Carole Boyce­Davies

The Official Newsletter of the Caribbean Studies Association

CSA ExecutiveCouncil, 2015­2016

President:Carole Boyce­DaviesCornell University

Vice President:Keithley WoolwardCollege of The Bahamas

Immediate Past CSA President:Jan DeCosmoFlorida A&M University

Treasurer:Dwaine PlazaOregon State University

Secretary:Mala JokhanUniversity of the West Indies, St.Augustine

Editor, Newsletter:Meagan SylvesterUniversity of the West Indies, St.Augustine

Student Representative:Lauren PraggYork University

Executive Council

Michael BarnettVilma DiazKaren FlynnTerry­Ann JonesHeather Russell

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Please join CSA if you are not amember or if you have not paidyour dues for 2015. You mayalso make a donation to CSA ­all donations go directly to ourprograms.

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2015 Gordon K. andSybil Lewis AwardWinners

The Caribbean StudiesAssociation (CSA) is pleased toannounce the 2015 Gordon K.and Sybil Lewis Award, whichcarries with it a monetary prize of$1000, thanks to the generousLewis Family donation and itscontinuing support of the CSA.The Award commemorates notone but these two distinguishedCaribbeanists. One of the most

Issue: June 2015

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

“CSA MOVING FORWARD WITH 40 YEARS OFHISTORY”

The Caribbean StudiesAssociation (CSA) turned 40 butwithout all the fanfare it deservesfor making it into early middleage. One of its achievementsthough was hosting its firstconference in the CaribbeanDiaspora and thus firmlyindicating that the regionalCaribbean and its much moreinternational Caribbean Diasporaare also visible locations ofCaribbean experience. And wego to Haiti for the first time nextyear, again broadening the reachof CSA. So, as it moves through its 40’s, CSA can nolonger claim to be a young and struggling organization. Under my leadership, we plan to do a number of thingswhich will improve the structure and make our belovedorganization more professional.

We need to adhere to the calendar year deadlinesfor paying dues for example. That way, we will notbe at the last minute trying to find out who is alegitimate member which also affects the delivery ofthe final program.We will work on a much more advanced on­linesystem for proposing papers and panels in keepingwith major organizations of our type. All paperproposals will have to be submitted in this way andnot by email with the program chairs and theirprogram committee being the only one’sresponsible for that process.We will work on enhancing the languages of theCaribbean, so that it is not just French and Spanishbut also Dutch and Kreyol and Papamientotranslations.We will design a more developed andrepresentative leadership transfer in keeping withother organizations our age.We will develop a performance track and visual artssection at our next conference so that along withfilm and literature, the performance and visual artswill have space in the conferenceWe will routinely place “Proceedings” within theconference budget so that the Program Chairs havea tangible publication of papers which representbest the conference theme, and members are ableto also get their work published formally. We will work to make CSA the place one goes to forcurrent information on the Caribbean and/or to findCaribbean experts on different topics.

Our conference theme for next year is “Caribbean GlobalMovements: People, Ideas, Culture, Arts and EconomicSustainability.” Please feel free to organize mini­discussions at your institutions on this topic so that our

Keithley Woolward

important contributions ofGordon Lewis in particular wasthe ways in which his work washis trans­caribbean. GordonLewis was a most admirableintellect who understood theCaribbean as a space that wasbeyond just a racial andlinguistic space.

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2015 ConferencePhotos

The 2015 CSA Conference wasa huge success. View the photogallery to get a snap shot ofsome conference highlights.

» CLICK HERE to view photos

theme is shared widely at your institutions. Additionalsuggestions for making CSA into the mature professionalorganization that it will become as it moves into its 4thdecade of existence. I look forward to working with youthis year.

Carole Boyce­DaviesPresident, CSA­2015­2016

MESSAGE FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

Dear CSA Members,

Let me first thank themembership for opportunity toserve the organization as vicepresident. As we move forward tothe 41st annual conference inHaiti, CSA will mark anotherhistoric milestone: the affirmationof Haiti’s centrality in theturbulent history of the Caribbeanregion.

The 2015­2016 CSA Executive Council will beundertaking a number of initiatives to improve theinstitutional capacity and long term sustainability of theorganization. You will be hearing from us in the comingweeks for your suggestions and recommendations as weseek to enhance our impact as the primary vehicle forresearching, analyzing, and documenting the Caribbeanwithout limitations as to discipline(s), language(s),culture(s), and location(s).

We look forward to the work ahead.

Best regards,Keithley WoolwardCSA Vice­President

MESSAGE FROM THE PROGRAM CHAIRS

Marie­Jose Nzengou­Tayo

Angelique V. Nixon

The 41st Annual CSA Conference, 5­11 June 2016, willconvene in Port­au­Prince, Haiti for the first time: a longoverdue location for the association. We are eagerlylooking toward to an exciting conference as we expect anenthusiastic response from Caribbeanists from the regionand elsewhere. We also expect strong participation fromHaitian intellectuals, artists, teachers, scholars,professionals, and activists, among others, inside thecountry.

This conference, we hope, will help to establish a cross­disciplinary and translingual encounter and reinforce theintellectual integration of the non­English­speakingCaribbean within the English­speaking Caribbean andCARICOM. Also, the conference will be an occasion tohave much needed dialogue about the vital contributionsof Haiti to the region particularly in terms of the arts andknowledge production. The theme of the 2016conference – Caribbean Global Movements: People,Ideas, Culture, Arts and Economic Sustainability – offersa focus on the various movements that have given rise tothe region and our place globally, while also repositioningquestions of knowledge and sustainability. And it offers

Meagan Sylvester

us a space to think through the centrality of Haiti in thesemovements and how we can envision and plan futuremovements. We also hope that the conference will giveus the opportunity to showcase the wealth and diversityof independent Haitian scholarship, which hascontributed to unconventional and needed responses toissues facing the country.

As we are drafting the call for submissions, we invite ourmembers to think about and plan for interdisciplinary andmultilingual panels in order to foster an inter­Caribbeandialogue beyond geographical borders and linguisticbarriers. We plan to have the call for submissions readyfor circulation very soon. Please note that proposals willbe due much earlier than in previous years – 15thOctober 2015 – as part of our work with CSA executivecouncil to make improvements to the program structure,as well as the procedures for submission, membership,and registration. We ask CSA members for yourpatience and support as we work on changes, especiallyas we prepare for the conference in Haiti. We are open toyour ideas and welcome your participation.

For all program­related inquires or suggestions, pleasecontact us directly atprogram.chair@caribbeanstudiesassociation.org.

Marie­Jose Nzengou­Tayo & Angelique V. Nixon

MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Coming off a successful AnnualConference in New Orleanswhere the CSA celebrated 40years in existence, I am gratefulfor the efforts of CSA membersand supporters as we continue tobuild, grow and expand ourorganisation. Going forward myfocus will be to continue carryingon the traditions that were laidbefore me and stand on theshoulders of the giants of ourpast.

The CSA Newsletter is a key armto keep members connected and informed about theorganisation so let me be the first to let you know thatthere will be some changes going forward. As weembrace our multi­faceted and multi­lingual membership,we are pleased to announce that our Newsletter will nowhave segments in the following languages: English,Spanish, French and Creole. Content in Dutch is soon tobe added in the coming months.

What you can continue to expect in the Newsletter areour usual features: (i) From the President; (ii) From theProgram Co­Chairs; (iii) The Graduate Student Cornerand (iv) General Updates on the upcoming Conference inHaiti and CSA announcements.

Of note is the good news that the CSA website has beenupdated and improved. Please continue to visit ourwebsite for Conference news.

As I enter my sophomore year as the CSA NewsletterEditor, I look forward to continued service to our currentmembership and establishing new ties through ouroutreach to the Caribbean Diaspora wherever they mightbe.

Meagan SylvesterThe University of the West Indies,St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago

MESSAGE FROM THE LANGUAGE SUB­EDITORS

Vilma Diaz

Nouvèl (Martiniquan French Creole)

KONFÉRANS DI ASOSYASYON ÉTID KARAYIB­LA(25­29 mé 2015)

“Karayib­la an laj apatel global kloti épi fwontyè mo pou mo épi imajiné”. Sé tétèm di konférans di Asosyasyon di Étid Karayib la. Lanné ta la, konférans­la fètNouvèl Orléan adan an lotèl Hilton (Riverside). Sa impòtan di di ke Asosyasyon fétékarant an ï.

An lo moun vini di Étazini, Canada, léwòp épi Karayib­la pou fè présantasyon yoasou pliziè sijé: diaspora, sinéma, kilti, édikasyon, ékonomi, mizik, politik… Sé sijè­apèmèt sé panélis­la épi sé présantatè­a di kominiké ant yo. Sé diskisyon­an té richépi entérésan tou. Té ni dé tab won ki fèt le madi épi le jédi. Yo fèt linivèsité Tilan éadan Sant Kiltirèl di Ashé. Sé té an tan pou artist, présantatè é sè moun an ki té la dipalé asou tèm di diaspora­la é fèstival di Lanouvèl Òléan.

A kòz di istwa kolonyal di Lanouvèl Òléan é di Karayib­la, sa pa étonan ki konféransdi Asosyasyon di Étid Karayib­la fèt adan an vil ki ni mizé­ï, sit touristik­li, batiman­ï,épi mizik djaz­li ki ka atiré an pil vizitè. Mèm si èvènman Mardi Gra­a ka egzistéadan cèten péyi di Karayib­la, ni diférans kanmèm. Sé nèg Lanouvèl Òléan ka abiyékò yo an zendyen di Amérik­la. Fòk di ki Mizé Back Street­la ka fè an lo éfò pougadé latradisyon épi fè bèl kòstym ki byen koloré.

Lendi­a épi mardi­a, té ni film épi dokimentè ki té byen bèl. Sé pwodiktè­a ki byensélèb kon Fabienne Kanor, Geoffrey Dunn, Karen Mafundikwa, Andrea Leland,aHabdaphai Alerte et Doktè. Maurice Martinez té présan. Adan dokimantè­li, “SomeFeet, My Foot”, Fabienne Kanor eséyé di egzaminè pwoblèm idantité akaï an fanmnwè ki paran di an pèp imigré é ki pa entégré.

“Yurumein Homeland, sé an pwodiksyon di Andrea Leland, ki ka évoké tribilasyon dipèp Karayib di San Vensan. Sé Anglé tchoué ansèt yo. Sè Garifuna­a épi séKarayib­la ka di ke ansèt yo egzilé Lamérik. An fèt, sé konsa ki kilti tradisyonèl­yorivé viv.

Geoffrey Dunn réalizé “The Glamour Boyz Again: The Mighty Sparrow and LordSuperior on the Hilton Rooftop”. I filmé performans Mighty Sparrow épi ta LordSuperior. ­ Sé dé moun­tala jwé an wòl enpòtan adan mizik Kalypso­a. Performanstala té pou pwodiksyon Calypso Dreams an 2002. An plis di sa, performans­la téfilmé a sou twa lotèl Hilton ki ka dominé vil Port­of­Spain.

Mè nou pa pou blyé di ke Orlando Patterson ki sé an sosyològ di jamayik­la fèdiskou­ï pandan sérémoni douvèti­a ki fèt lendi­a. Apwè sa, tout moun an té nilokazyon di byen manjé épi kouté an bon ti mizik Djaz. Dènyé jou­a ki té vandrèdi­a,tout moun koumansé dansé anba mizik di artist Bruce “Sunpie”Barnes. Konférans­lan fini.

Español

40 Conferencia de la Asociación de Estudios del Caribeen New Orleans, el espacio cultural más al norte delCaribe.

Por: Vilma Díaz Cabrera

La Asociación de Estudios del Caribe celebró su 40aniversario mostrando nuevas miradas a nuestra diversidadcultural. Las interconexiones de nuestros pueblos insularesy continentales, la singularidad y generalidad de losespacios y las principales problemáticas del Caribecontemporáneo fueron los ejes articuladores que reunierona más de 600 intelectuales, artistas, cineastas, escritores yamigos para expresar la fuerza y proyección de una asociación con nuevas líneasde trabajo para el futuro. El programa del congreso, organizado en plenarias, paneles, exposiciones delibros, foros audiovisuales, celebración de autores, mesas redondas sobreinvestigaciones y temas de relevancia internacional y/o académica motivó a ungran número de intelectuales de la región para dialogar en torno a las vinculacionesde New Orleans con el Caribe, sus nexos musicales o aspectos de ese patrimoniointangible que permanecen en corrientes migratorias del pasado y del presente.

África en New Orleans es la defensa del Congo Square, su permanencia y tradiciónrepresenta para los habitantes de esta linda ciudad del Missisipi su unión culturalcon nuestro origen común de infinitos pueblos caribeños. Por eso, desde allí sepresentaron más de 250 paneles y 6 actividades culturales que abrieron nuevoshorizontes de pensamiento social necesarios para defender el Caribe tal como hace

Hélène Zamor

100 años lo hicieron desde diferentes escenarios una intelectualidad comprometidacon su cultura raigal.

La reconfiguración de los límites territoriales e identitarios trascienden los límitesreales para reconfigurar nuevos bordes icónicos y simbólicos. De ahí que elverdadero reto para el Caribe será rearticular nuestra historia, política, literatura yexpresiones artísticas en función de los tiempos que corren. La frontera, según lasprincipales voces del congreso es división, unión y/o creación, de ahí que NewOrleans en su historia es frontera geográfica, cultural y política del Caribe, eseCaribe norte identificado con la fusión de África, España, Francia y Estados Unidos. Una mirada transdisciplinar a procesos artísticos en el Caribe fueron posibles enactividades organizadas por Tulane University, Aché (Cutural Association),Backstreet Cultural Museum, entre otras. Volvió el Carnaval, el Mardi Grass deNOLA como reunión simbólica de expresión religiosa que visualmente adornan lascasas de una ciudad que une tradición y modernidad.

De esta manera llegó, por primera vez, los congresos de la CSA a la ciudad más alnorte del Caribe, una ciudad que una vez fue la Louissiana de ese arco de medialuna del siglo XVII­XVIII y ahora vuelve a nosotros como expresión sincrética delflorecimiento de un lugar conectado con Cuba y Haití desde el siglo XIX, hermanadocon las islas angloparlantes por procesos migratorios desde inicios del siglo XX,vinculado a México con la vanguardia plástica de Diego Rivera y, desde ahora, conotros que por primera vez al visitarla ya sienten la necesidad de regresar a esteespacio en que celebramos nuestros primeros cuarenta años de trabajo.

Français

BULLETIN D’INFORMATIONSCONFÉRENCE ANNUELLE DE L’ASSOCIATION DESETUDES CARIBÉENNES(25­29 mai 2015)

“La Caraïbe à l’ère de l’Arpatheid mondial. Clôtures, limiteset frontières­littéral et imaginé”. Tel était le thème de laconférence de l’Association des Études Caribéennes quis’est tenue à l’hôtel du Hilton Riverside (Nouvelle­Orléans).Il est quand même important de préciser que l’Associationfêtait son 40ème anniversaire.

De nombreux participants originaires du Canada, d’Europe, de la Caraïbe et desEtats­Unis ont présenté leurs articles sur divers sujets: diaspora, danse, cinéma,culture, éducation, économie, musique, immigration, politique etc. Ces sujets onteffectivement fait l’objet de discussions intéressantes et enrichissantes entrepanélistes et présentateurs. Le mardi et le jeudi, deux tables rondes se sontdéroulées à l’Université de Tulane et au Centre Culturel D’Ashé. C’était l’occasionpour les chercheurs, les artistes et les participants d’échanger leurs opinions sur ladiaspora et les Festivals des Arts (Nouvelle­Orléans).

Etant donné l’histoire coloniale de La Nouvelle­Orléans et la Caraïbe, il n’est passurprenant que la conférence de l’Association des Études Carbéennes se soit tenuedans une ville où ses musées, ses sites touristiques, ses bâtiments, sa musiqueJazz et son histoire tiennent les visiteurs en haleine. Bien que l’événement du MardiGras se célèbre dans certaines îles de la Caraïbe, il existe des différences du pointde vue des costumes par exemple. A la Nouvelle­Orléans, les Noirs se déguisent enIndiens d’Amérique. Cependant, n’oublions pas que le Musée du Back Street fait deson mieux pour préserver la tradition du Mardi Gras en confectionnant des costumescolorés et bien travaillés.

Le lundi et le mardi était reservés à la diffusion de films et de documentaires qui ontété réalisés par des metteurs en scène bien connus. Citons ainsi Fabienne Kanor,Geoffrey Dunn Karen Mafundikwa, Andrea Leland, Habdaphai Alerte et Dr. MauriceMartinez. A travers son documentaire intitulé “Some Feet, My Foot”, FabienneKanor met l’accent sur la perte d’identité d’une femme noire qui est descendanted’un peuple immigré et non intégré. “Yurumein Homeland, une production d’AndreaLeland, raconte le passé douloureux des Caraïbes de Saint­Vincent etl’extermination de leurs ancêtres par les Anglais. Les descendants des Garifunas etdes Caraïbes évoquent l’exile de leur ancêtres vers l’Amérique où la culturetraditionnelle Garifuna a survécu. Geoffrey Dunn, le producteur de “The GlamourBoyz Again: The Mighty Sparrow and Lord Superior on the Hilton Rooftop”, a filmé laperformance de Mighty Sparrow et Lord Superior, deux légendes du Calypso. Cetteperformance se destinait à la production Calypso Dreams en 2002. De plus, elle aété filmée de la toiture de l’hôtel Hilton qui domine la ville de Port­of­Spain.

Pour conclure ce résumé, la conférence de l’Association des Etudes Caribéennes aorganisé une cérémonie d’ouverture durant laquelle le sociologue jamaïcain Orlando

Lauren Pragg

Patterson a prononcé son discours. Après l’ouverture de la cérémonie du lundi 25mai, les participants ont pu se régaler et se laisser bercer au doux son du Jazz de laNouvelle­Orléans. Le vendredi 29 mai, les participants se sont défoulés sur lamusique du talentueux artiste Bruce “Sunpie”Barnes.

GRADUATE STUDENT CORNER

Once again another engaging and successful CSAconference just wrapped up, leaving conference attendeesand participants with exciting ideas, feedback andcollaborations. Set this year in the vibrant city of NewOrleans, Louisiana, the backdrop for the conference held alot of history, culture and hope. Many attendees enjoyed thesights and sounds of the city ­ from Bourbon Street toPreservation Hall to Frenchmen's Street. Several membersalso took in the remarkable and stunning memorial toformerly enslaved peoples in Wallace, LA at the WhitneyPlantation.

Complementing these regional sites the Conferenceproceedings themselves were full and held many enrichingconversations for all participants, including grad students.The long­established traditions of grad student activities returned to CSA NOLA: thegrad student breakfast, and workshops on Finishing Your PhD and Getting a Job inCaribbean Studies, and Tenure and Beyond. The undergraduate poster sessionbrought together 10 exciting projects, and new faces to the CSA. Many studentsparticipated through panel presentations, ideally producing an experience thatcreated learning through mentorship, process and feedback.

The cultural activities arranged by the CSA were also a great hit with the members.The visit to the Backstreet Cultural Museum and the Second Line parade thatfollowed was a highlight. Also to be commended was the great excitement aroundthis year’s CSA Night, which sold out before Friday and featured the music of Bruce“Sunpie” Barnes & the Louisiana Sunspots, with Derron Ellies.

As the new graduate student representative on the Executive Council I hope torepresent the needs of all students at the Executive level, as well as during the nextconference in Haiti. Some of the central goals I have for my term include: increasingand improving mentorship for students; variation among graduate studentworkshops; an increase in undergraduate involvement; and greater support forstudent travel and participation. I welcome feedback of all kinds from students, andwould be grateful for ideas of visions and priorities that mean something to thestudent members of the CSA. Please feel free to contact me (lrpragg@yorku.ca) andI look forward to seeing you all again in a year!

Copyright © 2015 Caribbean Studies Association. All rights reserved.Contact email: secretariat@caribbeanstudiesassociation.org

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