African American and African Studies

2251: Introduction to African Literature

Fall 2017
Syllabus

Professor Cheikh Thiam

Days and Time T-R 9:35-10:55
Office hours T-R 11:30-1:20 p.m. by appointment
220 Hagerty Hall
Phone 292-6905
Email thiam.5@osu.edu

Access
Students with a disability have a right to an equal opportunity
to participate and benefit from programs offered at OSU.
Students who choose to exercise these rights have a
responsibility to initiate and participate in the accommodation
process. Students have a responsibility to identify themselves
as needing accommodation in a timely fashion.
Course Description

This course is an introduction to African Literature. We will explore African literature

through the analysis of epic texts, novels, poems, and drama, written by African authors
and dealing with issues pertaining to Africa. Starting with the epic of Soundiata, students
will have the opportunity to discuss the relation between orality and history and the
modes of formation of nation and nationality in African nations such as the Mande.
Then, the analysis of Things Fall Apart, will lead us to the question of the birth of the
novel in Anglophone Africa and the aesthetic particularities of the African Novel.
Finally, Gods Bits of Wood and Joys of Motherhood will enable us to explore the
question of gender in Africa through the analysis of contemporary African Literature.

Throughout the semester, we will not only study the aesthetic particularities of African
Literature, we will also discuss important themes in African studies such as class, gender,
religion, tradition, modernity, colonization, decolonization, nation, and nationality, etc.,
in pre-colonial, colonial, and postcolonial African thought. We will also determine, in a
historical perspective, the discursive practices in African thought from pre-colonial
Africa to the present.
Course Objectives

This course attempts to introduce students to the study of African Literature. At the end
of this class students will be familiar with the main genres of African Literature and with
important themes that have dominated African thought. They will also develop an
informed appreciation of different manifestations of being and different understandings
of the world in African societies such as Malinke, Wolof, Igbo, etc.

The course also offers students instruction and practice in:

actively engaging complex intellectual questions

developing the ability to think critically about questions or problems (i.e., to
create responses to questions that are carefully supported by learned data,
persuasive analysis, and/or investigative methodology)
refining the ability to express thoughts verbally
expressing clearly in written and spoken form their thinking and the rationales,
processes, or logic essential to their conclusions

Instructional Method

This course is doscission based.

Students will be asked to do oral and written exercices in class and at home
Students will be required to make presentations
We may have both pop quizzes and scheduled tests
You will receive a deduction in grade for any late work.
Need Help? I am always ready and eager to meet with you during my office hours
or by appointment. Do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Late work Policy

Late papers will be graded down one letter grade for each day they are late.

Academic Integrity

The OSU Student Code of Conduct, chapter 3335-25 identifies prohibited types of
behavior, please read and familiarize yourself with this section. This is your
responsibility as an OSU.

Feel free to contact me if you have questions about what is or is not plagiarism. I'm
always happy to help students who make a good-faith effort to do things right.
Attendance
- After the first unexcused absence, each subsequent absence will result in
lowering your final papers grade by half a letter grade.
~An excused absence is an absence justified by a doctors note

- Two tardies are considered an absence

- If you come to class unprepared, you will be marked absent.

- Coming to class unprepared is equivalent to an absence

Evaluation

I- Participation 15%
4/5- A
3/5- B
2/5- C

II-Presentation : 10%

II - Paper 1: 35%
Paper 2 : 40%

Note

All major assignments must be completed to pass the course.

Course Schedule

I- Oral literature and pre-colonial African history

Week 1:
Tuesday August 22: No class, I will be at a conference
Thursday August 24: Film, The Heritage of the Griot

Week 2:
Tuesday August 29: Sundiata 1
Thursday August 31: Sundiata 2

II-Literature and History: The Colonial Encounter and the Invention of Africa
Week 3:
Tuesday September 5: Lost Civilizations: Africa
Thursday September 7: Things Fall Apart1-74

Week 4:
Tuesday September 12: Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart 75-125
 Thursday September 14: Things Fall Apart 126-156

III-Womens voices
Week 5:
Tuesday September 19: Things Fall Apart 156-End

Thursday September 21: Film TBA

Week 6:
Tuesday September 26: The Joys of Motherhood, Chapter 1-6

Thursday, September 28: The Joys of Motherhood, Chapter 7-10

Week 7:
Tuesday, October 3: The Joys of Motherhood, Chapter 11-13

Thursday October 5: The Joys of Motherhood, Chapter 13-15

IV- Literature, Decolonization, and Identity

Week 8:
Tuesday, October 10: The Joys of Motherhood, Chapter 15-18
Thursday, October 12: Autumn break

Week 9:
Tuesday, October 17: Film Camp de Thiaroye

V-Literature and Politics: The Postcolonial voices

Thursday, October 19: Gods Bits of Wood

Week 10
Tuesday, October 24, Gods Bits of Wood
Thursday, October 26: Gods Bits of Wood

Week 11:
Tuesday, October 31: Gods Bits of Wood

Thursday, Novermber 2: Gods Bits of Wood

Week 12:
Tuesday, November 7: Film
 Thursday, November 9: Ambiguous Adventure

Week 13:
Tuesday, November 14: Ambiguous Adventure

Thursday, November 16: Ambiguous Adventure

Week 14:
Tuesday, November 21: Ambiguous Adventure

Thursday, November 23: Thanksgiving break

Week 15:
Tuesday, November 28: Presentations

Thursday, November 30: Conclusion

Week 16
Last Day of Class

Final paper due: Thursday March 9 at noon.

Djibril Tamsir Niane, Sundiata: An Epic of Old Mali, Pearson; Revised Edition edition
Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, 50th anniversary edition, Anchor Books
Cheikh Hamidou Kane, Ambiguous Adventure, Heinemann
Buchi Emecheta, The Joys of Motherhood Pearson; Revised edition (September 4,
2008)
Sembene Ousmane, Gods Bits of Wood, Pearson