CONTEMPORARY WEST AFRICAN HISTORY THROUGH FICTION AND FILM
Fall 2006
Sylvie Coulibaly
Fridays, 1:10- 4 pm
Office Hours: Mon: 3:30-5:30 p.m., Tues & Thu PM 4-6 p.m. and by appointment
Office: Seitz 7
Ph.: Ext. 5624
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES
In their own words…
Novels and films are a powerful tool of historical representation in modern societies and Africa is no exception. The sub-Saharan African novel is a recent phenomenon, dating back for the most the part, to the early twentieth century. The African film is of even more recent vintage and to a large extent remains a marginal form of expression for most of sub-Saharan Africa. However small a group they still remain, sub-Saharan novelists and filmmakers have had a considerable impact on the societies that produced them. We will examine the influence of African novelists and filmmakers on the political and social realms of their societies and attempt to determine the relationship between novels, films, and the historical reality of sub-Saharan Africa from the 1940’s to the present. We shall also focus on how novels and films have been shaped by the historical forces they have attempted to transcend. Finally, we will analyze what vision Africans have of their past and their judgment of it.
REQUIRED READINGS
1. Ousmane Sembène, God’s Bits of Wood (on reserve)
2. Amidou Hampathé Bâ, The Fortunes of Wangrin, (on reserve)
3. Ferdinand Oyono, House Boy, (on reserve)
4. Cheik Amidou Kane, The Ambiguous Adventure, (on reserve)
5. Mariama Bâ, So Long a Letter, (on reserve)
6. Calixte Beyala, Your Name Shall Be Tanga,
7. Amadou Kourouma, Waiting for the Vote of Wild Animals, (Côte d’Ivoire)
8. Ali Mazrui & Christophe Wondji, General History of Africa since 1935 (on reserve)
Students should expect occasional handouts
EVALUATION
1. Class participation and discussion: 10%
2. Film/book reviews: 60% (3 reviews, 20% each)
3. Final Paper: 30%
RESPONSIBILITIES
* Attendance: Each student is expected to attend class regularly and on time. Students are allowed one unjustified absence during the semester. Any other unexcused absence will result in the deduction of a full letter grade. Excuses must be obtained from the Dean of Students or the Dean for Academic Advising.
* Class meetings: Students are expected to have read the assigned material and to be fully engaged in class discussion. The class participation grade will be based on student participation in the classroom.
* Film/Book reviews: Each student is required to submit five 3-5 page (excluding the cover page and the bibliography) reviews comparing and contrasting the issues presented in both the book and the film. Students will make an oral presentation on one of their three reviews. Reviews are due on the day the material is discussed, see dates below.
* The final paper, no less than 10 pages (excluding the cover and the bibliography) comparing and contrasting:
Aimé Césaire, A Season in the Congo (on reserve)
Raoul Peck, Lumumba, La Mort du Prophète
Thierry Michel, Mobutu, King of Zaire: An African Tragedy (on reserve)
Recommended:
Dominic Thomas, Nation Building, Propaganda and Literature in Francophone Africa (on reserve)
Adam Hoschild, King Leopold's Ghost
Michela Wrong, In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz
All books on reserve. The instructor will provide additional guidelines for the final paper.
Late Work: NO late work will be accepted without a valid excuse from the Dean of Students or the Dean of Academic Advising.
HONOR CODE
In order to ensure academic integrity, Kenyon College has established an Honor Code.
The Honor Code of Kenyon College prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty, which include cheating and plagiarism. In accordance with the policy of the Kenyon College any breach of the Code will be immediately reported to the Academic Infractions Board. Plagiarism and academic dishonesty: students must read the relevant portions of the 2006-2007 Course of Study. The instructor will clarify any concern students may have on these issues.
COURSE SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER
8th Film: Camp de Thiaroye, Ousmane Sembène (Sénégal)
15th Discussion: Camp de Thiaroye and Ousmane Sembène, God’s Bits of Wood; Jean Suret- Canale & A. Adu Bohaen, “West Africa, 1945-60,” (Mazrui & Wondji) John Springall, Decolonization Since 1945, chap 1 & 2 (ERES)
22nd Film: Mandabi, Ousmane Sembène (Sénégal)
29th Discussion: Mandabi and Amidou Hampathé Bâ, The Strange Fortunes of Wangrin, Leonardo A. Villalón, “Islamism in West Africa, Senegal” (ERES)
OCTOBER
6th Film: Zan Boko, Gaston Kaboré (Burkina Faso)
13th Discussion: Zan Boko and Ferdinand Oyono, House Boy; Catherine Coquery-Vidrovitch, “Economic Changes in Africa in the World Context,” Pierre Kipré,
“Industrial Development and Urban Growth, 1935-1980” (Mazrui & Wondji)
20th Film: Touki Bouki, Djibril Diop Mambéty (Sénégal)
27th Discussion: Touki Bouki and Cheik Amidou Kane, The Ambiguous Adventure
NOVEMBER
3rd Film: Visages de Femmes, Désiré Ecaré (Côte d’Ivoire)
Discussion: Visages de Femmes and Mariama Bâ, So Long a Letter, Babacar Fall, “Senegalese Women in Politics, A Portrait of Two Female Leaders, Arame Diène and Thioumbé Samb, 1945-1996,” Marlene Dobin, “Colonialism and the Legal Status of Women in Francophonic Africa” (ERES) Diane L. Barthel, "The Rise of a Female Professional Elite: The Case of Senegal" (JSTOR)
17th Film: Hyènes, Djibril Diop Mambéty (Mali)
24th Discussion: Hyènes and Calixte Beyala, Your Name Shall Be Tanga, Firinne Ni Chréacháin, "If I Were a Woman I would Never Marry an African" (JSTOR) Kadiatu Kanneh "Wigs and Veils: Cultural Construction of the Body" (ERES)
DECEMBER
1st Film: Ashakara, Gérard Louvin (France)
8th Discussion: Ashkara and Amadou Kourouma, Waiting for the Vote of Wild Animals, Alex De Waal, “How Will HIV/AIDS Transform African Governance?” Cyril K. Daddieh, "Elections and Ethnic Violence in Côte d'Ivoire," (ERES) Beth Elise Withaker, "Citizens & Foreigners: Democratization and the Politics of Exclusion in Africa" (ERES)
December 16th - Final paper due at 5 p.m.
All films and documentaries are on reserve
47
1