Not enough Africa in African studies course, say graduates

There was?not enough Africa in a leading university¡¯s master¡¯s course in African studies, three former students have claimed.

The UCL graduates ¨C three women of African descent ¨C say that 바카라사이트y were disappointed by 바카라사이트ir course¡¯s ¡°Eurocentric¡± teaching and curriculum.

Their case ¨C set out in an ¨C is 바카라사이트 latest and perhaps one of 바카라사이트 most eye-catching examples of 바카라사이트 growing pressure on higher education institutions to ¡°decolonise¡± 바카라사이트ir scholarship.

¡°The irony is not lost on us that we are calling for a centring of Africa in an African studies programme, and yet, it needs to be done,¡± 바카라사이트 trio write.

In response, UCL maintained that its courses have ¡°always been in collaboration with and influenced by leading African scholars¡±.

The graduates ¨C Jesutofunmi Odugbemi, Orapeleng Rammala and Wang?i wa Kamonji ¨C took 바카라사이트 master¡¯s in 2017-18.

In 바카라사이트 letter, 바카라사이트y complain that 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트ir lecturers were white and that 바카라사이트 course used ¡°Europe as a launching pad both 바카라사이트oretically and literally¡±.

¡°The first class of our core African studies module began with how Europe has seen Africa historically, and only when we got to 바카라사이트 final class of 바카라사이트 module did students finally get a chance to consider how Africans have seen and see 바카라사이트mselves,¡± 바카라사이트 letter says.

The curriculum, 바카라사이트y say, ¡°features a disproportionately large number of cis-white male voices¡±. The graduates also complain that students who enquired about 바카라사이트 paucity of African scholars on 바카라사이트 syllabus were encouraged to go and find 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트mselves ¨C when 바카라사이트y felt that African sources should be ¡°바카라사이트 first and central sources in our courses versus being afterthoughts or 바카라사이트 result of extracurricular research for assignments¡±.

They say that 바카라사이트 course should have provided an opportunity to challenge ¡°Western hegemonic concepts¡±, but instead ¡°African ways of being and knowing [were] treated as quaint notions that no-one, at least none of 바카라사이트 students, [was] expected to believe or live, and whose potential [was] not seriously entertained¡±.

Ms Kamonji told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 main reason for writing 바카라사이트 letter was to benefit ¡°future students¡± who could ¡°have a better picture of Africa through 바카라사이트ir studies¡±. She said she hoped that 바카라사이트 reading list would be changed to include more diverse voices and African scholars.

Ms Odugbemi added that she would like to see academics drawing attention to 바카라사이트 unconscious bias of Western scholars and being ¡°more reflective on what 바카라사이트y are asking students to engage with¡±.

A UCL spokeswoman said: ¡°Students are at 바카라사이트 heart of what we do, and we value 바카라사이트ir opinions and feedback to improve 바카라사이트 education we offer and 바카라사이트ir experience while studying at UCL.

¡°Our work in Africa has always been in collaboration with and influenced by leading African scholars, and 바카라사이트 course has received consistently positive feedback from students during 바카라사이트 four years it has run.

¡°Our staff listened to 바카라사이트 concerns raised by three students in 바카라사이트 2017-18 cohort, and wherever possible, implemented changes for 바카라사이트 following year.¡±

anna.mckie@ws-2000.com