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Dakar (Senegal) , 16 September - 6 October 2002
Theme: “labour, gender and Family”

CODESRIA organized a workshop on theoretical and methodological practices in social history, in collaboration with SEPHIS, from 16 September to 6 October 2002, in Dakar. This comparative workshop, that covered the themes of labour, gender and family, focused on Latin America, South Asia, the Caribbean and Africa.

The goal of the workshop was to provide a stimulating environment for a group of around seventeen young graduate students, who shared their research experiences during four weeks, thereby having an opportunity to improve their theoretical and methodological skills.

Convenor, Resource Persons of the Extended workshop

The workshop was led by Professor Anne Mager who is at the Department of Historical Studies, University of Cape Town (South Africa). Five other distinguished historians from various parts of the South joined the workshop to give intensive three day courses on the latest developments in Social History in their respective areas: Professor Verene Shepherd (Associate Professor, History Department, University of the West Indies, Mona); Professor Alexandre Fortes (Coordinator of ‘Projeto Memória e História; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil); Professor Ayodeji Olukoju (Department of History, University of Lagos, Akoka-Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria); Professor Ibrahima Thioub and Dr. Ndiouga Adrien Benga (Department of History, Université Cheikh Anta Diop de Dakar)

Laureates of the Extended workshop

We received a total of 58 applications, among which 17 candidates were selected. All members of the selection committee acknowledged the quality of the applications received. Eventually, the majority of participants were from Africa (7 students), then in order of importance, from Latin America (5), Asia (4) and the Caribbean (1). In addition to the criterion of continent representativeness, there was also a relative gender balance, since 8 out of the 17 participants were women.

Academic Programme[1]

During three weeks from Monday to Saturday, the workshop was convened every morning from 9.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Some afternoons were free for individual work and meetings with the convenor and the resources persons.

After the opening ceremony chaired by Prof. Adebayo Olukoshi, Executive Secretary, the academic programme started with the presentation of the workshop themes, contents of the programme and reading of texts by Prof. Anne Mager, the convenor of the Extended workshop.

Lectures followed by discussions (see appendix I) were organised at three levels. First, the convener delivered six lectures which related to theoretical and methodological approaches in Social History. These were lectures on epistemological issues (Schools and Trends) and research methods as well as on recent developments in social history.

At the second level, three historians (from Africa, Latin America and Caribbean) presented, in their respective areas, the recent debates on the Social History. Each gave three intensive lectures. The third level involved an interesting discussion between workshop participants, students and scholars of the host country[2]. Then, participants were visited by two lecturers from the Senegalese History Department and one from CODESRIA. The latter delivered a series of lectures pertaining to the themes of the workshop. These lectures allowed a fruitful exchange and were appreciated by the students.

Young researchers presented and discussed their works  in the form of three exercises:

1. Writing and presentation of a research proposal/application

Students presented and discussed their research proposals (see Appendix II) during the second week of workshop. After the presentation, every student revised and submitted his/her research proposal to the convenor for evaluation.

2. Reading text and Seminar papers on Comparative Issues in Gender, Labour and Family History.

For every seminar session, students received readings texts two or three days ahead. Everyone wrote a one-page seminar paper for discussion.  Students then leaded discussions on their chosen readings. 

3. Writing of reviews

Each participant wrote a review of a book from the list selected by the convenor in relation to their themes and areas of interests. The reviews were submitted to the group for discussion. Seven books (see Appendix III) were reviewed.

Study Facilities: Production of bibliographical references and Delivery of Reference books

The workshop coordinator compiled highly selective abstracts relevant to the themes of “labour, gender and Family” in Africa, South Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean (With 462 references, written between 1994 and now). 

SEPHIS/CODESRIA ordered hundreds of books and articles selected by the former conveners. These books were forwarded to CODICE. In addition to the books that were bought and articles that were photocopied during the last workshop, some thirty new books were ordered and put at the laureates’ disposal in CODICE. The Director and resources also brought with them copies of their reading texts.

The participants largely used the CODESRIA library (CODICE). CODICE made copies of the materials chosen by the workshop convenor for the review of books. Copies were given to the laureates at their arrival. Each laureate also had a 1000 page photocopy allowance. CODICE undertook bibliographical searches to respond to the demand of the workshop participants. At the beginning of lectures, Abu Ndongo (Head of CODICE) organised visits to some documentation centres around Dakar. Students were very interested by AAWORD and ILO libraries.

Some computers (with Internet access), as well as printing facilities were put at the laureates' disposal in CODESRIA and at the “Auberge Marie Lucienne”. Some African Participants benefited from an initiation to and a familiarization exercise with the use of the Internet provided by CODICE staff.

General arrangements (Accommodation, Living expenses, Insurance, Entertainment and Excursions)

Participants stayed at the Auberge Marie Lucienne located in Point E, near CODESRIA. The  convenor and the students really appreciated the accommodation conditions at the hotel. Apart from accommodation, CODESRIA provided a stipend to cover subsistence costs (food, commuting, washing and drying, medical expenses, and telephone). CODESRIA also provided medical insurance that covered hospitalisation charges.

One guide was hired for the duration of the workshop to accompany laureates to different places and to serve as an interpreter.

Excursions and visits to museums were part of the programme during these three weeks. Participants enjoyed Dakar’s music scene by going to Youssou N'dour’s concert in Thiossane.

Three dinners were organized: one after the opening session, the second during the visit of the SEPHIS coordinator and the last one during the closing ceremony.

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[1] A meeting for the final preparation of the Extended Workshop on Social History was organized at the end of August between the workshop convenor and workshop coordinator in Cape Town.

[2] The opening session was concluded by a general discussion with the Professors of Cheikh Anta Diop University and IFAN. The debates focused on their different historiographical traditions.

 

 

 

Dakar, 26 April – 14 May, 2004
Labour, Gender, Ethnicity & Class

 The 2004 Extended workshop on Social History aims at shedding light on theoretical and methodological approaches in  social history. It seeks to cover a wide range of approaches as well as a wide range of research areas in order to facilitate the understanding of societies in their many diversities.  It hopes also to encourage the focus on social groups and subaltern masses for social research.

The focus on "forgotten" societies and interest in new methodological and theoretical issues are an important aspect of CODESRIA and SEPHIS programs. That is why the workshop focuses on projects dealing with Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean  and South Asia. The participants’ research deals with important issues that will illuminate societies that are not well known or not considered important  for  historical research. 

This workshop creates a geographical, cultural and historical diversity which, combined with the quality of the resource persons, engenders interesting debate.

Objectives of the Workshop

The main objective of this activity is to promote a dynamic exchange and work among young historians from Latin and Central America, South Asia, the Caribbean and Africa, for a better understanding of historical research in these regions of the South. This goal will be reached by organising discussion and by engaging in a new reflection focusing on recent methodological and theoretical developments in Social History. The reflections, conducted in a comparative approach, will be focused on Latin and Central America, South Asia, the Caribbean and Africa.

Themes and Contents of the Workshop

The extended workshop for young historians addresses a widely expressed demand by enabling historical researchers to interact with colleagues from abroad to discuss issues  of theory and methodology. Laureates will discuss new theoretical and methodological approaches in Social History, as well as, their current work. The thematic focus of the workshop will be on labour, gender, class and Ethnicity. Besides, the workshop deals with very practical but important questions on how to write an article, how to plan a research project, and how to submit a research proposal for funding. The discussions will be linked to the participant’s own work in progress.

The workshop will be led by a researcher with an established reputation in the field. Seven distinguished historians from various parts of the South will join the workshop to give intensive five days courses on the latest developments in Social History in their respective areas. Lectures (followed by discussions) will be organised between workshop participants, students and scholars of the host country to discuss their different historiographical traditions.

Programme

• From Monday to Saturday the workshop will convene every morning from 9.00 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. Some afternoons are free for individual work.

• Schools and Trends in Social History (focusing on Asia, Latin America and Africa). These are lectures on epistemological issues and research methods as well as on recent developments in social history; 

• A presentation and discussion of the works of young researchers in the form of four exercises:

• Writing a review; each participant writes a review of a book from a select bibliography. The reviews will be submitted to group discussion;

• Presentation of research papers and group discussions;

• Seminars on Comparative Issues in Gender, Labour and Family History

• Revising and submitting a research proposal. What selection criteria do international research foundations apply and what makes a good application?

• Lectures (followed by discussions) will be organised at two levels. The first level concerns the invitation of three distinguished historians (from countries of the South) who will present, in their respective areas, the recent debates on the Social History. They will each give intensive three-day seminars The second level will be a cross-fertilisation between workshop participants, students and scholars of the host country to discuss their different historiographical traditions. Five such sessions will be organised. In the first one (during the opening ceremony), participants will invite Cheikh Anta Diop University lecturers to a round-table to be extended to post-graduate students. The debates will focus on the typical historiographical trends in communities of the South. Then, for three days, participants will be visited by three seniors lecturers of the Senegalese History Department. The latters will deliver a series of lectures pertaining to the themes of the workshop. These lectures will allow a fruitful exchange. To close this forum, a Senegalese student selected for the workshop will present his proposed research thesis, together with two workshop participants. The discussions will focus on the methodological issues encountered in the preparation of the thesis. Such gatherings would have a significant bearing on the social science debates in the country, and more generally, would contribute to the upgrading of the academic generation in countries of the South.

Convenor of the Extended workshop

The workshop is led by Dr Janaki Nair, from the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences, Kolkata India.

Resource Persons

Seven other distinguished historians from various parts of the South join the workshop to give intensive three day courses on the latest developments in Social History in their respective areas:

• For Africa: Dr Nicodemus Fru Awasom (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of The Gambia/West Africa) and Dr Babacar Fall (Ecole Normale Supérieure, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal). From the History Department of Cheikh Anta Diop University : Prof Boubacar Barry and Dr Penda Mbow.

• For the Caribbean: Prof. Brereton, Bridget (History Department, Faculty of Humanities and Education, University of West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies)

• For Latin and Central America: Dr Luiz Fernando Ferreira Da Rosa Ribeiro (Goiana, Brazil)

Study Facilities

- Abstracts

A bibliographic abstracts relevant to the themes of “labour, gender, class and Ethnicity” in Africa, South Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean has been compiled. A highly selective bibliography is already available. It is made up of 600 references covering the period  between 1994 and now (papers, books, theses and documents), numerically and alphabetically classified. It also focuses on countries in Africa, Latin America, Caribbean and South Asia. References that give conventional bibliographical information are classified geographically. There are also sub-classifications per region and country. Authors are classified in an alphabetical order. Most of the references have an abstract and key words. An index per country and per region referring to one or several reference numbers is also proposed. Information on the various sources used in bibliographical research is also provided.

 - Acquisition of new working tools relevant to the workshop theme

CODESRIA / SEPHIS has ordered hundreds of books and articles selected by the conveners. This literature is available to the participants of the Extended workshop in CODESRIA’s documentation Center (CODICE)

- CODICE (CODESRIA’s documentation Center)

The participants can make use of the CODESRIA library (CODICE), which is specialised in social science and has in its stock the most current papers and reviews on African history and a focused collection of books and copies of articles on the workshops theme that covers Latin America, Africa and Asia. They will also have access to more extended bibliographical information, thanks to databases on CD-ROM available in CODESRIA.

CODICE provides several services:

• Documentary search and production of bibliographical references: CODICE will undertake bibliographical searches to respond to the demand of the workshop participants.

• CODICE will make copies of the materials chosen by the workshop convenor for the review of books. Copies will be given to the laureates once they arrive. Each laureate will also receive a 1000 page photocopy allowance. CODICE will supervise the regularity in the reproduction of the documents.

• Participants’ access to other documentation centres in Dakar. Before the starting of lectures, CODICE representatives will organise visits to some documentation centres around Dakar. This concerns the following libraries: IFAN (Institut Fondamental d'Afrique Noire), WARC (West African Research Centre), IDEP (the African Institute for Economic Development and Planning), AAWORD (Association of African Women for Research and Development), ILO (International Labour Organization), BU (the modern and newly renovated Library of Cheikh Anta Diop University which has a large section on History).

• Computer Facilities. Some computers (with Internet access), which will be put at the laureates' disposal in CODESRIA and in the Auberge Marie Lucienne.

Accommodation

Participants will stay at the Auberge Marie Lucienne located in Point E ( Rue A angle 2, BP 25072, Dakar Fann, Tel 869 00 90, e-mail:

auberge@sentoo.sn

) . Each participant has his/her single bedroom equipped with a bathroom, toilet, telephone, air conditioning, television and table. Breakfast is included. Auberge Marie Lucienne has its own restaurant, but many nice and very affordable restaurants can be found in Point E.

Living expenses and Insurance

 Apart from accommodation, CODESRIA provides a stipend to cover living expenses (food, commuting, washing and drying, medical expenses, and telephone). CODESRIA will provide Medical Insurance that covers costs of Hospitalization.