Book

The Kanuri of Bornu

Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc.New York • Published In 1967 • Pages: x, 115

By: Cohen, Ronald.

Abstract
In this monograph Cohen focuses upon the several selected aspects of Kanuri society which reveal a distinctive and patterned set of social relationships underlying and integrating the prime institutional areas of Kanuri life. The Kanuri household is shown as the basic social structure in which the pattern of superior/subordinate relationships is established. Cohen's analysis of the economic, as well as the Kanuri political structure, emphasizes the interrelation of these areas with the household. The interpersonal relationships characterizing family life and the household also permeate these other areas. The study is enhanced by the frequent description of individual cases. Separate chapters are devoted to the family and the household, the life cycle, economic life, and the political organization. Cohen's limitation of the study to these few areas is discussed in the concluding section. Important areas which are omitted, or merely mentioned in passing, include: religion and Islamic ceremonial life, the belief system of the Kanuri and modal personality traits. Cohen, an American anthropologist, conducted field work in Bornu for twenty-six months. He used participant observation, interviewing, questionnaires, and historical archives. Cohen spoke the Kanuri language and was aided in the field work by his wife and by trained Kanuri assistants. The first chapter contains a brief but useful description of his field experience and his own orientation in ethnographic theory. One chapter is devoted to the many centuries of Bornu history and provides the background for cultural traits which persist to the present day. The persistence of some traditional modes despite modern trends and political change is discussed.
Subjects
History
Retail marketing
Occupational specialization
Districts
External relations
Family
Socialization
Adolescence, adulthood, and old age
culture
Kanuri
HRAF PubDate
1998
Region
Africa
Sub Region
Western Africa
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Irving Rosenthal ; 1970
Field Date
1956-1965
Coverage Date
1956-1965
Coverage Place
Maugmeri Borno State, Nigeria
Notes
By Ronald Cohen
Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-115)
LCCN
67011751
LCSH
Kanuri (African people)