Publications
Forthcoming: 'Birds and KhoeSan: linking spirit and healing with day-to-
day life', Africa (2010)
Books
Chris Low and Elisabeth Hsu (eds), ‘Wind, Life, Health: Anthropological and
Historical Perspectives’ (Oxford,Blackwell, 2008)
Chris Low: Khoisan Medicine in History and Practice , Research in Khoisan
Studies Volume 20, (Koln, Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, 2008)
Book chapters
‘Working with potency: the role of weather in KhoeSan healing’ in Barboza,
Christina & Jankovic, Vladimir (Eds.), Weather,local knowledge and
everyday life: issues in integrated climate studies. (Rio de Janeiro: MAST,
2008)
‘Gatherers of Knowledge: Namibian Khoisan healers and their world of
possibilities’, in David Johnson (ed) The Changing Landscape of Education
in Africa: Quality, Equality and Democracy, Oxford Studies in Comparative
Education, (Symposium Books, 2008), pp. 161-181
‘Shamanism among San People’, in L. Hughes (ed.), The No Nonsense
Guide to Indigenous Peoples. (Oxford, 2003), pp. 118-119
Journal volumes, articles and reviews
Chris Low, ‘Massage among the KhoeSan of Namibia’, in, In Touch,
Newsletter, ‘The Official Voice of the Massage Therapy Association – South
Africa’, Oct. 2008, 5-7
Chris Low and Elisabeth Hsu (eds), ‘Wind, Life, Health: Anthropological and
Historical Perspectives’, JRAI vol. 13, Special Issue (2007)
Chris Low ‘Khoisan Wind: Hunting and Healing’, in Chris Low and Elisabeth
Hsu (eds) Wind, Life, Health: Anthropological and Historical Perspectives,
JRAI vol. 13, Special Issue (2007), S71-S90
Chris Low,‘Finding and Foregrounding Massage in Khoisan Ethnography’,
JSAS 33:4 (Dec. 2007), 783-799
Chris Low, ‘Different Histories of Buchu: Euro-American appropriation of
San and Khoekhoe knowledge of buchu plants’ Environment and History, 13:
3 (August 2007), 333-361
Book review of R. Katz and M. Biesele (1997) Healing Makes Our Hearts
Happy, in African Studies Review,45:3 (Dec. 2002), 74-75
Book review of J. Suzman (2000) Things from the Bush: a Contemporary
History of Omaheke Bushmen, in The Journal of African History, 44:3
(2003), 546-547
Forthcoming: 'Birds and KhoeSan: linking spirit and healing with day-to-
day life', Africa (2010)
Books
Chris Low and Elisabeth Hsu (eds), ‘Wind, Life, Health: Anthropological and
Historical Perspectives’ (Oxford,Blackwell, 2008)
Chris Low: Khoisan Medicine in History and Practice , Research in Khoisan
Studies Volume 20, (Koln, Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, 2008)
Book chapters
‘Working with potency: the role of weather in KhoeSan healing’ in Barboza,
Christina & Jankovic, Vladimir (Eds.), Weather,local knowledge and
everyday life: issues in integrated climate studies. (Rio de Janeiro: MAST,
2008)
‘Gatherers of Knowledge: Namibian Khoisan healers and their world of
possibilities’, in David Johnson (ed) The Changing Landscape of Education
in Africa: Quality, Equality and Democracy, Oxford Studies in Comparative
Education, (Symposium Books, 2008), pp. 161-181
‘Shamanism among San People’, in L. Hughes (ed.), The No Nonsense
Guide to Indigenous Peoples. (Oxford, 2003), pp. 118-119
Journal volumes, articles and reviews
Chris Low, ‘Massage among the KhoeSan of Namibia’, in, In Touch,
Newsletter, ‘The Official Voice of the Massage Therapy Association – South
Africa’, Oct. 2008, 5-7
Chris Low and Elisabeth Hsu (eds), ‘Wind, Life, Health: Anthropological and
Historical Perspectives’, JRAI vol. 13, Special Issue (2007)
Chris Low ‘Khoisan Wind: Hunting and Healing’, in Chris Low and Elisabeth
Hsu (eds) Wind, Life, Health: Anthropological and Historical Perspectives,
JRAI vol. 13, Special Issue (2007), S71-S90
Chris Low,‘Finding and Foregrounding Massage in Khoisan Ethnography’,
JSAS 33:4 (Dec. 2007), 783-799
Chris Low, ‘Different Histories of Buchu: Euro-American appropriation of
San and Khoekhoe knowledge of buchu plants’ Environment and History, 13:
3 (August 2007), 333-361
Book review of R. Katz and M. Biesele (1997) Healing Makes Our Hearts
Happy, in African Studies Review,45:3 (Dec. 2002), 74-75
Book review of J. Suzman (2000) Things from the Bush: a Contemporary
History of Omaheke Bushmen, in The Journal of African History, 44:3
(2003), 546-547
I am currently at the African Studies Centre, University of Oxford – my home for
the last ten years. The bulk of my research has been funded by the Economic
and Social Research Council from 1999-2004 and 2005-2008 within two major
projects, my DPhil ‘Khoisan healing: Understandings, Ideas and Practices’ and a
three years project ‘Animals in Bushman Medicine’
the last ten years. The bulk of my research has been funded by the Economic
and Social Research Council from 1999-2004 and 2005-2008 within two major
projects, my DPhil ‘Khoisan healing: Understandings, Ideas and Practices’ and a
three years project ‘Animals in Bushman Medicine’
© 2009 Chris Hewson Low, All Rights Reserved
Current post: Research Fellow, African Studies Centre, Oxford University;
holder of a Wellcome Trust ‘Value in People’ award
Previous post: 2005 – 2008, ESRC Research Fellow, African Studies
Centre, Oxford University
Education:
1. September 1999 to May 2004: University of Oxford ,Christ Church;
D.Phil , Modern History Faculty, Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine;
DPhil, titled: ‘Khoisan Healing: Understandings, Ideas and Practices.’
2. October 1997 – Sept 1998: Imperial College / University College
London / Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London;
M.Sc. (and Diploma Imperial College) History of Science and Medicine
Grade: Distinction; dissertation titled:‘ “Thieving Tahitians”: The
Significance of Polynesian theft to Captain Cook’s Voyage of Exploration in
the Endeavour.’
3. October 1995 – June 1997: Durham University, St. Cuthbert’s
Society;
B.A. (Hons) Archaeology, dissertation titled: ‘Quality of Life from Skeletal
Remains’.
4. 1991 – 1993, part time: British College of Acupuncture, London,
Licentiate in Acupuncture
5. 1985-1989: European School of Osteopathy, Maidstone, Kent,
Diploma in Osteopathy; dissertation titled: “The General Osteopathic
Treatment in Historical Context”
Teaching:
1. University of Oxford, 2004, Institute of Social and Cultural
Anthropology, sessional lecturer, M.Sc. Medical Anthropology.
2. University of Oxford, 2004, Faculty of Modern History, tutor:
Further Subject: Imperialism and Nationalism, East and Central Africa, c.
1830-1980.
3. Birkbeck College, 2005, University of London, School of History,
Archaeology and Classics, sessional lecturer, M.Sc. Disease and Society in
Africa in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
4. University of Oxford, 2008/9, African Studies Centre, Lecturer, MSc,
Environmental History of Southern and Central Africa
African Fieldwork Experience
12 months in Namibia 2001-2002
3 months in Namibia 2005
8 months South Africa, Namibia, Botswana 2006-2007
1 month Namibia October 2008
5 weeks South Africa JUne-Juuly 2009
Archaeological Fieldwork Experience
Fieldworker:
9 weeks 1996, Apache Indian site, Lubbock, Texas
3 weeks 1997, Roman settlement, Yorkshire,
15 weeks 1998, various with Wessex Archaeology, southern England
Current Committee Participation
1. African Studies Management Committee, Oxford University
2. African Environments Steering Group, Oxford University
Languages
Proficient in French
Working knowledge of Khoekhoegowab
Interests
Capable musician: guitar, piano, drums
Sports: skiing, scuba-diving, walking / tracking / wilderness (attended Tom
Brown Wilderness School and Boulder Outdoor Survival School)
holder of a Wellcome Trust ‘Value in People’ award
Previous post: 2005 – 2008, ESRC Research Fellow, African Studies
Centre, Oxford University
Education:
1. September 1999 to May 2004: University of Oxford ,Christ Church;
D.Phil , Modern History Faculty, Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine;
DPhil, titled: ‘Khoisan Healing: Understandings, Ideas and Practices.’
2. October 1997 – Sept 1998: Imperial College / University College
London / Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London;
M.Sc. (and Diploma Imperial College) History of Science and Medicine
Grade: Distinction; dissertation titled:‘ “Thieving Tahitians”: The
Significance of Polynesian theft to Captain Cook’s Voyage of Exploration in
the Endeavour.’
3. October 1995 – June 1997: Durham University, St. Cuthbert’s
Society;
B.A. (Hons) Archaeology, dissertation titled: ‘Quality of Life from Skeletal
Remains’.
4. 1991 – 1993, part time: British College of Acupuncture, London,
Licentiate in Acupuncture
5. 1985-1989: European School of Osteopathy, Maidstone, Kent,
Diploma in Osteopathy; dissertation titled: “The General Osteopathic
Treatment in Historical Context”
Teaching:
1. University of Oxford, 2004, Institute of Social and Cultural
Anthropology, sessional lecturer, M.Sc. Medical Anthropology.
2. University of Oxford, 2004, Faculty of Modern History, tutor:
Further Subject: Imperialism and Nationalism, East and Central Africa, c.
1830-1980.
3. Birkbeck College, 2005, University of London, School of History,
Archaeology and Classics, sessional lecturer, M.Sc. Disease and Society in
Africa in the 19th and 20th Centuries.
4. University of Oxford, 2008/9, African Studies Centre, Lecturer, MSc,
Environmental History of Southern and Central Africa
African Fieldwork Experience
12 months in Namibia 2001-2002
3 months in Namibia 2005
8 months South Africa, Namibia, Botswana 2006-2007
1 month Namibia October 2008
5 weeks South Africa JUne-Juuly 2009
Archaeological Fieldwork Experience
Fieldworker:
9 weeks 1996, Apache Indian site, Lubbock, Texas
3 weeks 1997, Roman settlement, Yorkshire,
15 weeks 1998, various with Wessex Archaeology, southern England
Current Committee Participation
1. African Studies Management Committee, Oxford University
2. African Environments Steering Group, Oxford University
Languages
Proficient in French
Working knowledge of Khoekhoegowab
Interests
Capable musician: guitar, piano, drums
Sports: skiing, scuba-diving, walking / tracking / wilderness (attended Tom
Brown Wilderness School and Boulder Outdoor Survival School)
C.V.
Where I Write