Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan
Scholars from various disciplines in the humanities, arts and social sciences and students on Wednesday, 8 July, 2015 gathered at Lady Bank Anthony Hall, University of Ibadan, UI, to brainstorm on issues relating to xenophobia on the African continent and the world in general.
The programme put together by the institution’s Institute of African Studies, had two panels of discussants who extensively deliberated on the topic: Xenophobia Beyond The South African Imaginary: Tracking Xenophobia And Its Trajectories In Africa.
The first panel, which dwelt on South Africa and the recent xenophobic attacks on Africans in that country, comprised immediate past Dean, Faculty of Arts, Professor Aderemi Raji-Oyelade, Dr. Bukola Adesina from the Department of Political Science, Dr. Jendele Hugbo from North West University, South Africa, Dr. Osita Ezeliora from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, and Dr. Willie Ezelebor of the Institute of African Studies.
The second panel which examined the topic Perspectives On Other African Spaces, comprised the former UI Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Professor Adigun Agbaje, Professor Isaac Albert, and Dr. Nathaniel Danjibo from the Institute of African Studies in UI, Professor Obodomina Oha and Professor Charles Adesina, from the Departments of English and History respectively, and Dr. Babajide Ololajulo from the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology of the same university.
The panel during the event
In his brief remarks, Chairman of the occasion, Professor Dele Layiwola noted that xenophobia in South Africa became a vicious assertion for space and self-affirmation and not just some watery excuses of political campaigns for cultural or linguistic purification.
Setting the tone for the panels’ discussion, the convener, Dr. Senayon Olaoluwa, in his speech noted that xenophobia, both in historical and contemporary terms, is depicted as the antithesis of progress.
Senayon explained that where it has succeeded in keeping strangers out of …Read More
Source:: PM Newspaper
