Rhiannon Stephens

Rhiannon Stephens, a historian at Columbia University with expertise in pre-colonial and early colonial East Africa, dives into the dynamic conceptual history of wealth and poverty in eastern Uganda. She emphasizes that economic thought predates colonialism, reshaping our understanding of inequality. By using comparative historical linguistics, she uncovers the rich linguistic and social narratives surrounding poverty. Stephens explores how climate, gender roles, and societal interactions influenced local perceptions of wealth, revealing a nuanced socio-economic landscape.