The Department of African and African American Studies (AAAS) takes students to live and study in Accra, the cosmopolitan coastal capital city of Ghana. Courses in African Political Movements, Indigenous Slavery, and Globalization are taught on the campus of the University of Ghana, Legon, by the Dartmouth faculty director as well as senior faculty at the University of Ghana.
 
Accra is a rapidly growing, cutting-edge city that showcases both modern life and a rich history. It serves as a vibrant global epicenter of both the contemporary visual arts and African popular music, with styles ranging from Azonto to Afrobeats. The city is also a thriving finance and technology hub that attracts entrepreneurial energy and urban development. It is home to glittering beaches, historic monuments, museums, traditional markets, and lively nightlife.
 
In addition to exploring the artistic and cultural delights of the city, students learn about Ghana's multifaceted history, which stretches from its role in the transatlantic slave trade to its significance as the first sub-Saharan African nation to win independence from British colonial rule in 1957. The program seeks to provide students with a nuanced understanding of the history and culture of the West African sub-region, as well as the myriad cosmopolitan networks and power dynamics that constituted the slave trade, colonial rule, and post-independence nation-building.

Student Experience 

Students live with families in homestays for the full duration of the program. A homestay experience provides students with the opportunity to become integrated into the community, build meaningful relationships, and learn about Ghanaian daily life and culture on a deeper level. Homestays are all situated near the University of Ghana campus. Students will use public transportation and ride share apps to commute to campus where classes are held.

The program includes experiential learning opportunities such as excursions to the W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre, forest reserves, and contemporary art markets. In addition to their regular faculty, students will learn from guest speakers such as archaeologists of the slave trade, playwrights, pan-African activists, hip-hop musicians, and DJs. All instruction is in English, but students take an introduction to the Akan language to gain initial familiarity with a common Ghanaian language. They will also be able to pursue independent research and explore aspects of Accra customized to their interests. University offices and libraries are available for students' use.

Academic Program 

The Faculty Director is Prof. Clifford Campbell.

AAAS 87.05 Politics of Africa

AAAS 87.07 Globalization and the African Continent 

AAAS 87.08 Indigenous Slavery in Ghana and West Africa 
 

Prerequisites 

Preference wi be given to students who have taken at least one African Studies course.