Themes in African History and Culture

GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY Themes in African History and Culture October 7, 2009- February 3, 2010 Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m. – 7:10 p.m. Sterling Campus

Instructor: Sheba Kane Lo, Ph.D.

Contact Information: [email protected] 815-301-6707 voice mail Office Hours: Wednesdays, 7:10-8:10 p.m.

Texts: 1. Niane, D.T. (1995). Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. Harlow, England: Longman Publishing Group. 2. Additional readings will be provided by the instructor and available through the George Mason University library system.

Course Description: This course is as an introduction to cultural themes of Africa with a historical perspective. Themes are presented through literature (oral, written and film) in order to provide a space for a discussion of the material and its interpretation. The shift in cultural practices is examined vis-à-vis contact with external forces and the passage of time. Women are explored as agents in the conversation with traditional values and the re-shaping of their roles in society. Finally, African ingenuity and responses to economic constraints are discussed in order to frame a more balanced view of Africa and African issues than generally presented in the media.

Course Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, one will be able to:

1. Possess a general knowledge of underlying African cultural values, social institutions and their relationship to the history of Africa 2. Understand the complexity of the history of Africa and how it relates to contemporary African society 3. Create projects and lesson plans that accurately portray aspects of African life 4. Engage students in discovering contemporary African cultural practices and expression

Course Requirements: Loudoun County teachers will be required to do readings of some materials such as articles and short stories prior to class meeting times. There will also be a discussion of a short novel (84 pages). Film viewings will be done during class time so as to appropriately answer and raise questions concerning cultural and historical imagery.

Weekly Papers: Teachers will write a two-page paper responding to the topic(s) discussed each week.

Final Project: Teachers will select a particular chronological period from the syllabus and create a unit for use in their own teaching. Each unit will engage the cultural and historical issues from the period selected. Final

1 projects will be presented to and shared with fellow teachers so that each teacher will gain teaching materials that cover the range of the course.

Attendance: Regular attendance in this course is required due to the discussions that take place during class time. If you are unable to attend a particular class, please inform the instructor ahead of time.

Grades: The final grade for the course will be based on the following: A. Active participation in class discussions 20% B. Weekly papers 20% C. Final project 60%

Grades and Numerical Equivalents

90 and above A 89 - 80 B 79 - 70 C 69 - 60 D 59 and below F

2 SCHEDULE

I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION TO AFRICA 10/07 A. Dispelling the myths: Images of Africa B. Introduction to Africa’s landscape and social organization C. African civilizations D. Historical African migrations

**Class will attend teacher workshops at the conference entitled, “African Identity in the Age of Obama” at GMU’s George Johnson Center on Saturday, October 10, 2009 in place of the meeting on Wednesday, October 14, 2009

II. CULTURE, TRADITION AND THE HISTORICAL CONTEXT 10/21, 11/04 & 11/11 & 11/04 A. An overview of an African Cultural Framework 1. Readings from: p’Bitek, O. (1986). Artist, the Ruler: Essays on Art, Culture and Values. Nairobi: Heinemann Kenya Limited. B. African oral Narratives as a Teacher of Values 1. A collection of oral narratives from East and West Africa 2. The griot on film: Fary L’Anesse (1989, 17 minutes) 3. Oral narratives through animation: a South African example from Magic Cellar C. Discussion of Museum visit: Ideas for Integration into Classroom Syllabi D. The Historical Novel 1. Niane, D.T. (1995). Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. Harlow, England: Longman Publishing Group. Required Reading: 1. p'Bitek, O. (1986). What is Culture? In Artist, the Ruler: Essays on Art, Culture and Values (pp. 13-18). Nairobi: Heinemann Kenya Limited. 2. p'Bitek, O. (1986). Man the Unfree. In Artist, the Ruler: Essays on Art, Culture and Values (pp. 19-24). Nairobi: Heinemann Kenya Limited. 3. p'Bitek, O. (1986). African Aesthetics - The Acholi Example. In Artist, the Ruler: Essays on Art, Culture and Values (pp. 25-37). Nairobi: Heinemann Kenya Limited. 4. p'Bitek, O. (1986). Artist, the Ruler. In Artist, the Ruler: Essays on Art, Culture and Values (pp. 38-41). Nairobi: Heinemann Kenya Limited. 5. Selections from p'Bitek, O. (1978). Hare and Hornbill. Portsmouth: Heinemann Educational Publishers. 6. Selections from Radin, P. (Ed.). (1970). African Folktales. Princeton: Princeton University Press. 7. Diop, B. (1966). Fari the She-Ass. In Tales of Amadou Koumba (pp. 98-103). London: Oxford University Press. 8. Diop, B. (1966). The Humps. In Tales of Amadou Koumba (pp. 1-8). London: Oxford University PressSembene, O. (1962). 9. Tribal Scars or The Voltaique. In Tribal Scars (pp. 102-116). London: Heinemann Educational Books. 3 10. Niane, D.T. (1995). Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali. Harlow, England: Longman Publishing Group.

Recommended Reading: 1. Owomoyela, O. (1979). Traditional Oral Art: Folklore. In African Literatures: An Introduction (pp. 1-21). Fort Collins, CO: Crossroads Press.

**Class will visit the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art (open daily 10a.m.-5:30p.m.- free admission) in lieu of meeting on 10/28

III. SLAVERY, COLONIZATION & THE CHANGING 11/18 &12/02 OF THE CULTURAL LANDSCAPE

A. A Shift in the Historical Image of Slavery and Victimization 1. African responses to slavery . Readings from Diouf, S. (2003). Fighting the Slave Trade: West African Strategies. Athens: Ohio University Press. B. Colonization and the Changes in Traditional Culture 1. Colonization of the Congo: Images from Hochschild, A. (1998). King Leopold’s Ghost. New York: Houghton Mifflin. 2. Le Malentendu Colonial (2004, 73 min)

C. The continuation of cultural practices and cultural memories in the contemporary space 1. Keita: Heritage of a Griot (1995, 94 min)

Required Reading: 1. Rashid, I. (2003). A Devotion to the Idea of Liberty at Any Price: Rebellion and Antislavery in the Upper Guinea Coast in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Centuries. In S. Diouf (Ed.), Fighting the Slave Trade: West African Strategies (pp. 132-151). Athens: Ohio University Press. 2. Hawthorne, W. (2003). Strategies of the Decentralized: Defending Communities from Slave Raiders in Coastal Guinea-Bissau, 1450-1815. In S. Diouf (Ed.), Fighting the Slave Trade: West African Strategies (pp. 152-169). Athens: Ohio University Press. 3. Richardson, D. (2003). Shipboard Revolts, African Authority, and the Transatlantic Slave Trade. In S. Diouf (Ed.), Fighting the Slave Trade (pp. 199-218). Athens: Ohio University Press.

IV. GENDER, TRADITIONAL PRACTICES 12/09, 12/16 &1/06 & CONTEMPORARY AFRICA

A. Traditional Women’s Roles: Accommodation and Resistance 1. Si-Gueriki (The Queen Mother) (2003, 61 minutes) 2. African women’s voices in literature:  “Rejection”  “A Man Needs Many Wives” 4  Readings from Oyewumi, O. (Ed.). (2005). African Gender Studies: A Reader  “Decolonising Gender Studies in Africa” 3. Faat Kiné (2001, 121 minutes) B. Traditional Circumcision Practices in Contemporary Africa 1.1. Moolaadé (2004, 120 min) 1.2. Excerpt from Umgidi (2004, 74 min) Required Reading: 1. Ba, M. (1983). Rejection. In C. H. Bruner (Ed.), Unwinding Threads: Writing by Women in Africa 2. Emecheta, B. (1983). A Man Needs Many Wives. In C. H. Bruner (Ed.), Unwinding Threads: Writing by Women in Africa (pp. 50-61). London: Heinemann International. 3. Kisiang'ani, E. N. W. (2004). Decolonising Gender Studies in Africa. In African Gender Scholarship: Concepts, Methodologies and Paradigms (pp. 9-26). Dakar: Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa. 4. Kopytoff, I. (2005). Women's Roles and Existential Identities. In O. Oyewumi (Ed.), African Gender Studies: A Reader (pp. 127-144). New York: Palgrave Macmillan. 5. Njambi, W. N., & O'Brien, W., E. (2005). Revisting "Woman-Woman Marriage": Notes on Gikuyu Women. In O. Oyewumi (Ed.), African Gender Studies: A Reader (pp. 145-165). New York: Palgrave Macmillan.

V. CULTURAL EXPRESSION OF CONTEMPORARY 1/13/10 AFRICAN LIBERATION STRUGGLES

A. A Brief Look at South African and Zimbabwean Protest Poetry and Songs A.1. Poetry of Mtshali, Matthews, Madingoane, Chombo, Mbuli A.2. Songs compiled by Pongweni and wa Kinyatti B. A few selections of post-apartheid poetry A.1. Kgafela oa Magogodi’s poetry A.2. Vonani Bila’s poetry

Required Reading: 1. Mtshali, O. (1971). Sounds of a Cowhide Drum. In Sounds of a Cowhide Drum (pp. 68). London: Oxford University Press. 2. Matthews, J., & Thomas, G. (1972). Cry Rage! Johannesburg: Spro-cas Publications. 3. Madingoane, I. (1999). africa my beginning. In africa my beginning (pp. 34-36). Kenwyn, South Africa: Juta-Skotaville. 4. Chombo, C. (1981). Poetry. In M. Kadhani & M. Zimunya (Eds.), And Now the Poets Speak (pp. 1). Salisbury: Mambo Press. 5. Mbuli, M. (1986). The Beat. On Change is Pain [CD]. Johannesburg: Shifty Records. 6. Pongweni, A. (1980). Songs that Won the Liberation War. Harare: The College Press. 7. wa Kinyatti, M. (1990). Thunder from the Mountains: Mau Mau Patriotic Songs. Trenton: Africa World Press, Inc.

5 8. oa Magogodi, K. (2000). weeping must die. In Thy Condom Come (pp. 5). Amersterdam: New Leaf. 9. oa Magogodi, K. (2004). i mike what i like. In Outspoken (pp. 1-3). Johannesburg: Laugh it Off Media. 10. Bila, V. (2005). Mandela, Have You Ever Wondered. In In the Name of Amandla (pp. 35). Limpopo, South Africa: Timbila Poetry.

VI. AFRICAN ECONOMICS, DEVELOPMENT 1/20 & 1/27 AND CULTURE

A. African Technologies, Development and Culture 1. African ingenuity and Afrigadgets 2. Zan Boko (1998, 94 min)

B. African Economics and the Struggle for Self-Sufficiency 1. Bamako (2008, 117 minutes)

Additional Resources: http://www.globalissues.org/article/3/structural-adjustment-a-major-cause-of-poverty http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-9309-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html http://www.cepr.net/index.php/a-survey-of-the-impacts-of-imf-structural-adjustment-in- africa/ http://www.africaaction.org/resources/issues/wbimf.php

VII. AFRICAN YOUTH AND CONTEMPORARY 2/03 AFRICAN CULTURAL EXPRESSION

A. Hip Hop and Politics 1. Democracy in Dakar (2009, 30 minutes) B. Presentation of Units/Final Project