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.

Rhiannon Stephens, Professor of History at Columbia University and author of 'Poverty and Wealth in East Africa: A Conceptual History,' dives deep into the nuanced history of wealth and poverty in Eastern Uganda. She highlights how people have redefined these concepts over 2,000 years, well before colonial influences. Through innovative methods combining linguistics, archaeology, and oral traditions, she challenges colonial narratives and explores the impact of climate on cultural understandings of wealth, revealing a rich tapestry of local perspectives.