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AFRICA FORUM #3 is from Dr. David Dorward, Director of the African Research
Institute, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, and President of the
African Studies Association of Australasia and the Pacific.
"African Studies in Australasia": an interview with David Dorward.
< D.Dorward@latrobe.edu.au>
1. H-AFRICA: What are your impressions of the current state of
African Studies?
African Studies in Australasia is precarious, as Africanists
hold appointments in disciplinary departments that have no
necessary commitment to area or multidisciplinary studies such
as African Studies. In the case of African Studies at LaTrobe
University, we have lost staff with African interests over the
past decade through the accelerating process of 'down-sizing'.
They have not been replaced and therefore the range of
disciplines with African specialists has shrunk. As a result,
members of the African Institute are frequently called upon by
departments to provide co-supervision for students wishing to
undertake research on African related subjects. The same process
of retrenchment has led to the demise of African specialists at
a number of institutions in Australia and New Zealand. Moreover,
in the absence of new appointments/new blood, African Studies,
like many areas within the universities is 'greying'. On the
other hand, student demand has remained active and the
university library to date has maintained a strong level of
commitment.
2. H-AFRICA: To what extent are stereotypes still a major
problem in the understanding of African societies?
They are a major problem, especially in the electronic media.
The quality press still presents Africa all to frequently in
terms of disasters - often fed by the NGOs. However it is the
power of the electronic media, especially TV, the ignorance of
infotainment 'newscasters' who go off to Africa on junkets and
their focus on the sensational, as well as the uninformed news
commentary, that are the real danger.
3. H-AFRICA: What are the defining trends in African studies at
the turn of the millennium, and how will they influence the
study and teaching of Africa?
Post-colonialism, the use of images and imagery in
understanding, as well as the range of sources that have
enriched but place huge burdens in conveying that understandings
in meaningful ways to Australian students with great curiousity
but little contact with Africa and/or Africans.
4. H-AFRICA: How do you see Internet and other electronic
resources influencing African Studies?
One of the more important aspects of the Net is the opportunity
for students to access media from Africa. Next year I will be
offering an undergraduate subject called 'What's in the News-
Africa', in which students will delve into the background behind
the news, analyse presentation and deconstruct language.
 Humanities & Social Sciences Online 
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