Pan African Archaeological Association (PANAF) Conference 2022; Zanzibar, Tanzania

Presentation: “Prioritizing Safety and Defense: Evaluating Buffer Zones In West African Antiquity"

Conference: Pan African Archaeological Association (PANAF) Conference 2022; Zanzibar, Tanzania - August 7 – August 12

Report:

The PAA Congress is one of the most important events for Archaeologists conducting research in Africa. This is because it is the principal gathering of all professionals and academics that take place on the African continent. Other large gatherings for Africanist Archaeologists take place in Europe or America.

The event was well attended with over 250 participants from around the world. It was a truly enriching experience as I listened to other presenters talk about their research. Attending the conference helped me come to date with the diverse ongoing projects in Africa. It also helped me to build connections with some of the scholars whose theories and methodologies inform my own research. It was overall a great experience, and here are some personal highlights of my participation at the event.

Our paper “Prioritizing Safety and Defense: Evaluating Buffer Zones in West African Antiquity” coauthored with my advisor Dr. Mark Golitko was presented at the session titled “Up the Wall (And Over the Ditch): African Fortifications Across Time and Space” The presentation was followed by a long Question and Answer session which reflects the relevance of our work. A prominent archaeologist, Prof. Elizabeth Hilderbrand reached out to me at the end of the talk, and said she would like to propose a similar research topic to some of her students working in Africa. We will stay in touch exchanging literature or suggestions for the work. There are also talks of publishing papers presented at the session.

I also met with Prof Paul Lane, a Professor at the University of Cambridge and one of the leading scholars in African Archaeology to discuss my Doctoral research project. We had a very fruitful conversation about potential direction for my research, collaboration with members of the University of Cambridge, and other issues. To further the conversation, he asks me to write him, and we should schedule a meet for September.

Further, myself and a Nigerian colleague at the Conference were approached by an Editor at Journal of African Archaeology to review two recent books on the History of the Yoruba people. With a proposed submission date in September, I am optimistic that the review would be published before the end of the year 2022.

Overall, it was a great networking opportunity. I am thankful to the Kellogg Institute for International Studies for awarding me the Conference Travel Grant that allowed me to attend and participate at the congress.