EXPLORING WEST AFRICA ABROAD
West African Summer Abroad (WASA)
Course Dates: June 2020 Location: Lomé, Togo-- Accra Ghana West African Summer Abroad (WASA) in Lomé Togo gives you an amazing and unforgettable experience in West Coast of Africa. This course is designed to explore and give an overview of West African culture broadening students artistic perspective and skills. Traditional and contemporary values will be examined along with the growths and culture shifts in the society, and influences on the performing arts. Selected fundamental themes found in major West African culture will be discussed through the medium of lectures, workshops, films, music, and dance. This 3 weeks cultural exploration program includes numerous exciting trips to contemporary and historical sites, educational institutions, and hands-on cultural activities such as: African art (sculpture, painting etc.), cooking style, "le pagne" cloth traditional dressing practice. Students will have a rare opportunity to meet Masters in traditional African dance and drumming. WASA cultural lessons and dance /drumming sessions will be led by masters and guest lecturers. At the end of the course, you 'll be participating in an event celebrating your collaboration with the people of West African. This event will include a round table, mingling with the people of Togo and Ghana, an evening of performing arts (dance, Drumming) etc as a farewell. WASA is specifically designed so that you'll meet unique individuals from the age of 3 to 100. Simultaneously volunteering and building up communities in need is another component of this program. Those who participate should expect to follow a traditional West African living style and schedule. Students will combine travel with study. This study abroad takes you to primarily Togo and possibly to Ghana on the West Coast of Africa. Well-known for being the smallest country in Africa but one of the richest in ethnicity and owning an architectural heritage of universal value (Koutammakou), over 45 kilometres of beaches in the South and lagoons in the interior then arable land in the North, is one of the first destinations of West Africa to understand the origin and true nature of West Africans. WASA uses French as its administrative language. WASA is not a language course. However, you will have many opportunities to practice French if you have taken this foreign language as you will be immersed in French. The course is offered at San Joaquin Delta College for Summer 2020 and participants need to register with the college. Block of courses is available to receive a total of 6 units: West African Dance 35 & Modern 10/11 (transferable to UC and CSU) and HUM19G (transferable to CSU). |