AFST 225 - Africans in the Indian Ocean

Credits: 4

Africans have been traveling (both forced and voluntary migration) in the Indian Ocean world long before the brutal passages of the modern Atlantic slave trade. This course examines the history of the African diaspora from East Africa in the Indian Ocean. We will explore the global dynamics of Africans in the Indian Ocean world, including African descended communities in such places as India, Pakistan, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Egypt and Yemen. Students in the course will 1) discuss the various definitions of diaspora and their usefulness to understanding African migration in the Indian Ocean 2) identify some of the cultural practices-including food, music and religion associated with Africa and African culture in the Indian Ocean world 3) Read and interpret primary sources from Africans themselves, to understand their worldview and the contexts that shaped their choices.