Ethnography of Africa  (Afri 80)
 

This course uses ethnography (detailed case studies) to introduce you to the study of African cultures and societies.  By examining ethnographic texts you will learn about topics in African studies such as systems of thought, aesthetics and arts, the economy, politics, social organization, and  identity.  You will also learn about the production of ethnographic texts as a sub-discipline of anthropology and the issues that this raises with respect to the politics of representation.

  Instructor

Texts

Study Guide

African and Afro-Am. Studies

 Requirements

Course Schedule

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  Professor Michael Lambert, Ph.D.

Department of African and Afro-American Studies
  Email address

Web address

Phone number

Office

Office Hours

 mlambert@email.unc.edu

http://www.unc.edu/~mlambert

962-3536

102 Battle Hall

TBA
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  Requirements
  All students are expected to attend all classes and to complete all assigned readings.  Attendance and participation will be considered in assigning final grades.   Your final grade will be based on the assignments listed below.  Please take note of the dates on which the  assignments are due.  Late papers will be penalized.  Map Quiz (September 13) 10%
  This is a short evaluation of your ability to identify the nations and capitals of the African continent. You can find a map and a list of countries and their capitals in the text Understanding Contemporary Africa, edited by Gordon and Gordon (page 22). Use this map to study for the map quiz. Note that you must learn both the countries and their capitals.
  First Exam (October 4) 15%

Second Exam (November 1) 15%

Final Exam (December 10) 20%

Research Paper (December 6) 15%
 

You will have the opportunity to write a research paper (10-15 pages) on either 1) the ethnography of a particular African ethnic group or 2) the ethnography of a topical issue relevant to African Studies.  You will also have the opportunity to make a preliminary presentation of your research findings.
  Presentation 10%

Attendance and Participation 15%
 

The ethnographic genre, by definition, is comprised of written texts.  The only way to master this genre is to engage in a close textual reading of the assigned texts.  Therefore, it is essential that we read the assigned readings and come to class prepared to discuss these readings.
  It is your responsibility to make sure I receive all of your assignments. Remember to bring blue books to the midterm and final exam.

The Honor Code is, as always, in effect for this course.
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  Texts
  The following text is available at the Student Store.  It is also on reserve at the Undergraduate Library. 
Roy Richard Grinker and Christopher B. Steiner (eds), Perspectives on Africa.  (Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Pub, 1997)
 
 
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  Course Schedule

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Introduction: Aug. 18

Understanding the Peoples of Africa (Aug. 23 - 30) 

E.E. Evans-Pritchard, "The Nuer: Time and Space"
Southhall, "The Illusion of Tribe"
Comaroff, "Of Totemism and Ethnicity"
Witchcraft, Science, and Rationality (Sept. 1 - 15)      Map Quiz: Sept 13
Livingstone, "Conversations on Rain-making"
Evans-Pritchard, "The Notion of Witchcraft Explains Unfortunate Events"
Horton, "African Traditional Thought and Western Science"
The Meanings of Money and Work (Sept. 20 - 27) 
Bohannan, "Some Principles of Exchange and Investment among the Tiv"
Coquery-Vidrovitch, "Research on an African Mode of Production"
Shipton, "Bitter Money"
Sex and Gender (Oct. 6 - 13)           Review and Exam: Sept. 29, Oct. 4
Boserup, "The Economics of Polygamy"
Van Allen, "Sitting on a Man"
Hansen, "Body Politics"
Ethnography and Colonialism (Oct. 18 - 25)
Lugard, "The Dual Mandate in British Tropical Africa"
Rodney, "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa"
Ngugi, "Detained"
Understanding Nationalism in Africa (Nov. 3 - 10) Review and Exam: Oct. 27, Nov. 1
Senghor, "Negritude"
Fanon, "On National Culture"
Berman, "Nationalism, Ethnicity, and Modernity"
The Question of Representation and Discourse (Nov. 15 - 22)
Comaroff, "Africa Observed"
Owusu, "The Ethnography of the Useless"
Appiah, "Europe Upside Down"
Conclusion Dec. 6

Final Exam Dec. 10 (4:00 P.M.)

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