Mr. Robert Smith         History l0lC -4W         Spring 2000
Wittenberg University   Hollenbeck Hall 316         TTh 2:l0-3:40

"Soyinka is never writing about the Nigerian background in a sociological sense, but about human beings who happen to exist very fully in this particular time and place...We make contact with this society in the only meaningful way, from the inside, by means of what we already share in common with it." (David Cook)

We would like to make contact with African societies through the insiders' perceptions offered by the novels of Achebe, Ba, Brink, Oyono and Ngugi, the autobiography of Laye, and a play by Ngugi. All are African. An anthropological and historical survey by Bohannan and Curtin provides explicit analytical insight into the topics we will be learning about inductively through the novels.

During the first part of the course, we shall be exploring the traditional aspects of African culture: social relations, economic and political systems, religion and arts. The second part of the course will look into those aspects of African history which have marked the past century: colonialism and racism. A third part will look into the current African scene.

We will be thrice served by the novels. First, they are to be read, savored, enjoyed, and understood as artistic wholes--the emphasis being, however, on understanding African culture as the novels reveal it rather than on literary criticism.

Secondly, the novels will provide insights into the functioning of African society. You will need to read the relevant chapter in Bohannan-Curtin each time. Quizzes, two tests and a final exam will help me to evaluate your abilities in relation to these first two uses of the novels.

Thirdly, you will exploit the same novels for your term project. This will consist first of all of a series of papers one (l) page in length, typed double-spaced, to be turned in each week. These papers should be on the subject which you have chosen from the suggested list below, on material TAKEN FROM THE NOVEL OF THE WEEK. Hopefully no two people will have the same topic. If there is no material on your topic in the novel of the week, write a reaction to the novel in general or to any aspect of it. It is crucial that these papers be on time, so that you will be able to contribute to class discussions.

Finally, in regard to the term project, the weekly materials you have gathered by your research on the novels are to be written up formally as a TERM PAPER. There need be no outside research on this. Just pull things together on what the various novels have to say about your selected topic. As this is due Tuesday, 25 April, the play by Ngugi, I Will Marry When I Want, can not be included.

Thus at the end of the semester you should have a small library of African literature which you will have thrice covered in this manner, leading to an understanding of the novels themselves, and of the topics which they illuminate, and an original term paper which will be a memento of your efforts.

Several films will be aimed at enhancing your understanding of African history and culture.

Please purchase the following books:

Achebe, Chinua. Arrow of God. N.Y.: Doubleday & Co., l989.
Ba, Mariama. So Long a Letter. Portsmouth, N.H.: Heinemann, l989.
Bohannan, Paul and Philip Curtin. Africa and Africans. Prospect Heights,IL:
    Waveland Press, l995.
Brink, Andre. A Dry White Season. NY: Penguin Books, l979.
Laye, Camara. The Dark Child. NY: Hill and Wang, l99l.
Ngugi wa Thiong'o. A Grain of Wheat. London: Heinemann, l986.
Ngugi wa Thiong'o & Ngugi wa Mirii. I Will Marry When I Want. London:
    Heinemann, l984.
Oyono, Ferdinand. Houseboy. London: Heinemann, l966, l990.
blank map of Africa (physical)
blank map of Africa (political)

Work will be weighted as follows:
Test no. l: 20%; Test no. 2: 20%; Final Exam: 30%.
Term project, quizzes: 30%. As this is an interactive course, attendance and participation at all sessions is extremely important. Each unexcused absence above two absences will result in a reduction by l% of the final grade.

Test #l is on Tuesday, 8 Feb. Test #2 is on Tuesday, 2l March. Term paper is due Tues. 25 April. Final exam is at 3:30 PM, Tuesday, May 9. Please: no exceptions. Mark these dates on your calendar now.

Complete honesty is expected in all work (see Student Handbook pp. l24-26.

I will be in my office at 3ll Hollenbeck Hall MWF 9:l0-l0:l0 and TTh 3:50-4:50. You are welcome to come at other times as well if we can work out a mutually convenient time. Office phone is 7843. Home phone is 399-2005. e-mail: "rsmith".

SCHEDULE OF TOPICS AND READINGS

A. TRADITIONAL AFRICAN CULTURE

Week II (l8 Jan.)  TRADITIONAL ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES IN AFRICA
    Laye, chap. 2,4,9-l2
    Bohannan & Curtin, pp. 4l-45 + chap. 6

Week III (25 Jan.) TRADITIONAL POLITICAL SYSTEMS IN AFRICA
    Chinua Achebe, Arrow of God, chap. l-ll
    Bohannan & Curtin, chap. 7

Week IV (l Feb.) TRADITIONAL AFRICAN RELIGION
    Achebe, chap. l2-l9
    Bohannan and Curtin, chap. 9

Week V (8 Feb.)
    TEST no. l: Tue, 8 Feb
    THE ARTS IN AFRICA: Thur. l0 Feb
        Bohannan & Curtin, chap. 4

                    B. THE COLONIAL CENTURY

Week VI (l5 Feb.) FRENCH COLONIALISM: AN AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE
    Ferdinand Oyono, Houseboy, pp. l-63
    Bohannan & Curtin, chap. l7 & l8

Week VII (22 Feb.) SAME TOPIC CONTINUED
    Oyono, pp. 64-l22

Week VIII (29 Feb.) BRITISH COLONIALISM: AN AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE
    Ngugi wa Thiong'o, A Grain of Wheat, chap. l-8
    Bohannan & Curtin, chap. l9

SPRING BREAK

Week IX (l4 Mar.) SAME TOPIC CONTINUED
    Ngugi, chap. 9-end
    Bohannan & Curtin, Chap. l9

Week X (2l Mar.)
    TEST no. 2: Tuesday, 2l March
    RACISM IN SOUTH AFRICA: Thur. 23 March
        Andre Brink, A Dry White Season, pp l-l63.

Week XI (28 March) SAME TOPIC CONTINUED
    Brink, pp. l65-3l6

Week XII (4 Apr.) THE CHANGING ROLE OF AFRICAN WOMEN
    Mariama Ba, So Long a Letter
    Bohannan & Curtin, chap. 20

Week XIII (ll Apr) SAME TOPIC CONTINUED

Week XIV (l8 Apr.) NEOCOLONIALISM IN THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER
    Ngugi wa Thiong'o,I Will Marry When I Want

Week XV (25 Apr.) SAME TOPIC CONTINUED

TERM PAPER due Tuesday, 25 April

Week XVI (2 May) CONCLUSION

FINAL EXAM: Tuesday, 9 May at 3:30 PM

l. Marriage in African society

2. Relationships within the family: parent-child, etc.

3. Growing up in African society, including initiation and
    education.

4. Traditional African religious beliefs and practices

5. Arts: visual arts, music, dance, festivals, etc.

6. African economic systems: traditional and/or modern

7. The role of women in African society

8. Islam and Christianity in Africa

9. Traditional African political systems

l0. Colonial rule in Africa: administration, the African chief, etc.

ll. Expatriate (white) society in Africa

l2. Africa and the West: culture conflict and/or European
    perceptions of Africans and vice-versa

l3. other

                                                XL syl-ahn