Admission requirements
History students should have successfully completed their propaedeutic exam and both second-year BA-seminars, one of which in Algemene Geschiedenis. By choosing this seminar, students also choose Algemene Geschiedenis as their BA graduation specialisation.
Description
Generally, the study of African Religions and Philosophies is a systematic study of the attitudes of mind and belief that have evolved in the many societies of Africa and that are until today giving direction to societal developments. The course combines historical, political and anthropological approaches of religion and philosophy. The African Religions and Philosophies course aims to equip students with a broad, deep and critical understanding of African religions and philosophies. The course will have an eye for all the diversities in systems of thought that African societies have developed and incorporated over centuries. It will also delve deeper into the role of thought systems in society, both its economy, political and social developments. In doing so we will understand the relation of Africa with the world.
The course is divided into two parts viz 6 lectures and 6 seminars. The latter are prepared by the students with the help of readings provided by the lecturer. The course will follow important thinkers of the continent, such as Joseph Ki-Zerbo, Paulin J. Hountondji, V.Y. Mdimbe, Fabien Eboussi Boulaga, Fatou Sow, Ousmane Kane, Sylvia Tamale, Oyeronke Oyewumi and Ifi Amadiume, and will look into the philosophies/systems of thought that have come with the introduction of ‘external’ religions: Catholicism; but also how Islam is both external and internal. As far as Islam is concerned the course will study the philosophies of Amadu Bamba and Uthman Dan Fodio.
Acquiring knowledge on these thinkers and systems of thought will allow students to synchronically and diachronically understand the myriad religions and philosophies within African societies, and to thereby independently comprehend the continent’s rich civilisations before and after her contact with Europe.
Course objectives
General learning objectives
The student can:
- devise and conduct research of limited scope, including:
a. identifying relevant literature and select and order them according to a defined principle;
b. organising and using relatively large amounts of information;
c. an analysis of a scholarly debate;
d. placing the research within the context of a scholarly debate.
2) write a problem solving essay and give an oral presentation after the format defined in the first year Themacolleges, including:
a. using a realistic schedule of work;
b. formulating a research question and subquestions;
c. formulating a well-argued conclusion;
d. giving and receiving feedback;
e. responding to instructions of the lecturer. - reflect on the primary sources on which the literature is based;
- select and use primary sources for their own research;
- analyse sources, place and interpret them in a historical context;
- participate in class discussions.
Learning objectives, pertaining to the specialisation
- The student has knowledge of a specialisation, more specifically; in the specialisation General History: of the place of European history from 1500 in a worldwide perspective; with a focus on the development and role of political institutions; in the track History of European Expansion and Globalisation: of the development of global networks which facilitate an ever growing circulation of people, animals, plants, goods and ideas, and the central role of European expansion in this from around 1500.
- Knowledge and insight in the main concepts, the research methods and techniques of the specialisation, more specifically; in the specialisation General History: of the study of primary sources and the context specificity of nationally defined histories; in the track History of European Expansion and Globalisation: of the combining of historiographical debates with empirical research of primary sources and/or the combining of various historiographical traditions through the use of innovative research questions.
Learning objectives, pertaining to this specific seminar
- Conduct research on primary sources related to the topic of the seminar: histories of religion and philosophies of Africa.
- Understand the use of biographic research.
- Understand how external and internal dynamics played on the history of philosophies and religions in Africa.
- Presentation showing digital skills.
Timetable
The timetables are available through MyTimetable.
Mode of instruction
lecture
seminar
self-tuition
Assessment method
Assessment
Written paper (6000-7000 words, based on problem-oriented research using primary sources, excluding front page, table of contents, footnotes and bibliography)
measured learning objectives: 2-5, 7-11Oral presentation
measured learning objectives: 3-5, 12Participation
measured learning objectives: 6, 10, 11Assignment 1 (take-home assignment: short essay)
measured learning objectives: 9-11*
Weighing
Written paper: 50%
Oral presentation: 10%
Participation: 20%
Take home assignment (short essay): 20%
Resit
The written paper can be revised, when marked insufficient. Revision should be carried out within the deadline as provided in the relevant course outline on Brightspace.
Inspection and feedback
How and when an exam review will take place will be disclosed together with the publication of the exam results at the latest. If a student requests a review within 30 days after publication of the exam results, an exam review will have to be organised.
Reading list
Foundational Text:
Kenjo Jumbam, The Whiteman of God
Chinua Achebe, Things fall Apart; and Arrow of God
Various other readings: (relevant chapters will be announced on Brightspace but reading the complete text will give additional knowledge)
Fabien Eboussi Boulaga, Christianity Without Fetishes: An African Critique and Recapture of Christianity. Orbit Publishers, 1984.
Fabien Eboussi Boulaga , Muntu In Crisis: African Authenticity and Philosophy. Africa World Press, 2014
Oyeronke Oyewumi, The Invention of Women: Making an African Sense of Western Gender Discourses.
Ifi, Amadiume, Male Daughters, Female Husbands: Gender and Sex in an African Society
Sylvia Tamale, Decolonization and Afro-Feminism. Daraja,2023.
Mudimbe, V.Y. The Invention of Africa: Gnosis, Philosophy and the Order of Knowledge. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1988.
Paulin, Hountondji. African Philosophy: Myth and Reality. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1977.
Registration
Registration is done via a form that all History students receive on the day registrations open.
Contact
For substantive questions, contact the lecturer listed in the right information bar.
For questions about enrolment, admission, etc, contact the Education Administration Office: Huizinga.
Remarks
None