Georges Balandier facts for kids
Georges Balandier (born December 21, 1920 – died October 5, 2016) was a famous French sociologist, anthropologist, and ethnologist. He was especially known for his important research about Sub-Saharan Africa.
Balandier was born in a place called Aillevillers-et-Lyaumont. He became a professor at the Sorbonne (Université René Descartes, Paris-V), which is a very well-known university. He was also a member of the Center for African Studies (Centre d'études africaines [Ceaf]), a research group focused on Africa.
Who Was Georges Balandier?
Georges Balandier spent his life studying people and societies. A sociologist studies how societies work and how people interact. An anthropologist studies human societies and cultures, often focusing on different groups around the world. An ethnologist is a type of anthropologist who compares different cultures.
Balandier was very interested in how societies in Africa changed over time. He looked at how they were affected by things like colonialism and becoming independent nations.
His Work in Africa
Balandier spent a lot of time researching in Sub-Saharan Africa. This part of Africa is south of the Sahara Desert. He studied the cultures, traditions, and social structures of many different groups there. His work helped people better understand the complex history and development of African societies.
He wrote many books and articles about his findings. His ideas helped shape how people thought about African studies and the study of society in general.
Important Achievements
Georges Balandier was a very respected scholar. In 1976, he was chosen to be a member of the American Philosophical Society. This is a very old and important group that honors people who have made great achievements in different fields of knowledge.
He passed away on October 5, 2016, at the age of 95. His work continues to influence students and researchers today.
See Also
In Spanish: Georges Balandier para niños
