A History of African Motherhood: The Case of Uganda, 700-1900This history of African motherhood over the longue durée demonstrates that it was, ideologically and practically, central to social, economic, cultural, and political life. The book explores how people in the North Nyanzan societies of Uganda used an ideology of motherhood to shape their communities. More than biology, motherhood created essential social and political connections that cut across patrilineal and cultural-linguistic divides. The importance of motherhood as an ideology and a social institution meant that in chiefdoms and kingdoms queen mothers were powerful officials who legitimated the power of kings. This was the case in Buganda, the many kingdoms of Busoga, and the polities of Bugwere. By taking a long-term perspective from c.700 to 1900 CE and using an interdisciplinary approach - drawing on historical linguistics, comparative ethnography, and oral traditions and literature, as well as archival sources - this book shows the durability, mutability, and complexity of ideologies of motherhood in this region. |
Other editions - View all
A History of African Motherhood: The Case of Uganda, 700–1900 Rhiannon Stephens Limited preview - 2013 |
A History of African Motherhood: The Case of Uganda, 700-1900 Rhiannon Stephens No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
African History Atkinson banana banana cultivation Bantu Cultural Vocabulary Bantu languages Bantu Lexical Reconstructions Bashana Bastin and Schadeberg benefits biological biological reproduction bridewealth Bugabula Buganda Bugwere Historical Texts Bukono Bunyoro Busoga Traditional History child Christopher Ehret Cohen Collected Texts David William Cohen derived East Kyoga economic Ehret ethnographic etymology father first fishing gender glottochronology Green Place household ID main ideology of motherhood important influence innovation interview Kagwa kaidu Kampala Kigulu king’s kingdom Kings ofBuganda Kingship Kodesh Lake Victoria—Nyanza Lakes Bantu Cultural Lakes region linguistic lubuga Luuka Mair marriage married maternal kin Médard millet Nilotic languages nineteenth century nnamasole North Nyanza office ofthe patriclan patrilineal precolonial proto-Bantu proto-North Nyanza queen mother reflected relationships role Roscoe Royal Women Rushana Schoenbrun senior wife significant social motherhood social reproduction society Soga South Kyoga specific speech community Texts of Busoga tion University Press Vansina wives woman Women of Buganda Womunafu’s Bunafu Wrigley