Kinship relations, Colonialism and Agricultural production among the Kaguru, 1890s-1960
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Date
2020
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University of Dar es salaam
Abstract
The study examines the relationship between kinship relations and agricultural production among the Kaguru in the pre-colonial period and the impacts of colonialism on kinship relations and agricultural production. The objectives of the study were first, to examine the relationship that existed in the pre-colonial period between kinship relations and agricultural production. Second, to examine the impacts of colonialism on the Kaguru Kinship relations and, third, to assess, the way agricultural production was affected. The study was conducted in Ukaguru, the area where the Kaguru ethnic group lives and was informed by secondary and primary sources both written and oral sources. Written sources used include books, journal, articles, archival sources and various reports. In terms of oral sources, the study employed interview s as a method of collecting oral information whereby nineteen respondents were interviewed. The study found out that kinship relations among the Kaguru were organized around matrilineal clans. The Kaguru had more than one hundred matrilineal clans which formed a social, political and economic basis. The livelihood of the Kaguru depended chiefly on agricultural production. Availability of land and labour were among the prerequisite for agricultural production among the Kaguru. Kinship was the strongest mobilising force for land allocation and labour mobilisation. The onset of colonialism weakened the power structure of clans which in turn affected the clans’ organisation of agricultural production. The study concluded that despite the effort of colonial governments to modemise social political and economic aspects, their effects on Kinship relations among the Kaguru created a sense of individualism which made it impossible for clans’ allocation of land and mobilisation of labour. Such a change adversely affected agricultural production.
Description
Available in print form, East Africana collection, Dr. Wilbert Chagula Library, class mark (THS EAF GN487.7M253)
Keywords
Kinship, Agriculture, Colonization, Kiguru, 1890s-1960
Citation
Majenda, I. Y,(2020), Kinship relations, Colonialism and Agricultural production among the Kaguru, 1890s-1960.Masters dissertation,University of Dar es Salaam, Dar es Salaam.