[URBANTH-L]CFP: Ritual and Spirituality in the African Diaspora

[Angela Jancius]

Ritual and Spirituality in the African Diaspora: An Exploration of the Zora 
Neale Hurston Legacy

Description: Scholars are invited to submit abstracts for the Zora Neale 
Hurston Festival of the Arts and Humanities, Eatonville, FL Jan. 24-Feb. 3, 
2008. Its theme is "Ritual and Spirituality in the African Diaspora: An 
Exploration of the Zora Neale Hurston Legacy."

Papers should explore religion, ritual, and symbol in the African Diaspora, 
using Hurston's life or work as a point of departure. Papers may address any 
area of the African Diaspora and any religious institution or spiritual 
tradition. The theme may be approached from several disciplines, and 
 "ritual" may be explored in non-religious and metaphorical contexts. The 
selection committee invites a broad range of topics, e.g. : music in 
Afro-Cuban Santeria, history and exile in the rise of Nova Scotia Black 
independent churches, Garifuna ancestor rites in Belize, Haitian Vodun in 
Miami, West African spirit possession legacies in Sanctified Churches, or 
dance in the veneration of the Black saint Bava Gor by Gujarat Sufis in 
India. Papers focused on Hurston might explore engendered rituals of 
everyday life in the Seraph of the Suwanee, or ways Zora negotiated literary 
rites of passage in her writing career in America. Publication By-Product: 
Arrangements have already been made to publish selected papers in a 
conference-focused issue of a refereed academic journal. Deadline and 
Submission: A 250 word abstract is due June 1, 2007:E-mail to 
deidre_crumbley at ncsu.edu subject line "ZORA papers 2008" AND post to: 
Hurston Papers 2008, PEC, 227 East Kennedy Blvd., Eatonville, FL 32751. For 
more information, visit our website.


Contact Information:
Deidre Helen Crumbley
3613 Anclote Place
Apt. B
Raleigh NC 27607 United States
Phone: 919-787-8153
Email: deidre_crumbley at ncsu.edu
URL http://http://www.zoranealehurstonfestival.com/festivalabout.html