BA, Dip. AT, BA, Ph.D
Born on a farm in Essex
Mobile +44 (788) 408 3213
benknighton@dunelm.org.uk
Higher Education
Qualifications
1991 Admitted to the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Durham for a thesis entitled, ‘Christian Enculturation in Karamoja, Uganda’ examined by Dr. Sigvard von Sicard, University of Birmingham and Prof. James Barber, then of the University of Durham. It was an African Study of the history, anthropology of religion, and history of the church of an isolated East African region.
1990-1 Religious Studies at Selly Oak Colleges, Birmingham
1988-90 Doctoral Research at the University of Durham under the supervision of Prof. EDA Hulmes, DPhil., former member of the African Studies Seminar, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford
1986-8 BA Hons. (2.i) degree in Theology, University of Durham
1983 Studies in Anthropology, Mission, and Development at MOC, WEC, Bulstrode, Bucks.
1981-3 PG Diploma in Applied Theology (CNAA) at ASCAT, London
1978 Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, Professional Examination 1
1974-7 BA Hons. (2.i) in Industrial Economics at the University of Nottingham (subsidiaries in Law & Politics)
Scholarships
2005 Application to Templeton Foundation
2004-5 Application for Leverhulme Fellowship for research project entitled, ‘Facing Mount Kenya from the Village: G?k?y? religion in power and protest’
2004 British Institute of Eastern Africa
2002 Spalding Trust, Archbishop’s Council, Mabledon Trust
1989 Spalding Trust
1988 Evans, Whitaker
1987 Lightfoot
Essay Prizes
1988-9 Barry Prize, Bishop Robertson Prize
1987-8 Barry Prize, Bishop Robertson Prize
Employment
Appointments
2005 Ph.D Programme Leader
2002-5 Dean of the Research Programme, OCMS
1998- Registrar, Research Tutor, and African Studies Research Group Co-ordinator, OCMS (Sponsoring Establishment of the Open University, Affiliated Institution of the University of Wales, sometime Associate Institution of the University of Leeds)
1995-8 Principal, St. Andrew’s College, Kabare
1991-6 Vice-Principal, Director of Academia, and Tutor, St. Andrew’s College, Kabare, Kirinyaga, Kenya
1984-6 Development Projects Administrator, Diocese of Karamoja, Church of Uganda
1979-81Mixed farming, near Colchester, Essex
1977-9 Trainee Accountant, County Treasurer’s Dept., Suffolk County Council
1974 Teacher and Assistant Housemaster, Culford School, Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk
Validation, Delivery, and Assessment of Courses
OCMS has long been delivering research degrees, involved in distance education, and securing validations for MA programmes in Two-Thirds’ World institutions. I have contributed, usually in collaboration with others:
Substantial documentation and quality assurance to two Quinquennial Reviews by the Open University and the University of Wales and to a Triennial Review by the University of Leeds.
Collaborated in development of new MStuds. course for the Faculty of Theology, University of Oxford. Wrote course proposal for ‘Christian Faith as an African Religion’ module.
Collaborated in development of new MA courses validated by the University of Leeds and the University of Wales. Wrote long course handbooks on Dissertation and Bible, Culture and Context modules.
Developed forum, e-communications and filing for the Research Programme 108 Research Students, 85 per cent of whose students are part-time, living and working mostly in the Two-Thirds World.
Selected international supervisors for research students.
Web-site study resources, including privileged access uploaded seminar papers on http://www.ocms.ac.uk/research/index.php .
Invited international academics at the cutting edge of research to lecture or to participate in colloquium. Convenor and Chairman of the African Studies series of Open Lectures.
Initiated African Religious Studies Research Group, and co-ordinate with Prof. Ranger. Funding proposal sent.
Funding proposal and discounted orders for library acquisitions in African Studies. Founder-chairman of the Library Committee. Planning and negotiation of online cataloguing of stock with Oxford Library Information Services.
Academic Activity
Teaching and Examining
2005 Mentoring 30 and Supervising 9 Research Students, of Leeds, Open, or Wales Universities (7 others have so far graduated, all with Ph.D)
2005 Chair Examination Board for Thesis submitted at Ph.D level, ‘The Relationship between Transformational Leadership and Love a ‘choice to will the highest good’ using the Transformational leadership Questionnaire (TLQ)’ Resubmitted and passed.
2005 Chair Examination Board for Thesis submitted at Ph.D level, ‘Analysis of the Theological context in the Hymnody used by Evangelicals in Mexico in relation to the Mexican Religious Context’ Resubmission.
2005 External Examiner for Thesis submitted at Ph.D level, ‘Faces and Voices of Poor People in Social Development in Christian Faith Organisations – A Critical Analysis: A case study of the Anglican Church of Kenya’ University of Reading. Joint Examiner’s Report recommended that no degree be awarded. Resubmission
2004 Chair Examination Board for Thesis submitted at Ph.D level ‘Individual Power in Organizations’ PhD, University of Wales, Resubmission
2004 Internal Examiner for Thesis submitted at Ph.D level, ‘Post-Conflict Reconciliation in South Africa and Rwanda’, University of Wales, Resubmission
2004 Assignment Marker for the MA in Mission and Development Practice, University of Wales, and MA Dissertation ‘Aspects of Conflict Resolution in the Karamojong Cluster of Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Sudan’
2001 Chair Examination Panel for Sharon Samson ‘Developing an Eclectic Pedagogical Approach for Training Semi Literates to Teach Classes of Children with Special Reference to Addis Ababa’ PhD, Open University
2001 Marking Extended Essay for MPhil. in Development Studies, University of Oxford
2001 Lecture on ‘Global Issues, including Violence, Global Economics, & the Rôle of the State’, BTh., University of Oxford 31.1.01
1998- Papers given in the OCMS open lecture series
1999- Classes in the ‘Introduction to Research Seminar’ on ‘Developing your Research Topic’, ‘Working with a Supervisor’ and ‘Writing a Thesis’
1999-2000 Lead Tutor: Bible, Context, and Culture double module (Hermeneutics) in the OCMS MA in Theology and Development, University of Leeds
1999-2000 Lead Tutor: Dissertation, Stage 3 in the OCMS MA in Theology and Development, University of Leeds
1999-2000 Second Marker, World Vision Ethiopia, Tanzania, & Kenya/Uganda MA in Theology and Development, University of Leeds. Comment on dissertation proposals.
1995-8 Secretary of the Provincial Examinations Council, Anglican Church of Kenya
1991-8 Member of the Diploma Examination Board, St. Paul’s United Theological College, Limuru
1991-8 Member of the Provincial Examinations Council, Anglican Church of Kenya
1991-8 Tutor and internal examiner in 3-year externally examined HE Diploma courses: 8 different subjects. Dissertation supervisor.
Seminar and Conference Papers
2005d: 'Making All Things New in Africa: Mission as replacement or fulfilment in the 21st century' CS Lewis Summer Institute, Examination Schools, University of Oxford 26.7.05
2005c: ‘Carrying Capacities as Scientific Myth against Disease as the Curse of God: A history of the Karamojong livestock economy’ Paper presented at the ‘Science, Disease And Livestock Economies’ conference, St Antony’s College, Oxford, 24.6.05 http://www.oxfordconference.net/livestock/Papers.asp
2005b: ‘Going for cai at Gatundu, 1968-9: Reversion to a Gikuyu ethnic past or building a national future for Kenya?’ Paper presented at the African History and Politics Seminar, Queen Elizabeth House, Oxford, 24.6.05 http://www.africanstudies.ox.ac.uk/calendar/historyandpolitics.php
2005a: 'The State as Raider among the Karamojong: Pastoralists under fire' Paper presented to the Africa Seminar Series, Department of Anthropology, London School of Economics 17.2.05
2004f: ‘Christian Enculturation’ Paper presented at Open Lecture (illustrated), OCMS 19.10.04
2004e: ‘Multireligious Responses to Globalization in East Africa: Karamojong and Ag?k?y? Compared’ Paper presented at the African Studies Association biennial conference, Goldsmiths College, University of London 14.9.04
2004d: ‘Participant-Observation: Sacrificing customs for understanding’ Paper presented at Open Lecture (illustrated), OCMS 22.6.04
2004c: ‘Religious Continuities through Three Subversive G?k?y? Movements: Kar?nga, Mau Mau, and M?ingiki' Paper presented at the conference, ‘The Political Economy of Kenya: Past and present’ St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford, 29.5.04
2004b: 'Orality as Counter-Hegemony: Hope for the Two-Thirds world in the face of globalization’ Paper presented at Open Lecture (illustrated), OCMS 20.4.04
2004a: ‘Localities and Pastoralist Mobility: Locating the Karamojong ethnographically’ Paper presented to the Association of Social Anthropologists’ Annual Conference, 'Locating the Field: Metaphors of Space, Place and Context in Anthropology', Grey College, University of Durham, 31.3.04
2003h: ‘Orality and Literacy in the Service of Karamojong Autonomy’ Paper Presented in the African Studies Seminar, SOAS, University of London, 9.12.03
2003g: ‘NGOs and African Cultures: Anthropological approaches to development’ Presentation to the African Society, Hertford College University of Oxford 20.11.03
2003f: 'Three G?k?y? Movements, Political or Religious? Kar?nga, Mau Mau, and M?ingiki' Paper presented at OCMS 28.10.03
2003e: 'Spiritual and Moral Formation in Two-Thirds World Theological Education' Paper presented at OCMS 29.7.03
2003d: ‘Dichotomies and Diffusions of Orality and Literacy’ Paper presented at the Workshop on Orality and Literacy, ‘Language, Power, and Society’, 18.7.03 SOAS
2003c: ‘Market Rationality and Karamojong Cattle’ Paper presented at the Pastoral Markets Panel, Pisa 9.7.03
2003b: ‘Saving Space: Women’s times in Karamojong traditional religion’ Paper presented at the International Gender Studies Centre, University of Oxford 5.6.03 and
at ‘Gender and Theology in Africa’ Theological Society of South Africa Conference 20.6.03
2003a: 'A Space for Gender in Religion? Karamojong Women in an allegedly patriarchal society' Paper presented at OCMS 3.6.03
2002e: ‘The Power of Sacrifice: An anthropology of Karamojong traditional religion’ Paper presented at the African Studies Association Biennial Conference, University of Birmingham 9.9.02
2002d: ‘Karamojong: Criminals or Warriors?’ Paper presented at BIEA/IFRA Conference ‘Crime in Eastern Africa: Past and Present Perspectives’, Naivasha, Kenya 9.7.02
2002c: ‘Historical Ethnography and the Collapse of Karamojong Culture: Premature Reports of Trends’ Paper presented to the African Studies Seminar, St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford 13.6.02
2002b: ‘Multireligious Responses to Globalization in East Africa: Karamojong and Ag?k?y? Compared’ Paper presented at the conference, ‘Theology Meets Multireligiosity’, University of Aarhus 15.5.04
2002a: ‘The Longue Durée in Karamojong Ethnography: Variation and stability of traditions over time as a corrective to the perception of trends’ Paper presented to the Association of Social Anthropologists Conference, ‘Perspectives on Time and Society: Experience, Memory, History’ in Arusha, Tanzania11.4.02
2000b: ‘Mission and Education; The re-routing of BCMS missionaries in Uganda’ Paper presented to the Currents of World Christianity Symposium, Queen’s College, Cambridge, 7.9.00
2000a: ‘Dissembling or Disengagement in a Traditional African Cycle of Revenge’ Paper presented to the Society for the Study of Theology, 12.4.00 The Examination Schools, Oxford
1999b: ‘Traditions and Traditionalism among the Karamojong’ Paper presented to the North-East Africa Seminar, 3.12.99 Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford
1999a: ‘How far does the Western Rationality of Economics apply to Nomadic Pastoralists? A case study of the Karamojong in Uganda’ Paper presented to Christians in Development Seminar, 16.4.00 University of East Anglia
1989b: ‘Missionaries of Empire? A Reflection on Anglican Mission in Uganda and Karamoja’ Paper given at Imperial History Seminar, 22.5.89 University of Durham
1989a: ‘The Source of the Authority of the Church in Karamoja’ Paper presented at Ecclesiology Seminar, 2.2.89, University of Durham
Other Conferences attended recently:
‘St Antony’s African Conference’, 27-9.6.05, St Antony’s College, University of Oxford
‘Creating the Kenya Post-Colony’ 18-9.4.05, St Peter’s College, University of Oxford
‘Rwandan Genocide Commemoration Conference: On the 10th Anniversary of the Rwandan Genocide’ 15.5.04, St Antony's College, University of Oxford
‘“Traditional” accountability and “modern” governance in Africa’ 5-7.7.04, St Mary’s College, University of Durham
Fieldwork
2005 Extended interviews and participant-observation of Karamojong pastoralist ceremonies August/September/October 2005
2005 Dec-Jan K?r?nyaga, Kenya Extended interviews of 31 G?k?y? men and women circumcized before 1952 in G?ch?g? Division, K?r?nyaga District, Kenya 10-23.1.05 on genealogy, age-system, circumcision, courtship, marriage, work, and oathing
2001 Mar-Apr East Africa, including Karamoja
2000 Jan-Feb East Africa, including Karamoja
1998 Mar-Apr East Africa, including Karamoja
1991-8 K?r?nyaga, Kenya
1984-6 Karamoja
Countries Visited in the Two-Thirds World
Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Africa, Ethiopia, Ghana, Brazil, Paraguay
Seminar Series Attended in Oxford
2005- Contemporary South Africa Seminar, Centre for the Analysis of South African Policy, Barnett House, University of Oxford
2004- African History Research Seminar, St Cross College, University of Oxford
2004- Comparative Education Seminar: Education in Africa, St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford
2003- Commonwealth History Seminar, History Faculty, University of Oxford
2003- Evans-Pritchard Lectures, Examination Schools, University of Oxford
2001- International Gender Studies Centre Seminar: Gendering Emotions, Queen Elizabeth House, University of Oxford
2003- 'Segregation and Exclusion in Public Health and Disease Control' Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine, University of Oxford
2001-2 Cultural Translation Seminar, Wadham College, University of Oxford
2001- African History and Politics, QEH, University of Oxford
2001 Centre for the Study of African Economies Seminar, Department of Economics
2001 Ethnicity and Identity Seminar, ISCA, University of Oxford
2000-1 Southern Africa History and Politics, QEH, University of Oxford
2000 Departmental Seminar, ISCA , University of Oxford
1998- Forced Migration/Refugees Study Centre Public Seminars, QEH, University of Oxford
1998- Interdisciplinary Seminar in the Study of Religion, Christ Church College, University of Oxford
1998- African Studies Seminar, St. Antony’s College/School of Geography
1998- North-East Africa Seminar, Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology, University of Oxford
1998- Research Seminar, OCMS, (Convene, Advertize, & Chair)
Membership of Academic Associations
2005- Fellow of the Royal Anthropological Institute
2005- Member of the British Institute of Eastern Africa
2004 International Society for Oral Literature in Africa
2001- Association of University Teachers
2001- Standing Conference for Library Materials on Africa
1999- Society for the Study of Theology
1998- African Studies Association, UK
1998- Royal African Society
Publications
Monograph
2005: The Vitality of Karamojong Religion: Living Faith or Dying Tradition? Aldershot: Ashgate https://www.ashgate.com/shopping/title.asp?key1=&key2=&orig=results&isbn=0%207546%200383%200
Journal Articles
2006: ‘Orality in the Service of Karamojong Autonomy: Polity and performance’ in Cedric Barnes and Tim Carmichael (eds), ‘Language, Power and Society – Papers presented to a workshop on orality and literacy in the Horn of Africa’ Journal of African Cultural Studies (Forthcoming September, Vol. 18)
2004c: ‘Issues of African Theology at the Turn of the Millennium’ Transformation 21/3:147-61
2003b: ‘The State as Raider among the Karamojong: ‘Where there are no guns, they use the threat of guns’ Africa 73/3:427-55
2003a: ‘Anthropological Perspectives on Transformational Development’ Transformation 20/2:91-9
2002: ‘School for Progress: The re-routing of BCMS missionaries into education for the end of empire in Karamoja, Uganda’ International Review of Mission 91/361: 256-77
2001d ‘Globalization: Implications of violence, the global economy, and the role of the state for Africa and Christian mission’ Transformation 18/4:204-19
2001c ‘Editorial: Degrees of Intercontinental Partnership concerning Mission and Development in Africa’ Transformation 18/4:201-4
2001b ‘Forgiveness or Disengagement in a Traditional African Cycle of Revenge’ Exchange 30/1:18-32; an earlier and unproofed version is published in Africa Theological Journal 24/1:53-72
2000 ‘Other Religions and The Meaning of God in an African Traditional Religion: The encounter in Karamoja, Uganda’ Asian Journal of Theology AJT 14/2: 399-430 October. Also published as ‘Other Religions and the Meaning of God’ Dharma Deepika 4/2:35-50 July to December
1999 ‘The Meaning of God in an African Traditional Religion and the Meaninglesness of Well-Meaning Mission: The experience of Christian enculturation in Karamoja, Uganda’ Transformation 16/4:120-127
1999 ‘Editorial, Africa: Religion and Innovation’ Transformation 16/4:113
Collaborative Publications
Belshaw, Deryke, & Knighton, Ben
2004: 'A Memo to the Commission for Africa' http://www.commissionforafrica.org/english/consultation/submissions/ro/sb-nov-dec04-181.pdf
Gitari, David M & Knighton, BP
2001: ‘On Being a Christian Leader: Story contesting power in Kenya’ Transformation 18/4:247-62
Editing
Guest Editor for two issues of Transformation journal, on Africa
Contributions to Collected Works
Forthcoming: ‘Globalizing Trends or Identities through Time? The Longue Durée in Karamojong Ethnography’ in Reid, Richard et al. Identities and Nationalisms Oxford: James Currey
‘Revenge and Religion: Conflict as an instrument of Karamojong autonomy in the Ugandan state’ in Haar, Gerrie ter (ed.) Religion and Conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa
2005: Entries on ‘Maji Maji’, ‘Karinga’, ‘The African Orthodox Church’, ‘Mau Mau’, and ‘M?ingiki’ for Clarke, Peter B (ed) Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements London: Routledge 0-415-26707-2: £130.00 28.12.05
2004b: ‘What Research Can do for You and Your Church and How it is Done’ in Kretschmar, Louise (ed) Southern African Baptist Theological Educator’s Conference, 24-27 June 2003 Johannesburg: Baptist Convention College pp.181-5
2004a: ‘Spiritual and Moral Formation’ in Kretschmar, Louise (ed) Southern African Baptist Theological Educator’s Conference, 24-27 June 2003 Johannesburg: Baptist Convention College pp.168-75
Book Reviews
2005b: ‘Review of Stan Granberg: 100 Years of African Missions’ Transformation 22/3:190-92
2005a: ‘Review of Paul Gifford: Ghana’s New Christianity’ Transformation 22/3:188-90
2004: ‘Review of Dietrich and Luz: The Bible in a World Context’ Theological Book Review 16/2:10
2001b: ‘Review of West and Dube: The Bible in Africa’ Transformation 18/4:264
2001: ‘Review of Kwame Bediako: Jesus in Africa’ Transformation 18/1:60f.
Newspapers
2003: ‘UK Academic Pleads for Student Visa Applications’ Daily Nation 24.9.03Curriculum Vitae in parvo
Born on a farm in Essex
Married to Wanja
Children: Rachel Nyawira
Charis Makena
Joel Munene
Current Address: PO Box 70, Oxford. OX2 6HB
To order the up-to-date monograph about Karamoja,
The Vitality of Karamojong Religion: Dying tradition or living faith?
