SOSANT2120 – Regional Ethnography: Africa

Schedule, syllabus and examination date

Course content

This course gives a critical introduction to the anthropology of one broad traditional anthropological "region", with a particular emphasis on current research interests related to that region, and how these are shaped by historical the legacy of colonialism and the global political economy. The course reflects critically about regional ethnographic knowledge-making, and provides thereby the basis for a productive engagement with the tradition of comparative ethnography.

In the beginning, the students will be given a brief overview of anthropological research traditions and themes related to the region and their historical context. The main part of the course will then focus on recent and current subject matters that shape contemporary anthropological research on and from the region, and on on-going debates about the discipline's place in the region.

Learning outcome

Knowledge

  • Overview of the region’s contribution to anthropology
  • Familiarity with some recent and current themes in regional anthropology
  • Critical reflection about the history and contemporary conditions of anthropology of and from the continent

Skills

  • Competence in regional ethnography and familiarity with some main themes in the region’s contemporary anthropology

General competence

  • Ability to engage with and communicate contemporary social anthropological insights
  • Understanding and respect for social and cultural, as well as historical variation, as well as for theoretical and methodological differences between regional anthropological approaches
  • Critical reflection about the role and responsibility of anthropology and the anthropologist in the context of a particular region

Admission to the course

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

Basic knowledge in Social Anthropology.

Overlapping courses

Teaching

Lectures take place throughout the semester.

Compulsory element

Students will submit three essays (800-1000 words each) over the semester for feedback. Prompts and detailed instructions for these essays will be provided in class. Feedback will be provided as follows:

  • Lecturer feedback on one essay.
  • Peer feedback on one essay.
  • Guided self-review (with a rubric) on one essay.

The essays will be assessed as ‘Approved/Not approved’. Students must have their essays approved in order to sit for the exam.

Compulsory activity must be approved and the exam passed in the same semester.

Absence from compulsory activities

In case of illness or other valid reasons, you may in some cases be granted valid absence or postponement of compulsory activities.

Examination

Students will select their two strongest essays from the semester to revise and resubmit as their final written exam. These two essays (each 1000 words +/- 10 %) will be submitted along with a resubmission statement (350-500 words per essay) detailing their editing choices. These will be submitted in Inspera as a single document. Substantial revisions and a thorough revision statement are required to pass the final exam.

Examination support material

All exam support materials are allowed during this exam. Generating all or parts of the exam answer using AI tools such as Chat GPT or similar is not allowed.

Language of examination

You may submit your response in Norwegian, Swedish, Danish or English.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about?the grading system.

Also see?Grading guidelines in social anthropology.

More about examinations at UiO

You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) May 28, 2025 11:33:08 PM

Facts about this course

Level
Bachelor
Credits
10
Teaching
Autumn

The course is offered irregularly.

Examination
Autumn
Teaching language
English

Contact

SV-info