Welcome to the 2007 Africa Conference at the University of Texas at Austin

This year's theme is Popular Cultures in Africa, and it is our 7th annual African conference at the University of Texas, Austin.  We are extremely excited to see if this year's can live up to the success of the previous six conferences. The abstracts that we have received are impressive and we expect additional ones.

Popular cultures remain a vital component of the daily lives for most peoples across the globe, and Africans are no different.  Music, television, theatre, literature, film, radio and the internet all have influenced Africa's past, shapes its present and ultimately, will impact its future.  The submitted abstracts look quite interesting, and the panels will reflect the diverse and expansive effects popular cultures have made throughout Africa. This year's conference will bring together distinguished scholars from various disciplines, countries and backgrounds.  I anticipate lively and thought-provoking discussions to occur during the conference.

Sincerely,

Toyin Falola
Fellow of the Nigerian Academy of Letters
The Frances Higginbotham Nalle Centennial Professor
University Distinguished Teaching Professor