The American Historical Association
Announces
The Martin A. Klein Prize in African History
for 2011
The Martin A. Klein Prize in African History will recognize the most distinguished work of scholarship on African history published in English during the previous calendar year. The books must focus primarily on continental Africa (including those islands usually treated as countries of Africa). Eligibility will otherwise be defined quite broadly, to include books on any period of African history and from any disciplinary field that incorporates an historical perspective. In making its selection, the prize committee will pay particular attention to methodological innovation, conceptual originality and literary excellence. Works that reinterpret old themes or develop new theoretical perspectives are welcome.
The prize is named for Martin A. Klein, who is currently professor of history at the University of Toronto. Funding for the prize was completed thanks to a substantial donation from Dr. Mougo Nyaggah of California State University at Fullerton and his wife Dr. Lynette Nyaggah. Mougo Nyaggah was Klein's first graduate student at the University of California Berkeley. Nyaggah credits the completion of his doctorate to Klein's mentoring, guidance, enthusiasm, and commitment to the research and teaching of African history. He observed that, "There are many Martins who have or will mentor and inspire many Africanist students in American universities. Those mentors will be honored by this prize for their human and scholarly contribution."
Books may be submitted by authors or publishers, by sending one copy to each of the members of the committee. Anthologies, encyclopedias and other edited volumes will not be considered.
The selection committee will be comprised of three members. To assure a wide consideration of all periods of African history, the Committee on Committees should include at least one specialist in the pre-colonial period of African history.
Books published between May 1, 2010, and April 30, 2011, are eligible for the 2011 award.
Contact information for judges will be posted by March 30
Please Note: The deadline for submission of entries is Monday, May 16, 2011. Entries will not be returned. Recipients will be announced at the January 5-8, 2012 AHA Annual Meeting in Chicago.
IMPORTANT! EACH ENTRY MUST BE CLEARLY LABELED "Klein AWARD ENTRY."
For questions, please contact the Book Prize Administrator, or write to the AHA at the following address
(please note that prize entries are not mailed to the AHA; rather, to committee members):
American Historical Association, 400 A St., SE Washington, D.C. 20003-3889
