Godfrey Wilson
Encyclopedia
Godfrey Wilson was a British anthropologist who studied social change in Africa
.
Wilson first joined Hertford College
with an open scholarship in 1927, and received a Lit. Hum. degree in 1931. In 1932, he entered the London School of Economics and Political Science. Wilson studied anthropology under Bronisław Malinowski in a program for the International African Institute, doing co-ordinated research in various African territories. Wilson took an active role in assisting in Malinowski's seminars. Wilson's research was focused largely on Malinowski's areas of study at the time of acculturation
. He left the program in 1934, leaving for Tanganyika
where he did work with the Nyakyusa-Ngonde
people. He married Monica Hunter in 1935. She was a fellow anthropologist who had been conducting field research on the Pondo
. By 1936, the two began to work together in their studies, by then living in Livingstone
.
He was appointed as the first director of the Rhodes-Livingstone Institute
in Northern Rhodesia
in May 1938, having been recommended by Hailey and Lugard. The institute was the first organization situated in an African colony to carry out anthropological research. Wilson worked with his wife to analyze the rapid economic and social changes that were occurring in the British colonies of Northern Rhodesia, Tanganyika
, and Nyasaland
. They focused mainly on urban societies and mining towns along the copperbelt. He was particularly interested in the effects of industrialisation on less advanced cultures. His "Essay on the Economics of Detribalization in Northern Rhodesia" and their book, The Analysis of Social Change (1945), is based on this work. Wilson worked for the academic independence of the institute, but as he became more involved in his research, he came into conflict with the mining companies. Wilson became an outspoken critic of the mining companies and refused to tone down his work to support official views. His permission to study the workers was withdrawn after a strike in which many were killed. His active opposition to the war led to his resignation as director. He was replaced by Max Gluckman
. Wilson left the institute in 1942, and went on to join the South African Medical Corps, where he served in North Africa. He was commissioned as an information officer in November 1943. He died the next year still on active service, having committed suicide. He was survived by his parents in Edinburgh, as well as his wife and two children in South Africa.
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
.
Wilson first joined Hertford College
Hertford College, Oxford
Hertford College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It is located in Catte Street, directly opposite the main entrance of the original Bodleian Library. As of 2006, the college had a financial endowment of £52m. There are 612 students , plus various visiting...
with an open scholarship in 1927, and received a Lit. Hum. degree in 1931. In 1932, he entered the London School of Economics and Political Science. Wilson studied anthropology under Bronisław Malinowski in a program for the International African Institute, doing co-ordinated research in various African territories. Wilson took an active role in assisting in Malinowski's seminars. Wilson's research was focused largely on Malinowski's areas of study at the time of acculturation
Acculturation
Acculturation explains the process of cultural and psychological change that results following meeting between cultures. The effects of acculturation can be seen at multiple levels in both interacting cultures. At the group level, acculturation often results in changes to culture, customs, and...
. He left the program in 1934, leaving for Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
where he did work with the Nyakyusa-Ngonde
Nyakyusa
The Nyakyusa are an African ethnic and linguistic group who live in the fertile mountains of southern Tanzania and northern Malawi—former German East Africa. They speak the Nyakyusa language, a member of the Bantu language family...
people. He married Monica Hunter in 1935. She was a fellow anthropologist who had been conducting field research on the Pondo
Pondo
The Pondo or Phondo are an ethnic group who have given their name to Pondoland, a sub-region comprising much of the northern seaboard of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The Pondo comprises several tribal groups that are all defined as amaXhosa and speak the Xhosa language...
. By 1936, the two began to work together in their studies, by then living in Livingstone
Livingstone, Zambia
Livingstone or Maramba is a historic colonial city and present capital of the Southern Province of Zambia, a tourism centre for the Victoria Falls lying north of the Zambezi River, and a border town with road and rail connections to Zimbabwe on the other side of the Falls...
.
He was appointed as the first director of the Rhodes-Livingstone Institute
Rhodes-Livingstone Institute
Founded in 1938 under the initial directorship of Godfrey Wilson, the Rhodes-Livingstone Institute was the first local anthropological research facility in Africa...
in Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
in May 1938, having been recommended by Hailey and Lugard. The institute was the first organization situated in an African colony to carry out anthropological research. Wilson worked with his wife to analyze the rapid economic and social changes that were occurring in the British colonies of Northern Rhodesia, Tanganyika
Tanganyika
Tanganyika , later formally the Republic of Tanganyika, was a sovereign state in East Africa from 1961 to 1964. It was situated between the Indian Ocean and the African Great Lakes of Lake Victoria, Lake Malawi and Lake Tanganyika...
, and Nyasaland
Nyasaland
Nyasaland or the Nyasaland Protectorate, was a British protectorate located in Africa, which was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Since 1964, it has been known as Malawi....
. They focused mainly on urban societies and mining towns along the copperbelt. He was particularly interested in the effects of industrialisation on less advanced cultures. His "Essay on the Economics of Detribalization in Northern Rhodesia" and their book, The Analysis of Social Change (1945), is based on this work. Wilson worked for the academic independence of the institute, but as he became more involved in his research, he came into conflict with the mining companies. Wilson became an outspoken critic of the mining companies and refused to tone down his work to support official views. His permission to study the workers was withdrawn after a strike in which many were killed. His active opposition to the war led to his resignation as director. He was replaced by Max Gluckman
Max Gluckman
Max Gluckman was a South African and British social anthropologist.He grew up in South Africa, working later under the British Administration in Northern Rhodesia...
. Wilson left the institute in 1942, and went on to join the South African Medical Corps, where he served in North Africa. He was commissioned as an information officer in November 1943. He died the next year still on active service, having committed suicide. He was survived by his parents in Edinburgh, as well as his wife and two children in South Africa.