PEOPLES AND CULTURES OF AFRICA
AFS /ASB 466, HUM 394
Fall 2005
Class Time: T/Th 1:40 – 2:55 PM
Instructor: Dr. Desi Usman
Room: COWD 124
Office: African American Studies (Cowden Family Resource Bldg. Rm. 224)
Office hrs: MW: 10:00am – 12:00pm.
Phone: Office: (480) 727-7563
E-mail: Usman@asu.edu
SYLLABUS
This course is a survey of cultures and institutions of African societies from an
interdisciplinary perspective. Those societies covered range from simple foraging and
traditional ones to complex, industrializing nations. Special emphasis is placed on basic
social, political, and economic relations, inequality, world-view, art, resource use and
development, gender roles, slavery and slave trade, Europe and Africa, processes of
change, and the impact and legacy of colonial rule are considered. How relationships
between men and women are contextualized and negotiated is a theme found throughout
the readings and films, as well as struggle of people in different circumstances to build
new relationships with traditional beliefs and practices. The course meets
social/behavioral, historical and global requirements.
Requirements
A- Four exams based on readings and lectures = 280 points (about 70 points per test)
B- 15 page research paper = 100 pts
C- Map Quiz = 50 pts.
D- Attendance/participation = 20 pts.
Total = 450 points
Approaches to the course material and Examination
In learning about Africa, the themes transcend local events and personalities to
reveal recurrent patterns of historical change that extend throughout the continent. The
thematic approach means students studying the first weeks’ lectures and readings
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carefully to identify the “key themes” that will develop during the remainder of the term.
It also means that the examination will test students’ abilities to draw these themes
together into a coherent understanding on how and why people in Africa behaved as they
did, both in their distinctiveness and in ways comparable to history in more familiar parts
of the globe.
The course will follow four complementary approaches: (1) the lectures provide
overviews of large themes and periods; they illustrate general points with examples and
case studies. The lectures thus present the instructor’s interpretation of the subject but
make no systematic attempt at comprehensive coverage; (2) the readings which are to be
completed before the week for which they appear in the syllabus, provide detail and
texture to the themes covered in lecture; (3) class discussions give students opportunity to
contribute and ask questions about parts of the readings and lectures that either confuse or
inspire their interest. Finally, (4) examinations consist of 4 sets of multiple-choice
questions and short answers, an in-class map quiz, and a 15 pages paper.
Additional Graduate Requirements
Students registered for graduate credit are expected to perform at graduate levels.
Graduate students are expected to exhibit leadership in class discussion and may be asked
to comment on key issues raised in class. In addition to the general requirements,
graduate students can choose to write a ten-page review of a scholarly book on Africa
(Clear all books and topics with me in advance).You will be expected to give a
presentation on your review in class.
Paper and Presentation:
Students will be required to research and report in written and oral form on an individual,
group, or issue of historical concern or relevance to Africa. The topic may include a
subject(s) (non-American) of history (e.g., Osei Tutu, Shaka Zulu, Sundiata, Imhotep,
Queen Amina, the Ashanti, the Yoruba, Dogon, Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikwe,
Jomo Kenyata, Kwame Nkruma, Julius Nyerere), an analyst or historian (e.g., Cheikh
Anta Diop, W.E.B. Dubois, Basil Davidson), or other important issues of relevance (e.g.,
ecology, economy, AIDS, religion, droughts, civil wars, development). Students must
obtain the instructor’s agreement for their topics by the end of the third week of class.
The paper assignment should tell a story and include the following:
Relevant demographic information
Importance to African civilization
Importance to the world civilization
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Most important contribution
Lesson learned (personal)
A minimum of 5 references used which should include at least one periodical
article.
Grading Standards. The following factors determine your grade:
Attendance: You can miss three classes for free, after that you lose the 10% points.
Attendance will be taking regularly in class. Please notify me if you need to miss class
because of sickness, a religious holiday, or some other legitimate excusable reason. (This
does not include extra-curricular events, work for other classes, etc.). You must also view
the African films. Video day should be treated as regular lecture day. Contents in the
video are part of your exams.
Participation –Any questions, observations or discussion you can contribute to make the
class more interesting and relevant will count. Consistent constructive participation will
push borderline grades up (i.e. if you have a high B it can become an A). You don’t have
to participate in every class but you need to show some interest.
At the discretion of the instructor, an extra credit assignment may be given. The course
grading scale is as follows:
Percentage
Points
Grade
98-100%
445-450
A+
93-97%
444-435
A
90-92%
434-425
A-
87-89%
424-410
B+
83-86%
409-395
B
80-82%
394-385
B-
77-79%
384-375
C+
70-76%
374-360
C
60-69%
359-350
D
<60%
<350
E
Make-up exams. – Make-ups will be given only when exams are missed for unavoidable
reasons, and when you provide documentation either before or immediately after the
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examination date. Sometimes it becomes necessary to make changes in the assignment
schedule and requirements of the course. It is your responsibility to be in class if and
when such announcements are made.
Texts
- Phyllis Martin and Patrick O'meara (eds.), Africa third edition, Indiana University
Press, Bloomington, 1995.
- Debo Kotun, Abiku, Nepotist Books, Pasadena, 1998.
** Texts are available at ASU bookstore.
** In addition to the above texts, I will make available other readings in Xerox packets to
be purchased at Uniprint Copying Center, located on Forest Street and University road
(480-968-0799).
Lecture, Examinations, and Readings Schedule
The following schedule is subject to change. Any changes will be announced in class.
I.
Introduction to the Continent and Its Peoples.
Tue: 8/23
- Introduction of students and instructor. Syllabus Review
- Goals and aims of the course
- Africa: Myths and Realities, geographical diversities (peoples, countries, languages,
etc.)
Readings:
Martin & O’Meara, chpt. 1-2
Thu: 8/25
- Africa, geographical diversities contd.
++ prepare for map quiz
Tue: 8/30
- Map Quiz
- VIDEO: Africa (Tripple Heritage): the nature of a continent (Ali Mazrui).
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II
Prehistoric African cultures
Thu: 9/1
- Overview of major developments in African prehistory, Stone Age, Agricultural
beginnings, and Iron Age.
Readings:
Martin and O’Meara, chapt. 3
Tue: 9/6
- VIDEO: Discovery of Lucy.
Thu: 9/8
- FIRST EXAMINATION (from 8/23 through 9/6)
III
Traditional Social and Political Institutions of Africa
Tue: 9/13
- Lecture: African kinship and social organization
Reading:
** Martin and O’Meara (Chp. 9)
+ Gordon & Gordon, 1996, ‘Family and kinship’ (pp. 221-247, packet).
Thu: 9/15
- Lecture/Discussion: African kinship and social organization contd.
Readings:
** as above
Tue: 9/20
- Traditional political and economic institutions (types of societies, gender roles,
occupation and social status)
Readings:
** Martin and O’Meara, Chp. 4, 10
IV.
Religion, Art & Culture
Thu: 9/22
--- Religion in Africa
Readings:
** Martin and O’Meara, Chp. 5, 12
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+ Gordon & Gordon 1996, ‘Religion in Africa’ (pp.273-301, packet)
Tue: 9/27
- Religion and Art contd.
Readings:
** Martin and O’Meara, Chapt. 12
Thu: 10/29
- VIDEO: Africans: The legacy of lifestyles (Ali Mazrui).
Tue: 10/11
- SECOND EXAMINATION (from 9/13 through 10/29)
V
Europe and Africa
Thu: 10/13
- Europeans in Africa, Trans-Atlantic trade
- Abolition of slave trade
Note: start reading ‘Abiku’
Readings:
** Martin and O’Meara, Chapt. 6
+ Adu Boahen, pp. 102-106, 107-116, 117-122 (packet)
+ Fagan, Brian 1998, ‘The Khoikhoi of the cape of Good Hope,’ (pp.35-56) (packet)
+ Clark, Leon, 1991, ‘The story of a slave’ (87-99) (packet)
Tue: 10/18
Abolition of slave trade, impact and challenges
Reading:
** Martin and O’Meara, Chapt. 6
Thu: 10/20
- The partition of Africa, colonization, African reaction
Readings:
** Martin and O’Meara, chapt. 7
+ Adu Boahen, pp. 117-122, 123-133 (packet)
+ Clark, Leon, 1991 ‘Rhodes Steals “Rhodesia” (pp.152-161) (packet)
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Tue: 10/25
- Colonial rule, impact, and legacy; social change in Africa
Readings
** Martin and O’Meara, Chapt. 16
VI
African Nationalist Movements
Thu: 10/27
- South Africa (European settlements, apartheid, nationalist movements, black majority
rule); Mau-Mau of Kenya?
Readings
** Martin and O’Meara, Chapt. 21
Tue: 11/1
- Nationalist movements contd./Abiku
- VIDEO: Mandela
Thu: 11/3
- THIRD EXAMINATION (from 10/13 through 11/1)
VII
Women in Africa
Tue: 11/8
++ Discussion I: Women in Africa, roles of women in society.
Readings
+ Gordon & Gordon, 1996, ‘Women and Development’ (pp.249-272) (packet)
Thu: 11/10
- VIDEO: Asante Market Women
VIII
African Resources and Development
Tue: 11/15
++ Discussion II: Africa- mineral resources and development
Readings:
Martin & O’Meara, Chp. 20
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Thu: 11/17: African population, urbanization, and AIDS
++ Discussion III: African population, urbanization, and AIDS
Readings:
+ Gordon & Gordon 1996, ‘Population Growth and Urbanization’ (pp.167-194) (packet)
Tue: 11/22: Conclusion of Lecture/Discussion
--- Discussion of ‘Abiku’
Thu. 11/24: Thanksgiving (NO CLASS)
Tue. 11/29: NO CLASS (American Anthropological Association Conference)
++ Wed. 11/30: Final paper DUE in my office latest by 5 pm today.
Thu. December 8
++ FINAL EXAMINATION (from 11/8 through 5/3)
-
Time: 12:20-2:10 pm
KEYs
++ important instruction
** text
+ other readings (reading packet)
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