JOUR/AFCA 295 – Media, Culture and Society in Tanzania

Four credits, FDR-HU, EXP
2-3 days on campus; 3.5 weeks in Tanzania
Professors Dayo Abah (Journalism) and Mohamed Kamara (Romance Languages)

This course will offer an opportunity to travel to Tanzania as part of an intensive exploration of culture and society in this East African nation. Students will learn about the history and culture of the region as well as some of the major issues facing this nation in areas such as public health, education, gender, the environment, religion, the media, and more. The course includes excursions to some of Tanzania’s numerous national parks and some of its seven World Heritage sites. Students will also experience the distinctive cultures of the island of Zanzibar in contrast and comparison to mainland Tanzania and the factors that have shaped both.

Students will have an opportunity to study Swahili but no prior background in the regional languages is required. To help with this, students are expected to download the free Duolingo App for learning basic Swahili words for greetings, etc. before our departure for the country.

Students will spend a week staying with host families in Dar es Salaam. During the homestays, students will eat breakfast and dinners with families, have the opportunity to speak Swahili and prepare traditional meals with the families, among other practical and culturally significant activities.

Students will register for four credits as either JOUR 295 or AFCA 295.

This course meets the requirements in: Journalism and Mass Communication (major), Africana Studies (minor), FDR (HU). It also fulfills the FDR (HU) and EXP (Experiential Learning) requirements. No prerequisites, though students should expect two or three orientation sessions in Winter.

Program fee (paid to W&L): $4,022
Includes: **airfare**, programming, room, many meals (nearly all breakfasts, ~7 lunches, ~11 dinners), transportation to the airport from W&L, and most in-country transportation.

Additional costs: books, some meals (~3 breakfasts, ~10 lunches, and ~12 dinners), cell phone, inoculation/vaccine fees, spending money, passport, and visa fees (if applicable).

For further information, please contact Professor Abah and/or Professor Kamara.

The information session for this course will take place on October 6, 2025, at 7 pm in Early Fielding, room 109.