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.
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).
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1980s Mineworkers' Discourse
Complex identity reflecting modernization vs traditional values.
Discourse often mirrored colonial frameworks from earlier sociological studies, indicating ongoing societal conflicts.
Durkheimian Approach
Analysis of societal cohesion and disintegration under apartheid.
Considerations on current levels of social cohesion across Southern African societies.