ASC African Studies Center

African Studies Center "Kick-off" Symposium “Frontiers of African Studies”

"Kick-off" SymposiumAfrican Studies Center - Tokyo University of Foreign Studies "Frontiers of African Studies" Date: November 3rd, 2017 Venue: Large Conference Room, 2nd Floor of Administration Building, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies Language: English Admission: Free No pre-registration is needed. Contact: African Studies Center - TUFS(Address) Research and Lecture Building #401E2, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, 3-11-1, Asahi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8534, JAPAN(Tel/Fax) +81-42-330-5540(E-mail) africanstudies-centertufs.ac.jp Objective: This symposium aims at creating an opportunity for reflection on the achievement and future challenges of African studies, in discussing what have been achieved and what should be done now. On one hand, African studies has undoubtedly made tremendous progress in its every field including development studies, politics, environmental studies, conflict and peace-building, anthropology, history, and so forth. On the other hand, it is also true that problems with which contemporary Africa is confronted have become more and more complex and inter-related. Recent studies have demonstrated that effectiveness of industrial policies has been deeply related to the distribution of political power, and that climate change has given serious effects on outbreaks of armed conflict. We need to understand complexities of problems that Africa is currently facing in order to find a way for the better future. In this symposium, three eminent guest speakers as well as Japanese Africanists will present their views and ideas on the achievement and future challenges with regard to their research fields, concerning mainly 1) politics and international relations, 2) economy and development, 3) environment and climate change. Followings are the list of speakers and their main research fields. In addition, prominent Japanese Africanists will be invited to serve as discussants. 【Program】 10:00-10:30　Welcome speech & Introduction Session 1　Politics and International Relations (Chair: Makiko Sakai)10:30-11:00　Speaker 1　Adebayo Olukoshi11:00-11:30　Speaker 2　Yumi Nakayama11:30-11:45　Comment　Mitsugi Endo11:45-12:30　Discussion 12:30-13:15　Lunch Session 2　Economy and Development (Chair: Yauso Matsunami)13:15-13:45　Speaker 3　Kojo Amanor13:45-14:15　Speaker 4　Kazue Demachi14:15-14:30　Comment　Yoichi Mine14:30-15:15　Discussion 15:15-15:30　Coffee Break Session 3　Environment and Climate Change (Chair: Hitomi Kirikoshi)15:30-16:00　Speaker 5　Denis Sonwa16:00-16:30　Speaker 6　Takanori Oishi16:30-16:45　Comment　Ueru Tanaka16:45-17:30　Discussion 17:30-18:00　General Discussion (Chair: Shinichi Takeuchi) 18:10-19:10　Reception For more details, please click here.

Nov. 4 - 5, 2017

International symposium "Family Transformation in Rapidly Developing Asia-Africa Societies Faced with Economic Disparity, Urbanization and War"

International Joint Research by Female Researchers, Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (JST), Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Bilateral Joint Research Projects "Family Transformation in Rapidly Developing Asia-Africa Societies Faced with Economic Disparity, Urbanization and War" will be held on November 4 to 5 at Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS). 15 eminent scholar from domestic and overseas, including Dr. Wakana Shiino, who is one of the member of ASC - TUFS, will make presentations. Admission is free. We look forward to your presentation. ◆Date: November 4 to 5, 2017 ◆Venue: Room 304, Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA), Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) ◆Language: English ◆Admission: Free ◆Contact: Dr. Wakana Shiino (wakanaaa.tufs.ac.jp) ◆Supported by Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa(ILCAA) ◆Cooperated by African Studies Center - TUFS ◆Program: November 4Family Now in Uganda: Experiencing Economic Disparity, Urbanization, and Conflict 13:00 Opening 13:05-13:35 Wakiko Ohira (JSPS/ The University of Tokyo)"Bunyoro's Oil Development and its Influence at the Household Level: Increasing Land-Related Issues and the Importance of Land Governance" 13:40-14:10Isao Murahashi (JSPS/ Kyoto University)"Reorganization of 'Family' and Diversification of Livelihoods of South Sudanese Refugees: The Case of Kiryandongo Refugee Settlement in Uganda" 14:20-14:50 Tea Break 14:50-15:20Eri Hashimoto (Takachiho University)"Dealing with Vulnerable "Blood": Dilemmas on Marriage and Family among the Nuer Refugees in Uganda" 15:30-16:00 Chris Opesen (Makerere University)"'A Pokot Man has One or Two Wives on Either Side of the Border:' An Ethnographic Discourse of the Polygynous Family Setup of the Pokot at the Kenya-Uganda Border" 16:10-16:40 Soichiro Shiraishi (Hirosaki University)"Migration, Education and Family Ties/Gaps: Fragments of a Family History in the Uganda-Kenya Borderlands, 1960s-1990s" 16:50-17:20 Hazama Itsuhiro (Nagasaki University)"Living with Grandmother―Intergenerational Relationship among the Dodoth" 17:30-18:00 Questions and DiscussionComments: Charles Ndegwa Mundia (Institute of Geomatics, GIS and Remote Sensing, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology）Ian Karusigarira (Tokyo University of Foreign Studies) 18:30- Dinner November 5The Changing Living Environment in African Cities, Asia and the "Family" Life 9:30-10:00 Charles Ndegwa Mundia (Institute of Geomatics, GIS and Remote Sensing, Dedan Kimathi University of Technology）"Analysis of Development in Nairobi in face of Economic Disparity and Urbanization." 10:10-10:40 Imoto Saori (University of Tokyo, Department of Architecture)　"Establishment and Development Process of Non-formal School Environment in Nairobi Slum" 10:40-10:50 Tea Break 10:50-11:20Kamara Emanuel Gombe (Tokyo University of Information Sciences, Graduate school of informatics, Department of Environmental Informatics, Masters Student), Eunice W. Nduati (Chiba University, Graduate School of Science/Faculty of Science, Department of Earth Sciences, PhD Student)"A GIS and Remote Sensing Evaluation of Trends and Effects of Urbanisation in Dar es Salaam." 11:30-12:00Eunice W. Nduati (Chiba University, Graduate School of Science)"Position Presentation on Application of GIS and Remote Sensing to Mapping and Monitoring of Cropping Regimes in Japan." 12:10-13:10 Lunch 13:10-13:40 YANG Feifan, NIE Haisong (Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology)"China's Population Problem- A Sociological Survey of 1900 Subjects -" 13:50-14:20Dick Olango (ATELIER OLANGO ARCHITECTURE/DESIGN)"Toilet Situation and Sanitation in Nairobi Slums and the Innovation in Progress" 14:30-14:40 Tea Break 14:50-15:20 Yasushi Noguchi (Tokyo Polytechnic University)"Residential Environment and Life Style in Nairobi Slum Residents: Through the Compact House Project" 15:30-16:00Wakana Shiino (ILCAA, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)"'Family' Circumstances Supported by House Girl in Nairobi" 16:10-16:30 Questions and DiscussionComment: Chris Opesen (Makerere University) 16:30 Closing

国際シンポジウム「急速に発展／変化をとげるアジア・アフリカ諸社会における経済格差、都市化、そして紛争経験後に直面する家族の変容」

The Research Meeting supported by ASC

African Studies Center - TUFS is going to support a research meeting held by International Joint Research by Female Researchers, Initiative for Realizing Diversity in the Research Environment (JST). At this meeting, Chris C. Opsen, PhD Fellow (Social Anthropology) and Assistant Lecturer, Department of Sociology & Anthropology, School of Social Sciences, Makerere University, will give a presentation entitled "Is Female Genital Modification (FGM)a Development Issue in Africa?: Evidence Based Analysis from the Pokot Kenya-Uganda Border Ethnography." Kyoko Nakamura from Kyoto University will join the meeting as a commentator. ◆Date & Time: 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, Thursday, Nov. 2, 2017 ◆Venue: Room 304, Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia and Africa (ILCAA),Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) ◆Presenter: Chirs C. Opesen ◆Title: Is Female Genital Modification (FGM)a Development Issue in Africa?: Evidence Based Analysis from the Pokot Kenya-Uganda Border Ethnography ◆Language: English ◆Admission: Free ◆Contact: Dr. Wakana Shiino (wakanaaa.tufs.ac.jp) View the PDF version from here.

ASC Seminar #6 / TUFS-KC Seminar #2 will be held

African Studies Center -TUFS (ASC -TUFS) and the Center for African Area Studies -Kyoto University (CAAS -KU) will hold ASC Seminar #6 / TUFS-KU Seminar #2. Rémy BAZENGUISSA-GANGA from L'Institut des mondes africains (IMAF) -École des hautes études en sciences sociales (EHESS), who is now doing his research at Kyoto University, will give a lecture about the concept of «Electoral War». He will explain how a war and an election are interlinked while they seem to be an oxymoron. ◆Speaker: Rémy BAZENGUISSA-GANGA (IMAF-EHESS) ◆Date & Time: Friday, October 20, 201717:40 -19:30 ◆Venue: Room 104, Research and Lecture Building, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies ◆Language: English ◆Admission: Free ◆No pre-registration is needed. ◆Jointly sponsored by African Studies Center -TUFS (ASC -TUFS) & the Center for African Area Studies -Kyoto University (CAAS -KU) ◆Contact: African Studies Center -Tokyo University of Foreign StudiesAddress) Research and Lecture Building #401E2, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies 3-11-1, Asahi-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8534 JAPANTel/Fax)+81-42-330-5540e-mail) africanstudies-centertufs.ac.jp Please click here for the flier.

Visit to Cape Town and Stellenbosch

July 29-31, 2017

On July 29, the delegation of ASC-TUFS met with Mr. Yasushi Naito, counsellor and consul, and Ms. Sae Torii, administrative staff of office of consul of Japan in Cape Town. We had a briefing from Mr. Naito about the current situation of the town and historical relationship between Japan and Cape Town. On 31th, we had a meeting with Prof. Scarlett Cornelissen at Stellenbosch University. She works in the field of international relations, addressing the political economy of Africa's relations with Japan. To promote the substantial interactions of the scholars in both countries, we discussed the various problems we should tackle.

Events

Visit to Johannesburg and Pretoria

July 26-29, 2017

On July 27, the delegation of ASC-TUFS visited the JICA South Africa office as well as the Embassy of Japan in Pretoria for discussing how to develop the inter-university relations between South Africa and Japan. Then, we visited University of Pretoria and exchanged ideas with professors including Prof. Stephanie Burton (Vice-Principal of the university), Prof. Vasu Reddy (Dean, Faculty of Humanities), Prof. Maxi Schoeman (Deputy Dean, Faculty of Humanities), and Prof. Cycil Hartell (Academic Director of Centre for Japanese Studies), for the purpose of strengthening ties between the two universities. In particular, the possibility of joint research and student exchange were extensively discussed. On July 28, we met Mr. Hiroyuki Nemoto (Executive Director) and Mr. Fumito Takahashi of JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) office in Johannesburg.

Events

Shinichi TAKEUCHI【Communication at the Academic Conference】 Enclosure in population scarcity: the case of western DR Congo

◆Name: Shinichi TAKEUCHI, Raymond LUMBUENAMO & Guy-Verlain Tshimanga wa TCHIMANGA ◆Date: 21 May 2017 ◆Paper presented at the annual meeting of Japan Association for African Studies (JAAS) held at Shinshu University (Nagano City) ◆Enclosure in population scarcity: the case of western DR Congo Africa has recently witnessed drastic changes with regard to its lands in rural areas. While large-scale land deals by external actors have attracted worldwide attention, privatization and commercialization of lands being underway by local initiatives have been relatively neglected, but deserve for serious analyses (Woodhouse 2003). This paper deals with a move to enclosing lands taking place in Western part of the DR Congo (Province de Maï Ndombe, Territoire de Bolobo, Chefferie de Bateke), lying in the southern edge of the Congo rain forests, intermingling with savannahs. Although reliable data does not exist, the population density is obviously low (less than 30 persons / km2 by World Bank). In this area, the land belongs to the Bateke community represented by their land chiefs (chefs de terre). In principle, the land is open to the community members. However, despite the low population density, an important part of the territory has been reserved for private users. In addition to domains of a private cattle-raising company, which had been established in the colonial period, local villagers have recently begun to enclose considerable size of land for their own commercial farming. During August and September 2016, the authors have conducted a series of interviews with the large-scale land holders in two villages for studying their socio-economic profiles. The following points are main findings.Firstly, special gifts were paid to land chiefs for the acquisition of these lands. Considering that such gifts are not required when villagers get fields for their subsistence, the additional land acquisitions are clearly regarded as something different. Having recognized such land acquisition, the land chiefs wrote a letter for the applicants, who brought it to the local administration proceeding measures for issuing official certificates for a concession in accordance with the 1973 Land Law. Authorization of land chiefs has been, therefore, combined with official administrative procedures for the establishment of land rights. Secondly, the large-scale land holders tend to be close relatives with land chiefs. Non-relatives are also able to acquire such lands, but they tend to offer a bigger amount of gifts than relatives. It suggests that relatives could have an easier access to the admission of land chiefs than non-relatives. Thirdly, all of the interviewed large-scale land holders acquired their concession after the year of 2000, indicating that the enclosure with local initiative has started recently, thus changing rural landscape rapidly. Such a change may cause land shortage and huge economic gap in this area in the near future.(This survey research was conducted in the framework of Projet Mbali./ http://icd.j-monkey.jp/congo/)

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