Boston University African Studies Center 270 Bay State Road Boston, Massachusetts 02215 (617) 353-3673 email: africa@bu.edu www.bu.edu/africa

Thinking about. . . teaching about Africa

Africa in Our Schools & Community Program
African Studies Center, Boston University
270 Bay Rd, Boston MA 002215
Africa@bu.edu 617-353-7303
www.bu.edu/africa/outreach

KEY UNDERSTANDINGS in CONTENT:

1. Africa is and has always been connected—a part of the world

with the Middle East (from 400 CE)
with Asia across the Indian Ocean (from before 800 CE)
with Europe across the Mediterranean (from 800 CE)
and later with the Americas through multiple exchanges in trade and culture

2. Africa has a long history

3. Africa is diverse

religion
landscapes
wealth
politics
history
clothing,, music
ethnicity. . . and the relative importance attached to ethnicity
urban/rural

4. Geography matters

GOOD PEDAGOGY ON AFRICA GENERALLY BENEFITS FROM:

1. Recognizing the depth and breadth of misconceptions about the continent

2. Compelling visuals

3. “Meeting Africans”—i.e., hearing African voices

in person
in primary sources
in literature
on film

Thinking about. . . teaching about Africa

KEY UNDERSTANDINGS in CONTENT:

1. Africa is and has always been connected—a part of the world

2. Africa has a long history

3. Africa is diverse

4. Geography matters

GOOD PEDAGOGY ON AFRICA GENERALLY BENEFITS FROM:

1. Recognizing the depth and breadth of misconceptions about the continent

2. Compelling visuals

3. “Meeting Africans”—i.e., hearing African voices

4. Going for depth of learning, even when you have very limited time