Appel à contributions Question Féministe Afrique 20:

panafricanisme

Editor: Amina Mama

The African Union celebrated its 50^e Year in May 2013, sous le thème général du panafricanisme et de la Renaissance. Lors du gala et le sommet, de chefs d'Etat de l'Afrique se félicitaient une hausse du PIB de la région, anticipant un intérêt étranger renouvelé. We are already witnessing a renewed scramble for the material wealth of the region – most explicitly manifest in the land grab that threatens the very fabric of Africa’s survival. The impending expiry of the minimal development goals presents the unpalatable scenario of an Africa characterized by growth without development. Social inequalities sharpen as globalization continues to subordinate people to the exigencies of transnational capital.

Pan-Africanist discourse challenges feminist intellectuals to critically appraise what half a century of African Union has delivered to women, children and indeed, ordinary men. Hard struggles have seen women make modest inroads into political power, while the exploitation of women’s labor continues apace. Women in Africa - like our lands before us – are being “discovered”, newly branded as the 3^e “emerging market”. Cependant, trends across the continent and globally point to the contradictory processes that accompany the “discovery” of women. En Afrique, the increasing violence targeted at heterosexual women occurs alongside organized state led onslaughts on same sex sexualities and global (some would say imperialist) rehearsals of how Africa should behave. We are also witnessing troubling global campaigns such as the “Clitoraid”, «Undies for Africa” and the CNN-led “Bras for Africa” pour ne citer que quelques-uns. What are the implications of such campaigns for transnational feminism?

In the global juridico-political sphere the International Criminal Court has intervened in several African countries, provoking a resurgence of racialised reaction among the political class.

Feminist engagements over the last half century challenge the liberal democratic social contract that remains premised on an unequal sex/gender regime. How is Year 50 being lived on the frontlines of women’s political awakening and growing participation in popular struggles? How do we theorise the multifarious manifestations of global neoliberal rationalities in Africa, complete with their attendant constructions of gender and sexual politics?

We invite features, points de vue, conversations, profils des conseils scolaires, and cultural reviews on the gender dynamics of the past and future of pan-Africanism.

Features: submit your abstract by Sept 1 2013.

All completed submissions by 1 oct 2013.

Electronic submissions only to: [email protected]

For enquiries contact the editorial team at [email protected]

Editorial policy and submission requirements can be found at: http://agi.ac.za/editorial-info