CONTEMPORARY WEST AFRICAN HISTORY THROUGH FICTION AND FILM
Fall 2006
Sylvie Coulibaly
Fridays, 1:10- 4 pm
Office Hours: Mon: 3:30-5:30 p.m., Tues & Thu PM 4-6 p.m. and by appointment
Office: Seitz 7
Ph.: Ext. 5624
coulibalys@kenyon.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
In their own words…
Novels and films are a powerful tool of historical representation in modern societies and Africa
is no exception. The sub-Saharan African novel is a recent phenomenon, dating back for the
most the part, to the early twentieth century. The African film is of even more recent vintage and
to a large extent remains a marginal form of expression for most of sub-Saharan Africa. However
small a group they still remain, sub-Saharan novelists and filmmakers have had a considerable
impact on the societies that produced them. We will examine the influence of African novelists
and filmmakers on the political and social realms of their societies and attempt to determine the
relationship between novels, films, and the historical reality of sub-Saharan Africa from the
1940’s to the present. We shall also focus on how novels and films have been shaped by the
historical forces they have attempted to transcend. Finally, we will analyze what vision Africans
have of their past and their judgment of it.
REQUIRED READINGS
1. Ousmane Sembène, God’s Bits of Wood (on reserve)
2. Amidou Hampathé Bâ, The Fortunes of Wangrin, (on reserve)
3. Ferdinand Oyono, House Boy, (on reserve)
4. Cheik Amidou Kane, The Ambiguous Adventure, (on reserve)
5. Mariama Bâ, So Long a Letter, (on reserve)
6. Calixte Beyala, Your Name Shall Be Tanga,
7. Amadou Kourouma, Waiting for the Vote of Wild Animals, (Côte d’Ivoire)
8. Ali Mazrui & Christophe Wondji, General History of Africa since 1935 (on reserve)
Students should expect occasional handouts
EVALUATION
1. Class participation and discussion: 10%
2. Film/book reviews: 60% (3 reviews, 20% each)
3. Final Paper: 30%
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RESPONSIBILITIES
* Attendance: Each student is expected to attend class regularly and on time. Students are
allowed one unjustified absence during the semester. Any other unexcused absence will result in
the deduction of a full letter grade. Excuses must be obtained from the Dean of Students or the
Dean for Academic Advising.
* Class meetings: Students are expected to have read the assigned material and to be fully
engaged in class discussion. The class participation grade will be based on student participation
in the classroom.
* Film/Book reviews: Each student is required to submit five 3-5 page (excluding the cover page
and the bibliography) reviews comparing and contrasting the issues presented in both the book
and the film. Students will make an oral presentation on one of their three reviews. Reviews are
due on the day the material is discussed, see dates below.
* The final paper, no less than 10 pages (excluding the cover and the bibliography) comparing
and contrasting:
Aimé Césaire, A Season in the Congo (on reserve)
Raoul Peck, Lumumba, La Mort du Prophète
Thierry Michel, Mobutu, King of Zaire: An African Tragedy (on reserve)
Recommended:
Dominic Thomas, Nation Building, Propaganda and Literature in Francophone Africa
(on reserve)
Adam Hoschild, King Leopold's Ghost
Michela Wrong, In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz
All books on reserve. The instructor will provide additional guidelines for the final paper.
Late Work: NO late work will be accepted without a valid excuse from the Dean of
Students or the Dean of Academic Advising.
HONOR CODE
In order to ensure academic integrity, Kenyon College has established an Honor Code.
The Honor Code of Kenyon College prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty, which include
cheating and plagiarism. In accordance with the policy of the Kenyon College any breach of the
Code will be immediately reported to the Academic Infractions Board. Plagiarism and
academic dishonesty: students must read the relevant portions of the 2006-2007 Course of
Study. The instructor will clarify any concern students may have on these issues.
COURSE SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER
2
8th
Film: Camp de Thiaroye, Ousmane Sembène (Sénégal)
15th
Discussion: Camp de Thiaroye and Ousmane Sembène, God’s Bits of Wood; Jean
Suret- Canale & A. Adu Bohaen, “West Africa, 1945-60,” (Mazrui & Wondji)
John Springall, Decolonization Since 1945, chap 1 & 2 (ERES)
22nd
Film: Mandabi, Ousmane Sembène (Sénégal)
29th
Discussion: Mandabi and Amidou Hampathé Bâ, The Strange Fortunes of
Wangrin, Leonardo A. Villalón, “Islamism in West Africa, Senegal” (ERES)
OCTOBER
6th
Film: Zan Boko, Gaston Kaboré (Burkina Faso)
13th
Discussion: Zan Boko and Ferdinand Oyono, House Boy; Catherine CoqueryVidrovitch, “Economic Changes in Africa in the World Context,” Pierre Kipré,
“Industrial Development and Urban Growth, 1935-1980” (Mazrui & Wondji)
20th
Film: Touki Bouki, Djibril Diop Mambéty (Sénégal)
27th
Discussion: Touki Bouki and Cheik Amidou Kane, The Ambiguous Adventure
NOVEMBER
3rd
Film: Visages de Femmes, Désiré Ecaré (Côte d’Ivoire)
Discussion: Visages de Femmes and Mariama Bâ, So Long a Letter, Babacar Fall,
“Senegalese Women in Politics, A Portrait of Two Female Leaders, Arame Diène
and Thioumbé Samb, 1945-1996,” Marlene Dobin, “Colonialism and the Legal
Status of Women in Francophonic Africa” (ERES) Diane L. Barthel, "The Rise
of a Female Professional Elite: The Case of Senegal" (JSTOR)
17th
Film: Hyènes, Djibril Diop Mambéty (Mali)
24th
Discussion: Hyènes and Calixte Beyala, Your Name Shall Be Tanga, Firinne Ni
Chréacháin, "If I Were a Woman I would Never Marry an African" (JSTOR)
Kadiatu Kanneh "Wigs and Veils: Cultural Construction of the Body" (ERES)
DECEMBER
1st
Film: Ashakara, Gérard Louvin (France)
3
8th
Discussion: Ashkara and Amadou Kourouma, Waiting for the Vote of Wild
Animals, Alex De Waal, “How Will HIV/AIDS Transform African Governance?”
Cyril K. Daddieh, "Elections and Ethnic Violence in Côte d'Ivoire," (ERES) Beth
Elise Withaker, "Citizens & Foreigners: Democratization and the Politics of
Exclusion in Africa" (ERES)
December 16th - Final paper due at 5 p.m.
All films and documentaries are on reserve
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