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Mutch, Thembi (2017) Women, the media and modernity in Zanzibar : ‘ninjas, mamas and good girls’. PhD Thesis. SOAS, University of London. http://eprints.soas.ac.uk/id/eprint/24385 Copyright © and Moral Rights for this PhD Thesis are retained by the author and/or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non‐commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This PhD Thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder/s. The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. When referring to this PhD Thesis, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the PhD Thesis must be given e.g. AUTHOR (year of submission) "Full PhD Thesis title", name of the School or Department, PhD PhD Thesis, pagination. Women, the Media and Modernity in Zanzibar: ‘Ninjas, Mamas and Good Girls’ by Thembi Mutch PhD thesis 2015 1 Declaration for SOAS MPhil thesis I have read and understood regulation 17.9 of the Regulations for students of the SOAS, University of London concerning plagiarism. I undertake that all the material presented for examination is my own work and has not been written for me, in whole or in part, by any other person. I also undertake that any quotation or paraphrase from the published or unpublished work of another person has been duly acknowledged in the work which I present for examination. Signed: ____________________________ Date: _________________ 2 Abstract This thesis is an interdisciplinary work that explores research questions on women's discourses about media and politics in Zanzibar. How do Zanzibar women become modern in order to participate in public spheres? What lacunae operate within the conventional tropes of modernity that limit a full exploration of their conversations? This is the first inter-disciplinary ethnographic work within the audience/reception studies genre of media studies to focus specifically on Islamic women and their iterations of voice, agency and interiorisation of control in East Africa. Located within post-colonial debates, the work prioritises gender in East Africa as a key marker for localised behaviours and responses to globalised modernity, accessing women and girls’ voices and opinions to explore this. The work critically interrogates existing work on public spheres and asks us if we (in the Global North) are looking in the wrong places and asking the wrong questions. We need to reimagine the Southern public sphere from the perspective of women in Zanzibar; we need to examine the meanings of agency, modernity and civil engagement in an African context, factoring in the particularities of shame, secrecy, concealment, precariousity, gossip, corruption and non-state engagement. Using polyvocal definitions of media and empirical research, this thesis redefines the nature of public and political agency for Islamic Women in Zanzibar and explores issues of agency and the ‘self-help’ qualities of the media. It also examines the complexities of the weak state and partitioned-off local elites who have access to global networks and influences that often do not include the Global North. 3 Acknowledgements I owe a big debt of gratitude and respect to three incredible supervisors: patient, clever, offering insights, critiques, recommendations, intellectual acuity, humour, warmth, good coffee and above all valuable support. Professor Annabelle Sreberny began this journey on a cold Thursday afternoon in September 2006 when she persuaded me to enrol the following Monday. She prodded, inspired, questioned, listened and clarified for the next six years. The second supervisor, the Amazonian Dr Dina Matar, became my first supervisor and provided the necessary clarity, direction and structure for the final years. Dina is a complete one-off: lateral, global, smart, subtle, emotionally and intellectually astute and well-read. Lastly Dr Gina Heathcote turned up offering cupcakes, a clear lawyer’s mind, morale boosters, intersectionality, a chance to be published, fantastic theory and the support of her gender institute colleagues (Professor Nadje Al Ali, Dr Rubah Saleh) who read early drafts and gave valuable critiques. Thank you. My respect and appreciation go also to various friends and colleagues at SOAS and beyond: Dr Tracey Jensen (Lancaster) and Dr Ali Smith (Goldsmiths) for long walks with the dogs and beating my ideas into shape. Imogen Slater (Goldsmiths) and Dr. Tanya Sharck-Graham (KCL) and Dr. Wendy Willems (LSE) for questions and suggestions at the right time and guiding me through the difficult journey of academic publication. Perry Illes (god sent) for brilliant, patient copy/proof editing. Common sense, space to write, a home, music, support, interest, love and humour from friends and teachers: Joachim Hillier, Kala and Matayo Monjes, Rosie Suso Carter, Mel Steel and Michelle Hickson, Louise Carolin, Mike Brydon, Petra Hertzglotz, Liina and Liieve Eiirik, Colin, Aysha, Marimba, Dr. Ella Simpson, James Schneider, Shona Main, Nizami Cummins, Tessa and Fiona Lewin, Judith Jackson and Jo Driessen, Dorinda Talbot, Carolyn Dempster, Mubarak Maman, Adel Dabo, Idi Rahman Amin, Andrea and Francesca de Gasparis, Dr. Marc Kochzius, Dr Winston Mano. Zoe Davis (SOAS) and Marcus Cerny (SOAS) for easing the bureaucratic hurdles. To the people of Zanzibar who helped make this happen, particular 4 Maryam, George and Farid, who were so much more than just researchers or translators over the fieldwork and writing up: solid friends, confidantes and wise advisors. Lastly to my incredible (extended and adopted family) Jon Blair, Alexei Mutch, Gay Blair, Ben Blair, Judy Graham, Tanya Graham, Priscilla De Gasparis, Allegra Taylor, Fiona Lloyd and Hugh Lewin; and Professor Denny Mitchison. Change makers, grafters, solid inspirations all. In memory of my mum, an intellectual, intersectional and emotional Amazon: Hilary Claire (1941-2007) And dedicated to my fierce, beautiful, FUNNY smart neice, Natasha Mutch-Vidal, who understands, and carries the baton. 5 CONTENTS Prologue: April 2013 15 Chapter One: Introduction and Literature Review 17 Introduction Short Synopsis on Zanzibar 19 1.1. Women, Modernity and the Media: Overview 20 1.1.1 Gendered consumerism 25 1.1.2 What are the research questions engaged in this work? 28 1.1.3 Modernity 29 1.1.4 Voice and agency. 30 1.1.5 Being Swahili: performing the self 32 1.1.6 Women and The Gaze—Being Visible 34 1.2 What are the Key Themes Emerging from this Work? 36 1.2.1 Gender in East Africa (Zanzibar) as a key marker for accessing women and girls’ voices and opinions of media 36 1.2.2 Women as audiences and agents in Africa 38 1.3 Representational North, material South 43 1.3.1 Problems with studying Africa 43 1.3.2 Let’s talk about sex 45 1.4 Islamic agency, shame, reputation and local gossip 48 1.4.1 Subject/state critiques 50 1.5 Key debates: where does this work fit? 53 1.5.1 Empirical research/reception studies about agency and the 6 ‘self-help’ qualities of the media 54 1.5.2 Good Girls: Local literature in Zanzibar 55 1.5.3 The public sphere in Counter-Culture and Music 56 1.5.4 Gossiping the Nation: new ideas on nationalism 58 1.5.5 Redefining the nature of public and political agency for Islamic Women 60 1.5.6 New iterations of the public sphere and civic agency in non-media spaces 61 1.5.7 Post-Coloniality: Pavements, Pubs Parliaments or Porches: where’s the Public Sphere? 62 Conclusion 63 Chapter Two: Methods and Methodology 67 Introduction 2.1 Ethnography in practice 68 2.1.1 Who did I interview and why? 68 2.1.2 How did I select my informants? 71 2.1.3 What did I ask the informants? 74 2.1.4 Ethics of the research 79 2.1.5 The Locations of interviews 87 2.1.6 Participant Observation sites 87 2.1.7 The interviews, discussions, group meetings 90 2.2 Methodology: putting theory into practice 92 2.2.1 Definitions and terms 92 7 2.2.2 Studying media 94 2.2.3 What is ethnography? 97 2.2.4 Being the author/Ethics 100 2.2.5 Trust, intimacy and research 101 2.2.6 Real life and media—the disconnect 106 Conclusion 108 Chapter Three: History and Context, Zanzibar and Tanzania 114 Introduction 3.1 History and context 114 3.1.1 Zanzibar’s political climate 121 3.1.2 The global architecture of aid 124 3.2 The flourishing of civil society in Zanzibar 126 3.2.1 Who are the chattering classes? 131 3.3 The media in Zanzibar 134 3.3.1 Television 136 3.3.2 The Internet 137 3.3.2 Mobile phones 138 3.3.3 Radio 133 3.3.4 Digital activism: the revolution will be texted? 142 Conclusion 146 8 Chapter Four: Findings. Media Failures and Absences 152 Introduction 152 4.1 The media directly addressing women: gaps in content 156 4.1.2 The lack of women’s public profile in the media 164 4.2 The inaccuracy and lack of depth and information in the media 169 4.3 The Integrity of the media, nepotism and corruption 174 4.4 Real life as narrated by my informants 179 4.5 Child abuse and domestic violence in the media 183 Conclusion 185 Chapter Five: Findings. Media Modernity and Mamas 189 Introduction 189 5.1 Keeping up appearances 190 5.2 Younger women and the media: “Future generations will look at me and what I achieve!” 193 5.3 The senior status of older women 203 5.3.1 Older women are generally more enthusiastic about ‘old media’ 206 5.4 Corruption and Jealousy 210 5.5 Information and ontological security.