This is an introductory as well as an overview course.  It is designed to serve
two purposes.  The first purpose is a general introduction to the field of African
Studies.  The other purpose is to allow faculty who participate in the African
Studies Institute to present their areas of expertise and teaching interests so that
students will have both a broad idea of the types of scholarship involving Africa
available at UGA, and an opportunity to select an area of focus for their own 
studies.
     
A major focus of the course will be the wholesome representation of how
African societies are structured into groups, such as nations, linguistic groups, 
classes, and occupations.  In providing this wholesome representation, we will
consider three specific things.  First, we will consider how these groupings
developed historically and are maintained over time through institutions.
Second, we will consider the different changes these institutions have gone through
and their impact on all the identified groupings.  Finally, we will focus on factors
of solidarity and conflict, particularly as these relate to social hierarchy and
conceptions of history and identity.  The underlying theme will be about Africa
then, now, and the challenges for Pan-Africanism.

Organization of the Course:

Four types of class activities will take place.  First, I will involve you in 
a systematic reading with weekly assignments.  This we will discuss every two weeks
or so.  Second, you will receive additional reading materials or selections from 
the class texts associated with the lectures of participating professors.  These will 
be placed on reserve or handed out before the lecture.  Third, you will be divided 
into pairs or small groups and assigned a country for which you will be expected to 
prepare and present a report at the end of the semester.  Fourth, we will view 
films and may listen to various audio tapes and radio shows as much as possible.

Taking notes will be very important to this class since most of our information 
will be obtained by lecture and discussion.  Students must turn in summaries of the 
notes from each lecture and readings for the week-See attached instructions for 
weekly notes.  Notes are due each Tuesday!!!!!

Other Requirements:

1)You will be required or expected to attend various African-related events,
  lectures, and programs on campus.
2)You might be required to listen to African-related programs on radio and 
  television.
3)This class outline and the list of guest speakers (that you will receive next 
  week) are subject to change and will be updated constantly.  However, the
  evaluation procedure for the class will remain the same.
4)Students will be expected to augment their class discutions with information 
  from assigned readings, internet surveys, and data collection from selected 
  individuals of targeted African countries of interest. 

General Expectation:

Engage the materials, the presenters, and myself so as to facilitate your learning 
of new information and reinforcing what you already know.

Topics for Required Readings (required text only):

Week         Topic(s)
 1            General Introduction. Historical & Geographic Contextualization
 2            Peoples & Languages
 3            Pre-Colonial Legacies
Readings:    Chapter 1,2,&3

 4            Colonialism and its Aftermath
 5            National Liberation and Political Change
Readings:    Chapter 4 & 13

TEST 1

 6            Religions and World Views
Readings:    Chapter 11

 7            Economic Development
Readings:    Chapter 5

 8            Social Structures & Institutions: Family and Kinship
 9            Social Structures & Institutions (continued)
                a. Education   b. Health   c. Sports, etc.
10            Gender and Societies/Education
Readings:    Chapter 9 & 10

TEST 2

11            Surveys: Pan-Africanism & African Diaspora
Spring Break:   Bibliography Assignment
12            Literature and the Arts
Readings:    Chapter 12

13            Agriculture
14            Environment and Geography
15            Changes and Effects: Growth, Development, and Underdevelopment
Readings:    Chapter 6,7,& 8

TEST 3

16            Africa and the World Today (Review & Students' Presentations)
Readings     Chapter 14

THE COURSE SYLLABUS IS A GENERAL PLAN FOR THE COURSE; DEVIATIONS ANNOUNCED TO THE
CLASS BY THE INSTRUCTOR MAY BE NECESSARY!