Draft:Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Lagos (CEDHUL)
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Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Lagos (CEDHUL)
[edit]The Centre for Digital Humanities, University of Lagos (CEDHUL), is a pioneering research and educational hub dedicated to integrating digital technologies with the humanities. Established in 2015, it is the first fully-fledged, stand-alone digital humanities centre in Africa. The Centre seeks to redefine traditional humanities disciplines, foster interdisciplinary research, and promote the use of digital tools to address societal challenges. CEDHUL stands at the forefront of innovation in digital humanities, driving transformative scholarship and cultivating the next generation of digitally skilled researchers and practitioners.
History and Development
[edit]CEDHUL was established in response to the pressing need for digital humanities research and learning in Africa and the growing demand to equip scholars in the human sciences with digital skills. Its origins trace back to 2015 when Professor Babatunde Ope-Davies, inspired by his fellowship experience in Germany under the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, initiated a small research unit focused on integrating computational tools into humanities scholarship..[1] With essential research equipment donated by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Nigeria's first Digital Humanities Laboratory was launched at the University of Lagos.[2]
In 2019, this vision culminated in the formal establishment of CEDHUL, which has since become a cornerstone for digital humanities in Africa. The Centre has spearheaded international collaborations, capacity-building programs, and innovative research projects, serving as a leading interdisciplinary research and academic unit in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.[3]
Objectives and Goals
[edit]CEDHUL promotes the use of computer methodologies and digital tools for innovative interdisciplinary research across the humanities and liberal sciences, encompassing fields such as history, linguistics, literature, philosophy, religion, law, economics, political science, and more. The Centre provides a digital research environment (DRE) that fosters technology-driven approaches to investigating humanistic phenomena while integrating computer-based insights into the realities of human society.[4] To achieve these goals, CEDHUL organizes summer schools, workshops, seminars, and conferences aimed at raising and equipping a new generation of digitally skilled scholars and researchers in the humanities and social sciences.[5] These activities also demonstrate the usefulness of computer methodologies in humanistic studies and generate ideas to disseminate research outcomes that benefit society at large.
The Centre is committed to enhancing the employability of humanities graduates by equipping them with essential digital skills needed to thrive in the global job market.[6] By leveraging its interdisciplinary approach and fostering collaborations, CEDHUL is positioned to lead the advancement of digital humanities in Africa and beyond. The Centre envisions a future where digital humanities reshape the African humanities landscape. Through the adoption of computational tools and innovative strategies, CEDHUL aims to create new academic and research value chains that address pressing societal challenges.[7]
Upcoming initiatives include expanding academic offerings to introduce undergraduate programs, developing innovative digital tools for humanities research, and building stronger networks with institutions throughout Africa and beyond.[8]
Governance and Leadership
[edit]CEDHUL is led by its visionary founder and director, Professor Babatunde Ope-Davies, a renowned scholar in digital linguistics, digital cultures, and discourse studies. His dedication to advancing digital humanities in Africa has earned him international recognition and numerous invitations to speak at global conferences.
The governance structure includes a team of experienced researchers and specialists:
- Dr. Mojisola Shodipe: Leads the New Media & Society Cluster.
- Dr. Abayomi Awelewa: Heads the Digital Literature & Society Cluster.
- Dr. Ayodeji Adedara: Oversees the Digital Political Discourse Cluster.
- Dr. Peter Oni: Directs the African Cultures & Epistemology Cluster.
- Dr. Friday Aworawo: Focuses on Digital History & Cultural Heritage Cluster.
The centre also have supporting staff include ICT officers and research assistants who ensure the smooth operation of CEDHUL’s digital infrastructure[9]
Research Focus and Key Projects
[edit]CEDHUL conducts cutting-edge research that bridges the gap between traditional humanities and modern digital methodologies. Its research spans multiple clusters, emphasizing themes such as digital cultures, political discourse, and African epistemologies. Notable projects include:
- Lit-Tech Lagos: A digital exploration of Lagos as portrayed in literary texts. Using tools like AntConc, the project examines the city's representation in works like Chinua Achebe’s No Longer At Ease.[10]
- Corpus of Nigeria New Media Discourse in English (CONNMDE): A repository documenting Nigeria's evolving media landscape.[11]
- CEDHUL- NIG-MUSEUMS MAP: A Project aimed with the objective of visualising Nigerians museums and monumental places using Google map that displays, the address, location coordinates, images, contact details and a video of the museum to provide a easy directory of these cultural heritage centres in Nigeria.[12]
The Centre is also at the forefront of developing a Digital Research Infrastructure (DRI) to facilitate seamless data access and collaboration among researchers.
Academic Programs
[edit]CEDHUL offers comprehensive academic programs aimed at equipping students with skills to use digital tools in humanities research and practice. Programs include:
- PhD, MPhil, and Master’s Programs in Digital Humanities: These programs provide advanced training in computational methods and their application to humanities scholarship.
- Diploma and Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Humanities: Designed for students and professionals seeking foundational knowledge in the field.
- Lagos Summer School in Digital Humanities (LSSDH): An intensive annual program offering practical training in digital tools and methodologies.
Future plans include the introduction of undergraduate programs in digital humanities to expand the Centre's impact.
Events and Capacity Building
[edit]CEDHUL organizes a variety of events to promote digital humanities and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. These events include:
- Annual Lagos Summer School in Digital Humanities: A flagship program that has attracted participants from Nigeria and other African nations. International experts frequently serve as facilitators, sharing insights and best practices.[13]
- Digital Humanities Workshop and Conference: A platform for scholars to discuss the latest advancements in the field and explore practical applications of digital technologies.[14]
Partnerships and Global Engagement
[edit]CEDHUL actively collaborates with global institutions to advance digital humanities research and training. Notable partnerships include:
- Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany: Providing foundational support and equipment.[15]
- University of Cologne, Germany: Jointly organizing training and research programs.[16]
- University of Verona, Italy: Collaborating on a five-year research project on digital and inclusive humanities.[17]
- The centre currently has an MOU agreement with these partnering universities and agencies including; the University of Lethbridge, Technische Universität Chemnitz, Université de Bourgogne, Anchor University, The University of Kansas, Intermarc Consulting, Topfingers Nigeria Limited, and African Electronic Literature Alliance & African Diasporic Electronic Literature (AELA & ADELI).
CEDHUL is also a founding member of the Network for Digital Humanities in Africa, a regional initiative to promote the discipline across the continent.
Publications and Scholarly Contributions
[edit]The Centre’s researchers have produced influential works in digital humanities, addressing topics such as digital cultures, media discourse, and computational text analysis. Key publications include:
- Ope-Davies, T. (2022). The Digital Humanities as a Framework for Refining and Retooling the Humanities in Africa.
- Ope-Davies, T. (2021). Digitizing Humanities Research in Nigeria: Local Initiatives.
John, H. C., & Awelewa, A. O. (2024). Migration and Literature: A Comparative Study of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Ben Okri in Digital Humanities. Multilingual African Digital Semiotics & E-Lit Journal (MADSEJ), 1(2), 51–62. https://madsej.africanelit.org/index.php/madsej/article/view/15/29
References
[edit]- ^ "Bot Verification". www.cedhul.com.ng. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ "CENTRE_FOR_DIGITAL_HUMANITIES-_OUR_JOURNEY_SO_FAR-_1.pptx". SlideShare. 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ Prof. Ope-Davies, Tunde (18 February 2023). "How and why I started Digital Humanities in Nigeria". The Sun Nigeria.
- ^ "Bot Verification". www.cedhul.com.ng. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ UNILAG Communication Unit (August 9, 2024). "CEDHUL Begins 2024 Digital Humanities Workshop & Conference, Aug 13". UNILAG Communication Unit. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ Okamgba, Justice (2024-08-27). "CEDHUL empowers humanities students with digital skills". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ "LitTech-Lagos 1.0". StoryMapJS. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ Uyo, Bassey Anthony (2024-08-15). "Digital humanities can transform classrooms, empower students - Adegbenro". The Nation Newspaper. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ "Bot Verification". www.cedhul.com.ng. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ "LitTech-Lagos 1.0". StoryMapJS. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ "Bot Verification" (PDF). www.cedhul.com.ng. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ "CEDHUL- NIG-MUSEUMS MAP". Google My Maps. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ "Sanwo-Olu To Flag Off 3rd Lagos Summer School In Digital Humanities – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". 2021-05-06. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ Unit, 狼友社区 Communication (2024-08-09). "CEDHUL Begins 2024 Digital Humanities Workshop & Conference, Aug 13". 狼友社区. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ "Wayback Machine" (PDF). research.unilag.edu.ng. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-04-14. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ Unit, UNILAG Communication (2021-03-12). "CEDHUL Wins Volkswagen Grant for 3rd Lagos Summer School in Digital Humanities - University of Lagos". University of Lagos. Retrieved 2024-12-11.
- ^ Unit, UNILAG Communication (2023-05-08). "UNILAG Centre for Digital Humanities Wins Joint Grant - University of Lagos". University of Lagos. Retrieved 2024-12-11.