Bengt Danielsson
Encyclopedia
Bengt Emmerik Danielsson (6 July 1921, Norrköping Municipality
— 4 July 1997) was an anthropologist and a crew member on the Kon-Tiki
raft expedition from South America
to French Polynesia
in 1947. Danielsson was born in Sweden in 1921, obtained a Ph.D.
in anthropology
and was director of Sweden's National Museum of Ethnology
for four years (1967–1971).
After the Kon-Tiki expedition, Danielsson married in Lima
a French woman, Marie-Thérèse (1923–2003), and they decided to settle in Raroia
, the atoll on which the raft had made landfall. They stayed there from 1949 to 1952, and in 1953 they moved to Tahiti
. His doctoral thesis on the Tuamotus
island chain, submitted to Uppsala University
in 1955, was published the following year as Work and Life on Raroia. He subsequently wrote many books and scripted many films, becoming one of the world's foremost students of Polynesia
. He and his wife were particularly outspoken critics of French nuclear tests at Moruroa
and Fangataufa
atolls, and of the destruction of Polynesian culture through colonialism
. Their daughter Maruia (1952–1972) died from cancer.
Danielsson received the Right Livelihood Award
for his campaigning work in 1991. He died in July 1997 following a deterioration in his health, and was buried in Mjölby
, Sweden.
Norrköping Municipality
Norrköping Municipality is a municipality in Östergötland County in southeast Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Norrköping, with some 90,000 inhabitants....
— 4 July 1997) was an anthropologist and a crew member on the Kon-Tiki
Kon-Tiki
Kon-Tiki was the raft used by Norwegian explorer and writer Thor Heyerdahl in his 1947 expedition across the Pacific Ocean from South America to the Polynesian islands. It was named after the Inca sun god, Viracocha, for whom "Kon-Tiki" was said to be an old name...
raft expedition from South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
to French Polynesia
French Polynesia
French Polynesia is an overseas country of the French Republic . It is made up of several groups of Polynesian islands, the most famous island being Tahiti in the Society Islands group, which is also the most populous island and the seat of the capital of the territory...
in 1947. Danielsson was born in Sweden in 1921, obtained a Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
in anthropology
Anthropology
Anthropology is the study of humanity. It has origins in the humanities, the natural sciences, and the social sciences. The term "anthropology" is from the Greek anthrōpos , "man", understood to mean mankind or humanity, and -logia , "discourse" or "study", and was first used in 1501 by German...
and was director of Sweden's National Museum of Ethnology
Museum of Ethnography, Sweden
The Museum of Ethnography , in Stockholm, Sweden, is a Swedish science museum. It houses a collection of about 220,000 items relating to the ethnography, or cultural anthropology, of peoples from around the world, including from China, Korea, South and Southeast Asia, the Pacific region, the...
for four years (1967–1971).
After the Kon-Tiki expedition, Danielsson married in Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
a French woman, Marie-Thérèse (1923–2003), and they decided to settle in Raroia
Raroia
Raroia, or Raro-nuku, is an atoll of the Tuamotus chain in French Polynesia, located 740 km northeast of Tahiti and 6 km southwest of Takume. Administratively it is a part of the commune of Makemo....
, the atoll on which the raft had made landfall. They stayed there from 1949 to 1952, and in 1953 they moved to Tahiti
Tahiti
Tahiti is the largest island in the Windward group of French Polynesia, located in the archipelago of the Society Islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It is the economic, cultural and political centre of French Polynesia. The island was formed from volcanic activity and is high and mountainous...
. His doctoral thesis on the Tuamotus
Tuamotus
The Tuamotus or the Tuamotu Archipelago are a chain of islands and atolls in French Polynesia. They form the largest chain of atolls in the world, spanning an area of the Pacific Ocean roughly the size of Western Europe...
island chain, submitted to Uppsala University
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
in 1955, was published the following year as Work and Life on Raroia. He subsequently wrote many books and scripted many films, becoming one of the world's foremost students of Polynesia
Polynesia
Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and they share many similar traits including language, culture and beliefs...
. He and his wife were particularly outspoken critics of French nuclear tests at Moruroa
Moruroa
Moruroa , also historically known as Aopuni, is an atoll which forms part of the Tuamotu Archipelago in French Polynesia in the southern Pacific Ocean...
and Fangataufa
Fangataufa
Fangataufa is a small, low, narrow, coral atoll in the eastern side of the Tuamotu Archipelago. Along with its neighboring atoll, Moruroa, it has been the site of approximately 200 nuclear bomb tests....
atolls, and of the destruction of Polynesian culture through colonialism
Colonialism
Colonialism is the establishment, maintenance, acquisition and expansion of colonies in one territory by people from another territory. It is a process whereby the metropole claims sovereignty over the colony and the social structure, government, and economics of the colony are changed by...
. Their daughter Maruia (1952–1972) died from cancer.
Danielsson received the Right Livelihood Award
Right Livelihood Award
The Right Livelihood Award, also referred to as the "Alternative Nobel Prize", is a prestigious international award to honour those "working on practical and exemplary solutions to the most urgent challenges facing the world today". The prize was established in 1980 by Jakob von Uexkull, and is...
for his campaigning work in 1991. He died in July 1997 following a deterioration in his health, and was buried in Mjölby
Mjölby
Mjölby is a city and the seat of Mjölby Municipality, Östergötland County, Sweden with 11,927 inhabitants in 2005.Mjölby is located by the rivulet Svartån. The name "Mjölby" is derived from "Mölloby", which comes from mylna or mölna -- meaning "mill"...
, Sweden.
External links
- In memoriam, Ocean Rowing
- Bengt Danielsson, New York Times
- Pictures of Marie-Thérèse and Bengt Danielsson
- Bengt Danielsson at www.findagrave.com