No Easy Victories: African Liberation and American Activists over a Half Century, 1950-2000
Gail Hovey, and Charles Cobb Jr.
Published by Africa World Press.
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No Easy Victories: African Liberation and American Activists over a Half Century, 1950-2000 |
Edited by William Minter, Gail Hovey, and Charles Cobb Jr. Published by Africa World Press. |
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Using No Easy Victories in Teaching
Jeanne Penvenne, "Race, Class, and Power in Southern Africa"
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Race, Class, and Power in Southern Africa
Faculty Contacts: Office: East Hall 105 - The Green
Introduction: Southern Africa is one of the most diverse, promising and threatened areas of the African continent. It is a region dominated by mineral economies, agriculture and the politics of new nations. The contemporary map of the region closely reflects British, German and Portuguese colonial diplomacy, but the region has re-emerged as a politically independent if economically dominated area since the 1960s. This course begins with a brief introduction to the critical political and economic events of the 19th century that strongly shaped the region's experiences in the twentieth century history. The main focus is the twentieth and early twenty-first century. South Africa, as the regional powerhouse, receives detailed treatment, but not to the neglect of the broader region. Race, class, age, ethnicity, gender and health are raised for their roles in shaping the power landscape. We seek to relate the environment to politics and spirituality. We treat spirit possession and witchcraft with the same rigor generally assumed for discussions of diplomacy and war. Through scholarly essays, documentary films, feature films, short stories, life histories, essays, poems and photographs students become acquainted with Southern African voices, faces and landscapes. We draw on Southern African intellectuals beginning with the praise poetry of Fabião of Mozambique and the diary Hendrik Witbooi, of one of Namibia’s distinguished military men. We consider the political poetry of Mozambicans like José Craveirinha, and end with the thoughts of Mamphela Ramphele, one of South Africa's leading intellectuals. You will notice that we have to reach deeper to engage Southern African women. Finally, we reflect upon the history of international activism that linked Southern Africans and North Americans in struggles for civil rights in the United States and Southern Africa. Are “Active Citizens” the “Secular Missionaries” of the 21 century? Evaluation Formula Students are evaluated according to the following formula:
Map examination 5%
Discussion Ante & Exam Format – see Addenda 1 Course Readings: The following books are required reading (as per the schedule below) and are available for purchase at the Tufts Bookstore: J.D. Omer-Cooper, History of Southern Africa, James Currey, latest edition. William Minter, Gail Hovey, and Charles Cobb, Jr. eds. No easy victories : African liberation and American activists over a half century, 1950-2000. Africa World Press, 2008. Harry G. West, Kupilikula : governance and the invisible realm in Mozambique . University of Chicago Press, 2005. Steve Biko, I write what I like, latest edition Course Packet / Web Readings: These readings are required and available in a packet where possible in pdf on the Blackboard template.
Utube: País Da Marrabenta (2003) - Gpro Fam
Jeanne Marie Penvenne & Bento Sitoe. "Power, Poets and the People: Mozambican Voices Interpreting History." Social Dynamics, Vol. 26, No. 2 (2000): 55-86. http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/cas/sd/Articles_Vol26no2/penvenne.pdf Amina Mama, “Is it Ethical to Study Africa? Preliminary Thoughts on Scholarship and Freedom,” African Studies Review, Vol 50, No. 1 (April 2007):1-26. Patrick Harries. “The Roots of Ethnicity: Discourse and the Politics of Language Construction in South-East Africa.” African Affairs. Vol. 87, No 346, (January 1988):25-52. (also on JSTOR). Georg M. Gugelberger, ed. Nama / Namibia: Diary and Letters of Nama Chief Hendrik Witbooi 1884-1894. Boston : African Studies Center, Boston University African Historical Documents Series, Number 5 (1984): iv-ix, 1-17, 120-131. David Coplan. "Emergence of African Working Class Culture." in Shula Marks and Richard Rathbone, eds. Industrialisation and Social Change in South Africa; African class formation, culture and consciousness, 1870 - 1930. London, Longman (1982): 358-375. Mtutuzeli Matshoba. “To Kill a Man’s Pride.” in N. Hodge, To Kill a Man's Pride. Johannesburg, Raven (1984):203-239. Edward Alpers. "The Role of Culture in the Liberation of Mozambique." Ufahamu , 12, 3 (1983):143-189. Christine Messiant, "Angola: the Challenge of Statehood." in David Birmingham & Phyllis M. Martin, Eds. History of Central Africa: The Contemporary Years, since 1960. (New York: Longman, 1998): 131-166. Jeanne Marie Penvenne, "Mozambique: A Tapestry of Conflict"in David Birmingham & Phyllis M. Martin, Eds. History of Central Africa: The Contemporary Years, since 1960. (New York: Longman, 1998): 230-266. Terence Ranger, "Zimbabwe and the long search for Independence,"in David Birmingham & Phyllis Martin, Central Africa: Contemporary, 203-230. Megan Vaughan, "Exploitation and neglect: rural producers and the state in Malawi and Zambia," in Birmingham & Martin, Central Africa: Contemporary, 167-202. Njabulo S. Ndebele. "Guilt and Atonement: Unmasking History for the Future." Concert of Voices: An Anthology of World Writing in English. Edited by V.J. Ramraj. Broadview Press (1995): 226-343. Mahmood Mamdani. "Reconciliation without Justice." Southern African Review of Books. Issue 46 (Nov. Dec. 1996: 3-5. Mamphela Ramphele. ”Equity Environments” Frederick Cooper, “Networks, Moral Discourse, and History.” In Thomas M. Callaghy; Ronald Kassimir; Robert Latham (eds.): Intervention & Transnationalism in Africa. Global-Local Networks of Power (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001):23-46. Recommended Readings – see attached. Required readings are listed below Schedule of Classes
Week One: History, Culture and Meaning 2 September- Introduction to the Challenges, Location and Building Blocks 4 September - The Past of the Present - Southern Africa (Mfecane / Great Trek & Environment) Required Reading / Viewing: Pais de Marrabenta, Gpro Fam [Translation provided] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL3dqcORhi4 Jeanne Marie Penvenne & Bento Sitoe. "Power, Poets and the People: Mozambican Voices Interpreting History." Social Dynamics, Vol. 26, No. 2 (2000): 55-86. http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/cas/sd/Articles_Vol26no2/penvenne.pdf Amina Mama, “Is it Ethical to Study Africa? Preliminary Thoughts on Scholarship and Freedom,” African Studies Review, Vol 50, No. 1 (April 2007):1-26. Week Two : Minerals, Arms and Conquest 9 September Struggles over Resources in Southern Africa 11 September Film & Lecture : Colonialism Case Study Namibia Required Reading: Omer-Cooper, Patrick Harries, "The Roots of Ethnicity: Discourse and the Politics of Language Construction in South East Africa" African Affairs , Vol. 87 No. 346 (January 1988):25-52. George Gugelberger, ed. Nama / Namibia: Diary and Letters of Chief Hendrik Witbooi, 1884-1894 , iv-ix, 1-17, 120-131.
Week Three: Local Strategies, Indigenous Meaning and Imperial Designs 16 Sept. Ethnicity, Language and the Colonial Footprint LAST ADD 18 Sept. MAP EXAM & DISCUSSION Witboi / Ethnic Roots & Praise Poets Discussion Ante Required in class – NO exceptions Required Reading: Omer- Cooper, Ch 7 David Coplan. "Emergence of African Working Class Culture." in Shula Marks and Richard Rathbone, eds. Industrialisation and Social Change in South Africa; African class formation, culture and consciousness, 1870 - 1930. London, Longman (1982): 358-375. http://www.sahistory.org.za/pages/governence-projects/womens-struggle/maxeke- tribute.htm
Week Four: Colonialism, Gender and Leadership I 23 Sept Accessible Leadership: Sol Plaatje, João Albasini, Charlotte Maxexe 25 Sept. FIRST HOUR EXAM Required Reading for week FIVE Minter, No Easy Victories , Foreword, Voices Ch. 1 An Unfinished Journey Omer Cooper, Ch 8
Week Five From Segregation to Apartheid / First Republic to the New State 30 Sept. The Roots of Apartheid 2 OctPortuguese Colonial Africa to the New State
Required Reading: Omer Cooper, Ch. 9 No Easy Victories Ch 2 & 3 with Vignettes Mtutuzeli Matshoba. “To Kill a Man’s Pride.” in N. Hodge, To Kill a Man's Pride. Johannesburg, Raven (1984):203-239. Biko, I write what I like . First half
Week Six : Colonialism, Gender and Leadership II 7 Oct Less Accessible Leadership, Wicked Women, Witchcraft, Praise Poetry, Possession LAST DROP 9 Oct. View "Songs of the Adventurers" Required Reading: Biko, I write what I like. Second half West, Kupilikula Introduction Mozambican short stories, excerpts in translation thanks to Sophia Beal.
Week Seven - High Apartheid 14 Oct. View: Generations of Resistance 16 Oct. Discussion: Biko & Matshoba Discussion Ante Required in class – NO exceptions Required Viewing & Sall Group Discussion Have you heard from Johannesburg? 14 Oct. 5:00 PM East Hall Lounge -- Class group viewing with pizza. Required Reading No Easy Victories, Ch 2 – 3.
Week Eight – From Nationalism to Independence, 21 Oct. Anglophone S’rn Africa - The Small Bits 23 Oct. Angolophoe S’rn Africa – The Big Bits Required Reading: Omer Cooper, Ch 10 Terence Ranger, "Zimbabwe and the long search for Independence" in Birmingham & Martin, Central Africa: Contemporary, 203-230 Megan Vaughan, "Exploitation and neglect: rural producers and the state in Malawi and Zambia," in Birmingham & Martin, Central Africa: Contemporary, 167-202.
Week Nine: Black Power to the Children’s War 28 Oct. Black Power to the Children’s War / UDF 30 Oct. Beginning of the Endgame Required Reading: Penvenne, "Mozambique: A Tapestry of conflict" & Messiant, "Angola: the challenge of statehood," in Birmingham & Martin, Central Africa: Contemporary, 231-266. Christine Messiant, "Angola: the challenge of statehood," in Birmingham & Martin, Central Africa: Contemporary, 131-166.
Week Ten – Regional Nationalisms / Transformations Election Day - REMEMBER TO VOTE People around the world have sacrificed enormously for the rights we enjoy. We should not take them for granted. 4 Nov. Angola & Mozambique – End of Empire 6 Nov. Lusophone Africa 1960s to 1990s Required Reading: Edward Alpers. "The Role of Culture in the Liberation of Mozambique." Ufahamu , 12, 3 (1983):143-189. Week Eleven : Exam Week 11 Nov. VETERAN'S DAY honoring our men and women. 13 Nov. Hour exam Required Reading for Week 12 (not for exam): West, Kupilikula, first third Mahmoud Mamdani. "Reconciliation with out Justice." Southern African Review of Books. Issue 46 (Nov. Dec. 1996: 3-5. Mamphela Ramphele. "Equity Environments” “No Easy Victories” Ch 4-5 Week Twelve- Global Citizenship in the New S’rn Africa 18 Nov. Reconciliation 1 - Apartheid’s Second Front & “New South Africa ” 20 Nov. Discussion : No Easy Victories” Required Reading West, Kupilikula, middle third Cooper, “Networks, Moral Discourse and History”’ Ndebele, “Guilt and Atonement” “No Easy Victories” Ch 6 – Seeking New Directions Week Thirteen – Challenges of the Twenty First Century, I 25 Nov. HIV / AIDS, Equity Environments & Testing Hope 27 Nov. Happy Thanksgiving Required Reading: No Easy Victories, Ch 6. West Kupilikula, last third Required Viewing: Testing Hope by Tufts Alum Molly Blank Group viewing 1 December 5:30 Week Fourteen – Chalenges of the Twenty First Century, II 1 Dec. VIEWING “Testing Hope” by Tufts Alum Molly Blank 5:30 PM 2 Dec. Discussion Kupilikula & Testing Hope 4 Dec. History - Whose Analysis? Required Reading Review Amina Mama from week One Frederick Cooper, “Networks, Moral Discourse, and History.” In Thomas M. Callaghy; Ronald Kassimir; Robert Latham (eds.): Intervention & Transnationalism in Africa. Global-LocalNetworks of Power (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001):23-46 Third Hour Exam – 16 December 2008 – 3:30 to 5:30 |
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