IFRA-Nigeria 30’s anniversary celebration with a conference on Digital Humanities

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IFRA-Nigeria turned 30 in 2020 and in order to celebrate our anniversary, we organized a conference on June 10th and 11th 2021, in collaboration with the Institute of African Studies (University of Ibadan). The theme of our conference was “Digital Humanities: the final frontier for the decolonization of knowledge?”.

Computers and the Internet have radically changed the way we study, learn, research and write. It won’t come as a surprise that this very phenomenon has triggered a wave of research and publications especially in the last thirty years. It has led to intense debates on the role and place of Digital Humanities (DH) in academia.

This conference reflected on the role played by Digital Humanities in African contexts, as well as interrogate if and how they can contribute to the process of decolonization of knowledge currently underway within social sciences and the humanities, particularly in African studies.

This two-day conference gathered scholars and non-academic speakers from different backgrounds with experience in Digital Humanities.

The panelists presented the projects they led in different academic contexts and reflected on them. Keynote presentations as well as roundtables discussed different perspectives on Digital Humanities.

On Friday 11th afternoon, a small celebration took place with special guests from the French Embassy and the University of Ibadan.

This conference was live streamed and hosted speakers online. The recording are available on our Youtube channel.

This conference was one of the first steps of our current research programme on Digital Humanities and we will keep you posted for more activities in the coming months.

You can find the programme below or download the pdf.

The conference took place in the Lady Bank-Anthony Hall at the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan and the celebration took place in the garden of the Institute of African Studies. Unfortunately, access was restricted because of Covid-19 regulations.

10 June 2021 – Day 1: “Digital Humanities: The Final Frontier for the Decolonization of Knowledge?”

▪ 9:00am: Welcome address by the co-hosts, the Director of IFRA-Nigeria, Dr Vincent Hiribarren and the Acting Director of the Institute of African Studies, Dr Senayon Olaoluwa.
▪ 9:15am: Welcome address by the Director of International Programmes, Dr Ayotola Aremu, University of Ibadan.
▪ 9:30am-10:30am: Keynote address by Prof. Dele Layiwola, University of Ibadan: “Digital Humanities and the Challenge of Decolonization: an Assessment”.
▪ 11:00am - 12:30pm: Project presentations: Digital Humanities for Analysing Language and Texts. Moderator: Dr Ademide Adelusi-Adeluyi.
- Gloria I. Okolie and Confidence Evwodere: “Towards Creating Textual Communities of West African Oral Forms”.
- Kọ́lá Túbọ̀sún: “The Web Potential in African Language Scholarship & Research”.
- Israel Abayomi Saibu & Felix Bayode Oke: “Knowledge Preservation and Dissemination in a Digital Age: a Digital Narrative of Ojude Oba Cultural Festival in Ijebu-Ode, Nigeria”.
▪ 1:30pm - 3:00pm: Project presentations: Digital Humanities Opening New Avenues for Research and Teaching. Moderator: Dr Seunfunmi Olutayo.
- Onyekachi Peter Onuoha: “Creative Writing and Digital Production: Constraining and Expanding Literary Criticism in the 21st Century”.
- Macham Mangut: “Archaeology in Nigeria in the Digital Era”.
- Bashir Maiwada: “Institutionalisation of Digital Technology in Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria as a Supporting Tool for Humanities Scholarship”.
▪ 3:00pm - 4:30pm: Project presentations: Digital Humanities for the Preservation and Memory of Arts and Culture (online panel). Moderator: Dr Sara Panata.
- Bruno R. Véras: “Fragments of Memory: Digital Humanities and Art-Based Creative Scholarship in Global Africa”.
- Yaw Adu-Gyamfi: “The Role of Digital Humanities in Preserving History and Creativity in African Traditional Music: The Case of Yaw Dwene Adowa Music Group”.

Pictures from Thursday 10th June:

11 June 2021 – Day 2: “Digital Humanities: The Final Frontier for the Decolonization of Knowledge?”

▪ 8:00- 8:30am: Registration of participants & arrival of guests.
▪ 8:30am - 10:00am: Roundtable: Digital Humanities and the Valorisation of Cultural Heritage on the Internet. Moderator: Dr Cyrielle Maingraud-Martinaud.
- Olakunle Olusola Kuti: “How far? Nigeria”.
- Etim Eyo: “Nigeria Nostalgia Project”.
- Dr Ademide Adelusi-Adeluyi: “New Maps of Old Lagos: Rethinking Public Histories of Lagos”.
▪ 10:00am - 10:03am: Tea break.
▪ 10:30am- 12:15am: Roundtable: Reflexivity on the Implementation and Use of Digital Humanities in African Universities. Moderator: Dr Mutiat Oladejo.
- Dr Ayo Adeduntan: “Digitizing an African Studies Audiovisual Archive: Moves, Falter, Lessons”.
- Dr Kudus Adebayo and Dr Senayon Olaoluwa: “Engaging with Digital Humanities in Africa: Preliminary Reflections”.
- Dr Babajide Ololajulo: “Encountering Africa from Afar: Knowledge Production and Authenticity in the Age of Digital Humanities”.
▪ 12:15pm – 12:30pm: Closing remarks and way forward, Dr Vincent Hiribarren.
▪ 12:30pm – 1:30pm: Lunch break (for participants who attended the morning session).
▪ 1:00pm – 130pm: Arrival of H. E. the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Mr Jérôme Pasquier.
▪ 1:30pm: Courtesy visit to the Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola by H. E. the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Mr Jérôme Pasquier.
▪ 2pm – 2:10pm: Opening remark by the chairman of the occasion, the representative of Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, the Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Ayotola AREMU, Director, Office of International Programmes of the University of Ibadan.
▪ 2:10pm - 3pm: Keynote lecture by the president of the Nigerian Academy of Letters, Prof. Francis Egbokhare: “Digital Humanities and International Collaborations: a Perspective from the NaijaSynCor Project”.
▪ 3pm – 3:20pm: Address by former Directors of the Institute of African Studies, Prof. Pogoson and Prof. Dele Layiwola.
▪ 3:20pm – 3:40pm: Address by the Acting Director of the Institute of African Studies, Dr Senayon Olaoluwa.
▪ 3:40pm – 4:00pm: Address by the Director of IFRA-Nigeria, Dr Vincent Hiribarren.
▪ 4:00pm – 4:15pm: Closing remarks by the chairman of the occasion, the representative of Prof. Adebola Babatunde Ekanola, the Acting Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Ayotola AREMU, Director, Office of International Programmes of the University of Ibadan.
▪ 4:15pm – 4:30pm: Goodwill message by H. E. the Ambassador of France to Nigeria, Mr Jérôme Pasquier.
▪ 4:30pm – 4:45pm: Brief visit of IFRA-Nigeria Resource Centre.
▪ 4:30pm – 5pm: Photo sessions and media.
▪ 5:00pm - 8pm: Event banquet (dinner & music) at the garden of the Institute of African Studies.