THE UNIVERSITY OF HONG KONG

SCHOOL OF MODERN LANGUAGES AND CULTURES

AFRICAN STUDIES PROGRAMME

Africa China Relations

Lecturer: Roberto Castillo
Contact: rocas@hku.hk
Time: Tuesdays 4:30 pm - 6:20 pm
Venue : CPD-2.16

First day of teaching: Jan 19 2016

Last day of teaching: Apr 26 2016
Reading week: Mar 7 11 2016

Course Description

In recent years, China and Africa have renewed their relations at many different levels.
From political engagement to increased trade and economic relations, and perhaps more
importantly, to increased contact between ordinary Africans and Chinese. The figures of
Chinese living in Africa, and Africans living in China, have increased to a point that has
no parallel in the history between these two regions. What are the implications of
contemporary Sino-African engagements? What does this mean for the future of these
regions and the world? In order to provide answers to these questions, this course
introduces the main debates around Sino-African engagements and analyses some of the
associated sociocultural, political and economic processes. Instead of simply reviewing
the main literature on Africa-China relations, this course takes you into a critical and
interdisciplinary journey in which crucial aspects of these relations are analysed through
various texts and documentaries. Through discussion and analysis, this course will
challenge extant narratives about Africa-China relations and delve into the possibilities
(i.e. opportunities and challenges) that this renewed engagement entails.

Course Objectives

Consider the ways in which Sino-African relations have evolved throughout

history and to explore the possibilities for the future.
Explain the complex and contested dynamics of Africa-China relations.
Critically analyse and challenge extant representations about Chinese presence in
Africa and African presence in China.

Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course, students should be able to demonstrate:
an understanding of historical encounters, contemporary exchanges, and issues of
representation around Africa-China relations;
general knowledge around the major debates, themes and concepts in AfricaChina relations;
an ability to critically engage in discussions about the topic, and reflexively apply
the knowledge generated in the course to future research;
critical reading, writing, and analytical skills.
Delivery: Lectures, class discussions, field trip*.

Attendance and Conduct

In order to facilitate the class discussion, I will usually lecture during the first hour of
each class. For the rest of our time, we will make use of film clips and class discussion to
delve deeper into the complexities of the topic at hand. For your part, please complete
the weekly readings before class and use the Media Analyses and Reading Responses to
further explore the subjects we cover. Please make sure you critically engage with the
readings and bring your interpretations and perspectives to class, as I expect you to
develop and employ critical and creative thinking skills to your best ability.
You are expected to come to class prepared and on time, and to bring your
readings with you. I will take the roll at the beginning of each class. You will be allowed
one absence (without an excuse) over the course of the semester to accommodate any
illness, family emergency, or other conflict that might arise. Any additional absence
(without justification) will cause you to lose 2% of your attendance mark. Regardless of
the reason for your absence, you are responsible for catching up on all material covered
in class that day.
Please note that any changes in the syllabus and announcements of class activities
will be made on Moodle and/or via email.

Assessment

Attendance 10%
Course Participation 10%
Media Analyses (4) 20%
Reading Responses (2) 20%
Final Paper 40%

Course Participation
Each of you represents a potential learning resource for everyone else in the class. As
such, the questions and comments you make in class might help your classmates better
understand the readings, deepen the experience of a lecture or panel discussion, and
stimulate new lines of thought or inquiry. I value and will recognize the thoughtful and
informed contributions each of you make to our class discussions. Students are to treat
each other with civility and respect and to distinguish between criticism of ideas and
personal attacks. The latter is neither appropriate nor acceptable in the classroom.

Media Analyses (4) 20%

Africa-China relations is a highly dynamic and evolving field. Each week, dozens of
articles, stories and analyses appear in regional and international media. In order to stay
up-to-date with the latest news and events, all students will be required to produce 4
short media analyses over the duration of the semester. The pieces selected for analysis
must relate to the themes covered in the course. Keywords relating to the themes can be
found below each week on the syllabus. This activity is better done progressively over
the semester, so the first two analyses need to be submitted in (or before) Week 7 and
the second two in (or before) Week 11. Each analysis should be no more than 250 words
and needs to include a 100-word summary and a 150-word analysis. In the analysis, you
should critically reflect on how the piece has been written, who wrote it, and why. I
highly encourage you to use these media analyses as a background research activity for
your Final Paper. Media analyses will:

keep you up-to-date with the main issues and debates in Africa China Relations;
help you with ideas for your Final Paper;
and provide extra resources for deeper engagement in class discussions.
2

Reading Responses (2) 20%

Critical reading skills are one of the most important aspects of academic life. In order to
help you improve your critical reading skills, you will be required to write responses for
two of the assigned readings. Each response should be 500-600 words, and is due at the
start of the class session on the day when we discuss the readings in question. Responses
may not be turned in after the day on which the readings are discussed. For the first
response, choose any reading between Week 3 and Week 7. For the second response,
choose any reading between Week 8 and Week 11. For reference, please consult the
Reading Response sample on Moodle. Responses will:

ensure that each week several of you are well prepared for discussion;
help you with your research for the Final Paper;
and help you improve your critical reading skills and scholarly writing.

Final Paper 40% (Due May 2)

The Final Paper is a great opportunity for you to explore your particular interests in
depth, and I encourage you to expand on the topics explored in your Media Analyses and
Reading Responses. Alternatively, you can select a new topic within the scope of AfricaChina relations. Please note that all topics must be approved. Your paper should be no
less than 1800 words and no more than 2000 words (double-spaced, font size 12), with at
least 4 academic sources (i.e. books, journal articles), and 4 non-academic sources (i.e.
newspaper articles, blog posts).
You are required to submit a Schematic Structure of your Final Paper by
week 10 (Apr 12). This is a one-page plan where you introduce the general argument of
your paper. This can be done in the form of an abstract, or as an index in which you list
the points/arguments that you intend to make. The Schematic Structure will be counted
towards your final mark (5%), and I will provide general feedback on the Schematic
Structure by week 11 (if needed). Final papers should be submitted via Moodle, through
the Turnitin originality checking tool by May 2, with no exceptions.

*Field Trip
We will organize one field trip over the weekend during the semester. Date and location:
TBA.

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

If you have specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disabilities and require

accommodations, please let me know during the first week of class so that your learning
needs may be appropriately met. All discussions will remain confidential.

Reading List
Specific readings and chapters are listed for each lecture below. As a minimum, you
should plan to read the primary reading before each lecture.

COURSE SCHEDULE
I. INTRODUCTION
Week 1 Jan 19: Introduction, main themes
No readings

Week 2 Jan 26: A new scramble for Africa?

Primary reading
Large, D. Beyond the Dragon in the Bush.
Screening: The Battle for Africa

II. HISTORICAL ENCOUNTERS

Week 3 Feb 02: Early encounters and pre-modern imaginations: did
the Chinese discover Africa?
Primary reading
Snow, P. Chinese Columbus
Wyatt, D. Blacks of premodern China Chapter 1
Other sources
Smidt, W. A Chinese in the Nubian and Abyssinian Kingdoms (8th
Century)
Wilensky. The Magical Kunlun and Devil Slaves: Chinese perceptions
of dark skinned people and Africa before 1500
Keywords: #Kunlun #ZhengHe #ChengHo #Trade #DuHuan #Malindi
#IbnBattuta #MingDinasty #VascoDaGama #NewSilkRoad #Coolies

Week 4 Feb 16: Race and racism: Anti-Sinicism in colonial Africa

and the idea of race in modern China
Primary reading
Sautman, B. Anti-black racism in post-Mao China
Harris, K. Anti-Sinicism: Roots in pre-industrial colonial South Africa

Other sources
Dikotter, F. Group definition and the idea of race in modern China
(1793-1949)
Keywords: #Race #Racism #Racialisation #Blackness #LiangQiChao
#Confucianism #ChineseRestaurant #Nairobi #Xenophobia #Sinophobia

Week 5 Feb 23: Bandung from aid to trade: China and Africa
Cooperation Non-alignment
Primary reading
Alden, C & Alves, C. History and Identity in the construction of Chinas Africa
policy
Burguess, G. Mao in Zanzibar: Nationalism, discipline, and the (de)construction
of Afro-Asian solidarities
Other sources
Ferme, M C & Schmitz, C M. Writings on the wall: Chinese material
traces in an African landscape
Keywords: #SinoAfricanSolidarity #AfroAsianPeriod #AntiImperialism
#MaoZedong #CulturalRevolution #TechnicalSupport #ForeignInvestment
#NoStringsAttached #Industrialisation

III. CONTEMPORARY EXCHANGES

Week 6 Mar 1: The Chinese are coming: The politics of the SinoAfrican encounter in Africa
Primary reading
Wang, F & Elliot, E. China in Africa: presence, perceptions and prospects
Hess, S & Aidoo, R. Charting the roots of anti-Chinese populism in Africa: a
comparison of Zambia and Ghana
Other sources
Chan, S. The Middle Kingdom and the Dark Continent: an essay on
China, Africa and many fault lines in: Morality of China in Africa 3-43.
Screening: BBC The Chinese are coming
Keywords: #Representation #YellowPeril2.0 #ChineseThreat
#NewScrambleForAfrica #NeoImperialism #ChinaModel

--------------------------------Reading Week: Mar 7 11 (no class)

---------------------------------

Week 7 Mar 15: A new path for Africas future?

Primary reading
Sautman, B & Hairong Y. African perspectives on China Africa links
Brautigam, D. & Tang, X. African Shenzhen: Chinas special economic zones in
Africa
Other sources
Leman, P. China-Africa relations, political conditions, and Ngugi wa
Thiongos Wizard of the Crow
Keywords: #Representation #YellowPeril2.0 #ChineseThreat
#NewScrambleForAfrica #NeoImperialism #ChinaModel

Week 8 Mar 22: Soft power and Neo-colonialism: Is Africa Chinas

second continent?
Primary reading
Banda, F. China in the African mediascapes: a critical injection
Marsh, V. Mixed messages, partial pictures? Discourses under construction in
CCTVs Africa Live compared with BBC
Other sources
Alden, C. Through African eyes: representations of China on the African
continent
Keywords: #NeoColonialism #SoftPower #ConfuciusInstitute
#CulturalDiplomacy #TCM #CCTV #NTANEWS

IV. CHINESE IN AFRICA

Week 9 Apr 5: The African Dream: Chinese migration to Africa
Primary reading
Ndjio, B. Shanghai beauties and African desires: migration, trade and Chinese
prostitution in Cameroon
Park, Y. Perceptions of Chinese in Southern Africa: Constructions of the other
and the role of memory
Screening: When China met Africa (To be confirmed)
Other sources
Haugen, H. On the edge of the Chinese diaspora: the surge of baihuo
business in an African city

Keywords: #Coolies #Labour #CommercialMigration #SouthAfrica

#SecondContinent #Trade #Migration

V. MEDIA REPRESENTATION
Week 10 Apr 12: Africans in Chinese media: Chinas Chocolate Girl
Primary reading
Robeson, T, & Lin, Z. Ethnic identity and racial contestation in cyberspace:
deconstructing the Chineseness of Lou Jing.
Other sources
Cheng, Y. From Campus Racism to Cyber Racism: discourse of race and
Chinese nationalism
Keywords: #LouJing #ChocolateGirl #DingHui #Heiren #Heigui #Blackness
#Ethnicity #Chineseness

--------------------------------Final Papers Schematic Structure due this week (week 10 Apr 12)
---------------------------------

VI. AFRICANS IN CHINA

Week 11 Apr 19: Africans on the move: looking for greener pastures China as a migrant destination? Guest Speaker (TBC)
Primary reading
Castillo, R. Homing Guangzhou: Emplacement, belonging, and precarity among
Africans in China
Haugen, H. African Pentecostal migrants in China: marginalisation and
alternative geographies of a mission theology
Screening: China Remix Screening and Q&A with directors on Nov 26 or 27
(TBC)
Other sources
Lan, S. State regulation of undocumented African migrants in China: a
multi-scalar analysis
Han, H. Individual grassroots multilingualism in Africa Town in
Guangzhou: The role of states in globalisation
Keywords: #ChocolateCity #LittleAfrica #Guangzhou #Entrepreneurs
#Overstayers #Migration #Trade #AfricanMusicians #Sanfei #Illegality

VII. CONCLUSIONS
Week 12 Apr 26: Overview of the semester
FINAL PAPER SUBMISSION: MAY 2

Date

Week/Topic

19/01

Week 1: Introduction, main themes

26/01

Week 2: A new scramble for Africa? | Screening The Battle for

Africa
Week 3: Early encounters and pre-modern imaginations Did the
Chinese discover Africa?
Lunar New year Holiday

02/02
09/02
16/02

08/03

Week 4: Race and racism: Anti-Sinicism in colonial Africa and the

idea of race in modern China
Week 5: Bandung, from aid to trade: China & Africa Cooperation
and Non-alignment
Week 6: Screening The Chinese are coming the politics of the
Sino-African encounter in Africa
HKU Reading Week

15/03

Week 7: A new path for Africas future?

22/03

Week 8: Soft power and Neo-colonialism: is Africa Chinas second

continent?
Easter Holidays

23/02
01/03

29/03
05/04
12/04
19/04
26/04

Week 9: The African Dream: Chinese migration to Africa - Guest

lecturer? Or Screening When China met Africa (TBC)
Week 10: Africans in Chinese media: Chinas Chocolate Girl
Week 11: Africans on the move: looking for greener pastures China
as a migrant destination? Guest Speaker (TBC)
Week 12: Overview of the semester: The politics of informality, other
complexities and the future.

Lectures: Mon 4.30 6.30

Venue: CPD-2.16
First day of teaching : Jan 18th 2016
Last day of teaching : Apr 26th 2016
Reading week: Mar 8th 2016