Professor Presented Research on West African Relics
The talk explored historical perspectives on objects once categorized as feitiços by European merchants.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Historical
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Should historical artifacts be judged primarily by their original cultural meaning rather than external labels?
Professor Lexie Cook presented her research on West African sacred objects and the impact of colonialism. The presentation examined how historical categorizations labeled these items as irrational.
Why it matters
The research seeks to replace the historical fetish accusation with the term relic. This framework aims to challenge colonial narratives surrounding African cultural items.
The talk, titled 'Their Relics and Ours: Value, Proof and Personhood along Early Atlantic Routes,' addressed the historical terminology used by Portuguese merchants. These traders used the term feitiço to characterize West African objects.
The players
Lexie Cook
Lexie Cook is a professor who researches the intersection of colonialism, history, and cultural artifacts along Africa's Atlantic Coast.
Institute for the Study of Islamic Thought in Africa
This academic body hosts events and research initiatives focused on the history and intellectual traditions of African societies.
The details
Professor Lexie Cook presented her ongoing project to a group of faculty, students, and Evanston community members. Following the lecture, Cook received feedback from colleagues during a question and answer session that will inform her future manuscript revisions.
Timeline
Tuesday, October 13, 2026: Professor Lexie Cook presented her research.
Culture Shift
This research marks a departure from the colonial-era classification of African cultural objects as fetishes. It signals a broader intellectual shift toward decolonizing historical terminology within academic disciplines.
Community members in Evanston were able to engage directly with ongoing historical scholarship during the recent campus event. The feedback session highlighted how academic research is iteratively refined through public and professional discourse.
The takeaway
Understanding how colonial terminology influences our perception of history helps reveal the biases embedded in language. Readers interested in this topic can reflect on how the words we use for historical items shape their perceived value and meaning.
Further reading
For more on local academic trends, visit the Historical section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Northwestern.
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Should historical artifacts be judged primarily by their original cultural meaning rather than external labels?
