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Ethnogenesis and fractal history on an African frontier: Mambila-njerep-mandulu

Abstract:
This paper explores the notion of fractals - structures that display a similar degree of complexity at whatever scale they may be viewed - in relation to investigating African history. A case study of developing ethnicities in the Mambila region of the Nigeria-Cameroon borderland is presented from a fractal perspective: five levels of the history of this region, covering different time, population and physical scales, as well as different objects of explanation for each, are explored. Our general conclusion is that the different scales, or levels, at which one may view history may contain features or imply generalizations that mask features found in, or generalizations implied by, other levels.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Publisher copy:
10.1017/S002185370200823X

Authors


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Institution:
University of Oxford
Department:
Oxford
Role:
Author


Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Journal:
Journal of African History More from this journal
Volume:
44
Issue:
1
Pages:
117-138
Publication date:
2003-01-01
DOI:
EISSN:
1469-5138
ISSN:
0021-8537


Language:
English
Keywords:
UUID:
uuid:c536bd12-0c24-4444-bfc5-d2471fbbfdb2
Local pid:
pubs:278093
Source identifiers:
278093
Deposit date:
2013-11-17

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