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Information Science

1st Biennial IBBY Africa Conference: 31 August - 2 September 2011

The travelling of stories: children’s literature and reading in and of Africa

For more information about the conference; registration form, etc please click here

  • 31 August - 2 September 2011
  • Venue: The Ranch, Polokwane, Limpopo Province
  • Organised by the Department of Information Science, University of South Africa on behalf of  the IBBY Branches of Africa
  • Closing date for submissions: 15 July 2011

Call for Papers

The following topics serve as suggestions:

  • The travelling of stories across borders and cultures
  • Children’s literature in translation
  • Folktales and imagination
  • Writing in indigenous/colonial/minority languages
  • Colonialism and post-colonialism in children’s literature
  • Traditional folktales and the modern tale
  • Cultural relevance of children’s books
  • The distinction between African children’s and adult books
  • Oral narratives and literary research
  • Converting oral literature into written literature
  • Literature for didactic purposes
  • The African diaspora and children’s literature
  • Reading across cultures
  • Library services for children
  • Reading in the information age
  • Comparative research in children’s literature and reading
  • Depicting reality in children’s books
  • Reading preferences of African children
  • Teaching children’s literature
  • Storytelling for young people
  • Publishing for children in the 2rd World

Abstracts of not more than 250 words that address particular issues regarding reading and children’s literature related to Africa and the developing world are welcomed.

Mail abstracts and direct enquiries to:
Prof Thomas van der Walt, CLRU, Department of Information Science, University of South Africa, PO Box 392, 0003 Pretoria, South Africa
Fax: +27 12 4293792
e-mail: vdwaltb@unisa.ac.za

Background on the conference

The biennial IBBY World Congress (International Board of Books for young People) is one of the most important international events that provides an opportunity for all those interested in children's literature and children's reading to meet and discuss matters of mutual interest. In addition to these international congresses, many national sections of IBBY organise either national or regional conferences. There is a regular regional conference in the USA that attracts delegates from North America, the Latin American sections of IBBY have a biennial reading conference in Havana, Cuba and the European Sections get together during the annual Bologna Children's Book Fair in Italy.

During the 32nd international IBBY Congress held in Santiago de Compostela, Spain in September 2010, the members of IBBY gathered together in their regional groups and discussed ways of future cooperation and possibilities.  The Children's Literature Research Unit of the University of South Africa approached the delegates representing the African IBBY sections with an offer to organise a biennial conference in Africa.  This was greeted with great enthusiasm and the first African Biennial IBBY Regional Conference is scheduled to take in Polokwane, Limpopo Province in South Africa at the end of August/beginning of September 2011.