Developing Worl Focus

Why Study in Africa?

Greatest Attractions Are Its Peoples and Varied Cultures

By Richard E. Stryker

Of the 70,000 U.S. students who go abroad each year, only a few hundred go to Africa; their reports, however, are among the most enthusiastic: "My parents thought it was a wild thing to do at first, but they even visited me [in Malawi] and we all want to return."

Study in an African country is not for everyone. It requires great enthusiasm for learning about very different cultures, a real spirit of adventure, a capacity for self-reliance, and a readiness to cope with a lack of familiar comforts. However, many more American students have these qualities than currently choose to study in Africa. If they did make the choice, they would find it a uniquely rewarding educational and cultural experience.

Why Africa? The continent certainly has distinctive natural attractions. The range of environmental contrasts is exceptional: vast deserts, dense rainforests, dramatic escarpments, tropical villages, and modern cities. The sheer size of Africa is impressive--three times greater than the entire U.S. But Africa's greatest attractions are its peoples and varied cultures. An African educational experience can be particularly meaningful and exciting because the continent's rich traditional heritage is so vital, its legendary hospitality so welcoming to strangers, and its multiethnic cities so energizing. The diversity of political and economic development models across 50 independent states and the variety of religions, languages, and customs within even a small African country are exhilarating.

There is no typical study abroad experience in Africa, but returnees emphasize four outcomes: 1) they made lifelong friends who were the most gracious hosts imaginable; 2) they learned more about themselves and about America than ever before because they had to cope with being minority representatives, whatever their racial or ethnic heritage; 3) they returned vastly more self-confident, self-reliant, culturally, and politically aware: in a word, changed forever; and 4) they would "go back in a minute."

Rewards Are Unparalleled

The opportunity to study in Africa has a special appeal for African-Americans eager to appreciate their own heritage. They must be prepared, however, to confront their own myths and prejudices about Africa if the experience is to fulfill their expectations. They may be surprised to find that they too are "foreigners," socially and culturally, despite feelings of racial solidarity. But they are also likely to be particularly sought out and valued as new friends by African students. The personal rewards for those who go well-informed and with an open mind are probably without parallel.

Your choices from many types of study abroad programs in Africa depend upon your available resources, time, and educational purposes. Alternatives include: 1) exchange programs with African universities, where you take most courses alongside African students, plus some special courses in language and culture for foreign students; 2) specially organized programs which utilize African professors and resources and often include field work and independent projects; and 3) work-study programs which have training components in addition to academic study.

Living arrangements range from dormitories to homestays or independent apartments. Careful advance research is advisable to determine the full cost of different programs (travel, tuition, additional fees, housing, food, incidentals) and to determine their academic standing and accreditation at your home school.

A wealth of sound information is available to guide predeparture preparations and day-to-day behavior while in Africa. The most important factors determining health and well-being in Africa are things over which you have a great deal of control.

Why study in Africa? Because an understanding of Africa is superb preparation for living and working in an ever more interdependent global society. Beyond any economic and political factors, you have much to learn from and to contribute to people in Africa. You owe it to yourself as an educated citizen of the 21st century to be part of such exciting cross-cultural exchanges.

Recommended Reading

Novels provide the most engaging introduction, e.g., Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart; Camara Laye, The African Child; Ngugi Wa Thiong'o, Weep Not Child; Buchi Emecheta, The Joys of Motherhood.

Any of Basil Davidson's books offer fascinating historical background, e.g., The African GeniusThe African Genius or The Black Man's Burden. For contemporary politics and society, see April and Donald Gordon, Understanding Contemporary Africa

Insightful African-American perspectives can be found in Eddy Harris, Native Strangers and Maya Angelou, All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes. Dirk Schroeder, Staying Healthy in Asia, Africa and Latin America is a very useful, compact source of health information. Perhaps the liveliest travel guides to Africa are published by Lonely Planet.

RICHARD E. STRYKER is Executive Associate Dean, International Programs, and Director of Overseas Study at Indiana Univ., Bloomington, IN.