an innovative program Senegal and The Gambia: Traditions, Globalization, and Tourism in West Africa is a fiveweek program designed to provide students with an introduction to West African cultures and traditions. The program explores the growing centrality of tourism—particularly “cultural and heritage tourism”— as an increasingly significant sector of the global economy. Students are introduced to West Africa’s most important ethnic groups (including the Wolof, Mandinka, and Fulani), as they explore questions related to the politics and aesthetics of constructing difference in globalized tourism. The program also examines the role of corporations, nation-states, nongovernmental agencies, and social movements in shaping cultural and heritage tourism in West Africa. While in Senegal, students will visit Gorée Island and its Maison des Esclaves (slave house), now a major tourist attraction. Gorée is a poignant reminder of the region’s role as the center of the West African slave trade to the Americas. Students will also visit the Petite
an unforgettable experience Côte, mostly known for its beautiful beaches, and Saint-Louis, the capital of the French colony of Senegal located 320 km north of Dakar. In The Gambia, students will visit the Abuko Nature Reserve and the village of Juffureh, which was identified by Alex Haley as the place of origin of his ancestors. Students will also visit James Island and the ruins of Fort James, from where slaves were shipped to the Americas. In addition, students will engage in ethnographic work in Kololi Beach near Banjul. Saint-Louis and Gorée Island in Senegal, and James Island in The Gambia, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. AADS has organized this program in collaboration with the University of the Gambia (UTG) in Banjul and the Université Cheikh Anta Diop (UCAD) in Dakar. With the exception of pre-departure lectures to be held at FIU, all classes will be held in the UTG’s main campus and various UCAD sites, including the Musée d’Art Africain Thierry Monod. At the end of the program, students will have earned 3-6 credits.
why senegal and the gambia? West Africa, and particularly what is often called Senegambia, is one of the most attractive destinations for tourists interested in Sub-Saharan Africa. With picturesque beaches, interesting museums, and a vibrant cultural community, the Senegambian region provides the ideal setting for those who want to observe and study the impact of globalization and the tourism industry on West Africa. Visiting these two countries also provides the opportunity to observe the differential impact of past French and British colonial rule on Senegal and The Gambia, respectively. Punctuated by poignant emblems of the slave-trade, Senegal and The Gambia are populated by the same ethnic groups and share similar traditions and languages, including Wolof, the most important African language spoken in the region. Students will have the opportunity to see how these two countries assimilate the past, while attempting to keep pace with the forces of global society.
African & African Diaspora Studies
School of International and Public Affairs
African & African Diaspora Studies (AADS) is an integral part of the School of International and Public Affairs at Florida International University. AADS is one of the leading programs in the United States for the study of the peoples of Sub-Saharan Africa and their experiences, as well as the communities of the African diaspora in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The program features a robust interdisciplinary curriculum, cutting-edge research agendas, and active outreach programs. Its core and affiliated faculty comprise a distinct group of globally-oriented scholars with specializations that range from the humanities and social sciences to environmental studies, law and social justice, health sciences, education, and international business. AADS academic offerings include undergraduate and graduate certificate programs that provide students with an interdisciplinary approach to the study of the global, economic, cultural, and historical experiences of people of African descent. AADS also offers interdisciplinary, graduate level training through its Master of Arts Degree Program. Students also have the opportunity to combine the MA with a Ph.D. in International Relations or a Ph.D. in Global and Sociocultural Studies.
The School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) brings together many of FIU’s internationally oriented disciplines to provide cutting-edge research, firstrate teaching, and innovative training necessary for the globalized world of the 21st century. SIPA includes four signature departments: Politics and International Relations, Global and Sociocultural Studies, Public Administration, and Criminal Justice. Additionally, the School houses many of FIU’s international centers, institutes, and programs, including African & African Diaspora Studies. An integral part of the College of Arts and Sciences, SIPA offers a number of degree programs at the bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral levels, as well as several undergraduate and graduate certificate programs. The School also supports a variety of community outreach programs, study abroad opportunities, and numerous lecture series, including the annual Eric E. Williams Memorial Lecture, the annual Chris Gray Memorial Lecture, and the prestigious Ruth K. and Shepard Broad International Lecture Series. For more information about SIPA, go to http://international.fiu.edu.
Senegal and The Gambia: Traditions, Globalization, and Tourism in West Africa is a collaborative, interdisciplinary project organized by AADS in partnership with the University of The Gambia, Banjul, and the Université Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal. The program is subject to change.
African & African Diaspora Studies School of International and Public Affairs Florida International University 11200 SW 8th Street, LC 304 Miami, Florida 33199 305-348-6860 | africana@fiu.edu http://africana.fiu.edu
College of Arts and Sciences As the heart of a leading public research university, the College of Arts and Sciences at FIU plays a vital role in the intellectual, cultural and civic life of local, national, and international communities. The College provides an educational foundation that prepares FIU students to be successful and engaged citizens in a global society. The College generates extensive scholarship that yields new knowledge, shapes how we teach and learn, and contributes to a more complete understanding of the world. For more information about the College of Arts and Sciences, go to http://cas.fiu.edu.