This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the revered holy men and women of the
Horn of Africa, whose lives and legacies have shaped the region’s religious, political and
cultural milieu. It also explores major sacred spaces and their constitutions in the region.
From Ethiopian Christian saints to Somali Sufi mystics and Jewish Ethiopian heroes will be
covered. These figures have left a profound impact on religious thought, community
practices, and identity formation in the Horn of Africa. Students will explore the hero
formation processes in the different religious traditions of the Horn of Africa through engaging the
teachings, attributed miracles, poetry, artistic presentations and liturgical practices
associated with the iconic figures.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of the course, students will
o Identify key historical events, religious movements and cultural exchanges that
shaped the region’s spiritual landscape
o Analyze the lives and teachings of key religious figures through hagiographies,
teachings, and legacies of the saints
o Examine the liturgical and political aspects of hero formation
o Develop skills in Cross-Cultural and interdisciplinary methods to study societal
icons
Week 1 and 2
o Hero making and Canonization of saints
Week 2 and 3
o The religious landscape of the Horn of Africa
o Interfaith relations in HOA in history
o Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Indigenous belief systems
Week 3 and 4
o Jewish Heros and Christian Villains
Week 5-7
o Christian Holy Men and Women of Horn of Africa
Weeks 8-9
o Muslim Saints of the Horn
Weeks 9-10
o Creation of Sacred Space
o Shrines, Sepulchers and Sacrifices