Inaugural address Amina Mama

Inaugural address professor Amina Mama, 2003/2004 holder of the Prince Claus Chair in Development and Equity

March 2004

On 28 April 2004 Dr Amina Mama, holder of the Prince Claus Chair in Development and Equity 2003/4, will deliver her inaugural address entitled ” Critical capacities: facing the challenges of intellectual development in Africa” at the Institute of Social Studies, Kortenaerkade 12,The Hague. 
The Curatorium of the Chair nominated Professor Mama as Chair Holder in view of her academic contributions in the area of culture and development in Africa. In her Inaugural Lecture Amina Mama will present a critical analysis of the challenges that have both inspired and constrained Africa`s intellectual development.

She discusses the political, administrative and other constraints that have inhibited the emergence of African-focused intellectual culture within the structure of African universities. Moreover, the current globalisation of higher education policy is equally insensitive to the importance of higher education in Africa. Prof Mama discusses several strategies for the future and underscores the need for the establishment of creative structures equipped to address knowledge needs in a manner grounded in the political and cultural aspirations of Africa`s diverse societies.

Professor Mama will reside at the ISS, The Hague, from mid April to mid July 2004. Professor Mama (1958, Nigeria) is Chair in Gender Studies and Director of the African Gender Institute at at the University of Cape Town, South Africa. She holds a Doctorate in organisational psychology from the University of London. She provides intellectual leadership to a research programme aimed at strengthening gender studies for Africa`s transformation. She has done research on a wide variety of development subjects, including race, gender politics and analysis, development strategies and organisational development, migration and conflict. She has a broad experience in teaching as well as in advisory positions at various African and European-based international institutions. From 1989-91 she has been Lecturer in the Women and Development MA Programme at the ISS. She is the author of several books and articles. Professor Mama in her position as holder of the Prince Claus Chair will focus on the field of culture and development. 

The Prince Claus Chair in Development and Equity, established by Utrecht University and the Institute of Social Studies (ISS), aims at promoting research and education in the field of development and equity, in honour of the late Prince Claus of the Netherlands. Prince Claus was an Honorary Fellow of the ISS. The Prince Claus Chair rotates annually between Utrecht University and the ISS. Each academic year an eminent scholar from Africa, Asia, Latin America or the Pacific will hold the title of holder of the Prince Claus Chair. He or she will reside for 3 months in the Netherlands. A Curatorium nominates candidates for the Chair. This Curatorium is chaired by Princess Máxima of The Netherlands. 


Further information on the inaugural address:
Matty Klatter,
Institute of Social Studies, external relations.
Email: klatter@iss.nl
Tel: + 31 30 70 4260506/419

Further information on the Prince Claus Chair:
Dr. Joop Kessels, secretary to the Curatorium
Email: curatorium@princeclauschair.nl
tel: + 31 30 2534477