HISTORY AND INSTITUTIONS OF AFRICA

The module forms part of the Degree Course in Languages, Cultures and Societies of Asia and Mediterranean Africa, Middle East and Africa curriculum. It is a related activity for the second year and has the objective of providing students with the historiographical and anthropological tools for understanding certain aspects and dynamics of contemporary African societies. In particular, the module will address a number of key themes that are of particular relevance to contemporary African societies. These include the historiographical specificities of pre-colonial Africa, the history of slavery, the impact of colonialism in Africa, the process of independence for African states, the development of resources and conflicts, as well as the nature of inter-African relations and human mobility.

1. Knowledge and understanding:
The course offers an understanding of the key dynamics that have shaped and still shape the specificities of the African continent historically, politically and socially.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding:
The capacity to analyse various aspects of contemporary African realities in an independent manner, correctly identifying the underlying matrices and causal factors of phenomena such as conflict and mobility.

3. Judging ability:
The capacity to assess and analyse the specific characteristics of African countries and societies in a critical and conscious manner.

4. Communication skills:
Ability to illustrate the different aspects dealt with in the course in a clear and analytical way.

5. Learning skills:
Ability to critically integrate the documents provided by the teacher and the notes taken in class.

No prerequisites are required to attend the course

1. Historiographical specificities and problems related to pre-colonial Africa (sources, areal specificities, ethnic groups)
2. Colonisation and its legacies: colonial administration and violence; divide and rule; ethnogenesis and racism (the apartheid regime in South Africa)
3. Independence: democracy/authoritarianism/colonial coups; post-colonial genocides (Rwanda)
4. Development, resources and conflict (extractivism, resistance and jihadism).
5. inter-African relations and regional organisations.
6. African mobility: migratory phenomena within and from the African continent.
7. African development and creativity.

Study material will be provided during the course.
Suggested bibliography:
Anna Maria Gentili, Il leone e il cacciatore. Storia dell’Africa subsahariana, Carocci, 2019.
Mario Zamponi, I sistemi politici dell’Africa indipendente, Carocci, 2020
Frederick Cooper, Africa since 1940.The Past of the Present, Cambridge University Press 2019.
Bernardo Bernardi, Africa, Tradizione e modernità, Carocci 2007
Luca Jourdahn, Karin Pallever, Parlare d’Africa, Carocci, 2021
Giovanni carbone, L’Africa. Gli Stati, la politica, i conflitti, Il Mulino 2005
Giampaolo Calchi Novati, Pierluigi Valsecchi, L’Africa: la storia ritrovata, Carocci, 2016

The examination consists of two tests: the preparation of an individual or group mini-lesson in pdf format on a topic and in a manner to be specified on the moodle platform (25% of the final grade), an oral examination to be prepared on the material uploaded on the moodle platform (75% of the final grade), aimed at assessing the student's learning and understanding of the topics covered in the course. Details of the written examination will be uploaded to the moodle platform.

Lectures supported by power-point, commented readings and video materials.

Italian

oral