B2582 - DIRITTO TRADIZIONALE AFRICANO

Learning outcomes

It delves into African "traditional" law in its historical-anthropologic dimension, which reaches into the contemporary but requires documented and argued reflection on the diachronic profino (16th-20th centuries), precisely because "traditions" constitute its essence.

Course contents

The course focuses on African traditional customs, in their historical development and current configuration, with particular reference to sub-Saharan West Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Republic of Congo, Chad, Gabon, Cameroon).

It is a geographical space with no written tradition and whose specific law is given exclusively by the traditional law of the different ethnic/clan/tribal groups. The legislative/constitutional framework of European ancestry appears to be either largely disapplied in various legal fields or largely influenced by traditional institutions, which-even if not formally provided for-continue to mark everyday legal practice.

In particular, the lectures will focus on:

- The sources of traditional law, as a result of historical evolution
- "Private law": family, marriage, the status of women, property, succession, contracts
- Justice, crimes and conflict resolution
- The problem of human rights, with special reference to the protection of minorities (e.g., albinos)
- Legal, mystical/irrational, experiences in contemporary times

Readings/Bibliography

- Materials on Traditional Law in West Africa [text to be entered, in new redaction, freely available in Virtual Learning]

- attending students can prepare on lecture notes and supporting slides, which will be available online

Teaching methods

Oral lectures will be given in Semester I, with the support of slides. Spaces for in-depth study and discussion are provided for attending students

Teaching tools

The final exam is presented in oral form and will cover the topics indicated in the syllabus and content section.

For attending students there will be an end-of-course test on the lectures, and an optional short paper on a topic of their choice.

The awarding of the final grade will be guided by the following criteria:

Preparation on a very limited number of topics covered in the course and analytical ability emerging only with the help of the lecturer, expression in overall correct language → 18-19;
Preparation on a limited number of topics covered in the course and ability to analyze independently only on purely executive issues, expression in correct language → 20-24;
Preparation on a large number of topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis, mastery of specific terminology → 25-29;
Substantially comprehensive preparation on the topics covered in the course, ability to make independent choices of critical analysis and linking, full mastery of specific terminology and ability to argue and self-reflect → 30-30L.

Office hours

See the website of Marco Cavina

See the website of Lorenzo Maniscalco