Abstract
THE presidential address to the Royal Anthropological Institute delivered by the Rev. E. W. Smith (J. R. Anthrop. Inst, 64, Pt. 1) is noteworthy as a carefully balanced survey of the arguments which have been advanced for and against anthropological studies as a factor in the future development of the African, by one who has had a prolonged experience of the practical problems which arise in close intercourse with the less-advanced peoples of the continent. While pointing to the advances which have been made in the practical application of anthropological principles and knowledge of anthropological’ data in the problems of administration, he also-stressed the fact that the ‘open door’ is by no means entirely won. In dealing with criticism of missionaries and the criticism of anthropologists by missionaries, his views as a member of both bodies should do much to remove a general misapprehension as to the relation of the two systems, which, as he showed, are by no means incompatible in practice. For while he admitted that in earlier days missionaries had tended to introduce into missionary teaching much which belonged to Western civilisation rather than to Christianity, a new body of missionaries is growing up whose work is carried on in a spirit analogous to that of the administration under ‘indirect rule’ by the effort to build on Africaa institutions and sentiment preserving what is good in it, rather than destroying it entirely, as too often was the endeavour of earlier generations. It has been noted recently that a feeling of disillusion and pessimism is appearing among Africans; but Mr. Smith looks to win the co-operation of the African in his own development, and in this connexion regards hopefully the interest he is beginning to, take in the systematic study of his culture and institutions.
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Anthropology and the African. Nature 134, 413–414 (1934). https://doi.org/10.1038/134413c0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/134413c0