Study questions for 306 final

Know dates for events where the timing is an issue, e.g.:

Know the authors of articles in cases where their viewpoint is an issue (e.g., Kaplan, Lee). Authors of text chapters are less important.

Keep the geography fresh in your mind, including languages, climate, countries & cities, vegetation, ethnic groups, rivers, colonial powers, etc.

Examples of issues to be able to discuss:

Physical Geography

Paleo and Early History Misc Languiage & Culture

Pre-Colonial & Colonial

African Foragers & Pastoralists

Other

In the 1970s, Sahelian desertification was widely blamed local decreases in rainfall caused by African landuse.  How could landuse affect rainfall?  Why is this theory fared so poorly in recent years?

 In Kissidougou, colonial powers and some recent researchers have considered the landscape to be mostly derived savanna, with some remnant forest.  What evidence contradicts this?

Briefly define or describe:

  1. Malthus, Boserup
  2. Extensive agriculture
  3. Wuk, Marmuos
  4. Paul and Laura Bohannan
  5. Mangu, Tsav, mulak
  6. Biafra
  7. Robben Island
  8. Egusi, Njera
  9. Obasanjo, Mandela, Selassie
  10. Jir, Tor Tiv
  11. Boers, ANC
  12. Soweto

Although African cultural institutions that Westerners have called “witchcraft” vary, there are some features that are common.  Briefly describe three.

What are the three major aspects of variation among African cultural institutions generally labelled as “witchcraft”?

Describe the cultural institutions that make it easy for the Tiv to move frequently.

When the Kofyar moved from their homeland to the frontier, how did their agricultural practices change and why?

Why would the Kofyar switch to slash & burn farming on the frontier?

Why did Kofyar eventually change from slash & burn to intensive agriculture on the frontier?

Tsav plays a role in Tiv in the Asamu area having a more extensive farming system than the Kofyar.  Explain.

Why do Azande call witchcraft the “second spear”?

 Why do Southall and others consider “tribe” to be an illusion? 

Why does Fried consider tribe to be a very real cultural form? 

What aspect of Hausa socio-political organization made Indect Rule work so well? 

What aspect of Tiv socio-political organization made Indirect Rule work so poorly? 

When did most African countries become independent?  What was the main dynamic in global politics at the time? 

What are the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria? 

In 1993, Nigeria elected Mashood Abiola president.  What was the larger significance of this event, according to Wole Soyinka? 

If African borders were oblivious to African ethnic groups, why have they remained almost totally intact since the period of independence? 

What is economic neo-colonialism?  Give an example from Africa.

However distasteful you find the practice, how have some African women themselves defended FGC?

What are the different kinds of FGC?

Parker says the topic of FGC induces us to lower our critical standards. Explain and exemplify.

Evaluate the theory that AIDS is the indirect consequence of overpopulation.

What was the Freedom Charter?

Give a thumbnail history of aparteid in S Africa.

Compare items likely to be served at an Ethiopian vs. a Nigerian restaurant.

Discuss Kaplan's "lenses."