1. ANTHROPOLOGY 111 Introduction to Anthropology

2. What is Anthropology? Anthropology is the comparative study of human societies and cultures. It seeks to understand the complexities of human interaction. Anthropologists are interested in understanding how people give meaning to the past and present worlds that humans inhabit. Anthropology is the study of people everywhere, in the big cosmopolitan cities as much as in rural areas, in Africa, Europe, China, or anywhere else in the world. They study what people make, what they do, what they think and how they organise their social relationships, culture and societies.

3. Course Aims and Objectives The main aim of this course is to introduce you to the wonderful world of anthropological theory and practice. It is a varied and complex field of social inquiry and your focussed attention is required for you to benefit from the wonder that unfolds as the world of anthropology opens to you. The course content introduces you to anthropological methodology, its uniqueness and its relevance in knowledge production. We will undertake a detailed examination of three areas of enquiry that are of central concern to anthropology: culture, social life and identity. The course also positions Africanist anthropology on the global stage and inspires us all to take centre position in the making of our own knowledge systems. In essence we ask: What can we as Africans learn from an African-centred anthropology.

4. What can I do with a degree in anthropology? Career opportunities include: – governmental and consultancy research, journalism, the news media, the film and creative media industry, market research. – Employment in urban planning, museum curatorship, tourism, diversity management, rural and urban development and social policy development. – Our graduates work in government, NGOs, international agencies, or for corporate businesses.

5. Anthropologists in demand Employers value Anthropology graduates because they have been trained to draw on comparative information about societies across the globe and have learnt to be sensitive to and communicate in cross-cultural contexts.

6. Let the journey begin…