Entre a vida e a morte: David Webster (1945-1989), ativismo e antropologia na África Austral
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5380/cra.v26i2.99122Resumen
Este artículo examina la vida y obra del antropólogo y activista sudafricano David Webster, destacando las tensiones entre la antropología académica y el activismo político en un contexto de represión. Reconocido como uno de los antropólogos más prometedores de Sudáfrica durante el apartheid, su carrera fue trágicamente interrumpida por su asesinato en 1989. A través de un análisis biográfico, una evaluación del impacto de su muerte y un examen crítico de su tesis doctoral—publicada póstumamente en portugués—, el artículo explora cómo su trayectoria académica y política ha sido interpretada en la comunidad antropológica y cómo su obra sigue siendo relevante en la actualidad. Se argumenta que la reevaluación de su trayectoria contribuye a la historia de la antropología al abordar eventos críticos a menudo marginados en el campo. Además, se analiza cómo el resurgimiento de su investigación sobre el pueblo Chope ofrece nuevas perspectivas en áreas específicas de la disciplina, particularmente en estudios sobre el sur de Mozambique, donde su legado sigue siendo especialmente significativo.
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