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A History of Africa from 1800 (HI177)

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Lecture & seminar times:

 

Dr Doreen Kembabazi

FAB 3.43

Monday 2:00-3:00 (online/Teams): Tuesday 11:00-12:00 (in person)

Doreen.Kembabazi@warwick.ac.uk

Lecture Monday 15:00-16:00

Seminar groups: Details available via Tabula

About the Module

This 30 CATS first-year option module is an introduction to the modern social and political history of sub-Saharan Africa. The course takes a chronological approach, covering three broad periods: the nineteenth-century precolonial period, colonial rule, and the postcolonial period. Starting with a discussion of the idea of ‘Africa’, students will familiarise themselves with the changing nature of African trade and commerce after the ending of the slave trade; with the character and development of political authority in the nineteenth century; with the establishment of colonial rule through treaty and conquest; with the effects of colonialism on colonised African societies; with the growth of anti-colonial sentiments and the emergence of nationalisms; and with the impact of decolonization and the formation of postcolonial states. The final lectures and seminars will explore the nature of postcolonial African states, and include discussion of episodes of violence and of ‘development’ in Africa.

This module is designed for students who have and do not have prior knowledge of African history. The module lecture and seminar programme and assessments are designed to help you acquire various skills (such as oral, writing, and cultural competency skills) and reflect Warwick’s three teaching strategies: internationalisation, student research and interdisciplinarity. To get the most out of this course, you will need to actively participate in all activities including reading the assigned material.

Weekly lectures will provide a chronological framework. Seminars elaborate the themes from the lectures, but concentrate on regional case studies and debates within the historiography.

Content Note

The lectures and readings contain discussions of all forms of violence. This module attracts open minded individuals who are seeking to broaden their perspectives, increase their understanding of the world and develop intercultural skills.

For more information, please see:

Kwame Nkrumah, TIME 1953Nelson Mandela First election rally

Photo credit: Walter Dhladhla/AFP, TIME magazine, History in Progress, Uganda.