Thomas Laely | University of Zurich, Switzerland (original) (raw)
Papers by Thomas Laely
Canadian journal of African studies, Mar 18, 2024
Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques, Dec 1, 2022
Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques 53-2 | 2022 Praxis décoloniales et rapports de pouvo... more Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques 53-2 | 2022 Praxis décoloniales et rapports de pouvoir dans la fabrique des savoirs en contextes postcoloniaux Dossier
Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue canadienne des études africaines, 2023
Stedelijk Studies Journal, 2019
Thinking about a “museum of mutuality” affords the question of who the actors are and, accordingl... more Thinking about a “museum of mutuality” affords the question of who the actors are and, accordingly, between whom mutuality is a characteristic of their relationship, ideally or practically. The call for papers for this special issue invited contributors to examine how museums and audiences are intertwined in mutuality. Over the last few decades, expectations directed to this relationship have tended to point towards its “democratization”[1] and inclusiveness, towards opening the institution as a forum for sociocultural exchange and debate, towards plurivocality concerning representation, and towards greater accessibility to and renegotiation of the ownership of its collections.[2] It is anticipated, and according to the current trends in museology rightly so, that museums are transforming from being inward-looking institutions that communicate unilaterally from an authoritarian and custodian position, to becoming outward-looking organizations that insert themselves permeably into so...
Edition Museum, 2018
At a time of major transformations in the conditions and self-conceptions of cultural history and... more At a time of major transformations in the conditions and self-conceptions of cultural history and ethnological museums worldwide, it has become increasingly important for these museums to engage in cooperative projects. This book brings together insights and analyses of a wide variety of approaches to museum cooperation from different expert perspectives. Featuring a variety of African and European points of view and providing detailed empirical evidence, it establishes a new field of museological study and provides some suggestions for future museum practice.
Trinken gehort zu den Grundbedurfnissen des Menschen – bedeutet jedoch weit mehr, als nur den Dur... more Trinken gehort zu den Grundbedurfnissen des Menschen – bedeutet jedoch weit mehr, als nur den Durst zu stillen. Der hohe kulturelle Stellenwert des Trinkens wird in dieser Publikation, die zur gleichnamigen Ausstellung am Volkerkundemuseum der Universitat Zurich entstanden ist, an Beispielen von Getranken aus der ganzen Welt veranschaulicht. Die Autoren erlautern verstandlich und lebensnah, auf welch unterschiedliche Weise diese zubereitet, ausgeteilt und aufgenommen werden und welche gesellschaftlichen Krafte sie entfalten. Kurze Charakterisierungen der unseren Gaumen ungewohnten Getranke steuern zwei Sommeliers bei – eine Aufforderung an die Leserinnen und Leser, das Buch mit allen Sinnen zu geniessen.
The debates about what to do with collections from colonial contexts, and how to deal with them, ... more The debates about what to do with collections from colonial contexts, and how to deal with them, have developed pace and unexpected momentum in the last three years. This is especially true for artifacts from the African continent, whether they are in museums or collections in Europe, North America, or elsewhere outside the continent. But the same is true under different circumstances, and we do not want to pass over this, for colonial collections and museums in Africa. Let's take a closer look at both in light of recent debates. The discussions about whether, to whom and when under which circumstances a return, or rather indeed: an unequivocal restitution is appropriate or not, have recently experienced differentiations. This applies already to the preconditions of most restitutions, namely the opening and making accessible of the inventories. While some think that in principle everything should be put online, another opinion maintains that whenever possible, the creators or or...
Journal of African Studies, 2020
Today, anthropological museums have to reach out to external stakeholders toreprocess and reappra... more Today, anthropological museums have to reach out to external stakeholders toreprocess and reappraise the history and acquisition of their collections. They aremuch more than mere interpreters of a past heritage, but institutions having a placein contemporary history to debate and shape ever-evolving cultures grounded inboth local and global concerns. The paper explores these questions using theexample of an ongoing trilateral museum partnership in knowledge generationbetween Uganda and Switzerland.
Histoire et evolution de l'ancien systeme d'autorite juridico-morale « Bushingantahe » au... more Histoire et evolution de l'ancien systeme d'autorite juridico-morale « Bushingantahe » au Burundi : description de ses fonctions, systeme de designation et statut sous l'Etat monarchique precolonial ; puis de son evolution sous la periode coloniale alors que le Burundi connait un (renforcement et une standardisation de l'administration territoriale, une mainmise coloniale politique et economique, une desintegration du niveau local et un transfert de competences a l'administration etatique et sous l'Etat republicain (etatisation croissante, recuperation d'elements du « Bushingantahe », perte d'autorite des vieux, volonte de rendre une certaine autonomie).
Drinking is one of the most basic human needs. However, the act of drinking encompasses much more... more Drinking is one of the most basic human needs. However, the act of drinking encompasses much more than just quenching one’s thirst. This publication complements the ‘Drinking Skills’ exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich. It illustrates the important cultural role that drinking has by describing some characteristic beverages from around the world. The authors clearly explain the different ways these drinks are prepared, shared, and consumed, and their inherent social power. Two sommeliers contribute brief descriptions of the beverages which Western palates are not accustomed to – an invitation to the readers to enjoy this book with all their senses.
Museum Cooperation between Africa and Europe
Museum Cooperation between Africa and Europe
Canadian journal of African studies, Mar 18, 2024
Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques, Dec 1, 2022
Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques 53-2 | 2022 Praxis décoloniales et rapports de pouvo... more Recherches sociologiques et anthropologiques 53-2 | 2022 Praxis décoloniales et rapports de pouvoir dans la fabrique des savoirs en contextes postcoloniaux Dossier
Canadian Journal of African Studies / Revue canadienne des études africaines, 2023
Stedelijk Studies Journal, 2019
Thinking about a “museum of mutuality” affords the question of who the actors are and, accordingl... more Thinking about a “museum of mutuality” affords the question of who the actors are and, accordingly, between whom mutuality is a characteristic of their relationship, ideally or practically. The call for papers for this special issue invited contributors to examine how museums and audiences are intertwined in mutuality. Over the last few decades, expectations directed to this relationship have tended to point towards its “democratization”[1] and inclusiveness, towards opening the institution as a forum for sociocultural exchange and debate, towards plurivocality concerning representation, and towards greater accessibility to and renegotiation of the ownership of its collections.[2] It is anticipated, and according to the current trends in museology rightly so, that museums are transforming from being inward-looking institutions that communicate unilaterally from an authoritarian and custodian position, to becoming outward-looking organizations that insert themselves permeably into so...
Edition Museum, 2018
At a time of major transformations in the conditions and self-conceptions of cultural history and... more At a time of major transformations in the conditions and self-conceptions of cultural history and ethnological museums worldwide, it has become increasingly important for these museums to engage in cooperative projects. This book brings together insights and analyses of a wide variety of approaches to museum cooperation from different expert perspectives. Featuring a variety of African and European points of view and providing detailed empirical evidence, it establishes a new field of museological study and provides some suggestions for future museum practice.
Trinken gehort zu den Grundbedurfnissen des Menschen – bedeutet jedoch weit mehr, als nur den Dur... more Trinken gehort zu den Grundbedurfnissen des Menschen – bedeutet jedoch weit mehr, als nur den Durst zu stillen. Der hohe kulturelle Stellenwert des Trinkens wird in dieser Publikation, die zur gleichnamigen Ausstellung am Volkerkundemuseum der Universitat Zurich entstanden ist, an Beispielen von Getranken aus der ganzen Welt veranschaulicht. Die Autoren erlautern verstandlich und lebensnah, auf welch unterschiedliche Weise diese zubereitet, ausgeteilt und aufgenommen werden und welche gesellschaftlichen Krafte sie entfalten. Kurze Charakterisierungen der unseren Gaumen ungewohnten Getranke steuern zwei Sommeliers bei – eine Aufforderung an die Leserinnen und Leser, das Buch mit allen Sinnen zu geniessen.
The debates about what to do with collections from colonial contexts, and how to deal with them, ... more The debates about what to do with collections from colonial contexts, and how to deal with them, have developed pace and unexpected momentum in the last three years. This is especially true for artifacts from the African continent, whether they are in museums or collections in Europe, North America, or elsewhere outside the continent. But the same is true under different circumstances, and we do not want to pass over this, for colonial collections and museums in Africa. Let's take a closer look at both in light of recent debates. The discussions about whether, to whom and when under which circumstances a return, or rather indeed: an unequivocal restitution is appropriate or not, have recently experienced differentiations. This applies already to the preconditions of most restitutions, namely the opening and making accessible of the inventories. While some think that in principle everything should be put online, another opinion maintains that whenever possible, the creators or or...
Journal of African Studies, 2020
Today, anthropological museums have to reach out to external stakeholders toreprocess and reappra... more Today, anthropological museums have to reach out to external stakeholders toreprocess and reappraise the history and acquisition of their collections. They aremuch more than mere interpreters of a past heritage, but institutions having a placein contemporary history to debate and shape ever-evolving cultures grounded inboth local and global concerns. The paper explores these questions using theexample of an ongoing trilateral museum partnership in knowledge generationbetween Uganda and Switzerland.
Histoire et evolution de l'ancien systeme d'autorite juridico-morale « Bushingantahe » au... more Histoire et evolution de l'ancien systeme d'autorite juridico-morale « Bushingantahe » au Burundi : description de ses fonctions, systeme de designation et statut sous l'Etat monarchique precolonial ; puis de son evolution sous la periode coloniale alors que le Burundi connait un (renforcement et une standardisation de l'administration territoriale, une mainmise coloniale politique et economique, une desintegration du niveau local et un transfert de competences a l'administration etatique et sous l'Etat republicain (etatisation croissante, recuperation d'elements du « Bushingantahe », perte d'autorite des vieux, volonte de rendre une certaine autonomie).
Drinking is one of the most basic human needs. However, the act of drinking encompasses much more... more Drinking is one of the most basic human needs. However, the act of drinking encompasses much more than just quenching one’s thirst. This publication complements the ‘Drinking Skills’ exhibition at the Ethnographic Museum at the University of Zurich. It illustrates the important cultural role that drinking has by describing some characteristic beverages from around the world. The authors clearly explain the different ways these drinks are prepared, shared, and consumed, and their inherent social power. Two sommeliers contribute brief descriptions of the beverages which Western palates are not accustomed to – an invitation to the readers to enjoy this book with all their senses.
Museum Cooperation between Africa and Europe
Museum Cooperation between Africa and Europe
In the 1970s and 1980s young model makers in Burundi created original miniature replicas of racin... more In the 1970s and 1980s young model makers in Burundi created original miniature replicas of racing cars, motorcycles, planes and helicopters from wire, tin and plastic. Yet their models are more than just 'toys' or 'recycled art': as autodidacts they learnt to translate the design idiom of vehicles and brands into their own medium, finding innovative solutions to the technical challenges of model making.
Alexis Malefakis, mit Beiträgen von Reto Togni und Thomas Laely (ed. Mareile Flitsch): Auto Didaktika - Drahtmodelle aus Burundi / Wire models from Burundi. Arnoldsche Art Publishers, Stuttgart und Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich 2017, 128 Seiten,
ISBN 978-3-89790-492-7