VOLUME XXIII JANUARY/MARCH 1990 NO. I FROM THE SECRETARIAT... ASA BOARD OF DIRECTORS 1990 Our latest news is obvious - ASA News has a new OFFICERS size and format! Atlanta artist Judith Martens designed the President: Ann Seidman (Clark University) dramatic front cover while Associate Editor Kim Louder­ Vice-President: Martin A. Klein (University of To­ milk created the smart new interior layout. ronto) With our new look in place, we have two other prob­ Past President: Simon Ottenberg (University of lems to solve. The first is the more difficult. As of this Washington) mid-December writing, we are exactly six weeks past the date that our last issue of ASA News (Vol. XXII, no. 4, Oct/ REfIRING IN 1990 Dec 1989) was sent for mailing. So far as we can tell, no Sandra Barnes (University of Pennsylvania) one has yet received it. Long talks with our local postmas­ Iris Berger (State University of New York at Alba­ ter and our mailing house management are scheduled for ny) immediately after Christmas. Meanwhile, we apologize for Kwabena N"ketia (University of Pittsburgh) the delay and thank you for your patience. The second problem is yours to solve. We receive nu­ REfIRING IN 1991 merous announcements that we are delighted to pass along Martha A. Gephart (Social Science Research Coun­ to our readers. We would also welcome contributions in cil) the form of short articles of interest to the Africanist com­ Catharine Newbury (University of North Carolina munity: reports on new resources for teaching or research, at Chapel Hill) accounts of recent conferences, commentary on develop­ Sulayman S. Nyang (Howard University) ments in Mrica, discussions of the state of African studies. Let us hear from you. REfIRING IN 1992 This issue contains minutes and awards announce­ Carol M. Eastman (University of Washington) ments from the 1989 ASA Annual Meeting in Atlanta. Our Christraud M. Geary (Boston University) dry reports cannot convey the excitement and enthusaism Sandra Greene (Kalamazoo College) that permeated this first ASA meeting in a city with a spe­ cial interest in Africa. Mayor Andy Young spoke of Africa and America with fondness and characteristic optimisim. His standing-room-only audience set the stage for 146 in­ ASA News, Vol. XXIII, No.1, Jan/Mar 1990. tense (and equally crowded) smaller sessions throughout Editor: Edna C. Bay. the following three days. The crowding was a by-product Associate Editor: Kim Loudermilk. of the largest registration ever in ASA history, more than Published quarterly by the African Studies Association. 1600 persons. In brief, it was a big and, judging from your comments, a highly successful Annual Meeting. Annual Meetings have a way of coming round again, Contributions to ASA News should be sent to ASA News, and Willie Lamouse-Smith, Program Chair for the Balti­ Credit Union Building, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia more meetings, has ambitious plans to top Atlanta next 30322. Deadlines for contributions are December 1, March 1, November 1-4. Forms for the submission of paper and June 1, and September 1. panel proposals are included in this newslsetter for your convenience. Please remember that the deadline date for Domestic claims for non-receipt of issues must be made panel and paper proposals, for nominations for interna­ within six months of the month of publication overseas tional visitors and for the scheduling of business meetings claims must be made within one year. is March 15. Notice to Members: The United States Postal System does Finally, we bid a temporary good-bye to Jo Sullivan, not forward periodicals. We must receive written notifica­ well-known to ASA members involved in the Association's tion from you at least five weeks in advance of any change of Outreach Committee for her years of leadership in promot­ address. Failure to notify us of your correct mailing address ing African studies outside the college classroom. Jo is will result in suspension of mailings until we receive such joining the Brookline, Massachusetts public schools as so­ notification. We can make address changes only when cur­ cial studies coordinator, noting that her move is not really rent dues are paid. Reinstatement of membership mailings a departure from African studies, but rather a broadening after suspension may be made by payment of a $5.00 rein­ of her interests. statement fee. LETTERS To the Members of the ASA: quests and supply books to bearers at in Atlanta. I attended the all-day I am greatly honored by the recog­ mailing addresses within the US. symposium on the Horn at the Carter nition accorded to my book, Way of Members of the Association may ob­ Center and benefited immensely from Death: Merchant Capitalism and the An­ tain the book at a cost of $12.00 (list those sessions. The panels, work­ golan Slave Trade, 1730-1830, as co­ price $35.(0) by writing to Edna Bay at shops, and roundtable discussions winner of the 1989 Herskovits Prize of the ASA, indicating the name of the that I attended at the regular ASA ses­ the African Studies Association. I am recipient scholar or institution, ex­ sions were all well-organized and ran also concerned that works thus recog­ plaining when and how they will de­ promptly on schedule. The rooms nized in the United States become liver the copy, and describing the cir­ themselves and the equipment in available in Africa so that our col­ cumstances under which it will them were all more than adequate in leagues there may have adequate op­ remain reasonably widely available each case. I thought the book exhibit portunity to bring their own perspec­ for consultation by students and re­ was larger and more diverse than tives to bear on works evaluated searchers in Africa. Bearers making ever; it certainly helped persuade me abroad. To these ends of scholarly requests fulfilling these objectives, to spend far more money than usual! criticism and discussion, to explore the and not duplicating recipients in Afri­ I was sorry that the "Heaven Bound" potential of small-scale and voluntaris­ ca already named by other bearers, performance was cancelled and I was tic means of overcoming blockages in will receive books on an first-come­ unable to attend the awards banquet. international communication at global first-serve basis up to the limit of cop­ Nonetheless, a conference of this financial and bureaucratic levels, and ies available. sort does not just "happen." It takes to implement personal and collabora­ I hope that, together, this plan will enormous energy, careful and system­ tive efforts along these lines, I would allow us collaboratively to further the atic planning, and paying dose atten­ like to invite members of the Associa­ study of Africa's past and also contrib­ tion to a myriad of details to make it tion based in the US to join me in tak­ ute to its future. all come together. This year's Orga­ ing copies of Way of Death directly to Yours sincerely, nizing Committee displayed all of scholars and institutions in Africa. Joseph C. Miller these necessities and more. The proof To this end, I have contributed the University of Virginia was in the superbly run meetings. monetary component of my Herskov­ Again, my heartiest congratulations its prize. The University of Wisconsin and most sincere thanks for a job Press has agreed to provide a number Dear Edna: well-done. of copies of the book at substantial dis­ I want to record my appreciation Sincerely yours, count. The executive secretary of the to the ASA and its 1989 Program Charles L. Geshekter Association has consented to accept re- Committee for the excellent meetings California State University, Chico ASA ENDOWMENT The Board of Directors has agreed African studies, the Herskovits Ford Foundation and other donors to establish a modest endowment for Award for the best book in African have contributed to the success of the the African Studies Association. Built studies published in English each Association's International Visitors with tax-exempt donations, the ASA year, the Conover-Porter award for Program, which provides travel sup­ Endowment will be managed to en­ the best bibliographical or reference port to enable overseas scholars to at­ courage constant financial growth. It work in the field and the James H. tend the Annual Meeting. ASA mem­ will ensure the long-term stability of Robinson Award for creative work bers have indicated their desire to the Association and over time may be based on a first visi t to Africa. In continue the International Visitiors used to support selected activities early 1989, the Association joined the Program even should outside funding and a portion of the operations of the American Association for the Ad­ not be available. Plans are being ASA. vancement of Science/ American made to expand member services in As the ASA matures, the Associa­ Council of Learned Societies jour­ the immediate future by the produc­ tion is increasingly drawn to expand nals-to-Africa project, donating 100 tion and distribution of a biennial di­ its programs and activities. Four ma­ copies of African Studies Review, Issue rectory of ASA members. With ex­ jor awards are now sponsored by the and ASA News on a continuing basis panded computer capabilities in the ASA: the Distinguished Africanist for distribution to African institu­ secretariat's Emory University home, Award for lifetime contributions to tions. During the past decade, the there are increased publications possi­ bilities available to the ASA. bark on the building of the ASA En­ grant from the National Endowment Ideas for other worthy special pro­ dowment. In this endeavor, we emu­ for the Humanities this spring.