Hilda Kuper
Encyclopedia
Hilda Beemer Kuper, née Beemer, (1911–1992) was a social anthropologist
most notable for her extensive work on Swazi
culture. Born to Lithuanian Jewish
and Austrian Jewish parents in Bulawayo
, she moved to South Africa
after the death of her father. She studied at the University of the Witwatersrand
and, afterwards, at the London School of Economics
under Malinowski.
In 1934, after winning a fellowship to study in Swaziland, Kuper befriended King Sobhuza II
who, together with Malinowski, helped to settle her into place at the Royal village of Lobamba
, where she would pursue her research. Her publications on Swazi culture would include the two-part dissertation, An African Aristocracy: Rank among the Swazi (1947) and The Uniform of Colour: a Study of White–Black Relationships in Swaziland (1947), and The Swazi: a South African Kingdom (1963).
Some years later, in Durban
, Kuper became a founder member of the Liberal Party
in Natal
, as well as authoring Indian People in Natal (1960).
In 1961 Kuper moved to Los Angeles
, where she took up a teaching post at UCLA. In 1969 she won a Guggenheim fellowship, and in 1978 published an extensive, official biography of Sobhuza II, King Sobhuza II, Ngwenyama and King of Swaziland.
Social anthropology
Social Anthropology is one of the four or five branches of anthropology that studies how contemporary human beings behave in social groups. Practitioners of social anthropology investigate, often through long-term, intensive field studies , the social organization of a particular person: customs,...
most notable for her extensive work on Swazi
Swaziland
Swaziland, officially the Kingdom of Swaziland , and sometimes called Ngwane or Swatini, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique...
culture. Born to Lithuanian Jewish
Lithuanian Jews
Lithuanian Jews or Litvaks are Jews with roots in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania:...
and Austrian Jewish parents in Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
, she moved to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
after the death of her father. She studied at the University of the Witwatersrand
University of the Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg is a South African university situated in the northern areas of central Johannesburg. It is more commonly known as Wits University...
and, afterwards, at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
under Malinowski.
In 1934, after winning a fellowship to study in Swaziland, Kuper befriended King Sobhuza II
Sobhuza II of Swaziland
Ngwenyama Sobhuza II was the Paramount Chief and later King of Swaziland. He was the son of Ngwane V.-Biography:...
who, together with Malinowski, helped to settle her into place at the Royal village of Lobamba
Lobamba
Lobamba is the traditional and legislative capital of Swaziland, seat of the Parliament and residence of the Queen Mother. It is located in the west of the country, in the Ezulwini valley, 16 km from Mbabane, in the district of Hhohho...
, where she would pursue her research. Her publications on Swazi culture would include the two-part dissertation, An African Aristocracy: Rank among the Swazi (1947) and The Uniform of Colour: a Study of White–Black Relationships in Swaziland (1947), and The Swazi: a South African Kingdom (1963).
Some years later, in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, Kuper became a founder member of the Liberal Party
South African Liberal Party
The Liberal Party of South Africa was a South African political party from 1953 to 1968.-Founding of the Party:The party was founded on 9 May 1953 at a meeting of the South African Liberal Association in Cape Town . Essentially it grew out of a belief that the United Party was unable to achieve any...
in Natal
Natal Province
Natal, meaning "Christmas" in Portuguese, was a province of South Africa from 1910 until 1994. Its capital was Pietermaritzburg. The Natal Province included the bantustan of KwaZulu...
, as well as authoring Indian People in Natal (1960).
In 1961 Kuper moved to Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, where she took up a teaching post at UCLA. In 1969 she won a Guggenheim fellowship, and in 1978 published an extensive, official biography of Sobhuza II, King Sobhuza II, Ngwenyama and King of Swaziland.