19th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies
24–28 August 2015
Conference organized by the Department of African Languages and Cultures, University of Warsaw, suppported by the Faculty of History, University of Warsaw, the National Museum in Warsaw, the State Ethnographic Museum in Warsaw and Polish Africanist Society, a scholarly society which gathers Polish academics of various fields dealing with Africa.
In the days 24–28 August 2015 the most important scholarly event dedicated to research on Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa – the International Conference of Ethiopian Studies – will take place in Warsaw, Poland. The conference will be attended by approximately 400 guests of whom about 100 will come directly from Ethiopia.
It is only for the second time that the ICES takes place in East-Central Europe. In 1986, still under the shadow of the iron curtain, it was convened in Moscow. Therefore, the Conference marks a new era in the history of Ethiopia’s relations with this part of the world.
The choice of Warsaw as a venue for the ICES is also symptomatic of the constantly developing cultural and economic ties between Poland and Ethiopia. In the past the Polish interest in Ethiopia was largely limited to academic circles. In fact, Ethiopian languages have been taught at the Warsaw University since the 1930s and a number of Polish scholars such as Stefan Strelcyn or Stanisław Chojnacki have contributed greatly to Ethiopian studies. In recent years however, after the re-opening of Polish embassy in Addis Ababa also the economic relations have gained pace with a fair number of Polish companies making direct investments in Ethiopia.
The papers presented at the ICES will cover a broad range of topics, with a particular focus on humanities and social sciences. The participants will be able to choose from 50 panels devoted to issues such as, among others: the role of women in Ethiopian history, Islamic literature in Ethiopia, relations between Ethiopia and Yemen, labor migrations, history of cartography. As usual, the Conference will be accompanied by social and cultural events. A particularly interesting event will be the exhibition of paintings by an Ethio-Polish couple of artists, Barbara and Worku Goshu.
The Conference has been organized with the financial support of the Ministry for Science and Higher Education.
In accordance with the well-established tradition the Conference is organized in cooperation with the Institute of Ethiopian Studies of the Addis Ababa University.
Other events this month
TEMPORARY EXHIBITION / The Pope of the Avant-Garde. Tadeusz Peiper in Spain,...
28 May – 6 September 2015 The exhibition presents the relationship between avant-garde art and literature of the early 20th century, taking as a point of departure the...
TEMPORARY EXHIBITION / Masterpieces of Japanese Art in Polish Collections
18 June – 9 August 2015 Japanese art has for years enjoyed much popularity among the Polish public, even if there have only been a few occasions to actually view Japanese...
SPECIAL DISPLAY / Hoplites. On the art of war of ancient Greece
1 July – 31 December 2015 Anticipating the near opening of the Ancient Art Gallery, the presentation brings together ancient weapons and armor (mainly Greek) from the...
GUIDED TOUR IN ENGLISH / Masterpieces of the National Museum in Warsaw
1.00 P.M. 4th, 11th, 18th, 25th July 22rd, 29th August A choice of the most priceless works of art in the collection of the National Museum in Warsaw. Visitors to the...