Laurent Gabail

Laurent Gabail is a Lecturer in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Toulouse - Jean Jaurès (UT2J), France. He is a permanent member of the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Solidarity, Societies, Territories (LISST), specializing in social anthropology and ethnographic research. His work focuses primarily on kinship systems, ritual practices, and African societies, with particular emphasis on Bassari culture in Guinea and Senegal.

His research explores:

• The structural dynamics of kinship and marriage networks across cultures
• Initiation rituals and age-grade systems in West African societies
• Embodied practices through ritual dance and performance
• Contemporary reinterpretations of anthropological theory
• Political ecology and environmental movements

Dr. Gabail's publications demonstrate consistent focus on ritual anthropology and kinship studies, with recent work expanding into political ecology and pedagogical methods. His ethnographic approach combines detailed fieldwork with theoretical innovation, particularly in re-examining Lévi-Straussian frameworks.

He contributes to collaborative research networks including the Structurations des mondes sociaux (SMS) project and maintains active international partnerships. His laboratory affiliation places him within a multidisciplinary research environment addressing social solidarity and territorial dynamics.