SOSANT2120 – Regional Ethnography: Africa
Course description
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
Competencies
- 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.
Recommended previous knowledge
Basic knowledge in social anthropology.
Overlapping courses
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2110 – Regional Ethnography: Middle East and SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2110 – Regional Ethnography: Middle East and SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika and SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2110 – Regional Ethnography: Middle East and SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika and SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia and SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2110 – Regional Ethnography: Middle East and SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika and SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia and SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden and SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2110 – Regional Ethnography: Middle East and SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika and SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia and SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden and SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
- 10 credits overlap with SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania and SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2110 – Regional Ethnography: Middle East.
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT1101 – Regional etnografi: jordens folk og kulturelt mangfold (discontinued).
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2130 – Regional etnografi: Latin-Amerika.
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2140 – Regional ethnography: East and Southeast Asia.
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2150 – Regional etnografi: Norden.
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2160 – Regional etnografi: Oceania.
- 5 credits overlap with SOSANT2170 – Regional ethnography: Europe.
Teaching
Lectures take place throughout the semester.
Examination
Summative assessment:
8 summary papers of around 500 words (+/-50 words), to be handed in before lectures 3-10 for feedback by the lecturer and subsequent revision for the exam (see below); if summary papers are submitted late, no feedback will be given.
Exam:
4 summary papers submitted in Inspera as one single document.?Students are to choose what they consider their 4 strongest summary papers, revised after feedback by the lecturer, and submit these as their written 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.
Resit an examination
It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you?withdraw from the exam?after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.
More about examinations at UiO
- Use of sources and citations
- Special exam arrangements due to individual needs
- Withdrawal from an exam
- Illness at exams / postponed exams
- Explanation of grades and appeals
- Resitting an exam
- Cheating/attempted cheating
You will find further guides and resources at the web page on examinations at UiO.