Apart from the plenary address, 13 papers were read on various aspects of translation in the African context. Papers addresses the following topics:

• translation and information – Umaru Kiro Kalgo
• translation and responsibility – Caroline Mangerel
• news translation and methodology – Marlie van Rooyen
• the representation of African in translation studies – Mwamba Chibamba
• orality and Bible translation – Tshokolo Makutuane, Jackie Naudé & Cynthia Miller-Naudé
• the role of silence in Swahili translation – Serena Talento
• the interpretive theory of translation – Ebenezer Tedyoung
• Bourdieu and language practice in Africa – Felix Awung
• translation, sociology and semiotics – Kobus Marais
• revision and translation – Michael Ngongeh Mombe & Rit Ochuko Mebitaghan
• translation and sustainable development – Nwanne Felix-Emeribe
• translation and nationhood – Francis Ajayi
• translation and democratic governance – Mariam Birma

The plenary by Paul Bandia focussed on the problem of postcolonialism itself, arguing that whilst the postcolony remains a historical given and an influence in Africa, African thinkers and writers are now turning their minds to the current problems of Africa. Thirty years ago, writers may have written about the influences of colonisation, but they are now focussing their attention on matters such as class differences in African society, urbanisation and corruption. Bandia's argument was that translation studies scholars in Africa should take their lead from this – thinking about the post-postcolony.

All presentations were followed by questions and debate, which spilled over into lunch and tea times. In particular, the closing session by Bandia in which he reflected on the papers and the state of the discipline in Africa was extremely fruitful. He commented on the rich data (wealth of languages) in Africa, the fact that translation matters in Africa, the wide variety of topics discussed, the role of language labourers in Africa, the collegiality at the meeting and the need for translation studies scholars to focus on the current real-life issues in Africa.

The meeting closed with a decision to found an association for translation and interpreting studies in Africa. The organisers of the SSTSA and the IATIS Regional Workshop will attend to this matter shortly.