Prof.

Michael Lambert
Office: 102 Battle Hall10:10-11:00 MWF
Phone: 966-5496
Email: mlambert@unc.edu

Fall Semester 2015

1005 Global Education Center
Office Hours (GEC): MWF 11:00-12:00

AAAD 101: Introduction to Africa

This course is designed to provide you with a working knowledge of Africa. You will be able to
apply this knowledge in interpreting current events in Africa as they are reported in the national
media. This course will also prepare you for more advanced courses in African Studies,
anthropology, and international studies, among others. Some of the topics we will study during
this semester are the geography of Africa, pre-colonial societies and kingdoms, colonialism,
African Nationalism, contemporary politics and economics, and African religious beliefs. Upon
completion of this class students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of 1) the geography
and physical features; 2) the historical conditions under which contemporary African emerged; and
3) the longstanding economic and political relationships that have existed between Africa and
other regions of the world.
Course Requirements: All students are expected to attend all classes and to complete all
assigned readings. Attendance and participation will be considered in assigning final grades. I do
not offer extra credit, so please do not ask. Your final grade will be based on the assignments
listed below. Please take note of the dates on which the assignments are due. Late assignments
will be penalized.
Map Quiz (Sept. 4)
First Mid-Term (Oct. 2)
Second Mid-Term (Nov. 6)

10%
30%
30%

Final Exam (Dec.11)

Attendance

25%
5%

Grading Scale A=94-100; A-=90-93.99; B+=88-89.99; B=84-87.99; B-=80-83.99; C+= 78-79.99;

C= 74-77.99; C-=70-73.99; D+=68-69.99; D=60-67.99; F=59.99 and below
Map Quiz: This is a short evaluation of your ability to identify the nations and capitals of the
African continent. So as to avoid confusion and misinformation please refer to the list of member
countries (current, suspended, and withdrawn) provided on the Member States of the Africa
Union Wikipedia page. The capital of each country is indicated on this page. You can click on
the country name to learn the location of the country in Africa. Information from other sources
may not be considered correct for the purpose of this quiz. In order to receive full credit your
spelling must be correct. Note that you must learn both the countries and their capitals.
First and Second Mid-Terms: These are tests designed to evaluate your knowledge of the
materials covered since the last quiz. Please note that all students are expected to be available to
attend all class meetings and there will be no make-up exams, even if the exam is rescheduled to a
different date.
Final Exam: The final exam will be cumulative. Note that per UNC policy the date of the final
exam cannot be changed at the discretion of the professor. If you cannot be present at the final
exam you will need to receive permission from the College to schedule a make-up exam.

Attendance: Class sessions are an important component of the course and attendance will be kept
for each class. In order to receive credit for attendance you must sign the attendance sheet in
class. If you do not sign the attendance sheet in class you will not receive credit for having
attended the class, even if you have other evidence that you were in class. Excused absences will
be recognized for religious observances and verified illnesses and verified family emergencies only.
Falsification of the attendance sheet is a violation of the honor code and will be referred to the
honor court. All students must be present for all exams and evaluations, even if they are
rescheduled. For more information on this please see the section on class attendance in the
Undergraduate Bulletin.
10 Page Writing Requirement: To fulfill this requirement of all general education classes you will
produce ten pages of original written text on selected assigned readings for this class. You will be
expected to produce a 2.5 page reflection paper (1 inch margins, 12 point) on each of the four
indicated texts. The due date for each assignment is indicated next to the book on the syllabus.
These do not constitute a fixed percentage of your grade but I will review the materials that you
submit to fulfill this requirement. Failure to satisfactorily complete this assignment (in terms of
quality, quantity, or lateness) will negatively affect your grade. Exceptional work could positively
affect your grade.
It is your responsibility to make sure that I receive all of your assignments. Please note that UNC
policy does not allow faculty to communicate with students concerning confidential issues via
email as email is an insecure form of communication. All questions concerning grades must be
address in private during office hours or through printed communication. This syllabus may be
revised during the semester at the discretion of the instructor.
The Honor Code is, as always, in effect for this course. All students are required to visit
honor.unc.edu and review UNCs honor code. Any student suspected of willfully engaging
in academic dishonesty and/or plagiarism will be referred to the honor court.
Technology Policy: This is a technology free classroom. Unless otherwise instructed by the
professor, students are not allowed use any electronic technology, such as tablets or computers, in
the classrooms. All phones and other electronic devices must be turned off. Students who fail to
adhere to this policy will be asked to leave the class. Students are strictly forbidden from
having phones, computers, tablets, or any other electronic device with them during an
exam. Students who are found to have such a device in their possession during an exam
will not receive any credit for the exam and may be referred to the honor court. If you feel
that you cannot be separated from your phone for the duration of an exam, or if you do not
understand this policy, you are strongly advised to drop this class. This policy will be
strictly enforced without exception.
Texts: The following texts are available at Student Store and/or on reserve at the undergraduate
library.
Required: Africa (fourth edition), Grosz-Ngate, Hanson, and OMeara (Indiana, 2014); A
History of Sub-Saharan Africa (second edition), Collins and Burns (Cambridge, 2014), Things
Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe (Heinemann); Weep Not, Child, Ngugi Wa Thiongo (Heinemann); So
Long a Letter, Mariama Ba (Heinemann); My First Coup dEtat, John Dramani Mahama
(Bloomsbury)
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Course Schedule: Topics and Readings:

Introduction (Aug 19)
1) Looking at Africa (Aug. 21 - Aug. 31)
This section is designed to introduce you to the continent of Africa. We will examine some
features of the physical and human geography of the African continent. We will also discuss some
preconceptions and stereotypes that we have concerning Africa so that we may overcome these
stereotypes and view Africa more objectively.
Aug 24: Grosz-Ngate, chapter 1; Collins, chapter 1
Aug 26: Collins, chapter 13
2) Pre-Colonial Societies and Ancient Kingdoms (Aug. 31 Sept. 21)
During this section you will learn about pre-colonial Africa. We will begin by addressing the
different types of societies that have flourished on the African continent. We will examine the
economic activities undertaken by these societies, their social organization, and forms of religious
life. From there we will consider some of Africa's pre-colonial kingdoms. You will learn what
these kingdoms were, how they were governed, why they rose to prominence, and the role they
played in the expansion of the Islam.
Novel: Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe (refection paper due Sept 14)
Aug 31: Grosz-Ngate, chapter 2
Sept 2: Grosz-Ngate, chapters 3, 4; Collins, chapter 3
Sept. 4: Map Quiz
Sept 14: Collins, chapters 6, 7, 9
Sept 21: Grosz-Ngate, chapter 5
3) European Explorations (Sept 23 - Oct. 3)
This section will examine the European exploration of Africa in the 1400s up to the partition of
Africa and the era of colonialism that began in the late 1800s. We will examine the nature of
interactions between Europeans and Africans during this period with a special focus on the era of
the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
Memoire: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudau Equiano, chapters 1 and 2.
Electronic formats of this text are available through Project Gutenberg
[http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15399].
Sept 23: Collins, chapter 12
Sept 25: Collins, chapters 14, 15, 16
October 2: 1st Mid-Term
4) The Colonial Experience (Oct 5 Oct. 23)
This section explores one the era of European imperialism in Africa. At the end of this section
you should understand which of the European powers engaged in colonialism, which territories
these nations claimed, why they embarked on imperial projects in Africa, the different ways in
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which European countries administered their colonies, the impact that colonialism has had on the
people of Africa, and why colonialism came to an end.
Novel: Weep Not Child, Ngugi wa Thiongo (reflection paper due Oct. 12)
Oct 7: Collins, chapters 17, 18.
Oct 9: Collins, chapters 20, 21
Oct 21: Collins, chapters 19, 23
5) African Nationalism (Oct. 26- Nov. 6)
African nationalism was one unforeseen outcome of the colonial era. In this section we will
examine how African nationalism developed and the ways by which it was a response to the
European domination of the continent. We will develop an appreciation for different expression of
African nationalism, its connections with Pan-Africanism, and the role that African nationalism
played in the achievement of African independence.
Novel: So Long a Letter, Mariama Ba (reflection paper due Nov. 9)
Oct 26: Collins, chapter 22
Nov. 6: 2nd Mid-Term
6) Post-Colonial Africa (Nov 9 Dec 2)
In this section we will examine some of the political problems that African nations have
confronted since independence. You will develop and understanding of the characteristics of postcolonial political regimes in Africa and the challenges that African nations have faced in attempting
to forge and maintain democratic forms of government.
Memoir: My First Coup dEtat, John Dramani Mahama (reflection paper due Nov 30)
Nov 11: Collins, chapters 24, 25
Nov 13: Grosz-Ngate, chapter 12, 13
Nov 20: Collins, chapter 26
Final Exam (Dec. 11, 8am)
*Topics and reading assignments, and their orders on the syllabus could be changed, but not
matters related to grading (other than the specific dates of various assignments). Notice of such
changes will be by announcement in class (or email notice) or by changes to this syllabus posted
on the course website.

Accommodation of disabilities policy: Students who feel they may need

accommodations based on the impact of a disability should contact the
course instructor to discuss their needs. Students with documented
disabilities should also contact the Department for Disability Services at
919-962-8300 in SASB North Building, Suite 2126 to coordinate
necessary accommodations for exams and other in-class assignments.
Visit the internet address of this office at disabilityservices.unc.edu for
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more information.