| Title | : | Slavery and Beyond (Social History of Africa Series) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0325002614 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780325002613 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 384 |
| Publication | : | First published March 8, 2004 |
Allen and Barbara Isaacman reveal the colorful narrative of an "obscure and impoverished people living in the shadows of history." Originating as slave armies on the plantations of Portuguese East Africa, the Chikunda emerged as noted elephant hunters, daring canoe voyagers, long-distance trade porters, and state builders as slavery melted away in 19th-century East Africa. With a sensitivity for forms of cultural expression and the changing relationships between men and women, the Isaacmans lead the reader into the insecure world of East Africa as freed slaves sought new ways of supporting themselves. The culmination of over 25 years of research, the Isaacmans have written a book that will provoke, delight, and inspire readers and scholars for decades to come.
Slavery and Beyond (Social History of Africa Series) Reviews
-
Perhaps the most important contribution of Slavery and Beyond is the case it makes for how ethnicity is viewed and treated within an historical context. While it is often made clear that African ethnic can be exacerbated differences of the colonial system, the case of the Chikunda demonstrates that African ethnic identity developed well before the early twentieth century colonial period. The formation of Chikunda ethnic identity, while being a result of Portuguese influence, was in no way an intended product of any European system. Furthermore, it demonstrates that European influence could often deteriorate or change existing African ethnic identities and communities.
