History of Modern Africa

6 ECTS credits
177 u studietijd

Aanbieding 1 met studiegidsnummer 1023245BNR voor alle studenten in het 1e semester van een even academiejaar (bvb. 2012-2013) met een verdiepend bachelor niveau.

Semester

tweejaarlijks: 1e semester van een even academiejaar (bvb. 2012-2013)

Inschrijving onder examencontract

Niet mogelijk

Beoordelingsvoet

Beoordeling (0 tot 20)

2e zittijd mogelijk

Onderwijstaal

Engels

Faculteit

Faculteit Letteren en Wijsbegeerte

Verantwoordelijke vakgroep

History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics

Onderwijsteam

Benoît Henriet (titularis)

Onderdelen en contacturen

39 contacturen Hoorcollege
60 contacturen Zelfstudie en externe werkvormen

Inhoud

This course will introduce students to the history and historiography of sub-Saharan Africa between the late 18th century and the second half of the 20th century. Through different case studies, it attempts to challenge preconceived ideas about the African continent’s so-called “underdevelopment”, cultural uniformity and lack of an autonomous historical dynamic. At the end of the course, students will have an overview of the cultural diversity of sub-Saharan African, of several contributions of African communities and civilizations to mankind as well as of the continent’s complex entanglements in the networks of globalization. It also provides student with an upportunity to de-centre their view on history, by reaffirming the central role played by Africa and Africans in global historical trajectories.
The course will be structured around three overarching themes (power – connections – Africans), each divided in several modules, covering a particular case study.

•   Introduction: writing the history of Africa: what is “Africa”? Why “modern” Africa? What are the sources of African history?

Part one: Power:

•   From “Houses” to empires: pre-colonial political and social organization
•   Racism, violence and agency: the colonial experience
•   Decolonization, between pan-Africanism and nationalism

Part two: Connections:

•   Syncretism in the “Black Atlantic”: music and beliefs
•   African modernism: activists, artists and intellectuals

Part three: Society and Environment:

•   A gender(ed) history of Africa
•   Ecological perspectives on the history of Modern Africa

Studiemateriaal

Digitaal cursusmateriaal (Aanbevolen) :

Bijkomende info

Written exam : 50% of the final score: the student has to answer three randomly selected questions based on the course material: the definition and recontextualization of a key concept, the description of an historical process and a critical reflection on the place of Africa in the historiography of globalization.

Essay: 50%: at the beginning of the semester, students will be invited to choose a topic in African history around which they will have to write a 5-page essay. The essay’s will be prepared through different intermediary assignments:

1°: For mid-October a one-pager with a proposed research question, and the justification of its relevance and feasibility, to be approved by the titular.

2°: For early November: A bibiliography of 15 to 20 references, to be submitted to the titular

3°: For late November: a table of contents for the essay, to be discussed with the titular during an individual feedback session

4°: For early January: submission of the essay.

50% of the final score will be based on the essay’s grading.

Leerresultaten

Algemene competenties

General

The students have a critical approach of historical and current social issues.

The students are aware of a non-Eurocentric approach to history.

Specific

The students have insight into the history of sub-Saharan Africa between the late 18th century and the second half of the 20th century.

Students have insight in the cultural diversity of Sub-Saharan Africa, as well as the contributions of African communities and the complex relationships of the continent with the globalized world.

The students have insight in the central role of Africa and Africans in world history and are able to correctly use core concepts of post-colonial thinking.

Beoordelingsinformatie

De beoordeling bestaat uit volgende opdrachtcategorieën:
Examen Schriftelijk bepaalt 50% van het eindcijfer

HOC Paper bepaalt 50% van het eindcijfer

Binnen de categorie Examen Schriftelijk dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:

Exam met een wegingsfactor 50 en aldus 50% van het totale eindcijfer.

Binnen de categorie HOC Paper dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:

Paper met een wegingsfactor 50 en aldus 50% van het totale eindcijfer.

Aanvullende info mbt evaluatie

Written exam : 50% of the final score: the student has to answer three questions based on the course material: the definition and recontextualization of a key concept, the description of an historical process and a critical reflection on the place of Africa in the historiography of globalization.

1°: For mid-October a one-pager with a proposed research question, and the justification of its relevance and feasibility, to be approved by the titular.

2°: For early November: A bibiliography of 15 to 20 references, to be submitted to the titular

3°: For late November: a table of contents for the essay, to be discussed with the titular during an individual feedback session

4°: For early January: submission of the essay.

50% of the final score will be based on the essay’s grading.

Toegestane onvoldoende

Kijk in het aanvullend OER van je faculteit na of een toegestane onvoldoende mogelijk is voor dit opleidingsonderdeel.

Academische context