Dr. Maria Elisabeth Thiele

Büro: 419
Telefon: (0341) 97 - 37 221
E-Mail: m.e.thiele@gmx.net
Sprechstunde: nach Vereinbarung

Arbeitsfelder

  • Religionsethnologie
  • Afroamerikanische Religionen/ Kulturen
  • Ethnographie des subsaharischen Afrika
  • Naturkatastrophenforschung
  • Tsiganologie
Curriculum Vitae

Personal Data:

Date/place of birth:                             2nd of May 1975 in Leipzig, Germany

e-mail:                                                 m [dot] e [dot] thiele [at] gmx [dot] net

 

Current Positions:

since 10/09                                          Assistant Professor (Wissenschaftliche Mitarbeiterin) at the Institute for Ethnology, University of Leipzig

since 10/09                                          English Lecturer at the Saechsische Bildungsakademie Dresden, Leipzig

 

Academic Education:

1993-1995                                          Study of Ethnology and African Studies at the University of Leipzig, Germany

1995-1996                                          Study of African Languages and Cultures (Swahili, Haussa, Yoruba; Religions in Africa) at the Schoolof Oriental and African Studies, London, UK

1996-1997                                          Study of Swahili at the Kiswahili Research Institute, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

1997-2000                                          Continuation of the Study of Ethnology and African Studies (MA degree) at the University of Leipzig, Germany

 

University Degrees:

07/2005                                              PhD in Ethnology at the University of Leipzig, Germany. Thesis: Trickster, Transvestiten und Ciganas – Pombagira und die Erotik in den afrobrasilianischen Religionen

09/2000                                              Magistra Artium in Ethnology and African Studies. Thesis: Yoruba-Mission. Die Beispiele London und Muenster

 

Former Occupations:

2001-2005                                          Academic Assistant at the Institute for Ethnology, University of Leipzig, Germany

2005-2007                                          Volunteer at the GRASSI Museum of Ethnography in Leipzig

2007-2008                                          Assistant Researcher at the Centro de Estudos da Antropologia Social / ISCTE, Lisbon

2008-2009                                          Visiting Research Fellow (Leverhulme Trust Award) at the School of Theology and Religious Studies at Bangor University, Wales

 

Memberships, Projects, and Conferences:

2005-2007                                          Conception of the permanent exhibition The Americas at the GRASSI Museum of Ethnography Leipzig

since 2005                                          Curator of the permanent exhibition Afro-America at the GRASSI Museum of Ethnography Leipzig

since 05/2006                                     Associated researcher at the Centro de Estudos da Antropologia Social / ISCTE, Lisbon

2007                                                   Organization of the International Conference Kunst oder Kontext? Praesentationsformen ausser-europaeischer Kulturen(GRASSI Museum of Ethnography,5th-8th of July 2007)

2008                                                   Organization of the International Conference New Interpretations of Spirit Possession (Bangor University, Wales, May 16-17 2008)

since 2010                                          Member of the Latin American Studies Association

 

Awards:

2008/9                                                 Leverhulme Trust Award (GB)

 

Forschungsprojekte

Religion und Mission der Yoruba in London und Muenster (1995/1996, 1999/2000) 

Social and economical life of the Maasai; Witchcraft (uchawi) among the Swahili (1994,1996/1997) 

Der Kult der Pombagira in Brasilien; Geschichte und Mystifizierung von Roma and Calé in Brasilien (2001/2002, 2003) 

The impact of hurricanes on the Afro-American religious culture in New Orleans (2008/2009)

Wahrnehmung, Interpretation und Verarbeitung von Naturkatastrophen in den afroamerikanischen Religionen (seit 2010)

Veröffentlichungen

Monographs: 

Trickster, Transvestiten und Ciganas. Pombagira und die Erotik in den afrobrasilianischen Religionen.Leipzig: Leipziger Universitaetsverlag, 2006 

Articles: 

‚Geschichte und Mystifizierung der Zigeuner in Brasilien‘ In: Ries, J./ F. Jacobs (eds.): Roma-/Zigeunerkulturen in neuen Perspektiven. Romani/Gypsy Cultures in New Perspectives. Leipzig: Leipziger Universitaetsverlag, 2008, p. 135-154 

‚Tanzkleid der Oya’; ‚Exu Sete Facadas – Exu der sieben Messerstiche’; ‚Schultertrageband tsompirontsi’; ,Cara-Grande-Maske eines Totengeistes’; ‚Perlenkopfschmuck für Frauen’; ‚Ethno-medizinische Heilmittel’. In: Deimel, Claus (ed.): Kunstwerke der Welt. Die Amerikas. GRASSI Museum fuer Voelkerkunde zu Leipzig. Doessel: Verlag Janos Stekovics, 2008 

‚Die Schoenheit im Obszoenen. Zur Aesthetik und ‚aesthetischen Opposition‘ in den afrobrasilianischen Religionen.‘In: Muenzel, M./B. Streck (eds.): Ethnologische Religionsaesthetik. Marburg: Curupira, 2008, p. 99-108 

‚Huren, Teufel und Daemonen – Verehrung und Stigmatisierung der Gestalt der Pombagira in Brasilien.‘ In: Olmos, L. Rossbach de / H. Drotbohm (eds.): Afroamerikanische Kontroversen. Reihe Curupira Workshop, Bd. 10. Marburg: Curupira, 2007, p. 39-48 

‚Heilige Vagabunden: Zigeuner und Zigeunergeister in Brasilien.‘ In: Lange, K./K. Geisenhainer (eds.): Bewegliche Horizonte: Festschrift für Bernhard Streck. Leipzig: Leipziger Universitaetsverlag, 2005, p. 489-501 

‚Die Religion der Yoruba in der afrikanischen Diaspora Londons.‘ In: Zips, Werner (ed.): Afrikanische Diaspora: Out of Africa Into New Worlds. Muenster: Lit., 2003, p. 377-396