African Ethnography: Complexity, Expertise, and Strategy (ANT230)
This course introduces students to the diverse continent of Africa, focusing on the complexities of African ecological, historical, political, and social contexts. We will study African expert knowledge, strategy, and action to address and manage complexity. By analyzing African systems of language and writing, game theory and political networks, kinship structures and ritual relations, students will gain a deep appreciation of African expertise.
For example, through this course students come to appreciate the dynamic role of African markets and market systems in pre-colonial, colonial, and contemporary times; students will read Sundiata: An Epic of Ancient Mali to study the complexity of political rivalries, competition, and alliances; in discussing slavery, students read about slavery within Africa, between Africa and states in Asia (western Asia, southern Asia, and eastern Asia), in Europe, as well as in the Caribbean, Latin America, and North America. The course will introduce students to the complexities of African kinship systems, networks of ethnic belonging, and political structures. Students will also learn about African writing systems and traditions of literature, both oral and written. The course will introduce students to the mathematical and strategic complexity of African games such as mandala, and will address the dynamic and polyphonic registers of African musical traditions.
The course requires students to read and debate actively, and to generate individual, original research.
This course introduces students to the diverse continent of Africa, focusing on the complexities of African ecological, historical, political, and social contexts. We will study African expert knowledge, strategy, and action to address and manage complexity. By analyzing African systems of language and writing, game theory and political networks, kinship structures and ritual relations, students will gain a deep appreciation of African expertise.
For example, through this course students come to appreciate the dynamic role of African markets and market systems in pre-colonial, colonial, and contemporary times; students will read Sundiata: An Epic of Ancient Mali to study the complexity of political rivalries, competition, and alliances; in discussing slavery, students read about slavery within Africa, between Africa and states in Asia (western Asia, southern Asia, and eastern Asia), in Europe, as well as in the Caribbean, Latin America, and North America. The course will introduce students to the complexities of African kinship systems, networks of ethnic belonging, and political structures. Students will also learn about African writing systems and traditions of literature, both oral and written. The course will introduce students to the mathematical and strategic complexity of African games such as mandala, and will address the dynamic and polyphonic registers of African musical traditions.
The course requires students to read and debate actively, and to generate individual, original research.