LEI0176 - Cultures of Africa
Course Description
In this course, we will explore how three ideologies, which were each essential to the African Independence Movement (Negritude, Afrocentrism, and Pan- Africanism) have empowered scholars, artists, and freedom fighters across the African diaspora to remember and re-imagine what it means to be African, to be human, and to be free. Students will have the opportunity to explore how these ideas challenge and empower them to think more critically about their own identities and their relationship to power. This is an Online Asynchronous course.
Examines the arts of African cultures from ancient times to the present. Studies examples of the visual arts, music, dance, literature, world views, and religious traditions from selected civilizations in North Africa, the Sahel, South Africa, Central and East Africa, and West Africa, excluding countries associated with the Middle East.
Copies of our required texts are available for free semester-long loan. Materials are available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Please reach out to Professor Michael Bentley if you need to borrow a text.
Learner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Analyze Key Ideologies
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Negritude, Afrocentrism, and Pan-Africanism, including their historical origins, philosophical foundations, and roles in the African Independence Movement.
2. Evaluate the Impact of Ideologies
- Assess how these ideologies have empowered scholars, artists, and freedom fighters across the African diaspora to reimagine African identity, humanity, and freedom.
3. Critically Examine Identity and Power
- Reflect on and critically analyze their own identities and relationships to power through the lens of these ideologies.
4. Connect Theory to Practice
- Explore how the principles of Negritude, Afrocentrism, and Pan-Africanism can be applied to contemporary social, cultural, and political challenges within the African diaspora.
5. Engage with Multidisciplinary Perspectives
- Integrate insights from history, philosophy, literature, and art to deepen their understanding of African and diasporic experiences.
6. Develop Critical Thinking Skills
- Construct well-supported arguments that critique or expand upon the ideas presented by these movements.
7. Foster Global Awareness
- Recognize the interconnectedness of African and diasporic struggles for liberation and their relevance in addressing global issues of inequality and systemic oppression.
Notes
This class will utilize Harper College’s Blackboard website for all course materials, discussions, assignments, and feedback/grading information. You should log on to Blackboard as soon as possible after the course start date.
Prerequisites
Be ready and willing to discuss and engage with social justice topics.
Testimonials
“Through the distinction, you get your eyes opened and you become more aware of your surroundings. It’s almost like waking up again.
I’m proud to be an Indigenous woman, and I want to continue learning more.”
“It’s about becoming empowered to enact change on an in-depth, academically sound level. It’s about learning from cultures, not about cultures, and learning how to use my privilege in productive ways to make a difference.”
“A big part of it has been to change my perspective and look at the world in a deeper way than just surface level and what we have been socialized into; to challenge mainstream beliefs and the downplaying of our actions that keep us trapped as participants in a cycle of injustice. Historical change starts with the self.”
Instructors
- Michael Bentley