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A descriptive account of the Elgeyo, a pastoral people inhabiting the cliffs of a long mountain escarpment in Kenya and originally published in 1855. ... Read more

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This book examines the history and ecclesiology of two African Independent Churches in Kenya, the African Orthodox Church (AOC) and the Arthi (Agikuyu Spirit Churches). Githieya considers whether these churches should be considered as Christian or ethnocentric movmements. He argues that the "true church" is not confined to the traditions inherent in this or that denomination, or in this or that country, but in the redeeming and liberating power of Jesus Christ. The church is a liberated community whose identity is provided by its relationship with God; at once Christian, African, and new. ... Read more

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Examines the management and use of common-property forests, groves
and trees on southern Mount Kenya, demonstrating the long-standing relationships between Kenyans and their forest resources - and the connections between anthropology and forestry. ... Read more

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This work explores Britain's attempt to take land from the Bantu-Luyia peoples of Western Kenya for gold mining following the discovery of gold in the North Kavirondo (NK) reserve in 1931. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Review on "Islands of White"
In his study, "Islands of White," Dane Kennedy offers a novel perspective on the social dynamics of white settler colonies in imperialist Africa.Kennedy convincingly illustrates how these white societies wereable to create a distinct and unified culture.Presenting a newinterpretation of white settler society, Kennedy analytically demonstrateshow the social identity of white colonists was radically recast toaccommodate their special circumstances.Kennedy's study is of longlasting importance to the field of African history because it reveals thepowerful dynamics of solidarity within colonial societies whichconsequently enabled them to create and maintain a system of dominationover the indigenous African population.While the majority ofhistorians have primarily focused on the social divisions within thesettler populations, Kennedy asserts that economic, ethnic, and social differences were secondary to the overriding need for unification.Kennedyremains balanced in his approach by conceding that a certain amount ofsocial friction within the colonies cannot be denied.Yet, he alsosustains that the preoccupation of Marxist historians with the internalfissures of white society neglects to appreciate the external strength ofthe community. Through an analysis of the particular experiences faced bywhite settlers, Kennedy portrays how white settler society was not simply atransfer or replication of European national traits onto colonial societyin Africa.He holds, "this was the distinguishing feature of the settlerculture: not in the cherished values of the settlers' European heritage,but in the centripetal forces that distorted that heritage by securing itagainst all change."(192)To further establish this claim, the authoreffectively applies knowledge of social psychology to interpret and explainthe pathological behavior of the white settlers. Kennedy's compelling argument is fully supported through his analyticalutilization of many sources and statistical evidence.The extensive use ofwell documented private and official manuscripts further validate Kennedy'spersuasive argument.Unlike many documents on colonialism, the volumeappears to be written without prejudice and without reference to apreconceived view of determents. While historically solid, Kennedy's workbrings a fresh, unbiased insight to the inner workings and far-reachingimpact of white settler colonists. As Kennedy has firmly established inhis study, "Islands of White," settler culture was the expressionof the white community's delicately held position of dominance in the orderof imperial Africa.In order to maintain this dominance, white settlersexerted strong social power to shape and control their identity andposition.The significance of Kennedy's book is in its illustration of thepower group solidarity can have in shaping a community and its neighbors. ... Read more

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Britain fought in the Second World War to save the world from fascism. But just a few years after the defeat of Hitler came the Mau Mau uprising in Kenya - a massive armed rebellion by the Kikuyu people, demanding the return of their land and freedom. The draconian response of Britain's colonial government was to detain nearly the entire Kikuyu population of one-and-a half-million - to hold them in camps or confine them in villages ringed with barbed wire - to treat and portray them as sub-human savages. From 1952 until the end of the war in 1960 tens of thousands of detainees - and possibly hundreds of thousands - died from the combined effects of exhaustion, disease, starvation and systemic physical brutality. Until now these events have remained untold, largely because the British government in Kenya destroyed most of its files. For the last eight years Caroline Elkins has conducted exhausted research to piece together, unearthing reams of documents and interviewing several hundred Kikuyu survivors. Britain's Gulag reveals what happened inside Kenya's detention camps, as well as the efforts to conceal the truth.Now, for the first time, we can understand the full savagery of the Mau Mau was and the ruthless determination with which Britain sought to control its empire. ... Read more

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Decolonization in the Third World has most often been approached by tracing the ties of nationalist movements to the attainment of independence. This book attempts to revise the perspective. It presents a model of decolonization centring on the idea that the process was shaped by the reaction of colonial interests to the ascendancy of a nationalist elite. Rather than tracing the upward development of a nationalist movement, it traces the downward manipulation of that movement into a colonial system. The study concludes that instead of being a separating step to remove colonial influence, decolonization in more important respects ensured the continuity of the colonial political economy. The book is of interest to scholars, students and others interested in decolonization, white settles, East African affairs and land reform, as well as the general reader following current events in Africa. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Complex conspiracy
I was fascinated by the complexity of international politics around african affairs. Especially the crazy wars which are usually the product of western forces, like Nicolas Cage's movie 'lords of war' clearly shows. If you liked this movie then you will probably enjoy the book. This book also reminds me of Howard Zinns 'People's history of the united states'. ... Read more

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INTRODUCTION

Lying on the equator, with the glaciated peaks of Mount Kenya – second highest mountain in Africa – rising from a natural environment of exceptional beauty, Kenya is a hugely rewarding place to travel. The country’s dramatically diverse geography has resulted in a great range of natural habitats, while its history of migration and conquest has brought about a complex social panorama. But if the world-famous national parks, colourful ethnic mix and superb beaches lend an exotic image, the glossy hype of the tourism industry ignores Kenya’s post-colonial poverty and deep political tensions.

In any case, treating Kenya as a succession of tourist sights isn’t the most stimulating way of experiencing the country. Travelling independently, or at least with eyes open (something this book is designed to facilitate), you can enter the very different world inhabited by most Kenyans: a ceaselessly active landscape of farm and field, of streams and bush paths, of wooden and corrugated-iron shacks, tea shops and lodging houses, of crammed buses and pick-up vans, of overloaded bicycles, and of streets wandered by goats, chickens and toddlers. Off the more heavily trodden tourist routes, you’ll find a rewarding degree of warmth, openness and curiosity in Kenya’s towns and villages. And out in the wilds, there is an abundance of superb scenery – vistas of rolling savannah dotted with Maasai and their herds, high Kikuyu moorlands, dense forests bursting with bird song and insect noise, and stony, shimmering desert – all of which comes crisply into focus when experienced in the context of an economically beleaguered African nation four decades after Independence. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

rough guide to kenya map
At last a useful map for Kenya - rare these days to find ANY decent map of East Africa - but now one for the professional, the studentor teacher, the traveller and the dreamer -- all in one. AND plastic coated so you don't mess it up with your spilled coffee!

The Rough Guide to Kenya
Very informative and useful tool to use along with the internet.

very rough on some Kenya roads
While I've come to depend on Rough Guides for travel in Africa, the 7th edition of this guide proved embarrassing when I recommended that my safari drivers take the "tarred lakeshore road" that it describes as "an excellent, fast highway" from Katito to Kendu Bay.In the summer of 2003, this was probably the worst road I've ever traveled in Kenya.Conversely, while the guide describes the Mombasa Highway as so "pot-holed, narrow ... and dangerous" that "you should count on two days to cover Nairobi-Mombasa comfortably," this was the best road I've traveled in Kenya, at least to the village of Mackinnon Road, enabling us to have breakfast in Nairobi and a late lunch in Mombasa.Shortcomings such as these result when some areas of the country are too infrequently revisited to yield accurate reviews in a subsequent edition of the guide.A design flaw in recent editions of Rough Guides is the placement of cost-estimate figures in white within small circles of color, rendering many figures difficult to discern.Furthermore, the thin type face makes reading Rough Guides more challenging than their predecessor Real Guides.These criticisms notwithstanding, I still consider Rough Guides the best available introductions to wonderful destinations.

Revamped, looks better - but where's the spirit?
Rough Guide definitely looks smarter today than it used to. Typeface and design overhauled, and even their hideous logo (which STILL looks like a fire exit sign) has been jazzed up into a more agreeable fuzzy pharmaceutical-looking symbol. There are more photos, and better ones. Information, from what I could see, is accurate, and there good practical tips, as usual.

The problem is their writing. They say in their preface that Kenya is a hugely rewarding country to visit - but there is no evidence of the authors having a good time. The text is dry, uninspired, shallow; again, it reminds you of tax return guidance notes.

It does not FEEL like they liked the country; and, while it is evident that a lot of effort has been put in, it does feel like a 'contractual obligation product' rather than an inspired writing from someone who is genuinely connected with Kenya.

While I found hotel descriptions helpful, dining advice is the most disappointing aspect. People who know Kenya better than I do confirmed to me, with bewilderment, that restaurants appear to have been picked at random or, worse, still, their names have been copied from leaflets lying around in upmarket hotels. It is a real shame in a country where you can have the best Ethiopian meal outside Addis.

The section on getting to Kenya is hardly helpful - essentially lots of hot air on theoretically available airline options, prices which were out of date before the guide was even printed and a stubborn refusal to admit that these days, if anyone is too thick to check the price on the net, perhaps that person would be better off staying at home.

It is commendable that the guide is more open to all kinds of readers and does not presume that everyone only has twenty dollars a day to spend, but its value is diminished by the lacklustre writing. An informative and accurate guide does not need to be this boring.

Readable, accurate, entertaining
We found this book to be extremely accurate and informative, both as we prepared for our 2 week trip and while we were in Kenya. The description of the "snake museum" was perfect - we read it out loud to the group as we stood in the park. Much of the information provided to us by our hosts from Nairobi matched what we already had learned from our reading. When we prepare for our next trip anywhere, we'll look first for a Rough Guide! ... Read more