History of Modern Africa

6 ECTS credits
177 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 1023245BNR for all students in the 1st semester of even academic years (e.g. 2012-2013) at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.

Semester

biennial: 1st semester of an even academic year (e.g. 2012-2013)

Enrollment based on exam contract

Impossible

Grading method

Grading (scale from 0 to 20)

Can retake in second session

Yes

Enrollment Requirements

'History of Migration’ opnemen houdt in dat je geslaagd bent voor ‘Maatschappijgeschiedenis II’ .

Taught in

English

Faculty

Faculty of Languages & Humanities

Department

History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics

Educational team

Benoît Henriet (course titular)

Activities and contact hours

39 contact hours Lecture
60 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study

Course Content

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

Course material

Digital course material (Recommended) :

Additional 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.

Learning Outcomes

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.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 50% of the final mark.
LEC Paper determines 50% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Exam with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Within the LEC Paper category, the following assignments need to be completed:

Paper with a relative weight of 50 which comprises 50% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

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.

Allowed unsatisfactory mark

The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context