In this course we will explore the representations of Africa and African peoples from various perspectives, focusing primarily on literature and film. Academic scholarship in the natural and social sciences has some influence over how the continent and its inhabitants are viewed, including their histories, present conditions and future possibilities. But perhaps even more influential in representing the challenges and hopes of the African continent is that which derives from literature and film. Increasingly, media and literature is being produced, marketed and distributed across Africa, most notably from Nollywood, but other centers in Africa as well. Local, national and international representations of Africa will be considered in some depth. The course is meant to help students integrate the study of Africa across their discipline/major, and foster a critical and reflective approach to the field of African Studies. This course is only for students in the African Studies undergraduate certificate