Identity and Languages in Contemporary Africa

Catalog description

When you think of contemporary Africa, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? IS it a megacity? Africa is the most rapidly urbanizing continent in the world. It is home to three of the world’s megacities (populations of 10 million). It is also home to one-third of the world’s languages and over 2000 languages are spoken in Africa. What is daily life within them like, and what kinds of linguistic, cultural, economic, and political roles do they play in our world? In this interdisciplinary class, we’ll look for answers to these questions in articles and mixed media, including Instagram posts, op-eds, TED Talks, YouTube music videos, sci-fi short stories, documentary photography, and more. What we’ll find might surprise you. Along the way, we’ll also do some critical reflection and self-examination: what shapes the ways we think about Africa and why?