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First published in 1922, the author of this book was for many years
a Provincial Commissioner of what was then the Kenya Colony whose
main objects were to place on record the results of investigations
made among the native tribes in British East Africa, particularly
among the Kikuyu and Kamba people, and to endeavour from a study of
their ceremonial with regard to sacrifice and taboo, to obtain a
better insight into the principles which underlie the outward forms
and ceremonies of their ritual. Together with natural religion and
magic, the author discusses a variety of social activities
influenced by religious beliefs, such as the organisation of
councils, ceremonial oaths, war and peace, dances, legends, and the
position of women in tribal society. The functions of some of the
practices are self-evident or can be explained within the limits of
psychological or anthropological terms, whilst others remain
unexplained and seem inexplicable, even futile. The author's
careful analysis of this last class provides interesting
ethnological comment, for in seeking a better understanding of the
psychology of one particular race, he draws attention also to
analogous conditions of religious customs existing amongst other
widely differing races. In the last chapter, 'Quo Vadis', added to
the second edition of 1938, the author furthers his discussion of
East Africa after the war. Together with the factual analysis of
the first three parts, these additional observations, invaluable
once to administrators and all concerned in colonial government,
today prove their value not only for students of East Africa, but
for all those endeavouring to arrive at an adjustment between the
old native social structure and the extraneous forces now operating
with ever increasing intensity.
First published in 1922, the author of this book was for many years
a Provincial Commissioner of what was then the Kenya Colony whose
main objects were to place on record the results of investigations
made among the native tribes in British East Africa, particularly
among the Kikuyu and Kamba people, and to endeavour from a study of
their ceremonial with regard to sacrifice and taboo, to obtain a
better insight into the principles which underlie the outward forms
and ceremonies of their ritual. Together with natural religion and
magic, the author discusses a variety of social activities
influenced by religious beliefs, such as the organisation of
councils, ceremonial oaths, war and peace, dances, legends, and the
position of women in tribal society. The functions of some of the
practices are self-evident or can be explained within the limits of
psychological or anthropological terms, whilst others remain
unexplained and seem inexplicable, even futile. The author's
careful analysis of this last class provides interesting
ethnological comment, for in seeking a better understanding of the
psychology of one particular race, he draws attention also to
analogous conditions of religious customs existing amongst other
widely differing races. In the last chapter, 'Quo Vadis', added to
the second edition of 1938, the author furthers his discussion of
East Africa after the war. Together with the factual analysis of
the first three parts, these additional observations, invaluable
once to administrators and all concerned in colonial government,
today prove their value not only for students of East Africa, but
for all those endeavouring to arrive at an adjustment between the
old native social structure and the extraneous forces now operating
with ever increasing intensity.
C. W. Hobley (1867-1947) was a colonial administrator who was
stationed in Kenya between 1894 and 1921. Following the
implementation of Indirect Rule in Kenya, indigenous law and custom
were followed in political and judicial proceedings, with the
colonial administration requiring a working knowledge of
traditional customs. This book contains information collected by C.
W. Hobley during his tenure as administrator of Nyanza Province and
was first published in 1910 as part of the Cambridge Archaeological
and Ethnological Series. This detailed ethnography was the first
systematic survey of the Kamba people, and provides a comprehensive
description of their traditional society, cultural practices and
political and economic life. A description of the social
organization of the Masai people is also provided. This volume
contains views on ethnicity which were acceptable at the time it
was first published.
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