SSA 4930 (SECT 2119): AFRICA THROUGH FILM (SPRING 2013)
Period: 4th (10:40-11:30) MWF
Venue: LIT 239
Credit: 3.
E-mail: akinyemi@ufl.edu
Professor: Túndé Akínyemí
Office Location: 348 Pugh Hall
Office Hours: 12-1 (MWF).
Phone: (352) 392-7082.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
This course provides an overview of images of Africa in films. The first part of the course will
look at the complexity of African continent, its problems, social organizations, pre-colonial
political system, art, and popular culture. The larger part of the course will however be devoted to
discussion on the representation of Africa in selected films.
REQUIRED TEXTS: The following 2 books are required for this course:
1. Vincent B. Khapoya. The African Experience: An Introduction (Third Edition) New
York: Longman 2010.
2. Mahir Saul and Ralph A. Austen Viewing African Cinema in the Twenty-first Century:
Arts Films and the Nollywood Video Revolution. Athens: Ohio University Press, 2010.
ATTENDANCE POLICY AND EXPECTATIONS
You are encouraged to attend classes regularly and participate actively in class discussion. You
can only do this if you complete all assigned readings before class. You are, however, allowed 2
unexcused absences. Beyond that, each additional absence will require a written excuse verifying
illness or family emergency in accordance with UF policy, failing which, your final grade will be
lowered by a one letter grade. Assignments are to be handed in by the designated date. Mark due
dates on your calendars now so that you can plan ahead. Late papers will be assessed a penalty of
one-half letter grade out of fairness to those who hand in their work on time.
COURSE EVALUATION
Your final grade in this course will be based on the following:
Class attendance, preparation and participation
2 announced tests
5 page review essay on an African film of your choice
Final written examination
Total:
20%
40%
20%
20%
100%
Individual 5-page Review essay: The paper should be typed-written on font 12 and should be
double-spaced with 1 inch margin. Stylistic requirement for this paper is APA or MLA.
Typographical mistakes/errors, poor spellings, and grammatical faults will be penalized.
(Submission deadline: Friday, 11/18)
GRADE CORRESPONDENCE
93-100 =A
90-92 =A87-89 =B+
83-86 =B
77-79 =C+
73-76 =C
67-69 =D+
63-66 =D
Below 60 =E
80-82 =B70-72 =C60-62 =D-
General
Feel free to ask question in the class so that you will not be left behind. However, if there are
issues that we cannot resolve in class, you are encouraged to use my office hours or send me an
email. I look forward to a rewarding semester with you all.
WEEKLY BREAKDOWN OF COURSE
Week I (1/7-1/11)
Days
MWF
Topic
Reading
Course
introduction;
an Vincent B. Khapoya’s The African Experience
overview of facts and figures of
Chapter 1 “The continent and Its People” (pp.
the
continent;
Africa’s
1-20
problems and prospects
Week II (1/14-1/18)
Days
MWF
Topic
Reading
African Traditional Institutions
Vincent B. Khapoya’s The African Experience
Political
Development
historic Africa
Chapters 2&3 (pp 21-106)
in
Week III (1/21-1/25)
Days
Topic
Reading
M
No class MLK Holiday
W
Colonialism and the African
Experience
Vincent B. Khapoya’s The African Experience
African nationalism and the
struggle for freedom
Vincent B. Khapoya’s The African Experience
F
Chapter 4 (pp. 107-149)
Chapter 5 (pp. 150-180)
Week IV (1/28-2/1)
Days
M
Topic
African Independence
Reading
Vincent B. Khapoya’s The African Experience
Chapter 6 (pp. 181-223)
W
F
The African struggle for Vincent B. Khapoya’s The African Experience
democracy and free market
Chapter 7 (pp. 224-247)
Africa in World Affairs
Vincent B. Khapoya’s The African Experience
Chapter 8 (pp. 248-282)
Week V (2/4-2/8)
Days
Topic
M
Film screening
W&F
Class Discussion
Reading
Africa: Who is to Blame (DVD 2335)
Week VI (2/11-2/15)
Days
Topic
Reading
M
FESPACO vs. Nollywood
Mahir Saul & Ralph A. Austen’s Viewing
African Cinema Chapters 1
W
Film screening
This is Nollywood (DVD 2747)
F
*Test 1 Friday, 9/23: On topics
covered till Friday, 9/16
Week VII (2/18-2/22)
Days
Topic
Reading
M
Film screening
Hotel Rwanda (DVD 1044)
W
Film screening
Hotel Rwanda
F
Discussion on ethnic violence
in Africa
Mahir Saul & Ralph A. Austen’s Viewing
African Cinema Chapters 2
Week VIII (2/25-3/1)
Days
Topic
Reading
M
Film screening
Campus Queen
W
Film screening
Campus Queen
F
Discussion
on
corruption,
military dictatorship, etc.
Mahir Saul & Ralph A. Austen’s Viewing
African Cinema Chapter 12
Week IX (3/4-3/8: SPRING BREAK
Week X (3/11-3/15)
Days
Topic
Reading
M
Film screening
Black Gold: Wake up & smell the coffee
(DVD 1950)
W
Film screening
Nigeria’s Oil War (DVD 2095)
F
Discussion of Africa’s natural
resources: A Curse? 1
Mahir Saul & Ralph A. Austen’s Viewing
African Cinema Chapters 8 & 9
Week XI (3/18-3/22)
Days
Topic
Reading
M
Film screening
Blood Diamonds (DVD 3522 doc & 2385 ff)
W
Film screening
Blood Diamonds (DVD 3522 doc & 2385 ff)
F
Conclude
discussion
on
Africa’s natural resources II
Mahir Saul & Ralph A. Austen’s Viewing
African Cinema Chapters 8 & 9
Week XII (3/25-3/29)
Days
Topic
Reading
M
Film screening
Thunderbolt (DVD 4872)
W
Film screening
Thunderbolt
F
No class: Homecoming
Week XIII (4/1-4/5)
Days
Topic
Reading
M
Discussion orality and language
question
W
Test 2
F
No class: Veterans Day
Mahir Saul & Ralph A. Austen’s Viewing
African Cinema Chapters 6, 7, 11
Week XIV (4/8-4/12)
Days
Topic
Reading
M
Film screening: Africans in the
Diaspora: Old movement
The Roots
W
Film screening: Africans in the
Diaspora: Old movement
Wemilere
F
Discussion
Mahir Saul & Ralph A. Austen’s Viewing
African Cinema Chapters 3, 5, 13
5-page essay due today
Week XV (4/15-4/19)
Days
Topic
Reading
MW
Film screening: Africans in the
Diaspora: New movement
Dollars and Dreams: West Africans in New
York (DVD 2970) + Otomo (Video 5042)
F
Film screening
This America: An Immigrant Story
Week XV (4/22-4/24)
Days
Topic
Reading
M
Film screening
The God Daughter/ Missing in America
W
Discussion
Mahir Saul & Ralph A. Austen’s Viewing
African Cinema Chapters 3, 5, 13