Bate Besong: Courses taught at the University of Buea

As pointed out elsewhere, Bate Besong is a Senior Lecturer in Drama & Critical Theory, University of Buea, Cameroon (1999 – Present), with focus on Cameroon Literature, Theory and History of African Literature, Cultural Studies, Creative Writing, Critical Theory, Play Production. It is in that capacity that he teaches the following grauate and undergraduate courses at UB's Department of Literature.

LIT 605: THE BLACK AESTHETIC AND CONTEMPORARY LITERARY THEORIES
3 Credits (39-0-0)

A survey of Western literary theories and their relevance to the interpretation of African texts.  Approaches such as Marxist, psychoanalytic, structuralist, feminist, among others, will be discussed in some detail.  The origin and evolution of the Black Aesthetic shall be examined. Reading are from Lukacs, Eagleton, Jakobson, Marx, Saussure, Lacan, Anozie, Fanon, Gayle, Gates, Freud and Norris among others.

LIT 602: HARLEM RENAISSANCE, NEGRITUDE & LUSOTROPICOLOGY
3 Credits (39-0-0)

After a cursory overview of some literary movements in Western Literature such as Romanticism, Naturalism, Symbolism and Surrealism, emphasis is placed on the historical, literary and ideological relevance of the Harlem Renaissance, Lusotropicology and Negritude.  Works by Huggins, White, Hughes, Neto, Baraka, Senghor, Irele, among others, will be examined.

DTA 306: ADVANCED PLAYWRITING
3 Credits (39-0-26)

Objectives: This course expands the writing skills of the Theatre students to the extent that they will be able to write full-length plays. 
Content: In Advanced Playwriting, students will be expected to develop and complete individual plays through workshops and seminars.  Dramatic / Narrative Plot / Character Exposition, Dialogue, Sound Effect, Music and Adaptations.

ENG 914: AFRICAN POETRY
3 Credits (39-0-0)

Objectives: A study of major trends in African poetry.
Content: Patterns of development and the major thematic issues in African poetry.

ENG 423: LITERARY THEORY AND CRITICISM
3 Credits (39-0-0)

Objectives: To develop a critical mind in the application of various theories.
Content: Critical approaches to literature-sociological, philosophical, psychological and historical approaches; the feminists, Marxists, Formalists and Structuralists.

DTA 498: LONG ESSAYS
3 Credits (0-0-80)

Objectives: This initiates students into research by enabling each student to write a dissertation of 30-60 pages on a selected and approved topic using techniques acquired in an earlier methodology course.
Content: The essence of this long essay is to train students in collecting, analyzing and sythesisting information.  Each student will be required to submit a dissertation of 30 to 50 pages.  This dissertation will be researched and

ENG 305: SHAKESPEAREAN DRAMA
3 Credits (39-15-0)

Course Content: A study of selected plays of William Shakespeare (at least one from each type), including the history plays, the comedies and the tragedies.

ENG 208: SURVEY OF AFRICAN LITERATURE
3 Credits (39-15-0)

Objectives: To acquaint the student with the origin and evolution of African Literature.
Content: A study of the themes, modes and the criticism of African Literature.  The geographical, political and cultural spread of the writers will be taken into account.

Comments

[EtondeJjuliette]

Thanks Dr. Bate Besong for the being the most wonderful lecturer who impacts knowledge to his students without reservation. You are very selfless in what you do for your students and the nation as a whole, though many may not realise it now. I just want to say your efforts are lauded.

[Arrey Austine]

Your fighing spirit remains what I admire of you. You know the truth, you are intelligent, but your worth is not known by those at home. A king is not respected by his clansmen but strangers know who he is.

Austine-- Toronto Canada.

[Julius Herbst]

I want thank you for who you are. When you stand by your words in this world, it makes all the difference. You have impacted a lot of lives in Cameroon. Only fools surrender before the end of the journey. Continue your work and I do hope it will help to change our country.

Tennessee, USA

[Azah Abanda]

Keep up the good work BB. Proud of your achievements.

[Gordon Acha]

Thanks a lot for being you -- "true to self".

[obiaranndy]

BATE BESONG IS A GREAT MONUMENT IN UB AND CANNOT BE LEFT APART MORE GREASE TO HIS ELBOWS.

[kameni sonia amelie]

thanks a million times Dr BATE, for the knowledge that you pass to your students. may god keep on guiding you. long life.

[angie lucy owih]

Dr i simply wish to thank you for enlightening cameroonians.And more especially for your comment on the Bakassi issue.

[OBIA RANNDY]

LETTER TO CAMEROONIANS

BB WILL LIVE AND PEOPLE WILL TELL THE STORY OF A HERO WHO IS STILL TO BE RECOGNISED BY THE CAMEROONIAN PEOPLE, WHEN THE TIME WILL COME THEY WILL ONLY HAVE THEIR EYES TO CRY FOR THE LOST OF A NATIONAL HERO WHO IS YET TO BE RECOGNISED.LET CAMEROONIANS NOT DO AS MONGO BETI AND OTHERS PASSED AWAY WITHOUT ACKNOWLEDGMENT. PEOPLE SHOUL FOLLOW THW STEPS OF BB AND NOT SEAT ON FENCES FOR THEY WILL LIVE TO REGRET IT.

BB YOU ARE OUR SAVIOUR .THANKS

[ARREY DIIVNE]

Just to thank Dr Bate for the excellent job he is doning for the student body in particular and cameroonians in general.

May God bless and protect you .

[Chim]

How I wish we had just a handful of you around this country, what a great country Cameroon should have been, GOD BLESS YOU

[Aminkeng Atabong]

When one walks the streets of any Town in Cameroon one begins to wonder what this country is turning into. BB use to say when he looks at the university of Buea he sees a vast cementry. To me, UB - " A Place to be", is an epitome of our decaying country. A country where when people are promoted they sing praises to the Diety "Popol". This is the same digusting manner in which some students in this university behave when they are graded marks they deserve. that is after picking up their individaul results slip, they go around shouting " thank you Dr. Lyonga! etc. They have being made to believe that they are empty vessels so what ever they score is given to them at the mercy of the Lecturer. VAIN NONSENCE!!!
AS a place of learning and research I strongly Believe our state universities should be the bedrocks for a better Cameroon Tomorrow.

[Aminkeng Atabong]

When one walks the streets of any Town in Cameroon one begins to wonder what this country is turning into. BB use to say when he looks at the university of Buea he sees a vast cementry. To me, UB - " A Place to be", is an epitome of our decaying country. A country where when people are promoted they sing praises to the Diety "Popol". This is the same digusting manner in which some students in this university behave when they are graded marks they deserve. that is after picking up their individaul results slip, they go around shouting " thank you Dr. Lyonga! etc. They have being made to believe that they are empty vessels so what ever they score is given to them at the mercy of the Lecturer. VAIN NONSENCE!!!
AS a place of learning and research I strongly Believe our state universities should be the bedrocks for a better Cameroon Tomorrow.

[nchung mary tarh]

Sir,i believe if all were to be like you ,this country would have been conduisive for us all.THANK GOD FOR MAKING YOUR DREAMS COME THROUGH.I LOVE YOUR WEBSIDE.HAPPY XMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEWYEAR IN ADVANCED.

[Ngue Jean-Paul]

I just want to appreciate BB for what he is doing to develop Cameroon Literature. I read English and French at the UB and my best English literature was ENG 423: LITERARY THEORY AND CRITICISM with BB. Today, I am planing for a Master Degree in Comparative literature because BB gave me appetite for literature. Courage and courage BB, God Bless You!

[AGBORTOKO ARMSTRONG EBOT]

Oh My Good God, what can man do without you? You are the creator of our universe. I saw the fame of a great schoolar during my days in UB

His hair was all nate with with knowledge
His appearance push me to my dream
His writing make me full of wisdom

Tears run down my cheeks as words can't buy life, a great father, an uncle and a teacher of knowledge. for how long shall dead make mockery of us> Adieu Father, for I am fill in with grief. I can't not hold on my sorrws and grief on this fatal calamity, But our father Jesus, would lift your spirit higher. get rest and may your spirit and others rest in perfect peace. Jehovah shalom.

[The Godfather]

WE ARE VERY TOUCHED BY THIS UNTIMELY DEATH, BUT WE KNOW YOU WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS TO SEE YOUR DREAMS COME TRUE.
THE LEGACY YOU'VE LEFT BEHIND IS NOTHING BUT TO SEE US FREE ONE DAY.
MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE BB.

[Tem Edwin Nji]

Kudos Kudos kudos to you all for rekindling the glowing splint. The comments floading in is clear indication of a collective struggle that has just started with the physical absence of BB. Thses comments must be translated to concrete revulutionary writings in papers in our country to desseminate our Hero's ideologies.
I honour u all.

[Anwan Thomas]

He was a real gem.I watch his last interview on Crtv which was conducted inside UB and some months leter, We received the sad news.
May his gentle soul rest in peace.

Anwan Thomas
Nigerian (UN)
Peace keeping
Darfur Sudan

[Bita'a Menye]

Undoubtedly, how many of us, students of literature from the university of Buea, would not be grateful for Dr. Besong for the love of literature he has insteilled in us? Truly, this man is leading the way to eclectism and university, because the values of justice, aquity and work are universal, atemporal.