Required Texts:

Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart (Nigeria)
Mariama Ba, So Long a Letter (Senegal)
Sembene Ousmane, Xala (film; Senegal)
Tsitsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions (Zimbabwe)
Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Devil on the Cross (Kenya)

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About the Course:

African literature has an established canon of writers who have been widely and positively received in the west; African literary groups have consistently foregrounded lively and provocative debates about the extent and damage of English/colonial influence, whether it be reflected in creative writing in English (versus writing in African languages) or in larger cultural issues of economic development and uneven growth, globalization, increasing impoverishment, the AIDS crisis, women's issues in patriarchal societies (polygamy and female circumcision, to name just two); and so on. This course covers a wide range of issues in the literature and includes a wealth of geographical diversity (Nigeria, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Kenya). The objective of the course is to introduce students to African literature while paying special attention to the cultural contexts embedded in and produced by the literature:  conflicts between tradition and modernity in societies undergoing social change; government and economic development; the African women's movement and feminist topics; oral versus written traditions; and status of English and creative English-language use.

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Course Requirements:

1. Attendance and participation constitute an important component of the course as this is primarily a discussion group with lecture as a minor component only.You are allowed a maximum of two unexcused absences, after which each absence will incur a penalty of 5% of the quarter grade.Your two unexcused absences will need to be discussed with me ahead of time so that you may complete assigned work without suffering any penalty. If you come late to class, you must see me after class to have your attendance recorded. If you fail to do this, the recorded absence will not be corrected later. Three late arrivals are equivalent to one absence. Finally, if you come to class unprepared, I may count you absent and ask you to leave. As for participation, while I certainly will not force you to speak, I would urge that you make an effort to find and make use of your voice whenever possible. In this way, you will have a full and satisfying sense of having entered the community that we are building in the classroom. It is intended that occasional small group work will give students a sense of belonging while facilitating discussion and allowing everyone to participate.
    

2. You will write one 5-page essay on an assigned topic. Guidelines and topics to follow. This essay is due on the last day of class, March 14.
    

3. A mid-term examination consisting of multiple-choice questions testing students' basic knowledge of the required reading will take place on Feb. 14.
    

4. Class Reports/Fourth-Hour Project: Each student is required to work either individually or in a group of two or three in order to present a 4-page typed and double-spaced class report to the entire class. This is your fourth hour project. Reports are intended to encourage opportunities for individual and collective action and research. Class members working in groups will each receive the same grade. The topic of your class report will be chosen by you, but it should focus on some meaningful aspect of our assigned texts, preferably the text we are discussing on the day of your report. While you should feel free to discuss what you find noteworthy/significant/puzzling/troubling about our readings, you should attempt to show to the rest of the class the relevance of your findings. Consider researching your topic in the library to demonstrate its relevance for readers. Students may also elect to do background research on some meaningful aspect of a text, author, historical period, or national culture. Please be sure to bring to class handouts of a typed outline of your report to give to students and at all times feel free to consult with me as you develop ideas for your class report. On the following class day, please turn in your report to me for my review and comments.

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Tentative Schedule of Classes:

Week 1, Jan. 6-10:    Introductions; begin Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart
Week 2, Jan. 13-17:  Complete Achebe
Week 3, Jan. 22-24:  Begin Mariama Ba, So Long a Letter
Week 4, Jan. 27-31:  Complete Ba; view film Xala
Week 5, Feb. 3-7:     Discuss Xala; begin Tsi Tsi Dangarembga, Nervous Conditions
Week 6, Feb.10-14:  Complete Dangarembga; mid-term examination
Week 7, Feb. 17-21: Begin Ngugi wa Thiong'o, Devil on the Cross
Week 8, Feb. 24-28: Discuss topics for 5-page essay
Week 9, Mar. 3-7:    Complete Ngugi
Week 10, Mar. 10-14: Conclusions; 5-page essay due

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