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FC 86, West African CulturesProf. J. Lorand Matory

Final Examination Study Questions13 December 2005(Tentative exam date and venue: Tuesday, January 17, 2006 at 9:15 a.m., in Emerson 315)

The final will consist of 8 vocabulary items, of which each student must define 5, giving examples, dates, and the names of relevant authors and ethnic groups wherever possible (30% of grade), as well as 3 essay questions, of which each student must answer 2 (35% each). Students are encouraged to study together and share information in preparation for the exam.

I. Vocabulary

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AfricanismsAfro-Asiatic languagesAfro-Atlantic dialogueAfro-FrenchAncient GhanaAsanteheneAshanti/Asante Badenya vs. fadenyaBalafonBenedict Anderson(The Kingdom of)BeninBénin Republic Berlin Conference and Otto von BismarckBooker T. Washington and TogoBrain drainBritish CommonwealthBundu, Poro, SandeCall and responseCoevalCreolizationCross-rhythmsCultural diacritica (Fredrik Barth)Culture as conflictCut-neckDemocratic Republic of CongoDiffusionismDjeli/jeliDjenné-Djeno

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Emic vs. eticEquatorial GuineaEweFaure Gnassingbé and Gnassingbé EyademaFGMFulfuldeGaoGender diarchyGerman AfricaGoréeGuinea-BissauGuinea-ConakryGullahHabitusHaukaHausaHereroHistoricityIgboIkpantureIslamic Contact PeriodKabreKente Koi KoroboKoraKpanguimaKrioLa FrancophonieLuso-AfricansMaghribMali EmpireMandeMansaricoMarcel MaussMasqueradeMendeMethodological holismMetronome senseNgoniNiger-Congo languagesNyamankalaOratureOyo Participant observationPeul, Pulaar, Fula, Fulani, Fulbe, TukulorPierre Bourdieu

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PolyrhythmsProxemicsQadiriyya, Tijaniyya, Ahmadiyya, Muridiyya (Mourides)ReflexivityRepublic of Congo (Congo-Brazzaville)Republic of MaliRobert Farris ThompsonRoots vs. rhizomesRumbaSankouya/sanankunyaSenegambiaSerial monogamySese Seko MobutuSettler colonialismSignaresSocial constructionismSoninkeSon-Jara/SundiataSoukousSowo-wuiSt. LouisStructure and agencySufismTeknonymsTemneThe Hamitic hypothesisThe Herskovits-Frazier debateThe politics of representationThe Republic of GhanaThe South Atlantic complex UmuofiaUsman dan Fodio (1754-1817)—1794 jihads beginViri-avunculocal post-marital residenceWassoulouWolofYoruba

II. Essay Questions. Each answer should advance a thoughtful argument that is summarized in the first paragraph and is substantiated by a structured argument and as many detailed references to the reading and lectures as possible. An outline will help you to organize your thoughts and will be reviewed to your advantage if you choose to write it in the blue book, but is not required. Cite specific authors, dates, ethnic groups, and places whenever possible.

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A) How does West African architecture reveal and produce West African social order?

B) With respect to their inferences about the relationship between African and African American cultures, discuss the similarities and differences among Melville J. Herskovits, Sidney Mintz and Richard Price, and J. Lorand Matory.

C) Is “generosity” the correct term for the African forms of gift-giving about which you have read and/or heard in this class? How do they differ in form and motive from what you have encountered in your own native society? Do African forms of gift-giving and other exchange relationships undermine the analytic assumption that we are all “maximizing, strategizing individuals”?

D) What are the advantages and disadvantages of an anthropological approach to the study of Africa? Contrast this approach to the likely approach of your concentration. How does the anthropological approach differ from that of news and feature journalism? If you are an anthropology concentrator, contrast the anthropological approach to another course you have taken.

E) Discuss what is called “corruption” in western Africa and its social context. How does it differ from similarly named phenomena in the U.S.?

F) How do architecture and other forms of proxemics encode history and shape social order in western Africa? What lessons do we learn from the similarities and differences between western African proxemics and the proxemics of Harvard?

G) What are the shared features of most African music, and what are the historical and formal relationships between African music and the musical genres of the African diaspora?

H) How do western African aesthetics reflect and shape western African ethical, social and political norms? Do aesthetic changes coincide with ethical, social and political changes in western Africa? Are there comparable phenomena in the U.S.?

I) How and under what circumstances has the “Afro-Atlantic dialogue” influenced western African lifeways? How and under what circumstances has it influenced the lifeways of the Americas and Europe?

J) Discuss the differences between the African and the non-African representations of African life that you have read for the class, including the newspaper articles.

K) How did pre-colonial West Africans govern themselves? What are the main points of variation? What diverse class, ethnic, gender and professional interests were at stake?

[study guide 2005]

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