Origins & Early Life

Adam Jonathan Kuper (born 29 December 1941) is a British social anthropologist. Kuper was born in Johannesburg, and educated at Parktown Boys' High School. He was awarded a Bachelors of Arts degree in 1961 from the University of the Witwatersrand followed by PhD from the University of Cambridge, for research based in villages in the Kalahari Desert, Botswana. He was a postgraduate student at King's College, Cambridge.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

After graduation Kuper did field studies in Botswana, and Jamaica, and taught at Universities in Uganda, Britain, Holland, Sweden and the United States. Kuper taught from 1967 to 1970 at Makerere University in Kampala. From 1970 to 1976 he taught at University College London. From 1976 to 1985 he was professor of African anthropology at Leiden University in the Netherlands. From 1985 to 2008 he was a professor at Brunel University, where he was the first head of the Department of Human Sciences, and latterly head of the Anthropology Department.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Kuper served as the first president of the European Association of Social Anthropology. He was a visiting professor at Boston University, 2011–14, and a Centennial Professor...

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adnan Khayr Allah — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): Iraqi military officer and Minister of Defense, closely associated with the Ba'ath regime.
• Alan Mullery — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): Iconic English footballer and manager known for his time at Fulham and Spurs.
• Aldrich Ames — Contemporary (Born in 1941) (1941): American CIA analyst and notorious Soviet spy convicted of espionage.
• Andrei Tarkovsky — Shared historical date (12-29 · Died) (1986): Master of metaphysical cinema, known for slow pacing and spiritual depth.
• Billy Mitchell — Shared historical date (12-29 · Born) (1879): Pioneering US Army officer instrumental in the conceptualization of the modern Air Force.
• Alex Ferguson — Historical peer (Born in 1941) (1941): Legendary Scottish football manager, most famous for his unparalleled success with Manchester United.
• Alfonso XIII — Historical peer (Died in 1941) (1941): King of Spain (1886-1931), whose reign spanned constitutional crises and republican upheaval.
• Aaron Sorkin — Historical peer (Born in 1961) (1961): Master of fast-paced dialogue, known for 'walk and talk' storytelling.
• Abhijit Banerjee — Historical peer (Born in 1961) (1961): Pioneering economist known for using scientific evidence to combat global poverty.
• Akshay Kumar — Historical peer (Born in 1967) (1967): Veteran Indian actor and producer, celebrated for action roles and prolific career.
• 1941 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1941
• December 29 (12-29) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on December 29