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Culture and Identity Linkages of the Swahili with the Outside World I

Course Description

Exploration of the multi-textured identity of the Swahili people and how they came to occupy a prominent position in the world from a historical, geographical, anthropological, political, scientific, linguistic, religious, as well as cultural point of view. An examination of contributors to bias and exploitation of formerly colonized populations through a process of reflection and community-based engagement. Their relationship to African Americans and other cultures is emphasized.

Athena Title

The Swahili and the World I

Equivalent Courses

Not open to students with credit in CMLT 3001, SWAH 3001, AFST 3001, ANTH 3001, CMLT 3001E, SWAH 3001E, AFST 3001E, ANTH 3001E

Non-Traditional Format

Course includes a service-learning project during the semester that either employs skills or knowledge learned in the course or teaches new skills or knowledge related to course objectives. Students will be involved in the project's planning and implementation(s) and may spend time outside the classroom. Students will spend 10-30 hours in a community agency especially non-profit organization seeking to resettle immigrants, including those from Africa, and particularly Swahili speaking countries, to understand and critique its social change efforts and develop reform or strategic ideas to improve such efforts.

Prerequisite

Students must be able to collaborate with peers to complete a given project, such as a group presentation

Semester Course Offered

Offered fall

Grading System

A - F (Traditional)

Student Learning Outcomes

  • Students will be able to serve the local and broader community by assisting nonprofits receiving Swahili speaking immigrants and/or other immigrants from Africa to improve their efforts.
  • Students will be able to evaluate cultural, social, and other needs of Swahili speaking immigrants and/or other immigrants from Africa through participation in a service-learning project here in Athens; the class will partner with local community programs and organizations addressing educational, social and cultural needs of African immigrants.
  • Students will be able to apply their knowledge about pros and cons of foreign aid; reflect upon such ideas after interacting first-hand with recipients of foreign aid while in Africa and after coming to America.
  • Students will be able to apply their new knowledge about Kwanzaa in identifying aspects of the Swahili culture present among African Americans here in Athens.

Topical Outline

  • What is Kwanzaa and how is it related to the Swahili people and language?
  • Who are the Swahili people?
  • Geographical position of the Swahili coastal states
  • History of the Swahili civilization
  • Internal and external trade networks: contact with the outside world
  • Theories about the origins and ownership of the Swahili civilization
  • Archaeological, anthropological, and architectural marks of the Swahili culture and language
  • Effects of colonization, issues of identity, dependency, and decolonization
  • Sustainability and the Swahili coast
  • Foreign aid and developing countries
  • African Americans and the Swahili culture
  • Cross-cultural influence of Kiswahili names of African Americans
  • Prospects of Swahili attaining a global status among the world languages
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