ANTH 220: Peoples and Cultures of Africa

Minnesota State University Moorhead/Spring 2009

T, H 3:00- 4:15PM, KH 217

Instructor: Dr. Bruce Roberts

Office: KH 213; Telephone 477-2043

 Office Hours: M,W 10AM-2:30 PM; T, TH 10:30-11:30AM

E mail: robertsb@mnstate.edu

Course web site: http://web.mnstate.edu/robertsb/220

Official Course Description

An anthropological survey of the major cultural areas of the African continent with particular reference to sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives

In this course we’ll explore some fundamental principles that are necessary for understanding the many hundreds of societies and cultures that exist in Africa. My primary goal is to help you to develop a more nuanced and analytical perspective of Africa and its place in the world, both past and present. In so doing I also hope to dispel some of the many stereotypes about Africa that are perpetuated in the West.

Logistics

The course will be divided into parts. First we’ll explore the geography, prehistory, and history of the African continent. The aim here is to provide a sense of appreciation for the physical and historical bases upon which the societies and cultures of contemporary Africa are constructed. This part of the course covers the period from the emergence of the first hominids, approximately 4-5 million years ago, until the end of European colonial rule in the second half of the twentieth century. Second, we’ll examine the basic elements/building blocks/pillars of African social and cultural systems, including subsistence practices and economic systems, marriage and family, religion, and politics. Both similarities and differences will be accentuated. Then, in the time remaining at the end of the semester, we’ll consider some of the challenges facing Africans today – issues such as economic development, rapid population growth, HIV/AIDS, human rights, and processes of democratization. The critical importance of the anthropological perspective for understanding all of these matters will be continually emphasized throughout the course.

Required Books

Gordon, April A. and Donald L. Gordon

2006   Understanding Contemporary Africa. Fourth Edition. Lynne Rienner Publishers.

Nancy Lundgren (read this for the midterm exam)
2002    Watch and Pray: A Portrait of Fante Village Life in Transition. New York: Harcourt Brace. 

Suggs, David N. (read for the final exam)
2002    A Bagful of Locusts and the Baboon Woman: Constructions of Gender, Change, and Continuity in Botswana. New York: Harcourt Brace.   

Supplementary materials are hyperlinked to the online version of this syllabus.

Important Details on Evaluation

 Please read the following paragraphs very carefully.

EXAMS: The midterm exam will be worth 100 points and the cumulative final exam will be worth 150 points. Both will be comprised of objective questions (multiple choice, true-false, matching) and an essay or two. You’ll need a good explanation to take a make-up exam which will be all essay and given only at my discretion if you present me with a verifiable excuse or proof of extenuating circumstance (e.g., a death in the family or major vehicular problems) within 48 hours of the exam. Failure to do either results in automatic forfeiture of the exam grade.

QUIZZES: Six (6) unannounced pop quizzes, each worth 20 points, will be administered throughout the semester. They’ll probably be short answer format and administered in the first 15 minutes of class. No make up quizzes will be given. Since I only factor in 100 points for quizzes the sixth one is like a bonus or a drop quiz, depending upon how you look at it. I encourage you to view it as a bonus and thus a way to get a few extra points.

ATTENDANCE: Attendance is at your own discretion. I assume you are taking this class because you want to learn something about Africa. Whether or not you come to class is your decision. I do not take attendance but I can assure you that consistently missing class will adversely affect your grade. When you come to class please try to stay engaged and in return I will do my best to make it educational, if not also entertaining. You will quickly discover that Africa is very important to me and I will do my utmost to enlighten you on the realities of life there.

READINGS: If you do the assigned readings BEFORE coming to class on that particular day lectures will make more sense. This also makes my job easier and you will probably do better on the quizzes. 

VIDEOS: Although the best thing to do would be to take everyone to Africa with me, unfortunately this is unfeasible. Thus, I show quite a number of videos to illustrate ideas, concepts, places, or people we are talking about in class or dealt with in the readings. Videos bring the subject matter alive, so please pay attention and take notes. I do ask video-based questions on the exams!

EXTRA CREDIT: None will be given. Just do what you are supposed to do and you’ll be fine.

“Students with disabilities who believe they may need an accommodation in this class are encouraged to contact Greg Toutges, Coordinator of Disability Services at 477-5859 (Voice) or 1-800-627-3529 (MRS/TTY), CMU 114 as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.”

Summary of Evaluation Criteria

Grading scale

Schedule of Topics