School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, PAU, Lagos, has been selected by the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Programme (CADFP) to host a scholar from the United States to work with on a collaborative project to build an oral history database for the Nollywood Studies Centre.

The Pan-Atlantic University project is one of 63 projects that will pair African Diaspora scholars with higher education institutions and collaborators in Africa to work together on curriculum co-development, collaborative research, graduate training and mentoring activities in the coming months.

A statement by PAU noted that Dr Ikechukwu Obiaya will lead the Project, together with Dr Aje-Ori Agbese from University of Texas-Pan American.

It added that “the project involves a collaboration to conduct research, using the oral history method, for PAU’s Nollywood Studies Centre.

“Oral histories, which involve collecting people’s memories and perceptions of a period through interviews, allow researchers to understand cultural events.

“The fellow will interview several notable actors, directors, producers and more for a database on Nollywood.

“The database will contribute to the Centre’s goal of encouraging and supporting research to increase an understanding of Nollywood’s messages, impacts, prospects and challenges.”

The statement added that CADFP develops long-term, mutually-beneficial collaborations between universities in Africa and the United States and Canada.

It is funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York and managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE) in collaboration with the Association of African Universities (AAU).

Fellowships match host universities with African-born scholars for project visits of between 14 and 90 days.