NEWS RELEASE
May 6, 2010
MIDDFEST INTERNATIONAL TO SPONSOR TALK BY UNIVERSITY OF BOTSWANA SCHOLAR WITH OHIO ROOTS AS PART OF YEARLONG FOCUS ON THE AFRICAN NATION
Middletown, OH - As part of its October 2010 celebration of the southern African country of Botswana, Middfest International will present Dr. Fred Morton, Professor of History at the University of Botswana, for a discussion entitled "Botswana: Different in Africa? Conservation, Governance and Race" at the Miami University Voice of America Learning Center at 7 pm on Thursday, May 13.
Dr. Morton, a native of Vandalia, Ohio, has lived, taught and conducted research in Botswana, Nigeria and Kenya over a thirty-year period. He received his M.A. from Ohio State University and Ph.D. from Syracuse University. His interest in history includes East and Southern African history, African-American history and the history of slavery in Africa.
Botswana is considered one of Africa's most stable nations. It is the African continent's longest running democracy, and as the world's largest producer of diamonds, the country enjoys relative prosperity. Botswana is also home to some of Africa's largest wilderness preserves and has successfully marketed high-end safari-based tourism.
In addition to two appointments to the University of Botswana, Dr. Morton has taught at SUNY Plattsburgh and Loras College in Iowa. He has received numerous research grants including one from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Frequently published, his books include, The Historical Dictionary of Botswana; The Birth of Botswana: The History of the Bechuanaland Protectorate; When Rustling Became an Art: Pilane's Kgatla and The Transvaal Frontier; and The Collapse of Apartheid and the Dawn of Democracy in South Africa.
Dr. Morton's son Barry Morton, Ph.D., who lives and teaches in Crawfordsville, Indiana, spoke to Middfest International on April 22, 2010 at the Earth Day Celebration/Volunteer Orientation about his experiences growing up in Botswana.
The May 13 program is hosted by the Community and Alumni Network of the Miami University Voice of America Learning Center and is made possible by a generous grant to Middfest International from the Ohio Humanities Council. The Foreign Policy Leadership Council of Greater Cincinnati is a Marketing Sponsor.
This event is free and open to the public and is part of a yearlong effort by Middfest to educate the public on the culture of its 2010 featured country, Botswana. Middfest's 2010 Celebration will be held October 1, 2 and 3 in and around Middletown's Donham Plaza. See Middfest International's website www.middfest.com for additional details and directions.
For media inquiries, please contact Christina Papakirk, christina.papakirk@gmail.com, 513-460-6647
Middfest International is a premier cultural event that celebrates a different country each year through a wide range of programs in the arts, culture and business. These programs culminate annually on the first weekend of October in and around the Middletown City Building on Donham Plaza in Middletown, Ohio, USA when the featured country is showcased with live entertainment, food, art exhibits, lectures, movies, children’s programs, sports, a business conference, and much more. Botswana is the featured country October 1, 2 & 3, 2010. For more information , visit our website www.middfest.com, become a fan on Facebook, or contact Middfest Executive Director Virginia Ritan at 513-425-7707 or email middfest@siscom.net.
