معرفی
Jan Jansen is an Assistant Professor at Leiden University's Institute of Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology within the Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences. His research focuses on West Africa, particularly the historical and cultural dimensions of the Mali Empire. He holds a PhD from Leiden University (1995) and has conducted extensive fieldwork in Mali, examining oral traditions, mining practices, and heritage management. Jansen has supervised multiple PhD candidates and served as Editor of History in Africa – A Journal of Debates, Methods, and Source Analysis from 2010-2020. He is also involved in collaborative projects with the Damara Camara family to publish historical manuscripts.
Research Interests: Jansen's work bridges anthropology and history, emphasizing critical analysis of oral sources and material culture. Key themes include:
- Pre-colonial political systems in West Africa
- Oral epic traditions (e.g., Sunjata Epic)
- Indigenous knowledge systems in mining and architecture
- Cultural heritage preservation
Key Contributions: His 2018 article Beyond the Mali Empire redefined understandings of the Sunjata Epic's historical context. Recent work explores termites' roles in traditional building techniques, merging ecological anthropology with material culture studies.
Awards: Recipient of the ASA Service Award (2019) for contributions to African studies.
Teaching: Leads courses in Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology at both BSc and MSc levels. Integrates fieldwork methodologies and historical source analysis into pedagogy.
