B.A (African Studies)

The course is intended to introduce students to the existence of Greek and Roman relations with various parts of Africa referred to in classical times as Egypt, Libya, Carthage, Cyrene, Africa Pro-Consularis and Numidia and to explore the reciprocal impact of the contact on each civilisation.

This course gives a broad perspective view of the traditional systems and institutions. It will address itself to the conceptual framework of the family and the changes that have taken place over the years.

This is a detailed study of the contribution of Africa to the intellectual, socio-cultural and economic development of the ancient Greek and Roman world.

The course examines the nature, subject matter and theories of aesthetics with special focus on African works of art. The course offers the opportunity for students to appreciate the place, value and beauty of various works of art within the general theories of aesthetics.

The course facilitates students’ appreciation of the political, economic and social development in West Africa during the period of contact with the Europeans up to the establishment of colonial rule in the region. The course emphasises the indigenous political systems, the effects of the contact between Europeans and Africans, namely the slave trade, exploration of the interior of West Africa, the establishment of legitimate trade and the activities of the early missionaries.

The course addresses the issue of conflict and conflict resolution from an African perspective. It focuses on the nature an levels off conflict and the methods for resolving them.

This course examines the development of Pan-Africanism and its importance to nationalist activities in Africa. For an adequate understanding of twentieth-century Pan-Africanism, the course explores its historical antecedents in the nineteenth and late eighteenth centuries. It provides clarifies the nuances in the meaning of the concept of Pan-Africanism and points to the critical roles of individuals such as W.E.B. Du Bois and George Padmore in the emergence of the Pan-African movement. The course enables students to track the ways in which Pan-Africanism ideologically influenced the first generation of African nationalist leaders and became an important rallying point for mobilization for the independence struggle and the early attempts at continental unity in independent Africa.

This course explores the history of the economic, political and social changes in the Gold Coast which were the direct consequences of the coming of Europeans and the establishment of their presence in the country.  It examines the influences of Europeans on the Gold Coast economy, political and social structure.  The course also studies the ways in which gold Coast and European cultures were reciprocally accommodating and where they conflicted.  It finally evaluates the lasting impact of the European presence the Gold Coast.

The course engages students in the study of the socio-cultural and historical background of African music with emphasis on the formation and organisation of the ensemble and the structures developed to support the production of music in African societies.

The course is designed to guide students to have an overview of the ethnic values of Ghanaians, the co-existence of Ghanaian ethnic groups, multilingualism and the individual Ghanaian.

The course exposes students to the factors responsible for the movement of Africans to other parts of the world. It focuses on the routes to the outside world, the nature of the journey, the condition of the Africans in their new environment and their contributions to the cultural evolution in their host communities.

The course introduces the student to the socio-cultural foundations of the use of a given West African language (e.g. Akan, Ewe, Hausa or Yoruba) in relation to the conceptualisation and expression of ideas with objects conveying thoughts, feelings, knowledge, etc., as may be found in specific expressions, wise sayings and idioms.

This is a course that takes an overview of African drama. It aims at helping students survey the major dramatic forms in African literature such as informal and literary drama. Emphasis will be placed on the evolution of drama from the popular/market place/street performances through the concert party to the highly structured literary drama. It is expected that students will develop critical and analytical skills needed for a meaningful appreciation of selected drama texts.

The course examines the oral traditions of Africa in all its varieties – tales. Myths legends, songs, proverbs, etc. it also aims at placing the literature in its many contexts (historical, cultural, religious, political, sociological. etc). Students are expected to explore the process of oral transmission which is a unique feature of oral literature.

In this course the focus is on sexual behaviour as socially developed rather than biologically given. It examines the way we become sexual beings and shows how this process is ‘gendered’ with reference to Ghanaian and African societies in general. Trends in sexual behaviour in contemporary Africa will be examined with particular reference to modern methods of contraception, the influence of religion, changing roles of men and women and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

The course deals with the emergence of modern nationalism in Africa especially in the post-World War II period with emphasis on the differences between the nature and development of nationalism in the British colonies and the French colonies.

This course examines the history, course and issues involved in the process of enculturation of the Christian faith in Africa.

The course will look at the nature and common trends of Islamisation in West African societies where Islam is strongly represented (e.g. Sierra Leone, Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria), and draw comparisons with similar processes taking place in Africa north of the Sahara.

This course helps students to appreciate how the elements of music (rhythm, melodic movement, scale patterns, polyphony, etc.) are worked together to form a musically logical fit. Students will also undertake the classification of songs and music styles and their analysis.

The course is designed to provide students with knowledge of popular music and musicians in Ghana. It will focus on the highlife music, tracing its genesis and the factors that have influenced its development. Students will also have the opportunity to study the work of selected popular musicians.

This course exposes students to artistic uses of language in a given West African language (e.g. Akan, Ewe, Hausa, or Yoruba) such as riddles, puzzles, proverbs, etc.

This course examines the relationship between historical and geographical factors and architecture. It looks at specific issues related to land ownership, building materials, and styles of architecture across Ghana as well as the influence of Christianity and Islam on the development of indigenous architecture.

The course is designed to introduce the student to contemporary issues in sub-Saharan African economies and development as well as equip students with sufficient knowledge of topical issues that will enable them to participate meaningfully in macro-economic policy analysis.

The course conducts a systematic analysis of the major forces that have impacted on the political developments of African nations as they prepare fort the challenges of the new century. The analysis will focus on how Africa’s past has shaped its present political and economic conditions.

The course will examine the prelude to the formation of the OAU, the organs, failures and successes. It will also examine the formation of the African Union in the light of the challenges and prospects.

The course examines some of the unwritten (and, sometimes, written) languages in Africa that are threatened by extermination. Emphasis will be on exploring the factors that have contributed to the “dormancy” of the so-called endangered languages, Students will be encouraged to conduct independent research into specific language situations and come out with scientific findings.