionate about the use of stories in social development.
