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PREVIOUS TRAVELS

In November 2001 I was invited to attend a UN conference in Madrid on Religious Tolerance and School Education. Read my report. I was invited to attend a follow-up meeting in Oslo in December 2002 at which the UN Special Rapporteur on Religious Intolerance will be present. I then flew to the University of Wellington, New Zealand for a regional IAHR conference and meeting. I presented a paper entitled, “Religion is for Healing: Nigeria and Tennessee Compared.”

Prior to that in September 2002 I renewed my acquaintance (after more than two decades) with the Republic of Benin in West Africa for a conference on African philosophy followed by a meeting of the International Council on Philosophical and Humanistic Studies or CIPSH (a branch of UNESCO), at which I had to represent the IAHR. Benin is a small and rather sleepy country compared to its powerful neighbor, Nigeria. However, it is renowned for its links with the Atlantic slave trade, as the origin of vodun worship, and for its metalworking arts. For some stunning photos click here.

I was lucky to have linked up with the International Study Commission on Media, Religion, and Culture, for they generously sponsored a Consultation that I coordinated, on Media and Religion in Africa.  It was held in May 2000 in Accra, Ghana and chiefly involved scholars who have been conducting research in Nigeria and Ghana--both lively places for indigenous media productions!  A number of local media specialists and practitioners also brought their valuable knowledge and lively views to the conference.  In addition to our discussion, we went on several field visits in Accra to International Central Gospel Church, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, JOY FM, Challenge Bookshop, and some local video stores.  Beyond Accra we visited the Akrofi-Christaller Research and Education Center in Akropong, the Royal Botanical Gardens in Aburi, and Kumasi--where we were graciously received by Ghana's renowned anthropologist bishop, Rt. Rev. Peter Sarpong (now Archbishop).