| dc.description.abstract | Ethnic Interaction and cultural Synthesis: The Emergence
of the Ndera 1650-1895
From an analyticaI point of view, ethnic interaction, the
subject of this research, can be defined as the day-to-day
commutation between groups in contiguity or at a distance. The
historical relevance of the topic arises from the fact that no
human community can afford to live in isoIation from others.
This is because human society is fluid and hence there is a higher
degree of integration between communities coming into contact
with one another. Furthermore the forces of nature - ecological
imbalances, the effects of famines and population movements,
natural calamities such as floods and epidemics and other simiIar
factors ernphasize the need for rmrtuaI inter-dependence and
co-existence between ethnic groups. The evolution of a society
is an epitany of the various experiences it had gone through and
the various responses it had made to either internal or external
stimuli. thus while one ethnic group may boast of a definite
ethnic singularity of character and historical experience, it
overlooks the historical forces which have played a decisive role
in giving the particular ethnic group its present shape and
behaviour. The purpose of this work is to bring into the historical
limelight; the salient factors pertinent to the evolution of the
Ndera, Ethnic interaction has been singled out as a major index of
cultural synthesis.
The body of the thesis has been schematically divided into seven chapters with illustrative table of appendices based on
linguistic data and analysis.
Chapter 1: It is mainly an introduction attempting to define and
illustrate the scope of the topic and its significance in
historical perspective. The effects and influence of contact
between various ethnic groups have been briefly outlined from a
widely selected set of examples ranging from Meiji Japan and the
Maghreb to the interlacustrine region in East Africa. In this
chapter the basis of the argument lies on the idea that ethnic
labels may not be more than mere legal charters. It is important
for the historian to look into the reasons behind the adoption of
one labeI by a particuIar ethnic group. This can be successfully
construed by examining the historical factors existing in the
particular period under reference.
Chapter ii: The chapter identifies the Ndera in their present
habitat in terms of geography and location. The story of the
migration of the Ndera is reviewed in an attempt to show the
disperate origins of the various peoples who came to form the
sub-group of what today is called the Ndera. In this chapter
linguistic evidence was also applied to corroborate oral evidence
in some cases and dispute it in others.
Chapter iii . The purpose of the
of the various land features and tenure system and how this
affected the nature of the modeof production (i.e. agriculture).
The general facets of the various economic activities have been
briefly outlined in conjunction with units of production and
utility of labour. This was done to bring a correlation between
geography production and organization of labour as a preliminary
spring-board to social organization. Next, the social organization ,
religion, marriage and material culture of the Ndera were briefIy
discussed in order to showthe relationship between the m01eof
production and social organization.
Chapter iv:This is an analysis of the relationship between the
Ndera and their neighbours. In the analysis of this relationship
it was discovered that the Ndera are not unique from other Pokomo
sub-groups. Both geographical, cultural, linguistic and historicaI
experience have militated against the singuIarity and aloofness
of the Ndera as an ethnic sub-group. Likewise, Ndera relationship
with other non-Pokomo ethnic groups were not always hostile.
Interaction between the Ndera and these people were in most cases
peaceful.This led to fruitful murtuaI co-operation and co-existence.
Chapter v:The chapter is an overview of the ninenteenth century
and the beginning of Ndera socio-political transformation. Here
it is argued that it was in the nineteenth century that the Ndera
experienced a great deal of influences from outside and that these
external influences were con tr ibutive in the emergence of present
Ndera culture.These influences include the introduction of
food crops from the littoral region , the adoption of agricultural
implements and even more important the indigenisation of social
and political institutions such as the Egaji f rrm the Kamba and
the luva from the Oromo and the Ganga from the Kalindi. Thus what
we today can call Ndera culture is a heterogeneous matrix of other
cultures.
Chapter vi: In this chapter the process of Islamization among the
Ndera is closely examined with the aim of revealing the binding
force the religion has had on the Ndera upto the present. Islam
in itself is both a culture and a way of life. The adoption of
Islam by the Ndera therefore makes an important turning-point
in history. Past and present events have shown that religion is
a very important element in human history.
The various reasons that have made the Ndera opt for Islam
rather than christianity were discussed in detail. Similarly the
process of Islamisationwas analyzed in great depth. Lastly it
was admitted that the introduction of islam amongst the Ndera.
did not totally eclipse the traditional order. On the contrary
there were areas where the two articulated in harmony.
Chapter viiI: conclusion
From what has been observed on the Ndera, it is clear that
ethnic labels do not tell us the true history of a people and are,
in this respect, unhistoric. We can only understand the significance
of their use by a close examination of the various factors that
have helped to shape the particular society under study to its
present state. It is only after this that we can relate the
synchronic purpose of the application of a particular ethnic label.
The case of the Ndera is a typical example of this reality | en |
