Historiography and Philosophy of History

*This course can only be taken as part of the Foundation Certificate in African History.

---

• Duration:  12 weeks
• Format: Online, with Live Lectures and Tutorials
• Assessment: 1 x 1000-word essay
• Lecture List 2022/23: Click Here

---

Considering the theory and practice of history both now and in the past, this course will teach students what it means to be a “historian” and what it means to “do history”

Beginning with African historiography, students will explore how the telling of Africa’s history has changed with time, from the oral traditions of antiquity to those of the modern day; from 14th century epics in Arabic, to 20th century masterpieces in African languages and English. This is an essential exploration of the history of the continent and its people, providing a brilliant introduction to over 600 years of African history recitation and writing.

Students will also explore contemporary philosophies and approaches to studying Africa’s history. Considering important tools such as oral history and critical theories such as Pan-Africanism and post-colonialism, this part of the course teaches students to think critically about the latest methods for exploring Africa’s past.

Course Director

Apeike Umolu is the Director of the African History Project. Specialising in African history, she is a passionate historian and has undertaken historical studies at the University of Oxford. She researches extensively on West African political history.

Certificate

On successful completion of the course, participants will be issued with a Certificate of Completion.

Lecture List 2022/23

1	Introduction to African Historiography and Philosophy of History	Sunday 25 September 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
2	Why do we do History? Introduction to the Psychology of History	Sunday 2 October 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
3	African Conception of Time and Periodising African History	Sunday 9 October 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
4	Introduction to African Oral Traditions	Sunday 16 October 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
5	Introduction to African Poetry as Sources of African History	Sunday 23 October 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
6	Introduction to African Music as Sources of African History	Sunday 30thOctober 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
7	Ibn Battutah and Arabic Sources of African History, Pre-1700	Sunday 6 November 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
8	The Kano Chronicle and Arabic Sources of African History, 18th and 19th Centuries	Sunday 13 November 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
9	Introduction to European Explorer Journals as Sources of African History – Richard and John Lander and the Expedition to Explore the Nile	Sunday 20 November 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
10	Introduction to History Writing in Africa in the 19th Century – Carl Christian Reindorf, the Gold Coast and the Asante	Sunday 27 November 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
11	Introduction to History Writing in the African Diaspora – CLR James and The Black Jacobins	Sunday 4 December 2022	7pm – 9pm (London)
12	No lecture – reading week for essay Essay Submission – Midnight on Sunday 11 December 2022	Sunday 11 December 2022	–