Inaugural address professor Amina Mama, 2003/2004 holder of the Prince Claus Chair in Development and Equity
March 2004
On 28 April 2004 Dr Amina
Mama, holder of the Prince Claus Chair in Development and Equity
2003/4, will deliver her inaugural address entitled " Critical
capacities: facing the challenges of intellectual development in
Africa" at the Institute of Social Studies, Kortenaerkade 12,The Hague.
The Curatorium of the Chair nominated Professor Mama as Chair
Holder in view of her academic contributions in the area of culture and
development in Africa. In her Inaugural Lecture Amina Mama will present
a critical analysis of the challenges that have both inspired and
constrained Africa`s intellectual development.
She discusses the
political, administrative and other constraints that have inhibited the
emergence of African-focused intellectual culture within the structure
of African universities. Moreover, the current globalisation of higher
education policy is equally insensitive to the importance of higher
education in Africa. Prof Mama discusses several strategies for the
future and underscores the need for the establishment of creative
structures equipped to address knowledge needs in a manner grounded in
the political and cultural aspirations of Africa`s diverse societies.
Professor
Mama will reside at the ISS, The Hague, from mid April to mid July
2004. Professor Mama (1958, Nigeria) is Chair in Gender Studies and
Director of the African Gender Institute at at the University of Cape
Town, South Africa. She holds a Doctorate in organisational psychology
from the University of London. She provides intellectual leadership to
a research programme aimed at strengthening gender studies for Africa`s
transformation. She has done research on a wide variety of development
subjects, including race, gender politics and analysis, development
strategies and organisational development, migration and conflict. She
has a broad experience in teaching as well as in advisory positions at
various African and European-based international institutions. From
1989-91 she has been Lecturer in the Women and Development MA Programme
at the ISS. She is the author of several books and articles. Professor
Mama in her position as holder of the Prince Claus Chair will focus on
the field of culture and development.
The Prince Claus Chair
in Development and Equity, established by Utrecht University and the
Institute of Social Studies (ISS), aims at promoting research and
education in the field of development and equity, in honour of the late
Prince Claus of the Netherlands. Prince Claus was an Honorary Fellow of
the ISS. The Prince Claus Chair rotates annually between Utrecht
University and the ISS. Each academic year an eminent scholar from
Africa, Asia, Latin America or the Pacific will hold the title of
holder of the Prince Claus Chair. He or she will reside for 3 months in
the Netherlands. A Curatorium nominates candidates for the Chair. This
Curatorium is chaired by Princess Máxima of The Netherlands.
Further information on the inaugural address:
Matty Klatter,
Institute of Social Studies, external relations.
Email: klatter@iss.nl
Tel: + 31 30 70 4260506/419
Further information on the Prince Claus Chair:
Dr. Joop Kessels, secretary to the Curatorium
Email: curatorium@princeclauschair.nl
tel: + 31 30 2534477
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