The Theory and Ethnography of African Social Formations: The Case of the Interlacustrine Kingdoms

This contribution to African social sciences presents an original theory of social formations with a new methodolgical approach, raising new perspectives on the classic issues of exploitation, class and social change in African societies. A distinguished academic sociologist and anthropologist, the author critically reviews the works of orthodox anthropologists, questioning the impact on African Studies of both development theory and classical ethnography. Within a context of redefining forms of political organizations, he uses research on the East African Lacustrian Kingdoms to analyse the articulation of the relationship between political and economic power. He rejects articulation theory and the concept of feudalism.