Ofosuwa M Abiola, Ph.D. | Howard University (original) (raw)
Dr. Ofosuwa M. Abiola is the inaugural Associate Dean of Research and Creative Endeavors and Associate Professor of Africana Dance History, in the Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts at Howard University. Abiola received her PhD in African History from Howard University with a specialization in the history of African and African Diaspora (Africana) dance and culture. Abiola's research interests include the history of traditional dance in Africa; research paradigms in Africana dance history; the history of the African dance aesthetic; and the intersection of history, dance, identity and activism. Her research also seeks to underscore Africana dance narratives and their capacity to immerse all who engage them in the worldview of peoples of African descent, and their global collective experiences.
Abiola's latest book publication is titled, "Afrikinesis: A Paradigm for Research on African and African Diaspora Dance." Additional book publications include, "Fire Under My Feet: History, Race & Agency in African Diaspora Dance;" "History Dances: Chronicling the History of Traditional Mandinka Dance;" a short-form documentary visual companion to it titled, "History Dances: African Dance Systems as Methodologies;" and an introductory textbook for undergraduate students, "Historical Perspectives on Dance in Africa." Other book projects are works in progress and include, "Unwitting Witnesses: Unearthing Narratives of African Dance in Pre-Colonial Logs" and "Voiceless Shouts: Danced Conversations on Women, Identity, and Activism in Africa and her Diaspora." Abiola founded the peer-reviewed digital journal, "Evoke: A Historical, Theoretical, and Cultural Analysis of Africana Dance and Theatre." Evoke has a global readership and attracted nearly one thousand readers within the first year of publication.
Abiola received numerous grants, awards and fellowships from national and international institutions including: the Outstanding Dance Education Researcher Award from the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO); the Mary Ellen Multi-Country Research Award; the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship (NEH); the Council of American Overseas Research Centers Fellowship (CAORC); Department of Education grant; U.S. Department of State grant; Howard University’s Deans Cabinet Award; the Outstanding Student Advisement Award (HU Office of Research Development); Howard University Research Grant; an Outstanding Assistant Professor Award; and the George H. Bennett Fellowship; among others. In addition to the NEH fellowship, Abiola was also awarded a grant from NEH to establish an Africana Theatre and Dance Collection in Howard University's historic Founder's Library. During her summer tenure as Archivist for the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts, Abiola established their first archival system.
Abiola was invited to Recife, Brazil, by the U.S. State Department to mount her African dance ballet, RITES, and to be a speaker in the International Cultural Summit in Brazil, hosted by a joint venture of the U.S. Consulate in Brazil and the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC, to facilitate the launch of the Smithsonian's first International Engagement Program.
She was featured on ABC's Good Morning Washington, in the Afro-American Newspaper, and on the American Historical Association's (AHA) Perspectives on History as a Spotlight Scholar among others.
Dr. Abiola founded and served as Director of the international conference, The Nankama African Dance Conference, where participants and presenters from Africa, the African Diaspora, the US, and representatives from the US State Department attended.
Phone: (202) 806-6218
Address: Howard University
Chadwick A. Boseman College of Fine Arts
Office: Graduate School, 4th and College Streets, Rm. 104
Washington, DC 20059
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