NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA COURSE CODE :MAC 116: COURSE TITLE: AFRICAN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 11 COURSE GUIDE MAC 116: AFRICAN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 11 Course Developer/Writer: Dr. Abigail O. Ogwezzy Department of Mass Communication University of Lagos Akoka, Lagos Course Editor: Dr Victor Ayedun- Aluma Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos Akoka, Lagos Course Coordinator: Chidinma Onwubere School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeraia Lagos Programme Leader: Christine Ofulue Ph.D School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeraia Lagos NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA 2 National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island Lagos Abuja Annex 245 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street Central Business District Opposite Arewa Suites Abuja e-mail: [email protected] URL: www.nou.edu.ng National Open University of Nigeria 2006 First Printed 2006 ISBN: All Rights Reserved Printed by …………….. For National Open University of Nigeria NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA 3 MAC116: AFRICAN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS II Welcome! This is a two-credit unit course designed to expose undergraduate students mainly to the application of African traditional communication structure, form and content. Compared to African communication systems I, it is analytical. If I have to re-name the course, I would name it Applied African Communication Systems. It examined folk media, esoteric, and institutional modes of communication. Students are expected to identify and discuss the application of African structure, form and contents drawing from some contemporary development projects in their milieu. This material was developed with the Nigerian context, drawing mainly from the six geopolitical zones in the country AIMS Generally, the major purpose of this course is to expose students to the applicability of African communication systems. The main aims are to: - help students understand the names, venue, institutions and folk media as channels of communication in Africa - help students explore myths and legends the use of myths in explaining the unexplainable - help students examine the applicability of African popular culture in information dissemination COURSE OBJECTIVES To achieve the above aims, JIL 103 has overall objectives. Furthermore, each unit also has specific objectives. The unit objectives are at the beginning of each unit. It is advised that you read them before you start working through each unit. To assess your progress during studies, you may refer to the unit objectives. Below are the wider objectives of the entire course and by meeting the objectives, you have met the aims of the course. On successful completion of the course, you will: • Explain names as channels of communication in Africa • Discuss venue-oriented channels of communication • Explain institutional channels of communication in Africa • Discuss folk media as channels of communication in Africa • Understand extra-mundane or esoteric channels of communication • Explain the concepts of myths and legends as channels of communication • Discuss African publics, popular culture and development • Understand the need to use indigenous languages in information dissemination in Africa COURSE REQUIREMENTS 4 To susseccfully complete this course, you are required to read all the study units and other reference/related materials. You are also required to do all the practical exercises. To do this you need a pen, note-book, assigment file and other materials that are listed in this guide. The exercises are to guage your level of understanding of the various units in each of the model. So, at the end of each unit, you are required to submit written assignments for the purpose of assessment. At the end of the course, you will write a final examination. COURSE MATERIALS The major materilas you need for this course are : • Course guide • Study modules broken down into units • Assignment file • Relevant text books including the ones listed under each unit • As a beginner, you need to interact with your parents and kinsmen and over a period of time, extract information on the various classes of traditional commununication in your local community. STUDY UNITS There are a total of six modules in this course (of thirty-one units). Each module has a fixed number of five units, except the third module, which has six units fourth module, four units and fifth module, which has six. The third and fifth modules are six units each while the fourth module is made up of four units to avoid distorting the thematic links. The units in a module are based on what can stand alone, but thematically linked. A module is broken down into the appropriate number of units. Depending on the nature of what is being discussed in each unit, some are longer than the others. Each module starts with an introduction, a list of objectives and the main content (including Self-Assessment Exercises, SAEs). At the end of each unit, you will see at least one standard Tutor-Marked Assignment Question (TMAs) which you are expected to work on. The modules are listed below: Module One: Names, Venue-Oriented, And Institutional Channels Of Communication In African Unit 1: Names in Africa: History and Types Unit 2: Venue-oriented Channels of Communication Unit 3: Institutional Channels of Communication and The Communication Patterns of Traditional Authorities and Socio-Political Organisations Module Two: Folkmedia: Folklore, Proverbs And Parables Unit 1: Folkmedia and Folklores 5 Unit 2: Folklores: A Survey Unit 3: Proverbs and Parables Unit 4: Proverbs: A Survey Module Three: Extra-Mundane Or Exoteric Channels Of Communication Unit 1: What is Extra-mundane Communication? Unit 2: Extra-Mundane Bottom-upCommunication: Definition and Some Channels (Divination and Ancestral Worship) Unit 3: Bottom-Up Communication: A Survey of Festivals Unit 4: Extra-Mundane Bottom-up Communication - Ceremony as a Channel Unit 5: Top-down Communication: Some Examples of Extra-Mundane and Natural Phenomena Module Four: Myths And Legends Unit 1: Myths Unit 2: Legends Unit 4: Legends: A Survey Module Five: Africa: Publics, Popular Culture And Development Unit 1: African Communication Systems: Who Are The Publics? Unit 2: African Communication Systems and African Development Unit 3: African Popular Culture and Communication for Development Unit 4: Researches into African Popular Culture and the Mass Media Unit 5: Media and Communication for Development in Africa: Propects and Challenges Module Six: Verbal Communication, Mass Media And Information Dissemination In Africa Unit 1: Indigenous Language, Multilingualism and the Mass Media Unit 2: Indigenous Language, Mass Media and Information Dissemination Unit 3: Indigenous Language, Pidgin English, Mass Media and Information Dissemination Unit 4: The Use of a Radio Indigenous Public Enlightenment Programme to Promote Development in Nigeria Recommended Texts/Further Reading/References Appendices Appendix I: Cinderella Fairy Tale Appendix II: TMA and Marking Scheme 6 ASSESSMENT FILE An assessment file will be made available to you. In this file, you will find details of work you MUST do and submit to your tutor for marking. The marks obtained in this course will be part of your final marks. A marking scheme has been provided. STUDY METHOD You will study the units independently. However, arrangements have been made for you to meet your tutor for tutorials on a regular basis in the study centre. Also, you can organise interactive sessions (study group) with your course mates. SUBMISSION OF ASSIGNMENTS The dates for the submission of various assignments will be communicated to you. Similarly, you will also be notified on the date for completing the study units and dates for examinations. SUMMARY This course guide gives you an overview of MAC116: African Communication Systems II. Best of luck! 7 MAIN WORK MAC 116: AFRICAN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS 11 Course Developer/Writer: Dr. Abigail O. Ogwezzy Department of Mass Communication University of Lagos Akoka, Lagos Course Editor: Dr Victor Ayedun- Aluma Department of Mass Communication, University of Lagos Akoka, Lagos Course Coordinator: Chidinma Onwubere School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeraia Lagos Programme Leader: Christine Ofulue Ph.D School of Arts and Social Sciences National Open University of Nigeraia Lagos NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA 8 National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island Lagos Abuja Annex 245 Samuel Adesujo Ademulegun Street Central Business District Opposite Arewa Suites Abuja e-mail: [email protected] URL: www.nou.edu.ng National Open University of Nigeria 2006 First Printed 2006 ISBN: All Rights Reserved Printed by …………….. For National Open University of Nigeria NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA 9 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE Module 1: Names, Venue-Oriented, And Institutional Channels Of Communication In African Unit 1: Names in Africa: History and Types Unit 2: Venue-oriented Channels of Communication Unit 3: Institutional Channels of Communication and The Communication Patterns of Traditional Authorities and Socio-Political Organisations Module 2: Folkmedia: Folklore, Proverbs And Parables Unit 1: Folkmedia and Folklores Unit 2: Folklores: A Survey Unit 3: Proverbs and Parables Unit 4: Proverbs: A Survey Module 3: Extra-Mundane or Exoteric Channels Of Communication Unit 1: What is Extra-mundane Communication? Unit 2: Extra-Mundane Bottom-upCommunication: Definition