| ID | 072837 |
| Title Proper | Becoming indigenous peoples |
| Other Title Information | difference, inequality, and the globalization of East African identity politics |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Igoe, Jim |
| Publication | 2006. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Although the term 'indigenous' implies a state preceding that which is foreign or acquired, indigenous movements in Africa are a recent phenomenon. Drawing from the author's research of the Tanzanian indigenous peoples' movement in the 1990s, this article argues that indigenous identity in Tanzania does not represent miraculously preserved pre-colonial traditions or even a special sort of marginalization. Rather, it reflects the convergence of existing identity categories with shifting global structures of development and governance. Specifically, it reflects a combination of 'cultural distinctiveness' and effective strategies of extraversion in the context of economic and political liberalization. The Maasai, who are 'culturally distinct', and who have a long tradition of enrolling outsiders in their cause, naturally dominate this movement. |
| `In' analytical Note | African Affairs Vol. 105, No. 420; Jul 2006: p399-420 |
| Journal Source | African Affairs Vol: 105 No 420 |
| Key Words | Africa ; Indigenous Movements ; Africa, East ; Identity Politics ; Tanzania |