Gens du Pouvoir, Gens de la Terre
Les Institutions Politiques de l'Ancien Royaume du Yatenga (Bassin de la Volta Blanche)

This book, which is in French, brings together the results of over ten years' meticulous fieldwork on the oral archives and local traditions of the Mossi of Yatenga in Upper Volta. It provides a unique and comprehensive account of the history and structure of an African kingdom back to the fifteenth century. Dr Izard approaches his subject from a number of different perspectives - as past history, social structure, political organisation system of government and ritual.

Reviews & endorsements

' … undoubtedly one of the more momentous achievements by an anthropologist anywhere in the world … This unparalleled undertaking will have a long-lasting impact upon political anthropology and more geperally anthropological theory … a signal service to Africans all over the continent who will be stimulated to record and study their traditional institutions … will also further the progress of the social services at large.' Claude Lévi-Strauss

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Product details

• Date Published: August 1985
• format: Hardback
• isbn: 9780521300445
• length: 594 pages

• dimensions: 230 x 150 x 36 mm
• weight: 1.05kg
• availability: Unavailable - out of print April 1987