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A study of the Nupe Kingdom in Nigeria, this classic monograph is a pioneering approach to the social and cultural complexities that are an increasing feature of a globalised world, and a paradigm example of historical political economy. The Nupe kingdom dates from the sixteenth century; in the nineteenth century the Nupe were conquered by the Islamicized Fulani who became the ruling class until they came under the control of the British during the colonial era. The result was a highly complex heterogeneous society divided by gulfs of culture, ethnicity, community and social class - how did the kingdom manage to hold together and even to flourish? Nadel focuses primarily on the political and economic aspects of the culture, and on social mobility, making an important distinction between cultural and class assimilation. Of particular interest is his descriptions of the Nupe ruling class, whose hierarchy of ranks, elaborate etiquette and symbols of status set the tone for all Nupe society. The rich and careful detail of the study and the currency of the divisions and dynamics it describes make this an important resource for historians, for scholars of the Islamic cultures of Africa, and for those interested in social continuities and change.
Dr. S.F. Nadel was a professor at the University of Vienna, and was one of the original Fellows at the International African Institute.
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| Format: 216 x 138 mm
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| Binding: cloth
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| Pages: 436
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| ISBN: 0-7103-1224-5
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| Illustrations: Frontispiece, 2 maps, 16 Illustrations
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| Subject:
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| Series / Library: Kegan Paul African Series
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