28760 - History and Institutions of Africa

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 COURSE BEGINS ON 29TH JANUARY 2024

The course is divided into two modules. Module 1 Storia e Istituzioni dell'Africa (1) Prof. Karin Pallaver AND Module 2 Storia e Istituzioni dell'Africa (2) Prof. Domenico Cristofaro. Students taking Storia e Istituzioni dell'Africa (1) should make reference only to the programme for Module 1 (Prof.ssa Pallaver).

Module 1 Storia e Istituzioni dell'Africa (1) Prof.ssa Pallaver:

The first part (6 hours) is an introduction to the history of sub-saharan Africa and its connections to global historical processes from 1800 to 1960. Those students who do not have a background in African history can read R. Reid, A History of Modern Africa. 1800 to the Present, Wiley 2012. In this first part we will also analyse the main developments of the African History field and the main elements of the historiographical debates, also in relation to the field of Global History. The second part of the course will explore sub-saharan Africa during the colonial period. The analyses will be situated into the larger framework of the history of European imperialism in the 19th and 20th century. This part of the course will specifically focus on the colonial encounters. Through the analysis of some specific thematic issues, such as gender relations in the colonies, the relation between European and local languages, the impact of colonial money on African societies, violence and genocide, colonialism and memory, we will reconstruct the history of colonialism in Africa as a process of continuous interaction and negotiation between the colonizers and the colonized societies.

MODULE 2 History and Institutions of Africa (2) Prof. Cristofaro:

The second module will primarily focus on the post-colonial period. The module will center on representations of Africa through a historical investigation that, starting from the contemporary era and tracing back, allows us to highlight the construction of the "discourse" on Africa. The following themes will be addressed, with each subject being examined in terms of its historical roots, historiographical debate, and modes of representation: trade and migrations; 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 classroom discussions. If the number of students will allow it, additional individual and group work can be proposed on the topics covered in the second module. Through debates, case study presentations, methodological and analytical investigations, the module aims at improving skills in historical research. Furthermore, the module is designed to refine competencies and knowledge necessary for engaging with colonial and post-colonial archives, oral sources, and understanding the diversity of colonial and post-colonial experiences.

Readings/Bibliography

Module 1 Storia e Istituzioni dell'Africa (1) Prof.ssa Pallaver:

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 four books:

(This is a bibliography in English only; if you prefer to read the texts in Italian, please make reference to the Italian page of the course)

Compulsory readings:

Gilbert, Erik and Jonathan T. Reynolds, Africa in World History: From Prehistory to the Present. Boston: Pearson, 2012 [3rd edition]

AND

Cooper, F., Africa in the world. Capitalism, Empire and the Nation-State, Cambridge, 2014

AND

One among the following:

Johannes Fabian, Language and Colonial Power. The Appropriation of Swahili in the Former Belgian Congo 1880-1938, University of California Press, 1986.

Katherine Luongo, Witchcraft and colonial rule in Kenya, 1900-1950, Cambridge University Press, 2015.

John M. Mugane, The Story of Swahili, Ohio University Press, 2015

Carina Ray, Crossing the Color Line: Race, Sex, and the Contested Politics of Colonialism in Ghana, Ohio University Press, 2015

MODULE 2 History and Institutions of Africa (2) Prof. Cristofaro:

 

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

 

PLEASE NOTE: students who have 12CFU in their study plan, have to read the books of both module 1 and module 2 (6 books in total).

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.

Module 1 Storia e Istituzioni dell'Africa (1) Prof.ssa Pallaver:

STUDENTS ATTENDING THE COURSE:

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

a. participation to classes and discussions

During the course, you will have to keep up on the readings assigned every week and discusse in class. To receive a positive evaluation for this part, you will have to engage with the readings and assignments, to think actively about them and to participate to class discussions in a positive way. There will be a total of four group discussions during the course. To be considered as attending students you have to participate to all the discussions. The material analysed in class will be discussed also during the oral exam.

b. oral exam

Students will be evaluated on the basis of an oral exam. During the exam, you will have to discuss the articles and book chapters (5 in total) which will be uploaded on virtuale.unibo.it and discuss the main topics analysed during the course: gender, money, language, violence using the material that will be uploaded on virtuale.unibo.it. During the exam, you have to show that you are familiar with the most important processes that characterize the history of Africa during the colonial period and that you are able to situate it in a wider historical perspective. You also have to demonstrate that you are able to discuss methodological problems and use an appropriate terminology.

STUDENTS NOT ATTENDING THE COURSE:

Students not attending the course will be evaluated on the basis of an oral exam. During the oral exam you will be asked four questions, one on each book you have read. During the exam, you have to show that you are familiar with the most important processes that characterize the history of Africa during the colonial period and that you are able to situate it in a wider historical perspective. You also have to demonstrate that you are able to discuss methodological problems and use an appropriate terminology. You have to read all the books assigned. If the reading list is not clear enough or you have problems in finding the texts, please contact Prof. Pallaver by e-mail.

Module 2 History and Institutions of Africa (2) Prof. Cristofaro:

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 (both modules):

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)

 

PLEASE NOTE: Students who are taking this course as part of the integrated course African History and Institutions (12 CFU for History and oriental studies and for Cultural Anthropology and Ethnology) will take two different exams: one for the first module History and Institutions of Africa (1) LM Prof. Pallaver and one for the second module History and Institutions of Africa (2) LM by Prof. Cristofaro. The final grade will be the arithmetic average of the two marks obtained in the two modules.

Teaching tools

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

Office hours

See the website of Karin Pallaver

See the website of Domenico Cristofaro