75650 - History and Institutions of Africa (2) (LM)

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will be familiar with the historical sources needed to study the history of sub-Saharan Africa. They will know the main social, economic and political processes that have characterized the history of the African continent over the long term. They will be aware of the main historiographical debates on the history of sub-Saharan Africa, especially on colonialism, the decolonization process and the building of the post-colonial state. They will be able to plan and develop a research on subjects connected to African history and cultures. They will acquire the ability to talk and write about Africa using the specific terminology of the field.

Course contents

The lessons will focus primarily on the post-colonial period and on representations of Africa through a historical investigation that, starting from the present and tracing back, will allow the students to highlight the construction of the "discourse" on Africa. The following topics will be examined, each in terms of its historical roots, historiographical debates, and modes of representation: trade and migration; liberation struggles; nationalism; decolonization processes; post-independence development policies; structural adjustment programs. These topics will be contextualized through the analysis of specific case studies. As in the first module, students will actively participate in the course through class discussions. Additional individual and group work will be proposed on the topics covered in the second module. Through debates, case study presentations, methodological and analytical investigations, the module aims to enhance historical research skills. It also aims to refine the skills and knowledge necessary for engage with colonial and post-colonial archives and oral sources, and to understand the diversity of colonial and post-colonial experiences.

Readings/Bibliography

STUDENTS ATTENDING THE COURSE:

Students attending the course will be given weekly readings, that are designed to complement the lectures. The readings and assignments will make students think about African history and historiography in a critical perspective. The material will be uploaded on virtuale.unibo.it at the beginning of the course and the material on specific themes will be uploaded each week

STUDENTS NOT ATTENDING THE COURSE:

Students not attending the course will read a total of 3 books:

Compulsory readings:

Richard Reid, 2012, A History of Modern Africa. 1800 to the Present, Wiley

Frederick Cooper, 2002, Africa since 1940. The past of the present, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press

And one among the following:

Abbink J., van Walraven K., de Bruijn M., 2003, Rethinking Resistance. Revolt and Violence in African History, Leiden: Brill

Ahlman J.S., 2017, Living with Nkrumahism: Nation, State, and Pan-Africanism in Ghana, Ohio University Press

Allman J.M., Parker J., 2005, Tongnaab: The History of a West African God, Bloomington: Indiana University Press

Berry S., 1993, No Condition Is Permanent: The Social Dynamics of Agrarian Change in Sub-Saharan Africa, Madison: University of Wisconsin Press

Nugent P., 1995, Big Men and Small Boys: Power, Ideology and the Burden of History in Rawlings’ Ghana, 1982-1994, London: Mansell.

Pierce S., 2016, Moral Economies of Corruption: State Formation and Political Culture in Nigeria, Durham: Duke University Press

Teaching methods

Lectures and class discussions. Archival documents and photographs, travelogues, biographies, novels, will be presented and analyzed in order to better situate the historical processes discussed in class.

Assessment methods

Students who attend at least 75% of classes as well as all class discussions are considered to be attending.

STUDENTS ATTENDING THE COURSE:

Students attending the course will be evaluated on the basis of:

a. participation to classes and discussions

Attending students are required to read the materials made available on virtual.unibo.it weekly. There will be a total of four group discussions during the second module. In order to be considered attending, students must participate in the four discussions. Signatures will be taken to verify attendance at the classroom discussions. The material discussed in the classroom will also be the subject of some questions during the oral examination. Attending students may arrange changes in the exam syllabus with the lecturer. In addition, those who attend may agree with the lecturer to prepare a paper on a topic of their choice to be discussed during the exam.

b. oral exam:

Attending students will be evaluated on the basis of an oral examination, during which they will be required to:

1. discuss the articles available on virtuale.unibo.it;

2. present the topics discussed in the classroom (to be prepared via the power points uploaded on virtuale.unibo.it and notes);

3. present and discuss (based on what was discussed during the course and the material made available by the lecturer) the topics analyzed during the course;

4. present and discuss the contents of a written paper (if previously agreed upon with the lecturer).

During the oral examination, you will be expected to demonstrate knowledge of the main events that characterized African history during the post-colonial period, as well as the ability to situate the specific examples discussed in class or analyzed in the texts within broader historical processes. In order to pass the exam, the student will be expected to use appropriate and discipline-specific terminology and to discuss arguments in an organic and comprehensive manner. The use of improper terms, gaps in preparation and poorly argued answers will negatively affect the grade.

EVALUATION:

If the student achieves an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the topics discussed in class and required for the discipline; provides an effective critical commentary; shows mastery of expression and uses the specific language of the discipline, he/she will obtain very good or excellent in the final evaluation (28-30L).

Average marks (satisfactory-good) will be awarded to students who have memorized the main points of the material and are able to summarise them satisfactorily, while however failing to display a complete command of the appropriate terminology or contents (22-27).

An incomplete command of contents and/or inappropriate terminology, albeit in a context of minimal knowledge of the course material, will lead to a 'pass' mark (18-21).

A student will fail the exam if he/she makes significant mistakes in the understanding of the relevant topics and fails to grasp the overall outlines of the course topics, together with a poor command of the appropriate terminology (< 18)

Teaching tools

Power point presentations with images and maps. These will be made available to the students and uploaded on virtuale.unibo.it.

Students who require specific services and adaptations to teaching activities due to a disability or specific learning disorders (SLD), must first contact the appropriate office: https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students.

Office hours

See the website of Domenico Cristofaro