NDUKA Otiono, a Nigerian-Canadian academic and former journalist at The Guardian newspaper, has been appointed Faculty Advisor on Anti-Black Racism at Carleton University, Canada.
According to publication on the institution’s website, the appointment takes effect on July 1.
Prof Otion, who was recently named Director at the university’s institute of African studies, will be joined by Audra A. Diptée (History).
“As part of Carleton’s commitment to implement the Scarborough Charter, and in support of building faculty-specific initiatives, we are truly pleased to appoint Profs. Audra A. Diptée (History) and Nduka Otiono (African Studies) as Faculty Advisors on Anti-Black Racism and Black Inclusion, effective July 1, 2022,” the statement said.
“Profs. Diptée and Otiono will collaborate with senior leaders on initiatives such as: increasing Black representation, particularly among faculty ranks; fostering a sense of belonging and supporting Black student excellence; enhancing Black Studies curriculum and pedagogy; and increasing training opportunities against anti-Black racism for members of the Carleton community.
“Prof. Audra Diptée is an associate professor in the Department of History whose research focuses on Africa and the Caribbean, slavery and race relations; critical applied history and historical consciousness; children and childhood; race, power, memory and identity in Global South contexts. She is also the coordinator of Carleton’s Latin American and Caribbean Studies program.
“Prof. Nduka Otiono is an associate professor and graduate program coordinator in the Institute of African Studies whose interdisciplinary research focuses on popular urban narratives in postcolonial Africa and how they travel across multiple popular cultural platforms such as the news media, film, popular music and social media. Effective July 1, 2022, he will also begin a term as director of the Institute of African Studies”.
According to his profile on the university’s website, Otiono is a “writer, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Coordinator at the Institute of African Studies, Carleton University”.
“He is the author and co-editor of eight books of creative writing and academic research. Prior to turning to academia, he was for many years a journalist in Nigeria, General Secretary of Association of Nigerian Authors, founding member of the Nigerian chapter of UNESCO’s Committee on Oral and Intangible Cultural Heritage, and founding member of the Board of the $100,000 annual Nigerian Prize for Literature,” the profile reads.
“A Fellow of the William Joiner Centre for War and Social Consequences, University of Massachusetts, Boston, his interdisciplinary research focuses on popular urban narratives in postcolonial Africa, and how they travel across multiple popular cultural platforms such as the news media, film, popular music, and social media.
“Beyond the cultural relevance of such little genres of everyday life also known as rumours, urban myths or legends, Otiono explores their political relevance and incarnation as “street stories” and how everyday people speak to power through such informal channels. His research draws from his background as a journalist and cultural activist in Nigeria.
“His research interests span Cultural Studies, Oral Performance and Literature in Africa, Postcolonial Studies, Media and Communication Studies, Globalization and Popular Culture.”
