(in Polish) Cywilizacje Afryki 1.2 3600-7-AF1-CA1.2
The course aims to familiarize students with the fundamental aspects of African culture, literature, history, religion, philosophy, and art. The knowledge is delivered through an interdisciplinary approach, with particular emphasis on the interrelationships between history, socio-cultural transformations, and the major achievements of African civilizations.
The course is organized as a five-semester module, and students achieve all intended learning outcomes upon completion of the entire module. During classes, discussion-based methods are employed to support the practical understanding of the material through collaborative text analysis and workshop activities; the course combines lectures with presentations, discussions, and individual student work.
As part of extensive independent study conducted outside class hours and in preparation for examinations, students systematically and independently analyze the provided teaching materials, develop the assigned topics, broaden their knowledge through additional sources, and consolidate lecture content related to the selected module. These activities include both the critical reading of texts and the independent organization, interpretation, and integration of acquired knowledge, which constitute an essential component of achieving the learning outcomes specified for the course.
|
Term 2026Z:
During the lecture students become familiarized with traditional African religions, with special focus on common traits of sub-Saharan African belief systems. The course includes the state of research in the field of the study of religions of Africa. It presents African mythologies and structures of selected African pantheons, including methods of worship of the Supreme Being and the role of most popularly worshipped deities and spirits. Special attention is paid to detailed description of the elements of cult practices. Students gain knowledge of possession cults popular in several regions of sub-Saharan Africa and secret societies in western and central parts of the continent. Problems of the distinction between magic and religion in Africa are discussed, including terminology and main theories. |
Course coordinators
Type of course
Mode
Learning outcomes
Students know and understand:
- at an advanced level, the most important phenomena, movements, and literary texts of Africa (K_W03)
- at an advanced level, the influence and role of African historical processes, religions, and philosophical systems in shaping contemporary conditions (K_W04)
- the philosophies and religions of Africa (K_W05)
- the art and aesthetics of Africa (K_W06)
- the impact of the natural environment, economic conditions, international relations, as well as ethnic, demographic, and political circumstances on the social and cultural issues of Africa in both historical and contemporary perspectives (K_W07)
- at an advanced level, methods of analysis and interpretation of various cultural products characteristic of the indigenous traditions of Africa (K_W10)
Students are able to:
- correctly situate the African region within the context of natural, geopolitical, and economic conditions (K_U03)
- read and interpret literary texts and other works of African cultural production (film, press, and socially oriented writing), correctly placing them within their cultural context, as well as analyze, compare, and identify relationships between them and issues of tradition and modernity (K_U04)
- analyze the major phenomena and movements in African art (K_U05)
- present issues related to African cultural studies in Polish and in a selected African language (Swahili, Hausa, or Amharic), with consideration of Africa’s intellectual traditions (K_U13)
Students are ready to:
- explore cultural diversity, its sources, and its significance for the contemporary world (K_K02)
- reflect on the place and significance of African cultures within world culture (K_K03)
- recognize the socio-cultural values of Africa, which may serve as a source for personal development and effective intercultural communication (K_K05)