Social and Intercultural Relations in Nineteenth-Century Zanzibar: Dressed Identity
Author: Vander biesen, Ivan1
Source: African and Asian Studies, Volume 8, Number 3, 2009 , pp. 309-331(23)
Publisher: BRILL
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Abstract:
Starting from the nineteenth century descriptive literatures on Zanzibar by authors such as Sir Richard Burton and Charles Guillain, and Salima bint Said-Ruete's autobiography, we can draw a rather detailed picture of the relationship between the different social layers, cultures and genders on Zanzibar. Describing and differentiating the complexity of Zanzibar society in the nineteenth century is the main aim of this paper. The focus is on clothing in order to sketch the social organization of the society and to highlight the cultural relations between the different groups in Zanzibar. The evidence obtained from the description of clothing is used as an eye-opener for the Zanzibar society and this evidence is supported by nineteenth century literature and photography on Zanzibar.Keywords: INDIAN OCEAN; EAST AFRICA; SWAHILI; ZANZIBAR; CLOTHING; IDENTITY
Document Type: Research article
DOI: 10.1163/156921009X458136
Affiliations: 1: Catholic University of Leuven, Tervuursestraat 67/1, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium; ; , ivan.vanderbiesen@dsv.kuleuven.be, Email: ivan.vanderbiesen@dsv.kuleuven.be
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