JV

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.