African History Courses

Working their way through still influential imperial narratives, historians of Africa are unpacking the extensive and complex histories of Africa from east to west and north to south, consulting archaeologists and interpreting African and European records, African oral histories, and often looted material heritage still in European collections.

What has so far emerged is both a growing appreciation of the richness of the histories of the different parts of Africa, their peoples and societies, and the important recognition that the different parts of Africa have been and remain central to global history and particularly the histories of South Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas.

In other words, there is much to explore: from advanced multi-faceted kingdoms and empires; longstanding maritime trading connections to the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean; the many forms of resistance to the European enslavement of people; colonial and imperial expansions; to the wars of independence and the legacies and memories of colonial violence.

Join us to learn about and engage with the rich histories of the different parts of Africa that interest you. We offer short and long courses, online and face-to-face.

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  1. African resistance against empire
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 25 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Martin Jorgensen
    The end of the Second World War marked a watershed in African history, catalysing resistance against colonial rule that had been in place for a century. This module examines the history of such growing anti-colonial resistance from the late 19th century onwards.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £69.00 Concession £45.00
  2. European empires in Africa
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 28 Oct 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  James Stannard
    An introduction to the major themes of imperial history in the past 200 years of African history. It offers a way to contextualise many of the trends and challenges in the continent today and invites students to see Africa in a new light.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £99.00 Senior fee £79.00 Concession £64.00
  3. Nigeria and Angola in global politics since independence
    Evening
    Course start date:  Wed 22 Nov 2023

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  Maisa Edwards
    This course studies the principal roles of Nigeria and Angola in global politics since their independence from British and Portuguese colonial rule in 1960 and 1975 respectively.







    Tutor: Dr. Maísa Edwards



    Dr. Maísa Edwards holds a Joint International Relations PhD from King’s College London and the University of São Paulo. Her doctoral research focused on Brazil, the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic and the South Atlantic region. She also has an MSc in Brazil in Global Perspective from King’s College London and a first degree in French and Spanish from University College London. Maísa also has a keen interest in multilingual and multicultural literature and has run the Talk Books With Me (@talk_books_with_me) project since February 2021.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £49.00 Senior fee £49.00 Concession £32.00
  4. The East African Kingdoms and Empires of Aksum, Dongola and Abyssinia
    Course start date:  Fri 19 Jan 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Martin Jorgensen
    Often overlooked, the history of East Africa is rich, complex and still not known in full. Want to know more about East Africa from 100 CE to 1900 AD? Join us for 4 weeks of exploring the links with neighbouring regions, waterways and oceans.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
  5. The British Empire in sub-Saharan Africa
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 17 Feb 2024

    Location on this date:  Online

    Tutors:  James Stannard
    From transatlantic slavery to the fall of apartheid, this course examines Britain’s major projects and legacies in sub-Saharan Africa.



    This course will be delivered online. See the ‘What is the course about?’ section in course details for more information.
    Full fee £99.00
  6. Modern African history: understanding the state and economy since independence
    Weekend
    Course start date:  Sat 16 Mar 2024 (and 1 other date)

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Explore post-colonial Africa's political, economic, and social journey since independence. Gain insights into state building, governance, development, and identity, fostering a holistic understanding of Africa's evolution.
  7. The Congo Basin from 1400 to the present
    Course start date:  Fri 19 Apr 2024

    Location on this date:  Keeley Street

    Tutors:  Martin Jorgensen
    Not ‘primitive’ and ‘chaotic’ as argued in 20th century Europe, the history of the Congo Basin, or most of the area we today know as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), is both rich and central to understand Central Africa. Join us for a brief introduction.
    Full fee £69.00 Senior fee £55.00 Concession £45.00
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