FLS 2323 - Introduction to African Cultures through Music and Dance

Credits: 3 hrs

This course introduces students to a variety of African traditional dances and music as a way of understanding major aspects of African cultures. The course underscores the importance of orality in African societies and requires students to locate and investigate how traditional music and dances have been used as vehicles and reservoirs of important cultural messages. The course examines selected traditional dances and music focusing on communities in sub Saharan Africa such as southern Africa, eastern Africa, central Africa and western Africa to better understand their role in the selected African communities. Students will have the opportunity to watch video clips and read about traditional performances and how they are used to convey important messages and mark important occasions in the lives of the selected cultures. Although the richness of these traditional performances will be discussed in class, students will be required to take this exercise beyond the classroom by searching, gathering, organizing, and sharing information with audience in acceptable formats. General Education Course that satisfies SLO: Critical Reading; AK: Literature; CT: Globalization.

Prerequisite: None

3.000 Credit hours
3.000 Lecture hours

Syllabus Available
Levels: Undergraduate
Schedule Types: Lecture

Prerequisite(s): None.