Jonas Bens
@jonasbens.bsky.social
anthropologist @uni-hamburg.de | #law #politics #colonialism #capitalism | recent books: The Sentimental Court (Cambridge University Press, 2022) | The Indigenous Paradox (University of Pennsylvania Press, 2020)
Reposted by Jonas Bens
Michael Schnegg and Jonas Bens have recently contributed an entry on "Atmospheres" in the Open Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Find it here: anthroencyclopedia.c...
December 6, 2025 at 6:45 AM
Michael Schnegg and Jonas Bens have recently contributed an entry on "Atmospheres" in the Open Encyclopedia of Anthropology. Find it here: anthroencyclopedia.c...
Reposted by Jonas Bens
We are inviting contributions to the workshop 'Ethnography and Law: Methods and Challenges in Times of Crisis', which will take place at the University of Hamburg on July 2-3, 2026. Deadline for submission is December 31, 2025. Find full CfP here: www.ethnologie.uni-h...
December 5, 2025 at 10:10 PM
We are inviting contributions to the workshop 'Ethnography and Law: Methods and Challenges in Times of Crisis', which will take place at the University of Hamburg on July 2-3, 2026. Deadline for submission is December 31, 2025. Find full CfP here: www.ethnologie.uni-h...
Reposted by Jonas Bens
The new issue of Ethnoscripts Vol. 27 (2025) is out now: Think Pieces and Special Issue: ‘Jewish Cultural Heritage, Minority Agency, and the State’ and more. journals.sub.uni-ham...
December 5, 2025 at 11:58 AM
The new issue of Ethnoscripts Vol. 27 (2025) is out now: Think Pieces and Special Issue: ‘Jewish Cultural Heritage, Minority Agency, and the State’ and more. journals.sub.uni-ham...
Reposted by Jonas Bens
New publication by Julia Pauli: Namibian Wedding Stories: Narrating Kinship and Social Class in Urban Namibia. Appears in the Journal of Southern African Studies. Read it here (open access): www.tandfonline.com/....
December 4, 2025 at 2:23 PM
New publication by Julia Pauli: Namibian Wedding Stories: Narrating Kinship and Social Class in Urban Namibia. Appears in the Journal of Southern African Studies. Read it here (open access): www.tandfonline.com/....
Reposted by Jonas Bens
What a pleasure to have Can Akin present his PhD research with Mexican return migrants for us in the first colloquium of the winter term.
October 23, 2025 at 2:51 PM
What a pleasure to have Can Akin present his PhD research with Mexican return migrants for us in the first colloquium of the winter term.
Reposted by Jonas Bens
In next week's anthropology colloquium:
Tim Burger (Austrian Academy of Sciences) on "Calculating a Free Gift: Perfect Transfers and the Holy Ghost Festival on the Azores".
Tim Burger (Austrian Academy of Sciences) on "Calculating a Free Gift: Perfect Transfers and the Holy Ghost Festival on the Azores".
October 23, 2025 at 3:59 PM
In next week's anthropology colloquium:
Tim Burger (Austrian Academy of Sciences) on "Calculating a Free Gift: Perfect Transfers and the Holy Ghost Festival on the Azores".
Tim Burger (Austrian Academy of Sciences) on "Calculating a Free Gift: Perfect Transfers and the Holy Ghost Festival on the Azores".
Reposted by Jonas Bens
Can Akin will be our guest in the first colloquium of the winter semester, with a presentation titled "No longer alone: Return migration, social isolation and infrastructures of belonging in Mexico City". On next Tuesday, October 21, in room 222, ESA West at 6 PM. See you then!
October 15, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Can Akin will be our guest in the first colloquium of the winter semester, with a presentation titled "No longer alone: Return migration, social isolation and infrastructures of belonging in Mexico City". On next Tuesday, October 21, in room 222, ESA West at 6 PM. See you then!
I have published a new article in the new issue of Oñati Socio-Legal Series: Capitalist Property as Epistemic Violence: Ethnographic Museums, Colonial Restitution and the Cosmopolitical Challenge. The article is available open access here: opo.iisj.net/index.p...
October 11, 2025 at 9:32 AM
I have published a new article in the new issue of Oñati Socio-Legal Series: Capitalist Property as Epistemic Violence: Ethnographic Museums, Colonial Restitution and the Cosmopolitical Challenge. The article is available open access here: opo.iisj.net/index.p...
Reposted by Jonas Bens
What Moves Us? Affects, Materialities, Politics
We are thrilled and honoured to bring the 2027 conference of the DGSKA to our institute in Hamburg.
Thank you to all participants at the conference in Cologne for your support. We are looking forward to welcoming you all in Hamburg in two years!
We are thrilled and honoured to bring the 2027 conference of the DGSKA to our institute in Hamburg.
Thank you to all participants at the conference in Cologne for your support. We are looking forward to welcoming you all in Hamburg in two years!
October 4, 2025 at 2:26 PM
What Moves Us? Affects, Materialities, Politics
We are thrilled and honoured to bring the 2027 conference of the DGSKA to our institute in Hamburg.
Thank you to all participants at the conference in Cologne for your support. We are looking forward to welcoming you all in Hamburg in two years!
We are thrilled and honoured to bring the 2027 conference of the DGSKA to our institute in Hamburg.
Thank you to all participants at the conference in Cologne for your support. We are looking forward to welcoming you all in Hamburg in two years!
On Sept 20, our Hamburg anthropology team visited the Slavery Museum in Zanzibar Old Town. The site explores the history of enslavement and the Indian Ocean slave trade. The visit is part of our preparation for extended research on materialities, colonialism & enslavement. Photos: Arjunraj
September 29, 2025 at 3:51 PM
On Sept 20, our Hamburg anthropology team visited the Slavery Museum in Zanzibar Old Town. The site explores the history of enslavement and the Indian Ocean slave trade. The visit is part of our preparation for extended research on materialities, colonialism & enslavement. Photos: Arjunraj
On Sept 19, our colleague Arjunraj (Anthropology, Hamburg) hosted a collaborative storytelling workshop at Ajabu Ajabu screen collective in Dar es Salaam. The workshop explores practices of storytelling beyond boundaries. Photos: Habib
September 28, 2025 at 12:43 PM
On Sept 19, our colleague Arjunraj (Anthropology, Hamburg) hosted a collaborative storytelling workshop at Ajabu Ajabu screen collective in Dar es Salaam. The workshop explores practices of storytelling beyond boundaries. Photos: Habib
On Sept 18, our Hamburg anthropology team hosted a panel on collaborative museum restitution at Ajabu Ajabu in Dar es Salaam. We discussed decolonizing art & academia with artists and activists, and shared visuals from our 7-year collaboration with Maasai communities. Photos: Arjunraj, Leonie Benker
September 27, 2025 at 7:58 AM
On Sept 18, our Hamburg anthropology team hosted a panel on collaborative museum restitution at Ajabu Ajabu in Dar es Salaam. We discussed decolonizing art & academia with artists and activists, and shared visuals from our 7-year collaboration with Maasai communities. Photos: Arjunraj, Leonie Benker
On Sept 16 we visited the University of Dodoma in Tanzania during our research trip. Our colleague Laibor Kalanga Moko, is both at Hamburg Anthro Dept. and is a Lecturer in Dodoma. UDOM is both an inspiring place of scholarship and has a most beautiful campus. Photos: Arjunraj
September 26, 2025 at 9:36 AM
On Sept 16 we visited the University of Dodoma in Tanzania during our research trip. Our colleague Laibor Kalanga Moko, is both at Hamburg Anthro Dept. and is a Lecturer in Dodoma. UDOM is both an inspiring place of scholarship and has a most beautiful campus. Photos: Arjunraj
Im Gespräch mit @DLF Kultur habe ich die geplante Streichung der Professur für Kunst Afrikas an der FU Berlin kritisiert. Das wäre nicht nur ein Rückschritt für die Stärkung postkolonialer Perspektiven, sondern auch ein fatales politisches Signal im aktuellen Rechtsruck: www.deutschlandfunkk...
September 25, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Im Gespräch mit @DLF Kultur habe ich die geplante Streichung der Professur für Kunst Afrikas an der FU Berlin kritisiert. Das wäre nicht nur ein Rückschritt für die Stärkung postkolonialer Perspektiven, sondern auch ein fatales politisches Signal im aktuellen Rechtsruck: www.deutschlandfunkk...
On Sept 12, our Hamburg anthropology team visited Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important sites for human history. Here, remains over 2 million years old were found — a powerful reminder that all humans have more in common than we often think. Photos: Arjunraj
September 21, 2025 at 5:54 AM
On Sept 12, our Hamburg anthropology team visited Olduvai Gorge, one of the most important sites for human history. Here, remains over 2 million years old were found — a powerful reminder that all humans have more in common than we often think. Photos: Arjunraj
On Sept 11, our Hamburg anthro team held a second workshop in Oltukai, Monduli. We discussed colonialism, restitution & Maasai belongings in German museums. Our interlocutors stressed to prioritize Maasai cosmologies regarding their belongings. Photos: Arjunraj, Soipey Parkipuny
September 19, 2025 at 11:55 AM
On Sept 11, our Hamburg anthro team held a second workshop in Oltukai, Monduli. We discussed colonialism, restitution & Maasai belongings in German museums. Our interlocutors stressed to prioritize Maasai cosmologies regarding their belongings. Photos: Arjunraj, Soipey Parkipuny
On Sept 9–10, our Hamburg anthro team visited En’donyo Olmorwak (Elders’ Hill) in northern Tanzania. Every ~15 years the olng’eherr ritual is held here, when Ilmuran become elders. The site is now encroached by a military base and houses. Photos: Arjunraj, Michael Olekooni Laizer
September 18, 2025 at 2:11 PM
On Sept 9–10, our Hamburg anthro team visited En’donyo Olmorwak (Elders’ Hill) in northern Tanzania. Every ~15 years the olng’eherr ritual is held here, when Ilmuran become elders. The site is now encroached by a military base and houses. Photos: Arjunraj, Michael Olekooni Laizer
On Sept 9–10, Laibor Kalanga Moko, Arjunraj, Bille Sachers, Leonie Benker & I held a workshop with Maasai Trad. Leaders in Boma Ng’Ombe, Tanzania on colonialism, museums & restitution, in our collaborative project Contested Property (co-led with Paola Ivanov). Photos: Arjunraj
September 16, 2025 at 4:41 AM
On Sept 9–10, Laibor Kalanga Moko, Arjunraj, Bille Sachers, Leonie Benker & I held a workshop with Maasai Trad. Leaders in Boma Ng’Ombe, Tanzania on colonialism, museums & restitution, in our collaborative project Contested Property (co-led with Paola Ivanov). Photos: Arjunraj
Really looking forward to the start of our fourth workshop in the DFG-funded research network "Pluralizing the Value of Things", this time at the University of Cambridge, with a special focus on Oceania.
A highlight will be Nicholas Thomas’ keynote on Tuesday at 4pm in the McDonald Seminar Room.
A highlight will be Nicholas Thomas’ keynote on Tuesday at 4pm in the McDonald Seminar Room.
June 15, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Really looking forward to the start of our fourth workshop in the DFG-funded research network "Pluralizing the Value of Things", this time at the University of Cambridge, with a special focus on Oceania.
A highlight will be Nicholas Thomas’ keynote on Tuesday at 4pm in the McDonald Seminar Room.
A highlight will be Nicholas Thomas’ keynote on Tuesday at 4pm in the McDonald Seminar Room.
Makieu Daniels, Absolventin unseres M.A. Ethnologie, hat im Kolloquium spannende Einblicke in ihre Arbeit bei der EAF Berlin gegeben. Sie hat gezeigt, wie Diversity Management in der Beratungspraxis funktioniert – und wie ethnologisches Wissen Organisationen verändern kann.
June 10, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Makieu Daniels, Absolventin unseres M.A. Ethnologie, hat im Kolloquium spannende Einblicke in ihre Arbeit bei der EAF Berlin gegeben. Sie hat gezeigt, wie Diversity Management in der Beratungspraxis funktioniert – und wie ethnologisches Wissen Organisationen verändern kann.
📣 Tutor*innen gesucht! Für „Einführung in die Ethnologie“ (WiSe 25/26, Uni Hamburg). 💼 2 SWS, 315,48€/Monat. 🎓 Für BA/MA Ethno ab 3. Sem. 📅 Bewerbt euch bis 30.06. mit CV & Kursliste an jonas.bens@uni-hamburg.de
June 6, 2025 at 12:22 PM
📣 Tutor*innen gesucht! Für „Einführung in die Ethnologie“ (WiSe 25/26, Uni Hamburg). 💼 2 SWS, 315,48€/Monat. 🎓 Für BA/MA Ethno ab 3. Sem. 📅 Bewerbt euch bis 30.06. mit CV & Kursliste an jonas.bens@uni-hamburg.de
📢 Hiring 1 TextTutor for my seminar "Anthropology of Slavery" (WiSe 25/26, Uni Hamburg)!
💬 Support peers w/ writing
🧠 Training by HuL-Schreibzentrum
💼 Great teaching opp.
📅 Apply by June 13
📨 CV + course list → jonas.bens@uni-hamburg.de
BA/MA Anthro (3rd sem+), paid Aug–Jan
💬 Support peers w/ writing
🧠 Training by HuL-Schreibzentrum
💼 Great teaching opp.
📅 Apply by June 13
📨 CV + course list → jonas.bens@uni-hamburg.de
BA/MA Anthro (3rd sem+), paid Aug–Jan
June 6, 2025 at 12:15 PM
📢 Hiring 1 TextTutor for my seminar "Anthropology of Slavery" (WiSe 25/26, Uni Hamburg)!
💬 Support peers w/ writing
🧠 Training by HuL-Schreibzentrum
💼 Great teaching opp.
📅 Apply by June 13
📨 CV + course list → jonas.bens@uni-hamburg.de
BA/MA Anthro (3rd sem+), paid Aug–Jan
💬 Support peers w/ writing
🧠 Training by HuL-Schreibzentrum
💼 Great teaching opp.
📅 Apply by June 13
📨 CV + course list → jonas.bens@uni-hamburg.de
BA/MA Anthro (3rd sem+), paid Aug–Jan
Wunderschöner Beitrag von Johann Olenitsch gestern in unserer Reihe „Bewegte Bilder“ im Ethnologischen Kolloquium an der Uni Hamburg: der kurze Dokumentarfilm „Nocturne STERN Op. 283“. Super spannendes Material und eine inspirierende Diskussion!
January 22, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Wunderschöner Beitrag von Johann Olenitsch gestern in unserer Reihe „Bewegte Bilder“ im Ethnologischen Kolloquium an der Uni Hamburg: der kurze Dokumentarfilm „Nocturne STERN Op. 283“. Super spannendes Material und eine inspirierende Diskussion!
Die Literatur in meinem Seminar „Anthropologie des Staates“ dieses Semester an der Uni Hamburg. (Weiterführende Literatur im zweiten Bild). Heute ist die vorletzte Sitzung mit einer ganz wundervollen Gruppe schlauer Studierender! @uni-hamburg.de
January 20, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Die Literatur in meinem Seminar „Anthropologie des Staates“ dieses Semester an der Uni Hamburg. (Weiterführende Literatur im zweiten Bild). Heute ist die vorletzte Sitzung mit einer ganz wundervollen Gruppe schlauer Studierender! @uni-hamburg.de
The readings for my seminar "Colonialism and Politics in the Americas" this semester at the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Hamburg.
January 16, 2025 at 1:38 PM
The readings for my seminar "Colonialism and Politics in the Americas" this semester at the Department of Social and Cultural Anthropology at the University of Hamburg.