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From African Periodicals, with Simon Ottenberg
From the very early days of KRAB forward, Si Ottenberg could be heard regularly with "From African Periodicals" in which he read from recent publications about the events, arts, culture, and political upheavals occurring in Africa. He also served on the KRAB Jack Straw Memorial Foundation Board of Directors.
In photo, left to right: Judge Charles Z Smith; Mary Lindquist; Simon Ottenberg, March 1967
Simon Ottenberg is emeritus professor of Anthropology at the University of Washington, Seattle, where he was a faculty member from 1955-1991. He received his PhD from Northwestern University in 1957. His advisor was Melville J. Herskovits, founder of the Program of African Studies. He is a noted scholar of African art, particularly Nigerian art. (Abstract, Guide to the Simon Ottenberg Papers, Northwestern University Library.)
A favorite program that has not yet been found was Professor Ottenberg's reading of Laura Bohannan's Shakespeare in the Bush. Although we do not have the audio, you can read it yourself here: Shakespeare in the Bush - An American anthropologist set out to study the Tiv of West Africa and was taught the true meaning of Hamlet, by Laura Bohannan
Here are the programs that have been digitized so far:
From African Periodicals with Simon Ottenberg - KRAB Dec 16, 1963
The second program in the series is about African diversity.
Listen now - From African Periodicals with Simon Ottenberg - Dec 16, 1963 (26:47)
Recording courtesy of the Jack Straw Foundation, JSF PA0412
From African Periodicals with Simon Ottenberg - KRAB Oct 18, 1965
Reading from John Pepper Clark's America, Their America.
Listen now - From African Periodicals with Simon Ottenberg - KRAB Oct 18, 1965 (31:00)
Recording courtesy of the Jack Straw Foundation, JSF PA0425
From African Periodicals with Simon Ottenberg - KRAB Nov 10, 1968
Reading from Sterling Stuckey's Relationships Between Africans and Afro-Americans: Research Possibilities for Historians, later published in Africa Today, Indiana University Press, Apr 1969.
Listen now - From African Periodicals with Simon Ottenberg - KRAB Nov 10, 1968 (30:48)
Recording courtesy of the Jack Straw Foundation, JSF PA0408
From African Periodicals with Simon Ottenberg - KRAB Jun 3, 1970
Reading from Journal of Afro-Asian Writing.
Listen now - Reading from the Journal of Afro-Asian Writing - Jun 3, 1970 (26:28)
Recording courtesy of the Jack Straw Foundation, JSF PA0426
If you possess any souvenirs (program guides, tapes, or photos) or have a story about your experience with KRAB you are willing to share, please email archive@krabarchive.com