Exploring a range of studies regarding the 'invention of tradition', the 'making of customary
law'and the 'creation of tribalism'since the 1980s, this survey article argues that the case for …

Treating the “state” as a finished product gets in the way of understanding it. The state is
always in the making. This article, which acts as the Introduction to a special issue, argues …

'That rebellious youth'alarmed colonial authorities and elders alike is increasingly an issue
for historians. This article surveys the issue as an introduction to the two studies that follow. It …

Music, Sound, and Space is the first collection to integrate research from musicology and
sound studies on music and sound as they mediate everyday life. Music and sound exert an …

On December 12, 1963, people across Kenya joyfully celebrated independence from British
colonial rule, anticipating a bright future of prosperity and social justice. As the nation …

Since its founding in 1964, the United Republic of Tanzania has used music, dance, and
other cultural productions as ways of imagining and legitimizing the new nation. Focusing on …

In more than a metaphorical sense, the womb has proven to be an important site of political
struggle in and about Africa. By examining the political significance—and complex …

How does decentralization affect patronage and rent seeking? While centralization is seen
as enabling these practices, many expect decentralization to reduce them. With few …

The Swahili coast of Africa is often described as a paragon of transnational culture and
racial fluidity. Yet, during a brief period in the 1960s, Zanzibar became deeply divided along …

This book boldly unsettles the idea of globalization as a recent phenomenon—and one
driven solely by Western interests—by offering a compelling new perspective on global …