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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "HS 392"
COURSE NAME: "Contemporary Africa"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2013
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Curtis Kenneth
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MTWTH 16:00-18:00
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Co-requisites: EN 110; Recommended: Junior Standing, One previous history course
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is an introduction to contemporary African history, focusing on the second half of the twentieth century and the situation today, with an emphasis on African voices. 

 

Major themes will include: a background to the political, economic, and social dynamics of colonial Africa; modes of African adjustment and resistance; the role of Africa and Africans in the Second World War; the age of national and independence; the problematic nature of post-colonial transitions; neo-liberalism in the post-Cold War era; and the rebirth of post-apartheid South Africa.  We will conclude by assessing recent trends, including both recent signs of economic vitality and democratic governance as well as the deep challenges to progress remaining in some parts of the continent. 

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The books and films are chosen to highlight African perspectives on this history: see below for descriptions.

Films:

 

Zan Boko

Released in 1988 and directed by Gaston Kaboré, Zan Boko (“the place where the placenta is buried”) from Burkina Faso exemplifies the vision of a new generation of African cinematic auteurs who benefited from French funding and the visibility afforded by the Pan-African Film Festival in Ouagadougou, founded in 1980.  Kaboré contrasts the ethical power of a Tinga, a village farmer representing the value of cultural tradition, with urban corruption.  What’s so great about “modernization”?

  

(continued)

Days of Glory / Camp de Thiaroye

We will view and discuss these two films in tandem, as they share a common background in African experiences of the Second World War; both are based on true stories.  Rachid Bouchareb’s “Days of Glory” (originally titled Indigènes, “Natives”) is an Algerian film which follows a group of Arab/Berber fighters to Europe where they play a central (if usually unacknowledged) role in the liberation of France.  On to top of all the physical and emotional difficulties faced by soldiers in these circumstances, they must also deal with complex questions of identity as Muslims in service to France.  What does “liberty” mean to them? 

 

Following to immediate post-war era, the great Senegalese novelist and film maker Ousmane Sembene dramatizes the tale of West African soldiers being demobilized after the war, and finding out that after their service in the name of “liberation” the French intend to deny them pensions, humiliate them, and remake as mere “natives.”  Their refusal to back down helped lay the foundation for the national independence in French West Africa.  Same question as for Days of Glory.

Lumumba

A Cold War tragedy: the United States undermines the newly-elected government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, emerging from Belgian colonialism, in an effort to keep it “safe from communism.”  Film maker Raoul Peck was a child in the Congo in 1960, son of a Haitian official for the United Nations, and his personal affection for Patrice Lumumba, the deposed and then murdered Prime Minister, shows clearly in this powerful film.  Was Lumumba a victim of circumstances, or responsible for his own downfall?

Mapantsula / Tsotsi

Two more films to discuss in tandem..  Mapantsula (“gangster” in Zulu) is the story of Panic, a petty thief in the days of apartheid in South Africa who gains political consciousness when he is thrown into jail.  The film was written and stars Thomas Mogotlane, and was directed by fellow South African Oliver Schmitz and was released in 1987 just as the apartheid system entered its final, violent death spasms.  “Tsotsi” (another South African word for gangster) was more recently adapted by Gavin Hood from a novel by the renowned South African playwright Athol Fugard.  This film, released in 2005, traverses some of the same ground, but in a post-apartheid setting.  Between 1987 and 2005, what had changed for Africans in the townships, and what had remained more or less the same?

 

Film Showings:  I will start the films during class time, but will retain the option of keeping you an extra hour on occasion to finish viewing them.  If you are unable to stay for the extra hour due to work responsibilities (for example) you will need to finish viewing them in the library, where I will deposit them after class.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
  • Demonstrate familiarity with the political and cultural map of Africa.
  • Explain the development of mass nationalism in Africa in the context of the Second World War and the Cold War.
  • Assess the factors which undermined the optimism of the early independence period.
  • Understand African historical events in global context.
  • Critically evaluate arguments concerning Africa’s current trajectory and place in the world, with reference to current events.
  • Learn to incorporate African perspectives into your understanding of the continent, and learn tools to maintain current  in your knowledge of African events
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Season of Rains: Africa in the World Stephen Ellisxx A prominent historian finds balance between the “Afro-pessimism” and “African Renaissance” schools of thinking about the continent. We will evaluate his arguments with reference to current events: useful electronic sources include www.allafrica.com – www.bbc.co.uk/africa - http://www.economist.com/world/middle-east-africa - http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/ You may also search online for newspapers from individual countries, e.g. “Nigeria newspapers.” For this assignment you may wish to focus on a particular country or region, or choose articles from across the continent relevant to Ellis’ themes.    
A Grain of WheatNgugi wa Thiong’oxx Set in the fertile highlands of central Kenya just after World War II, Ngugi’s novel explores the divisions building within African society; some Kikuyu choose to take up arms against the white settlers while others while others take advantage of the State of Emergency for personal profit. What does “independence” mean, and who will benefit?   
UnbowedWangari Maathaixx Unbowed is the autobiography of the late Kenyan biologist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. As part of the “Kenya Airlift” sponsored by the U.S. government in 1963, Maathai came to the United States for college. Returning to a now independent Kenya as a married woman and university professor, she could have been comfortable as a member of the country’s new English-speaking African elite. Instead, Dr. Maathai chose to challenge the inequality and gender discrimination of her nation’s political and economic system. Her “Green Belt Movement,” focused on women’s empowerment through the planting of trees, and became an international model of grassroots activism.   
Colonial Africa, 1884-1994Dennis Laumannxx A concise introduction from the carving up of Africa at the Berlin Conference to the election of Nelson Mandela as President of a democratic, non-racial South Africa   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Class Attendance and Active Participation Students are expected to have finished the day’s reading for each class session and come prepared to discuss them. Reading, analysis, and discussion of the primary sources in the Worger text will be an important component of the participation grade.20%
Film Responses For any four (of the six) films we will watch, you will respond electronically to posted questions prior to our discussion of that film.25%
Season of Rains + Current Events Each student will write TWO 4-5 page critical analyses of chapters from Stephen Ellis’ book. You will be assigned one chapter from 2-5; every student will write on Chapter 6 (in fulfillment of the final exam requirement.) Each essay will incorporate at least four relevant current events articles; students will present their analyses to the class.30%
Book Paper You will write a 6-8 page paper on either the novel A Grain of Wheat or the memoir Unbowed. These papers will be submitted electronically prior to the class at which we will discuss them.25%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
TBA
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

*Other readings to be distributed are marked with an asterisk in the course schedule.

5/20

 

 

                 Course Introduction: The Deeper Past and Current Events

5/21                 The 19th Century: African Modernities / Economics of Colonialism

                                    Laumann: Introduction and Chapter 1: “Economics of Colonialism”

                                    *The Complaint of Muhammad al-Kanemi

                                   

5/22                 Violence: Scramble for Africa and the First World War / Film: Zan Boko

 

                                    *Curtis and Hansen, Voyages in World History, Chapter 26

                                    *W.E.B. DBois, from The Negro (1915), pp. 232-242

 

5/23                 Film Discussion / Season of Rains + Current Events

 

                                    Ellis: Chapter 1 + current events gathering as assigned

 

 

 

5/27                 Colonialism and its Critics

                                    Laumann, Chapter 2: “Administration”

                                    *Harry Thuku: Autobiography, 1970, extracted in Worger

 

5/28                 Colonial Ideologies / Film: Days of Glory

                                    Laumann, Chapter 3: “Violence”

5/29:                World War II / Film: Camp de Thiaroye

                                    *Waruhiu Itote: Mau Mau General, extracted in Worger

5/30                 Film Discussion / Land and Freedom in Kenya

                                    *”Jomo Kenyatta in Court” and “Mau Mau’s Daughter” (extracted in Worger)

                       

6/3                   Uhuru: Negotiations / Film: Lumumba

                                    Laumann, Chapter 5: “Liberation”

                                   

6/4                   Discussion: Lumumba / Uhuru and National Liberation

                                    *Frantz Fanon: “The Pitfalls of National Consciousness”

                                    *Julius Nyerere: “Writing on Ujamaa”

                                    *Amilcal Cabral: “Is Neocolonialism Rationalized Imperialism?”

                                   

6/5                   Struggles at Independence

                                    *Achebe: A Man of the People (extracts)

                                    *Proclamation of the Republic of Biafra

6/6                   Discussion: A Grain of Wheat (papers due)

                        Ngugi: A Grain of Wheat

6/10                 Season of Rains + Current Events / Film: Mapantsula

                        Ellis: Chapter 2

 

6/11                 Film Discussion / Apartheid South Africa

6/12                 Season of Rains + Current Events

                        Ellis: Chapter 3

 

6/13                 Season of Rains + Current Events

                        Ellis: Chapter 4

 

 

6/17                 Gender in Africa / Discussion: Unbowed

                        Maathai: Unbowed (papers due)

 

6/18                 Season of Rains + Current Events / Film: Tsotsi

                        Ellis: Chapter 5

6/19                 Film Discussion / Ending Apartheid

6/20                 Christianity and Islam in Africa

6/21                 Exam Period: Season of Rains + Current Events Discussion

                        Ellis: Chapter 6