Why is the past so often a subject for contentious debate in the present? When and how does popular culture engage and represent the past without engendering controversy or debate? What is the relationship between popular presentations of the past and scholarly writings about history? The course introduces African novels as valid source material to understanding Africa's past. The novel in Africa is a pertinent source of information that can be used to both substantiate other historical records and to uncover themes that might have previously been underrepresented in African historiography. In order to answer the questions, this course begins with an examination of sources and methods used by historians of Africa and writings that suggest possible linkages between the novel and history and the novelist and the historian. Oral tradition and the role of the griot, or oral historian, will transition the class into the African novel and the role of the African author. Once we have formulated a theoretical outline of the relationship between history and the literary canon in Africa, we will examine selected novels from different historical periods in Africa. We will focus some attention on gender and Africa.

Are there global parallels that can be made about women cross-culturally? Where can scholars draw the line between victimization, resistance, and cultural/ethnic nationalism? This seminar is designed to introduce students to the historical study of women in Africa, both topically and methodologically. Thematically, students will examine themes of slavery, economic participation, prophetic movements, marriage and circumcision as they dialogue with changes affecting Africa such as the growth of trade, religious conversion, colonialism, the market economy, and the creation of national cultures. Methodologically, the course is designed so that students will understand the myriad of sources available for a historical understanding women in Africa such as life histories, songs, films, and novels. Open to Moderated Students. May be used as a Major Conference in Historical Studies or African and African Diaspora Studies.

HIST 373 Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade

LIT 2139 The African-American Tradition

LIT 336 African Women Representations

MUS 211 Jazz in Literature I

NSCI 332 Ecology of African Savannas I

PSY 235 Counseling Psychology

REL 105 Religion of Islam

SST 239 Slavery & the American Experience

SOC 410 Race: Special Topics