Culture, Identity and Globalisation in Africa

In the context of the current level of globalisation, this course explores Africa's position in and relations with other parts of the globalising world. The course highlights Africa's experience of globalization, focusing on the challenges and opportunities which globalisation presents, particularly on cultures and identities in the continent. How do we think about Africa differently in a world that is increasingly perceived to be converging towards a 'global village'? Is Africa losing its culture and identity in this 'global village'? What would it mean to think of Africa differently? These questions are examined critically in the course to highlight the need for rethinking and re-imagining Africa. Students in the course are challenged to begin to develop a new set of strategies and approaches to critically engage with the dominant discourses on Africa. In view of the challenge to re-think and re-write Africa, the course introduces students to new frames of looking at, analysing, writing, conceptualising and imagining Africa in a globalising world. The ideas explored and debates examined in this course are expected to create awareness among students of the historical, social and political context, particularly the postcolonial African context.

DP requirements: Attendance at lectures and tutorials is compulsory, failing which students? papers may not be marked.

Assessment: Three assignments count 10% each; one group project counts 20%; one 2-hour examination counts 50% of the final mark.

The University of Cape Town awards credits based on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) to determine course and contact hour recommendations per course. 1 NQF credit represents roughly 10 notional hours of work which includes study time, assignments and examinations. Notional hours may very per courses depending on the course level and modality therefore, CEA recommends using NQF credits as a basis to determine U.S. equivalencies (1 NQF=.222 semester credits)