First Announcement of the Sixth Annual Conference of Urhobo Historical Society, Octobber 20-23, 2005, at Effurun and Sapele, Nigeria

SIXTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND MEETING

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

URHOBO HISTORICAL SOCIETY'S

SIXTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE & MEETING

OCTOBER 20 - 23, 2005

ISHAKA HOTEL, REFINERY ROAD, EFFURUN, NIGERIA

PETROLEUM TRAINING INSTITUTE, EFFURUN, NIGERIA
&
SAPELE ATHLETIC CLUB, SAPELE, NIGERIA

The Editorial & Management Committee of Urhobo Historical Society cordially invites all Urhobo sons and daughters, as well as friends, scholars, and students of Urhobo history and culture, to participate in our Sixth Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting, which will be held on October 20 - 23, 2005.

Venues:
*      Ishaka Hotel, Refinery Road, Effurun, Nigeria
*      Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Nigeria
*      Sapele Athletic Club, Sapele, Nigeria

About Urhobo Historical Society

Established in August 1999, Urhobo Historical Society provides a forum for the publication of works in Urhobo history and culture. URHOBO WAADO, Web site of Urhobo Historical Society, also highlights issues of oil pollution and environmental degradation in Nigeria's Niger Delta. Besides its defence of Urhobo interests in general, Urhobo Historical Society has provided a valuable documentation of Urhobo history and culture hitherto unknown in cyberspace. Along with two smaller Web sites http://www.urhobo.kinsfolk.com and http://www.urhobowaado.info, our main web site http://www.waado.org/Contents.html has emerged as an important reference point for Urhobo history and culture. Our publication of British "Treaties of Protection" in the Western Niger Delta in the 1880s and 1890s has compelled an opportunity for a fresh re-examination of the history of Warri City and of the Western Niger Delta. Through its web sites, Urhobo Historical Society has also become a powerful voice in defence of Niger Delta interests.

Urhobo Historical Society also propagates its mission of "Serving Urhobo History and Culture" through its Annual Conferences. The first two Annual Conferences of the Society were held in North America. We held our First Annual Conference and Meeting in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, on November 3-5, 2000 . Senator David O. Dafinone was the Keynote Speaker. Our Second Annual Conference and Meeting took place in Persipanny, New Jersey, USA, on November 2-4, 2001. Its scope was limited as a result of the disruptions in international travel, after the attack in New York on September 11, which prevented Nigerian participants from travelling to North America.

Our Third Annual Conference was held in London on November 1-3, 2002. Chief D. A. Obiomah was our Special Guest of Honour in the Third Annual Conference and Meeting; Professor David Okpako gave its keynote address; and Olorugun Felix Ibru, first civilian Governor of Delta State, presided over the opening ceremonies. Our Fourth Annual Conference was also held in London, October 31 - November 2, 2003. Deacon Gamaliel Onosode and Governor James Ibori were the Conference's Special Guests of Honour; Olorogun Moses Taiga, represented by Chief Godwin Ogbetuo, was the scheduled Chair of the Opening Ceremony; and the Very Reverend Prof. Samuel Erivwo delivered the Fourth Annual Conference's keynote address.

Our Fifth Annual Conference was held at Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Ibru Centre, Agbarha-Otor, and Niger Delta Cultural Centre, Agbarha-Otor. It was the first convention of Urhobo Historical Society held in Urhoboland. Attendance was international, with Urhobos in North America and Europe registering a strong presence. It was coordinated by a formidable team of Urhobo leaders, led by Chief Johnson Ukueku, Dr. T. E A. Salubi, and Chief Johnson Barovbe. The Opening Ceremonies were presided over by General D. E. Obada (rtd), representing Justice V. E. Ovie-Whiskey (rtd). Senator David Dafinone was recognized as Chief Patron. Olorogun Moses Taiga was the Conference's Special Guest of Honour. A book, Warri City & British Colonial Rule in Western Niger Delta, edited by Peter Ekeh and published by Urhobo Historical Society, was launched. Chief E. K. Clark served as Chairman of the launching ceremony, Professor F. M. A. Ukoli reviewed the book, and Olorogun Moses Taiga was the its Chief Launcher. A second book, Where Gods and Mortals Meet: Continuity & Renewal in Urhobo Art, edited by Perkins Foss, was also launched. Chief Johnson Ukueku presided at this ceremony, and Mr. Goodie Ibru, represented by Samson Okuesa, served as the Chief Launcher. A central event of each of the Society's Annual Conferences is the keynote address. Professor Omafume Onoge delivered the Fifth Annual Conference's keynote address. This conference added a new theme to the Society's conventions: an Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service. It was held at the Ibru Centre, Agbarha-Otor, and was presided over by Monseigneur Anthony Erhueh of the Catholic Cathedral, Warri City, and the Very Reverend Professor Samuel Erivwo of the Anglican (Communion) Cathedral, Warri City, with a large attendance.

The Sixth Annual Conference is expected to expand the scope of coverage of previous conferences of the Society. It will be the second time in two years that a congregation of Urhobos, of diverse backgrounds, interests, vocations, and affiliations as well as Urhoboid scholars, will gather together in Urhoboland under the aegis of Urhobo Historical Society in service of Urhobo history and culture. Three key events will give emphasis to the theme of this year's Conference: (a) launching of a new UHS book to be titled, Studies in Urhobo Culture; (b) a keynote address on "Urhobo-Isoko Relations" by the Reverend Professor Obaro Ikime; and (c) a Women's Forum with a focus on Urhobo women's participation in the making and implantation of an Urhobo agenda.

Book Fair

We strongly urge publishers and sellers of any types of books on Urhobo history and culture to participate in a book fair at the venues of the Conference. Space will be made available at all three designated venues of the Conference for the display and sale of any type of publication on Urhobo, including those on Urhobo's twenty-two cultural units. We would like to publish information on participants and their book products in the Web sites of Urhobo Historical Society. We recommend that participants should provide such information in electronic formats (e.g., computer disks) to UHS Secretary, Mr. Andrew Edevbie, at the venues of the Conference.

Call For Papers

Our conferences emphasize academic content of relevance to Urhobo affairs. The concerns of the Conference will be transacted in (a) roundtable panels featuring special subjects; (b) academic sessions; and (c) Annual General Meeting for members of Urhobo Historical Society. We welcome papers on all aspects of Urhobo history and culture, especially those that relate to the main theme of the Conference. Please contact the Conference Chair, Dr. Isaac James Mowoe, at mowoe.2@osu.edu with your thoughts and suggestions for a conference paper. Also copy all correspondence on the Conference to UHS Secretary, Mr. Andrew Edevbie, at kevtrics@juno.com.

* * *

AGENDA

Conference Theme:
Endangerment of Urhobo Language and Culture

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2005

Venue: Ishaka Hotel Refinery Road, Effurun, Nigeria

12:00n -- 3:00 p.m.

Annual General Meeting

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2005

Venue: Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Nigeria

09:00 -- 12:00n	Opening Ceremonies
12:00 -- 1:00 p.m.	Lunch Break
1:00n -- 1:45 p.m.	UHS & Urhobo Service Awards
1:45 -- 2:30 p.m.	Launching of UHS 2006 Calendar
2:30 -- 5:30 p.m.	UHS Book Launch: Studies in Urhobo Culture

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2005

Venue: Petroleum Training Institute, Effurun, Nigeria

09:00 --10: 30 a.m.	Plenary Academic Session
10:30 --12:30 p.m.	First Roundtable -- The Making of an Urhobo Agenda
12:30 -- 2:00 p.m.	Lunch Break
02:00 -- 3:30 p.m.	Keynote Address: "Isoko-Urhobo Relations."
03:30 -- 03:45 p.m.	Break
03:45 -- 05:30 p.m.	Second Roundtable -- Urhobo and Its Neighbours

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2005

Venue: Sapele Athletic Club, Sapele, Nigeria

09:00 -- 12:00n	Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service
12:00 -- 1:00 p.m.	Lunch Break
1:00 -- 2:45 p.m.	First Women Roundtable: Women and the Urhobo Agenda
2:45 -- 3:00 p.m.	Break
3:00 -- 5:00 p.m.	Second Women Roundtable: Women and Urhobo Values: Marriage and the Urhobo Future

Signed:

Isaac James Mowoe, Ph.D., J.D. Chair Conference and Communiqué Committee Email: mowoe.2@osu.edu	Chief J. M. Barovbe, JP, BA (Hons), MBA. Coordinator Conference Organizing Committee in Nigeria Email: westminstercollegelagos@hotmail.com Phones (Lagos): 01-804B6571 (home); 01-774-7959 (office); 080-233-68440 (M)

July 05, 2005

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