Beschreibung
“Everyday Life in Old Botswana” presents for the first
time selected photographs Prof. Schapera took during
his research in the 1930s. Schapera’s pictures cover a wide
range of daily work such as potmaking, thatching, treshing
and cattle herding. Traditional medicine, rainmaking
ceremonies and political meetings at the Kgotla are other
well illustrated topics. In addition the book includes
pictures taken by Rev. Reyneke of the boys’ initiation
during the same period. Essays on the historical background
conclude the edition. The selection of the photographs is
supervised by Prof. Schapera. Thus the book stands as an
authentic addition to his well established and highly
acclaimed work on Botswana.
A joint publication with the Botswana Society, the
National Museum, Monuments and Art Gallery, Botswana,
and the Royal Anthropological Institute (London).
Isaac Schapera was born in 1905 in South
Africa and educated at South African College School in Cape
Town and at the Universities of Cape Town and London. Since
1969 he has been Emeritus Professor of Anthropology at the
London School of Economics. Between the years 1929 and 1950
he participated in many anthropological field expeditions to
Bechuanaland Protectorate (Botswana).
He was Chairman of the Association of Social Anthropologists
of the British Commonwealth from 1954 to 1958 and President
of the Royal Anthropological Institute from 1961 to 1963. He
has published many books about African societies and has
edited the journals and letters of David Livingstone in six
volumes.