Godfrey Wilson (1908 – 19 May 1944) was a British

anthropologist An anthropologist is a scientist engaged in the practice of anthropology. Anthropologists study aspects of humans within past and present societies. Social anthropology, cultural anthropology and philosophical anthropology study the norms, values ...

who studied social change in

Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second-most populous continent after Asia. At about 30.3 million km2 (11.7 million square miles) including adjacent islands, it covers 20% of Earth's land area and 6% of its total surfac ...

. Wilson first joined

Hertford College Hertford College ( ), previously known as Magdalen Hall, is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. It is located on Catte Street in the centre of Oxford, directly opposite the main gate to the Bodleian Library. The colle ...

with an open scholarship in 1927, and received a Lit. Hum. degree in 1931. In 1932, he entered the

London School of Economics and Political Science The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), established in 1895, is a public university, public research university in London, England, and a member institutions of the University of London, member institution of the University ...

. Wilson studied anthropology under

Bronisław Malinowski Bronisław Kasper Malinowski (; 7 April 1884 – 16 May 1942) was a Polish anthropologist and ethnologist whose writings on ethnography, social theory, and field research have exerted a lasting influence on the discipline of anthropology. ...

in a program for the International African Institute, doing co-ordinated research in various African territories. Wilson took an active role in assisting in Malinowski's seminars. Wilson's research was focused largely on Malinowski's areas of study at the time of

acculturation Acculturation refers to the psychological, social, and cultural transformation that takes place through direct contact between two cultures, wherein one or both engage in adapting to dominant cultural influences without compromising their essent ...

. He left the programme in 1934, leaving for Tanganyika where he did work with the Nyakyusa-Ngonde people. He married Monica Hunter in 1935. She was a fellow anthropologist who had been conducting field research on the Pondo. By 1936, the two began to work together in their studies, by then living in Livingstone. He was appointed as the first director of the

Rhodes-Livingstone Institute The Rhodes-Livingstone Institute (RLI) was the first local anthropological research facility in Africa; it was founded in 1937 under the initial directorship of Godfrey Wilson. It is located a few miles outside Lusaka. Designed to allow for easier ...

Northern Rhodesia Northern Rhodesia was a British protectorate in Southern Africa, now the independent country of Zambia. It was formed in 1911 by Amalgamation (politics), amalgamating the two earlier protectorates of Barotziland-North-Western Rhodesia and North ...

in May 1938, having been recommended by Hailey and Lugard. The institute was the first organisation situated in an African colony to carry out anthropological research. Wilson worked with his wife to analyse the rapid economic and social changes that were occurring in the British colonies of

Tanganyika Territory Tanganyika was a colonial territory in East Africa which was administered by the United Kingdom in various forms from 1916 until 1961. It was initially administered under military occupation. From 20 July 1922, it was formalised into a League o ...

, and

Nyasaland Nyasaland () was a British protectorate in Africa that was established in 1907 when the former British Central Africa Protectorate changed its name. Between 1953 and 1963, Nyasaland was part of the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. After ...

. They focused mainly on urban societies and mining towns along the

copperbelt The Copperbelt () is a natural region in Central Africa which sits on the border region between northern Zambia and the south eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. It is known for copper mining and is the second largest global reserve of copper, ...

. He was particularly interested in the effects of industrialisation on less advanced cultures. His "Essay on the Economics of Detribalization in Northern Rhodesia" and their book, ''The Analysis of Social Change'' (1945), is based on this work. Wilson worked for the academic independence of the institute, but as he became more involved in his research, he came into conflict with the mining companies. Wilson became an outspoken critic of the mining companies and refused to tone down his work to support official views. His permission to study the workers was withdrawn after a strike in which many were killed. His active opposition to the war led to his resignation as director. He was replaced by

Max Gluckman Herman Max Gluckman (; 26 January 1911 – 13 April 1975) was a South African and British social anthropologist. He is best known as the founder of the Manchester School of anthropology. Biography and major works Gluckman was born in Joha ...

. Wilson left the institute in 1942, and went on to join the

South African Medical Corps South is one of the cardinal directions or Points of the compass, compass points. The direction is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to both west and east. Etymology The word ''south'' comes from Old English ''sūþ'', from earlier Pro ...

, where he served in North Africa. He was commissioned as an information officer in November 1943. He committed suicide while on active service in 1945 as Lieutenant with the

South African Engineer Corps The South African Army Engineer Formation is the controlling entity of all South African Army military engineering units. The Formation is currently commanded by the General Officer Commanding (GOC); Brigadier General C. Buyse History Relations ...

aged 35 and is buried at

Thaba Tshwane Thaba Tshwane is a military base (or military area) in Pretoria, South Africa. Units and facilities The oldest building in the complex is the South African Garrison Institute, what is now known as the Army College. Lord Kitchener laid the corn ...

(New) Military Cemetery. He was survived by his parents in Edinburgh, as well as his wife and two children in South Africa.

References

External links

UCT Libraries Digital Collections - Monica and Godfrey Wilson Collection
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Godfrey 1908 births 1944 deaths Alumni of Hertford College, Oxford People associated with the Rhodes-Livingstone Institute 20th-century British anthropologists South African military personnel of World War II 1944 suicides