What is it about?
This classic article discusses research strategies with respect to conducting high quality historical and anthropological work in the African context. It also addresses issues of language and oral translations in fieldwork. In sum, it strongly advocates for the triangulation of oral data with other historical and ethnographic materials in historical and anthropological work by scholars on Africa.
Featured Image
Why is it important?
The findings from the analysis of some of the anthropological and historical work of scholars reveal some unpardonable gross mistranslations and misinterpretations of oral texts about African culture and society by scholars. Thus, the need for more attention to these pertinent issues in the field of African Studies by scholars.
Perspectives
"The Politics of Researching Africa" brings back to the table advice in some of the critical areas of African studies in terms of language and the need for an in-depth study of the socio-cultural and historical background of communities of which scholars from different socio-cultural background find themselves. It is a must-read for scholars from all the disciplines planning to engage in fieldwork activities in the African context.
Christopher Appiah-Thompson
The University of Newcastle
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: The Politics of Researching Africa: The Quality of Anthropo-Historical and Linguistic Data in African Studies, SAGE Open, July 2017, SAGE Publications,
DOI: 10.1177/2158244017719931.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
