Francophone ACP Research Group

(Francophone Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific)

Francophone ACP Research Group

The University of Westminster Francophone ACP Research Group is a focus for the study of the interface between France and French language, culture and politics, and the French-speaking parts of Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Members currently have an active research interest in visual culture, especially the filmic production of filmmakers originating from Francophone sub-Saharan Africa.

The research carried out by staff underpins the teaching programme at Undergraduate level.

International links

We have links with the international community of scholars in Francophone studies and we coordinate a student exchange programme with the Universities of Antilles-Guyane and La Réunion.

Transcultural Visions

The Francophone ACP Research Group edits and publishes a bi-annual academic journal, the Bulletin of Francophone Africa, which first appeared in April 1992; together with occasional papers or conference proceedings, starting with Rwanda: Perspectives, in Summer 1997. The Bulletin contains articles and reviews on literary, cultural, social, political and economic issues relevant to our geographical focus, as well as to Francophone immigrant communities in France. We are also the editors of the Francophone Africa/Maghreb chapter for The Year's Work in Modern Languages.

Seminars, conferences and lectures

We have organised a number of research events over the years. Our latest series of seminars was entitled Shifting Trends in the new century, with speakers ranging from Frances Robinson (Dow Jones, Brussels) on the Euro; Marina Lewycka , author of A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (2005), on the Ukrainian community in the UK; Professor Brendan Simms (Perhouse, Cambridge) on Bosnia, Iraq and the Lessons of Intervention; Dr Emmanuel Godin (Portsmouth University) on the Extreme Right movements in Europe; Professor Margaret Majumdar (Portsmouth University) on the Changing Face of India; and Jean-François Bayart (Institut d’Etudes Politiques, Paris) on postcolonial studies.

Members of the Francophone ACP Research Group

Maryse Bray: The relationships between France and the DOM-TOMs and her ex-colonies in sub-Saharan Africa; film and image

Dr Hélène Gill: Francophone film; representations of Empire; Postcolonialism; Orientalism

Professor Debra Kelly: Autobiography in North African writing in French

Dr Laurence Randall: sub-Saharan Africa, specialising in cultural production in Cameroon (Literature, Theatre and Cinema)

University of Westminster
309 Regent Street
London
W1B 2UW, UK

T: (+44)(0)20-7911-5000 extension 69151

Further contact details:

Maryse Bray
E: M.Bray@westminster.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 69093

Dr Hélène Gill
E : gillh@westminster.ac.uk 
T : +44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 69094

Professor Debra Kelly
E: kellyd@westminster.ac.uk
T: +44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 2321

Dr Laurence Randall
E: L.L.Randall@westminster.ac.uk 
T: +44 (0)20 7911 5000 ext 69151