[Peace-discuss] FYI

[Alfred Kagan]

A bit off topic but of interest.


STUDY ABROAD IN WEST AFRICA

Winter Break 2004-2005

Global Cities: Accra, Ghana and Ouidah, Bénin

(LAS 199 or ARTHI 491)

Accra: ancient fishing village, outpost of the 
powerful 18th century Asante Kingdom, coastal 
enclave for the notorious slave trade, capital of 
the British Gold Coast, launching pad for 
Pan-Africanism and African liberation, modern 
capital of Ghana.  Ouidah:  bustling 17th century 
port for European slave traders, coastal outpost 
of the formidable 18th century Dahomey state, 
resettlement site for former New World slaves, 
French colonial city punctuated with Brazilian 
architecture, contemporary global center of Vodun 
practice. 

This course will explore the vibrant global 
histories of these two very important, though 
very distinct, West African urban landscapes - we 
will visit the sites, walk the streets, hear the 
music, see the ceremonies, and taste the food 
that has so enriched North American culture.  For 
several centuries, Accra and Ouidah have embodied 
global diversity.  They demonstrate, in their 
rich historic vitality, the integral role of West 
Africa in the making of the Atlantic world. 

Itinerary:  We will depart from Chicago-O'Hare on 
December 26th. During our first three days, we 
will explore the diverse sections of the historic 
coastal city of Accra, before moving west to the 
cities of Cape Coast and Elmina.  There we will 
learn how the slave trade shaped the urban 
landscapes of the West African Coast.  January 
4th, we head east, crossing the Ghanaian border 
into Togo and then moving on to Benin, where we 
will be based in Ouidah.  From Ouidah we will 
visit palaces, museums, and markets, and be 
guests at masquerade performances and ceremonies 
in the cities of Abomey, Porto-Novo, and Cotonou. 
In Ouidah itself, we will participate in the 
annual January 10th National Vodun Day 
festivities, including the commemorative walk 
along the "Slave Route" from the former auction 
site of the de Souza compound to the "Door of No 
Return" monument on the Ouidah beach. Once we 
return to Ghana, we will spend two days learning 
about the Pan-African struggle for freedom in the 
post World War II era, with visits to the W.E.B. 
DuBois Center, the Nkrumah Mausoleum and the 
George Padmore Library.

Dates: 		26 December 2004 to 16 January 2005
Estimated Cost:	approx. $2000 (including airfare, 
room, board, and local transport)
Course Tuition:	included in spring semester tuition and fees

More information:	Jean Allman, Center for 
African Studies, jallman at uiuc.edu
			Dana Rush, Art History, danarush at uiuc.edu

-- 


Al Kagan
African Studies Bibliographer and Professor of Library Administration
Africana Unit, Room 328
University of Illinois Library
1408 W. Gregory Drive
Urbana, IL 61801, USA

tel. 217-333-6519
fax. 217-333-2214
e-mail. akagan at uiuc.edu
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