2024/25 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

HIST3260 Tradition and Modernity in Colonial Africa: Uganda's Kingdoms 1862-1964

40 creditsClass Size: 15

Module manager: Professor Shane Doyle
Email: S.D.Doyle@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2024/25

This module is not approved as a discovery module

Module summary

This module examines how ‘Uganda’ was conquered, created, and decolonised. It focuses on how two neighbouring African societies experienced European colonialism in radically different ways. Students would analyse how African leaders variously understood European modernity as a threat to their autonomy, as an opportunity for integration into global networks, or as a means of undermining internal rivals. The module would also explore how the concept of tradition was leveraged to challenge the boundaries of the colonial state, to critique chiefs’ concentration of power, and to underpin both ethnic patriotism and Ugandan nationalism.

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:
- comment critically on the primary sources they have studies;
- compare different kinds of historical sources and discuss how historians have used them;
- develop a sound understanding of the nature of political and social change during East Africa's integration into global society;
- comment on the historiography surrounding African kingship, missionisation, colonial rule, and decolonisation.

Learning outcomes
1. High-level skills in oral and written communication of complex ideas.
2. Independence of mind and self-discipline and self-direction to work effectively under own initiative.
3. Ability to locate, handle and synthesize large amounts of information.
4. Capacity to employ analytical and problem-solving abilities.
5. Ability to engage constructively with the ideas of their peers, tutors and published sources.
6. Empathy and active engagement with alternative cultural contexts.

Skills outcomes
Further enhances Common Skills listed below:

- High-level skills in oral and written communication of complex ideas.
- Independence of mind and self-discipline and self-direction to work effectively under own initiative.
- Ability to locate, handle and synthesize large amounts of information.
- Capacity to employ analytical and problem-solving abilities.
- Ability to engage constructively with the ideas of their peers, tutors and published sources.
- Empathy and active engagement with alternative cultural contexts.

Plus:
- Skills in interpretation and analysis of complex documentary-based material.

Syllabus

Uganda was one of the last parts of Africa to be "discovered" by the outside world. Explorers were fascinated by its complex kingdoms and openness to change. This module analyses the unequal integration of two African kingdoms into global society, from first contact to decolonisation and post-colonial crisis. Buganda initially at least was one of the stars of the twentieth-century British Empire, a model of effective indirect rule, rapid Christianisation, and successful cash cropping.

Bunyoro by contrast resisted colonial conquest and suffered the destruction of its indigenous political system, economic marginalisation, and cultural disintegration. Issues that will be examined include African sub-imperialism, religious syncretism, conflicts between African traditional authority and modernising nationalists, and changing notions of sexuality and identity.

It will use a range of original sources, including oral interview transcripts, indigenous historical accounts, colonialists' memoirs and diaries, missionaries' correspondence and reports, and government archival records.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Workshop	4	1.00	4.00
Lecture	1	2.00	2.00
Seminar	21	2.00	42.00
Private study hours			352.00
Total Contact hours			48.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			400.00

Private study

Reading to prepare for seminars (120 hours)
Further self-directed reading (66 hours)
Preparing and researching essay, including formative elements (80 hours)
Preparing and researching OTA, including formative elements (80 hours)
Reflection on feedback (6 hours)

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students would receive a 15-minute one-to-one meeting with the module tutor during the semester (around Week 9/10), in which students should do a short presentation (5 minutes) on the essay plan and arguments on which they can receive oral feedback from the module tutor.

Module tutors will provide appropriate formative feedback to students in preparing for the exam during the semester, including written feedback of at least two sample gobbet answers, and feedback on essay plans.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	4,000 word essay	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Exams

Exam type	Exam duration	% of formal assessment
Online Time-Limited assessment	48 hr	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)		50.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 18/10/2024

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