
SLAFNET Spring School
15-19 April 2019, Institute of Ethiopian Studies, Addis Ababa University

Monday April 15, 2019
Welcome and Kick-off
8-9am Registration & Greetings
9-10.30am Welcome by Prof. Ahmed Hassen, Giulia Bonacci and the Ethiopian SLAFNET team
Presentation by Marie-Pierre Ballarin, SLAFNET PI
Presentation by Jean-Luc Martineau, AEGIS representative
Presentation by Alexander Meckelburg: At the margins of empires: The legacies of slavery and the slave trade in Eastern Africa
Formal launch by Dr. Jeilu Oumer, Academic Vice President & Dr. Mitike Molla Vice President for Research & Technology Transfer and Community Service (AAU)
10.30-11am Coffee break
11-12pm Tour of IES and of the exhibition by Prof. Ahmed Zekaria, Messay Yohannes & Dereje Birhanu
Lectures I. Trends in the study of slavery and slave trade in Africa
2-3pm Political and social impact of the Atlantic slave trade and of its abolition in West Africa, Jean-Luc Martineau (INALCO / Paris Diderot)
3-4pm The Gumuz to the West of Agawmidir and their neighbors, 1898-1935, Abdussamad H. Ahmad (Addis Ababa University
4 – 4.30pm Coffee break
4.30-5.30pm Ethiopian abolition in the African and Global Mirror,Benedetta Rossi (University of Birmingham)
Tuesday April 16, 2019
Lectures II. Trends in the study of slavery and slave trade in Africa
9-10am Ex-slaves’ families and citizenship: An evolving marginalization of South Sudanese in Sudan, Mohamed A. G. Bakhit (University of Khartoum)
10-11am Slavery, heritage, marginalization and conflict on the Kenyan Coast,Samuel Nyanchoga (Catholic University of Eastern Africa),
11-11.30am Coffee break
11.30-12.30pm Themes in the study of the Indian Ocean slave trade,Meera Venkatachalam (University of Mumbai)
Graduate workshop I. History & Memory
Chair: Giulia Bonacci (IRD/URMIS)
2-3pm How slavery created a group ‘in between’: An ongoing study among the Omotic Mao in Western Ethiopia,Sophie Küspert-Rakotondrainy (Independent)
3-4pm Slavery, state and missionary: Reflection on the roles of Dubala Biru (1910-1965), a former Dawuro slave and first Omotic bible translator, Southern Ethiopia,Admasu Abebe (Addis Ababa University)
4-5pm Slavery in 19th century Harar City State: An insight in cases from court documents,Dr. Muna Abubeker (Addis Ababa University)
5-6pm Slavery and slave trade in Ethiopia with particular reference to Gambella,Awoke Atinafu (Institute of Peace and Security Studies)
Wednesday April 17, 2019
Documenting slavery I. Visit to the National Archives of Ethiopia
9-10.30am Introduction to the National Archives,Abey Hailu & Mareshet Amare (National Archives and Library Agency)
10.30-11am Coffee break
11-12.30 pm Unsilencing the archive: Finding slave legacies in the National Archives of Ethiopia, Lacy Noel Feigh (University of Pennsylvania) & Tigist Getachew (Independent)
Graduate workshop II. Literature & Orality
Chair: Takele Merid (IES)
2-3pm Representation of slavery and class in Kafa proverbs
Mesfin Wodajo (Addis Ababa University)
3-4pm Resistance against slavery in Matigari by Ngūguī wa Thiong’o,Getnet Tibebu (Addis Ababa University)
4-5pm I sing, so I liberate my people: an anti-oppression rhetoric in Oromo songs,Mekwanent Tilahun Desta (Addis Ababa University)
Documenting slavery II. Film screening @ Alliance Ethio-française
6.30-9pm “Slavery Routes” (Documentary screening & Debate)
Watch the Trailer :
Thursday April 18, 2019
Public roundtable. New perspectives in the study of slavery and slave trade in Ethiopia
Chair: Teferi Mekonnen (Institute of Ethiopian Studies)
9-9.30am (Re)Interpreting Orlando Patterson’s theory of “Slavery and Social Death”,Abebe Fentahun (University of Gondar)
9.30-10am Dwelling on the past: the Gumuz memories of the Agäw slave raids in North Western Ethiopia,Desalegn Amsalu (Institute of Ethiopian Studies)
10-10.30am Memories of slavery and perceptions of socioeconomic statuses among the Berta people, North Western Ethiopia,Takele Merid (Institute of Ethiopian Studies)
10.30-11am Coffee break
11-11.30am Roots and manifestations of marginalization: an exploration of socio-economic and political condition of slave descendants in Ethiopia,Akalework Mengesha (Wolaitta Sodo University)
11.30-12pm Dismemberment, social degradation and pessimistic future: The slave psycho-moral life along the long-distance trade routes,Ahmed Hassen (Institute of Ethiopian Studies)
12-12.30pm Discussion
Graduate workshop III. Abolition
Chair: Benedetta Rossi (University of Birmingham)
2-3pm The Role of the Church Missionary Society in reconstructing post-slavery identities in Frere Town and Rabai (Kenya), 1840-2010,Melvine C. Lilechi (Catholic University of Eastern Africa)
3-4pm Slavery, abolition and aftermath developments among Omotic societies of Southwestern Ethiopia,Bosha Bombe (University of Pavia)
4-5pm From the abolition of slavery to the integration and empowerment of former slaves and their descendants in Tegray, Northern Ethiopia,Fesseha Berhe (Mekelle University)
5-6pm Punishing slavery: Enforcing abolition in Ethiopia post-1940, Lacy Noel Feigh (University of Pennsylvania)
Friday April 19, 2019
Graduate workshop IV. Migration & Citizenship
Chair: Alexander Meckelburg (Hiob Ludolf Centre for Ethiopian Studies/Universität Hamburg)
8-9am Retracing the history of slave trade from Shoa to Tajoura: Ethnographic analysis, Nathan Belay (Samara University)
9-10am The politics of modern slavery and integration of migrant workers: the case of Ruanda-Urundi migrants in the Uganda Protectorate,Faith Atuhumuze (Makerere University, Uganda & LPED, France)
10-10.30am Coffee break
10.30-11.30am Changes and continuity in status related to slavery among the Dube minorities of Bale lowlands, Ethiopia,Kefyalew Tessema (Addis Ababa University)
11.30-12.30pm Historical slavery and current legal status: South Sudanese and citizenship right in Khartoum, Sudan,Rania Awad Madani (University of Khartoum)