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African Political Thought, Part 1: Race and Romanticism

October 1, 2015

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Part 1 of this new online course introduces you to the writings of W.E.B. Du Bois, the Pan-African Congress, Leopold Senghor’s notion of “˜negritude’, and much more.

W.E.B. Du Bois was a leading pan-Africanist activist and author.

Over the next 10 weeks, African Arguments is delighted to be bringing you a short online course in African Political Thought. The course will be hosted by Stephen Chan, Professor of World Politics at the School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS), and will consist of a series of 10-minute video lectures. These lectures will cover aspects of African political thought from the period preceding decolonisation, to the years of independence, and up to the present day.

Each week, a short reading list will be published alongside the lecture. Viewers are also encouraged to pose questions they have for Chan in the comments section below.

If you’d like to get an update when new episodes go up, please send an email with subject line “APT” to [email protected] and you’ll be notified when new lectures are posted.

The focus of Part 1 is:

Antecedents: race and romanticism in Africa – from WEB du Bois to the Manchester Conference to Senghor’s “˜negritude’.

For an audio-only version:

Reading list for Part 1

Guy Martin, African Political Thought, New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012.

Edmond Wilmot Blyden, Christianity, Islam and the Negro Race, Baltimore: Black Classic, 1994.

WEB du Bois, The Souls of Black Folks, New York: Penguin, 1996.

CLR James, The Black Jacobins: Toussaint L’Ouverture and the San Domingo Revolution, New York: Random House, 1963.

John Henrik Clarke with Amy Jacques Garvey (ed.), Marcus Garvey and the Vision of Africa, New York: Random House, 1974.

Coming next…

Stephen Chan

Stephen Chan is Professor of World Politics at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London. He is the author of Kaunda and Southern Africa (Bloomsbury, 2021).

11 comments

Victor Sawyerr 1 October, 2015 at 14:21

Interesting thoughts and a great lecture. Permit me to also say that Nigeria as also had, and still does have a great diversity (over 200) of ethnic groups with absolutely different languages and these were all able to put aside their differences lay their collective future in the hands of people like Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Tafawa Balewa who championed the cause for independence.
Carrie 1 October, 2015 at 15:24

I’m looking forward to working my way through this. I do hope that women’s political thought, writings, activities in postcolonialism, etc., are included in this series. Women did and do play a critical and complementary role in shaping modern African societies, in public and private, yet are commonly not incorporated into classes and studies of Africa.
steve 2 October, 2015 at 12:46

Ngugi’s linguistic chauvinism….will be interesting to hear about that
Monte McMurchy 2 October, 2015 at 13:12

This is indeed most excellent and I am looking forward to following these lectures.
If I may offer a suggestion. Please consider offering only a voice cast as the video does pose a problem as to internet usage efficiency.
I am at present in DRC where I am advancing the civic civil social rule of law process procedure conversation.
Damilola 2 October, 2015 at 13:53

ooooh! this should be good.
Charles Akinde 2 October, 2015 at 15:12

I am very delighted with the lecture of Professor Chan. I listened attentively, the lecture is comprehensive within the time limit. It covers large areas. Thank you.
I would like to see these lectures in printable format. It is a source of inspiration to young Africans whose knowledge of the propelling force of Africa is of paramount importance.
AfricanArgumentsEditor 2 October, 2015 at 16:05

Monte, your wish is my command. We will be posting an audio-only version with every lecture alongside the video. Excellent suggestion.
Monte McMurchy 2 October, 2015 at 21:20

Outstanding as the addition of audio will enhance the capacity of those who wish to participate in what promises to be a lecture series most excellent.
Thank you.
Tyler 4 October, 2015 at 14:46

This looks great, love these kinds of things for my morning routine, keep them coming!
Monte McMurchy 6 October, 2015 at 13:19

An outstanding series of conversations on what makes Africa Africa as Stephen
Chan explores the African social political public zeitgeist in a voice most accessible. I am looking forward to each future conversation.
Henry Kari 31 October, 2015 at 04:23

I enjoyed this lecture and I would like to listen to more lectures. Please grant me access.