The Association for Africanist Anthropology is proud to announce the establishment of three new annual awards beginning in 2008. The submission deadline for all awards is May 15, 2008. The inaugural awards will be presented during the AfAA reception at the 2008 meetings of the American Anthropological Association (AAA). Thereafter, awards will be presented annually during the AfAA reception.

* Elliott P. Skinner Book Award
* AfAA Graduate Student Paper Award
* AfAA Undergraduate Student Paper Awards

Association for Africanist Anthropology (afAA) is sponsoring the Elliott P. Skinner Book Award. The prize will be awarded annually to the book that best furthers both the global community of Africanist scholars and the wider interests of the African continent as exemplified in the work of Elliott P. Skinner. Contributions from all sub-fields of anthropology are welcome, with special consideration given to works drawing upon extensive research in the field or those advancing new methodologies for fieldwork in Africa. Submissions should be sent to Betty Harris (bharris[@]ou.edu) or Bennetta Jules-Rosette (bjulesro[@]ucsd.edu). In determining the award, the following criteria will be applied:

1. Originality of scholarship, creativity of insight, and quality of writing.
2. Advancements to both field-based data and theoretical scholarship, with a focus upon contributions in the realms of fieldwork or service to Africa.
3. Visibility of the book in the fields of African studies and Africanist anthropology, or the clear potential of the book to become visible to these constituencies.
4. Clear potential for the book to reach an audience beyond the Africanist scholarly community or to promote the further understanding of sub-Saharan Africa for a broader audience.
5. The deadline for submission is May 15, 2008. Submissions should include a letter of nomination by a scholar other than the author, a copy of the nominated book, and a full C.V. of the author.
6. The year of publication for the nominated book shall not be earlier than 2006, and all award recipients must be members of the AfAA.
7. The Award consists of a $1,000 prize. Awardees will be recognized and receive their prize at the AfAA reception during the annual meetings of the AAA.

The Association for Africanist Anthropology (AfAA) is sponsoring an annual AfAA Graduate Student Paper Award. The prize will be awarded to the best graduate student paper in Africanist anthropology presented during the annual meetings of the AAA. Contributions from all sub-fields of anthropology are welcome. Special emphasis seeks to highlight emerging perspectives with promise to develop as a major contribution to the fields of Africanist anthropology, African studies, or African diaspora studies. Submissions should be sent to David Turkon (dturkon[@]ithaca.edu). In determining the award, the following criteria will be applied:

1. Originality of scholarship, creativity of insight, and quality of writing.
2. Clear potential for contribution to the fields of Africanist anthropology, African studies, or African diaspora studies. Special consideration will be given to work that incorporates emerging perspectives or interdisciplinary methodologies, which promote the further understanding of sub-Saharan Africa and the African diaspora by a broader audience.
3. Clear potential for continued innovative research, leading toward a dissertation or major publication on the part of the author.
4. The deadline for submission is May 15, 2008. Submissions should include a letter of nomination by a scholar other than the author, a copy of the nominated paper, and a full C.V. of the author.
5. Candidates must not have completed their PhD at the time of nomination, and all award recipients must be members of the AfAA.
6. The Award consists of a $500 prize. Awardees will be recognized and receive their prize at the AfAA reception during the annual meetings of the AAA.

The Association for Africanist Anthropology (AfAA) is sponsoring an annual AfAA Undergraduate Paper Award. The prize will be awarded to the best undergraduate paper in Africanist anthropology. Submissions should be sent to Nancy Schwartz (nancy.schwartz[@]csn.edu). In determining the award, the following criteria will be applied:

1. Originality of scholarship, creativity of insight, and quality of writing. A well-argued and innovative perspective on a current issue of concern to Africanist and African diaspora scholarship or to the issues facing Africa more generally.
2. Clear potential for supporting future research at the graduate level or beyond. Special consideration will be given to undergraduates planning to pursue a career in anthropology or in service and education on the African continent.
3. Original research involving primary materials or fieldwork is useful, but not essential for consideration.
4. The deadline for submission is May 15, 2008. Submissions should include a letter of nomination by an academic mentor and a copy of the student paper.
5. Candidates must not have completed their undergraduate studies at the time of nomination, and all award recipients must be members of the AfAA.
6. The Award consists of a $100 prize. Awardees will be recognized and receive their prize at the AfAA reception during the annual meetings of the AAA