African Culture & Colonialism

1. African Culture & Colonialism Tara Reyelts’ Senior Capstone Presentation

2. Key Terms Defined • Colonialism - a monopoly exercised by the leaders of an imperialist country, usually based on economic pressures in the dependent country or territory • Colonization – the establishment of colonies in a place other than the homeland • Culture - manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively • Hegemony - leadership or dominance of one country or social group over others • Imperialism - a policy of extending a country's power and influence through diplomacy or military force

3. Capstone Integrative Project The Colonial Project: Language and Colonization in East Africa • Comparison of Kenya and Tanzania • 20th century colonial & post-colonial periods • English and Swahili are official languages in each country

4. Frantz Fanon (1925-1961) Ngũgĩ wa Thiong'o (1938--)

5. Results of Research: Similarities • Missionaries started the colonizing process • Swahili was imposed in education, then English followed • Swahili was a language of wider communication • Hierarchy of languages: English > Swahili > local • Educated elite vs. the common colonized subjects

6. Results of Research: Differences Colonial Kenya • Aggressively oppressed by British • Bloody struggle for independence Independent Kenya • Little change from colonial period • English widely spoken Colonial Tanzania • Relatively peaceful relations with British • Non-violent gain of independence Independent Tanzania • Revulsion of British culture & remnants of colonialism • Swahili widely spoken

7. Creating an Independent Major • The Proposal http://pages.stolaf.edu/cis-treyelts/ • Themes • Literature and oral tradition • Variations of history • Cultural mixing • Colonialism • Questions • How is Africa portrayed? Is this accurate? • Good and bad effects of colonialism?

8. Required Courses • ART 269, African Art History • ENGL 206, Top: South African Literature • ENGL 211, Hemingway in East Africa • ENGL 399, Sem: West African Feminist Literature • FREN 232B, Intermediate French II • HIST 151, Slavery in African History • HIST 189A, Top: Women in African Colonial History • HIST 292, Muslim Societies in Sub-Saharan Africa • HIST 298, IS/Slavery West Africa • MUSIC 237, World Music • SOAN 236, The Arab World • SOAN 398, IR: Gender and Sexuality in the Maghreb

9. Women in African Colonial History • African feminist literature • Colonial literature on Africa • Primary sources • Secondary sources • Historical methodology • Oral tradition • Life history method

10. French 232 • Francophone Africa and Caribbean • Themes • Identity • Colonialism • Negritude

11. Hemingway in East Africa

12. Serengeti

14. Lake Manyara

15. Mto wa Mbu

16. Ngorongoro Crater

19. Habitat for Humanity - Senegal

20. Web Portfolio http://pages.stolaf.edu/cis-treyelts/

21. Colonialism • Neo-colonialism – new form of colonialism, using capitalist and cultural imperialism to oppress another country • Neo-colonial vs. Post-colonial era • Strategic placement of power with educated elite • Political corruption in African governments • Cultural exchange vs. colonialism • My potential perpetuation of colonialism • We must acknowledge the issues

22. Future Plans Michigan State University PhD program in African History

23. Thank you!