HIS-262: Africa is Not a Country

This course uses interdisciplinary inquiry, including anthropology, politics, and history, to explore the enormous ethnic, cultural, regional, social, and political diversity that define the African continent. Students examine the precolonial historical roots and colonial political legacies that have shaped contemporary Africa. This course will explicitly challenge stereotypes about how Africa is broadly depicted through engagement with diverse identities and experiences from different African countries. Key topics that may be considered include indigeneity, colonialism, democracy, the environment, race, gender, conflict, development, globalization, youth, and cultural preservation. This course will integrate creative expression, such as literature and music.