THE SIXTH J. A. ATANDA LECTURES AND CONFERENCE Fourth Conference Update https://babcock.edu.ng/atandaconference   Theme: YORUBA CULTURE AND SOCIETY Venue: Babcock University, Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria Date: June 21-23, 2021 (Arrival, June 20)   Over 450 scholars are expected to participate in this on-site conference which promises to be an exceptional, memorable experience. This conference promises to be an exceptional, memorable experience. As we make final preparations to welcome you to Babcock University, Nigeria’s premier and best private university, situated in a serene, clean and crisp natural environment, please kindly take note of the following information:   Acceptance letters: We have sent acceptance letters to all whose abstracts were received by the submissions deadline. Please do notify us if you have not received yours; we would be glad to re-send it to you.   Registration: Everyone whose abstract was accepted has been registered.Those who had slight challenges in registering themselves have been registered by the registration team. Registration is free and offers sponsorship for all registered participants. The sponsorship covers registration materials, feeding and comfortable student hostel accommodation only. The registration admits you to all plenaries and panels, lunch and food-break for three days, conference materials, the conference performance eve, participation in social events. List of registered participants will be uploaded on the website on June 1, 2021.   Conference Program: The conference program currently features an opening ceremony, two keynote addresses, a lead paper presentation, several special roundtables, a performance eve and movie night, a research and publication workshop and many more. The full draft program will be circulated very soon, at which point you will have the opportunity to make any corrections concerning your paper presentations before we go to press. We will give you more program details in subsequent information updates too.   Conference Opening Ceremony: The opening ceremony for the conference is planned for Monday, June 21, 2021, at 12noon. Colleagues and members of the public are cordially invited.   Conference Keynote Addresses and Lead Paper Presentation: The confirmed keynote speakers are: Prof. Arinpe Gbekelolu Adejumo, Deputy Provost, Postgraduate School, University of Ibadan, Nigeria; Dr. Biodun Ogundayo, Director, Africana Studies Program, University of Pittsburgh, Bradford, USA; Dr. Akinloye Ojo, Director, African Studies Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, USA. Conference Special Guests: Distinguished personalities, Royal fathers, cultural icons and prominent government officials will grace the occasion. The Conference features the following, among others: Special Guest of Honour: Her Excellency, Alhaja Salimot Badru Former Deputy Governor, Ogun State Grand Host: Hon. Dr. Oluwatoyin Emmanuel Taiwo Honourable Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Ogun State Chair, Keynote Addresses: Engr. Prince Yemisi Shyllon Foremost Private Art Collector in Africa Distinguished Royal Father of the Day: HRM Oba Abolarin Adedokun The Orangun of Oke Ila, Osun State, Nigeria. Host Royal Fathers of the Day: OBA MICHAEL MOJEED SONUGA The Olofin of Ilisan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria & OBA ADELEKE ÌDÒWÚ BASIBO The Alaperu of Iperu, Iperu Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria Conference Performance Eve and Movie Night: An exhilarating spectacle of unprecedented performances, including Yoruba cultural games, music, dances, folklore in an inspiring atmosphere of indigenous creativity, pageantry and aesthetics, is scheduled for Tuesday, June 22, 2021, at 4 pm. to be anchored by Tunji Sotimirin.  Film-show features Dazzling Mirage, a Mainframe adaptation of Yinka Egbokhare’s novel by Tunde Kelani.   Research and Publication Workshop: An extremely engaging and enriching workshop on research and publication will be facilitated by Prof Toyin Falola, Convener of the Sixth J.A. Atanda Lectures and Conference, University Distinguished Professor of History and the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin. The workshop will develop writing competences of scholars, impart foundational knowledge and practice of research and writing and provide networking resources for quality publications.   Covid-19 Protocols: Given the Covid-19 pandemic, the event will be hosted in an open-spaced amphitheater, and all Covid-19 protocols will be STRICTLY adhered to.  All attendees are expected to be properly masked. (Masks will be provided for all registered participants, and adherence ensured). Sitting positions will be monitored to ensure adequate spacing. Hand sanitisers will be administered, and handwashing facilities will be made available.   Roundtables: Several roundtables on Yoruba Language and Culture related topics have been convened, featuring distinguished and upcoming scholars in African (Yoruba) Studies, African Philosophy, Cultural Studies and Education. Roundatbles include: A Steading Critique and Discussion of the Bras-Bells Drum, An English Translation of Akinwunmi Isola’s Saworoide – convened by Prof Pamela Smith The Yorubalization of Ubuntu – convened by Dr Augusta Yetunde Olaore Yoruba Indigenous Educational System – convened in honour ofProf Michael Omolewa @ 80 Presentation Mode: The conference is planned to be a blended event. Virtual participants will be able to join in the plenary and parallel sessions on zoom. The zoom link will be published close to the conference date. Smartboards and projectors are available for PowerPoint or other visual presentations.   Accommodation: There are three categories of accommodation available for this conference:   (1)   Babcock student hostels Very decent. This is the accommodation provided free for all registered participants. For participants who desire to stay in hotels, the other two categories of accommodation with COST TO BE BORNE BY THE PARTICIPANTS are: (2)   Babcock Guest House (BGH):  (3)   Hotels in nearby towns: * SAGAMU: (i). CONFERENCE HOTEL, SAGAMU - www.conferencehotelnigeria.com (ii). NANDAS HOTEL – www.nandashotelnigeria.com        (iii). CITIZENS SUITES – enquiry@citizenssuites.com (iv). LIPTON HOTEL               * ILISHAN-REMO: (v). HAVILLA GUEST HOUSE (vi). BU HIGH SCHOOL Guest House                    Please contact the Conference Logistics Coordinator, Mr Theophilus, with your choice and questions (check babcock.edu.ng/atandaconference).   Publication of papers: We affirm that we have every plan in place for quality conference papers to be published with highly reputable publishers after post-conference review and re-submission.   Paper Submission: PowerPoints of presentations are expected on or before the10th of June, 2021. For publication consideration, corrected drafts of full papers are expected latest August 20, 2021, for reviews to commence. All papers must be original, with a 6,000-8,000 word count, and follow the Chicago Manual Style of referencing.   Security: Babcock University is situated in a serene, safe and secure environment, and the security of all conference participants is assured. We have also put in place additional security measures for the duration of the conference and have left no stone unturned to guarantee that your stay is completely hitch-free in this regard.   Airport Pick Up/ Drop-off (for international participants only) We would be happy to provide any needed information and assistance to international participants arriving for the purpose of the conference only. If you need any information or assistance, please send an email to atanda.conference@babcock.edu.ng   Conference Website: Please visit the conference website for regular updates and information, at: https://babcock.edu.ng/atandaconference   For all enquiries, our email is atanda.conference@babcock.edu.ng We will keep you updated about other developments going forward. If there is any way at all that we can make your conference experience more pleasurable, please do let us know right ahead of time, and we will do our very best. You can reach us by email at atanda.conference@babcock.edu.ng and by phone at the numbers below. Professor Bola Sotunsa For The Sixth J.A. Atanda Lectures and Conference Local Organising Committee: Convener: Professor Toyin Falola, University Distinguished Professor of History and the Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at the University of Texas at Austin.toyinfalola@austin.utexas.edu Convener: Professor Mobolanle E. Sotunsa, Professor of African Oral Literature and Gender Studies, Director of Babcock University Centre for Open Distance and e-Learning (BUCODeL) and Coordinator, Babcock University Gender and African Studies Group (BUGAS); sotunsam@babcock.edu.ng