Overview

The Untold Story of the Gusii of Kenya: Survival Techniques and Resistance to the Establishment of British Colonial Rule. There is little written about the resistance to the establishment of the British colonial rule in Gusii. The scant knowledge available on this historical phenomenon in Kenya is inaccurate and intentionally distorted in favour of the colonial master. The truth, contrary to the incorrect histories presented by the British, is that the Kings African Rival soldiers suffered a humiliating defeat in their initial encounter with Gusii warriors. It was a landmark historical event. Otenyo Nyamaterere is incorrectly portrayed as a frustrated and deranged lone-ranger who was high on narcotics when he attacked with a spear and injured the first District Commissioner of Kisii, Geoffrey Northcote. In a fierce rebuttal to this falsehood existing in colonial narratives, this book attempts to correct this erroneousness portrayal of a lead warrior who valiantly came out in defense of community and its lands. And there is context to this resistance. Over many years, the Gusii had honed their fighting skills and survival strategies from the many years of struggle against the hostile and warlike neighbours - the Maasai, the Kipsigis and the Luo. These skills and strategies that came in handy when later the Gusii faced a more formidable external aggressor - the Kings African Rival soldiers. The Gusii warriors fought with valour, demonstrating great fighting skills in their encounter with these forces of conquest even as the latter were better armed. Inevitably the warriors lost, defeated due to the British superior weaponry. The Gusii weapons and hand to hand combat fighting could not match the British gun power.

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9789966109576

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"What other researchers say ""The book aptly addresses the deficiency in the analysis of the evolution, scope and dynamics of resistance to and defensive mechanisms against the British community in the pre-colonial and colonial era. It transcends existing generalizations concerning the nature of colonial invasion of the Gusii, which has been mostly cast as an uncontested invasion and imposition of colonial rule. It readjusts such unqualified assumptions that have underestimated the place of organized traditional resistance while emphasizing the importance of traditional collaborative institutions in the establishment of colonial hegemony. The book will be of interest to any reader inquisitive about the socio-political organization of the Gusii and it certainly will be of wide application to diverse academic fields including political and legal history, sociology and anthropology."" - Wycliffe Nyachoti Otiso, a Law scholar based at Kisii University. ""The author has corrected the faulty histories and falsehoods written by the West concerning the conquest and establishment of colonial rule over the Gusii and has presented to the world a precise, authentic and detailed account of the Gusii resistance to the establishment of British colonial rule in Gusii."" - Christopher Okemwa, a scholar of literature, Kisii University."

What other researchers say The book aptly addresses the deficiency in the analysis of the evolution, scope and dynamics of resistance to and defensive mechanisms against the British community in the pre-colonial and colonial era. It transcends existing generalizations concerning the nature of colonial invasion of the Gusii, which has been mostly cast as an uncontested invasion and imposition of colonial rule. It readjusts such unqualified assumptions that have underestimated the place of organized traditional resistance while emphasizing the importance of traditional collaborative institutions in the establishment of colonial hegemony. The book will be of interest to any reader inquisitive about the socio-political organization of the Gusii and it certainly will be of wide application to diverse academic fields including political and legal history, sociology and anthropology. - Wycliffe Nyachoti Otiso, a Law scholar based at Kisii University. The author has corrected the faulty histories and falsehoods written by the West concerning the conquest and establishment of colonial rule over the Gusii and has presented to the world a precise, authentic and detailed account of the Gusii resistance to the establishment of British colonial rule in Gusii. - Christopher Okemwa, a scholar of literature, Kisii University.

Author Information

John S. Akama is the Vice-Chancellor of Kisii University. He was the founding Principal of Kisii University College which he formally led to acquiring a Charter in 2013 to become a full-fledged university. Prof. Akama did his undergraduate studies in Education at the University of Nairobi. He then proceeded to the United States of America where he undertook Masters and PhD 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 research and 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 is reflected in this book.

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