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The Innocent Anthropologist: Notes from a Mud Hut

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The Innocent Anthropologist: Notes from a Mud Hut

by Nigel Barley

4.4 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	8288 KB
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Print length	:	190 pages

By Nigel Barley

The Innocent Anthropologist is a fascinating and entertaining account of Nigel Barley's experiences living among the Dowayo people of Cameroon. Barley, a young and inexperienced anthropologist, arrives in the village of Bakundu with the intention of studying the Dowayo's culture and traditions. However, he soon finds himself drawn into the everyday life of the village, and his initial plans for research are quickly forgotten.

Barley's writing is full of humor and wit, and he provides a unique and insightful perspective on the Dowayo people. He describes their daily lives, their beliefs and customs, and their relationships with each other. He also explores the challenges and rewards of anthropological fieldwork, and the ethical dilemmas that anthropologists face.

The Innocent Anthropologist is a classic work of anthropology, and it remains one of the most readable and engaging accounts of life in a remote African village. Barley's writing is both informative and entertaining, and he provides a valuable glimpse into a culture that is both different from and similar to our own.

Excerpt from The Innocent Anthropologist

"I had been in Bakundu for about a month when I realized that I had not yet done any research. I had been so busy getting to know the people and learning their language that I had not had time to sit down and write anything. I decided that it was time to start, so I went to my hut and got out my notebook and pen.

I sat down at my desk and stared at the blank page. I had no idea where to start. I had read all the books about the Dowayo, but I did not know how to apply what I had learned to my own research. I felt like a fraud. I was an anthropologist, but I did not know anything about anthropology.

I sat there for a long time, staring at the blank page. Finally, I gave up and went outside. I walked around the village, talking to people and observing their daily lives. I realized that this was the best way to learn about the Dowayo. I could not learn anything from books. I had to experience their culture for myself.

I spent the next few months living with the Dowayo people. I learned their language, their customs, and their beliefs. I participated in their daily lives, and I came to understand their way of thinking. I also learned a great deal about myself. I learned that I was not as innocent as I thought I was. I learned that I had a lot of prejudices and assumptions about the world. I learned that I was capable of great kindness and compassion, but I was also capable of great cruelty and indifference.

The Innocent Anthropologist is a coming-of-age story. It is the story of a young man who goes to Africa to study a remote tribe and ends up learning more about himself than he ever could have imagined.

Reviews of The Innocent Anthropologist

"The Innocent Anthropologist is a classic work of anthropology. It is a fascinating and entertaining account of Nigel Barley's experiences living among the Dowayo people of Cameroon. Barley's writing is full of humor and wit, and he provides a unique and insightful perspective on the culture and traditions of this remote tribe." - The New York Times

"The Innocent Anthropologist is a must-read for anyone interested in anthropology, travel, or Africa. Barley's writing is both informative and entertaining, and he provides a valuable glimpse into a culture that is both different from and similar to our own." - The Washington Post

"The Innocent Anthropologist is a hilarious and thought-provoking account of Nigel Barley's experiences living among the Dowayo people of Cameroon. Barley's writing is full of humor and wit, and he provides a unique and insightful perspective on the culture and traditions of this remote tribe." - The Guardian

About the Author

Nigel Barley is a British anthropologist and writer. He is best known for his book The Innocent Anthropologist, which won the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award in 1986. Barley has also written several other books about his experiences living and working in Africa, including A Plague of Caterpillars (1992) and Not a Hazardous Sport (1998).

Barley is a Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute and a member of the American Anthropological Association. He has taught anthropology at the universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and London. He is currently a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley.

The Innocent Anthropologist: Notes from a Mud Hut

by Nigel Barley

4.4 out of 5