School of Humanities, University of Hong Kong

Timetable in second semester

African Studies Timetable 2009-2010

African Studies Timetable Summer 2009

News 

A double lecture by two South African writers

Mandla Langa, “Censorship versus creativity - lessons from South Africa”

and

André Brink, “South Africa and the world in post-apartheid fiction”

Date: March 12, 2010

Time: 1400 – 1530

Venue: MG07, Main Building

(Photo taken at the event. Front: Mandla Langa (L), André Brink (R);                Back: Grant Hamilton (L), Adams Bodomo (M), Manolete Mora (R))

 

Africa Day

(Photo on SCMP, MAY 22, 2009, for promoting Africa Day)

 

We proudly present Africa Day - a day when Africans in all parts of the world get together to celebrate and reaffirm their unity. We welcome each of you to join us for this fascinating event. Details are as follows:

Date: May 25, 2009

Time: 1030 – 1800

Venue:

The Convocation Room, Main Building, HKU Campus

Speakers: 

Hon. Magda Nasr, Consul General of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Hong and Macao

Hon. Tembi Tambo, Consul general of the Republic of South Africa in Hong Kong and Macao

Hon. Jose Bravo da Costa, Consul-General of the Republic of Angola in Hong Kong

Hon. David Obasa, Consul-General of the Republic of Nigeria in Hong Kong

Prof. Ato Quayson, University of Toronto

Prof. Horace Campbell, Syracuse University

Prof. Kenneth King, University of Edingburg

Prof. Mark Mason, Hong Kong Institute of Education

Events: Film Screening, Talks
             (For details, please refer to Rundown)

Supported by:

Consulate-General of Egypt

Consulate-General of South Africa

Consulate-General of Nigeria

Consulate-General of Angola
 

For attendance registration and general enquiries contact: Africa@hku.hk. For media enquiries contact: Adams Bodomo, African Studies Coordinator at abbodomo@hku.hk.

 

2009 - 2010

Dear student,

We are proud to say that the new Programme in African Studies - launched last year, and the first and only programme of its kind in Hong Kong and southern China - will enter its second year in the academic year 2009-2010. It aims at exploring Africa as a study area from interdisciplinary perspectives. At present, the Programme offers a Minor in African Studies.

African Studies is part of the Bachelor of Arts programme and is situated within the School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts but it is open to all students from other faculties.

Why do a Minor in African Studies?

The importance of Africa to China in economic and political terms has increased dramatically in recent years. This is indicated, for example, by the frequent visits of top Chinese leaders to Africa, the doubling of Chinese aid to Africa over the last year, the extension of loans by China to Africa amounting to USD5 billion over three years, and a 40% increase over the last year in the trade of oil and other natural resources totaling USD32 billion. It is important, therefore, that we develop a pool of well-trained people who can contribute to the growing relations between Africa and China. As the only institution of higher learning in Hong Kong that teaches African studies, the University of Hong Kong is poised to become a leader in this field within the region.

While this Minor is new, African Studies at the University of Hong Kong has been gestating for some years. The African Studies Group, started by Adams Bodomo and Manolete Mora in 2001, and actively supported by other faculty members, has been developing research and teaching in African studies for the past seven years. A variety of activities have been provided by the African Studies Group over these years, such as, sending students and staff members to Africa on study and research trips, and organizing summer courses and workshops in African languages and musics on a credit-free basis.

These activities, among others, have now been consolidated into a Minor, which aims at the following:

1. To develop historical, cultural, and linguistic knowledge of Africa in order to provide local expertise for China’s burgeoning economic, cultural and diplomatic relationship with Africa;

2. To foster a facility for communicating and interacting in cross-cultural situations that involve Africans and Chinese;

3. To contribute to the internationalization of the curriculum at HKU (a major goal of the new curriculum for 2012);

4. To provide specific support for the multicultural and intercultural components of the new core curriculum.

Having provided this background information on the Minor in African Studies we now invite you to take advantage of the opportunity that this new, exciting, interdisciplinary programme in African Studies offers you. A Minor in African Studies in combination with a major in Arts, Social Science, Education, and Science subjects is an ideal way to add a cross-cultural and global dimension to your study requirements at the University. For instance, a Minor in African Studies can be combined with a Major in Linguistics, Music, English, Fine Arts, History, Sociology, Education, Medicine, Biological Sciences, to name just a few.

We invite you to discuss with us your subject choices and possible programme combinations in the interests of advancing both your education and African Studies at the University of Hong Kong.

Dr Adams Bodomo
Dr Manolete Mora
African Studies Programme Coordinators