The International Society for the Study of African Jewry (ISSAJ ) and the Centre of Jewish Studies of the University of London, are glad to announce a conference.

Jews, Judaism in Black Africa and its diasporas

which will take place he School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, 30th and 31st October 2010.

We invite proposals from researchers interested in the scholarly investigation of African Judaism, the history of African Jews and the development of Semitic discourses in AFRICA to participate.

The first International Conference of ISSAJ is dedicated to a broad and interdisciplinary overview of the study of black African Jewry. What is the state of this field of study? What are the main points of discussion?

A number of recent studies have dealt with the constructions of Judaism or Jewishness among Black Africans and their relation to the historical experience of migrations, slavery and colonialism. The growth of Judaism, or Jewishness among Black Africans has been nurtured by shared historical dicourses about Jews and blackness that transcend national boundaries. In addition, Judaism, Jewishness, notions of Semitic origins and Zionism have impacted on many Black African and African-American societies.

Particular perceptions of Jewish history have been viewed as a paradigm of African suffering and possible redemption, and can be found in a variety of political and religious discourses among Black Africans. The topic of Black African Jewry, is not only restricted to the continent of Africa itself, but also includes Israel, the United States and Europe, where increasingly Black communities are found which profess Jewish identities and practice Judaism in one form or another.

> Provisional Programme

Abstracts should succinctly state the problematic addressed and should be presented in no more than 200 words. Applications must include the name of the presenter, university degrees obtained, and current institutional affiliation, if any.

Presenters will be expected to pay conference fees and ISSAJ membership to the association as well.
> Registration form and payment form.

More information on the conference organization (hotel booking etc) will be found from May 25th 2010 on the School of Oriental and African Studies website
http://www.soas.ac.uk/events/event58406.html