NDI-ICHIE CULTURAL ASSOCIATION 2^ND ANNUAL IGBO CULTURE, LANGUAGE, AND COMMUNICATION CONFERENCE (ICLC)

Crowne Plaza Houston Medical Center Galleria Area,  2712 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas, 77098 USA

Theme: “Omenala Na Isu Asusu Igbo:  Igbo Language Heritage: Communication, Representation and Preservation”

The Ndi-Ichie Cultural Association (NICA) specially invites scholars, students, and professionals in Nigeria and in the diaspora, whose research interests cover any of the areas of Igbo studies, to submit their abstracts for its 2nd Annual Igbo Culture, Language, and Communication Conference (ICLC). Your research interests are not just welcome, but integral to the success

of this conference, to be held at the Crowne Plaza Houston (Near Sugar Land), 9090 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas, USA, on November 8-9, 2024.

The conference and the Igbo Cultural Festival (IgboFest Houston) will be held on November 89, 2024. Conference: Friday, November 8 from 6pm -10pm. The IgboFest Houston will begin on the afternoon of Saturday, November 9 from 2pm -10 pm.

The inaugural conference theme, “Omenala Na Isu Asusu Igbo: Igbo Language Heritage: Communication, Representation and Preservation”, is not just a title, but a call to action. It underscores the vital role of cultural literacy and language diversity in the face of an increasingly polarizing globalism.  Furthermore, it focuses on initiatives to develop a global vision plan, enabling the teaching and speaking of Igbo language, thereby highlighting the significance and relevance of your research interests, which are integral to our mission.   

The Igbo language, classified by the United Nations agency UNESCO as “Definitely Endangered”, is a pressing issue that demands our immediate attention. The fact that “children no longer learn the language as mother tongue in the home” is a call to action. UNESCO’s Atlas of the World’s Languages in Danger aims to raise awareness about language endangerment and the imperative to safeguard the world’s linguistic diversity.   The 2nd Annual Igbo Culture, Language, and Communication Conference is not just a platform for sharing knowledge, but a collaborative space for all stakeholders. It is a space where everyone’s voice is heard, providing opportunities for interdisciplinary dialogue on topics such as Igbo cultural and linguistic viability and preservation strategies.  The conference and workshops will collate collaborative facilities for all stakeholders to access and share their own data on linguistic diversity, information about good practices, existing language teaching and learning solutions, and host user-generated content, making you an integral part of the solution. 

Please submit an abstract of 250-300 words focusing on topics including (but not limited to) the following subject areas:

• Language and Communication in a Globalized World
• Language Contact, Endangerment, and Preservation
• Christianity, Igbo Traditional Religion and Islamization
• Diaspora Igbo and Multiculturalism
• History, Literature and Folklore
• Parenting, Family Obligation and Children’s Rights
• Igbo Diaspora, Culture Literacy and Essentialism
• Language Contact, Endangerment, and Preservation
• Leadership and Governance
• Music, Visual Arts and Film
• Nollywood, Igbo Culture, Values and Westernization
• Religion and Beliefs
• Social Media, Engagement, and Activism
• Translation, Teaching/Learning Igbo as a Second/Foreign Language
• Women’s Empowerment and Patriarchy

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING AN ABSTRACT

An abstract of 250-300 words, prepared in MS-Word, must be submitted by email: abstracts.iclc@gmail.com or online through the IgboFest Houston website.   The abstract should include the title of your proposed paper, poster, panel, or round table, your motivation for proposing the work, thesis or hypothesis, theoretical framework, references, and projected conclusions. It should also include your full name, current status, and institutional affiliation, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address.

ACCEPTANCE  

If your abstract is accepted, you will be notified in writing by the ICLC Conference Committee with information on how to pay a non–refundable membership fee of $50.00 (paid in advance) and, later, a conference registration fee that will permit you to present your paper at the conference.

DEADLINES AND NOTIFICATION

• The deadline for abstract submission is September 30, 2024.
• The completed paper is due by October 12, 2024; you may write in Igbo or English.
• Selected papers will be considered for publication in a post-conference edited volume.

Send abstract to: ICLC.Conference.info@gmail.com

For more information, please visit the ICLC website at http://www.IgboFestHouston.org;  http://www.iclc.org.

For more inquiries, please contact the Program Chair/Directors:

High Chief Ichie Anaeto Okakpu: 832-377-1101

Isi-Ichie Alex Chiaghana: 281-808-5548

Ichie Sylvan Odobulu: 713-855-6781

Ichie Dr. Pauly Enwere: 832-282-0862 Conference Email: iclc.conference.info@admin