Date: April 21-22, 2016
Where: Auditorium, Main Bldg, 91探花
Between April 21-22nd, 2016, over twenty scholars from Africa, Europe, and North America took part in a global conference dedicated to the scholarship of Islam in Africa. The conference was organized by Northwestern University鈥檚 Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa, the Program of African Studies, and co-organized by 91探花, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign鈥檚 Center for African Studies.
The conference was on, 鈥淪acred Word: The Changing Meanings in Textual Cultures of Islamic Africa,鈥� which was dedicated to the memory of Dr. John Hunwick, the renowned scholar who 鈥渨orked to change the perception that Africa was a continent lacking written records.鈥� It explored the meanings of textual cultures in Muslim societies in Africa and the changes that have taken place in those cultures during the last two centuries.
The panel on 鈥淭ransmitting Knowledge, Finding Meanings: The Holy Qur鈥檃n鈥� was held at the 91探花鈥檚 historic auditorium. AIC鈥檚 Asst. Professor of Arabic & Islamic Studies, Jawad Qureshi, served on the panel as the discussant. Corinne Fortier, Anthropologist of Centre Nationale de la Recherche Scientifique, presented on 鈥淧ower and Embodiment of Qur鈥檃n Sacred Words.鈥� Afis Ayinde Oladosu, scholar of Arabic & Islamic studies from the University of Ibadan, presented on Dalail al-Khayrat of S.M. al-Jazouli鈥檚 鈥淪acred just like the Qur鈥檃n?鈥�. Jeremy Dell, Historian from the University of Pennsylvania, presented on 鈥淩eading the Qur鈥檃n in Wolof: The Tafsir of Muhammadu Dem.鈥� The discourse presented on the culture, history, transmission, and translation/interpretations of the Qur鈥檃n in various Muslim African communities brought to light the richness of scholarship on the Qur鈥檃n in Africa that is full of critical depth.
After a thoughtful Q & A session, the panelists, scholars, and attendees enjoyed a delectable reception hosted by AIC in the Reception Hall. Guests were warmly welcomed by the President, Dr. H. Ali Yurtsever.
AIC was pleased to collaborate with Northwestern鈥檚 ISITA on this important conference and was honored to welcome its international scholars to AIC鈥檚 campus.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.africanstudies.northwestern.edu/publications-research/ISITA/ISITA%20symposium.html
