René Gardi
René Gardi (1 March 1909 – 9 March 2000) was a Swiss traveller and author. He wrote particularly on the handicrafts and architecture of West Africa.
Also recorded as Rene Gardi · R. Gardi
René Gardi
- Born
- 1909 · Bern.
- Died
- 2000 · Bern.
- Nationality
- Switzerland
- Occupation
- anthropologist · writer · photographer · scientific collector · screenwriter · film producer · director
- Languages
- German
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Documentary summary
René Gardi (1 March 1909 – 9 March 2000) was a Swiss traveller and author. He wrote particularly on the handicrafts and architecture of West Africa.
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Note VALÉORINE
René Gardi (1909–2000) was a Swiss anthropologist, director and film director, among other activities. The anthropologist was born and died in Bern. René Gardi worked in French Cameroons.
Languages used include German. Works by the anthropologist are held at National Museum of World Cultures.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 30 September 2026
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wikidata · Q124549 · wikipedia · René Gardi
In this article
Life
Life
Gardi was born 1909 in Bern, Switzerland. After studying mathematics, physics, and zoology at Bern University, he became secondary scholl teacher at Brügg BE near Biel from 1931 to 1945, and then worked as independent author and traveler (Vortragsreisender). He documented his travels to Africa in several books and in two films: • Mandara (1959) and • Die letzte Karawane (The Last Caravan) (1967).
Death
Death
Gardi died 2000 in Bern.
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 2 entries
1909
René Gardi was born on 1 March 1909.
2000
René Gardi died on 9 March 2000.
Publications
• Schwarzwasser, Jugendbuch 1943 • Bergvolk der Wüste, 1951 • Blaue Schleier - rote Zelte, 1951 • Mandara, 1953 • Kirdi, 1955 • Sepik, 1958 • Sahara, 1967
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “René Gardi”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q124549: René Gardi
General reference · Wikidata
Honors and awards
He won many prizes for literature and in 1967 received an Honorary Doctorate at Bern University.
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
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