Kuper, Hilda B. (1911–1992)
Kuper, Hilda B. (1911–1992)
Social anthropologist. Name variations: Hilda Beemer. Born Hilda Beemer, Aug 23, 1911, in Bulawayo, Rhodesia (now known as Zimbabwe); died 1992; dau. of Joseph Beemer from Lithuania and Antoinette Renner Beemer from Vienna, both Jewish immigrants; Witwatersrand University, BA in anthropology; London School of Economics, MA and PhD in social anthropology; m. Leo Kuper (lawyer and sociologist), 1936; children: 2 daughters.
Known particularly for work on the Swazi, began association with Swaziland and the country's royal family (1934) and published 1st books about the Swazi (An African Aristocracy and The Uniform of Colour, both 1947); a friend of King Sobhuza II of Swaziland for about 50 years, was appointed his official biographer (1972) and published Sobhuza II, Ngwenyama and King of Swaziland (1978); served academic career at universities of Witwatersrand (1940–45), Natal (1959–62), and California in Los Angeles (1963–78). Other works include The Swazi (1952), The Shona (1955), Indian People of Natal (1960) and A South African Kingdom (1986).