{UAH} CALL FOR PAPER:DEATH AND LIFE AFTER DEATH IN AFRICA PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIONS: A MULTI DISCIPLINARY ENGAGEMENT

CALL FOR PAPER

DEATH AND LIFE AFTER DEATH IN AFRICA PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGIONS: A MULTI DISCIPLINARY ENGAGEMENT

This is intended to be a socio-historical analysis of the political, economic, cultural and religious conception and appropriation of death and life after death in diverse African cultures and its Diaspora. This diversity provided a platform to initiate critical engagements and conversations on this important phenomena that often bothers humanity with its logic and necessity. It is often assumed in Africa culture(s) that death is inevitable,  sacred and ordained for the purpose(s) that may be beyond human comprehension and understanding.  In some African cultures(if not all) the reality of death and life after death is the basis of religious conceptions, beliefs and practices.  Consequently, scholars of various disciplines and orientations have appropriated death and the its consequences in various ways giving rise to many understandings of the philosophy of death and life after death across many academic disciplines and religious beliefs.

 However there is a shift in paradigm both in the purpose and value of death and life after death. It has become a tool of economic, political, social negotiations. It has given rise to many groups agitations for right to death(euthanasia, genocide and suicide), apocalyptic teachings and epistemologies as well as metaphysics of death. There is consequently need for evaluation of the shift in African understanding and usage of the philosophy of death and life after in various African religious traditions( Here, African religious persuasions refers to many religious traditions that permeate the landscape of Africa and its Diaspora).

In modern discourse(s),  African conception(s) of death and the life after death has  generated public debates as they relates to issue of violent death as witnessed daily in  political agitations across the continent, it has also led to the clamour for "right to die" as noticed in the call for mercy killing. This understanding of death has found expressions in African literatures, films, drama, home video and religions.

Well researched articles(chapters) that are both qualitative and quantitative in methodologies are invited as contribution(s) to this book project on African social and cultural understanding of death and life after death. These articles should address theoretical and methodological frameworks upon which the subject of death and life after death  can be premised in sacred and public spaces on the continent and African Diaspora. It should also address issues of ethics and morality of death and life after death.

Scholars from various disciplines are encouraged to focus on , but are  not limited to the following themes as they relate to the main subject(Title) of the proposed book.

Section A: Theology of Death in Africa Religions

1.        Theology of death in African Traditional Religions and African cultures

2.        Theology of death in Islam

3.       Theology of death in Christianity

4.        Theology of death in other religions in Africa and its Diaspora

 

 

SECTION B : Death and popular culture

1.        Death in African literatures

2.         Death in African Films, Drama, Home video and music

3.       Extra- judicial death

4.        Death Perversions:

a.       Suicide

b.      Euthanasia

c.       Violent death

d.      Genocide

e.      Death and Human Rights

SECTION C: Funeral Process and methods in African religions

1.        Funeral methods in African Traditional Religions

2.        Funeral methods  in Islam

3.        Funeral methods in Christianity

4.        Funeral methods  in other religions in Africa and its Diaspora

SECTION D: Life after death

1.        The concepts and beliefs in Life after death in African Traditional religions

2.        The concepts and  beliefs in Life after death in Islam

3.        The concepts and beliefs in Life after death in Christianity

4.       The concepts and beliefs in Life after death in other religions in Africa and its diasporas.

SECTION D. Life after Death in Popular culture.

1.        Life after Death in African literatures

2.       Life after  Death in African Films, Drama, Home video and music

 

 

Interested contributors are invited to submit abstract of not more than 300 words to:

Danoye Oguntola Laguda, PhD

Associate Professor, Philosophy of Religion

Department of Religions

Lagos State University,

Lagos, Nigeria

E- mail: danoyeoguntola@yahoo.com

             

The abstract should be submitted electronically  with the full contact details of the person(s) submitting the abstract including institutional affiliations and e-mail address. This should be done not later than 31^st October 2013. The final paper for publication(not more than 8000 words) should be submitted latest by 28^th of January 2014. Authors are advised to use MLA citation method with bibliography at the end of the paper.

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Rehema
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