african studies iiiiiialliancescenter March 2009 University of Michigan African Studies Center Newsletter

Coleman Praises New African Studies Center at October iiReception ASC new “conduit” for African in July, plans to scholarship and research sponsor on-campus events and activities on campus to serve faculty and students, and will On October 13, support the Africa- 2008, the U-M’s oriented instruction new African Studies in the center for Center celebrated Afroamerican and ii its official opening African Studies with a reception at (CAAS) and help with the Michigan League. course development in other units. President Mary Sue Although the ASC is currently partnering Coleman and Senior with universities in Ghana and South Africa, Vice Provost Lester Director Kelly Askew, an associate professor Monts both made in CAAS and Anthropology, said she remarks at the event. “The University of The University of Michigan ii Michigan aspires to aspires to engage globally . . . engage globally. . . through the contributions of The Mady Kouyate through the contri- trio provided butions of our our students, faculty and staff entertainment students, faculty and staff,” Coleman said hopes the center will eventually work with at the reception. “I firmly believe that the universities across sub-Saharan Africa. African Studies Center will help us accelerate The Center’s work is organized around those connections.” three broad initiatives: International Institute Director Mark • Heritage Studies (story on p. 10) Tessler co-chaired a committee that called • Social Research (story on p. 12) for the creation of the ASC in 2007. The • African Presidential Scholars Program Center joins the other 16 centers under the (story on p. 11) International Institute umbrella, and will serve as a resource for research and curriculum enrichment and provide a platform for cross-cultural exchange. The ASC, which actually Lester Monts, Mark Tessler, and Mary Sue Coleman began work Photos by Elshafei Dafalla Mohamed Ghana-Michigan CHARTER FROM THE DIRECTOR launched in Ghana

t is a mere eight nations, building upon already existing uilding on more than 20 years of months since collaborations in Uganda, Cameroon, collaboration, the University of Ithe African Rwanda, Malawi, Tanzania, Nigeria, Ethiopia, BMichigan, Ghanaian Ministry of Studies Center and Namibia, to name a few. Health, University of Ghana (UG), and (ASC) came into You will find articles here about students Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & existence, yet and researchers working in the areas of Technology (KNUST), with support from the let this not be medicine, the arts, business, and more. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, launched

Photo by Elshafei Dafalla Mohamed mistaken for the There’s also an overview of the Health Open the Ghana-Michigan CHARTER program birth of African Education Resources (OER) initiative, a in Ghana. The February 2009 conference studies at the University of Michigan. Not project that will help make comprehensive inaugurated projects to strengthen the with the flourishing Center for Afroamerican health curricula available globally via the Ghanaian Ministry’s information systems and African Studies (CAAS), which will internet. on human resources, enhance professional celebrate its fortieth anniversary this And, as we introduce the Center, we and research training for health workers, coming year and remain the curricular home also take this opportunity to introduce and improve local capacity to evaluate for African studies within the College of to campus our first cohort of Presidential the impact of policies on health worker Literature, Science, and the Arts. And not Scholars from the UMAPS program (see story retention and satisfaction. Meeting at the with the more than 160 U-M faculty who on p. 11). Elmina Resort on the Ghanaian coast, more work in Africa and whose accomplishments Our inaugural ASC Symposium, entitled than 60 individuals from U-M and Ghanaian prove that vibrant African studies exists in “Engaging Africa / Advancing African institutions were present. Thirty-one U-M faculty and staff represented the schools of iiiimore than one site in Michigan. Studies,” will take place March 12-14, 2009. Rather, the launch of the ASC signifies an Our aims in organizing this event are to: medicine, public health, dentistry, nursing, increased institutional commitment to Africa (1) honor the first anniversary of President kinesiology, business, social work, and and an effort to, in the words of President Coleman’s trip to Africa and subsequent engineering, as well as the Center for Global Mary Sue Coleman, “explore ways to deepen launch of our Center; (2) clarify and advance Health. More than 30 Ghanaian faculty, and expand our mutual exchange, bringing the intellectual agenda for our Africa researchers, students, clinicians, nurses, new opportunities and perspectives to our initiatives; and (3) host a discussion on the and government officers were present, educational and research activities. Our state of “African Studies.” representing the UG, KNUST, Ghana Health new African Studies Center will help create “Engaging Africa” is an international, Service, and the Ministry of Health. energy and synergy between our faculty and interdisciplinary symposium that will open colleagues in Africa.” It serves as a conduit with a keynote address by João Honwana, through which the many Africa initiatives director of the Africa 1 Division at the across the university, from law and medicine United Nations, followed by panels on topics 2 to the sciences and humanities, may be ranging from health and environment to furthered to the mutual benefit of the science, technology, and heritage. university and its African partners. We have—as much by necessity as In this initial issue of Alliances, we look by choice—hit the ground running with back on the activity of the last eight months administrative responsibility for three major and begin to assess our successes, our initiatives (UMAPS, Heritage, and Social challenges, and our mission for the years Research) generously funded by the Office ahead. of the President. We moved into our office, There is no scarcity of stories and hired a wonderful staff, developed a mission accomplishments to report. Beyond the statement and website, and welcomed to breadth of faculty engagements with Africa, campus two internationally renowned South Ghanaian health specialists hosted more there are dozens of ways for students to African visitors (see p. 3). When we were than 30 U-M faculty members at Elmina engage in its study, including coursework putting together this newsletter, we quickly in Michigan’s rich curriculum across our 19 realized that there were more remarkable schools and colleges and expanding study stories than we could possibly make room SUPPORT ASC abroad opportunities. Our partnerships for. That’s a good problem to have and The African Studies Center is a critical with institutions in Ghana and South Africa reason to look out for future issues of component in the University of Michigan’s are strong and date back to the 1980s, Alliances. ongoing work in and on Africa. You can encompassing a wide range of areas from help by making a gift to the Center that will health care to quantitative data analysis help support our programs, including the to digital archiving. And we look forward Kelly M. Askew Presidential Scholars initiative. For more to deepening our ties with other African March 2, 2009 information, please contact us at asc- [email protected]. Or, to make a gift online, visit www.giving.umich.edu and donate through the U-M’s secure giving website. Please remember to specify the ASC when making your gift.

Photo by Kelly M. Askew 2008 HIGHLIGHTS

The U-M Today Board of Tutu is Regents widely is approved regarded Ndebele’s as South honorary Africa’s degree moral a month conscience. before other He continues recipients to speak out were passionately considered so the announcement could be and “MAD MEN AND SPECIALISTS” made during President Mary Sue Coleman’s courageously PERFORMED AT WALGREEN DRAMA visit to Africa in late February. around the world on behalf of human rights. CENTER As the vice-chancellor since 2000, “When we look around us at some of Nobel Prize winner Wole Soyinka’s play Ndebele is credited with transforming UCT the conflict areas of the world,” Tutu says, Madmen and Specialists was performed in into a diverse multiracial institution. October 2008 at the Arthur Miller Theatre, He also expanded the institution’s in North Campus’ Walgreen Drama Center. research mission by encouraging new

The play was directed by U-M associate partnerships within the country and inter- iiii professor Mbala D. Nkanga. nationally, and by increasing the number of Written in 1971, Madmen and research doctoral students at UCT. Specialists is a tragic satire of humankind Ndebele received his B.A. from the immersed in war. The work combines University of Botswana Lesotho Swaziland, Yoruba rituals of song and chant with sharp in 1973. He also earned an M.A. from parody, creating deft plays-on-words that Cambridge University in 1975 and a Ph.D. at distort their meaning while accentuating the University of Denver in 1983. Photo by Elshafei Dafalla Mohamed the potency of language. The New York Regarded as one of his country’s most Kevin Gaines, Director of CAAS, with Times described Soyinka’s drama as having accomplished writers, Ndebele’s Fools Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu “an almost Shakespearean soar. . . .” A and Other Stories won the Noma Award in strong criticism of abuse of any type of 1983 for best book published in Africa. He “it becomes increasingly clear that there power, Madmen chillingly explores the is author of The Cry of Winnie Mandela, is not much of a future for them without sequels of the spiritual, psychic, physical, Bonolo and the Peach Tree, and South forgiveness, without reconciliation.” 3 and symbolic devastation of humanity African Literature and Culture: Rediscovery The Wallenberg Medal is named after during war times. of the Ordinary. His poetry has also been Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, a 1935 Winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for published widely. graduate of U-M’s College of Architecture Literature, Wole Soyinka is considered who saved the lives of tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews near the end of World War II. Africa’s greatest living playwright. His work Tutu Awarded Wallenberg includes Death and the King’s Horseman, Medal The Trials of Brother Jero and The Lion and Cancer in Africa Symposium the Jewel. Madmen and Specialists stems Nobel Peace Prize winner and South The U-M School of Public Health hosted a from his 22-month detention during the African cleric Archbishop Desmond Tutu symposium November 9-10, 2008 to discuss Biafra civil war in Nigeria, much of which was awarded the 18th U-M Wallenberg the epidemiology and management of cancer was spent in solitary confinement. Medal on Oct. 29, 2008, by President Mary Sue Coleman. The medal presentation in Africa in a multidisciplinary fashion. was followed by Tutu’s delivery of the Another goal was to discuss approaches for FAMED AFRICAN Wallenberg Lecture. early detection and prevention of significant AUTHOR receives The first black South African Anglican cancers in Africa and among African Americans with experts from the University U-M honorary Archbishop of Cape Town, Tutu rose to international fame during the 1980s as a of Michigan School of Public Health, the degree deeply committed advocate of nonviolent University of Michigan Comprehensive Njabulo Ndebele, former resistance to apartheid. He was outspoken Cancer Center, and national and international vice-chancellor and in both South Africa and abroad, often experts in the field of epidemiology, principal of the University comparing apartheid to Nazism and oncology, health economics, public health of Cape Town (UCT), communism. policy and cancer control and prevention. South Africa, received an Tutu’s 1984 Nobel Peace Prize was a In November 2008, participants came from honorary Doctor of Law gesture of support for him and the South South Africa, Tanzania, Mali, Zimbabwe, degree from the University African Council of Churches that he led at Uganda, Nigeria, Egypt,Tunisia, Algeria, and of Michigan during spring commencement the time in their efforts to end apartheid. Morocco to join in the symposium. in April 2008. quantitative social sciences, humanities and Presidential heritage studies, health sciences, and other Delegation to areas. These content-driven conversations complemented discussion of two cross- Ghana and cutting areas of opportunity: • an expanded young-faculty exchange South Africa program designed to bring African scholars to Ann Arbor for varying lengths of time, which builds on a 16-year relationship with February 22 – South African universities; and March 6, 2008 • open educational resources (OER) that will invest in virtual collaborations, course by Gary Krenz, Office of the President and planning, and course content modules Maureen Martin, Office of Foundation and beginning with teaching hospitals and Corporate Relations medical schools in Ghana, but with significant potential for other fields. The trip helped U-M introduce its new African Studies Center, which will serve as an institutional focal point and catalyst for research and collaboration on and in Africa. We expect that the conversations with three universities in Ghana and eight universities in South Africa will be just the beginning iiii of triangulated initiatives and partnerships between scholars in Ghana, the United University of the Western Cape States, and South Africa. In addition, we see this trip and the resulting collaborations Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, King of Mary Sue Coleman and University of Ghana Vice Chancellor Clifford N.B. Tagoe as just the beginning of expanded the Asante, who is also chancellor of KNUST. collaboration and interaction throughout the In South Africa, Coleman met with continent. the Honorable Kate O’Regan, Justice of n late February 2008, President Mary Sue the Constitutional Coleman led a delegation of University Itinerary Court (with which Iof Michigan faculty and administrators to Michigan has had The universities visited include: Ghana and South Africa. This presidential in Ghana: University of Ghana (Legon) and a longstanding trip signaled increased institutional focus Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and exchange). Delegates on the study of and collaboration with Technology (KNUST). Lester Monts and Africa, building on a long history of U-M 4 U-M has also engaged Kevin Gaines took part accomplishments and partnerships. in discussions with in a panel discussion on comparative US- The U-M delegation met with leadership the University of South African affirmative action, organized and faculty at nine leading African Cape Coast, signed by the US Consulate in Johannesburg. universities. The delegation reaffirmed a memorandum of President Coleman and the delegation ties between institutions and faculty understanding, and also participated in a reception hosted by members and worked to expand already will be planning a visit in the future. the Consul General, and had discussions strong partnerships. Conversations in South Africa: University of Pretoria, with representatives of major foundations covered a range of opportunities for University of Johannesburg, University of the operating in South Africa. increased collaboration and engagement in Witwatersrand, University of Cape Town, and Coleman also delivered three public University of the Western Cape. lectures during the trip, all of which were Members of the delegation also well attended and well received. Texts of the www.umich.edu/ visited the University of Fort Hare speeches can be found at pres/speeches/index.html and the University of KwaZulu . Kevin Gaines Natal. A separate delegation also spoke at the DuBois Centre in Accra, visited Rhodes University in and Mark Tessler at the University of Cape December 2008. Town. In Ghana, President Coleman’s A highly successful adjunct to the group also visited the W.E.B. delegation’s activities was the simultaneous Du Bois Centre in Accra and visit to Ghana by the University of Michigan the Komfe Anoyke Teaching Gospel Chorale, a student organization. Hospital in Kumasi, and met with The Gospel Chorale visited universities and government officials—including performed at local high schools. (See the representatives of the Ministry sidebar for more about Gospel Chorale.) of Education and the Ministry of Maureen Martin and Mary Sue Coleman at the market in Accra, Chieftancy and Culture—and with Ghana. Follow-Up The visit by Mary Sue Coleman and her delegation was an unqualified success. Thanks to the trip, we opened new relationships with university leadership and faculty throughout both Ghana and South Africa; engaged in serious dialogue about key initiatives where our African partners could enhance and leverage “A JOYFUL NOISE”: MICHIGAN’S GOSPEL CHORALE IN GHANA Michigan’s unique by John Matlock, Associate Vice provost and Director, Office of Academic Multicultural strengths Initiatives and interests; identified hen Mary Sue Coleman visited Ghana during her Africa trip in February

processes 2008, a very special group of students accompanied her. Forty singers, iiii and stake- Wdancers, and musicians from the 120-member Michigan Gospel Chorale holders for joined the delegation in Accra for ten days of performing and cultural connections. Local artist at the market in Accra proceeding The Chorale performed for a variety of community, educational, and religious with inter- functions, including at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center, disciplinary and international research and the W.E.B. DuBois Centre—where they were greeted by the director of the initiatives; launched significant and center, a U-M graduate. The highlight of the trip was the Chorale’s concert at ongoing dialogues with African partners Accra’s prestigious 3,000-seat National Theatre. They performed for a capacity in each of the arenas where we believe crowd with several Ghanaian gospel choirs. sustainable partnerships can evolve; and Between rehearsing and performing (and studying for their upcoming exams) opened our new African Studies Center and the students also found time to attend lectures (including one by President initiated its first call for scholarly exchange Coleman), see marketplaces and museums, and visit community centers in rural nominations. areas of Ghana, where they learned about Ghanaian culture, including its famed Photos by Ted Hanss Kente cloth weaving process. They also met U.S. citizens who live in Ghana— 5 including students from other U.S. colleges—and had a chance to speak with U-M delegation and University of Ghana hosts faculty, students, and staff from Ghanaian universities. One of the most memorable occasions was the Chorale song tribute at the 14th-century Elmina Castle, where slaves were held before being loaded onto ships and transported to the Americas and the Caribbean Islands. It was a source of tremendous sadness for members to consider the millions of slaves who had passed that way, preparing for a voyage that would take them forever from the land of their birth. U-M Senior Vice Provost and Professor of Ethnomusicology Lester Monts said that the students played a tremendous role in helping to strengthen ties in Ghana. “They were a big hit in Ghana, and everyone wanted to hear them. Gospel music is tremendously popular in Africa, and while there are similarities in the music, there also are vast differences.” Monts also spoke about the increased opportunities for faculty exchanges between U-M faculty in various academic areas such as history, music, art, dance, architecture, and medicine. “Michigan has some 120 faculty who are engaged in Ghana and South Africa,” Monts said. “We also are extremely interested in our students taking advantage of their relationships and that they be able to participate in study-abroad programs in Ghana, South Africa, China, and other areas throughout the world. The Gospel Chorale’s efforts there certainly got us off to a wonderful start.” The students were also praised in a Congressional Record article by U.S. Senator Carl Levin who said: “I ask my colleagues to join me in commending the University of Michigan and the Michigan Gospel Chorale for their outstanding efforts in fostering goodwill between the United States and the nation of Ghana.”

a Creative Commons of OER on learning outcomes and provide or equivalent license feedback on socio-technical aspects of that permits free use collaborative OER practices. and re-purposing of • Produce an evidence-based long-term materials, including logic model for Health OER that multiple full courses, learning stakeholders will own, in which funders will modules, textbooks, invest, and which institutions are committed videos, assessments, to sustaining. This consensus-driven model and software. will be the basis of a Global Health OER The Medical School follow-on proposal. is leading this project In addition, the University’s Center for at Michigan and Global Health was recently awarded a working with all U-M two-year learning grant from the Bill and health science schools, Melinda Gates Foundation for a collaborative the School of Information, and five partners program of work with the University of Health Open Educational in Africa: the University of Cape Town (South Ghana, KNUST, the Ghana Ministry of Health, Resources Africa), the University of the Western Cape and Ghana Health Service. The project’s goal Partnership with (South Africa), the University of Ghana, is to design an evidence-based roadmap African Universities Kwame Nkrumah University of Science for academic-government collaborative and Technology (KNUST) (Ghana), and interventions that will strengthen the by Ted Hanss OER Africa, a Hewlett Foundation-funded training and deployment of human Director, Enabling Technologies, University of outreach program. resources for health in Ghana. Learning Michigan Medical School Support for Health OER in 2008 came materials created within this grant will be iiii from the William and Flora Hewlett published as OER. Foundation, the Soros Open Society Institute, the Foundation for Advancement n 2008, the University of Michigan of International Medical Education and launched the Health Open Education Research, and the University of Michigan. IResources (OER) initiative, an ambitious Activities included a Health OER workshop project to make comprehensive health in Accra, Ghana in May with participants curricula available globally via the internet. from several African countries, and A focus of U-M’s Health OER effort is hosting in Ann Arbor of the Health to address the education of health care Sciences provosts from the University of providers in developing countries in Africa Ghana and KNUST for an OER planning and anywhere there is a workforce crisis visit in November. that negatively affects human health. The collaboration received a second 6 Open Educational Resources consist grant from the Hewlett Foundation for of teaching and learning materials made 2009, with the goal of defining a long-term Provost Aaron Lawson, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana (one of our OER freely and openly available for students, sustainable model for Health OER. Major collaborators, giving a talk on the U-M campus faculty, and self learners around the world. components of the 2009 effort are: last November) While Health OER has a global reach, it is • Engage university leadership in not an online distance-learning program. implementing institutional policy “This is an exciting opportunity for our frameworks that facilitate the University,” says James O. Woolliscroft, MD, success of OER. We held policy dean of the U-M Medical School. “The Health workshops at each of the Ghanian OER program provides the opportunity universities in February 2009. for Michigan’s health science schools and South African workshops are being the School of Information to collaborate scheduled. in an innovative, comprehensive approach • Enhance an innovative, low-cost, to improve education opportunities for and scalable process for converting healthcare providers globally. As we educational materials into OER. This participate in this effort to help improve process, which we call dScribe, uses medical education in developing countries, students to facilitate OER publishing. we are transforming our health curriculum • Collaboratively develop educational to provide our students with richer learning materials as OER and deploy them experiences and strengthening their ability in our respective curricula. These to practice in a global health context.” are materials that draw upon our You can find more information on Health The focus is on scaling up teaching and respective expertise at each institution and OER on the Open Michigan website at learning capacity in partner institutions will be shared globally via a project website. https://open.umich.edu, or by emailing by co-creating new learning materials and • Promote the collaboration and its outputs [email protected]. The website converting existing materials into OER. U-M through a community of practice website. is a portal to U-M open publishing efforts and participating faculty members retain Establish a framework for a longitudinal in learning materials, research, library their copyright to the materials while using study of faculty productivity and the effect resources, software, and standards. Photos, University of Michigan Photos by Agnes Uzarerwa

The 30 program participants together with Professor Kopparthi Murty and Rector Developing Female Entrepreneurs in Rwanda Krishna Govender of the School of Finance & Banking and Amy Gillett of U-M’s William Davidson Institute

n September 2008, the U-M’s William participating and asking the faculty lots of sessions last from two to four days. The iiii Davidson Institute (WDI) rolled out its questions. They were also networking and women return to their homes between Inew entrepreneurship program for sharing ideas and insights with each other sessions and return anywhere from two to women in Rwanda. The program, organized during the breaks and over lunch.” four weeks later for the next module. by WDI’s executive education department, is There are nine multiple-day sessions “I was really happy to be able to travel sponsored by Goldman Sachs under its new throughout the six-month program. The to Kigali to meet all the women,” 10,000 Women initiative, which seeks Gillett said. “Most of them have faced to give 10,000 women around the many challenges in their personal and world a business and management professional lives. Many lost husbands education over the next five years. during the genocide in 1994. Some are The sponsorship means that all supporting several kids on incomes as the participants are attending the low as $40 a month. Others are battling program tuition-free. disease or taking care of sick children.” The program gives 30 women from “Despite their hardships, they are 7 all around Rwanda the knowledge and very optimistic and driven to make their skills needed to launch or expand businesses successful. They told me business enterprises. The participants during the program that they have only are learning business planning, themselves to rely on and that many marketing, finance, accounting, and people are relying on their success.” HR management. Gillett said nearly all the women have Participants include many women been able to build businesses despite in the handicraft sector, several capital constraints. “They were excited women involved in selling food about the prospect of getting loans products, a restaurant owner, a Program participant Delphine Habakwitonda shows Amy following the training program,” she furniture maker, a woman who makes Gillett one of the peace baskets made in her handicraft said. “By making sure they all leave the banana wine, and a woman in the studio, which earns revenues of $130 a month program with a solid business plan and an process of setting up a computer understanding of the loan process, we look training company. They range in age from “Despite their hardships, forward to making that happen.” 27 to 61. they are very optimistic The first cohort concluded very For the program launch, women from successfully with three days of business across Rwanda gathered for the first and driven to make their plan presentations. The professionalism of session, “Introduction to Entrepreneurship & businesses successful. the business plans and the confidence with Business Strategy,” held September 25. which they presented them impressed the “The program is off to a great start, They told me during the panel of three judges, who awarded two with 30 dedicated, enthusiastic small top awards in the amount of $2,500 each business owners,” said Amy Gillett, program that they have and five runner-up awards in the amount of director of executive education at WDI. only themselves to rely on $1,000 each. A second six-month program “The participants found the material with 30 new participants began in February very interesting and from the start were and that many people are 2009. relying on their success.” ur work in South Africa has 1998 and 2006, focusing on the availability addressed a broad range of Environmental Pollution of electricity, type of water supply, quality of Oissues related to population and in South Africa: housing, and nature of the sanitary system. health and has included collaboration with While there are still significant shortfalls,

iiiiStatistics South Africa and the Human PERCEPTIONS AND BEHAVIORS considerable progress has been made in Sciences Research Council (South Africa). living standards. There has been an increase Our association with these organizations by Barbara A. Anderson, Professor of from 14 to 22 percent in urban African dates from 1995 when we were in South Sociology and Research Professor in households with a middle-class standard the Population Studies Center; and Africa on an exploratory trip, the stimulus of living, while the percent of rural African John H. Romani, Professor Emeritus for which had been a conference at the of Public Health Administration and households with the worst living conditions University of Michigan on “Population and faculty member in the Program in the declined from 10 to 6 percent. Politics in South Africa” in February 1995, Environment. Since 2002, we have taught an which Professor Anderson organized. Since undergraduate course based on our work 1998 we have made at least annual visits in South Africa. In winter term 2008 the to South Africa, in addition to spending the course was offered as an LSA Honors year there in 2001-02. Seminar through the Sociology department; educational attainment was unrelated to One of our first studies looked at the it is also being offered in winter term this perception. However, education was differences in infant and child survival 2009. In May 2008, with support from 8 positively related when the household between Coloured and African populations. the Internationalizing Studies Across treated drinking water. More educated The major difference was less access to safe the Curriculum program at the Office of households may be better at marshalling drinking water for the African households, International Programs, we took students their resources to do something about which was strongly related to a greater from the course on a two-week field trip to unclean drinking water. chance that African children would die. For South Africa, something we plan to do again Currently, we are analyzing data about Coloured households, almost all of which in May 2009. We will also be in South Africa perceptions of littering and recycling by had clean drinking water, type of sanitation for the first half of the summer of 2009. urban households. Recycling behavior was important for children’s survival. Our work in South Africa has lasted for by urban Africans for normative reasons During the past three years we have more than a decade, and we look forward to does not correspond with the conventional focused on perceptions and behaviors continuing these efforts. wisdom in the field, in which recycling is related to environmental pollution. The closely associated with socioeconomic South African Constitution includes status. However, the presence of a social right to a clean, healthful, and safe school-age child in African households environment. We thought that the presence leads to greater recycling efforts by these of such a statement might mean a high level households, perhaps through a desire to of consciousness of environmental issues. set a good example for children and to We first looked at this question in relation to cooperate in school recycling campaigns. water pollution. We wanted to know whether Anderson has also been involved in there were differences in perceptions of projects with colleagues at Statistics whether water pollution was a problem and South Africa, having published with in actions to treat drinking water between co-authors a study of the percent of African and non-African households. children who are orphans and an analysis Africans and those with lower of adult mortality by cause. She and a socioeconomic status were more likely to researcher just completed an examination see water pollution as a serious problem; of changes in living standards between Photos, University of Michigan Michigan Medicine in

Ghana: IMPROVING WOMEN’S assisted in the development of a database REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH of pregnancy complications that has been useful in devising further research and by Kofi Gyan, Program Manager, International strategies to prevent complications that in Family Planning Fellowship Program, OB/GYN rural communities often become severe and life threatening. Other U-M students have been working in ince the 1980s, the University of the laboratories of the Center for Scientific Michigan’s Department of Obstetrics month clinical rotation with two weeks on Study of Plant Medicine to determine the Sand Gynecology (UM-OBGYN) has phytochemical properties of traditional obstetrics and two weeks on gynecology, been actively and increasingly involved in herbs that are used to stimulate uterine medical education in Ghana. At that time, where exposure to technologies such as robotic surgery, advanced ultrasonography, contractions. This summer, students most Ghanaian medical students took participating in the Global Intercultural their postgraduate training either in the and electronic fetal monitoring give them an understanding of the breadth of the Experience for Undergraduates (GIEU) U.S. or in Great Britain, with low rates of Program learned about maternal mortality repatriation. U-M professor Dr. Thomas field. The most important thing they learn, however, is that the basics of health care are by observing obstetric care at the Komfo Elkins and Timothy R. B. Johnson, (then Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, and at Johns Hopkins, now at U-M) partnered the same all over the world. The Michigan medical students who also learned about the issues faced by rural travel to the University of Ghana Medical women at the Sene District Hospital. School/Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (UGMS/ KBTH) see a very different type of patient An Ongoing Partnership than do doctors in Ann Arbor. Here, most The novel approaches and lessons learned pregnancy complications are addressed and in UM-OBGYN’s program are informing new iiii solved before they become major or life- initiatives that will lead to improved health threatening problems. In Ghana, however, care for Ghanaians, and increased retention lack of access to basic health care, basic of their health care professionals and faculty. health education, and issues with pregnancy A recent competitive award given by the complication recognition and transportation William Davidson Institute of the University lead women to present for care in ways that of Michigan to the Department of Pediatrics are rarely experienced in the United States. is initiating a replication of the faculty One U-M med student reported that, on the development and capacity building OBGYN with Ghanaian educational institutions to very first day of her visit, she saw a woman program to enhance human resource capacity create culturally appropriate and sustainable die from septic incomplete abortion—and in Pediatrics. Currently, the departments models of capacity building to improve had seen, in all, ten maternal mortalities of physical medicine and rehabilitation, obstetrical care in Ghana. Since then, more in the month she was there. Tragedies like emergency medicine, family medicine, and these are rare in the developed world, and than 60 obstetrician/gynecologists have orthopedics, among others, are planning 9 been trained in Ghana with a 99 percent in- this has encouraged many U-M students exchanges of residents and medical students. country retention rate. to strive to work to erase such disparities. UM-OBGYN was recently awarded funding Graduates of the program are now faculty U-M students also see the outstanding to establish the International Family Planning members, clinical providers, and leaders, clinical skills, patience, diligence, and sheer Fellowship Program (IFPFP) in Ghana. The whose numbers include the chairman of the dedication demonstrated by the Ghanaian Program will support the development of obstetrics and gynecology departments of physicians, who are working in very family planning training programs in Ghana. both the University of Ghana Medical School challenging conditions. The first group of four fellows have been (UGMS) in Accra and the Kwame Nkrumah Dr. Arnold Advincula (UM-OBGYN) and selected and will train at UGMS/KBTH and University of Science & Technology (KNUST) Dr. Jonathan Fink (U-M Surgery) traveled KNUST-SMS/KATH. UM-OBGYN serves as School of Medical Sciences in Kumasi. The with two fellows to Accra, Ghana this past the coordinating center for the training partnership continues with yearly exchanges summer to train Ghanaian physicians on programs. of medical students and senior residents, a laparoscopy surgery course at UGMS/ KBTH. They also performed live laparoscopy and research trips by undergraduate and Future Direction: Continued graduate students. surgeries at the KBTH. A return trip took place in January 2009. Collaboration The clinical exchange between Michigan The longstanding and productive relationship Clinical Exchanges and Ghana have provided U-M students between the departments of obstetrics and Currently, UM-OBGYN is involved with with a number of opportunities to assist gynecology at Michigan and in Ghana are a number of programs that allow for in research projects in Ghana. For two part of a large network of collaborative a rich exchange of education, service, summers, students in the Minority work between the universities. The future and research activities among the three Health International Research Training holds great promise for continued and universities. Ghanaian residents visit UM- (MHIRT) Program studied barriers and expanded activities in many areas of study. OBGYN to observe cutting-edge obstetrics, stigma associated with HIV testing during It is our hope that the traditions of the gynecology, gynecologic cancer, infertility, pregnancy, and were able to provide our Michigan OBGYN style of partnership, which and family planning care during their Ghanaian colleagues key information emphasizes equity, sustainable capacity three-month rotation. Ghanaian medical to aid in strategies to maximize testing development, and long-term relationships, students generally divide their one- rates. More recently, MHIRT students have will inform future projects for years to come. ASC initiatives

The Heritage Initiative International Library of African Music (ILAM) colleagues at the University of Ghana, at Rhodes University, South Africa, which and will be organized around the central hosted the event on December 9-11, 2008. theme of heritage awareness. Participants s African societies enter the 21st The three-day workshop involved 24 will include scholars, as well as heritage century, many aspects of “heritage” participants representing two Ghanaian professionals: individuals working in Aneed to be reexamined. The universities, three South African universities, museums, tourism, historical preservation, institutional authority of the museum— and professional organizations including and government. and the concepts of art and culture Digital Innovation South Africa, the National The conference steering committee that support it—is being challenged. Research Foundation (which is completing comprises: from Ghana, Willie Anku, Artifacts of indigenous culture have been a Carnegie Foundation-funded audit of professor and director, School of Performing pulled from the “anthropology section,” digitization projects in South Africa), the Arts, University of Ghana (UG); Kodzo recontextualized, and given new meaning Alan Lomax Archive, and the Children’s Gavua, professor and chair, Department within contemporary heritage discourses. Radio Foundation. Discussions explored: of Archaeology and Heritage Studies, UG; Performance—always deep in African (1) sources of digitization success and Takyiwaa Manuh, professor and director, village and town—becomes a central failure, (2) technology and mechanics of Institute of African Studies, UG. From South venue for identity to be remade and for distribution, (3) funding and sustainability, Africa, Gary Minkley, associate professor creativity to take place. At the same time, (4) access (open access versus fee-based and senior research associate, Fort Hare the continuities of heritage become critical models), (5) intellectual property rights, and Institute of Social and Economic Research, to identity and group belonging, placing a (6) how to repatriate cultural heritage to University of Fort Hare; Ciraj Rassool, conservative angle on heritage. iiii communities of origin. professor and director, African Programme Outcomes of the workshop in Museum and Heritage Studies, University included guidelines on the of the Western Cape; and a third member sales and reproduction to be determined. From the University of of digital heritage and on Michigan: Kelly Askew, associate professor the repatriation of digital and director, African Studies Center; heritage, now being edited Raymond Silverman, professor and director, for widespread distribution. Museum Studies Program; and David Wallace, lecturer, School of Information. REVOLVING Our broadening of the concept of “heritage” to include and address all manner CONFERENCES of cultural inheritances that have shifting Over the next three years, places in contemporary African realities/ we will sponsor a revolving 10 conundrums is intentional. We aim for conference, with a distinctive ongoing reflection on what happens to the theme each year, hosted in concept of heritage (its meanings, domain, one of the three participating and range) in the light of our projects Group photo of participants at the Digital Heritage workshop, countries, and each year ILAM, Rhodes University, December 12-14, 2008 and their engagements with these African engaging partners from realities. The concept of heritage itself has a The U-M African Heritage Initiative (AHI) U-M, South Africa, and Ghana. heritage, which our project aims to remake is a broadly distributed set of projects The first of these conferences will be for contemporary times, just as heritages across the humanities and arts, undertaken held in Accra in late 2009, hosted by our are being remade in Africa. in partnership with African colleagues and institutions, which reflects the importance of heritage and its remaking across the continent of Africa.

DIGITAL HERITAGE WORKSHOP: GHANA In May 2008, the AHI welcomed a faculty delegation from the University of Ghana- Legon to Ann Arbor to discuss future collaborations. One outcome was the decision to organize a workshop on the challenges, benefits, ethics, and results of digitizing collections of cultural heritage materials. A workshop on “Producing, Preserving, and Repatriating Digital Cultural Heritage” Digital Heritage workshop participants viewing a 3-D video clip during a presentation by Tom Bray, was organized in partnership with the managing producer of the U-M Digital Media Commons. Photos by Jeri Hollister ASCinitiatives UMAPS Launched

ne of the most significant efforts of the African Studies Center Ois the U-M African Presidential Scholars program, or UMAPS. This initiative addresses the crisis faced by institutions of higher learning in Africa that, with very few exceptions, have lost faculty to the ‘brain drain,’ seen their infrastructure decay, experienced low government allocations due to economic crisis and the prioritization of primary and secondary education, and watched their student enrollments double every five years, placing ever more pressure on staff and facilities. The initiative has

three basic goals: Photo by Kelly M. Askew • to contribute to capacity-building in From left to right: Mahunele Thotse, Annet Oguttu, Sekepe Matjila, Leah Ndanga, Alex Amtaika, Efua the African academy by providing early Vandyck, Moses Nii-Dortey, and Alex Frempong. Not pictured: Carol Mitchell and Judith Stephens. iiii career faculty opportunities for research and scholarship in U-M’s rich academic Alexander Kaakyire Duku Frempong Current research: sound/text relationships environment (Mentor—Ken Kollman, Political in the music, drama, and ritual of the • to bring to Michigan promising Science) “Nungua Kplejoo” festival. scholars who can collaborate in research, Senior Lecturer, Department of Political scholarship, and teaching on and about Science, University of Ghana Annet Oguttu Africa Current research: electoral politics in (Mentor—Reuven Avi-Yonah, Law) • to facilitate other opportunities for Ghana’s Fourth Republic. Associate Professor, School of Law, partnerships with African universities, University of South Africa including the Heritage, Social Research, OER, Sekepe Daniel Matjila Current research: the challenges of taxing and Health Care initiatives (Mentor—Keith Taylor, English) business profits attributed to permanent The UMAPS program builds on the Senior Lecturer, Department of African establishments: a South African perspective. Charles Moody Exchange Scholars program Languages; Director, Centre of Pan 11 model, created in 1996, which brings one South African Languages and Cultural Judith Koryo Stephens or two young South African scholars to Development, University of South Africa (Mentor—Mark Wilson, Public campus each year. UMAPS complements Current research: translation and analysis of Health) that program by bringing an additional ten the oeuvre of Setswana poet L. D. Raditladi. Lecturer, School of Public Health, University African scholars to campus each year from of Ghana Ghana, South Africa and, in the future, other Carol Jean Mitchell Current research: malaria in pregnancy. African nations. (Mentor—Pat King, Education) Lecturer, School of Psychology, University of Mahunele Lawrence Thotse INTRODUCING THE 2009 UMAPS KwaZulu-Natal (Mentor—Ray Silverman, History of SCHOLARS Current research: investigation into service- Art) Our first UMAPS scholars are among the learning and ways of knowing in higher Lecturer, Department of Historical and best and brightest from Ghana and South education. Heritage Studies, University of Pretoria Africa. They are: Current research: constructing collective Leah Z. B. Ndanga memory through monuments and names in Alexius Amtaika (Mentor—Ravi Anupindi, Business) Limpopo Province, South Africa. (Mentor—Adam Ashforth, CAAS) Research Assistant, Department of Lecturer, School of Politics, University of Agricultural Economics, University of Efua Vandyck KwaZulu-Natal Pretoria (Mentor—Sioban Harlow, Public Current research project: the transformation Current research: supply and value chains Health) of former liberation movements namely in the marketing of “Black Brands” wine in Lecturer, School of Family and Consumer ANC, ZANU-PF, and FRELIMO into the ruling South Africa. Science, University of Ghana parties of South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Current research: health and safety Mozambique respectively. Moses Narteh Nii-Dortey conditions in garment production. (Mentor—Lester Monts, Music) Research Fellow, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana Photos by Jeri Hollister ASC initiatives

African Social Research REVOLVING CONFERENCES: South Initiative (ASRI) Africa 2009 President Mary Sue Coleman has committed funding for an initial three years of he African Social Research initiative annual revolving research conferences, (ASRI) builds on and is informed by as well as seed funding for pilot projects. a decade of partnership in the social T Collaborations will be launched and sciences between U-M and university and developed through these conferences, which government research agencies in South will rotate between Ghana, South Africa, and Africa, as well as in other countries, and Ann Arbor from 2009 to 2011. seeks both to enrich ongoing collaborations The first of the annual conferences is now and to propagate new intellectual being planned for July 2009 at the University engagements among U-M, South Africa, and of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa. Ghana. This conference is being planned by The ASRI will promote excellence in social a steering committee composed of five science research on poverty reduction, constituents from U-M, three from Ghana, the promotion of public health, gender and five from South Africa. From U-M: equity, pluralism, and good governance Mark Tessler (director, International in all three countries. The initiative has Institute), Rachel Snow (associate director, iiii two complementary goals: 1) to expand International Institute), James Jackson Photo by Kelly M. Askew and strengthen social research at U-M (director, Institute for Social Research), and in South Africa and Ghana; and 2) to David Lam (research professor, Population promote the career development of young Studies Center) and Rod Alence (visiting social science researchers focused on associate professor from University of Africa. Through data-sharing networks, Witwatersrand, Political Science). From collaborative research and training, and Ghana: Ernest Aryeetey (Univeristy of African Studies Center dedicated mentoring of young scholars, it Ghana-Legon), Margaret Gyapong (InDepth 1080 South University Avenue, should have lasting, enriching effects both Network), and Leonard Wantchekon (NYU, Suite 2622 at U-M and at participating universities in Afrobarometer). From South Africa: Nicola Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1106 South Africa and Ghana, preparing a new Christofides (University of Witwatersrand), ph: 734.615.9565 fax: 734.763.9154 generation of scholars for science in the Dori Posel (University of KwaZulu-Natal), [email protected] service of society. and Zanele Mfono (University of Fort Hare). 12 The themes identified for the inaugural ©2009 Regents of the University of Michigan Important Features of the conference, and the individuals organizing Julia Donovan Darlow, Ann Arbor each are: Laurence B. Deitch, Bingham Farms Collaboration Denise Ilitch, Bingham Farms This collaborative program will be open to • Ernest Aryeetey and Leonard Wantchekon: Olivia P. Maynard, Goodrich Andrea Fischer Newman, Ann Arbor social researchers in university, college, mixed methods, including experimental Andrew C. Richner, Grosse Pointe Park government, and parastatal research approaches, use of qualitative work S. Martin Taylor, Grosse Pointe Farms Katherine E. White, Ann Arbor institutions throughout South Africa and combined with surveys Mary Sue Coleman, ex officio Ghana, as well as to social scientists in all • David Lam, Margaret Gyapong, Robert relevant fields of specialization. Mattes, and Leonard Wantchekon: The University of Michigan, as an equal opportun- challenges of longitudinal surveys, ity/affirmative action employer, complies with all • It will address social science theory and applicable federal and state laws regarding non- methods in general, rather than for selected including DSS efforts like InDepth, panel discrimination and affirmative action, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and research domains—highlighting skills that surveys, repeat cross-sectional surveys like Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. are adaptable to local information needs, Afrobarometer The University of Michigan is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination and equal opportunity for different research opportunities, and • Murray Leibbrandt, Dori Posel, David Lam, all persons regardless of race, sex, color, religion, sources of data; and Ernest Aryeetey: income dynamics, and creed, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender • It will give significant attention to poverty expression, disability, or Vietnam-era veteran • Rachel Snow and Nicola Christofides, status in employment, educational programs and developing the research careers of young activities, and admissions. Inquiries or complaints researchers in all three countries, especially Margaret Gyapong, and Dori Posel: may be addressed to the Senior Director for Institutional Equity and Title IX/Section 504 women, blacks, and other previously measuring gender change Coordinator, Office of Institutional Equity, 2072 disadvantaged groups; • Mark Tessler, Rod Alence, and Robert Administrative Services Building, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1432, 734-763-0235, TTY • Seed funding will support multidisciplinary Mattes: democratic governance 734-647-1388. For other University of Michigan and comparative team approaches; information call 734-764-1817. • Short courses and eventual web-based teaching will be explored, with an emphasis on co-teaching by faculty members from

#090109 different universities.