An Africanist, Sommerfelt did research in Ruwenzori (Uganda and Belgian Congo), but also wrote about the Tallensi (Ghana) and worked for years in Salisbury (Harare) before being evicted by Ian Smith's racist regime in 1966. His contributions to political anthropology, methodology and legal anthropology have a lasting value.
The book, published by Berghahn Books in March 2024, has been edited by Marek Jakoubek, Thomas Hylland Eriksen and Tone Sommerfelt. An afterword by Adam Kuper discusses Axel Sommerfelt’s work in the context of the political processes that played out during the decolonisation years.
The book will be introduced by Kjersti Larsen from The Museum of Cultural History (University of Oslo) and by the editors Thomas Hylland Eriksen from The Department of Social Anthropology (University of Oslo), Marek Jakoubek from The University of Pardubice and University of Hradec Králové and Tone Sommerfelt from The Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). Axel Sommerfelt will be present.
The book launch will be held at the Historical Museum, which is part of the Museum of Cultural History. Axel worked at the museum in his early years and in the years ahead of his retirement. Please use the main entrance upon arrival.
Welcome!