Structure of the course

1. Geography of Africa

a. Topography of the continent

b. The great Rift Valley

c. Highlands, mountains & the rainforests

d. Sahel, deserts &the coasts of Africa

e. Rivers, lakes and Islands

Required readings

Collins O. R. & Burns M. J. 2008. A History of Sub- Saharan Africa. Cambridge: Cambridge University, p. 7-22

Recommended readings

Adams W. M. Goudie A. S. & Orme A. R. (eds.) 1996. The physical Geography of Africa. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Ajayi J. F. A. & Crowder M. (eds.).1985. Historical Atlas of Africa. Cambridge& New York: Cambridge University Press.

2. Africa and Human origins

Required readings

Ehret C. The Civilizations of Africa: A History to 1800. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, p. 17-25

Isichei E. 2000. A History of African societies to 1870. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p. 25-39

Recommended readings

Fleagle J. G., Shea J. J., Grine E. F., Baden A. L., Leakey R. E. (eds.) 2010. Out of Africa 1: The First Hominin Colonization of Eurasia. London & New York: Springer.

3. African language families

a. Afro-Asian

b. Nilo-Saharan

c. Niger-Congo

d. Khoisan

Required readings

Child T. G.2003. Introduction to African languages. Amsterdam/ Philadelphia: John Benjamin Publishing Company. 2003, p.19-53

Map of African language families: http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/african-language-map.htm

Recommended readings

Heine B. & Nurse D. (eds.). 2000. African Languages: An Introduction. Cambridge: Cambridge University press.

4. Pre-colonial African political systems

-Pluralism of African political systems

-Various forms of indigenous democratic systems

-Various forms of indigenous of monarchy

-Some case studies of African political systems

Required readings

Potholm C. P. 1978. The theory and practice of African Politics. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, INC., p.3-33

Collins O. R. & Burns M. J. 2008. A History of Sub- Saharan Africa. Cambridge: Cambridge University, p. Kingdoms of Nile 23-39, Horn of Africa 64-77,West African Savannah empires 78-95, East Africa & the Indian Ocean 96-113, the Lake plateau of East Africa 114-127, states of West African forest 128-141, states of central Africa 142-158, states of southern Africa 159-172

Recommended readings

Isichei E. 2000. A History of African societies to 1870. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.101-260

5. Religions of African societies

a. Indigenous African religions

b. Christianity in Africa

c. Islam in Africa

Required readings

Mbiti J. S. 1991. Introduction to African religion. Oxford: Heinemann Educational publishers.

Iliffe J. 2007. Africans: the history of the continent. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, p.39-64

6. Africa and Atlantic slave trade- Africans in diaspora

a. Global history of slave trade

b. Different types of slavery

c. Atlantic slave trade

Required readings

Lovejoy P.E. The volume of the Atlantic Slave trade; A synthesis. The Journal of African History, vol.23, no.4 (1982), p.473-501

Recommended readings

Patterson O. 1982. Slavery and social death: A comparative study. Massachusetts and London: Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

7. Africa under colonial domination

Required readings

Boahen A. A. (ed.) 1985. General History of Africa Vol.VII: Africa Under Colonial domination 1885-1935. Oxford: Heinemann Educational publishers, p.1-45

Recommended readings

8. The process of decolonization and African Independence

Required readings

Mazrui A. A. (ed.). 1993. General History of Africa Vol. VIII: Africa since 1935. Oxford: Heinemann Educational publishers, p.1-28

9. The role of Cold War and its destabilizing consequences in Africa

a. The assassination of African leaders and military coups in Africa

b. The various internal movements against independent African states

c. Structural Adjustment program and its social consequences in Africa

Required readings

Reno W. 2011. Warfare in Independent Africa. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Recommended readings

10. Economic development in contemporary Africa.

Required readings

Mazrui A. A. (ed.). 1993. General History of Africa Vol. VIII: Africa since 1935. Oxford: Heinemann Educational publishers, p. 285-434

11. Democratization and its obstacles in contemporary Africa

Required readings

Diamond L & Plattner M. Democratization in Africa. Baltimore & London: The Johns Hopkins University Press.

12. Terrorism in Africa

a. State terrorism

b. Non- state terrorism

c. International terrorism

Required readings

Hentz J. J. (ed.) 2014. Routledge Handbook of African Security. London& New York: Routledge.

Various articles will be added.