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Nature as myth, symbol and action: notes towards a historical understanding of development and conservation in Kenyan Maasailand

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2011

Joan N. Knowles  and
D. P. Collet
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Extract

History is often presented as a unilineal process whereby events follow on from each other in a causal sequence: A gives rise to B which in turn leads to C. While this structural form is extremely compelling as explanation, it has limitations when applied to the colonial encounter. The differences between the beliefs and practices of the people involved in this encounter, and the consequent variety in perceived significances of individual events, make it almost impossible to construct a unified history. The diversity of perceptions in historical events has been recognised and is most clearly seen in those historical accounts of the colonial encounter written from the perspective of the ‘other’ (Sahlins, 1981; 1985). However, these analyses, by focusing on events, still maintain the structural framework of conventional history.

Résumé

La nature en tant que mythe, symbole et action: notes vers une compréhension historique du développement et de la conservation de la région Maasai de Kenya

L'article met en lumière les réactions administratives envers les Maasai et la réaction des Maasai envers les administrateurs au cours des périodes à la fois coloniales et post-coloniales. Il remarque la stabilité de l'idéologie des administrateurs et considère la réaction Maasai envers les interventions de développement. Il suggère que l'ordre hiérarchique des sociétés et la notion de ‘dons’ de la civilisation font partie intégrante de l'idéologie administrative et examine les raisons du ‘conservatisme’ dans les interventions administratives dans le région Maasai. Il considère également le rejet Maasai de ces dons de civilisation et suggère que l'explication de ce rejet soit une préoccupation centrale de l'historiographie Maasai.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 59 , Issue 4 , October 1989 , pp. 433 - 460
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1989

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