Book

Dancing histories: heuristic ethnography with the Ohafia Igbo

University of Michigan PressAnn ArborPublished In 2000 • Pages:

By: McCall, John C. (John Christensen).

AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
This is a study of the Igbo of Ohafia, Nigeria using as an analytical approach the 'postmodernist' concept of 'heuristic ethnography', with its emphasis on ongoing cultural participation, methodological relativism, and careful exegesis of indigenous world view. Basically the work describes Igbo concepts of history which are expressed through song and dance. The book also contains information on the author's initiation into the DIBIA or medicine society, Igbo beliefs about their ancestors, biographical information on several native informants, and the tradtional history of the community of Akanu Ohafia.
SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
Theoretical orientation in research and its results
Observation in research
Life history materials
Music
Dance
Status, role, and prestige
Magical and mental therapy
Shamans and psychotherapists
Sacred objects and places
cultureCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
Igbo
HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
2003
RegionThe area the document pertains to
Africa
Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
Western Africa
Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
Book
Evaluation
Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
Ethnologist
Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
5: Excellent Primary Data
AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
John Beierle ; 2001
Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
1989-1996
Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
1989-1996
Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
Ohafia, Nigeria
NotesAdditional notes
John C. McCall
Includes bibliographical references (p. 176-185) and index
LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
99059065
LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
Igbo (African people)