Becoming a Blacksmith in Gbarngasuakwelle

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title

Anthropology and Education Quarterly

Publication Date

1980

Publisher

American Anthropological Association

Volume

11

Issue

4

First Page

266

Last Page

274

Abstract

In analyzing the processes involved in becoming a blacksmith in a Kpelle town in West Africa, the paper highlights the failure of simple typologies to account for the contrast between formal schooling and out-of-school or informal learning. The blacksmith is shown to carry three subroles: skilled worker, big-man, and medicine man. Each involves different skills and each requires different training processes. These processes are described and attention is paid to their forma/and informal characteristics.

Comments

Originally published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the American Anthropological Association. Publisher's PDF available through remote link.

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