English: Lit & Society in Africa

Examines trends in contemporary African literature and relationship to other traditions. Representative topics: African Drama; African Fiction; African Poetry. May repeat for credit with different content. Topics vary by offering; periodic offering at intervals that may exceed four years. Prerequisites: Three hours in English numbered 1010 to 1990; minimum Sophomore standing.

Prereqs: 3 hrs ENGL between 1010- 1990; Minimum Sophomore standing PACE students by permission and override

Through a study of African literature and film, this course will introduce students to various aspects of life in pre-colonial and post-colonial African societies. The course will particularly focus on African writers’ handling of issues like history, colonialism, nationalism, post-independence politics, gender, class, and identity. The following works will be examined in detail: Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative(Chapters 1&2), Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman, L.S. Senghor’s poetry, David Diop’s Poetry, Athol Fugard’s Sizwe Bansi is Dead, Ngugi wa Thiongo and Ngugi wa Mirii’s I will Marry When I Want, Mariama Bâ’s So Long a Letter, and Chimamanda Adichie’s Americanah. This course satisfies D2 & AH2 General Education categories.

My teaching style favors a combination of discussion, Socratic-style debate, and very careful analysis of assigned texts (which means that you must ALWAYS have the required reading material with you in class). I ask that you come to class with your mouth, ears, heart, and mind open; that you listen to and respect each other; and that you challenge yourself, your classmates, and me to do our very best.

Grading is based on class attendance and participation; formal essays; group presentation.