Explore Senegal Through Literature and Film

Senegal- the controversial winners of AFCON 2025- is a nation often celebrated for its political stability, marked by peaceful democratic transitions in a region frequently shaped by upheaval. As a coastal country in Western Africa whose history bears the deep imprint of colonial encounters and postcolonial transformations, Senegal is a cultural powerhouse whose artistic and literary productions resonate far beyond its borders. In this course students will explore Senegalese culture, religion, politics, art, and history through its narratives. How can we trace pre- and post-colonial transformations through stories told in film, literature, and collective memory? By engaging with works spanning generations (written by Ousmane Sembène, Mati Diop, Léopold Sédar Senghor, Aminata Sow Fall, and Mohamed Mbougar Sarr) students will examine themes of migration, gender, religion, colonial legacies, and contemporary identity formation. (Any FREN course numbered 0220-0233)