Overview

"The Gusii of Kenya: Social, Economic, Cultural, Political & Judicial Perspectives provides in-depth topical insights of the Gusii (also known as the Kisii) of Kenya. The book captures historical aspects of the Gusii and how they ended up occupying their present lands. It enunciates the group's cultural, political and economic organization that underlie the group's identify and overall survival. Reading the book provides understanding of some noticeable elements of these perspectives that persist to date. Cultural aspects, such as rites of passage and weddings, part of essential elements of identity of a people, are well articulated. Social organization, starting at the homestead to clan and community levels, was intricately woven to form a coherent whole that defined the Gusii character. This also formed the basis of key elements of the Gusii code of conduct (chinsoni) and justice as traditionally administered. The book also raises a number of questions regarding the character of the Gusii such as lack of central authority and the implications this has had on the community's development over time. One can only speculate on the trajectory of history that would have been had the Gusii organized themselves differently. What others say ""The fate of the traditional cultures in Africa hangs in the balance due to the frontal attack by the forces of Westernization and the increasing passing away of the living encyclopaedias, the elders. As the author points out, some of these cultures are yet to be fully documented and yet today they are as relevant as they were in the past. Hence, he documents the pre-colonial Gusii culture and demonstrates its value in attempting to understand the dynamics of the modern Gusii community. It is for this reason that The Gusii of Kenya is a most welcome addition to the cultural history of the Kenyan peoples."" - Godfrey Muriuki, Professor of History and Archaeology, University of Nairobi, Kenya. ""Prof. Akama convincingly argues that the Gusii, even as they have changed over the years, have retained their distinct Bantu identity despite intricate interactions with diverse ecological and social typologies consisting of predominantly Nilotic neighbours including the Luo, Kipsigis and Maasai and, following colonialism, European influence and other global impacts The book offers well-researched and analyzed themes, including the historical evolution of the Gusii; their movement and settlement in the Gusii highlands; the Gusii demographic evolution; the community's social organization, administration of justice and law enforcement, indigenous educational system, initiation ceremonies, customary marriage, agricultural systems, and very significantly, their indigenous medicine. .... This is a very informative book with valuable scholarly contribution."" - Peter Odhiambo Ndege, Professor of History, Moi University, Kenya. ""The Gusii of Kenya is a major addition to the knowledge base of Kenyan identities and a major contribution to understanding Kenya's peoples."" - Matunda Nyanchama, Publisher."

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9781926906553

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The Gusii of Kenya: Social, Economic, Cultural, Political and Judicial Perspectives. Peter O Ndege, Professor of History, Moi University. Communities the world over and in Kenya, in particular, ask the following compelling questions: Who are we? How did we come to be? Where did we come from? What is our condition: in the past, now and in the future? A book on any of the almost fifty Kenyan communities, which attempts to answer these questions, is therefore quite welcome. In this book Professor John Akama convincingly argues that the Gusii, evolved and have managed to remain a relatively distinct Bantu community in spite of the fact that they interacted with different ecologies and predominantly Nilotic neighbours. They have borrowed many of these people's ways of life, including language, crops, cuisine and other habits but managed to retain as much of their own culture during the long and complex process of interactions characterised by cooperation (through trade and intermarriage), conflict, accommodation and change. Today there are many Gusii who trace their origins among the Luo, Maasai and Kalenjin as much as individuals in these communities claim Gusii ancestry. Gusii soapstone carvings adorn living rooms and art galleries in other African Countries as well as in Europe, Asia and the United States of America. The book is quite informative and makes valuable scholarly contribution. It will provide readily available reference to researchers, university students and the general readers who require basic and important information about useful aspects of Gusii community. Other works on the Gusii such as by anthropologists Phillip Meyer, the LeVines and historians Robert Maxon and William Ochieng are neither easily accessible nor available in the local bookshops.

<strong> The Gusii of Kenya: Social, Economic, Cultural, Political and Judicial Perspectives.</strong></p> Peter O Ndege, Professor of History, Moi University.</p> Communities the world over and in Kenya, in particular, ask the following compelling questions: Who are we? How did we come to be? Where did we come from? What is our condition: in the past, now and in the future? A book on any of the almost fifty Kenyan communities, which attempts to answer these questions, is therefore quite welcome.</p> In this book Professor John Akama convincingly argues that the Gusii, evolved and have managed to remain a relatively distinct Bantu community in spite of the fact that they interacted with different ecologies and predominantly Nilotic neighbours. They have borrowed many of these people's ways of life, including language, crops, cuisine and other habits but managed to retain as much of their own culture during the long and complex process of interactions characterised by cooperation (through trade and intermarriage), conflict, accommodation and change. Today there are many Gusii who trace their origins among the Luo, Maasai and Kalenjin as much as individuals in these communities claim Gusii ancestry. Gusii soapstone carvings adorn living rooms and art galleries in other African Countries as well as in Europe, Asia and the United States of America.</p> The book is quite informative and makes valuable scholarly contribution. It will provide readily available reference to researchers, university students and the general readers who require basic and important information about useful aspects of Gusii community. Other works on the Gusii such as by anthropologists Phillip Meyer, the LeVines and historians Robert Maxon and William Ochieng are neither easily accessible nor available in the local bookshops.</p>

Author Information

John S. Akama is the Vice Chancellor of Kisii University. He is the founding Principal of the then Kisii University College which he led to formally acquiring a Charter in 2013 to become a full-fledged university.Prof. Akama took undergraduate studies in education at the University of Nairobi and proceeded to the USA for Masters and Ph.D. studies at Ohio State University and Southern Illinois University, respectively. On returning to Kenya he joined Moi University as a Lecturer and rose to the rank of Professor, teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.Over the years, Prof. Akama has conducted extensive research and has published widely in diverse areas such as culture, sociology, tourism, and wildlife conservation. His keen interest and research in the evolution, culture, and history of the Gusii are reflected in this book.Prof. Akama's biography is titled Undeterred: A Rural Boy's Journey to the Pinnacle of Academia (Nsemia Inc., 2021). he also authored The Untold Story of the Gusii of Kenya: Survival Techniques and Resistance to the Establishment of British Colonial Rule (Nsemia Inc., 2019), and co-authored Gusii Soapstone Industry: Critical Issues, Opportunities, Challenges & Future Alternatives (Nsemia Inc., 2018)

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