African Experiences of Empire

This is a "flipped" course on sub-Saharan Africa from the mid-nineteenth through the mid-twentieth centuries. It presupposes no knowledge of Africa and serves as an introduction to the continent. It focuses on daily life, families, and popular culture. Students will analyze change, question perspectives, and imagine life, and question what "Africa" was during the period of European imperialism. Most readings are primary sources, which include photographs, songs, and oral histories. The course is "flipped"; students' first introduction to the content comes before class meetings through the text and multi-media sources. Class meetings are dedicated to discussion and exercises, including role-playing.