This series of "Classics in African Anthropology" is primarily drawn from a distinct family of texts which dominated the academic analysis of society in mid-20th century Africa. The texts are significant yet often neglected, but have stood the test of time, according to the editors.

Introduction, Daryll Forde
the L'ele of Kasai, Mary Douglas
the Abaluyia of Kavirondo (Kenya), Gunter Wagner
the Lovedu of the Transvaal, J.D. &
E.J. Krige
the Dogon of the French Sudan, Marcel Griaule &
Germaine Dieterlen
the Mende in Sierra Leone, Kenneth Little
the Shilluk of the Upper Nile, Godfrey Lienhardt
the kingdom of Rwanda, J.J. Maquet
the Ashanti of the Gold Coast. K.A. Busia
the Fon of Dahomey, P. Mercier.