Intro To African Studies - 2013 Editted

INTRODUCTION
TO
AFRICAN STUDIES
Duration: 3 Weeks
IAS, University of Ghana,

Legon, 2013
Course Description
This introductory course aims to generate interest among
students in African Studies.
It will provide basic background information on Africa and
perspectives on its histories, peoples and cultures.
This course will serve as the spring board from which the
subsequent elective courses in African Studies will be
launched.
Two parts:
General introduction (3 weeks); and Introduction to Gender (3 weeks)
IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,
Electives (6 weeks
)
2013
Course Objectives
I
To help students appreciate the contemporary value of
African Studies as an area of enquiry.
To help students engage with discourses on African
realities.
To encourage students to appreciate African Identities.
To help students develop a sense of Self Determination
in the global world.
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2013
II
To make students aware of the negative stereotypes about

Africa and to encourage them to challenge these
stereotypes.
To Develop appropriate methodologies and frameworks
for examining Africa and its past through multi-disciplinary
approaches.
To highlight some of Africas contributions to world
civilizations and knowledge generation.
To enhance students knowledge in specific areas of
African Humanities and Social Sciences
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Course requirements
Assessments
Interim assessment
Final exam
Course activities may include

Formal instruction
Group discussions
Class presentations
Tutorials
Essays/written assignments.
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Week 1
The value of African studies
in todays world
Learning objectives
At the end of Lecture 1, students should be able to:
Understand the distinctive nature of Africa
Explain various (mis)representations of Africa
Appreciate the significant contribution of Africa to world
civilization.
Appreciate the African
Identity
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WHO IS
AN
AFRICAN?
(Source: Google images, 2012)
2013
Who is an African?
How are African identities constructed in the
face of the mosaic of identities that peoples of
African ancestry living within and beyond the
continent bear?
To what extent do all categorized as Africans or
as having an African pedigree perceive
themselves as Africans?
To what degree are all who perceive themselves
as Africans accepted as such?
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Are there levels of Africanness, and are

some more African than others?
How do African identities interface with
other levels of identity and citizenship in
Africa?
And what are the implications of the
contentious nature of African identities and
citizenship for the projects of panAfricanism, the making of the Africa-nation,
and Africas development trajectories?
2013
Are these men Africans?
Barack Hussein Obama 44th

President of the United States
Dr. Guy Scott Vice

President of Zambia

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10
Defining Africanness
Multilayered
Legal - e.g. citizenship, parentage, naturalization
Conceptual
Philosophical:
shared value systems and world views (for example,
ubuntu I
am because we are) e.g. Belief in the ancestors
Cultural:
-tangible ( buildings, monuments, artifacts)
-intangible (skills; highly developed oral traditions; knowledge
systems)
Why go beyond geographical borders?

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Concept of the African Diaspora

What do you think about the concept of the African Diaspora?
18th century painting showing a family of black Africans in Latin America

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/African_diaspora.
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Defining Africa
Race? - note range of racial types on the continent
People of African descent? (Large concentrations in
Northern and Southern America, the Caribbean. Also found in India, the
Middle East etc
Political? - citizenship in one of the 53 countries of the AU see

the constitutive act; long term residence in an African country?
Geographic? - Countries on the African Continent/Map

Africa is not a country, but a continent
Allegiance ? - Dedication to African heritage and

aspirations
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EXERCISE 1
Blank Map Activity
Identify the following countries on the blank map
of Africa provided:
a. Soa Tome and
Principe
b. South Sudan
c. Madagascar
d. Botswana
e. Rwanda
f. Western Sahara
g. Cape Verde
h. Uganda
i. Kenya
J. Senegal
k. Gambia
i. Eritrea

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A blank map of Africa

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MISREPRESENTING AFRICA
Africa has no history?
Africans have no civilization?
Africa is the dark continent?
Africans have inferior minds?

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Africa the continent of

crisis?
Two types of narratives about Africa
Except Africa Development works everywhere in the world
but in Africa. Therefore Africa has to change rather than
development policies tailor themselves better to the needs of
Africa
Doomsday narratives There is a crisis of overpopulation in
Africa, poverty, drought, over utilisation of scarce resources,
environmental crisis, corruption, ethnic tensions, civil wars all
of which are resulting in a terrible crisis that requires external
interventions to halt. The solution has to come from outside
since African states are not competent to solve problems they
have created.
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POVERTY
A soup kitchen in
Europe
Ethiopi
Homelessness in
USA

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BAD GOVERNANCE?
Nelson Mandela
Hugo Raphael Chavez
Silvio Berlusconi

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Slobodan Milosevic
Iddi Amin
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Kwame Nkrumah
CONFLICTS
Child soldiers
Africa

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Bosnia
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Foreign Mercenaries
DEBATE ON CULTURAL
PRACTICES?
Ritual killings
Circumcision
Widowhood rites
Libation
Child marriage
Child labour
Bride wealth
Witchcraft

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Representing Africa:
Dwaninmen (Rams Horn)
What are the GOOD

representations of
Africa?
Humility, Strength, Wisdom and Learning

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Contemporary Africa has contributed

positively to global knowledge
production and civilization in the
areas of:
Agriculture
Academia
International Trade and Commerce
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Coffee: An African Tree Crop

Coffee originates in Africa.
There are three types of coffee
Arabica (originates in Ethiopia)
Robusta (originates in Congo)
Liberica (originates in Liberia).
The highest quality of coffee is Arabica.
IAS, University of Ghana, Legon, 2013

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Coffee: A Global Commodity
Coffee was introduced into Dutch colonies in Java in the 1690s. In the 1720s coffee
was carried by the French and Dutch into botanical gardens in the Americas, Dutch
Guinea (Surinam), Haiti and Santa Domingue. Robusta and Liberica species were
also carried into South America.
By the nineteenth century Brazil emerged as the major producer and world
consumption of cocoa grew more than 15 times. By this period Yemeni and
Ethiopian production in international trade had become insignificant.
However, in recent years coffee production has rapidly expanded in Africa with
Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda and Kenya becoming significant producers of Arabica
and Cte dIvoire of Robusta (mainly used in producing nescafe).
While producers get a small percentage of the total price if the coffee value
changes, in recent years the government of Ethiopia has successfully got different
varieties in Ethiopia internationally recognised for their heritage and gained a
premium price paid for these varieties in European markets.
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Cocoa: A South American tree crop

successfully cultivated in West Africa
Cocoa is largely produced in West Africa, with over 80 percent of global production
originating from West Africa (the two dominant producers are Cte dIvoire and Ghana
(producing around 70 percent of global supplies)).
However cocoa is a South American crop, which was originally introduced into Sao Thome
and Principe off the coast of Cameroon, where it was subsequently smuggled into the Gold
Coast by Tetteh Quashie.
By the 1820s the Gold Coast emerged as the most important producer contributing between
70-80 percent of Global supplies. Cocoa was largely produced by farmers for export rather
than domestic consumption and provides an early example of successful agrarian capitalism in
Africa (Polly Hill 196x).
During the 1970s Cte dIvoire overtook Ghana as the major producer. Competition also came
from Brazil and Malaysia, however as international production became increasingly
competitive the West African producers were able to out compete others.
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Coffee and cocoa

Examine the differences and similarities of the
coffee and cocoa stories.

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Positive Representation Africa
Wole Soyinka is a Poet, playwright, and novelist from Nigeria.

He has written many plays, poems using the mythology of the Yoruba. He
addresses social and political issues in Nigeria and Africa
In 1967, he was jailed for 22 months for secretly meeting with Ojukwu of
Biafra to try and prevent
civil war.
In 1986 he won the Nobel prize for
Literature, the first African to win
the prize for new literatures.
In 1994, he had to flee into exile
to escape imprisonment by Abacha.
Wole Soyinka
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Positive Representation of Africa:

Inventors
Inventors
Country of Origin Inventions/Projects
Prof. Souleymane Mboup
Senegal
HIV-2 Virus (discover)
Dr. Oviemo Ovadje
Nigeria
Blood Auto-transfusion
Samuel Todo
Togo
Humanoid Robot
Jean-Patrice Keka
Democratic Republic of
Congo
Space Rockets
Prof. Francis K.A. Allotey
Ghana
The Allotey Principle
Victor and Johnson Obasa
Nigeria
Armoured Vehicle
Simon Mwaura
Kenya
Multipurpose Mobile Remote

control
Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor
Ghana
One of the Pioneers of

designing and developing the
internet
Abdoulaye Toure
Senegal
Solar Oven
Prof. Monty Jones: Renowned African Scientist

Prof. Monty Jones is a renowned plant
breeder from Sierra Leone who in 2004 won
the World Food prize for leading a team at
West Africa Rice Development Association
(WARDA) successfully crossing West
African rice (Oryza glaberima) with Asian
rice (Oryza sativa) creating the Nerica
varieties (New Rice for Africa), a rare and
successful hybridisation of rice.
His approach is recognised to be innovative
in its use of participatory methods linking
farmers, extension agents and scientists

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Ethiopian Airlines: A Successful Commercial

Venture
It was established by the Ethiopian government in 1945.

It has survived the many crises that has plagued the airline industry since
its establishment and has grown to become one of the major airlines in the
world flying a wide range of routes the world over.
With its ten modern 787s and its confident global ambitions, Ethiopian
Airlines has not just Africa, but the whole world, in its hands. The
Economist 3rd September 2012
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What is African Studies

A formally organized multi-disciplinary academic
study of the continent of Africa and the African
diaspora.
The study of African Studies is three- dimensional:
i) research/knowledge production
ii)dissemination of knowledge and teaching
iii) the application of knowledge/transformation of
knowledge into policies and social action.
Source: Gordon J.U (2013). Inaugural lecture, Kwame Chair, Institute of African
Studies, University of Ghana.
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Accessing sources on Africa (1)

Documentary & Non-documentary
Archaeology
Provides information about how humans adapted
to their environment
Archaeological information is obtained through the
excavation of specially selected sites
E.g. Ife Bronze works, Zimbabwe ruins, Pharonic
pyramids
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Linguistics
Study of the origin, structure, and changes of a language
Languages that are closely related
E.g. Ga and Dangme or Waale and Dagaare may be deemed to have
developed out of a single parent language e.g. eat di.
Twi yoma 'camel', Mande nyorom, Dagaare nyogma
Exercises: What is the word for kill, die dance, walk, etc in different
languages?
A comparative study of languages can provide valuable historical
information.
E.g. a study of Bantu and W/African languages provide evidence

of a common ancestor
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Oral traditions
the lore (traditional knowledge and beliefs) of

cultures having no written language.
Transmitted by word of mouth and consists, as does
written literature, of both prose and verse.(narratives,
poems and songs, myths, dramas, proverbs).
Often transmitted by specialists/experts
Can provide valuable facts and profound
perspectives on life, e.g. court historians
Nearly all known peoples, now or in the past, have
produced it.
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New Media:
new media offer information in multiple and provide a wide variety of

sources
Written sources:
Primary sources
official reports, files, court documents,
newspapers, old family papers or official files.
financial
papers,
Secondary sources
Books (of analytical & scholarly articles)
Tertiary sources
encyclopaedia, bibliography
Institutional sources
museums , archives and libraries
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Summary
In this lecture we have:
Been given an overview of Introduction to
African Studies
Examined the distinct nature of Africa and its people.
Identified some misrepresentations and negative
stereotypes about Africa.
Enumerated some significant contributions by
Africans that (may) have been excluded in the
dominant narrative about world civilisation.
Identified several sources of data and information on
Africa.
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We need to keep hope alive and

strive to do better
Kofi Annan, Former UN
Secretary General

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References
Adibe, Jideofor (ed.). (2009). Who is an African? Identity, Citizenship and the Making of the
Africa-Nation. London: Adonis & Abbey Publishers Ltd.
Roe, Emery. (1995). Except Africa: Postscript to a Special Section on Development
Narratives in World Development Vol. 23 No 6 (pp. 1065-1069)
Sekyi H.V.H. 1994 Colour Prejudice Past Present and Future. New York, Vantage Press
http://www.worldhunger.org/articles/Learn/world%20hunger%20facts%202002.htm
http://www.globalissues.org/article/26/poverty-facts-and-stats
http://www.kumatoo.com/african_inventors.html
http://www.black inventor.com
The Economist 3rd September 2012
http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2012/09/ethiopian-airlines

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Lecture Two
Political Geography of Africa
IAS, University of Ghana, Legon, 2013
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Objectives
To explore political organization and
administration in pre-colonial Africa
To appreciate African political institutions
from pre-colonial through contemporary times
Explain diversity of Africa within and outside
Africa
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What is the Political Geography of Africa?

Political Geography is defined as the physical and
conceptual presence of Africa and African cultures,
political systems and values across time and space.
Physical: Refers to the map of Africa, its people, traditions,
and political institutions.
Sub-regional DichotomySub-Saharan Africa (SSA) vs
North Africa.
Conceptual: African presence through its people, cultures,
traditions, and practices on the continent and in the
diaspora.
African DiasporaEurope, Caribbean, North America &
South America.
Time & Space: Historical and contemporary expansion of
Africa: its values, political and religious systems in the
diaspora and on the continent.
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Important Facts
Africa is the second largest continent after
Asia.
Has a land area of a little over 11,700,000
square/km2.
Stretches about 5000 miles from Cape Town to
Cairo, and 3000 from Dakar to Mogadishu.
Africas population as at 2010 1 022 234
Source United Nations Department of
Economic and Social Affairs/Population
Division World Population Prospects: The
2010, Volume

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Important Facts
Africa land size is about the size of USA, Argentina, Europe,
India, China and New Zealand combined or About three and a
half times the size of the United States of America.
Africa has 54 modern states including island republic off its
coasts.
Most African states are multi-lingual except a few like
Somalia, Swaziland, Lesotho, and Botswana. While Nigeria
for instance has over 500 languages, while Kenya has over
100.
Africa is the cradle of humanity as the first humans lived on
African soil (the ancestors of homo sapiens).
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Indigenous States Development &

Governments
People from different communities joined together through confederations

or conquest, for purposes of commerce or defense, to develop kingdoms;
Those living under jurisdictions of such confederations or kingdoms found
that the breadth and complexity of their political consciousness increased;
Large scale empires (states) initially rose out of such kingdoms by
expanding through military or diplomatic leadership, but they eventually
fell (fragmenting into their component parts) at a later time;
Such large scale empires usually recognized the legitimacy and autonomy
of local leaders and communities; and
The small traditions of such local communities usually remained vital
and resilient, even during serious disruptions when the great traditions of
imperial civilizations were abandoned or destroyed.

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African Indigenous State System

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Examples of Ancient, Medieval, &

Early Modern African states
Ancient Egypt Songhai
Kush/Nubia
Kanem Bornu
Axum
Buganda
Ghana
The Oyo Empire
Mali
The Zulu Kingdom
The Dahomey Malavi
Kingdom
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Indigenous State Structures and

Forms of Authority
State Structure took two forms:
A. Centralized State forms

Centralized states had well defined political authority with
institutional bureaucracy for collecting taxes, supervising
ceremonies, maintaining law and order and carrying out the
general orders of the political heads E.g. Old Ghana empire,
Mali Empire etc.
Forms of indigenous authority under this system are;

Hierarchical systems
Pyramidal / Federated systems

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Hierarchical Systems
Highly centralized. Presided over by a powerful
political figure (king), with efficient bureaucracy and
military arrangement.
Political heads often had subordinates who assisted in
the day-to-day administration of the society.
E.g. Buganda Kingdom of Uganda; the Dahomey kingdom
Benin.

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Pyramidal/ Federated Systems

A federation consisting of different levels of
autonomous nations with their own chiefs, paramount
chiefs or a king.
The levels of the pyramid are based on seniority; thus
higher chiefs may or may not have the right to
interfere directly in the affairs of lower chiefs.
In such instance, lower chiefs are expected to show
deference to the higher ones. E.g. Yoruba of Nigeria
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B. Decentralized Societies
Politically
decentralized
societies
had
no
bureaucracies and were often based on kinship.
Maintenance of law and order was deferred to elders,
age-set groups and other groups. This includes a
gradation from societies without any state structures
to transitory forms of state organizations.
The form of indigenous authority found in these
societies is segmented
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Segmented Systems
Power is diffused and shared. Segments of the
society were managed by elders, age-set
groups or council chosen from different
lineagessegmented systems do not have a
single powerful political figure.
E.g. Tallensi of Northern Ghana, Ibo of
Nigeria and Nuer of Sudan

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Basic Features of the Indigenous

Political Systems
The Indigenous African political institutions

were largely based on kinship and ancestry.
Rules of procedure were established through
customs and traditions rather than written
constitutions
Women played active roles in the political
system including holding leadership and
military positions.
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The indigenous political system had some democratic

features. For example, succession was regulated
according to descent and merit in some cases.
Checks and balances were provided as well as

consensus-building.
Power in the indigenous political system was both

secular and sacred.
The village constitutes the basic unit of the indigenous
political system
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EUROPEAN PRESENCE IN AFRICA

European Exploration
In 1471, The Portuguese arrived on the Gold
Coast around the West Africa Region.
Later, other Europeans followed including: the
Dutch, the Danes, the English
The development led to trade activities between
Europeans and the Africans.
Europeans traded with the Africans in the
following items-gold, ivory, beads and others.
Treatises in African Societies

The Bond of 1844 signed between
Fanti Chiefs and The British.
The Treaty of Butre, between the
Netherlands and the people of
Ahanta.
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Missionaries in Africa
There were many Missions in Africa.
Some Missionaries that came to the Gold
Coast were:
The Protestants (The Anglicans,The Basel Missions,
Weslayan Methodist etc)
The Catholics
Their main job was to preach the Gospel of

Christ
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Berlin & Partition

In 1879, France by her activities in the interior of Senegal, began the
European partition of Africa. In November 15, 1884 at the request of
Portugal, German chancellor Otto von Bismark called a conference of
major western powers of the world to discuss and end confusion over the
control of Africa
14 Western countries in attendance: Austria-Hungary, Belgium,
Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands,
Portugal, Russia, Spain, Sweden-Norway (unified from 1814-1905),
Turkey, and the United States of America
Major Players: France, Germany, Great Britain, and Portugal
The conference ended in February 26, 1885 - a three month period
where colonial powers negotiated geometric boundaries in the interior of
the continent, disregarding the cultural and linguistic boundaries already
established by the indigenous African population
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The Berlin Conference

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European Holdings & Colonialism
Great Britain desired a Cape-to-Cairo collection of colonies and almost

succeeded through its control of Egypt, Sudan (Anglo-Egyptian Sudan),
Uganda, Kenya (British East Africa), South Africa, and Zambia, Zimbabwe
(Rhodesia), and Botswana. The British also controlled Nigeria and Ghana (Gold
Coast).
France took much of western Africa, from Mauritania to Chad (French West
Africa) and Gabon and the Republic of Congo (French Equatorial Africa).
Belgium and King Leopold II controlled the Democratic Republic of Congo

(Belgian Congo).
Portugal took Mozambique in the east and Angola in the west. Italy's holdings
were Somalia (Italian Somaliland) and a portion of Ethiopia.
Germany took Namibia (German Southwest Africa) and Tanzania (German East
Africa).
Spain claimed the smallest territory - Equatorial Guinea (Rio Muni)

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Then and Now

Colonial
Post-colonial

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Nature of Colonial Rule

The European colonial powers shared one objective in their
African colonies: exploitation.
However, their differences were reflected in the governance
established over the colonies.
The British established a system of indirect rule.
France and the other colonial powers ruled the colonies directly
from the metropolitan centres in Europe
The French notably sought to create culturally assimilated elites
to represent French ideals in the colonies.
In the Belgian Congo, King Leopold II, who had financed the
expeditions that staked Belgium's claim in Berlin, embarked on
a campaign of ruthless exploitation associated with mass torture
and death of the African people.
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Nationalism and Struggle for

Independence
Necessitating factors:
a. exploitation, discrimination and neglect by
colonial authorities
b. the world wars
c. western education
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Political Legacies of Colonial Rule

a. New State Structures
Carved out without regard to pre-existing conditions
Mostly centralized
Subordination of indigenous political institutions & systems of authority
b. Different Systems of Governance
Presidential System
Parliamentary System
Hybrid System
c. Different Political Institutions
Legislature
Executive
Judiciary
Competitive Elections

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PAN-AFRICANISM AND THE PANAFRICAN MOVEMENT

What is pan-Africanism?
It is a perception by some Africans (at home and abroad) that they
share a common destiny and interest as a people of African descent.
Origins of the Pan-African Movement
Pan-Africanism is undoubtedly the result of slavery and colonialism
in Africa. As a socio-political movement, it can be traced to the first
pan-African conference of July, 1900; in London. The conference
was convened by Henry Sylvester Williams and the African
Association (AA); which H. S. Williams founded in 1898.
The conference set up the Pan-African Association (PAA) which
later metamorphosed into the Pan-African Movement (PAM).
THE PAN-AFRICAN MOVEMENT
Goals
Formation of the United States of Africa (USA); i.e., including
Caribbean countries.
Ensure closer ties between peoples of African descent the
world over.
Bring about friendlier relations between people of African
descent and other races.
Secure the civil rights of all Africans in the world.
Promote the businesses of Africans globally.
Some Leaders of PAM
H. S. Williams (1869-1911)
W. E. B. Du Bois (1868-1963)- the father of pan-Africanism.
Marcus Garvey (1887-1940)- Africa for the Africans
George Padmore (1902-1959)
Kwame Nkrumah (c. 1909-1972)- the father of panAfricanism on the African continent.
Haile Selassie I (1892-1975)- first Chairman of Africa
Unity 1963/64
Cheikh Anta Diop (1923-1986)- Negro origins of prehistoric Egyptian Civilization.
Julius K. Nyerere (1922-1999)- founding member of
OAU
Malcolm X (1925-1965)
LEGACIES OF PAM
Independent African/Caribbean states
Formation of the OAU/AU
Global civil rights for people of African descent.
African Studies/Afrocentrism
Etc.
Quest for Continental Government

A. The Early Debate -Regionalism Vs Continentalism
Despite broad agreement among African leaders about the
importance of pan-Africanism as a foreign policy goal, there
was disagreement about the proper path to achieve such unity.
Three different opinions emerged as a result:

First, The Brazzaville Group (named after the capital of
Congo-Brazzaville), and mainly of francophone countries
It sought a minimalist approach and advocated the use of
standard diplomatic practices to coordinate national
economic policies
It gave little consideration to the possibility of creating
continent-wide institutions (Gordon and Gordon, 2001).
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Second, The Casablanca Group (named after

the Moroccan city), and led by Nkrumah,
argued on the contrary that the success of panAfricanism required a political union of all
independent African countries, patterned after
the federal model of the United Sates.

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Third, the Monrovia Group (named after the capital

of Liberia), and led by Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa
Belewa, Prime Minister of Nigeria, rejected the idea
of political union as both undesirable and unfeasible.
The group argued that African leaders would
jealously guard their countries newfound
independence.
NOTE: AUS 50TH ANNIVERSARY
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It , however sought a greater degree of cooperation

than that espoused by the Brazzaville Group.
It called for the creation of a looser organisation of
independence African states that would promote
growing cooperation in functional areas such as
economic, scientific, educational and social
development

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On May 25, 1963, thirty-one African Heads of State

largely embraced the Monrovia vision of African
international relations by launching the Organisation
of African Unity (OAU), the first Pan-African,
intergovernmental organisation of independent
African countries based on African soil, with the
determination to gain freedom and liberation from
colonial rule.
(Gordon and Gordon, 2001)

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B. Contemporary Efforts
The AU was launched in 2002 to replace the OAU.
AU is inspired by the ideals of Pan- Africanism to promote unity,
solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among Africans
NEPAD, is a merger of the Millennium Partnership for the
Africas Recovery Programme (MAP) and the OMEGA Plan.
The merger was finalized on July 3, 2001. Out of the merger, the
New African Initiative (NAI) was born. Its policy framework
was finalised on 23rd October 2001, forming NEPAD.

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NEPAD provides a strategic framework for the socioeconomic upliftment of Africa, integrating the continent
into global economy and placing it on the path to
sustainable development.
Question
Why did the Casablanca group (led by Kwame
Nkrumah) advocate a strong continental government
given that Africa had diverse political institutions,
systems, and ethnicities?

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References
James D. Grant, (1994) Political Development in Historic Africa. In Vincent

Khapoya (ed)., The African Experience: An Introduction (Printice Hall,
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey).
John ILLIffe, Africans: the History of a Continet (New York, 2007), Ch.4.
Mueni wa Muiu & Guy Martin (2009) Indigenous African Political
Systems and Institutions A New Paradigm of the African State (Palgrave
Macmillan, New York)
Mazrui, Ali, The African Condition: A Political Prognosis London :
(Heinemann, 1980)
Nehemia Levtzion, 1973Ancient Ghana and Mali (London,.
Vincent Khapoya (2013) African Independence and Afterward (Chapter 6)
in The African Experience: An Introduction (Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs,
New Jersey).
April Gordon and Donald Gordon, (2001). Understanding Contemporary
Africa. Third Edition(Lynne Rienner, London)
Film by Basil Davidson
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Lecture Three
PERSPECTIVES OF AFRICAN
CULTURE
NOTIONS OF CULTURE

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OBJECTIVES
By the end of lesson, students should be able to:
Give a general overview of following:
African culture (s), languages and development.
Interrogate various mis/conceptions of African

culture(s), languages and development
Critique existing notions of these concepts.
Establish and explain the relationship between
culture and development.
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Interactive session
What do people in your society understand
by culture?
What do you understand by culture?
Do African languages have a word for
culture?
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What do you think about the

following???

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Some Misconceptions about

African Culture(s)
Modernity and Culture are opposites

Culture does not include science and technology
It is only about drumming and dancing
It is all about the past (outmoded customs)
Culture is only about traditional beliefs & customs
It implies homogeneities (people doing things the
same way).
Why are these deemed to be misconceptions?
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Culture?

2013
82
Frequently cited definitions:

E. B. Tylor (1871)
"that complex whole which includes
knowledge, morals, religion, customs and
habits or any other capabilities acquired by
man as a member of society".

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83
World Conference on Cultural Policies

adopted the following definition
(MONDIACULT, 1998) :
culture is that whole complex of distinctive

spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional
features that characterize a society or social
groups. It includes not only arts and letters,
but also modes of life, the fundamental
rights of the human being, value systems,
traditions and beliefs
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What is Culture?
Culture is an artefact (i.e. man-made).
Culture is learnt.
Culture pertains to the group and not normally
peculiar to individuals.
Culture is transmissible directly and indirectly.
Variety of Sanctions enforce some conformity.
It is not cast in stone.
2013
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Summary of Other Views on culture

It is the way a people think, feel and believe.
(Clyde Kluckholn)
It is a convenient shorthand for an ill-defined
entity which might be described as a way of life.
(Fieldhouse 1986)
Culture is the totality of a peoples way of life. It
embodies the distinctive achievements of
communities and people, their identities and
aspirations
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Some Aspects of Culture

Economy: (goods and services: their production,
distribution and consumption within society)
Political: the societys political norms and behaviours.
Some societies are identified by their political
institutions and leaders. E.g. Ashantis are identified
by their allegiance to the golden stool, a politicoreligious symbol, and to the Asantehene.
Technology: A societys technology and sciences are
crucial to their culture. The way peoples,
techniques as well as implements or tools are of
relevance to the identification of culture. Note that
by studying artefacts Archaeologists are able to
identify past cultures.
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Entertainment: forms of entertainment (dances,

music, games, drama etc.). So important are the
performance arts some people seem to think that
culture is only about these.
Language: Languages that people speak are also
crucial to their identity. Many ethnic people are
known by the terms that refer to their languages.
The Nzema speak Nzema, the Yoruba speak
Yoruba.
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Culture is Dynamic
Culture changes and does not remain static. This
may be due to many factors.
Changes in demographic profile of the society;
Environmental changes and changes in the
economy;
Contact with other societies: through wars, trade,
colonization etc. can lead to borrowing of new
habits and norms and abandonment of old ways.
Globalisation is responsible for many changes
that African societies are going through now.
Changes in technology and scientific knowledge
etc.
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Discuss: what does this picture tell us?

2013
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Discuss

2013
91
Who are
they?
Do they
exemplify
African
Culture?

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LANGUAGE(S) OF AFRICA
Africa is home to about of the worlds languages
i.e. over 2000 living languages. These serve a
variety of purposes, such as:
Mother tongues/first languages, --- Cultural
Official /National languages --- Administrative
Trade languages- linguae francae --- Communication
Ritual / secret, theological languages --- Religion
Media for artistic expression and entertainment.
There are non-indigenous languages that came in
through colonialism English, French, Portuguese,
Spanish
93
2013
The Language Families

Linguists since Greenbergs time have shown that
the majority of African languages have common
origins proto-sources.
The 2000+ African languages are offspring of 4
parent languages. They are classified in one of 4
families:
-Afro-Asiatic [in North Africa & Middle East]
-Nilo-Saharan [Sahara, Nile basin, etc]
-Khoisan [around Kalahari]
-Niger-Congo-Kordofanian [basins of Niger and
Congo]
2013
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2013
95
Interactive session
What do you understand by the term development?
1.Would you say development was unknown to
Africans until their contact with Europeans?
2.Do African languages have terms for Development?
3.If yes, suggest Akan, Ewe, Ga and Dangbani terms
for Development?

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Misconceptions about Development
Westernization/modernization?
Economic growth?
It is about per capita income/GDP
Development is a project?
Development is a definite state that some
countries have attained, but others never will?
African culture hinders development?
To be developed, countries have to attain certain
goals Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)?
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Definitions of Development
Amartya Sen (1999:3) Economist &Nobel Laureate:
development can be seen.....as a process of
expanding the real freedoms that people enjoy.
Focusing on human freedoms contrasts with the
narrow views of development, such as identifying
development with the growth of gross national
product, or with the rise in personal incomes, or
with industrialisation or with technological
advance, or with social modernisation.
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Ake C. (1996):
development is a process by which people create
and recreate themselves and their life
circumstances to realize higher levels of
civilization in accordance with their own choices
and values.

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Remarks about Development

Development is a Process.
It should be people oriented.

Wellbeing should be central issue.
It should be about freedoms and informed
choices.
It should be about social justice.
It should include equity - gender equality.
It should be about peace /absence of war,
conflicts.
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How Culture applies to Development

Promotion of progressive cultural practices, and
the rejection of destructive ones.
It should accommodate a peoples aspirations.
Cultural sensitivity: cultural assets norms,
knowledge, etc. can be exploited as development
assets.
Appreciate that certain cultural practices may be
entrenched in social systems.
Cultural norms are not sacrosanct, and can be
modified or replaced if society needs to.
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Cultural Practices that impede

Development
Cultural practices which endanger human life
- Human sacrifice
Some practices may undermine individual welfare
- FGM, infant betrothal, trokosi
Some practices can affect peoples fundamental
human rights.
- Witchcraft accusation
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SUMMARY
This lecture
examined the concept of African culture(s).
provided education about African languages and
how they divide and unite people.
examined concepts of development
looked at the interrelationships between culture,
development and language.
Question: Can we talk of African Culture, given the
diversities present in Africa?
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CONCLUSION
Culture does not imply absolute homogeneity; it permits
sub-cultures and intra-cultural differences.
Culture is created by human beings and is dynamic
Multilingualism is the norm in Africa but unity underlies
heterogeneity of African cultures.
African culture is the entirety of the African way of life.
It is an abstraction.
Culture can be used as an important tool for development.
Development, it is said, is culture specific.
2013
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REFERENCES
Heine, Bernd and Derek Nurse. (2001). African
Languages: An introduction. Cambridge pp 1-42.
Ake Claude, (1996). Democracy and development
in Africa . Washington DC; Brookings Institute.
Sen, Amartya. (1999). Development as Freedom,
Oxford, Oxford University Press.
http://www.unesco.org/en/culturaldiversity/reflections-on-cultural-diversity/
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INTRODUCTION

IAS, University of Ghana,

To make students aware of the negative stereotypes about

Course activities may include

Are there levels of Africanness, and are

Are these men Africans?

Barack Hussein Obama 44th

Dr. Guy Scott Vice

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

am because we are) e.g. Belief in the ancestors

Why go beyond geographical borders?

Concept of the African Diaspora

18th century painting showing a family of black Africans in Latin America

Political? - citizenship in one of the 53 countries of the AU see

Geographic? - Countries on the African Continent/Map

Allegiance ? - Dedication to African heritage and

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

A blank map of Africa

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

Africa is the dark continent?

Africans have inferior minds?

Africa the continent of

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

Hugo Raphael Chavez

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

What are the GOOD

Humility, Strength, Wisdom and Learning

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

Contemporary Africa has contributed

Coffee: An African Tree Crop

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

Coffee: A Global Commodity

Cocoa: A South American tree crop

Coffee and cocoa

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

Positive Representation Africa

Wole Soyinka is a Poet, playwright, and novelist from Nigeria.

Positive Representation of Africa:

Country of Origin Inventions/Projects

Prof. Souleymane Mboup

HIV-2 Virus (discover)

Dr. Oviemo Ovadje

Prof. Francis K.A. Allotey

The Allotey Principle

Victor and Johnson Obasa

Multipurpose Mobile Remote

Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor

One of the Pioneers of

Prof. Monty Jones: Renowned African Scientist

IAS, University of Ghana, Legon,

Ethiopian Airlines: A Successful Commercial

It was established by the Ethiopian government in 1945.

What is African Studies

Accessing sources on Africa (1)

Accessing sources on Africa (2)

E.g. a study of Bantu and W/African languages provide evidence

Accessing sources on Africa (3)

the lore (traditional knowledge and beliefs) of

Accessing sources on Africa (4)

new media offer information in multiple and provide a wide variety of