About the conference

CAMRI Racism, Ethnicity and the Media in Africa Conference

Draft Programme

Organised by the Communication and Media Research Institute (CAMRI), a member of the Africa Media Centre, University of Westminster

Keynote speaker:
Francis B. Nyamnjoh, Professor of Anthropology, University of Cape Town
Topic: ‘Africa’s Media: Between Professional Ethics and Cultural Belonging’

Start date: Thursday 25 March 2010
End date: Friday 26 March 2010

Venue: 115 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6UW

Racism, Ethnicity and the Media in Africa is a 2-day interdisciplinary CAMRI conference to be held at the Cavendish Campus, University of Westminster from 25-26 March 2010. Not only are the concepts and practices of racism and ethnicity related and multifaceted – covering issues such as race, sex, colour, status and class – but they are also part of multi-staged pre-colonial, colonial and postcolonial realities. The crisis in global capitalism, rising levels of poverty in Africa, together with political mismanagement, appear to be fuelling unprecedented levels of racial and ethnic conflict on the continent. This debate matters because racism and ethnicity have, to a large extent, undermined African efforts that aim to achieve national unity and development. The Nigerian-Biafran War, 6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970, serves as a prominent example. More recent examples include Rwanda, where, in 1994, RTML radio played a leading role in the massacre of millions of Rwandans. In December, 2007, Kenyan media reports and songs,
during what many regarded as ethnic-divided elections, contributed to the violent clashes that killed 900 and displaced more than a quarter of a million people. The ethnic and racial killings in Darfur, the murder of albinos in Tanzania, the 2008 xenophobic attacks in South Africa and many other unreported conflicts in Africa raise many questions: How are the mass media implicated in the growing ethnic and racial conflicts and violence in Africa?  In what ways are the media challenging, undermining or reinforcing issues relating to racism and ethnicity in Africa?  How have African media and journalists covered racial and ethnic topics?  Both old and new media have opened new spaces for debates that were formerly suppressed, but have they not also encouraged extremism?

Speakers include:
Adamu Ladi Sandra, Ahmadu Bello University, Nigeria
Armijo Enrique, Attorney, Washington, USA
Azungi Dralega Carol, Western Norway Research Institute, Norway
Baffour Ankomah – New African, IC Publications, UK
Bedu-Addo Kobina Ano, Ghana Institute of Journalism, Ghana
Cabedoche Bertrand, Gresec, Université Stendhal Grenoble3,  France
Esan Oluyinka, University of Winchester, UK
Frere Marie-Soleil, University of Brussels, Belgium
Gachiri Albert – News Editor of NTV, Kenya
Lekgoathi, Sekibakiba Peter – University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
Mogera Solomon – BBC Head of Swahili Desk, UK
Mwendo Lilian – Kenyan Television Journalist (KBC), Kenya
Nassanga Goretti Linda, Makerere University, Uganda
Noetzold Katharina – CAMRI, University of Westminster
Omenugha Kate Azuka, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Nigeria
Piela Anna  – CAMRI, University of Westminster
Rodny-Gumede Ylva, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
Roza Tsagarousianou – CAMRI, University of Westminster
Sakina Datoo – Chairperson – Tanzania Editors Forum, Tanzania
Salawu Abiodun, University of Fort Hare, South Africa
Seaton Jean – CAMRI, University of Westminster
Simões de Araújo Caio, University of Coimbra/ University of the State of
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Simutanyi Neo, Centre for Policy Dialogue, Zambia
Sithole Innocent Chofamba – Ex-Editor, The Mirror (Zimbabwe)
Thussu Kishani Daya – CAMRI, University of Westminster
Xin Xin – CAMRI, University of Westminster

How to attend
To register, click here:

http://www.westminster.ac.uk/schools/media/news-and-events/events/2010/racism,-ethnicity-and-the-media-in-africa

To register please download form from here
http://www.westminster.ac.uk/schools/media/news-and-events/events/2010/racism,-ethnicity-and-the-media-in-africa
and return it with payment to Helen Cohen (H.cohen02@westminster.ac.uk) or

post it to:

Conference Administrator, Room FG-03, University of
Westminster, Watford Road, Northwick Park,  Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3TP
England or by FAX: +44 (0) 20 7911 5995 . Phone No +44 (0) 20 7911 5000
Ext 4298.