African American Studies Department

Professor of African American Studies Yakubu Saaka, 1945-2008
September 8, 2008

It is with great sadness that the African American Studies Department mourns the loss of our dear friend and colleague, Professor Yakubu Saaka.

A member of the Oberlin family for 36 years, Professor Saaka died Sunday, August 31, in Johannesburg , South Africa .

The celebration of the life of Professor Saaka will begin at noon with a luncheon at Afrikan Heritage House, located at 126 Forest Street . At 1:30 p.m. there will be a procession to Warner Concert Hall in the Conservatory of Music, 77 West College Street , where a formal celebration will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. The celebration will continue at 4:30 p.m. with a dinner and testimonial at the home of the Saaka family at 265 West Lincoln Street .

A specialist in African politics, Professor Saaka excelled as a scholar, teacher, and advisor. During a sabbatical leave from the College, he served in Ghana ’s Third Republic as a member of Parliament, as Deputy Foreign Minister, and as a United Nations ambassador. Professor Saaka recently renewed his commitment to Ghanaian national politics, declaring his intent last year to run for president in the 2008 elections.

In honor of his service, flags in Ghana have been ordered to be flown at half-staff.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Yakubu Saaka Scholarship Fund at Oberlin College , Office of Development and Alumni Affairs, Oberlin College , Bosworth Hall, 50 West Lorain Street , Oberlin , Ohio , 44074 .

For additional information, contact Yeworkwha Belachew at 440-775-6728 or yeworkwha.belachew@oberlin.edu.

Departmental Overview

African American Studies (formerly Black Studies) at Oberlin is now nearly three decades old. Courses in the field were first offered on campus in the late 1960's, in response to student demands for a more socially relevant education. Since then, through the persistent labor of faculty and students, the program has evolved into one of the best known undergraduate departments of its kind in the United States, offering a major or minor.

African American Studies is also recognized as one of the most dynamic departments at Oberlin College. Students from all disciplines take full advantage of courses which offer the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the world of African descended peoples. Thus, our courses are among the most popular in the college. African American Studies is neither conceived nor conducted as a narrowly focused, separate enclave for "blacks only." Rather, the discipline is recognized as a valuable under-taking for all members of the Oberlin community, regardless of race, nationality or ethnic background. While our focus is on the Black experience, our pluralistic approach is consistent with the department's philosophy, to provide our students with a fuller appreciation of all cultures. All courses may be counted to fulfill the cultural diversity requirement enacted some time ago by the college faculty. As an interdisciplinary department, we offer a rich and lively variety of courses in the arts, humanities and social sciences which explore Black life throughout the African Diaspora.

Students enrolled in the program are encouraged to explore key aspects of Black life in Africa, the Caribbean and the United States, Europe and the Americas, with the aim of developing a firm intellectual understanding of the African American experience.

The Department is aided in its efforts by the Afrikan Heritage House, which serves as the College's black communal and cultural center.

Curriculum Overview

The African American Studies curriculum offers extensive study of the Black experience in a diasporic setting, including but not limited to, Africa, North America, and the Caribbean. These offerings are arranged in three categories: introductory, intermediate, and advanced. All introductory courses are open without prerequisite, except as indicated in the course description. African American Studies 101 and other beginning courses may serve as prerequisites to all intermediate and advanced courses.