The Gun in Central Africa: A History of Technology and Politics (New African Histories)

Why did some central African peoples embrace gun technology in the nineteenth century, and others turn their backs on it? In answering this question, The Gun in Central Africa offers a thorough reassessment of the history of firearms in central Africa. Marrying the insights of Africanist historiography with those of consumption and science and technology studies, Giacomo Macola approaches the subject from a culturally sensitive perspective that encompasses both the practical and the symbolic attributes of firearms. Informed by the view that the power of objects extends beyond their immediate service functions, The Gun in Central Africa presents Africans as agents of technological re-innovation who understood guns in terms of their changing social structures and political interests. By placing firearms at the heart of the analysis, this volume casts new light on processes of state formation and military revolution in the era of the long-distance trade, the workings of central African gender identities and honor cultures, and the politics of the colonial encounter. Why did some central African peoples embrace gun technology in the nineteenth century, and other turn their backs on it? In answering this question, The Gun in Central Africa offers a thorough reassessment of the history of firearms in central Africa. Marrying the insights of Africanist historiography with those of consumption and science and technology studies, Giacomo Macola approaches the subject from a culturally sensitive perspective that encompasses both the practical and the symbolic attributes of firearms. Informed by the view that the power of objects extends beyond their immediate service functions, The Gun in Central Africa presents Africans as agents of technological re-innovation who understood guns in terms of their changing social structure and political interests. By placing firearms at the heart of the analysis, this volume casts new light on processes of state formation and military revolution in the era of the long-distance trade, the workings of central African gender identities and honor cultures, and the politics of the colonial encounter. -- from back cover Contents Illustrations Acknowledgments A Note on Hereditary Titles Introduction: Firearms and the History of Technology in Africa Part I: Contexts 1: Power and International Trade in the Savanna Part II: Guns and Society on the Upper Zambezi and in Katanga 2: The Domestication of the Musket on the Upper Zambezi 3: The Warlord’s Muskets 4: Gun Societies Undone? Part III: Resisting Guns in Eastern Zambia and Malawi 5: “They Disdain Firearms” 6: Of “Martial Races” and Guns Conclusion: Gun Domestication in Historical Perspective Notes Bibliography Index Firearms and the history of technology in Africa -- Power and international trade in the savanna -- The domestication of the musket on the Upper Zambezi -- The warlord's muskets : the political economy of Garenganze -- Gun societies undone? The effects of British and Belgian rule -- "They disdain firearms" : the relationship between guns and the Ngoni -- Of "martial races" and guns : the politics of honor to the early twentieth century -- Conclusion: gun domestication in historical perspective Examining the history of warfare and political development through a technological lens, Macola relates the study of military technology to the history of gender.