| ID | 133616 |
| Title Proper | Saharan migrant camel herders |
| Other Title Information | Znaga social status and the global age |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Freire, Francisco |
| Publication | 2014. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | In the late 20th century, 300 Mauritanian shepherds travelled to the United Arab Emirates in order to tend the herds of some of that country's most prominent leaders. These low-tech subjects of global migration flows were particularly valued and sought after by their Emirati employers for their expertise in raising camels. I analyse the forms and consequences of this migration, focusing on the reintegration of these shepherds into Mauritanian stratified tribal spheres following their return to the Sahara. The possibility of a change in their social status (after a financially rewarding experience in the Gulf) will be a central theme of this article. This issue arises from the pervasive designation of these shepherds as a 'tributary' (zn?ga) group, through the application of the tripartite social model that, to a large extent, still defines Mauritania's arabophone population. |
| `In' analytical Note | Journal of Modern African Studies Vol.52, No.3; Sep.2014: p.425-446 |
| Journal Source | Journal of Modern African Studies Vol.52, No.3; Sep.2014: p.425-446 |
| Key Words | United Arab Emirates - UAE ; Saharan Migrant ; Migrant Camel Herders ; Camel Herders ; Znaga Groups ; Social Model ; Tribal Spheres ; Migration ; Economic Policy |