Oswin R. A. Köhler (1911-1996) is reckoned one of the most distinguished representatives of the second generation of German scholars of Afrikanistik. He established the Institute of African Studies at the University of Cologne and played a major role in rebuilding the profession after World War II. In 2000, his academic legacy was donated to the Institute of African Studies. It includes all records relating to his numerous field trips to Southern Africa from the beginning of the 1950s, and documenting his manner and methods of doing research in the field. In particular his collection of data on Khoisan languages and cultures constitutes a uniquely integral ensemble of irretrievable cultural and historic testimonials, as the respective societies have undergone profund and rapid social changes. Only a part of the collection has been published during his lifetime.

Categories

life documents, correspondences, dossiers, publications, manuscripts, research reports, dried plants, images, video and audio recordings, ethnographic objects, drawings

Projekte

DFG-Projekt "Potenziale einer Sammlung" (seit Mai 2021)

DFG-Projekt (2015-2021)

ELDP (2017-2019)

Literature

  • Boden, Gertrud. 2022. Whose information? What knowledge? – Collaborative work and a plea for referenced collection databases. Collections. A Journal for Museum and Archives Professionals 18(4): 479-505. DOI: 10.1177/15501906221130534/ ID: CJX-22-0013.R1.

  • Köhler, Oswin. 2021c. The World of the Khwe Bushmen in Southern Africa. A Self-Portrait in their own Language. Part VII: Omens and Dreams, Spells and Magic. Part VIII: Religion: Beliefs, Institutions, Rites. Edited by Gertrud Boden and Anne-Maria Fehn with assistance from Thaddeus Chedau. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.

  • Köhler, Oswin. 2021b. The World of the Khwe Bushmen in Southern Africa. A Self-Portrait in their own Language. Part IX: Illness and Healing. Part X: Music and Dance, Games and Arts. Edited by Gertrud Boden and Anne-Maria Fehn with assistance from Thaddeus Chedau. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.

  • Köhler, Oswin, 2021a. The World of the Khwe Bushmen in Southern Africa. A Self-Portrait in their own Language. Part XI: Myths and Legends, Fairy Tales and Narration. Part XII: World and Nature. Edited by Gertrud Boden and Anne-Maria Fehn with assistance from Thaddeus Chedau. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.

  • Köhler, Oswin (2018). The World of the Khwe Bushmen in Southern Africa. A self-portait in their own language (Die Welt der Kxoé-Buschleute im südlichen Afrika. Eine Selbstdarstellung in ihrer eigenen Sprache). Vol. 4.1 (Bd. 4.1): Part V: Family and Society (Teil V: Familie und Gesellschaft). Part VI: Customary Law: Norms and Practices (Teil VI: Gewohnheitsrecht: Normen und Praktiken). Edited by Gertrud Boden & Anne-Maria Fehn with assistance from Thaddeus Chedau. Berlin: Dietrich Reimer.

  • Boden, Gertrud (2018). The Khwe Collection in the Academic Legacy of Oswin Köhler: Formation and Potential Future. Puckett, R.F. & K. Ikeya (eds.). Research and Activism among the Kalahari San today. Ideals, Challenges, and Debates. Senri Ethnological Studies 99. Osaka: National Museum of Ethnology, pp. 129-146.

  • Boden, Gertrud (2014). Oswin Köhler: Beiträge zur Ethnographie der Khwe (Kxoé). In.: Voßen, R. (ed.): Ein Leben im Dienste der Afrikanistik. Oswin R.A. Köhler zum 100. Geburtstag. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe, 63-84.

  • Voßen, Rainer (Hg.) (2014). Ein Leben im Dienste der Afrikanistik. Oswin Köhler zum 100. Geburtstag. Köln: Rüdiger Köppe.

  • Strohmeyer, Eckhard (2011): Oswin Köhler. 14.10.1911–02.05.1996. Der wissenschaftliche Nachlaß. Findbuch, Frankfurt a. M. 2011.

  • Keuthmann, Klaus (1986). Professor Oswin R. A. Köhler. A Retrospect on Thirty Years of Studying Language, Culture and History of Southern African Khoisan-Speaking Peoples, in: Contemporary Studies on Khoisan, Bd. 2, hg. v. Rainer Voßen, Klaus Keuthmann, Hamburg: Buske, 79–94.