Generating Knowledge through the Visual Media: Establishing Visual Anthropology at the University of Bamako, Mali Oslo

The University of Bamako A young university, established in 1996 A young university, established in 1996 FLASH – Faculty of Social Sciences, Languages and Arts FLASH – Faculty of Social Sciences, Languages and Arts Department of Social Sciences Department of Social Sciences About students About students The importance of international university collaboration The importance of international university collaboration

Previous collaboration between Visual Cultural Studies (VCS) and FLASH The Peace Corps project (2000 – 2003) The Peace Corps project (2000 – 2003) A first attempt to establish Visual Anthropology at UoBamako A first attempt to establish Visual Anthropology at UoBamako Two students from the UoBamako recruited at the Master’s at VCS Two students from the UoBamako recruited at the Master’s at VCS Former Dean at FLASH serving his sabbatical year at VCS in Tromsø (2006) Former Dean at FLASH serving his sabbatical year at VCS in Tromsø (2006)

Images with a Capital ”I” - Developing Visual Literacy in Cross-Cultural Communication ( ) Main objective: Main objective: …. to make use of culture/aesthetics and creativity to develop new languages which allow local populations’ access to and influence on regional and national instances in the partners’ countries.

Sub-goals: Sub-goals: Establish a sustainable teaching programme in visual anthropology at the University of Bamako. Establish a sustainable teaching programme in visual anthropology at the University of Bamako. Contribute to the enhancement of audio-visual literacy by the development of theories and methodologies in the humanities and social sciences. Contribute to the enhancement of audio-visual literacy by the development of theories and methodologies in the humanities and social sciences. To enhance the recognition of the importance of reciprocal dependency in the educational institutions in the North and the South. To enhance the recognition of the importance of reciprocal dependency in the educational institutions in the North and the South.

First period 2006 – 2008 Visual anthropology courses established as part of the regular curriculum at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels at the UoBamako Visual anthropology courses established as part of the regular curriculum at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels at the UoBamako 20 Bachelor’s, and from these 20 Bachelor’s, and from these 6 Master’s graduated 6 Master’s graduated 6 started their Master’s studies 6 started their Master’s studies

Dissemination seminar in Bamako with film screenings Dissemination seminar in Bamako with film screenings One student from the UoBamako graduated from the Master’s at Visual Cultural Studies (UoTromsø) and was recruited as part of the regular staff at UoBamako One student from the UoBamako graduated from the Master’s at Visual Cultural Studies (UoTromsø) and was recruited as part of the regular staff at UoBamako

Second period 2009 – 2010 Improved integration of the VA courses with the other courses in Anthropology at UoB Improved integration of the VA courses with the other courses in Anthropology at UoB 6 Master’s graduated 6 Master’s graduated 16 Bachelor’s, and from these 16 Bachelor’s, and from these 6 Master’s completed their fieldwork 6 Master’s completed their fieldwork Dissemination seminar with film screenings Dissemination seminar with film screenings One student from UoBamako recruited at the Master’s at Visual Cultural Studies (UoTromsø) One student from UoBamako recruited at the Master’s at Visual Cultural Studies (UoTromsø)

Binding collaboration with institutions with competence on still-photography (Promofem) and film (CNCM) in Bamako Binding collaboration with institutions with competence on still-photography (Promofem) and film (CNCM) in Bamako Teachers reqruited from these institutions Teachers reqruited from these institutions Practice stays for graduates Practice stays for graduates

Other achievements Other achievements Exchange of teachers with UoMaroua in Cameroon Exchange of teachers with UoMaroua in Cameroon Reduced involvement in the regular teaching from the VCS staff Reduced involvement in the regular teaching from the VCS staff Collaboration with The Norwegian Church Aid Collaboration with The Norwegian Church Aid

rs

u

Bachelor’s level - Educational approach Photography, anthropological theory and ethnographic methodology Photography, anthropological theory and ethnographic methodology Photo based mini-fieldwork projects in small scale settings Photo based mini-fieldwork projects in small scale settings The visual material as a catalyst for an continuously evolving project dialogue The visual material as a catalyst for an continuously evolving project dialogue

The divination project – Various steps Development of the project in class Development of the project in class First field visit – significant aspects of the ritual First field visit – significant aspects of the ritual 10 photos presented in class 10 photos presented in class

re re

Classroom discussions Classroom discussions A backward traditionalist or ….? A backward traditionalist or ….? The complex approach of methodological relativism The complex approach of methodological relativism Second field visit - Back to the diviner, enriched with the comments from classroom discussions Second field visit - Back to the diviner, enriched with the comments from classroom discussions What counts as knowledge in different settings What counts as knowledge in different settings Classroom discussions Classroom discussions

Third field visit – the life history of the diviner Third field visit – the life history of the diviner Not a vanishing tradition, but ongoing aspects of modernization in the Malian society Not a vanishing tradition, but ongoing aspects of modernization in the Malian society Classroom discussions Classroom discussions Paper written for the exam Paper written for the exam With photos, important findings and discussion of methodological issues With photos, important findings and discussion of methodological issues

Master’s level – Educational approach The video camera as a tool of investigation The video camera as a tool of investigation The development of an observational sensitivity which give access to lived life The development of an observational sensitivity which give access to lived life Patience, presence and hopefully also the avoidance of reifications Patience, presence and hopefully also the avoidance of reifications Film and written theses – complementary knowledge Film and written theses – complementary knowledge

Ali’s Dream, by S. Sagara (2008) Among the films made by the first group of students. Among the films made by the first group of students. Common research theme: Urbanization processes in Bamako Common research theme: Urbanization processes in Bamako Ali, a young immigrant in Bamako coming from Dogon land Ali, a young immigrant in Bamako coming from Dogon land New understanding of seemingly well known phenomena New understanding of seemingly well known phenomena

Main achievements – Images with a capital ”I” A teaching programme in VA established at UoB A teaching programme in VA established at UoB Three cohorts of Master’s students enrolled Three cohorts of Master’s students enrolled South-South collaboration developed between the UoBamako and the UoMaroua South-South collaboration developed between the UoBamako and the UoMaroua Collaboration with filmmaking institutions in Bamako established Collaboration with filmmaking institutions in Bamako established Facilities - Library, editing suites, camera/sound equipment Facilities - Library, editing suites, camera/sound equipment

Some employment possibilities established for the graduates after practice stays Some employment possibilities established for the graduates after practice stays Participation at the film festival at Njamina Participation at the film festival at Njamina “Echag – The Well” by S. Diallo received the student film award at the Moscow international festival and conference of Visual Anthropology in 2010 “Echag – The Well” by S. Diallo received the student film award at the Moscow international festival and conference of Visual Anthropology in 2010

Important steps toward sustainability Important steps toward sustainability One regular VA position established at UoB One regular VA position established at UoB Collaboration with CNCM financed by UoB Collaboration with CNCM financed by UoB Classroom and office facilities given by UoB Classroom and office facilities given by UoB

Obstacles Obstacles Difficult to finance Ph.D candidates who can take the academic responsibility for the VA program at UoBamako Difficult to finance Ph.D candidates who can take the academic responsibility for the VA program at UoBamako The cooperaton is financed till the end of some support still needed in 2011 The cooperaton is financed till the end of some support still needed in 2011

Visions for the future Visual anthropology in Tromsø, Bamako and Maroua Visual anthropology in Tromsø, Bamako and Maroua Mutual exchange of teachers and students + research collaboration Mutual exchange of teachers and students + research collaboration …… on our way to accomplish these aims …… on our way to accomplish these aims