Trouble Showed the Way

Claire Cone Robertson

Description

A Choice Outstanding Academic Book of 1999

"Robertson's book represents a powerful contribution to African social, economic, and women's history. Highly recommended." —Choice

"An important resource for anyone interested in the history of women and trade in modern Kenya. . . ." —International Journal of African Historical Studies

" . . . a landmark study, meticulously executed and written. . . . it will have a wide impact on some of the most significant questions facing the disciplines of history, anthropology, political science, and development economics." —Gracia Clark

Herskovitz Award-winner Claire Robertson employs a variety of approaches to analyze and weave together this wide-ranging study. Her book provides an extensive case study of historical transformations in gender, agriculture, residence, and civil society. Based on archival documents, library sources (fiction and nonfiction, primary and secondary), surveys and oral histories, participant observation, and quantitative and qualitative analysis, Robertson breaks new ground by focusing on traders in one commodity, dried staples, and comparing and contrasting the evolution of women's trade with men's trade.

Sujets

• Women's Studies
• African Studies
• HISTORY
• Histoire
• África
• General officer
• Gender
• History of Africa
• Anthropology
• General
• Africa
• Culture

Informations

• Publié par: Indiana University Press
• Date de parution: 22 novembre 1997
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780253112798
• Langue: English

Extrait

Trouble Showed the Way

Trouble Showed the Way

Women, Men, and Trade in the Nairobi Area, 1890-1990
Claire C. Robertson
Indiana University Press
Bloomington and Indianapolis
Published by Indiana University Press 601 North Morton Street Bloomington, IN 47404-3797 USA
http://www.indiana.edu/~iupress telephone orders 800-842-6796 fax [phone]
1997 by Claire C. Robertson
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. The Association of American University Presses Resolution on Permissions constitutes the only exception to this prohibition.
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences-Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984.
Manufactured in the United States of America
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Robertson, Claire C., date Trouble showed the way : women, men, and trade in the Nairobi area, 1890-1990 / Claire C. Robertson. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-253-33360-1 (cl : alk. paper). - ISBN 0-253-21151-4 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Women, Kikuyu-Commerce. 2. Women, Kikuyu-Economic conditions. 3. Women, Kikuyu-Social conditions. 4. Women, Kamba-Commerce. 5. Women, Kamba-Economic conditions. 6. Women, Kamba-Social conditions. 7. Beans-Economic aspects-Kenya-Nairobi. 8. Sex role-Kenya-Nairobi. 9. Nairobi (Kenya)-Commerce. 10. Nairobi (Kenya)-Economic conditions. 11. Nairobi (Kenya)-Social conditions. I. Title. DT433.545.K55R63 1997 338.9 089 963954067625-dc21 97-40099
1 2 3 4 5 02 01 00 99 98 97
Contents
Acknowledgments and Dedication
Note on Currency and Measures
I. Introduction
II. From Njahe to Nyayo: Beans and the Evolution of Agricultural Imperialism in Kenya
III. The Development of Trade in the Nairobi Area, 1890 to 1940
IV. Various Nefarious Happenings : Trade, Wars and Traders War, 1940 to 1963
V. Here We Come Only to Struggle : Changes in Trade, 1964 to 1990
VI. Seeking the Freedom to Raise my Children : Changes in Marriage
VII. Organizing: Women and Collective Action, 1920 to 1990
VIII. Trouble Showed the Way; Conclusion: Empowerment?
Bibliography of Works Cited
Index

TABLE
I.1
Number, Location, and Gender of Traders/Business Owners in Selected Nairobi Area Markets, 1987-1988
I.2
Ethnicity of Business Owners by Type of Market Location, 1987-1988
II.1
Rail Produce Shipped from Ukambani Province, 1903-1919, in tons
II.2
Bean Variety Export Efforts by Year and Reasons for Failure, 1933-1992
II.3
Food Crops Present or Introduced to Kikuyu Diet, c. 1890-1990
V.1
Historical Occupation Patterns of Women Traders by % of Occupations, 1940-1987
V.2
Historical Occupation Patterns of Men Traders by % of Occupations, 1960-1987
V.3
Mean Average Hours Worked, Starting Capital, and Daily Profits by Gender and Market Type (Daily or Periodic), 1987-1988
V.4
Gross Profits of Traders, Good and Bad Days by Age and Gender in Kenya Shillings, 1987-1988
V.5
Distribution of Land Access and Trading Profits by Acreage and Gender, 1987-1988
V.6
% of Commodities Handled by Traders by Gender, 1965-1987
V. 7
Profitability of Trade in Various Commodities and Distribution by Gender, 1987-1988
VI.1
Marital Status by Gender of Traders in 16 Nairobi Markets, 1987-1988, and of Nairobi Population Aged 15 and Over
VI.2
Occupations of Non-Supporting Spouses/Ex-spouses of Traders
VI.3
Mean Average Number of Dependents by Traders Age, Gender
VI.4
Sources of Starting Capital by Gender, 1987-1988

Figures/Illustrations
Cover Artist s Impression of Youthful Kikuyu Trader, 1930s (Anon.)
0.1
Map of Kenya with Locale of Study
I.1a
Markets in Sample, Kiambu
I.1b
Markets in Sample, Nairobi
II.1
Njahe
III.1
Buying Food at Murang a, 1900
III.2
A Kikuyu Market, 1930s
IV.1
A Snack Bar at Geitwa Market, 1951 : Women and Men Share Ucuru
IV.2
Geitwa Market, 1951 : Men, Women and Calabashes
IV.3
No Time to Waste: Basketweaving while Selling Pots, 1951
IV.4
Geitwa Market, 1951 : Women Sellers in Mixed Dress
V.1
Gikomba Market, 1988: A Sturdy Shelter in a Prime Position
V.2
Growing Up at Gikomba, 1988
V.3
Gikomba Market, 1988: A Chickenseller and Her Wares
V.4
Gikomba Market, 1988: Selling in the Hot Sun
V.5
Market Men: Used Clothing
V.6
Mud and Dirty Work
V.7
Cartoon Commentary on Male Consequences of Female Action, 1988
V.8
Limuru Market, 1988: Market Day at a Bulking Center
V.9
Kawangware Market, 1988: Crowded Conditions in a Suburban Dried Staples Section
V.10
Ngara Market, 1988: Mixed Crowds, Prosperous Customers in a Legal Urban Market
V.11
Kiambu Market, 1988: A Talented Businesswoman and Her Well-Stocked Dried Staples Shop
V. 12
Gitaru Market, 1988: Spacious Shaded Grounds, Stores Surrounding Square
VI. 1
Forced Marriage in the 1930s: The Bride Dragged to Her Mother-in-Law s
VI. 2
Waithera, A Retired Beanseller, and Her Husband of Seventy Years, 201 Peter, at Their Home Near Wangige Market, 1988
VII. 1
A Leader Among Women
VIII. 1
Grandmother and Granddaughter at a Thatching Party, 1950
B. 1
Ngara Market, 1987: A Furniture Factory
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND DEDICATION
In trade there is always debt; my debts incurred while preparing this book are various and extensive. It could not have been completed without essential contributions from many persons across several continents. Foremost is my husband, Edward Robertson, whose patience and hard work are (always) appreciated. He and my sons not only suffered without complaint the household disorganization consequent upon the absorption of one of its managers in this project, but he also did much of the computer formatting of the manuscript. Gary Eubanks was infinitely patient, innovative, and cooperative about the vagaries of trying to press multidimensional people onto flat computer printout. Data entry was completed with accuracy, cheerfulness and dispatch by Valerie Rake, Rebecca Thomas and Anene Ejikeme, while Valerie Rake also put in painstaking hours on the bibliography. The financing of the above came from generous grants by my employer, the College of Humanities at The Ohio State University. The field research was supported by Fulbright, Ford Foundation and American Philosophical Society grants.
In Kenya too many people earned my everlasting gratitude. Godfrey Muriuki, eminent Kikuyu historian, helped in many ways, not least in vouching for my respectability for the purposes of getting research clearance; the Office of the President not only produced clearance but also its renewal in record time with a friendly face. At the Kenya National Archives, my second home for a year, Maina Keru and Richard Ambani were of inestimable help in honoring even the most exigent and obscure of requests, while Ministry of Agriculture personnel were cordial in facilitating access to relevant files. Local officials like Matthew Muigai at Kiambu and John Njora in Nairobi were cooperative and informative. My three research assistants, J.N.T., E.W.K., and R.W.C., were a delight as coworkers and friends; the ongoing help of J.N.T. has been especially appreciated. B.D., my best market mentor, unravelled mysteries and provided a sterling model. (Initials only are used here to prevent any negative consequences of their participation.) David Kang ethe, transport expert extraordinaire, supplied complete reliability, unfailing good nature, courtesy, and good humor to the enterprise, as well as an athletic rescue. The several tape translators also put in yeoman s work on a tight schedule. Jill Stever completed a separate inquiry/survey regarding possible sources of loans for traders at short notice. Centro International para la Agricultura Tropicale (CIAT) bean experts Roger Kirkby and Louise Sperling rendered invaluable help by consultation and sample collection in Rwanda for purposes of comparison, while at Girton Colin Leakey shared his extensive knowledge of African beans and family hospitality.
Also at Cambridge Jeanne Fisher shared her home, her memories, her data and her photographs, some of which are reproduced here. John Lonsdale, whose knowledge regarding Kenya and its archival sources is unparallelled, provided a valuable exchange of insights, numerous contacts, and, with Moya Lonsdale, extensive hospitality, while Anne Darvall gave necessary help with Cambridge library resources. Elsewhere in England, Andrew Hake, Elspeth Huxley, Thomas and Patricia Askwith and Thomas and Nancy Colchester gave generously of their time, hospitality, and recollections. In Kenya and in the United States Celia Nyamweru was a patient listener and reader, and particularly helpful with contacts and insights.
In the U.S. and Canada wise feminist colleagues provided wonderful input, among them Luise White, Kathleen Staudt, and Jean Hay, who lent knowledgeable and willing ears to even the most fatuous of my fledgling East Africanist inquiries, halting more exiguous flights of fancy and correcting inaccuracies. Esther Njiro, Inge Brinkman, Cynthia Brantley, Eric Onstad, Dorothy McCormick, and Susan Watkins provided me with advance copies of essential manuscripts or helpful but hard to obtain sources. Surprised but instantly cooperative, Greet Kershaw, Paul Gepts, Herbert Werlin, Christopher Leo, and others responded informatively to phone queries. For careful reading and suggestions regarding the manuscript I am grateful to: Margaret Strobel, Gracia Clark, Patricia Stamp, Luise White, Kevin Cox, Jeanne Fisher, Celia Nyamweru, and Njuguna Mwangi. Also, the members of the Gracia Clark/Beverly Stoeltje African Women Seminar at Indiana University made excellent sug