Power of Animals: An Ethnography

The multiple ways in which people relate to animals provide a revealing window through which to examine a culture. Western cultures tend to view animals either as pets or food, and often overlook the vast number of roles that they may play within a culture and in social life more generally: their use in medicine, folk traditions and rituals. This comprehensive and very readable study focuses on Malawi people and their rich and varied relationship with animals — from hunting through to their use as medicine. More broadly, through a rigorous and detailed study the author provides insights which show how the people's relationship to their world manifests itself not strictly in social relations, but just as tellingly in their relatioships with animals — that, in fact, animals constitute a vital role in social relations. While significantly advancing classic African ethnographic studies, this book also incorporates current debates in a wide range of disciplines — from anthropology through to gender studies and ecology.

The multiple ways in which people relate to animals provide a revealing window through which to examine a culture. Western cultures tend to view animals either as pets or food, and often overlook the vast number of roles that they may play within a culture and in social life more generally: their use in medicine, folk traditions and rituals. This comprehensive and very readable study focuses on Malawi people and their rich and varied relationship with animals -- from hunting through to their use as medicine. More broadly, through a rigorous and detailed study the author provides insights which show how the people's relationship to their world manifests itself not strictly in social relations, but just as tellingly in their relatioships with animals -- that, in fact, animals constitute a vital role in social relations. While significantly advancing classic African ethnographic studies, this book also incorporates current debates in a wide range of disciplines -- from anthropology through to gender studies and ecology.

Booknews

Morris (anthropology, U. of London) takes attitudes toward animals as a lens through which to investigate the fundamental values and world view of a people, noting for example that in western culture, animals are thought of generally as either pets or food. Based his 1990-91 ethnozoological research in Malawi, where he had lived and studied before, he discusses matrilineal kinship and subsistence agriculture, hunting traditions, folk classifications, and attitudes to nature. He includes a glossary without indicating pronunciation, and appends some common Malawian proverbs. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)

Brian Morris is an Emeritus Professor of Anthropology, at Goldsmiths College, University of London.