In the 2013 elections, northern Kenya – previously seen as peripheral to national politics – took... more In the 2013 elections, northern Kenya – previously seen as peripheral to national politics – took on great significance as a potential ‘swing’ region, and became the focus of much campaigning and strategizing by presidential and other candidates. It was also seen as a region especially at risk of violence given its history of ethnic politics and the new context of the devolved county system. This paper explores how the north’s ethnic dynamics played out in 2013, looking in particular at case studies of three northern counties: Isiolo, Mandera and Marsabit. It traces the history of ethnic politics in these counties, and the strategies used to secure votes in 2013 through strategic alliance formation, exclusionary politics and the anointing of candidates by ‘councils of elders’. While such strategies were not uniformly successful, they led to a remarkable swing to the Jubilee Alliance of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto in
Mandera. Ruto’s United Republican Party did especially well in the north, and he appears to have navigated the ethnic and clan politics of the north expertly, playing up his pastoralist background as he did so. While a success for Jubilee, the ethnic strategizing has had serious ramifications, especially in Mandera and Marsabit where exclusion has led to resentment and conflict.
Since the collapse of the Somali state, Nairobi's Eastleigh estate has played host to thousands o... more Since the collapse of the Somali state, Nairobi's Eastleigh estate has played host to thousands of Somali refugees and developed from a quiet residential suburb to a major East African commercial hub. This article examines this transformation, arguing that it builds on pre-existing cross border trade networks, as well as diaspora and Kenyan sources of capital, and regional and global processes that intensified in the early 1990s. The Eastleigh story provides a lens through which we trace economic changes associated with Somalia's extended statelessness, in particular how connective fabric has been generated and sustained in this stateless period. However, the Eastleigh story is not just one of Somali statelessness, but also of interaction with other states. In particular, this article focuses on the ambiguous relationship of Eastleigh to the Kenyan state, suggesting that Somali business in Eastleigh, although born of a collapsed state and informality, is integrated in various ways into the formal state-regulated sector. Furthermore, Eastleigh businesspeople hope for more Kenyan state involvement in the estate to provide better security and infrastructure, while Somali businesspeople in general long for a viable Somali state that will allow them to invest their capital at home.
The Mukogodo of Kenya were once hunter-gatherers speaking a Cushitic language. Over the last cent... more The Mukogodo of Kenya were once hunter-gatherers speaking a Cushitic language. Over the last century, they were absorbed more and more into the orbit of Maa-speaking pastoralists, adopting pastoralism, as well as Maasai culture and language. In the process, use of their former language declined considerably, and today there are only a few surviving elders who have even a limited grasp of it. Also, Maasai cultural dominance has marginalised the old ways of the Mukogodo, still looked down upon by many Maasai and Samburu as il-torrobo, a contemptuous term for hunter-gatherers. However, influenced by global discourses on indigenous rights, conservation and the worth of preserving endangered languages, there is a movement amongst the Mukogodo to revive their language, reconstruct an ethnic identity as ‘Yaaku’, and demand greater rights to the Mukogodo Forest; this movement has recently culminated in the construction of a museum where it is hoped future generations will learn at least something of the old language and way of life. This article traces the fluctuations of Mukogodo language and culture over the last century, especially focusing on this recent revivalist movement and the people, and local, national and international politics, behind it. It shows how the marginality of the Mukogodo and their old ways and language can be turned to advantage, as being Yaaku and speaking the Yaaku language become major resources in a poverty-stricken region.
Efforts to institute a system for the control and prohibition of khat in Kenya are examined in th... more Efforts to institute a system for the control and prohibition of khat in Kenya are examined in this article. Prohibition was introduced in the 1940s after an advocacy campaign led by prominent colonial officials. The legislation imposed a racialized view of the effect of khat, seeking to protect an allegedly ‘vulnerable’ community in the north of the country while allowing khat to be consumed and traded in other areas, including Meru where ‘traditional’ production and consumption was permitted. Colonial policy took little account of African opinion, although African agency was evident in the failure and ultimate collapse of the prohibition in the face of widespread smuggling and general infringement. Trade in khat became ever more lucrative, and in the final years of colonial rule economic arguments overcame the prohibition lobby. The imposition of prohibition and control indicates the extent to which colonial attitudes towards and beliefs about cultural behaviour among Africans shaped policies, but the story also illustrates the fundamental weakness of the colonial state in its failure to uphold the legislation.
The paper introduces khat as an Indian Ocean phenomenon, understandable only in historical perspe... more The paper introduces khat as an Indian Ocean phenomenon, understandable only in historical perspective, and yet utterly contemporary. Its history frames contemporary issues: its rising popularity; the economic relief it brings farmers and traders; cultural significance as an identity marker; disdain, suspicion, and/or intolerance of it as a ‘drug.’ In this paper we explore regional linkages and disjunctures regarding these issues, examining khat use in the western Indian Ocean, especially in Madagascar and Kenya. We argue that certain global concerns link experiences of khat throughout the Indian Ocean region (and extend to expatriate communities from these countries throughout the world). These include global issues of the war on drugs, fear of Islamic terrorism, and the hegemony of the western economic development model. Individual histories of use, contemporary concerns, and contemporary cultural expressions also distinguish these experiences from each other in significant ways.
This article examines the varied perceptions of the substance miraa/khat in Kenya, from strong ap... more This article examines the varied perceptions of the substance miraa/khat in Kenya, from strong approval in the Nyambene Hills region where it is cultivated to the strong disapproval evident in its frequent denunciation in various segments of Kenyan society. Perceptions are colored by various local and global discourses, and it is argued that of great importance is “war on drugs” rhetoric, which allows the conflation of miraa with other substances also termed “drugs”; much of the Kenyan miraa debate revolves around just how miraa should be categorized and to whether it can be labeled a “drug.” War-on-drugs rhetoric is countered by those more enamored of the substance by discourse in which its use is labeled “traditional,” “cool,” and an “economic miracle.”
This article examines the enormous variety evident in the ‘social life’ of Kenyan khat (miraa) an... more This article examines the enormous variety evident in the ‘social life’ of Kenyan khat (miraa) and the role of this variety in the creation and manipulation of value. The article, after a discussion of the literature on value and its relevance to miraa, describes variables used in distinguishing the many different types of miraa, describes how consumers associate themselves with certain varieties and suggests why some varieties are more valued – culturally and economically – than others. The article then looks at the international trade in miraa, and how value is manipulated as exporters – well positioned to exploit different ‘fields of value’ – blend different varieties together to ensure a decent financial reward. It concludes by emphasising that understanding miraa requires an appreciation of its complex particularity.
Kenyan khat arrives in the UK four days a week and much of it, having arrived at Heathrow from Na... more Kenyan khat arrives in the UK four days a week and much of it, having arrived at Heathrow from Nairobi and been cleared through customs, is delivered by van to a depot in Southall. There it is collected by distributors who speed it on to retailers. It is estimated that around seven tonnes of khat enters the UK each week.
This article contrasts two very different timeframes in the ‘social life’ of the plant stimulant ... more This article contrasts two very different timeframes in the ‘social life’ of the plant stimulant miraa – known elsewhere as khat – in Kenya and beyond. One timeframe is connected with the old miraa trees growing in the Nyambene Hills District of central Kenya: these are known as mbaine, and are greatly respected for their age and link to the past. The miraa from these trees is put to much ceremonial use by the Meru inhabitants of the Nyambenes. The other timeframe is the very different one of the harvested stems. These stems are highly perishable and so must reach the consumer quickly, leading to urgency in their trade and transportation: the ‘need for speed’. The globalization of the miraa trade has intensified this urgency further: the stems are now desired as far away as North America. Miraa trees have not escaped this ‘commercial’ timeframe, and some farmers experiment with chemical sprays to speed up the production rate. The article concludes by arguing that such attempts to speed up the timeframes of the trees are met with resistance, and have not diluted the cultural significance of ancient mbaine trees and their ancestral links.
Miraa (as khat is most commonly known in Kenya) is grown intensively in the Nyambene Hills distri... more Miraa (as khat is most commonly known in Kenya) is grown intensively in the Nyambene Hills district of Kenya by the Tigania and Igembe (sub-groups of the Meru). It is of prime economic importance for the region, and Nyambene-grown miraa feeds a growing international, as well as national, market. While it is a controversial substance – condemned as a ‘drug’ by many – Tigania and Igembe have much pride in the substance, emphasising not just its economic role but also its place in Nyambene traditions. It is linked strongly to Tigania and Igembe ancestors, and its consumption is said to have been once restricted to the elders alone. However, miraa is now also incorporated into a ‘youth ethos’ where it is validated as poa (‘cool’) alongside many elements imported from abroad. Rather than leading to a rejection of its traditional resonance, this paper argues that for many Tigania and Igembe youth miraa's validation as poa in a wider youth ethos reinforces the respect they have for this traditional, localised significance. For them, that miraa is a successful commodity, is linked to their heritage, and is regarded as poa by many of their peers in Kenya, helps forge an identity as young, modern and Meru.
This work on kola — a caffeine-containing stimulant of great social, cultural, and economic signi... more This work on kola — a caffeine-containing stimulant of great social, cultural, and economic significance in West Africa — follows on from and complements the previous major work on the topic, Paul Lovejoy’s Caravans of Kola: The Hausa kola trade 1700–1900 (London and Zaria, 1980). In describing kola’s role in the Asante state, Abaka provides an important case study of the perception and control of stimulant substances, a group that includes such fascinating commodities as tea, coffee, tobacco, khat, cocoa, guarana, and betel amongst others.
Khat consists of the green to purple leaves and stems of Catha edulis (Forssk.), chewed for their... more Khat consists of the green to purple leaves and stems of Catha edulis (Forssk.), chewed for their stimulating properties in East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and elsewhere, including the UK. Perceptions of the substance vary considerably. Customs officers in the US (nicknamed ‘Khat Busters’) strive to keep out a ‘drug of abuse’ associated with the violent deaths of US troops in Mogadishu, while prestations of high-quality stems are made in solving disputes peacefully in the Nyambene Hills district of Kenya. However, whether one associates khat consumption
with peace or violence, one could scarcely dispute that the market for the substance supports many people, including farmers and traders of Harerge province in Ethiopia, the setting for Ezekiel Gebissa’s Leaf of Allah.
Nigerian drug lords in UK prisons, khat-chewing Somali pirates hijacking Western ships, crystal m... more Nigerian drug lords in UK prisons, khat-chewing Somali pirates hijacking Western ships, crystal meth-smoking gangs controlling South Africa's streets, and narco-traffickers corrupting the state in Guinea-Bissau: these are some of the vivid images surrounding drugs in Africa which have alarmed policymakers, academics and the general public in recent years. In this revealing and original book, the authors weave these aspects into a provocative argument about Africa's role in the global trade and control of drugs. In doing so, they show how foreign-inspired policies have failed to help African drug users but have strengthened the role of corrupt and brutal law enforcement officers, who are tasked with halting the export of heroin and cocaine to European and American consumer markets.
A vital book on an overlooked front of the so-called war on drugs.
Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate has undergone profound change over the past two decades. Previously a ... more Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate has undergone profound change over the past two decades. Previously a quiet residential zone, the arrival of vast numbers of Somali refugees catalysed its transformation into ‘Little Mogadishu’, a global hub for Somali business. Dozens of malls and hotels have sprouted from its muddy streets, attracting thousands of shoppers. Nonetheless, despite boosting Kenya’s economy, the estate and its residents are held in suspicion over alleged links to Islamic terrorism, especially after the 2013 Westgate Mall attack, while local and international media have suggested with little evidence that its economic boom owes much to capital derived from Indian Ocean piracy.
In contrast to such sensationalised reporting, Little Mogadishu is based on detailed historical and ethnographic research and explores the social and historical underpinnings of this economic boom. It examines how transnational networks converged on Eastleigh in the wake of the collapse of the Somali state, attracting capital from the Somali diaspora, and bringing goods—especially clothes and electronics—from Dubai, China and elsewhere that are much in demand in East Africa. In so doing, Little Mogadishu provides a compelling case-study of the developmental impact diasporas and transnational trade can have, albeit in a country where many see this development as suspect.
Africa has very recently emerged as a focal point of the global "War on Drugs," as international ... more Africa has very recently emerged as a focal point of the global "War on Drugs," as international drug control agencies warn of the continent's growing role as a distribution hub for cocaine and heroin, while also lamenting the prevalence of cannabis and alcohol commerce and use, especially among African youths. Both illegal drugs and legal substances such as alcohol are increasingly tied to broader economic and public health issues including unemployment, criminality, family disintegration, and HIV infection. Notwithstanding this growing alarm, there is relatively little serious scholarship addressing the issue of drugs in Africa. This cutting-edge volume is the first to address the burgeoning interest in drugs and Africa among scholars, policymakers, and the general public: no other book offers an Africa-wide analysis of the subject. It brings together an interdisciplinary group of leading academics and practitioners to explore the use, trade, production, and control of mind-altering substances on the continent, from heroin and cannabis to alcohol and khat. In particular, it examines the tension between integrative social practices and socially disruptive vices, revealing these categories to be largely arbitrary and tools of social control.
In the 2013 elections, northern Kenya – previously seen as peripheral to national politics – took... more In the 2013 elections, northern Kenya – previously seen as peripheral to national politics – took on great significance as a potential ‘swing’ region, and became the focus of much campaigning and strategizing by presidential and other candidates. It was also seen as a region especially at risk of violence given its history of ethnic politics and the new context of the devolved county system. This paper explores how the north’s ethnic dynamics played out in 2013, looking in particular at case studies of three northern counties: Isiolo, Mandera and Marsabit. It traces the history of ethnic politics in these counties, and the strategies used to secure votes in 2013 through strategic alliance formation, exclusionary politics and the anointing of candidates by ‘councils of elders’. While such strategies were not uniformly successful, they led to a remarkable swing to the Jubilee Alliance of Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto in
Mandera. Ruto’s United Republican Party did especially well in the north, and he appears to have navigated the ethnic and clan politics of the north expertly, playing up his pastoralist background as he did so. While a success for Jubilee, the ethnic strategizing has had serious ramifications, especially in Mandera and Marsabit where exclusion has led to resentment and conflict.
Since the collapse of the Somali state, Nairobi's Eastleigh estate has played host to thousands o... more Since the collapse of the Somali state, Nairobi's Eastleigh estate has played host to thousands of Somali refugees and developed from a quiet residential suburb to a major East African commercial hub. This article examines this transformation, arguing that it builds on pre-existing cross border trade networks, as well as diaspora and Kenyan sources of capital, and regional and global processes that intensified in the early 1990s. The Eastleigh story provides a lens through which we trace economic changes associated with Somalia's extended statelessness, in particular how connective fabric has been generated and sustained in this stateless period. However, the Eastleigh story is not just one of Somali statelessness, but also of interaction with other states. In particular, this article focuses on the ambiguous relationship of Eastleigh to the Kenyan state, suggesting that Somali business in Eastleigh, although born of a collapsed state and informality, is integrated in various ways into the formal state-regulated sector. Furthermore, Eastleigh businesspeople hope for more Kenyan state involvement in the estate to provide better security and infrastructure, while Somali businesspeople in general long for a viable Somali state that will allow them to invest their capital at home.
The Mukogodo of Kenya were once hunter-gatherers speaking a Cushitic language. Over the last cent... more The Mukogodo of Kenya were once hunter-gatherers speaking a Cushitic language. Over the last century, they were absorbed more and more into the orbit of Maa-speaking pastoralists, adopting pastoralism, as well as Maasai culture and language. In the process, use of their former language declined considerably, and today there are only a few surviving elders who have even a limited grasp of it. Also, Maasai cultural dominance has marginalised the old ways of the Mukogodo, still looked down upon by many Maasai and Samburu as il-torrobo, a contemptuous term for hunter-gatherers. However, influenced by global discourses on indigenous rights, conservation and the worth of preserving endangered languages, there is a movement amongst the Mukogodo to revive their language, reconstruct an ethnic identity as ‘Yaaku’, and demand greater rights to the Mukogodo Forest; this movement has recently culminated in the construction of a museum where it is hoped future generations will learn at least something of the old language and way of life. This article traces the fluctuations of Mukogodo language and culture over the last century, especially focusing on this recent revivalist movement and the people, and local, national and international politics, behind it. It shows how the marginality of the Mukogodo and their old ways and language can be turned to advantage, as being Yaaku and speaking the Yaaku language become major resources in a poverty-stricken region.
Efforts to institute a system for the control and prohibition of khat in Kenya are examined in th... more Efforts to institute a system for the control and prohibition of khat in Kenya are examined in this article. Prohibition was introduced in the 1940s after an advocacy campaign led by prominent colonial officials. The legislation imposed a racialized view of the effect of khat, seeking to protect an allegedly ‘vulnerable’ community in the north of the country while allowing khat to be consumed and traded in other areas, including Meru where ‘traditional’ production and consumption was permitted. Colonial policy took little account of African opinion, although African agency was evident in the failure and ultimate collapse of the prohibition in the face of widespread smuggling and general infringement. Trade in khat became ever more lucrative, and in the final years of colonial rule economic arguments overcame the prohibition lobby. The imposition of prohibition and control indicates the extent to which colonial attitudes towards and beliefs about cultural behaviour among Africans shaped policies, but the story also illustrates the fundamental weakness of the colonial state in its failure to uphold the legislation.
The paper introduces khat as an Indian Ocean phenomenon, understandable only in historical perspe... more The paper introduces khat as an Indian Ocean phenomenon, understandable only in historical perspective, and yet utterly contemporary. Its history frames contemporary issues: its rising popularity; the economic relief it brings farmers and traders; cultural significance as an identity marker; disdain, suspicion, and/or intolerance of it as a ‘drug.’ In this paper we explore regional linkages and disjunctures regarding these issues, examining khat use in the western Indian Ocean, especially in Madagascar and Kenya. We argue that certain global concerns link experiences of khat throughout the Indian Ocean region (and extend to expatriate communities from these countries throughout the world). These include global issues of the war on drugs, fear of Islamic terrorism, and the hegemony of the western economic development model. Individual histories of use, contemporary concerns, and contemporary cultural expressions also distinguish these experiences from each other in significant ways.
This article examines the varied perceptions of the substance miraa/khat in Kenya, from strong ap... more This article examines the varied perceptions of the substance miraa/khat in Kenya, from strong approval in the Nyambene Hills region where it is cultivated to the strong disapproval evident in its frequent denunciation in various segments of Kenyan society. Perceptions are colored by various local and global discourses, and it is argued that of great importance is “war on drugs” rhetoric, which allows the conflation of miraa with other substances also termed “drugs”; much of the Kenyan miraa debate revolves around just how miraa should be categorized and to whether it can be labeled a “drug.” War-on-drugs rhetoric is countered by those more enamored of the substance by discourse in which its use is labeled “traditional,” “cool,” and an “economic miracle.”
This article examines the enormous variety evident in the ‘social life’ of Kenyan khat (miraa) an... more This article examines the enormous variety evident in the ‘social life’ of Kenyan khat (miraa) and the role of this variety in the creation and manipulation of value. The article, after a discussion of the literature on value and its relevance to miraa, describes variables used in distinguishing the many different types of miraa, describes how consumers associate themselves with certain varieties and suggests why some varieties are more valued – culturally and economically – than others. The article then looks at the international trade in miraa, and how value is manipulated as exporters – well positioned to exploit different ‘fields of value’ – blend different varieties together to ensure a decent financial reward. It concludes by emphasising that understanding miraa requires an appreciation of its complex particularity.
Kenyan khat arrives in the UK four days a week and much of it, having arrived at Heathrow from Na... more Kenyan khat arrives in the UK four days a week and much of it, having arrived at Heathrow from Nairobi and been cleared through customs, is delivered by van to a depot in Southall. There it is collected by distributors who speed it on to retailers. It is estimated that around seven tonnes of khat enters the UK each week.
This article contrasts two very different timeframes in the ‘social life’ of the plant stimulant ... more This article contrasts two very different timeframes in the ‘social life’ of the plant stimulant miraa – known elsewhere as khat – in Kenya and beyond. One timeframe is connected with the old miraa trees growing in the Nyambene Hills District of central Kenya: these are known as mbaine, and are greatly respected for their age and link to the past. The miraa from these trees is put to much ceremonial use by the Meru inhabitants of the Nyambenes. The other timeframe is the very different one of the harvested stems. These stems are highly perishable and so must reach the consumer quickly, leading to urgency in their trade and transportation: the ‘need for speed’. The globalization of the miraa trade has intensified this urgency further: the stems are now desired as far away as North America. Miraa trees have not escaped this ‘commercial’ timeframe, and some farmers experiment with chemical sprays to speed up the production rate. The article concludes by arguing that such attempts to speed up the timeframes of the trees are met with resistance, and have not diluted the cultural significance of ancient mbaine trees and their ancestral links.
Miraa (as khat is most commonly known in Kenya) is grown intensively in the Nyambene Hills distri... more Miraa (as khat is most commonly known in Kenya) is grown intensively in the Nyambene Hills district of Kenya by the Tigania and Igembe (sub-groups of the Meru). It is of prime economic importance for the region, and Nyambene-grown miraa feeds a growing international, as well as national, market. While it is a controversial substance – condemned as a ‘drug’ by many – Tigania and Igembe have much pride in the substance, emphasising not just its economic role but also its place in Nyambene traditions. It is linked strongly to Tigania and Igembe ancestors, and its consumption is said to have been once restricted to the elders alone. However, miraa is now also incorporated into a ‘youth ethos’ where it is validated as poa (‘cool’) alongside many elements imported from abroad. Rather than leading to a rejection of its traditional resonance, this paper argues that for many Tigania and Igembe youth miraa's validation as poa in a wider youth ethos reinforces the respect they have for this traditional, localised significance. For them, that miraa is a successful commodity, is linked to their heritage, and is regarded as poa by many of their peers in Kenya, helps forge an identity as young, modern and Meru.
This work on kola — a caffeine-containing stimulant of great social, cultural, and economic signi... more This work on kola — a caffeine-containing stimulant of great social, cultural, and economic significance in West Africa — follows on from and complements the previous major work on the topic, Paul Lovejoy’s Caravans of Kola: The Hausa kola trade 1700–1900 (London and Zaria, 1980). In describing kola’s role in the Asante state, Abaka provides an important case study of the perception and control of stimulant substances, a group that includes such fascinating commodities as tea, coffee, tobacco, khat, cocoa, guarana, and betel amongst others.
Khat consists of the green to purple leaves and stems of Catha edulis (Forssk.), chewed for their... more Khat consists of the green to purple leaves and stems of Catha edulis (Forssk.), chewed for their stimulating properties in East Africa, the Arabian Peninsula, and elsewhere, including the UK. Perceptions of the substance vary considerably. Customs officers in the US (nicknamed ‘Khat Busters’) strive to keep out a ‘drug of abuse’ associated with the violent deaths of US troops in Mogadishu, while prestations of high-quality stems are made in solving disputes peacefully in the Nyambene Hills district of Kenya. However, whether one associates khat consumption
with peace or violence, one could scarcely dispute that the market for the substance supports many people, including farmers and traders of Harerge province in Ethiopia, the setting for Ezekiel Gebissa’s Leaf of Allah.
Nigerian drug lords in UK prisons, khat-chewing Somali pirates hijacking Western ships, crystal m... more Nigerian drug lords in UK prisons, khat-chewing Somali pirates hijacking Western ships, crystal meth-smoking gangs controlling South Africa's streets, and narco-traffickers corrupting the state in Guinea-Bissau: these are some of the vivid images surrounding drugs in Africa which have alarmed policymakers, academics and the general public in recent years. In this revealing and original book, the authors weave these aspects into a provocative argument about Africa's role in the global trade and control of drugs. In doing so, they show how foreign-inspired policies have failed to help African drug users but have strengthened the role of corrupt and brutal law enforcement officers, who are tasked with halting the export of heroin and cocaine to European and American consumer markets.
A vital book on an overlooked front of the so-called war on drugs.
Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate has undergone profound change over the past two decades. Previously a ... more Nairobi’s Eastleigh estate has undergone profound change over the past two decades. Previously a quiet residential zone, the arrival of vast numbers of Somali refugees catalysed its transformation into ‘Little Mogadishu’, a global hub for Somali business. Dozens of malls and hotels have sprouted from its muddy streets, attracting thousands of shoppers. Nonetheless, despite boosting Kenya’s economy, the estate and its residents are held in suspicion over alleged links to Islamic terrorism, especially after the 2013 Westgate Mall attack, while local and international media have suggested with little evidence that its economic boom owes much to capital derived from Indian Ocean piracy.
In contrast to such sensationalised reporting, Little Mogadishu is based on detailed historical and ethnographic research and explores the social and historical underpinnings of this economic boom. It examines how transnational networks converged on Eastleigh in the wake of the collapse of the Somali state, attracting capital from the Somali diaspora, and bringing goods—especially clothes and electronics—from Dubai, China and elsewhere that are much in demand in East Africa. In so doing, Little Mogadishu provides a compelling case-study of the developmental impact diasporas and transnational trade can have, albeit in a country where many see this development as suspect.
Africa has very recently emerged as a focal point of the global "War on Drugs," as international ... more Africa has very recently emerged as a focal point of the global "War on Drugs," as international drug control agencies warn of the continent's growing role as a distribution hub for cocaine and heroin, while also lamenting the prevalence of cannabis and alcohol commerce and use, especially among African youths. Both illegal drugs and legal substances such as alcohol are increasingly tied to broader economic and public health issues including unemployment, criminality, family disintegration, and HIV infection. Notwithstanding this growing alarm, there is relatively little serious scholarship addressing the issue of drugs in Africa. This cutting-edge volume is the first to address the burgeoning interest in drugs and Africa among scholars, policymakers, and the general public: no other book offers an Africa-wide analysis of the subject. It brings together an interdisciplinary group of leading academics and practitioners to explore the use, trade, production, and control of mind-altering substances on the continent, from heroin and cannabis to alcohol and khat. In particular, it examines the tension between integrative social practices and socially disruptive vices, revealing these categories to be largely arbitrary and tools of social control.
Nigerian drug lords in UK prisons, khat-chewing Somali pirates hijacking Western ships, crystal m... more Nigerian drug lords in UK prisons, khat-chewing Somali pirates hijacking Western ships, crystal meth-smoking gangs controlling South Africa's streets, and narco-traffickers corrupting the state in Guinea-Bissau: these are some of the vivid images surrounding drugs in Africa which have alarmed policymakers, academics and the general public in recent years. In this revealing and original book, the authors weave these aspects into a provocative argument about Africa's role in the global trade and control of drugs. In doing so, they show how foreign-inspired policies have failed to help African drug users but have strengthened the role of corrupt and brutal law enforcement officers, who are tasked with halting the export of heroin and cocaine to European and American consumer markets.
Consuming Cultures, Global Perspectives Historical Trajectories, Transnational Exchanges
Globalization and consumerism are two of the buzzwords of the early twenty-first century. In Cons... more Globalization and consumerism are two of the buzzwords of the early twenty-first century. In Consuming Cultures, renowned scholars explore the links between modernity and consumption. The book fills a gap in contemporary thinking on the subject by approaching it from a truly global point-of-view. It draws on case studies from around the world, with Africa, Asia and Central America featuring as prominently as Western countries. A transnational perspective allows the authors to investigate the diversity of consumer cultures and the interaction between them. The authors look at the genealogy of the modern consumer and the development of consumer cultures, from the porcelain trade and consumption in Britain and China in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, to post Second World War developments in America and Japan, and the contemporary consumer politics of cosmopolitan citizenship. Challenging and pioneering, Consuming Cultures problematizes popular accounts of globalization and consumerism, decentring the West and concentrating on putting history back into these accounts. - See more at: http://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/consuming-cultures-global-perspectives-9781845202477/#sthash.8tacc6er.dpuf
Travelling Cultures and Plants: The Ethnobiology and Ethnopharmacy of Human Migrations , 2007
In the last couple of decades a plant stimulant has traveled into lands not traditionally associa... more In the last couple of decades a plant stimulant has traveled into lands not traditionally associated with its consumption and in the process has become highly controversial, causing panic not only for worries over its impact on health, but for far wider reasons as well. Khat is the substance in question, and unlike other plant stimulants such as coffee, tea, and tobacco, which also met with considerable opposition when they first entered the West, khat arrived along with representatives of the indigenous groups who consumed it in its lands of origin. This is a crucial factor in its reception, and the main focus of this chapter. After first introducing the substance and its effects, Carrier describes the growth in its international trade, linking this to the spread of khat-chewing diaspora communities. He focuses in particular on the Somali diaspora, emphasizing khat's social and cultural importance for the life of Somalis in the West.
The Speed of Change Motor Vehicles and People in Africa, 1890-2000, Jul 2009
In the early 1900s the motor-vehicle (car, bus, lorry or motor-cycle) was introduced in sub-Sahar... more In the early 1900s the motor-vehicle (car, bus, lorry or motor-cycle) was introduced in sub-Saharan Africa. Initially the plaything and symbol of colonial domination, the motor-vehicle transformed the economic and social life of the continent. Indeed, the motor-vehicle is arguably the single most important factor for change in Africa in the twentieth century. A factor for change that thus far has been neglected in research and literature. Yet its impact extends across the totality of human existence; from ecological devastation to economic advancement, from cultural transformation to political change, through to a myriad of other themes. This edited volume of eleven contributions by historians, anthropologists and social and political scientists explores aspects of the social history and anthropology of the motor-vehicle in Africa.
Photography in Africa Ethnographic Perspectives Edited by Richard Vokes, 2012
This collection of studies in African photography examines, through a series of empirically rich ... more This collection of studies in African photography examines, through a series of empirically rich historical and ethnographic cases, the variety of ways in which photographs are produced, circulated, and engaged across a range of social contexts. In so doing, it elucidates the distinctive characteristics of African photographic practices and cultures, vis-à-vis those of other forms of 'vernacular photography' worldwide. In addition, these studies develop a reflexive turn, examining the history of academic engagement with these African photographic cultures, and reflecting on the distinctive qualities of the ethnographic method as a means for studying such phenomena.
The volume critically engages current debates in African photography and visual anthropology. First, it extends our understanding of the variety of ways in which both colonial and post-colonial states in Africa have used photography as a means for establishing, and projecting, their authority. Second, it moves discussion of African photography away from an exclusive focus on the role of the 'the studio' and looks at the circulations through which the studios' products - the photographs themselves - later pass as artefacts of material culture. Last, it makes an important contribution to our understanding of the relationship between photography and ethnographic research methods, as these have been employed in Africa.
Richard Vokes is Senior Lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and author of Ghosts of Kanungu
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Papers by Neil Carrier
Mandera. Ruto’s United Republican Party did especially well in the north, and he appears to have navigated the ethnic and clan politics of the north expertly, playing up his pastoralist background as he did so. While a success for Jubilee, the ethnic strategizing has had serious ramifications, especially in Mandera and Marsabit where exclusion has led to resentment and conflict.
Book Reviews by Neil Carrier
with peace or violence, one could scarcely dispute that the market for the substance supports many people, including farmers and traders of Harerge province in Ethiopia, the setting for Ezekiel Gebissa’s Leaf of Allah.
Books by Neil Carrier
A vital book on an overlooked front of the so-called war on drugs.
In contrast to such sensationalised reporting, Little Mogadishu is based on detailed historical and ethnographic research and explores the social and historical underpinnings of this economic boom. It examines how transnational networks converged on Eastleigh in the wake of the collapse of the Somali state, attracting capital from the Somali diaspora, and bringing goods—especially clothes and electronics—from Dubai, China and elsewhere that are much in demand in East Africa. In so doing, Little Mogadishu provides a compelling case-study of the developmental impact diasporas and transnational trade can have, albeit in a country where many see this development as suspect.
Mandera. Ruto’s United Republican Party did especially well in the north, and he appears to have navigated the ethnic and clan politics of the north expertly, playing up his pastoralist background as he did so. While a success for Jubilee, the ethnic strategizing has had serious ramifications, especially in Mandera and Marsabit where exclusion has led to resentment and conflict.
with peace or violence, one could scarcely dispute that the market for the substance supports many people, including farmers and traders of Harerge province in Ethiopia, the setting for Ezekiel Gebissa’s Leaf of Allah.
A vital book on an overlooked front of the so-called war on drugs.
In contrast to such sensationalised reporting, Little Mogadishu is based on detailed historical and ethnographic research and explores the social and historical underpinnings of this economic boom. It examines how transnational networks converged on Eastleigh in the wake of the collapse of the Somali state, attracting capital from the Somali diaspora, and bringing goods—especially clothes and electronics—from Dubai, China and elsewhere that are much in demand in East Africa. In so doing, Little Mogadishu provides a compelling case-study of the developmental impact diasporas and transnational trade can have, albeit in a country where many see this development as suspect.
The volume critically engages current debates in African photography and visual anthropology. First, it extends our understanding of the variety of ways in which both colonial and post-colonial states in Africa have used photography as a means for establishing, and projecting, their authority. Second, it moves discussion of African photography away from an exclusive focus on the role of the 'the studio' and looks at the circulations through which the studios' products - the photographs themselves - later pass as artefacts of material culture. Last, it makes an important contribution to our understanding of the relationship between photography and ethnographic research methods, as these have been employed in Africa.
Richard Vokes is Senior Lecturer in Anthropology at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, and author of Ghosts of Kanungu