30 May 2005
Monday 30 May 2005 21:30-22:15 (Radio 3)
Does the current focus on Africa in the arts and media manage to slip the shackles of traditional European ways of thinking about Africa, or are we still continuing the anthropological engagement with Africa that grew alongside British colonialism? In a special programme, Philip Dodd and guests explore how anthropology grew out of Europe's engagement with Africa and how much our view of the continent has been and is still shaped by this discipline.
Programme Details
In the 1870s, British newspapers were captivated by the tales of one explorer - Dr David Livingstone. Africa was very much in the headlines
Africa is no less in the headlines today. A great cultural celebration of Africa - Africa 2005 - is underway, and the British prime minister is chairing the G8 summit on Africa in July.
So, does the current focus on Africa in the arts and media manage to slip the shackles of traditional European ways of thinking about Africa? Or are we still continuing an anthropological engagement with Africa that grew alongside British colonialism? Or is all that too simplistic?
In a special programme in the Africa Lives on the BBC season, Philip Dodd and guests explore how anthropology grew out of Europe's engagement with Africa. How much has our view of the continent been shaped by this discipline? Or are other visions of Africa emerging in a global age? He'll be discussing this with: the eminent anthropologist, Henrietta Moore, Professor at the London School of Economics; the Director of Africa 2005, Dr Augustus Casely-Hayford; the authority on the history of British anthropology, Professor Adam Kuper; and the Director of African Studies at Cambridge University and reader in English, Dr Ato Quayson.
Night Waves, at 9.30pm here on BBC Radio 3.
Presenter: Phillip Dodd
Producer: Ariane Koek
Additional Information:
For more information about Africa Lives on the BBC, log onto bbc.co.uk/africalives
