Peoples and Cultures of Africa
50:070:412:01
MW 2:50-4:10pm
Armitage Hall, Room 226
Professor Cati Coe
Office: 405-407 Cooper Street, Room 203
Phone: (856) 225-6455
Email: ccoe@camden.rutgers.edu
Office hours: Wednesdays, 12:15-2:15pm
Course Description
This course is a broad topical survey course on the peoples and cultures of Africa south of the
Sahara. This course begins by considering the effects and legacies of colonialism, but the focus
is on contemporary Africa. No course can reasonably cover all the rich variety of Africa’s
peoples and cultures, but this course introduces you to the diversity of the continent and the
interconnectedness of politics, religion, kinship, economics, ecology, ethnicity, and history. This
course retains anthropology’s traditional interest in how ordinary people experience everyday
life, but looks also at the links between them and the wider contexts of history, politics, and
globalization. We will also explore how representations of Africa shape our understanding of
what is happening on the continent. In the media and global imagination, Africa is often
characterized as a backward land of failure, dependence, poverty, and violence. We will
consider how African realities may differ from the contemporary stereotypes of the continent
through anthropological research, documentary and fictional films, and two short stories.
Assignments
 1 short map quiz on Monday, February 3rd, given at the beginning of class (5%). You will
be responsible for filling in a map with the names of:
o The countries of Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central
African Republic, Chad, Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire,
Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, the Gambia, Ghana,
Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali,
Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé
& Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan,
Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe


o The geographical features of: The Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the
Mediterranean, and the Red Sea; Lake Albert, Lake Chad, Lake Kariba, Lake
Tanganyika, and Lake Victoria.
For practice, try African countries at http://lizardpoint.com/geography/africaquiz.php or the map at the end of the syllabus
Reading reviews. For each class you will write a short 500-750-word response to a
question or questions on the assigned reading. Late papers will not be accepted, except
in cases of documented sickness or crisis. Over the course of the semester, you will
write 27 reading responses (each is 3%, for a total of 81%).
Attendance and participation (14% of the grade). I expect you to come to class prepared
by having done the reading and participate in class discussions on the basis of that
preparation. Participation involves not only sharing your opinion and thought, but also
listening carefully to what others have to say, asking questions about things that puzzle
or confuse you, synthesizing or summarizing various comments that have been made,
and indicating where you think the conversation is going. These ways of participating
will require your attention and concentration in class. For an absence to be excused, I
must be informed by email or phone before class that you will be unable to make it and
on the day that you return, you need to provide me with documentation for your
absence.
Required Books
1) Grinker, Roy Richard, Stephen C. Lubkemann, and Christopher B. Steiner, eds. (2010).
Perspectives on Africa: A Reader in Culture, History, and Representation (2nd edition).
Malden: Wiley-Blackwell. [POA in the schedule of readings]
2) Gottlieb, Alma and Philip Graham. (1994). Parallel Worlds: An Anthropologist and
Writer Encounter Africa. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
3) Pritchett, James A. (2001). The Lunda-Ndembu: Style, Change, and Social Transformation
in South Central Africa. Madison: University of Wisconsin Press.
All the books are available for purchase in the University Bookstore at 6th and Cooper Streets.
They will also be available on reserve in the library, along with an older edition of Perspectives
on Africa which contains some of the readings. Other, additional readings are on reserve, as
noted. Please bring copies of the assigned readings to class.
As college courses are, this course is reading and writing-heavy. By the end of the course, you
will know a great deal about what life is like for ordinary people on the African continent. In a
globally interconnected world, this information will be very helpful. Furthermore, you will have
developed your ability to understand and analyze a piece of writing and articulate your
conclusions (verbally and in writing) about it. These skills are requirements for professional
workplaces.
The Rutgers course catalog states that students are expected to spend a minimum of two hours
of out-of-class coursework for each hour of in-class work. To do well in this course, you will
have to meet this minimum standard. Please plan accordingly.
Class Schedule
Part 1. Introduction to Africa: Representations, Geography, and History
Wednesday, January 22: What We Know about Africa
In class: “U.S. Shocked Andorra Not in Africa” from The Onion
Music: “Touma,” by Mamadou Diabate, “Behmanka” (Harmonia Mundi, 2003)
Monday, January 27: Myths of Africa
1) Paul Bohannan and Philip Curtin, “Myths and Facts,” Africa and Africans (1995), pp. 6-15 [on
reserve]
2) Jean and John Comaroff, “Africa Observed: Discourses of the Imperial Imagination,” POA, pp. 3143 [also in 1st edition]
3) V. Y. Mudimbe, “Discourse of Power and Knowledge of Otherness,” POA, pp. 55-66
4) Jeffrey Sachs, “A Global Family Portrait,” The End of Poverty (2005), p. 5-25 plus maps 1 & 2 [on
reserve]
5) William Kamkwamba and Bryan Mealer, The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind (2012), last two
pages [on reserve]
In class: William Kamkwamba on Ted talks
Wednesday, January 29: Geography
Michael L. McNulty, “The Contemporary Map of Africa,”Africa (1995), pp. 10-45 [on reserve]
In class: ICTZ, Race and Human Variation, and “Boran Herdsmen” (1974) by David MacDougall
Monday, February 3: History (Colonialism)
1) Grinker, Lubkemann, and Steiner, “Introduction to Europe in Africa: Colonization,” POA, p. 426430
2) Sheldon Gellar, “The Colonial Era,” Africa (1995), pp. 135-155 [on reserve]
3) Walter Rodney, “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa,” POA, pp. 439-449 [also on reserve]
4) Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “The Headstrong Historian,” The Thing Around Your Neck (2009),
pp. 198-218 [on reserve]
In class: Map quiz
Music: “Vasco da Gama” by Hugh Masekela, “The Best of Hugh Masekela” (Sony, 2000)
Wednesday, February 5: History (The Invention of Tribe)
1) Frederick D. Lugard, “The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa: Methods of Ruling Native
Races,” POA, p. 431-439 [also in 1st edition]
2) Aidan W. Southall, “The Illusion of Tribe,” POA, p. 83-94 [also in 1st edition]
3) Leroy Vail, “Ethnicity in Southern African History,” POA, p. 95-107 [also in 1st edition]
No class, but you are responsible for a response to these readings. Bring it to class on Monday, February
10th, along with the response based on the February 10th readings, and we will discuss them then.
Monday, February 10: History (Decolonization and Nationalism)
1) Edmond J. Keller, “Decolonization, Independence, and the Failure of Politics,” Africa (1995), pp.
156-171 [on reserve]
2) Grinker, Lubkemann, and Steiner, “Introduction to Nations and Nationalism,” POA, pp. 474-476
3) Léopold Sédar Senghor, “Negritude: A Humanism of the Twentieth Century,” POA, pp. 477-483
[also in 1st edition]
4) Frantz Fanon, “On National Culture,” POA, pp. 484-497 [also in 1st edition]
Music: “Ndodemnyama (Beware, Verwoerd!)” by Miriam Makeba, “Africa” (BMG Music, 1991)
Wednesday, February 12: History (Decolonization and Nationalism)
1) Bruce J. Berman, “Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Modernity: The Paradox of Mau Mau,” POA, pp.
498-513
2) Christopher B. Steiner, “The Invisible Face: Masks, Ethnicity, and the State in Côte d’Ivoire,”
POA, pp. 514-519 [also in 1st edition]
Music: “Collection of National Anthems,”
Part II: Case Study of the Everyday in Côte d’Ivoire
Monday, February 17
Alma Gottlieb and Philip Graham, Parallel Worlds (1994), Chapters 1-3, pp. 1-82
Music: “Talking Drum” in “Rhythms of Life, Songs of Wisdom” (Smithsonian, 1996)
Wednesday, February 19
Parallel Worlds, Chapters 4-5, pp. 83-141
Music: “Akosua Tuntum,” in “Rhythms of Life, Songs of Wisdom” (Smithsonian, 1996)
Monday, February 24
Parallel Worlds, Chapters 6-8, pp. 142-248
Music: “Asare,” by Alex Konadu, “Highlife” (World Music Network, 2003)
Wednesday, February 26
Parallel Worlds, Chapters 9-10, pp. 249-312
Music: “Ka To d’Aiye a y’Opin,” by King Sunny Adé, “King Sunny Adé” (IndigeDisc, 2003)
Part III: Religion, Economics, and Art
Monday, March 3: Ancestors
1) Grinker, Lubkemann, and Steiner, “Introduction to Ancestors, Gods, and the Philosophy of
Religion,” POA, pp. 286-290
2) Marcel Griaule, “Conversations with Ogotommêli,” POA, pp. 291-301 [also in 1st edition]
3) Paulin J. Hountondji, “African Philosophy, Myth and Reality,” POA, pp. 302-313 [also in 1st
edition]
4) Igor Kopytoff, “Ancestors as Elders in Africa,” POA, pp. 314-322 [also in 1st edition]
5) Stephen Lubkemann, “Where to be an Ancestor? Reconstituting Socio-spiritual Worlds among
Displaced Mozambicans,” POA, pp. 569-581
Wednesday, March 5: Witchcraft, Science and Rationality
1) Grinker, Lubkemann, and Steiner, “Introduction to Witchcraft, Science and Rationality,” pp. 239244
2) David Livingstone, “Conversations on Rain-making,” POA, pp. 245-248 [also in 1st edition]
3) E. E. Evans-Pritchard, “The Notion of Witchcraft Explains Unfortunate Events,” POA, pp. 249-256
[also in 1st edition]
4) Peter Winch, “Understanding a Primitive Society,” POA, pp. 257-269 [also in 1st edition]
5) Ralph A. Austen, “The Moral Economy of Witchcraft: An Essay in Comparative History,” POA, pp.
270-281
In class: “Sir Edward Evans-Pritchard: Strange Beliefs” by Bruce Dakowski (1985)
Music: “Fakoli” in “Badenya: Manden Jaliya in New York City” (Smithsonian, 2002)
Monday, March 10: Economics as a cultural system
1) Grinker, Lubkemann, and Steiner, “Introduction to Economics as a Cultural System,” POA, pp.
111-122
2) Mary Douglas, “Lele Economy Compared with the Bushong,” POA, pp. 123-138 [also in 1st
edition]
3) Catherine Coquery-Vidrovitch, “Research on an African Mode of Production,” POA, pp. 139-150
[also in 1st edition]
4) Sharon Hutchinson, “The Cattle of Money and the Cattle of Girls among the Nuer, 1930-1983”
POA, pp. 151-165 [also in 1st edition]
Wednesday, March 12: Art, Aesthetics and Heritage
1) Grinker, Lubkemann, and Steiner, “Introduction to Arts, Aesthetics and Heritage,” POA, pp. 323333
2) Simon Ottenberg, “Humorous Masks and Serious Politics among the Afikpo Igbo,” POA, pp. 335347 [also in 1st edition]
3) Olu Oguibe, “Art, Identity, and Boundaries,” POA, pp. 348-353
4) Kelly M. Askew, “As Plato Duly Warned: Music, Politics, and Social Change in Coastal East
Africa,” POA, pp. 354-371
In class: “In Living Memory” (2003) by Susan Vogel
Spring Break!!! Enjoy and possibly read ahead.
Part IV: A Case Study of the Everyday in Zambia
Monday, March 24
James Pritchett, The Lunda-Ndembu, Introduction & Chapters 1-3, pp. 5-122
Music: “Mwana Wamambo,” by Oliver Mutukudzi, “Unwired: Africa” (World Music Network, 2000)
Wednesday, March 26
The Lunda-Ndembu, Chapter 4, pp. 123-169
Monday, March 31
The Lunda-Ndembu, Chapters 5 & 6, pp.169-246
Music: “Mukanga Poto,” by Spirit Talk Mbira, “Unwired: Africa” (World Music Network, 2000)
Wednesday, April 2
The Lunda-Ndembu, Chapter 7, pp. 247-285
Monday, April 7
Finish The Lunda-Ndembu, Chapters 8 & 9, pp. 286-329
Music: “Baba Wethu Singenile,” by Ladysmith Black Mambazo, “South African Gospel” (World Music
Network, 2003)
Part V: Gender, Economics, and Politics
Wednesday, April 9: Gender, Economics, and Politics
1) Grinker, Lubkemann, and Steiner,” Introduction to Sex and Gender Studies,” POA, pp. 381-387
2) Ester Boserup, “The Economics of Polygamy,” POA, pp. 389-398 [also in first edition]
3) Judith Van Allen, “’Sitting on a Man’: Colonialism and the Lost Political Institutions of Igbo
Women,” POA, pp. 399-410 [also in first edition]
4) Suzanne Leclerc-Madlala, “Virginity Testing: Managing Sexuality in a Maturing HIV/AIDS
Epidemic,” POA, pp. 411-422
Music: “Wayey zarrabo (Women Tiredness)” by Sidi and Dourra, “Sahel Folk” (Thrill Jockey Records,
2011)
Monday, April 14: Gender & Marriage
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, “The Arrangers of Marriage,” The Thing Around Your Neck (2009), pp. 167187
In class: “Faat Kiné” (2000) by Ousmane Sembène
Music: “Beaux Dimanches,” by Amadou and Miriam, “Dimanche à Bamako” (Nonesuch, 2004)
Wednesday, April 16: Gender and Marriage
No reading
In class: Finish “Faat Kiné” and discussion
Part VI: Africa in the Context of the World: Global Trade, War, and Globalization
Monday, April 21: Development
1) Grinker, Lubkemann, and Steiner, “Introduction to Development, Governance, and
Globalization,” POA, pp. 585-594
2) James Ferguson, “Expectations of Modernity: Myths and Meanings of Urban Life on the Zambian
Copperbelt,” POA, pp. 595-608
3) Peter Uvin, “Development Aid and Structural Violence: The Case of Rwanda,” POA, pp. 609-615
In class: “Black Gold” (2006) by Mark Francis and Nick Francis
Wednesday, April 23: Development
1) James Ferguson, “Governing Extraction: New Spatializations of Order and Disorder in Neoliberal
Africa” Global Shadows, pp. 194-210 [on reserve]
2) Sandra Barnes. “Global Flows: Terror, Oil, and Strategic Philanthropy.” African Studies Review
48(1): 1-22 [on reserve]
In class: Finish “Black Gold” and discussion
Music: “Cooperation,” by Franco and Sam Mangwana, “Congolese Soukous” (World Music Network,
2002)
Monday, April 28: Violence and War
1) Grinker, Lubkemann, and Steiner, “Introduction to Violent Transformations,” POA, pp. 521-530
2) Max Gluckman, “Rituals of Rebellion in South-East Africa,” POA, pp. 531-542
3) Paul Richards, “Fighting for the Rainforest: War, Youth and Resources in Sierra Leone,” POA, pp.
543-554
4) Christopher C. Taylor, “Sacrifice as Terror: The Rwandan Genocide of 1994,” POA, pp. 555-568
Music: “La Paix” by Amadou and Miriam, “Dimanche à Bamako” (Nonesuch, 2004)
Wednesday, April 30: The State
1) Jean-François Bayart, “The State in Africa: The Politics of the Belly,” POA, p. 629-643
2) Harry West, “’Govern Yourself!’ Democracy and Carnage in Northern Mozambique,” POA, pp.
644-659
Music: “La Politique Amagni: ‘La Politique, c’est pas bon,’” by Amadou and Miriam, “Dimanche à
Bamako” (Nonesuch, 2004)
Monday, May 5: Globalization
1) Daniel Jordan Smith, “Nigerian Scams as Political Critique: Globalization, Inequality and 419,”
POA, pp. 616-628
2) Dianna Shandy, “Nuer-American Passages,” POA, pp. 660-670
3) Kwame Anthony Appiah, “Cosmopolitan Contamination,” Cosmopolitanism, pp. 101-114 [on
reserve]
Music: “Overdose,” by Papa Wemba, “Congolese Soukous” (World Music Network, 2002)
Have a great summer!!