Africa Symposium Held at Ball State University Features GRMC Maps

Africa Maps Exhibited at A Long Way Back: Ball State University Africa Symposium on October 20

The Ball State University Freshman Connections Common Reader program presented Ishmael Beah’s A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier for this year. Freshman Connections will present a symposium on Africa on Tuesday, October 20 in the Arts and Journalism Building, room 175, at 7:30 P.M.

A Long Way Back: Reflections on Conflicts in Africa will present seven speakers dealing with different African nations:

· Dr. Kyama Kabadaki, Department of Social Work: Uganda
· Fr. Nabil Hanna, St. George Orthodox Church, Indianapolis: Egypt
· Dr. Tendayi Kumbula, Department of Journalism: Zimbabwe
· Dr. Yeno Matuka, Department of English: Congo
· Mr. Momo Fambuleh, Ball State University: Liberia
· Dr. Herbert Stahlke, Department of English Emeritus: Nigeria
· Ms. Meggan Houlihan, University Libraries: Nigeria

The GIS Research and Map Collection will provide a map exhibit for the symposium, providing over fifty new and historic maps of Africa and the changing African nations over time. Images from atlases will also be featured in the exhibit. (The images shown above are from the Africa Adventure Atlas in the Atlas Collection).

Meggan Houlihan, Information Services Librarian for University Libraries, will present the story of Margery Perham during the Nigerian Civil War. Margery Perham was an Oxford don, who made significant contributions to the fields of African history and colonial administration. Over the course of her career, Perham was approached several times by the Colonial Office to advise on problematic African affairs. Nearing retirement at its outset, the Nigerian Civil War gave Perham an opportunity to come back into the political spotlight and help British officials and the public understand the underlying problems of the War. This discussion will review how one must look at the actions of officials and determine whether Margery Perham influenced them, or if they simply took advice from her when she was supporting their interests.

The symposium will be moderated by Dr. Paul Ranieri, Department of English, and was organized by Dr. Martha Payne, Department of English. The program is free and open to the public.