International conference salutes Tobagonian scholar

by Stephen Cummings

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: The International Society for Oral Literature in Africa (ISOLA) will host its 6th conference at the University of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, Trinidad from July 20 – 23, 2006.

This year's conference, themed "Oral Literature and Identity Formation in Africa and the Diaspora", will salute the leadership of Tobagonian scholar, Dr J.D. Elder, in the work of African Diaspora Studies.

A native of Charlotteville, Tobago, Dr Elder's work on promoting the historical and cultural links between Africa and the African Diaspora has contributed significantly to ISOLA.

Credited with the founding of the Tobago Heritage
Festival, the late Dr Elder has received international recognition and acclaim for his contributions to the field of cultural anthropology and research.

The International Society for Oral Literature in
Africa (ISOLA) is a global association of scholars interested in exploring the rich oral traditions of Africa from as many disciplinary perspectives as possible.

Some of the work areas include issues of history,
social and political organization, gender relations,inter-group conflict, language, literacy, identity and power, and the place of oral traditions in present-day concerns like HIV/AIDS, war, and governance.