Syllabus for Journalism & Media Studies Courses: Traditional African Communication Systems (CMS 105)

With the unbundling of Mass Communication programme in Nigeria, the face of communication education in the country has changed. The programme has transited into a full college/faculty while individual courses have adapted to the change. While several new courses now exist in the seven new departments, some of the courses you used to know before have also taken a new shape. We have done a thorough research on what these courses offer in universities across the world; and we have provided prototype syllabus for students to study ahead. This is also to assist lecturers who might be facing new challenges with several new courses to have an idea of what the syllabus of each course offers.

COURSE COMPACT

 Faculty: Communication and Media Studies                                           

Department: Journalism & Media Studies

Course Code: CMS105                                           Unit(s): 2                      Semester: First

Course Title: Traditional African Communication Systems

Lecturer:                                          Programme: B.Sc.

 

(A). BRIEF OVERVIEW OF COURSE

This course examines African traditional communication forms, channels, contents, technologies and institutions. It exposes students to the significance and influence of these traditional structures on modern communication systems. It further takes an in-depth look on how traditional communication system impacts contemporary African Political Culture and development. At the end of this course, students should be able to explain the nature, contents and operations of the traditional media, including depth understanding of relevance of African communication system in contemporary society.

(B). COURSE OBJECTIVES/GOALS

By the end of this course, students will have learned:

1. Concepts of communication system, African communication system, and traditional African communication system
2. Traditional communication forms, channels, contents, technologies and institutions
3. Various traditional structures and their influence on modern communication systems
4. Advantages and disadvantages of traditional communication systems
5. Concept of Political culture, African political culture and traditional communication influence on political culture
6. Relevance of traditional communication system in modern society

(C). METHOD OF LECTURE DELIVERY

1. Lectures
2. Quizzes
3. Assignments
4. Practical Classroom Sessions

 

(D). Grading Scale

Grade                                    Requirement

A                                            70 – 100

B                                            60 – 69

C                                            50 – 59

D                                            40 – 49

F                                             Below 40

 

(E). COURSE OUTLINE

1. Introduction

Concepts of communication, communication system, African communication system, and traditional African communication system

2. Traditional communication

Forms (verbal and non-verbal forms)

Channels/classification of traditional media

Contents

Technologies

Institutions

3. Characteristics of traditional communication

(interactional, face-to-face, immediate feedback, people-oriented, culture based etc.

4. Traditional structures

– Understanding various traditional structures in a typical African society (kinship systems, families, social groups, age grades, village assembly, markets, churches, etc.)

– Interactional and mutually interdependent nature of traditional structures

– Influence of traditional structures on modern communication systems

5. Advantages and disadvantages of traditional communication systems

Advantages (interactional, face-to-face, immediate feedback, people-oriented, culture based etc.)

Disadvantages (fear factor, Lack of specific definition, often misunderstood, message might be shrouded in secrecy etc.)

6. African Political Culture and Traditional Communication System

Concept of Political culture

African political culture

Traditional communication influence on political culture

7. Relevance of traditional communication system in modern society

(Grassroots Mobilization, innovation diffusion, transmission of cultural heritage, rural development, etc.)

8. Class activities/Assignments

 

(F). BOOK

African Communication System: A Quick Insight (By Chinenye Nwabueze)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU33esJlMT0&t=14s

 

(G). IMPORTANT LINKS

Click on the following links to read articles;

 

Nsude, I. & Isika, G. U. (2016). Traditional Structures and Media for Development and Mass Mobilization in Nigeria

 

Gomtas (2017). African Traditional Communication Media and Rural Development

 

 

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