Peasant Intellectuals: Anthropology and History in Tanzania

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments This book grew out of an earlier manuscript, now abandoned , on concepts of sovereignty in the precolonial Shambaa kingdom. The book has been written over the past few years in time snatched from other projects and from family and friends. It relies on oral field materials collected as early as 1966 and as late as December 1988, and so a proper set of acknowledgments would recognize everyone who has been important in my life and work over the past twenty-five years. That is impossible, but some debts cannot pass unacknowledged. lowe a profound debt to the many people who have given me their help and friendship in Shambaai. The list of people interviewed is given at the end of this book. A few special friends have helped make the mountains into my home, especially Leo Hassani, Martin Msumari, the late Hatibu Hassani, the late Shechonge Kishasha, the late Ali Shechonge, Mzee Kazushwe, and Joshua Mtunguja. Everyone in Shambaai will find something to disagree with in this book, and so I must emphasize that the opinions expressed are entirely my own. The same disclaimer applies to my friends and colleagues in Dar es Salaam who provided a warm and supportive environment in which to work, and also an example of scholarly commitment. Fred and Theresa Kaijage have been supportive at many points, along with Geoffrey, Milembe , Stella, Mkurasi, and Karumuna. The book is a contribution to the more general history of the Pangani Valley region, a subject on which I have worked with Isaria Kimambo for many years. Kapepwa Tambila helped to provide a friendly but intellectually challenging environment in the Department of Histo~y. I am grateful to Abdul Sheriff, Ruth Besha, and Joseph Mbele for friendship and for stimulating criticism of my ideas. The late May Balisidya commented on parts of the argument and provided an example of how life should be lived. The early research set out to answer questions put to me by Rodney Needham, the supervisor of my D.Phil. thesis and an important influence on my thought. My understanding of historical issues at that time was shaped by Terence Ranger and John Iliffe, who were then in Dar es Salaam, and whose recent works have continued to inform me. Iliffe's A Modern History of Tanganyika established a basic framework of knowledge which made my own job much easier. xi xii Acknowledgments Jean Comaroff commented critically on the entire manuscript. Sandra Barnes, Lee Cassanelli, Nancy Farriss, Steve Stern, and Florencia Mallon all commented on parts of the manuscript. Marcia Wright helped during a period of writing in New York. David Henige helped with library resources. Philip Curtin provided help and encouragement at several points along the way. Dorothee Janetzke, Magdalena Hauner, and Mark Trewartha, all in very different ways, have been important friends during the period of writing. My students at the University of Wisconsin and at the University of Florida read and commented on parts of this manuscript and its predecessors. I owe them a debt of gratitude. Work on this book continued alongside a number of projects that were supported by the Social Science Research Council, the Fulbright-Hays program, the National Science Foundation, the University of Wisconsin Graduate School, and the University of Florida. This book would never have been completed without the warm support of close friends and family. My debt to Allen Isaacman can never be repaid. Barbara Hanrahan has been both a good friend and an excellent editor. Stanley and Barbara Trapido helped at an important time. I have learned from long discussions on many issues with Gerda Lerner. Jeanette Sheinman, Martin Feierman, and Joanne Feierman were always there when I needed them. My children Jessica and Joshua have been patient and understanding. They also commented on parts of the manuscript . Finally, I would like to thank Virginia Boyd, whose presence has made the process of writing far pleasanter than it would otherwise have been. Peasant Intellectuals ...