Course Description
This course is a study of representative plays from the African continent.  The selections range from several original compositions in English to some translations from a few of the continent’s languages and they demonstrate not just the great cultural and linguistic diversities of the continent but also the intricate, constitutive role of language in the artistic process.  Other emphases in the course include the notable developments, divergences and convergences in respect of form, style, theme and aesthetic concepts.  We will inquire also into the plays’ dialogues about gender, postcoloniality, the individual and the society, the local/regional and the global, and theatre in collaboration with other representational forms.

The course aims at a balance between an extensive study of a region and an intensive study of the works of prominent individual playwrights.

The course format takes the form of a combination of lecture, seminar presentation and discussion.

Reading List
Jeyifo, Biodun, ed.  Modern African Drama:  Authoritative Texts, Background and Criticism (Norton, 2002).  Plays to be studied from this anthology include Tawfik al-Hakim, Fate of a Cockroach; Kateb Yacine, Intelligence Powder; Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin, Collision of Altars; Ama Ata Aidoo, The Dilemma of a Ghost; Femi Osofisan, Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels.

David Graver, ed. Drama for a New South Africa (Indiana c.1999). Plays to be studied from this anthology include Junction Avenue Theatre, Sophiatown; Zakes Mda, And the Girls in their Sunday Dresses; Brett Bailey, Ipi Zombi?; Reza De Wet, Reza, Crossings; Ismail Mahomed, Purdah.

Wole Soyinka, A Dance of the Forests; The Bacchae of Euripedes in Collected Plays I; The Trials of Brother Jero and Jero’s Metamorphosis in Collected Plays II; and King Baabu (London:  Methuen, 2002).

Athol Fugard. Boesman and Lena; The Road to Mecca; Sorrow and Rejoicing (London:  Faber, 1996);  with John Kani and Winston Ntshona, Sizwe Bansi is Dead (in Modern African Drama).  John Berry’s 2000 film adaptation, Boesman and Lena (widely available in DVD), will be discussed.

Efua Sutherland, The Marriage of Anansewa; Edufa: Two Plays (Longman)

Ama Ata Aidoo. Anowa (Longman: 1970)

Onwueme, Tess, Three Plays:  The Broken Calabash, Parables for a Season and The Reign of Wazobia (Detroit:  Wayne State U. P., 1993); Riot in Heaven (New York and Lagos:  Africana Legacy, 1996). The video, Wazobia, will be discussed.

 
Theoretical and background material, which includes articles on the plays and theorizations of African drama and theatre, will be found in the anthologies on the reading list. This will be supplemented with references to other materials as necessary.

Evaluation

• One 20 minutes seminar presentation, with written summary of presentation-1000 words–choose a date from schedule to be drawn by the instructor (20%)
• One in-class essay 450 words –mid October; will be based on the live performance of Esu and the Vagabond Minstrels showing at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts www.youngcentre.ca (10%)
• Fall essay: 2000 words, due end of fall term (30% )
• Winter essay: 2000 words, due April 5—strict deadline. Please note that winter classes end on April 3 (30%)
• Participation - all year: includes group work (10%)

Teaching-Learning Philosophy and Policy

Classrooms can facilitate learning. Therefore, classrooms must provide both the space and opportunity for students’ voices to be heard. Active student participation in the discussion of issues raised by the course material will be emphasised. Students are expected to read the assigned texts and be prepared to discuss and comment on both the lecture material and the texts.

What you can expect from me

• Organized classes in which everyone has equal opportunity to express his or her ideas.
• My availability outside of class to discuss the course material, as well as essays and seminars
• Prompt response to telephone and email messages. Please note that email should be used for communicating information and setting up appointments. Students should not expect to make up missed lectures through email correspondence with the course director.
• Fair and prompt grading of all assignments. Feedback will be constructive, aimed at helping students develop ideas and improve their writing.
• Prompt return of assignments.

What we expect from you

Class Participation

• To do well on this component, you must come to class regularly, and have the assigned readings completed.
• You are expected to participate in class discussions, including small group discussions and other pedagogical exercises.
• In order to have something to say about the material, practise reading actively and critically. Record your impressions and any questions you may have, and reflect on them before you come to class.

Seminar

• Each student will give one seminar over the course of the year.
• Be prepared to sign up for a seminar date during the first week of classes.
• In your presentation, you should aim to talk for about 15 minutes on your chosen topic, and then open up the discussion to your colleagues. It would be a good idea to prepare a few questions or points to raise in order to get the discussion going.
• The day of your seminar, you must submit a 3-4 page write-up detailing the main ideas of your presentation.
• Students who do not show up for their presentation will be assigned a grade of zero for the respective presentation. To enable the seminar sessions to run smoothly, students should notify the course director at least two weeks in advance of an intention to cancel.

Essays

Essays must be typed, double-spaced with one-inch margins, have page numbers and a cover page.

• Citations should take the form of parenthetical references and conform to the standards in the MLA handbook.
• Assignments should be submitted in hard copies on the due date at the beginning of class. Students should keep a copy of their essays for their records.

Policy on lateness

• Penalty for late submission of assignments is a deduction of 2% of the grade assigned to the particular assignment every day after due date.
• In cases of illness, personal emergency or deadline conflicts, an extension will usually be granted. Please discuss extensions with me, preferably well in advance.

Plagiarism

• If you can find the sources from which to plagiarize, the professor can find them.
• The consequences of plagiarism can range from a reprimand to removal from the University and withholding of an academic degree in the future.
• You are required to cite all sources you quote or paraphrase: books, article, films, magazines, newspapers, reviews, etc. The internet is a source which must also be documented.
• In order to reduce or eliminate instances of plagiarism, you are required to keep a copy of all assignments and research notes. You may be asked to present them to the professor in the future.
• Consult the undergraduate handbook for the rules and regulations governing plagiarism.