Georg Klute

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Georg Klute
Georg-Klute(c) Georg-Klute,2022.jpg
Georg Klute, 2022
Born1952
Nationality German
Occupation(s)German ethnologist and sociologist
Academic background
Alma mater

From 1973 to 1975, Georg Klute was a development aid volunteer in northern Niger (NGO EIRENE). From 1975 to 1990, he studied at the University of Göttingen with the subjects ethnology, Arabic studies, anthropogeography (Magister Artium Ethnologie 1980, Dr. phil. at the University of Bayreuth 1990, Habilitation in ethnosociology and development sociology at the University of Siegen 2002). From 1985 to 1987, he was a research associate in a DFG project "Qualification crises in academic careers" at the Pedagogical Seminar in Göttingen. From 1987 to 1993, he was a research associate in the research project "Work among nomads" and "Pre-industrial work" at the University of Freiburg and in the SFB 214 "Identity in Africa" in Bayreuth. From 1993 to 1994, he was the scientific advisor and production manager for the feature film "Middle of the Moment", CineNomad Film. From 1995 to 1998, he was a research associate in a DFG project at the Chair of Sociology in Siegen (de:Trutz von Trotha). [3] He investigated issues of ethnicity, state and violence in Africa. From 1998 to 2000, he was a university assistant at the Chair of Sociology at the University of Siegen (Trutz von Trotha). From 2000 to 2002, Klute worked as a freelance consultant and lecturer at the German Foundation for International Development. In 2002, he was a research associate at the Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient. From 2002 to 2003, he taught as a guest professor at the Institute for Ethnology at the FU Berlin.

Since 2003, Georg Klute is full professor for African Ethnology at the University of Bayreuth. In 2005, he was a tutor in the master's program at the École nationale d'administration (ENA). Since 2012, he has been a visiting professor at the University of Addis Ababa.

Since 2004, Klute has been a founding member and chairman of the board of TAMAT e.V., which aims to promote culture and education, development cooperation and international understanding in the Sahel. Klute is internationally recognized as one of the best experts on Tuareg culture. Last but not least, he also speaks one of their languages, Tamashaq. [4]

With the support of Volkswagen AG, [5] Klute was able to set up long-term school sponsorships that guarantee a functioning school system in Tuareg settlement areas. Other projects promoted the drinking water supply and food security. By investing in the training of nurses, craftsmen and teachers, TAMAT is helping to ensure that the young generation in north-west Africa has sustainable professional prospects for the future.

In 2007, he co-founded the Afro-European network ABORNE (African Borderlands Network). From 2012, he became co-editor of the magazine 'Modern Africa'. From 2012 to 2014, he was chairman of the VAD e.V. (Association of African Studies in Germany). In 2015, he was nominated for 'University Teacher of the Year' (40 nominees from around 40,000 female university teachers). [6]

Research focus

Regionally Klute concentrated on the Southern and Central Sahara, bordering West African Sahel; Algeria, Mali and Niger [7] [8] as well as Guinea-Bissau and Ethiopia. Thematically, Klute focused on the construction and function of the state in Africa, non-state forms of political organization, nomads and the state, Islam in Africa, work in pre-industrial societies, the anthropology of violence, war and peace, new forms of political rule (para-sovereignty, heterarchy), as well as the anthropology and sociology of development and anthropological research of monetarization. [9]

Awards

On April 9, 2018, Georg Klute received the Cross of Merit, First Class, of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany in Munich. [10] [11] Therewith, the Federal President honors personalities who are committed to the community in an outstanding way. In the case of Georg Klute for his voluntary commitment as a development worker - mediator between opposing ethnic groups.

Publications (selection)

Monographs (selection)

Edited publications (selection)

Articles (selection

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niger</span> Landlocked country in West Africa

Niger or the Niger, officially the Republic of the Niger, is a landlocked country in West Africa. It is a unitary state bordered by Libya to the northeast, Chad to the east, Nigeria to the south, Benin and Burkina Faso to the southwest, Mali to the west, and Algeria to the northwest. It covers a land area of almost 1,270,000 km2 (490,000 sq mi), making it the largest landlocked country in West Africa and the second largest landlocked nation in Africa behind Chad. Over 80% of its land area lies in the Sahara. Its predominantly Muslim population of about 25 million lives mostly in clusters in the south and west of the country. The capital Niamey is located in Niger's southwest corner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuareg people</span> Berber confederation of the Sahara desert

The Tuareg people are a large Berber ethnic group that principally inhabit the Sahara in a vast area stretching from far southwestern Libya to southern Algeria, Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Traditionally nomadic pastoralists, small groups of Tuareg are also found in northern Nigeria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuareg languages</span> Group of closely related Berber languages and dialects

The Tuareg languages constitute a group of closely related Berber languages and dialects. They are spoken by the Tuareg Berbers in large parts of Mali, Niger, Algeria, Libya and Burkina Faso, with a few speakers, the Kinnin, in Chad.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Songhai Empire</span> Empire in West Africa from c. 1430s to 1591

The Songhai Empire was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the largest African empires in history. The state is known by its historiographical name, derived from its largest ethnic group and ruling elite, the Songhai people. Sonni Ali established Gao as the empire's capital, although a Songhai state had existed in and around Gao since the 11th century. Other important cities in the kingdom were Timbuktu and Djenné, where urban-centred trade flourished; they were conquered in 1468 and 1475, respectively. Initially, the Songhai Empire was ruled by the Sonni dynasty, but it was later replaced by the Askia dynasty (1493–1591).

Sunni Ali, also known as Si Ali, Sunni Ali Ber, reigned from about 1464 to 1492 as the 15th ruler of the Sunni dynasty of the Songhai Empire. He transformed the relatively small state into an empire by conquering Timbuktu, Massina, the Inner Niger Delta, and Djenne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Azawad</span> Tuareg name for a territory in northern Mali

Azawad, or Azawagh, was a short-lived unrecognised state lasting between 2012 and 2013. Azawagh (Azawaɣ) is the generic Tuareg Berber name for all Tuareg Berber areas, especially the northern half of Mali and northern and western Niger. The Azawadi declaration of independence was declared unilaterally by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) in 2012, after a Tuareg rebellion drove the Malian Armed Forces from the region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuareg rebellion (1990–1995)</span> Rebellion in Mali and Niger

From 1990 to 1995, a rebellion by various Tuareg groups took place in Niger and Mali, with the aim of achieving autonomy or forming their own nation-state. The insurgency occurred in a period following the regional famine of the 1980s and subsequent refugee crisis, and a time of generalised political repression and crisis in both nations. The conflict is one in a series of Tuareg-based insurgencies in the colonial and post-colonial history of these nations. In Niger, it is also referred to as the Second or Third Tuareg Rebellion, a reference to the pre-independence rebellions of Ag Mohammed Wau Teguidda Kaocen of the Aïr Mountains in 1914 and the rising of Firhoun of Ikazkazan in 1911, who reappeared in Mali in 1916. In fact the nomadic Tuareg confederations have come into sporadic conflict with the sedentary communities of the region ever since they migrated from the Maghreb into the Sahel region between the 7th and 14th centuries CE. Some Tuareg wanted an independent Tuareg nation to be formed when French colonialism ended. This, combined with dissatisfaction over the new governments, led some Tuareg in Northern Mali to rebel in 1963.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuareg rebellion (2007–2009)</span> Tuareg insurgency in Mali and Niger

The 2007-2009 Tuareg rebellion was an insurgency that began in February 2007 amongst elements of the Tuareg people living in the Sahara desert regions of northern Mali and Niger. It is one of a series of insurgencies by formerly nomadic Tuareg populations, which had last appeared in the mid-1990s, and date back at least to 1916. Populations dispersed to Algeria and Libya, as well as to the south of Niger and Mali in the 1990s returned only in the late 1990s. Former fighters were to be integrated into national militaries, but the process has been slow and caused increased resentment. Malian Tuaregs had conducted some raids in 2005–2006, which ended in a renewed peace agreement. Fighting in both nations was carried on largely in parallel, but not in concert. While fighting was mostly confined to guerrilla attacks and army counterattacks, large portions of the desert north of each nation were no-go zones for the military and civilians fled to regional capitals like Kidal, Mali and Agadez, Niger. Fighting was largely contained within Mali's Kidal Region and Niger's Agadez Region. Algeria helped negotiate an August 2008 Malian peace deal, which was broken by a rebel faction in December, crushed by the Malian military and wholescale defections of rebels to the government. Niger saw heavy fighting and disruption of uranium production in the mountainous north, before a Libyan backed peace deal, aided by a factional split among the rebels, brought a negotiated ceasefire and amnesty in May 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaocen revolt</span> 1916–17 Tuareg rebellion against French colonial rule

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The Ikelan are a caste within Tuareg society, who were at one time slaves or servile communities in their natives lands like Mauritania, Mali and Niger.

The Dawsahak people, Idaksahak are pastoralist Berbers centered on Ménaka and Inékar town in Ménaka Region and Talataye in Ansongo Cercle of the Gao Region of northeastern Mali. They speak the Northern Songhai language Tadaksahak. Many also speak Western Tawallammat Tamajaq language, the Tuareg language of southern Gao. Daoussahak appears to be the most common transliteration of the collective name among French and English academics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tagdal language</span> Songhay language

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References

  1. www.bundespraesident.de: The Federal President / Announcement of the awards / Announcement of the awards from 1 May 2018, accessed; 23 December 2020.
  2. Klute, Georg, CV, Stiftung Kunst und Natur (Art and Nature Foundation), accessed: 21 April 2023
  3. 'Lebenslauf' (short CV), Bundesheer.at, Austria, website, accessed: 21 April 2023
  4. 'Wissenswertes' - Prof. Dr. Georg Klute - CV, TAMAT e.V. Munich, accessed: 21 April 2023
  5. Frank Schmälzle: The city has recently been supporting his project - Bayreuth: This is how Uni-Prof Georg Klute is providing help in Africa. Kurier, 24 August 2015.
  6. Klute, Georg, CV, Stiftung Kunst und Natur, accessed: 21 April 2023
  7. Adam Nossiter and Neil MacFarquhar: Algeria sowed seeds of hostage crisis as it nurtured warlord. New York Times, 1 February 2013, accessed: 21 April 2023.
  8. Fritz Habekuß: Landwirtschaft im Niger: Das Gesetz der Oase (Farming in Niger: The Law of the Oasis). Die Zeit, 20 February 2023, accessed: 21 April 2023.
  9. Klute, Georg, CV, Stiftung Kunst und Natur, accessed: 21 April 2023
  10. Federal Order of Merit for the Bayreuth ethnologist Prof. Dr. Georg Klute, accessed: 5 October 2020.
  11. Bundesverdienstorden für den Bayreuther Ethnologen Georg Klute. Pressemitteilung, Redaktion, Der Wiesenbote - Nachrichten für Oberfranken & Umgebung, 9 April 2018, accessed: 21 April 2023.

Further reading