SEMINAR NIGERIA : ARABIC MANUSCRIPTS IN WEST

AFRICA

The Department of Arabic Studies at Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria

is proposing an international seminar together with the International Academic Union
on: Arabic manuscripts in West Africa: Their preservation and publication.
It will be held at the Department of Arabic, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria
from Monday 7th June to Sunday 13 June 2010, and the languages of the Seminar will be
Arabic, English and French.
Here’s the information about the Seminar. Please note the last date for submitting
abstracts of papers and full papers is 30th April, 2010:

INTRODUCTION.
Arabic manuscripts in West African region became an area of
serious attraction after Accra Conference to African Anglophone
countries when some decisions were taken which consequently
resulted in establishing the University of Ibadan in 1948; with a
view to exposing the life of the inhabitants of the area and
resuscitating their civilization. The authorities did not hesitate in
implementing the decisions reached at by exploiting the available
Arabic sources which serve as the data bank of the history and
culture of the inhabitant documented in Arabic since the time
they began recording the glory of their ancestors for the
attainment of the citizen’s goals.
Ironically, these books are still in manuscript forms neglected
in corners, looted sometimes , distorted in some instances and
frozen in some instances. Despite the above obstacles some
patriots have taken upon themselves to collect, comment and
edit the works at different levels. The area which suffers great set
back is their preservation, typing and publishing them, which has
become very necessary. From the 31st January to 3rd February
2007 an international conference was held at the institute
of research in the Humanities (IRSH), Abdou Moumounii
University of Niamey. The theme of the conference was “The
African Manuscripts as Historic Sources” organized in
collaboration with International Academic Union. The conference
gathered eminence University personalities and researchers
of diverse horizons of knowledge from France, Slovakia, Hungry,
USA, Australia, Ghana, Mali and Nigeria. It was decided at the end
of the conference that, the venue of the next conference will be
at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto Nigeria.
It is in this light that a determination to organize this
international seminar was born, so that ideas and ways to go
about exposing these manuscripts exchanged. This we hope to
achieve by Allah’s grace.

Aims of the Seminar

• Bringing to light the academic and intellectual

efforts made by our predecessors.
• Enabling researchers to undertake their work
effectively.
• Connecting the past to the present by
acknowledging sources as part of academic honesty.
• Exchanging ideas among people whose culture is
in Arabic with a view to evolving enlightened thoughts.
• Equipping Arabic library with materials in
science, literature, rhetorics, thought, etc as contained
in these documents.

Themes of the seminar:

• Arabic Manuscripts: concept and terminology.

o Beginning of Arabic manuscripts, and their
development among the Muslim Ummah
o Improving the preservation of Arabic
manuscripts among the Muslim Ummah
o The role of Arabic manuscripts in fostering
academic linkage among the Muslim Ummah.
• Arabic manuscripts in the intellectual
renaissance era.
• The idea of cataloguing Arabic manuscripts.
• Emergence of Arabic transcription in West Africa.
 • Ajami transcription in West Africa and its role in
documenting sciences.
• Rules and orthography of Ajami in West Africa.
• Disappearance of Ajami transcription and its
revival in the area.
• The relationship between Arabic and Ajami
transcriptions.

Introducing Arabic Manuscripts in Nigeria.

• Centres of Arabic manuscripts in Nigeria and key

personalities.
• Stages of collecting manuscripts in Nigeria and
the extent of their success.
• Factors responsible for assessing Arabic
manuscripts in Nigeria namely:
o Scientific and cultural factor.
o Literary and technical factor.
o Political and economic factor.
o Social and civilisational factor.

Book writing on Nigerian Arabic culture in the following

areas:

• Anthologies of poets and poetesses.

• Collection of Nigerian male and female orators.
• Collection of Mutarassilin mutarassilat.
• Intellectual perspective.
• Civilizational perspective.
• Social perspective.

Presentation of school books on the following topics:

• Grammar and morphology.

• Language and its sciences
• Literature and texts.
• Rhetorics and criticism
• Lexicography
• Culture and civilization.

Evening functions:

• Poetic display.
 • Oratorical display.
• Dramatic display.

Submission of an Abstract and a Paper

Interested participants should send abstracts and full papers with

Curriculum Vitae electronically to reach the following, on or
before 30th April, 2010. Only participants whose papers were
found worthy of presentation will be finally invited.
i. athanee11@yahoo.co.uk
ii. sumusa1@yahoo.co.uk
ii. departmentarabic@yahoo.com
Programme of Events
Day I: Monday 7/6/2010
Registration, opening ceremony and lead papers presentation.
Day II: Tuesday 8/6/2010
Plenary sessions.
Day III: Wednesday 9/6/2010
Plenary session continued.
Day IV: Thursday 10/6/2010
Book Fair
Closing ceremony and dinner
Day V : 11/6/2010
Visits to special places e.g.:
i. The Sultanate Council of Sokoto, and its historic monuments.
ii. The palace of the Emir of Kebbi and its monuments
iii. Wazir Junaidu History and Culture Bureau.
iv. Manuscripts library of C.I.S. of UDUS.
v. Wazir Junaidu Personal library.
vi. Alkalawa the defunct capital of Gobir Kingdom, Kiyawa,
Silame, and Gwandu monuments

Day VI & VII : Saturday and Sunday 12th and 13th June
2010: Departure.
Wassalam alaikum,

Prof. S.W. Junaidu Prof. A.S. Agaka Prof. S.U.

Musa
Chairman Seminar Chairman Drafting
 Secretary
Coordinating Committee Committee Sub-
Committee
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