Cultural Traditions in Senegal

Ethnographic Field School

June 1-June 26, 2004

Universities of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (USA) & Cheikh Anta Diop-Dakar (Sénégal)

Anthropology 297/497/705

Cross-listed with

Africology

Women’s Studies 497

6 Credits

Professor Cheryl Ajirotutu

UW-Milwaukee

yinka@uwm.edu

            221.655.34.15                        

Course Description

Traditions of Senegal is a four-week group study project designed with two foci. First, it seeks to provide students with an opportunity to learn about the social, cultural, and historical contexts of Senegal. Second, it aims to foster the development of an appreciation and better understanding of the complexities of studying Africa and African culture.

This course provides students with the following types of experiences:

Ø      Opportunities to  meet and work with Sénégalese scholars

Ø      Language lessons in Wolof and/or French

Ø      Cultural orientation and immersion experience.

Ø      Learn how to operate documentation tools in the field (audio and visual camera and camcorders).

 Using anthropological field methods of inquiry, students engage in fieldwork using participant observation techniques. The field school concept as used by anthropologists undergirds this international course. Traditionally a group of students with a professor will work collectively on a series of research questions as areas of inquiry.   In this course/program the guiding research questions are:

Ø      Cultural Memory-What is the nature of Senegalese culture, and how does the impact of memory inform the cultural milieu of Senegal?  Using participant observation methods what traditions are evident?

Ø      Rural Development-What is rural life like in Senegal ? What are defining characteristics?

Ø      Dakar as a Global City-As the capital of Senegal, Dakar is often referred to as the “gateway to West Africa.” At the neighborhood level what are defining features of urbanism?

Ø      Touba-What defines Senegal as an Islamic nation? 

As a result of their study group experience students will return to their studies with an enriched perspective of peoples of the world. For the undergraduate student he/she may begin to learn  more concrete ways how they can enhance their knowledge of global affairs generally and Africa in particular. For the graduate students who participate in this project this group study will open the door for future study, and in the case of anthropology students a possible area of study for the masters or doctoral research. Face-to-face interactions over the four-week group study seminar will foster increased attention and appreciation for Africa in a global context and new contacts, friends and colleagues in Senegal.

Credit Options

Students interested in participating in the field school may choose one of the following credit course options for their six credits.

·        Africology 497: Students with junior or senior status

·        Anthropology 297: Students with freshman or sophomore status

·        Anthropology 497: Students with junior or senior status

·        Anthropology 705: students with graduate student status

·        Women’s Studies 497: Students with junior or senior Status

Course Requirements

Students enrolled in the Ethnographic field school will receive 6 credits.  You must be enrolled to attend the field school. Assignments will vary across students’ status. Each student should have  a focus area which will serve as a focal point for observations and subjects of  film assignments.  Students taking 298 and 497 will have a more supervised learning experience whereas graduate students will work on independent research projects.

Fieldnotes                                                             40%

Weekly assignments will include course handouts and fieldnotes submissions. All students will keep extensive fieldwork journals, which will be turned in on a weekly basis. A final version of your complete set of fieldnotes will be typed and turned in after your return to the US.

Film                                                                      30%

Each student will produce three films over the course of the four weeks. The film assignments will vary in length starting with the a minimum of 3-5 minutes concluding with a 15 minute film. Completion of each film assignment will include a storyboard outlining the film plan. Students will receive instruction on how to film. Students; films will be viewed and critiqued on a weekly basis

Language Class                                                    20%

Each student will take language lessons in Wolof. You will be expected to be proficient in a number of tasks by the end of the 4-week fieldschool. This will include experiences like ordering a meal, negotiating a taxi, counting money and using the appropriate greetings.

Participation                                                         10%

Cultural training, lectures and outings to public events are all part of your immersion into Senegalese culture. Participation is based on a variety of experiences such as host family visits, making use of cultural lessons like eating around the bowl, using the appropriate greetings. Students are expected to assume many leadership roles during the fieldwork period.

Students taking 297 will turn in typed field notes, 3 film assignments, and a self-assessment

Students taking this at the 400/750 level will turn in typed field notes, 3 film assignments, and a 5-10 paper based on their experiences in the fieldschool

Course Themes

·        Cultural Memory (Modernity and Antiquity Traditions)

Students will spend a week on Gorée Island, a UN designated historical site.  While on Gorée Island students will visit the several museums based on the Island. The significance of the museums on Gorée Island range from the first Women’s Museum devoted to African Women to the Slave House, a final point of departure for Africans sold into slavery. Other points of interest on Gorée Island include the Mariam Ba School for girls.

·        Rural Environment in Senegal

 Students will spend a week two in the village of Yenne. Here students will learn the socio-cultural history of the town’s strong women’s associations, local griot and traditions of indigenous development. Students will work in teams on a number of community improvement projects which will be decided on in collaboration with local officials. Students will have a host family and conduct independent research on schooling options in the village of Yenne and it local providences.

·        Dakar as a Global City

In Dakar students will work at the neighborhood level with Sénégalese MA and Ph.D. students who are conducting GIS studies.  Students will participate in conducting a neighborhood asset map. Educational students will focus on identifying those influencing neighborhood variables which may influence educational outcomes.

While in Dakar, students will also visit locally based non-governmental organizations (NGOs). In Senegal, ngos play an important role in supplementing and/or providing needed societal resources.

·        Islam in Senegal

Students will take a day long visit to the city of Touba. Touba is the scared city of the Mouride Islamic Brotherhood and the Islamic center in Senegal.  While in Touba they will tour the mosque and its extensive library and have lectures on the religious history of Senegal. 

Course Readings

Emerson, Robert et al., Writing Ethnographic Field Notes. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 1995

Munro, Pamela, and Dieynaba Gaye. At Baati Wolof : A Wolof Dictionary.

Revised 1997. UCLA Occasional Paper Number 19 (required for all students)

Searing, James F. “God Alone Is King”: Islam and Emancipation in Senegal.  Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann Press 2002

Schensul, Stephen, et al. Essential Ethnographic Methods: Observations, Interviews and Questionnaires. Walnut Creek: AltaMira Press. 1999

Course Schedule

ü      28 May (Friday)

Depart for Dakar

ü      29 May (Saturday) Dakar

Arrive in Dakar

Check into rooms

Rest

8:00 pm      Welcome Dinner

ü      30 May (Sunday) Dakar

8:30 am      Breakfast

9:30 am      General Orientation Part 1

12:00         Lunch

2:00 pm      General Orientation Part 2

                  Video Training 1

      6:00 pm      Group Meetings Chapter Review

7:00 pm      Dinner

ü      31 May (Monday-Memorial Day) Dakar

8:30 am      Breakfast

9:30 am      Wolof Lesson 1 (9:30-12:30 pm)

1:00 pm      Lunch

       2:30 pm     Bank and Market        

     5:00 pm       Group meetings: Chapter reviews

                        Chapter 4: Entering the Field

                        Chapter 5: Exploratory, Open-ended Observations

                         Video Training Part 2   (viewing of students work)

      7:00           Dinner 

ü      1 June  (Tuesday) Gorée

6:30 am                       Breakfast

7:30 am                        Ferry to Gorée

8:00 am                        Start Observations

11:00 am                      Tour House of Slaves

1:00 pm                        Lunch

2:00 pm                        Observation and Fieldnotes

4:00 pm                        Ferry Departure

6:00 pm                        Group Meeting

7:00 pm                        Dinner

ü      2 June  (Wednesday) Gorée

            8:00 am                        Breakfast

9:00 am                        Ferry to Gorée

8:00 am                        Start Observations

11:00 am                      Tour Women’s Museum

1:00 pm                        Lunch

2:00 pm                        Start Filming /Observation and Fieldnote

4:00 pm                        Ferry Departure

6:00 pm                        Group Meeting

7:00 pm                        Dinner

Filming Begins

DUE: Film Story Board

ü      3 June (Thursday) Gorée

Filming

8:00 am                        Breakfast

9:00 am                        Ferry to Gorée

8:00 am                        Start Observations

11:00 am                      Tour Museum of the Sea

1:00 pm                        Lunch

2:00 pm                        Start Filming /Observation and Fieldnote

4:00 pm                        Ferry Departure

6:00 pm                        Group Meeting

7:00 pm                        Dinner

ü      4 June (Friday)  Gorée

Filming

8:00 am                        Breakfast

9:00 am                        Ferry to Gorée

8:00 am                        Start Observations

11:00 am                      Tour Museum of Gorée

1:00 pm                        Lunch

2:00 pm                        Start Filming /Observation and Fieldnote

4:00 pm                        Ferry Departure

6:00 pm                        Group Meeting

(viewing of students’ films)

7:00 pm                        Dinner

Weekly Evaluation

ü      5 June (Saturday) Toubab Dialao

8:00                 Breakfast

9:00                 Wolof Language Lesson II (9:00-12:00)

1:00 pm            Depart for Toubab Dialao

2:00 pm            Lunch at Toubab Dialao

                        Rest

5:00 pm            Yenne, a fishing village; Fishing Party-pulling in the fishing nets

                        Initiation to African Dance

ü      6 June (Sunday) Toubab Dialao

9:00 am            Breakfast

            10:00 am          African Decorative Arts (Batik and Pottery)

            6:00 pm            Film Viewing of Gorée Films

ü      7 June (Monday) Yenne

Yenne

Group meetings-review field notes

          8:30 am              Breakfast

          9:30 am              Depart-Walk to Yenne

       10:00 am               Small Group Projects

        12:30 pm              Lunch

         2:00 pm               Return to Group Projects in Yenne

         6:00 pm               Group Meeting

         7:00 pm               Dinner

ü      8 June (Tuesday) Yenne

         8:30 am               Breakfast

          9:30 am              Depart-Walk to Yenne

       10:00 am               Small Group Projects

        12:30 pm              Lunch

         2:00 pm               Return to Group Projects in Yenne

         6:00 pm               Group Meeting

         7:00 pm               Dinner

ü      9 June (Wednesday) Yenne

DUE: Film storyboards

          8:30 am              Breakfast

          9:30 am              Depart-Walk to Yenne

       10:00 am               Small Group Projects

        12:30 pm              Lunch

         2:00 pm               Return to Group Projects in Yenne

         6:00 pm               Group Meeting

         7:00 pm               Dinner

ü      10 June (Thursday) Yenne

           8:30 am             Breakfast

          9:30 am              Depart-Walk to Yenne

       10:00 am               Small Group Projects

        12:30 pm              Lunch

         2:00 pm               Return to Group Projects in Yenne

         6:00 pm               Group Meeting

         7:00 pm               Dinner

ü      11 June (Friday) Yenne

           8:30 am             Breakfast

          9:30 am              Depart-Walk to Yenne

       10:00 am               Small Group Projects

        12:30 pm              Lunch

         2:00 pm               Return to Group Projects in Yenne

         6:00 pm               Group Meeting (Video Viewing)

         7:00 pm               Dinner

Weekly Evaluation

ü      12 June (Saturday) Yenne

9:00 am                  Breakfast

10:00 am                Video Viewing

1:00 pm                  Lunch

2:00 pm                  Video Viewing

4:00 pm                  Open Afternoon

7:00 pm                  Dinner

ü      13  June (Sunday) Toubab Dialaw

9:00 am      Breakfast

1:00 pm      Lunch

2:00 pm      Depart for Dakar after lunch

3:00 pm    Arrive in Dakar

                  Room re-assignment

                  Free afternoon

6:00 pm      Dinner

ü      14 June (Monday) Dakar

7:30 am      Breakfast

8:30 am      Wolof Lesson Part III (8;30-11:30)

11:30         Time to work on field notes/ Free time (11:30-12:30)

1:00 pm      Lunch

3:00 pm      NGO Visit/Market

5:00 pm      Group Meetings

7:00 pm      Dinner

ü      15 June (Tuesday) Dakar

8:30 am      Breakfast

9:30 am      Depart for Neighborhood

1:00 pm      Lunch

2:00 pm      Return to Neighborhood site

5:00 pm      Return to CESAG

6:00 pm     Group Meeting

7:00 pm      Dinner

ü      16 June (Wednesday) Dakar

8:30 am      Breakfast

9:30 am      Depart for Neighborhood

1:00 pm      Lunch

2:00 pm      Return to Neighborhood site

5:00 pm      Return to CESAG

6:00 pm     Group Meeting-

DUE--Video Storyboards

7:00 pm      Dinner

ü      17 June (Thursday) Dakar

8:30 am      Breakfast

9:30 am      Depart for Neighborhood

1:00 pm      Lunch

2:00 pm      Return to Neighborhood site

5:00 pm      Return to CESAG

6:00 pm     Group Meeting

7:00 pm      Dinner

ü      18 June (Friday) Dakar

8:30 am      Breakfast

9:30 am      Depart for Neighborhood

1:00 pm      Lunch

2:00 pm      Return to Neighborhood site

5:00 pm      Return to CESAG

6:00 pm     Group Meeting

Small Group Meetings

                  Weekly Evaluation

7:00 pm      Dinner

ü      19 June (Saturday) Dakar

    8:30 am        Breakfast

    9:00 am        Market—visit to tailors

   1:00 pm         Lunch

   2:00 pm         Visit to Tailor/Markets

   7:00 pm         Dinner

    9:00 pm       Cultural Event

ü      20  June (Sunday) N’gor

Open Day

Picnic in N’gor  (optional)

 9:00 am           Breakfast

10:00 am          Depart for N’gor

1:00 pm            Lunch at N’gor or CESAG

4:00 pm            Return to CESAG

6:00 pm            Group Meeting

7:00 pm            Dinner 

ü      21 June (Monday) Dakar

8:00                 Breakfast

 9:00 am           Wolof Language Lesson IV (9:00-12:00)

1:00 pm            Lunch

2:00 pm             Visit Market/Tailor/Confirm Tickets

5:00 pm            Group Meeting

 (Viewing of students’ films)

7:00 pm            Dinner

ü      22 June (Tuesday) Day trip to Touba

7:30 am                  Breakfast

8:30 am                  Depart to Touba

11:00 am                Arrive in Touba-Tour the Mosque

1:00 pm                  Lunch

3:00 pm                  return to Dakar

ü      23 June (Wednesday) Dakar

TBA

Open Day

ü      24 June (Thursday) Dakar

TBA

Open Day

8:00 pm            Farewell Dinner

Weekly Evaluation

                        Course Evaluation

ü      25 June (Friday) Dakar

Check out

Depart for airport

ü      26 June (Saturday) Milwaukee

Arrive in New York-Milwaukee