The Anthropology of Africa

The study of african societies and cultures has been central in social anthropology since the origin of the discipline, and has therefor strongly influenced the development of the discipline. At the same time anthropological analysis has influenced the development of the African continent. Furthermore it has influenced our conception of the continent as well as that of the Africans themselves. By using ethnographical examples from Africa this course gives an introduction to thematics that are central in anthropology and important for the understanding of Africa, for example kinship, culture, ethnicity and urbanization.

Students will be presented to thematics that are particurlary important in anthropological research on Africa and thus understand how the discipline of anthropology has dealt with Africa and how this has influenced our knowledge about Africa.

Lectures (max. 18 hours lectures/seminar)