Context

Africa is a continent of extreme diversity and vitality, characterized by its rich and varied cultures, ancient history, and continuous global influence. However, it is often misunderstood and overlooked in global studies, despite its immense impact on the world economy, politics, society, and the environment. Therefore, the goal of this project is to understand the position and role of Africa in the globalized scenario, analyzing its multiple facets and unraveling common stereotypes.

The study of Africa in the globalized context covers a range of topics, such as colonial history and its influence on the formation of African states and national identities, Africa's role in the global economy, development and human rights issues, contemporary political struggles, environmental and natural resource issues, and the African diaspora. This study requires an interdisciplinary approach, integrating concepts from geography, sociology, history, economics, and cultural studies.

The importance of this study lies in the need to demystify Africa, to change the simplistic and generally negative view that most people have of the continent. Dialogue and reflection on Africa in the globalized world also allow us to confront our own prejudices and assumptions, and to critically examine the global structures that perpetuate inequality and injustice.

Africa is of paramount importance to the world in terms of natural, cultural, and human resources. Understanding its role in the global environment and raising awareness of its reality are therefore a crucial task for all of us. With this project, we hope to provide a comprehensive and balanced view of Africa, recognizing its complexity and contributions to the world.

To support and deepen your studies, we strongly recommend the following resources available in Portuguese:

• "General History of Africa" - freely available by UNESCO here.
• The Documentary "Africa in the 21st Century" - available on Netflix.
• "Africa and African Brazil" by Nei Lopes - available for online purchase.
• "Africa: History and Independence" by Amílcar Cabral - available for online purchase.

Practical Activity

Activity Title: The African Continent and its Position in the Globalized World

Project Objective

To understand and analyze the position and role of Africa in the globalized world focusing on its historical, geographical, political, economic, social, environmental, and cultural aspects.

Detailed Project Description

Groups of 3 to 5 students will be responsible for investigating and analyzing an African country of their choice, considering the multiple aspects mentioned above. Each group must produce a detailed PowerPoint presentation and a written report in the format of an academic article.

The activity will be divided into the following steps:

1. Research and Data Collection: Students must use various sources (books, articles, documentaries, websites, etc.) to gather information about the chosen country. The group should divide the subtopics among themselves so that each member can research in-depth the topics assigned to them.

2. Data Analysis: After collecting the information, students will analyze and discuss the data, always keeping in mind the country's position within the African continent and, consequently, its relationship with the globalized world.

3. Production of the Presentation and Report: Groups must organize the collected and analyzed information into a PowerPoint presentation and a written report.

Required Materials

Students will need:

• Internet access for topic research;
• Presentation software (such as Microsoft PowerPoint, Google Slides, etc.);
• Text processing software (such as Microsoft Word, Google Docs, etc.)

Detailed Step-by-Step Guide for the Activity

1. Group Formation: Students organize themselves into groups of 3 to 5 members.

2. Country Selection: Each group chooses an African country to be the focus of the project.

3. Subtopics Division: Each group member is assigned to research one aspect of the chosen country (historical, geographical, political, economic, social, environmental, and cultural).

4. Research: Each student conducts in-depth research on the assigned topics.

5. Analysis Meeting: Groups gather to discuss and analyze the collected data.

6. Preparation of the Presentation and Report: Based on the discussions and analyses, groups produce a PowerPoint presentation and a written report.

7. Final Review and Submission: After completing the development of the materials, groups perform a final review and submit the written presentation and report.

IMPORTANT: The estimated time for completing this project is approximately 20 hours, considering all the steps.

Project Deliverables Details

PowerPoint Presentation Submission

The PowerPoint presentation should be structured as follows:

1. Introduction: Presentation of the country (name, location, flag, etc.) and the group members.
2. Body: Detailed presentation of the researched topics, always highlighting the connection between the information and the project theme.
3. Conclusions: Synthesis and reflections of the students on the main learnings of the project.

Written Report Submission

The written report should be structured as follows:

1. Introduction: Description of the chosen country, contextualization of the theme, its relevance and real-world application, as well as the objective of this project.

2. Development: Detailed description of the theory behind the central themes of the project. The student must explain the activity in detail, indicate the methodology used, and present and discuss the results obtained.

3. Conclusion: Recap of the main points, explicitly stating the learnings obtained and the conclusions about the project.

4. Bibliography: Indication of the sources used to develop the work (books, websites, videos, etc).