KUDÉ? KUDEDI! TRY OR DIE Ethnicity, Class and Masculinity in a Kenyan slum By Naomi van Stapele KUDÉ? KUDEDI! TRY OR DIE Ethnicity, Class and Masculinity in a Kenyan slum By Naomi van Stapele Student number: 270168 Master thesis: History of Society Erasmus University, Rotterdam The Netherlands March 2007 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Glossary.................................................................................................................................................. 6 Maps of Kenya, Central Province, Nairobi and Eastleigh................................................................. 7 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 11 1.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 11 1.2. Mathare Valley ............................................................................................................................. 11 1.3. Theme, Main-question and Sub-questions................................................................................. 13 1.4. Research Methodology and Sources ...........................................................................................16 1.5. Chapters and Structure of this Thesis........................................................................................ 17 CHAPTER 2: ETHNICITY, A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK............................................... 18 2.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 18 2.2. Tribe or Ethnicity......................................................................................................................... 18 2.3. Scholarly Approaches to the Concept of Ethnicity.................................................................... 19 2.4. Ethnicity and Group Relationships ............................................................................................ 21 2.5. Colonial rule in Kenya ................................................................................................................. 21 2.6. Independence and Post-colonial Kenya...................................................................................... 24 2.7. Ethnicity and Identity Construction........................................................................................... 26 2.8. Conclusion..................................................................................................................................... 29 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY OF RESEARCH ....................................................................... 30 3.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 30 3.2. An Impression of my Research Environment............................................................................ 30 3.3. Change of Research Plans and Participant Observation.......................................................... 31 3.4. My Research Participants............................................................................................................ 33 3 3.5. Methodology of Research and Analysis: Biographic Narratives against the Grain............... 34 3.5.1. First Tool of Research: ‘Listening against the Grain’ ......................................................... 35 3.5.2. Second Tool of Research: ‘Reading against the Grain’....................................................... 37 3.5.3. Third Tool of Research: ‘Writing against the Grain’........................................................... 40 3.6. Conclusion..................................................................................................................................... 40 CHAPTER 4: 10 CENT and 50 CENT! ............................................................................................ 42 4.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 42 4.2. Introduction of Buda and Mama Buda ...................................................................................... 42 4.3. Buda and Tom .............................................................................................................................. 46 4.3. ‘No 50 Cent here’: Negotiating the Subject Position of Ghetto Boy ........................................ 50 4.3. There are two Buda’s: ‘BUDA’ and ‘Buda’............................................................................... 58 CHAPTER 5: MTIAJA IS MANOKI!.............................................................................................. 61 5.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 61 5.2. Us and Them: Bondeni and ‘The Other Side’. .......................................................................... 61 5.3. The Jews of Kenya........................................................................................................................ 65 5.4. The Historical Relationship between Ethnicity and Neighbourhood Identity........................ 70 CHAPTER 6: KIKUYUISM AND KIKUYUIZATION; TWO SIDES OF THE SAME ETHNIC MEDAL................................................................................................................................................ 73 6.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 73 6.2. Karani is a ‘tribeless’ name......................................................................................................... 73 6.3. Kikuyuism and the Colonial Discourse on Ethnicity ................................................................ 75 6.4. Kikiuyuism and Kikuyuizaion during the Kenyatta Era.......................................................... 81 6.5. The Memory of Mau Mau ........................................................................................................... 84 CHAPTER 7: MANOKI OR MUNGIKI?........................................................................................ 88 7.1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 88 4 7.2. The Mungiki Movement in Bondeni Village.............................................................................. 88 7.3. The Mungiki Movement as a Vigilante Gang ............................................................................ 94 7.4. The Violent Nature of the Mungiki Movement: Propaganda or Reality? .............................. 99 7.5. Mungiki or Manoki; the Multiple Construction of Manhood................................................ 102 CHAPTER 8: CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 106 8.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 106 8.2. Rebel or Star? ............................................................................................................................. 106 8.3. Manoki or Mungiki? .................................................................................................................. 107 8.4. Kikuyuism and Majimboism..................................................................................................... 109 8.5. Suggestions for further Research.............................................................................................. 111 Bibliography ...................................................................................................................................... 114 5 Glossary Askari Watchman in Kiswahili Bikra Illegal Brew, first catch in Sheng Bop 1 Kenyan Shilling in Sheng Bwana Mister in Kiswahili Chang’aa Illegal Brew in Sheng Chochoros Small alleyways in Kiswahili Chokora Street child in Kswahili Condé Conductor in Sheng Damu Blood in Kiswahili Engsh English with Sheng words Ganja Marihuana in Jamaican English Geri Gang in Sheng Gishage Rural area in the Kikuyu language Githaka Migration in the Kikuyu language Harambee Pulling together in Kiswahili Ithaka na wiyathi Land and freedom in the Kikuyu language Ituika Generation in the Kikuyu language Itungati In rearguard of the leaders in the Kikuyu language Jana Yesterday in Kiswahili Jazaa numba Add the number or join the gang in Sheng Juju Witchcraft in Sheng Kabisa Completely in Kiswahili Kamjesh Youth who fill the matatu’s in Sheng Kasheshe Misfortune in Kswahili Kidogo Small in Kiswahili Kifagio Broom in Kiswahili kude?...kudedi Try or die, or To d…? To die, in Sheng Kukes Kikuyu people in Colonial English Kumi kumi Illegal brew in Kiswahili Kuni Firewood in Kiswahili Mababi Rich persons in Sheng Manoki Crazy person in Sheng matatu Public transport in Kiswahili Matunda ya uhuru Fruits of independence in Kiswahili Mbari Lineage group in the Kikuyu language Mtaani Neighbourhood in Sheng Mtiaja Neighbourhood in Sheng Muhindi An Indian in Kiswahili Mwizi Thief in Kiswahili Mzungu A white person in Kiswahili Ndumba Witchcraft in Kiswahili Numba tisa Number nine in Kiswahili (a matatu-line in Nairobi) Nyakunyu Whip in Kiswahili Panga A machete in Kiswahili Pili pili Chilli pepper