Africans on the Move

3 Credits · Level: Graduate, Undergraduate

In August, 2023, Dakar, Senegal witnessed a tragic yet all-too-familiar situation that garnered significant media attention. A group of migrants embarked on a perilous voyage aboard a pirogue, with the goal of reaching the shores of Spain. Tragically, their overcrowded boat capsized, resulting in the loss of many young lives and once again leaving Senegalese society in shock. In West Africa, hundreds, if not thousands, undertake this hazardous journey each year, driven by an unyielding determination encapsulated by the Wolof phrase Barsa Wala Barsak, which translates to "Barcelona, or Death." The experience of migration, whether coerced or voluntary, has been a central theme in the cultural production of Francophone Africa south of the Sahara. It serves as a compelling gateway to delve into the examination of African diasporic subjectivity and experience as depicted in the literature, cinema, and art of the region. This course aims to investigate the plural motivations behind people’s decisions to migrate, whether by choice or out of necessity, as well as the tangible and subtle consequences of these journeys on their self-perceptions, identities, cultures, and on the societies they leave behind. It also delves into how history and memory exert influence on individual and collective experiences of displacement and migration. To achieve this goal, the course will provide a thorough examination of the historical, political, and societal factors that contribute to a nuanced understanding of the diverse and distinct narratives of migration, displacement, and the resulting feeling of alienation or unbelonging often associated with such journeys in Francophone African contexts. Students will engage with a curated selection of post-independence Sub-Saharan African literature, including novels, short stories, and poetry. Additionally, they will explore cinematic productions, photographic installations, music, and various artworks that grapple with themes such as voluntary mobility, the (dis)illusions of coveted migration, or traumatic displacement. Moreover, students will be introduced to a collection of scholarly and theoretical readings, as well as a number of contemporary news articles, to equip them with the necessary tools to refine their understanding of diasporic experiences and identities, as well as the crucial role of crossings (broadly understood) in their shaping. Together, we will thus critically analyze the mechanisms and forces that have molded the contemporary Francophone African diasporic subjectivity, exploring the diverse modes of its expression through art, film, and literature.