Call for papers (book project)

PERSPECTIVES ON MODERN AFRICAN CURRENCIES

In many African societies money has become so vastly important that it is often personified. It defines and determines the trajectory of people’s lives and even mobility.

But just like the African peoples, modern African money currencies have had their own fair shares of tribulations and good times. A few of these currencies have been stable; some vacillate between life and death, while quite a few others are debauched. Yet, some others are now undergoing regeneration.

This book project seeks papers that analyze the life and careers of modern African currencies from diverse perspectives, most especially history, economics, sociology and culture. These can be from country studies or from comparative perspectives.

This book builds on the literature regarding the history and career of pre-colonial African currencies. Modern African currencies in this respect are defined as both the currencies of post-independence African nations or colonial currencies that have made it into contemporary period.

Contributors should focus on any of the following sub-themes:

Life history and career

• Currencies, corruption and cultural obligations (funerals, birthdays, parties etc)
• Currencies and rituals
• Currency handling (from stringing cowries to wallets and money clips)
• Underground economies and African currencies.
• Minting and security of currencies
• Currencies and Labor mobility (Case Studies)
• Strong and weak currencies; strong and weak economies
• The problems of fixed and flexible exchange rates
• Economic liberalization and African currencies
• African currencies, the International Invoice Currencies and export pricing
• National and regional currencies
• Currencies and modern barter (i.e. diamonds for guns, cocoa for guns, specter of “blood diamonds”)
• The personalization of the currency in Africa
• Currency counterfeiting
• Theoretical Perspectives

Interested contributors should e-mail their tentative topics and a 150 word abstract by August 1, 2009 to:

DR. OLUTAYO C. ADESINA
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF HISTORY,
DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY,
UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA
E-MAIL: [email protected]
ALT. EMAIL: [email protected]