Manvir Singh is an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of California, Davis. Professor Singh is a cognitive and evolutionary anthropologist who regularly uses ethnographic data from eHRAF World Cultures in his research. A graduate of Brown University, Singh earned a Ph.D. in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard University where he is affiliated with the Culture, Cognition, Coevolution Lab. Singh publishes scholarly work and also writes essays for non-academic audiences, including The Atlantic and The New Yorker. Singh was recently featured in this interview in honor of HRAF’s 75th Anniversary.

Singh’s new book, Shamanism: The Timeless Religion, is the end-product of over a decade of research and travel. The book offers a fascinating exploration of the spiritual practice of shamanism, from its earliest practitioners to contemporary times. Although scholarly in its approach, the book appeals to a popular audience, particularly readers dissatisfied with organized religion who are interested in alternative approaches to spirituality.

Some of the questions examined in the book include:

• What are the origins of shamanism, and what is its future?
• Do shamans believe in their powers?
• What exactly is trance?
• What can we learn from indigenous healing practices?

Click here to read about the new book from Manvir Singh

HRAF Global Scholar Grace Marceline Kumah is a student in Family Life Management Education at the University of Education, Winneba in Ghana. Grace joined the HRAF Global Scholars program for the unique opportunity to enhance her research capabilities and teaching methodologies. Access to the extensive resources in eHRAF World Cultures has provided Grace with a wealth of ethnographic materials that are instrumental in conducting comparative research on family dynamics across different cultures. Using ethnographic data from eHRAF World Cultures, Grace has examined the cultural practices, social structure, values, and traditions of the Akan focusing on:

• Arranged marriages, involving parental involvement and clan considerations
• Family structures, including extended families and matrilineal descent
• Polygamy, its prevalence, and social and economic benefits
• Household dynamics, with compound houses and shared responsibilities
• Kinship ties, based on clan membership and matrilineal relationships
• Lineage continuity, emphasizing ancestor reverence and matrilineal lineage

HRAF is honored to feature Grace Marceline Kumah as one of our HRAF Global Scholars for 2025. We wish her continued success with her research.

Click here to read about Grace Marceline Kumah

Michael Kimball is a Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Northern Colorado. In this video interview, Professor Kimball discusses teaching with eHRAF.

In the video, Professor Kimball recalls his experience writing Ethnowise, an interdisciplinary cultural anthropology textbook. He also recalls his participation in the 2022 HRAF Summer Institute for Cross-Cultural Anthropological Research.

Professor Kimball has incorporated eHRAF research into the curriculum for an undergraduate Honors class titled "Culture & Consciousness." Over the last three years, he has experimented with research questions and pedagogical innovations to see how students might learn more about consciousness through cross-cultural anthropological research.

According to Professor Kimball, the undergraduate honors students at UNC come from a variety of academic disciplines, including psychology and history, as well as sports and exercise science. The students found eHRAF to be extremely useful.

Click here to watch the video from Michael Kimball

The Human Behavior & Evolution Society will host their 36th annual conference from Wednesday, June 4 to Saturday, June 7 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. HBES is a leading international organization dedicated to the scientific study of the evolution of human behavior. The annual conference is an event that has become a cornerstone for scholars in evolutionary psychology, evolutionary anthropology, and cultural evolution.

Drawing researchers from across the globe, the HBES Conference serves as a vibrant forum for the exchange of ideas and new findings in the field. The event features a diverse program that offers attendees the opportunity to engage directly with pioneering work in the field.

Elizabeth Pillsworth, Professor of Anthropology at California State University, Fullerton and a member of the HRAF Board of Sponsoring Members, will attend the HBES conference. Professor Pillsworth will bring information about HRAF to the conference for those who are interested in learning more about our resources for researchers.

Click here to read about the HBES Conference