HNR 280: AFRICAN LITERATURE FROM COLONIALISM TO

INDEPENDENCE
WINTER 2009
Instructor: David lvarez E-!"#: !#$!r%&'()$su*%'u
O++"c%: 272 Lake Huron Hall O++"c% P,on%: 331-3581
O++"c% Hours: W 10:00-11:50 & by appoin!en" ,tt-:..//*)$su*%'u
***On#0 t,% stor0***c!n cont"nu% /%0on' t,% 1!r !n' t,% 1!rr"or* It "s t,% stor0 t,!t
out#"$%s t,% soun' o+ 1!r-'rus !n' t,% %2-#o"ts o+ /r!$% +"),t%rs* It "s t,%
stor0***t,!t s!$%s our -ro)%n0 +ro /#un'%r"n) #"3% /#"n' /%))!rs "nto t,% s-"3%s o+
t,% c!ctus +%nc%* T,% stor0 "s our %scort4 1"t,out "t5 1% !r% /#"n'* Do%s t,% /#"n' !n
o1n ,"s %scort6 No5 n%"t,%r 'o 1% t,% stor04 r!t,%r "t "s t,% stor0 t,!t o1ns us !n'
'"r%cts us*
--#$inua %&$ebe' Home and Exile
Cours% D%scr"-t"on !n' O/7%ct"$%s
($i) &our)e i) $e )e&ond in a *o-par )urvey o+ repre)enaion) o+ %+ri&a in %+ri&an
lieraure' +il!' ar' p$ilo)op$y' and !u)i&" H,-280 %+ri&an Lieraure .ro! #oloniali)!
o /ndependen&e &o!ple!en) 0ro+e))or 1eeve 2u&krid3e4) &our)e H,-280 %+ri&a )in&e
1870: #oloniali)! o /ndependen&e o provide you *i$ )everal len)e) $rou3$ *$i&$ o
under)and $e pro&e))e) $a $ave )$aped $e evoluion o+ )o!e o+ %+ri&a4) !any
)o&ieie) +ro! $e &olonial period o $e pre)en" 5ne purpo)e o+ $e &our)e i) o analyze
$e *ay) in *$i&$ *rier) and o$er ari)) $ave inerpreed $e )ru&ural &ondiion) and
di)in&ive &ir&u!)an&e) o+ di++eren par) o+ &olonial and po)-&olonial %+ri&a" %no$er
ob6e&ive i) o e7a!ine $e inera&ion be*een lierary and o$er &ulural e7) and )o!e
o+ $e key $i)ori&al +or&e) and even) $a $ave )$aped $e &oninen4) $i)ory +ro! $e
urn o+ $e 20
$
&enury $rou3$ $e urn o+ $e 21) &enury8 +or in)an&e' &on9ue) and
&olonial rule' $e )ru33le +or independen&e' and po)-independen&e develop!en)"
($rou3$ou $e &our)e' e!p$a)i) *ill be pla&ed on $o* %+ri&an) $e!)elve) $ave
e7perien&ed' re+le&ed upon' and under)ood $e &$an3e) $ey $ave lived $rou3$ and
$o* $ey $ave 3iven e7pre))ion o $eir re+le&ion) and under)andin3) by !ean) o+
lierary and o$er &ulural +or!)" We )$all pay )pe&ial aenion o $e *ay) in *$i&$
*rier) and +il!!aker) a&ro)) $e &oninen $ave played a key role in $e)e )o&ial
pro&e))e) a) &o!!enaor)' inerpreer)' &rii&)' and advo&ae)"
R%8u"r%' Cours% T%2ts
,3u3i Wa ($ion3o :;enya<" The River Between
1oyinka' Wole :,i3eria<" Death and the Kings Horseman
2a' =aria!a :1ene3al<" So Long a Letter
D6ebar' %))ia :%l3eria<" Children of the New World
De ;ok' /n3rid :1ou$ %+ri&a<" Seasonal ires
Lala!i' Leila :=oro&&o<" Ho!e and "ther Dangero#s $#rs#its
%) *a) $e &a)e la) )e!e)er' $rou3$ou $i) )e!e)er *e *ill be readin3 e7ra !aerial
in $e +or! o+ )$or )orie)' poe!)' +a&-)$ee)' reprodu&ion) o+ ar *ork)' p$oo3rap$)'
illu)raion)' and !ap)" 1o!e o+ $i) !aerial *ill be !ade available o you in &la))'
*$ile )o!e o+ i *ill be available on >-re)erve" /n addiion' *e *ill *a&$ $ree enire
+eaure +il!) a) *ell a) e7&erp) +ro! variou) o$er +il!)" .inally' a) *a) al)o $e &a)e
la) )e!e)er' a $e )ar o+ every &la)) *e *ill li)en o !u)i& +ro! *$i&$ever par o+ $e
%+ri&an &oninen *e *ill be di)&u))in3 on $a day"
.il!) $a *e *ill be vie*in3 in $eir enirey:
aat Kine :1ene3al<
The Battle of %lgiers :%l3eria<
%mandla& % Revol#tion in o#r'$art Harmon( :1ou$ %+ri&a<
Ass")n%nts
%l$ou3$ $e pri!ary a&iviy you *ill underake +or $i) &la)) *ill be a&ive and &rii&al
readin3' you *ill al)o be *riin3 on a re3ular ba)i)' in par be&au)e *e only really !a)er
in)i3$) and &on&ep) by e7pre))in3 $e! in *riin3' and in par be&au)e $i) &our)e
)ai)+ie) an 1W1 :1upple!enal Wriin3 1kill)< re9uire!en" ($i) *riin3 *ill in&lude a
)ub)anive in-&la)) re)pon)e o ea&$ a))i3ned e7 a) *ell a) in-&la)) or on-line re)pon)e)
o ea&$ o+ $e +il!) $a *e *ill be *a&$in3" 5&&a)ionally' you !ay al)o be a)ked o
*rie i!pro!pu in-&la)) or on-line re)pon)e) o !i)&ellaneou) readin3) and vie*in3) or
re+le&ion) on $e *eek4) di)&u))ion)"
/n addiion o en3a3in3 in $e *riin3 a)k) oulined above' you *ill al)o be re9uired o
)ub!i 1'500-*ord analyi& paper) on *o o+ $e +ive a))i3ned e7)" ?iven $e relaively
)$or len3$ o+ $e)e paper)' you *ill $ave o di)pen)e *i$ *riin3 a lon3 inrodu&ion
&onainin3 broad di)&u))ion) o+ $i)ory or o+ li+e and plun3e ino $e $ear o+ your
ar3u!en ri3$ a*ay" .ur$er!ore' $e brie+ len3$ o+ $e paper) *ill +or&e you o *rie in
a) er)e a )yle a) you &an !u)er" .or ea&$ o+ $e analyi& paper) you *ill $ave o devoe
$e bulk o+ $e paper o &o!!enin3 analyi&ally on one di)&ree a)pe& o+ $e e7 in
9ue)ion" ($e +ir) o+ $e *o paper) !ay be revi)ed +or a beer 3rade"
@our +inal pie&e o+ +or!al *rien *ork +or $i) &our)e *ill be a )el+-evaluaion' *$i&$
*ill &$ie+ly ake $e +or! o+ a per)onal analyi& re+le&ion on your en&ouner *i$ $e
a))i3ned e7) and $eir variou) &one7)' a) *ell a) on $e e7perien&e o+ +or!ally
)udyin3 %+ri&an lieraure' )o&iey' and &ulure +or an enire year"
Su!r0 o+ Ass")n%nts
(*o 1'500-*ord analyi& paper)"
0ari&ipaion' in&ludin3 &onribuion) o in-&la)) di)&u))ion)' in-&la)) and on-line
re)pon)e) o $e a))i3ned e7) and +il!)' !i)&ellaneou) in-&la)) or online
*riin3)
1el+-evaluaion"
Cours% E$!#u!t"on
($e +ollo*in3 )u!!ary li)) *$a per&ena3e o+ $e oal 3rade $e variou) a))i3n!en)
are *or$:
(*o analyi& paper) A 2 7 30 A B0C
1el+-evaluaion 7 1 A 1 7 20 A 20C
/n-&la)) or on-line re)pon)e) A 10 C
0ari&ipaion A 10C
Tot!# A 100C
@our +inal 3rade o+ $e &our)e *ill be $e leer e9uivalen o+ $e oal nu!ber o+ poin)
$a you *ill $ave obained +or all a))i3n!en)' in&ludin3 pari&ipaion" 0lea)e noe $a
you !u) &o!plee and )ub!i all a))i3n!en) in order o 3e &redi +or $e &our)e" 0lea)e
al)o noe $a an D%E repre)en) $e produ&ion o+ ver( high to ex*ellent *ork a) *ell a)
o#tstanding pari&ipaion thro#gho#t the entire semester" ($ere+ore' an D%E i) by
de+iniion $ard o 3e" 1o!e &rieria +or ou)andin3 pari&ipaion and +or e7&ellen *ork
in&lude:
>lo9uen )pee&$ and *riin3
($ou3$+ul in-&la)) or on-line &onribuion)"
#on)i)enly i!ely &o!pleion o+ all a)k)"
% !aure and analyi& )el+-evaluaion"
% $e end o+ $e )e!e)er' *$aever 3rade you re&eive +or $e &our)e )$ould re+le& one
o+ $e +ollo*in3 )e) o+ &rieria:
A: -epre)en) o#tstanding !arti*i!ation in all &our)e a&iviie) thro#gho#t the
entire semester8 all a))i3ned *ork &o!pleed on i!e' *i$ ver( high to ex*ellent
+#alit( in all *ork produ&ed +or $e &our)e"
9: -epre)en) good to ver( good !arti*i!ation in all &our)e a&iviie) thro#gho#t
the entire semester8 all a))i3ned *ork &o!pleed on i!e' *i$ *onsistentl( good
or ver( good +#alit( in &our)e *ork"
C: -epre)en) wea, to fair !arti*i!ation in all &our)e a&iviie) thro#gho#t the
entire semester8 all a))i3ned *ork &o!pleed on i!e' *i$ wea, to fair +#alit(
overall in &our)e *ork
D: -epre)en) !oor or ver( #neven !arti*i!ation in &our)e a&iviie)8 )o!e 3ap) in
a))i3ned *ork &o!pleed or o&&a)ionally ardy )ub!i))ion' *i$ !oor or
in*onsistent +#alit( in &our)e *ork
F: -epre)en) minimal !arti*i!ation in &our)e a&iviie)8 )eriou) 3ap) in a))i3ned
*ork &o!pleed or &on)i)enly ardy )ub!i))ion' *i$ ver( low +#alit( in &our)e
*ork" =ore $an )i7 ab)en&e) !ay al)o re)ul in an D.E"
Att%n'!nc% !n' P!rt"c"-!t"on
%endan&e i) !andaory and a&ive pari&ipaion in $e +or! o+ &la)) di)&u))ion and
3roup-*ork i) a &ru&ial ele!en o+ $i) &our)e" ($u)' you )$ould !ake )ure o aend
every &la))' o arrive on i!e' o &o!e o &la)) +ully prepared o di)&u)) $e readin3 a
$and' and o )ay unil $e end o+ &la))" W$en you are ab)en you are )ill re)pon)ible +or
any !aerial &overed in &la))' and +or arran3in3 o )ub!i any !aerial) $a !ay be due
on $a day" /+ you !u) !i)) &la)) +or an e7ended period or i+ you $ink you *ill
repeaedly no be able o !ake i o &la)) on i!e you )$ould arran3e o drop $e &la))"
=i))in3 !ore $an t1o &la))e) !ay re)ul in your +ailin3 $e &our)e" @ou do no o*e !e
any e7planaion) a) o *$y you !i)) &la))"
Pro+%ss"on!# 9%,!$"or
/ *ill naurally e7pe& you all o &ondu& your)elve) pro+e))ionally and re)pon)ibly in $i)
&la))" 1pe&i+i&ally' / *ill e7pe& you o )ri&ly ob)erve $e +ollo*in3 rule) o+ &la))roo!
&ondu&:
Do no en3a3e in non-&la)) relaed readin3 a+er &la)) be3in)"
1ilen&e and pu a*ay &ell-p$one) and pa3er)" F)e your lapop) +or &our)e-relaed
purpo)e) only" 0lea)e do no e7 !e))a3e' /=' or &$e&k your e-!ail durin3 &la))"
Do no &$a *i$ your nei3$bor durin3 le&ure)" %l)o' do no )leep' )lu!p over
your de)k' or *ork on a))i3n!en) +ro! o$er &la))e)"
/n )u!' plea)e be )ure o be$ave pro+e))ionally a all i!e)" / re)erve $e ri3$ o di)!i))
a )uden a+er deliverin3 an appropriae &auion" ,oe $a $e di)&u))ion) *e $ave in
&la)) !ay o&&a)ionally be &onrover)ial" ,one$ele))' / e7pe& you all o be re)pe&+ul o+
one ano$er and o+ !e" La)ly' &$eain3 and pla3iarizin3 &on)iue unpro+e))ional and
une$i&al +or!) o+ be$avior" /+ in doub a) o *$a &on)iue) &$eain3 and pla3iari)!'
&on)ul $e 1uden Handbook" 0lea)e noe $a &o!!iin3 pla3iari)! !ay re)ul in your
3ein3 an D.E no 6u) +or $e a))i3n!en in 9ue)ion bu al)o +or $e enire &our)e"
F"n!# Not%s
1" I 1"## con'uct so% c#!ss /us"n%ss $"! 9#!c3/o!r' ://*)$su*%'u;* /+ you are
no ye +a!iliar *i$ 2la&kboard :22<' plea)e 3o o $e +ollo*in3 *ebpa3e:
$p:GG***"3v)u"eduGiG)udenG +or 9ui&k uorial) and +or an)*er) o 1uden
.%H)" /+ you en&ouner any proble!) *$ile u)in3 22' plea)e &ona& ?I1F4)
#o!puin3 & (e&$nolo3y 1uppor Helpde)k a B1B 331-2101 or
$elpde)kJ3v)u"edu :-e3ular Hour) = - (H 7:30 - 7:30G.- 7:30 - 5:30<"
2" P#%!s% 3%%- co-"%s o+ %$%r0t,"n) t,!t 0ou 1r"t% +or t,"s cours%* Di)a)er)
$appenK %l*ay) $ave a ba&kup" % &o!puer &ra)$ or a !i))in3 ba&kpa&k i) no a
viable e7&u)e +or a lae or non-e7i)en paper"
3" I+ 0ou ,!$% ! r%)"st%r%' '"s!/"#"t05 -#%!s% s%% % "%'"!t%#0 )o $a your
)pe&ial need) &an be !e in a i!ely !anner and *e &an en)ure your +ull
pari&ipaion in $e &our)e" /+ you $ave a di)abiliy and $ave no ye re3i)ered i
*i$ $e 5++i&e o+ %&ade!i& 1uppor' you )$ould do )o a) )oon a) po))ible"
L" 9%c!us% o+ FERPA r%)u#!t"ons' / do no di)&u)) 3rade) by e!ail or elep$one" /
*ill be !ore $an $appy o !ee *i$ you o di)&u)) your 3rade andGor your
a&ade!i& )andin3 in $e &our)e durin3 !y o++i&e $our) or by appoin!en"
5" In our o'%rn5 +!st--!c%' 1or#'5 *e all $ave !any obli3aion)" / *ill ry o
an)*er your e-!ail) a) 9ui&kly a) po))ible' bu *ill probably need a lea) 2L
$our)" / a! no u)ually available o an)*er e-!ail on *eekend)"
C#!ss Sc,%'u#%
Not%: This s*hed#le is s#-.e*t to modifi*ation at an( !oint d#ring the semester and if (o#
miss *lass it is (o#r res!onsi-ilit( to find o#t a-o#t *hanges to it)
W%%3 <: M <.=
/nrodu&ion o $e &our)e" /nrodu&ion o 1M
$
and 20
$
&enury >uropean
&oloniali)! in %+ri&an and o %+ri&an re)i)an&e o &oloniali)!" /nrodu&ion o
%+ri&an Lieraure) in $e 20
$
&enury" /nrodu&ion o 2rii)$ &oloniali)! in >a)
%+ri&a' o ;enya' and o ,3u3i *a ($ion3o"
W%%3 2: M <.<2
The River Between)
W%%3 >: M <.<9
/nrodu&ion o 2rii)$ &oloniali)! in We) %+ri&a' o ,i3eria and @orubaland' and
o Wole 1oyinka"
W%%3 ?: M <.2@
Death and the Kings Horseman"
W%%3 =: M 2.2
/nrodu&ion o .ren&$ &oloniali)! in We) %+ri&a' o 1ene3al' and o =aria!a
2a"
Iie*in3 o+ aat Kine)
W%%3 @: M 2.9
So Long a Letter"
F"rst 'r!+t o+ +"rst -!-%r 'u% /0 =:00 -** on Fr"'!05 2.<>
W%%3 A: M 2.<@
/nrodu&ion o .ren&$ &oloniali)! in ,or$ %+ri&a' o %l3eria' and o %))ia
D6ebar"
Iie*in3 o+ The Battle of %lgiers
W%%3 8: M 2.2>
Children of the New World)
W%%3 9: M >.2
No c#!ssB S-r"n) 9r%!3B
W%%3 <0: M >.9
/nrodu&ion o )eler &oloniali)! in 1ou$ %+ri&a' o apar$eid' and o /n3rid de
;ok"
Iie*in3 o+ %mandla& % Revol#tion in o#r $art Harmon(
W%%3 <<: M >.<@
Seasonal ires)
W%%3 <2: M >.2>
/nrodu&ion o =oro&&o and o Laila Lala!i
W%%3 <>: M >.>0
Ho!e and "ther Dangero#s $#rs#its)
W%%3 <?: M ?.@
Ii)i o $e %r /n)iue o+ #$i&a3o4) %+ri&a *in3
W%%3 <=: M ?.<>
L!st 1%%3 o+ c#!ssB
W%%3 <@: M ?.20
Cu#"n!t"n) E2-%r"%nc% 1%%3*
F"n!# 'r!+t o+ +"rst -!-%r5 s%con' -!-%r5 !n' s%#+-%$!#u!t"on 'u%*