Center for African Studies

Abdikadir Kurewa

Program: Anthropology/Archaeology, Graduate Student

Award: $1,280.00

Research: Materiality of body adornment and personhood: an ethno-archaeological perspective among the Rendille Nomadic pastoralists in Northern Kenya

Abdikador’s research examines how bodily modifications—such as beads and other adornments—shape identity through their production, use, exchange, and discard. By linking contemporary Rendille practices with Pastoral Neolithic mortuary sites in the Lake Turkana Basin (circa 4000 years ago), his study challenges static interpretations of adornments as mere status symbols, instead highlighting their dynamic role in constructing and negotiating personhood within the Rendille age-set system. This research enhances archaeological interpretations of body adornments in ancient burials by tracing their social lives and material histories. It contributes to cultural heritage preservation and broader discussions on material culture and identity among nomadic societies in Eastern Africa. Abdikador’s study deepens understanding of identity, social dynamics, and cultural transmission among pastoralist communities by integrating archaeological, anthropological, and semiotic perspectives. This summer, he will establish community relationships and seek consent for his research while reviewing literature and archival materials at the National Museums of Kenya, where he has worked since 2012. Additionally, he will join his supervisor, Dr. Katherine Grillo, in excavating a significant Pastoral Neolithic site in Turkana. Beyond fieldwork, he will lead community outreach efforts, leveraging his fluency in local languages to bridge academic research and community engagement, ensuring local participation in preserving and interpreting their heritage.

Lucy Pellenbarg

Program: Medical Anthropology, Undergraduate Student

Award: $1,500.00

Research: Interpretations of Death in Tanzania

Lucy reflects on the landscape of end-of-life care in Tanzania, the need to understand perceptions of death becomes increasingly clear. In a setting where palliative care is still developing, perspectives shift along lines of education, professional experience, and the presence or absence—of formal medical training. Reports from the World Health Organization point out that low-income countries continue to face barriers to integrating palliative care, shaped by both resource constraints and deep-rooted cultural beliefs. Many healthcare providers in sub-Saharan Africa enter the field with limited exposure to palliative care principles, resulting in inconsistent approaches to patient management.

Cultural and religious beliefs further complicate the process, influencing attitudes toward death and making standardization difficult. Dr. Adrienne Strong’s work at Ocean Road Cancer Institute and Tosamaganga Regional Referral Hospital provides vital groundwork, offering insight into local understandings and practices surrounding death. Building on this foundation, the study focuses on how education shapes interpretations of death and the resulting consequences for patient care and healthcare policy.

Through qualitative methods, semi-structured interviews will be carried out with doctors, nurses, hospital administrators, and traditional healers in Iringa. Thematic coding will help reveal patterns in how death is perceived and highlight structural barriers to incorporating palliative care into medical education. Ethical considerations guide the process, from informed consent and confidentiality to ensuring emotional support for participants discussing sensitive topics.

Ultimately, the research aims to illuminate the ways education and cultural belief systems influence the delivery of palliative care, offering direction for strengthening medical training and refining national healthcare policies. Attention is also given to the role of traditional healers in end-of-life care, adding depth to global conversations about palliative care in low-resource environments. The findings carry the potential to inform culturally aware policies, enhance palliative care education, and help bridge the longstanding divide between traditional and biomedical healthcare systems.