This program will not be running in 2010 but will return in 2011.

An MSU Residential Program for Students

Much of the news that we read or hear about Africa in the press is largely negative. Explore Africa at MSU will challenge these tereotypical representations by presenting Africa in all of its rich cultural, social, economic, and political diversity. Students will be encouraged to critically look beyond the current images of Africa in order to gain a more complete and comprehensive understanding of the continent of Africa, past, present, and future.

Explore Africa will offer activities that give special attention to the arts and cultural expressions of Africa, such as art, music, dance, literature, and cinema–components which are often omitted in American schools.

Faculty and Staff

John Metzler
Dr. Metzler is an Assistant Professor of African Studies and Teacher Education and Coordinator of Outreach Programs for the African Studies Center, Michigan State University. Dr. Metzler led the team that developed Exploring Africa, a virtual curriculum that students will use as a core resource in the web-based projects. Dr. Metzler has taught and done research in Africa since 1972, where he started his career as a high school history teacher. Each summer since 1993 he has led an MSU study abroad program to southern Africa. In addition, he has taught courses on Africa in US high schools and universities since 1979. Dr. Metzler has been the instructional leader for Explore Africa at MSU since 2002.
Professor Metzler will be joined by a staff of advanced graduate students and educators, many of whom are from Africa.  During the first week of the program.  These instructors will be responsible for leading the daily sessions in:

• African literature—poetry, short-stories, drama
• African music and dance—with an emphasis on performance
• African language instruction: isiXhosa the main South Africa language spoken in the Eastern and Western Provinces of South Africa where the travelling portion of the program will visit.
• African art—with an emphasis on student projects in textile arts.

Two long-term instructors in the Explore Africa at MSU program are likely to be part of the program in summer 2011.

Heidi Irvine
Ms. Irvine will serve as our African art instructor.  Ms. Irvine recently was awarded Michigan Art Teacher of the Year honors.  She began with Explore Africa in 2008. Ms. Irvine is a high school art teacher at Holt High School.  She will be also traveling to South Africa as a chaperone.

Maria Kujenga
Ms. Kujenga will serve as our African music and dance instructor again this year; she began with this program in 2005. Ms. Kujenga is an enthnomusicologist and music instructor. She has studied dance and music in Zimbabwe and has taught African music and steel drumming in community music education programs in the Lansing area.

Sponsors and Ideals

Explore Africa at Michigan State University is a residential program for high-ability students entering grades 10- 12. It is sponsored by the Office of International Studies and Programs, the African Studies Center, the Office of Gifted and Talented Education, and the Honors College at Michigan State University.

Africa, the second largest continent in the world in both physical size and population, has for the most part been "under" taught, marginalized, and often grossly misrepresented in the textbooks and classrooms in America, as well as in our media and popular culture.

Explore Africa at MSU will challenge the status quo by offering students content, materials, and learning activities that facilitate a comprehensive study of the African continent and its societies and peoples in their tremendous activity.

Further Information

If you have general questions about this program, please call Kathee McDonald , Director of the Office of Gifted and Talented Education, at (517) 432-2129. If you have questions about the curriculum of the program, please call John Metzler , Outreach Coordinator for the African Studies Center, at (517) 353-1700.

Dates