Dr. Wouter E.A. van Beek
Professor Dr. Wouter E.A. van Beek is a cultural anthropologist currently working as Senior Researcher at the African Studies Centre of Leiden University, The Netherlands. At Tilburg University he held the Chair of Anthropology of Religion, and is now emeritus. Originally from Utrecht University he has performed extensive anthropological fieldwork in Cameroon and Mali, concentrating first on the Kapsiki/Higi of North Cameroon and Northeastern Nigeria, and for the last four decades on the Dogon of Central Mali. He recently acquired and led a major European project in cultural heritage in that latter area. On both groups he has published many scholarly articles and books; his most recent volume is an analytical, continent-wide overview of African masquerades.
As a student he became Dutch youth champion in draughts and participated twice in the Dutch senior championship finals. His academic career intervened, but his Africanist experience brought him back in the draughts administration through his friendship with the legendary Piet Roozenburg, former world champion, and then president of the FMJD. In 1992 he became president of the World Draughts Federation himself, serving till 2003. During this period he co-initiated the IMSA with his colleagues from chess and bridge. For the next four years he was executive vice-president of the CAJD, the African Draughts Confederation, before taking his farewell from draughts administration in 2007. For his services he was awarded with the title ‘président d’honneur’ (president for life). He is still an active player in his residence, Wageningen. He has co-published three books on draughts.
His administrative experience extends beyond draughts into a range academic and ecclesiastical leadership positions, during the whole span of his professional and sportive career. He considers his lifelong relationship with the continent of Africa, the Africans and with African players, as his springboard into the world of mind sports, since draughts is one intellectual sport where Africans excel at.