TWS 21 THIRD WORLD LITERATURES: AFRICAN LITERATURE

Colonial to Postcolonial to Postmodern Constructions of Nation and Self

Fall 2015
This introductory survey will trace the contemporary artistic production and thematic
concerns of various regions of Africa. Novels, films and some poetry will provide
perspectives on the historical movement from the colonial era to the fulfillment of "the
dream" of independence and the realities of the post-independence period, in which those
dreams are transformed, for better and worse. African writers and filmmakers supply us
with their unique perspectives on these issues in the form of their vibrant and viable
artistic visions. Readings, lectures, and photos will augment the literary discussions.
Class Etiquette:
The basics apply. Please arrive in lectures and section meetings on time and with the
texts that are to be discussed that day. Please do not leave until the lecture is over.
Lectures are based on the assumption that students have read the assigned texts in
advance, if you have not done so then a good deal of what is covered will not be as
instructive, enlightening, totally mind-blowing, etc. Laptop use is not encouraged and if
they are used at all they will be for note taking. Anyone unable to contain his or her
technological lust (this includes cell phones, texting, tweeting, twerking, etc.) for the 45
minutes of lecture will be asked to shut down his or her laptop for the remainder of the
lecture. If you use a laptop please sit in or near the center front row of the lecture hall.
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Instructor: Robert Cancel

428 Literature Building
Office Hours: MWF 9:30 11AM
Phone: 858-534-3986
E-mail: reanecIA.ucsd.edu

TA: Candace Silva-Martin

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Lectures: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 12 - 12:50PM, HSS 1330

Section A03: Wednesday 9 - 9:50AM in HSS 2154
Section A04: Wednesday 10 10:50AM in HSS 2154
Course Requirements (each requirement must be fulfilled to pass the course):
15% Mid-Term Exam Monday 2nd November in lecture
25% Final Exam Monday 9th December 11:30AM 2:30PM
40% Writing Assignments: Two three or four-page papers
20% Discussion sections and map quiz (you must maintain strong section
attendance/participation and pass the map quiz to successfully complete this
requirement.)

Due Dates:
Paper #1 - 19th October: Discussion of oral traditions from performance videocassettes,
Things Fall Apart or Houseboy
Paper #2 - 16th November: Discussion of one of our South African literary or video
works
Paper topics should be discussed with and approved by instructor or TA before due dates.
If there is any question as to the sources and/or originality of student essays they will be
referred to the Academic Integrity Office on campus.
The final exam will be based primarily on material discussed in lectures and readings.
Final evaluations in the course will depend on how well the student understands the
material presented. Chances for positive evaluations, "good grades," are naturally
improved by steady attendance in lectures and sections and carrying out all reading
assignments. Students having difficulty in any of these areas should seek help, early on,
from the instructor or their TA.
Syllabus
9/25 Introductory Remarks, "How to Write About Africa"

9/28 Africa: Stereotypes and Realities

9/30 Images of Africa (slides)
10/2 African Oral Traditions

10/5 Narrative Performances from Zambia (video)

10/7 Colonial Rule in Africa
10/9 Africa "Writes Back": Achebe's Seminal Novel and the Advent of Colonialism
READ: Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe

10/12 Okonkwo's fall, continued

10/14 Early Responses to Colonial Cultural Domination: The Negritude Movement
10/16 The Colonial Subject Comes of Age
READ: Houseboy, Ferdinand Oyono

10/19 Toundi's resistance to domination, continued

FIRST PAPER DUE TODAY
10/21 Film as weapon of the liberation struggle
VIEW: Boronz Sarret, Ousmane Sembene
10/23 Sembene's Elites as Postcolonial Farce
VIEW: Excerpts from Xala, Ousmane Sembene

10/26 The -Joys" of Independence: Aidoo's Perspectives

READ: No Sweetness Here, Ama Ata Aidoo, (First five stories)
10/28 Aidoo's Perspectives, continued
READ: No Sweetness Here, (Remaining stories)
10/30 South Africa: Musicians stand against apartheid
VIEW: Sun City, Godely, Creme, Perry and Demme

11/2 MIDTERM EXAM TODAY

11/5 South Africa, Apartheid and its Complex Legacy
11/7 Fugard, Kani and Ntshona: Struggle for Identity Amidst Oppression
VIEW: Sizwe Bansi is Dead, Athol Fugard, John Kani and Winston Ntshona

11/9 Ironies of the "Liberation Struggle": Magona's Maternal Perspective

READ: Mother to Mother, Sindiwe Magona
1 1 /1 1 Class does not meet today due to holiday
11/13 Mother to Mother, continued

11/16 South Africa Today

SECOND PAPER DUE TODAY
11/18 Are There Optimistic Postcolonial Novels? Sinyangwe's "Hope"
READ: A Cowrie of Hope, Binwell Sinyangwe
1 1 /20 Sinyangwe's cowrie, continued

11/23 As the Postcolonial becomes the Postmodern: Abani's global view

READ: Grace/and, Chris Abani
11/25 Elvis has left the country, Abani continued
11/27 No class today due to holiday

11/30 What makes a novel African? Cole's "Afropolitanism"

READ: Open City, Teju Cole
12/2 Cole's "New African", continued
12/4 Where/What is Africa today, concluding remarks