Semester I

AFS 101: Introduction to Cultural Studies (core) 3 credits

The course is designed to guide students to understand and appreciate what constitutes the culture of a people, the factors that contribute to its emergence and the effects of culture on the quality of life and advancement of the people.

Semester II

AFS 102: Foundations of African Civilization (core) 3 credits

The course is intended to introduce students to the existence of Greek and Roman relations with various parts of Africa referred to in classical times as Egypt, Libya, Carthage, Cyrene, Africa Pro-Consularis and Numidia and to explore the reciprocal impact of the contact on each civilisation.

AFS 103: Introduction to African Dance and Music (core) 3 credits

This course introduces students to the elements of African music and dance. It focuses on the rhythm, melody, lyrics, dynamics and harmony of African music as well as movement and symbolism in dance. It also explores the relationship between music and dance.
 

Semester I

AFS 201: Language and Ethnicity in Africa (core) 3 credits

The course throws light on the linguistic and ethnic diversities found in Africa and attempts to examine their effects on nationhood or nation building in Africa. Case studies of areas of conflict emanating from linguistic and ethnic differences will be carried out.

AFS 202: Introduction to African Culture (core)     3 credits

The course helps students to gain knowledge of the way of life of the African, how he understands and interprets his natural environment, his values, qualities of life and advancement.

Semester II

AFS 203: Oral Literature in Africa (core)              3 credits

The course guides students to understand and appreciate the background, sources, stylistic types, themes, roles and the future of oral literature in Africa.

AFS 204 : Indigenous African Religion (Core)      3 credits
This course provides a careful description and critical analysis of modes of expressing the African’s religiousness in selected traditional societies through the study of beliefs and rituals with the aim of exposing the traditional African understanding of the universe, his/her place in it and the importance of religion in his/her life.

Semester I

AFS 301:  The Slave Trade and Colonialism in Africa (core) 3 credits
This course is in two sections. The first section will examine the origin and nature of slavery and the slave trade. It will focus on the consequences of the Atlantic Slave Trade on Africa’s development. It will also examine the contribution of the slave trade to the take off of the capitalist system. The second section will deal with the prelude to colonialism, the philosophical bases of colonization of Africa and the African response as well as the colonial impact.

AFS 302: African Social Systems (core)                 3 credits

This course gives a broad perspective view of the traditional systems and institutions. It will address itself to the conceptual framework of the family and the changes that have taken place over the years.
AFS 303: African Philosophy (core)      ;                      3 credits

The course examines the nature and content of African philosophy in relation to African indigenous thought and value systems, the philosophy underlying African science, proverbs, myths, songs, tales, religion, morals and African socio-political perceptions as well as the role of philosophy, African sages, and professional philosophers in contemporary Africa.

AFS 304: Race, Ethnicity and Ethnic Relations (Elective)     3 credits

This course is designed to sensitise students to the various issues surrounding the concepts race, ethnicity, minority, group and refugee. We will deconstruct these concepts with the help of historical and theoretical analysis. The goal of this course is to highlight the need for more equitable distribution of the world’s resources.

AFS 305: African Classical Ideas (Elective)                      3 credits

This is a detailed study of the contribution of Africa to the intellectual, socio-cultural and economic development of the ancient Greek and Roman world.

AFS 306: The Role of Music in African Social Life (Elective) 3 credits

The course provides students with the opportunity to engage in a study of the role of music in indigenous African societies. It examines the social functions of music in the individual’s life cycle as well as its functions in social and political institutions. It also assists students to critically evaluate the relevance of African indigenous music to the modern African.

AFS 307: African Aesthetics (Elective)                  3 credits

The course examines the nature, subject matter and theories of aesthetics with special focus on African works of art. The course offers the opportunity for students to appreciate the place, value and beauty of various works of art within the general theories of aesthetics.

AFS 308: History and Development of Indigenous African     Music (Elective)                        
3 credits

The course will enable students to examine the various factors that have shaped and influenced the development and spread of traditional African music, and to study the contributions of selected musicians towards the development of African music.

AFS 309: History of West Africa from 1600 to 1800 (Elective)     3 credits

The course facilitates students’ appreciation of the political, economic and social development in West Africa during the period of contact with the Europeans up to the establishment of colonial rule in the region. The course emphasises the indigenous political systems, the effects of the contact between Europeans and Africans, namely the slave trade, exploration of the interior of West Africa, the establishment of legitimate trade and the activities of the early missionaries.

AFS 310: Religious Experience and Humankind (Elective)    3 credits

The course is an investigation into the nature of religion as humans’ way of finding meaning in life. It is also an attempt at examining the nature of religious experience and the various ways it expresses itself and continues to manifest itself in the African context.

AFS 311: African in Dispersion (Elective)             3 credits

This is a study of the spread of Africans from the period of Greek and Roman contacts with the people of African north of the Sahara up to the era of the Atlantic slave trade with emphasis on the socio-political and economic activities of Africans in Graeco-Roman, Asian and other host societies.

AFS 312: Introduction to Literature (elective)3 credits
The main objective of the course is to lead students to find out more about literature. The emphasis will be on assisting students to recognise various types of literary devices found in creative works and demonstrate how effectively such devices are used by writers to communicate meaning and express feelings. Students will also be guided to know more about the techniques involved in the study and analysis of literature.

AFS 313: African Traditional Religion and Health Delivery     (elective)                                   3 credits

The course will examine the relationship between traditional or indigenous health delivery and religion in Africa with emphasis on the role played by herbalists, traditional birth attendants, ‘wanzams’ (i.e. circumcision surgeons) who have always provided alternative care in various communities in Africa.

Semester II

AFS 314: Indigenous Technology and Development     (Elective)                            3 credits

This course enables the students to appreciate the various indigenous technological advancements and their effects on development. The focus will be on the relationship between iron technology and architecture, art and craftworks, the development of textile industry and the production of farm implements, weapons and musical instruments.

AFS 315: Conflict and Conflict Resolution (Elective) 3 credits

The course addresses the issue of conflict and conflict resolution from an African perspective. It focuses on the nature and levels of conflict and the methods for resolving them.
AFS 316: Traditional Religion and the Environment in Contemporary Africa (elective)                     3 credits

The course is a study of the influence that beliefs and practices have on the African way of life and the conservation and preservation of his physical environment and the effect of modernisation on conservation and preservation practices.

AFS 317: Ethnography and Forms of African Music (Elective)    3 credits

The course engages students in the study of the socio-cultural and historical background of African music with emphasis on the formation and organisation of the ensemble and the structures developed to support the production of music in African societies.

AFS 318: African Social and Political Thought (elective)     3 credits

The course discusses the philosophical import of the traditional base and the relevance of African socio-political systems before the coming of the Europeans. In addition, it examines the philosophy, politics, and the effects of colonisation in Africa.
AFS 319: Ghanaian Culture (Elective)                   3 credits

The course is designed to guide students to have an overview of the ethnic values of Ghanaians, the co-existence of Ghanaian ethnic groups, multilingualism and the individual Ghanaian.

AFS 320: Social Structure of Ghana (Elective)      3 credits

The course examines the social structure of modern Ghana from the perspective of social change processes with emphasis on the basic institutional structures, social stratification, ethnic pluralism, urbanisation and rural-urban migration, civil society organisations, political parties and district assemblies.

AFS 321: Africans in the Diaspora (Elective)        3 credits

The course exposes students to the factors responsible for the movement of Africans to other parts of the world. It focuses on the routes to the outside world, the nature of the journey, the condition of the Africans in their new environment and their contributions to the cultural evolution in their host communities. 

AFS 322: African Music and Related Arts (elective) 3 credits
The course enables students to study the interdependency of music, dance and drama in African performance practice. It emphasises non-verbal communication between the musician and dancer, and also the relationship between music and art.

AFS 323: A West African Language Usage I (elective)     3 credits The course introduces the student to the socio-cultural foundations of the use of a given West African language (e.g. Akan, Ewe, Hausa or Yoruba) in relation to the conceptualisation and expression of ideas with objects conveying thoughts, feelings, knowledge, etc., as may be found in specific expressions, wise sayings and idioms.

Semester I

AFS 401: Ethics of Indigenous African Religion  (Elective)     3 credits

The course discusses ethics in selected African socio-cultural contexts. Particular emphasis will be placed on ethical issues related to African Religious and cultural practices in contemporary times.

AFS 402: Cultural Geography of Africa  (Elective) 3 credits

Cultural Geography deals with the knowledge, beliefs and skills of societies together with their manifestations as well as the processes that reinforce and steer them. It also looks at the interface between culture and the environment and examines mantifacts, artefacts and sociofacts within the conceptualisation of culture.

AFS 403: A West African Literature I  (elective) 3 credits
The aim of this course is to expose students to the nature and scope of literature in the context of West Africa. Students will undertake an analysis of selected literary works, both oral and written, of a specific cultural/ethnic group.

AFS 404: Themes in African Literature (elective)            3 credits

This is course adopts an interdisciplinary approach. It begins by introducing students to aspects of oral literature in Africa and Ghana, by focusing on the narrative, the poem and the symbol. The course then focuses on the work of two major African authors: Chinua Achebe and Ama Ata Aidoo. Related themes suggested for discussion will include the impact of social and political change, the roles of women and men, and the subject of authority.

AFS 405: The Indigenisation of English in West Africa     (elective)                        & 3 credits

Starting from the position that the English language is part and parcel of the linguistic culture of West Africa, the course explores the new forms and functions of the English language as it is used to express the African experience. Much attention will be given to the processes of indigenisation.

AFS 406: Sex and Sexuality in African Culture (Elective)    3 credits

In this course the focus is on sexual behaviour as socially developed rather than biologically given. It examines the way we become sexual beings and shows how this process is ‘gendered’ with reference to Ghanaian and African societies in general. Trends in sexual behaviour in contemporary Africa will be examined with particular reference to modern methods of contraception, the influence of religion, changing roles of men and women and the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

AFS 407: Chieftaincy and Society (elective)          3 credits

The essence of this course is to examine from traditional and historical perspectives the role of chiefs in the political, economic social and religious organisation of African societies. The course will also address the effect of social change on the functions of the chief and in turn the effect of chieftaincy on the mundane affairs of the modern African state.

AFS 408: Nationalism and Independence Movements    (elective)                           3 credits

The course deals with the emergence of modern nationalism in Africa especially in the post-World War II period with emphasis on the differences between the nature and development of nationalism in the British colonies and the French colonies.

AFS 409: African Epistemology (Elective)                         3 credits

The course examines the concept, scope and the limit of human knowledge in traditional African thought. In addition, the validation of various sources and theories of knowledge, belief systems and truth are critically examined within the limit of African epistemological traditions.

AFS 410: Africanisation of Christianity (alternative to ASP     412) (elective)                                         3 credits

This course examines the history, course and issues involved in the process of enculturation of the Christian faith in Africa.

AFS 411: Indigenous Foods and their Preparation (Elective)     3 credits

This course aims at introducing students to Ghanaian foods and meal practices in relation to health. The course provides an overview of Ghanaian meals, their preparation and service. The main topics to be treated are the nutrient content of the meals, the traditional methods of preservation and storage, food habits and choices. Students will be assisted to develop a critical approach to indigenous food science and practices.

AFS 412: Africanisation of Islam (alternative to ASP 410)     (Elective)                         3 credits

The course will look at the nature and common trends of Islamisation in West African societies where Islam is strongly represented (e.g. Sierra Leone, Gambia, Ghana and Nigeria), and draw comparisons with similar processes taking place in Africa north of the Sahara.

AFS 413: Economic History of the Gold Coast (Elective)     3 credits

The course focuses on European economic activities in the Gold Coast during and after the 1900s, including trade, mining, exploitation of forest resources, provision of infrastructure, the growth and expansion of the cultivation of cocoa and coffee as cash crops and the establishment of manufacturing industries.

AFS 414: Form and Structure of African Music (Elective)     3 credits

This course helps students to appreciate how the elements of music (rhythm, melodic movement, scale patterns, polyphony, etc.) are worked together to form a musically logical fit. Students will also undertake the classification of songs and music styles and their analysis.

AFS 415: Ghanaian Literature (Elective)               3 credits

The course guides students to appreciate Ghanaian literature (oral and written) in both the traditional and modern contexts, focusing on their literary qualities and how they reflect the world-view of the people.

AFS 416: Popular Music in Ghana (Elective)        3 credits

The course is designed to provide students with knowledge of popular music and musicians in Ghana. It will focus on the highlife music, tracing its genesis and the factors that have influenced its development. Students will also have the opportunity to study the work of selected popular musicians.

AFS 417: Ghanaian Contemporary Art Music (Elective)     3 credits

The course exposes students to the factors that have influenced the creative processes of Ghanaian contemporary art music with the aim to developing the students’ skills in analysing contemporary art music. Students will be given the opportunity to study the compositions of selected musicians.

AFS 418: A West African Language Usage II (Elective)     3 credits

This course exposes students to artistic uses of language in a given West African language (e.g. Akan, Ewe, Hausa, or Yoruba) such as riddles, puzzles, proverbs, etc.

AFS 419: A West African Literature II (Elective)             3 credits

The aim of this course is to assist students to survey the literary creations of a West African people, identifying their verbal art forms like the ayan, abofodwom and nnwonkor of the Akan and the atrikpui, adabatram, gabada and kpegisu of the Ewe.

AFS 420: Indigenous Architecture (Elective)        3 credits

This course examines the relationship between historical and geographical factors and architecture. It looks at specific issues related to land ownership, building materials, and styles of architecture across Ghana as well as the influence of Christianity and Islam on the development of indigenous architecture.

AFS 421: Democratisation and Development in Contemporary Africa (Elective)              3 credits

This course analyses the origin of the democratic waves that swept across sub-Saharan Africa in the early 1990s. It also gives a comprehensive overview of democratisation and development in Africa. It concludes by examining the measures that can be taken to nurture democracy in Africa.

Semester II

AFS 422: African Economies and Development (Elective)     3 credits

The course is designed to introduce the student to contemporary issues in sub-Saharan African economies and development as well as equip students with sufficient knowledge of topical issues that will enable them to participate meaningfully in macro-economic policy analysis.

AFS 423: The Cultural Impact of Tourism in Africa (Elective)     3 credits

The course will examine critically the concepts of tourism and culture, tourism and cultural practices in Africa, the culture mix, culture shock, commoditization of African culture as well as tourism and the material forms of culture in Africa.

AFS 424: African and the Uni-polar World (Elective) 3 credits

The course conducts a systematic analysis of the major forces that have impacted on the political developments of African nations as they prepare fort the challenges of the new century. The analysis will focus on how Africa’s past has shaped its present political and economic conditions.

AFS 425: A Survey of Selected Societies and Cultures in     Africa (Elective)                        
3 credits

The course aims at introducing students to some aspects of the ethnographic study of the peoples of Africa. Attention will be focused on the history, environment, ethnographical distribution and the patterns of the cultures of the people. The life of the people in relation to the economy, politics, religion, social organization and jurisprudence will be examined.

AFS 426: Integration in Africa (Elective)               3 credits

The course will examine the prelude to the formation of the OAU, the organs, failures and successes. It will also examine the formation of the African Union in the light of the challenges and prospects.

AFS 427: Philosophy of Traditional Education in Africa    (Elective)                                                     3 credits

The course is to expose students to the content and structure of traditional system of education in Africa. It will enable students to appreciate the importance of traditional system of education in the transmission and preservation of traditional values.