Ethnographic Methods & the Cultural Production of a Rural-Urban Continuum
2007 Exploration Seminar in Sierra Leone

**THIS PROGRAM IS FULL AND NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS**

Program Directors: Clark Speed & Brook Kelly
Dates of Instruction: August 26 - September 21, 2007

This Exploration Seminar is an intensive ethnographic theory and method course based in Magbaiamba Ndonhanhu chiefdom in Northern Sierra Leone, West Africa. Our work over this intensive month is as much research based as it is experiential transformation. Students accepted to the Sierra Leone ‘seminar’ community will initiate seed projects that build a foundation for larger, longitudinal, studies that hopefully culminate in graduate and professional degrees; moreover, we will work to grasp and analyze complex spaces of cultural, colonial, and historical alterity that force students to stare beyond the abyss of self into the depth of human difference.

Following an Honors ethos of extending theory into praxis as well as academic excellence into global advocacy, this is an opportunity for hands-on experience in a war-ravaged, but rebuilding, country. Suffering from a long-term civil war (1991-2003) Sierra Leone is an on-going project of rebuilding and reconciliation. As one of the poorest countries in the world (but with huge natural resources of diamonds, gold, bauxite, and rice) it is a country driven by a complex culture-history. Seminar students will see and participate first hand in this process. In essence, the complexity of war and violence, the struggle of structural change, and cultural complexity are revealed in a rural and urban continuum. Seventeen different ethnic groups with unique traditions and languages add a unique spin to the process.

Students will begin preparation (taking two five credit Honors seminars in Spring and Summer 2007) for research projects that will expand theory into radically different real human practices. Possible studies include public health, women's reproductive knowledge, rural-based Islam and Christianity, subsistence agricultural practices, local forms of trade, chiefdom level politics, dance, ritual performance, among others. We will begin to learn Krio (the lingua franca), and basic Landogo as soon as possible.

Once in Sierra Leone we will spend four days in Freetown, then three weeks in Kagbere village (the chiefdom headquarters) in Northern Sierra Leone, and then three days in Freetown prior to our final departure. In Kagbere village, students will be paired up and live with local families. We will eat collectively twice a day.  There is no running water, electricity, or plumbing. Kagbere is defined by rural, subsistence, and political practices. To reiterate, there are NO Western facilities in Kagbere. This is a unique trip that requires physical, emotional, spiritual, community, and project determination.

Entrance and acceptance is via an extensive essay application and interview process. This Exploration Seminar is open to all qualified University of Washington Students.  Students are required to present their respective work to the rest of the Honors community during finals week of Autumn Quarter 2007.  Honors students will receive from five to fifteen HAS 263 credits towards the Honors core requirements. Non-Honors students will receive 5cr of CHID 473 Africa Study Abroad.  Participants should check with their advisors to determine how these credits can count towards departmental requirements.need to discuss what types of credit they will receive with both the instructors and their respective departments.

Student costs:  
$2,350 Program Fee
$200 IPE Fee
Additional costs include:Rount trip airfare to Freetown (via London), health insurance, immunizations, some meals and personal spending.

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