Magnus Godvik Ekeland

Magnus Godvik Ekeland is a social anthropologist, whose research focuses on questions concerning debt, dignity and dependence in South Africa.

His PhD thesis (2025) examined how residents in a small rural town in the Eastern Cape reconciled the need to enter into socio-financial dependencies during the national lockdown with a deep-seated aversion to such hierarchical relationships. He has also published on community politics and currently working on the informal trade in pharmaceuticals in rural South Africa.

Research dissemination is close to his heart, and he has published shorter pieces based on his research in popular online blogs, including Africa is a Country and Allegra Lab.

Recent publications:

Journal Articles:
Ekeland, M. G. 2025. Dreamers or schemers? Fears of “town capture” in a rural South African township”. Anthropology Southern Africa, 48(1), 15–28.

Ekeland, M. G. 2023. “Keeping the Spectre of Dependence at Bay”. Etnofoor, 35(1): 13-30.

Ekeland, M. G. 2021. “COVID-19's ambiguous parcel: Agency, dignity, and claims to a rightful share during food parcel distribution in lockdown South Africa”. Economic Anthropology, 9: 137-148.

Chapters:
Ekeland, M. G. 2022. “Longing to Break Free: Can a Basic Income Grant Boost Entrepreneurship Among Young Men in the South African Countryside?". In Entrepreneurial Responses to Covid-19 in Africa. Edited by Maud van Merriënboer. Eburon Uitgeverij.