THIBODAUX — Nicholls State University invites students and community members to explore Muslim life through its new collection of books, movies and a lecture series.
Ellender Memorial Library and the Thibodaux Branch Library present the National Endowment for the Humanities program “Muslim Journeys.”
The project aims to present the American public with resources representing a diverse perspective on the people, places, histories, beliefs, practices and cultures of Muslims in the United States and around the world. As a part of the program, the Ellender Memorial Library will receive 25 books, three films and a year-long subscription to the Oxford Islamic Studies Online program.
To kick off “Muslim Journeys,” two Louisiana scholars will give presentations on Muslim issues.
“Women, Islam, Family & Agency in West Africa,” a presentation by Dr. Adeline Masquelier, professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology at Tulane University, will be held at 1:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 18, in Peltier Auditorium.
Masquelier has been conducting research in Niger, West Africa since 1988 and has authored two books on Nigerien culture and history. Her second book, “Women and Islamic Revival in a West African Town,” received the 2010 Herskovits Prize for best scholarly work on Africa and the 2012 Aidoo-Snyder Price for best scholarly book about African women.
“Forging Pakistan: Iqbal, Jinnah and Muslim National Identity,” a presentation by Dr. Kurt Siegler, an assistant professor in the Nicholls Department of History and Geography, will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1 in Peltier Auditorium.
Stiegler has researched and published on U.S.-Pakistan security relations. In 1991, Stiegler conducted research in Pakistan under an American Institute of Pakistan Studies grant.
To learn more, visit the program website at bridgingcultures.neh.gov/muslimjourneys.
