Soc1001f 2025 6 Tonnies Durkheim Copperbelt

Lecture Overview

• Introduction to Sociology

• Focus on the relevance of Tönnies’ and Durkheim’s sociology to Southern Africa.

• Prof. Jeremy Seekings discussing sociological theories in the context of historical and contemporary Southern Africa.

Social Order in Southern Africa: Botswana in the 1930s

• Isaac Schapera's Work

  • Professor of social anthropology at UCT (1935-1950).

  • Authored Handbook of Law and Custom among the Batswana (1938).

  • Key Concepts:

    • Behaviour of the Tswana influenced by norms based on age, sex, economic status, and rank.

    • Behaviour patterns are unwritten and often expressed through proverbs.

    • Terms: mekgwa le melao (laws and customs), popego (manners), tshwanno (duty), tlwaelo (habits), letso/moetlo (custom).

Mechanisms of Conformity

• Social Norms and Education

  • Children are taught right and wrong by parents.

  • Formal initiation ceremonies instill community behaviour rules.

  • Adults learn acceptable behaviours through experience in various roles (father, husband, etc.).

  • Social Control:

    • Emphasizes adherence to norms to earn respect and avoid penalties such as loss of status or social sanctions.

Dynamics of Social Order

• Social Pressures and Sanctions

  • Conformity molded by social norms.

  • Forms of sanctions include disapproval from peers, loss of services, or ancestral retribution.

  • Compliance is achieved without direct coercion.

Social Change in Southern Africa

• Experience of Change

  • Acknowledgment of significant societal changes.

  • Influences: Christianity, education, labor migration, and cash economy.

  • Rise of distinctions in legal frameworks (e.g., traditional vs. Kgama’s law) reflecting evolving norms.

Urbanization and Industrialization on the Copperbelt

• Transformation of Society

  • Observations of rapid change on the Copperbelt region with industrialization.

  • Reference from Mitchell (1951) highlighting revolutionary social shifts from rural to urban landscapes.

Mineworkers and Social Perception

• Views of Urbanized Mineworkers

  • Colonial perceptions viewed African workers as merely temporary urban residents.

  • The urban African population engaged in social activities representing urban life.

  • Notable Quotes:

    • “Men and women loved, were jealous, quarreled…” reflecting the interconnected human experience despite socio-economic changes.

African Identity in Urban Settings

• Sociological Perspectives

  • Gluckman's view: African urbanites are distinct yet part of a universal urban category, though interpreted through European societal lenses.

  • Colonial sociologists were often critical of their own societal frameworks yet saw aspects of modernization among Africans.

Kalela Dance and Cultural Significance

• Mitchell's Analysis

  • Kalela Dance as a cultural juxtaposition between traditional tribal identity and urban participation.

  • Dress and presentation during the Kalela dance reflect social status and aspirations among urban African workers.

  • Songs convey urban life instead of traditional rural narratives.

Social Stratification and Prestige

• Urban Class Structure

  • Social hierarchy among urban Africans based on occupation and lifestyle choices.

  • The aspiration towards European lifestyles indicates a shift in social values and practices.

Mineworkers’ Duality in Identity

• 1980s Mineworkers' Discourse

  • Complex identity reflecting modernization vs traditional values.

  • Discourse often mirrored colonial frameworks from earlier sociological studies, indicating ongoing societal conflicts.

Contemporary Sociology in Southern Africa

• Durkheimian Approach

  • Analysis of societal cohesion and disintegration under apartheid.

  • Considerations on current levels of social cohesion across Southern African societies.