African 277: Africa: An Introductory Survey

This course is designed to be a multi­-disciplinary introduction to the cultures and history of Africa. Because the continent contains a remarkable array of languages, societies, and peoples, we cannot hope for exhaustive coverage. However, we will visit almost every major region of the continent at least once during the semester. With this in mind, the course is divided into five broad thematic units: Africa and the World before the 19th Century; Colonialism; Postcolonial Politics and Economic Development; Health, Disease, and Healing; and Popular Culture and Everyday Life. I hope that you will take away from the course an understanding not just of what to think about the history and cultures of Africa but also how to think about this region of the world.