Making Martial Races: Gender, Society, and Warfare in Africa

European colonizers in Africa utilized local soldiers and military auxiliaries to maintain their power, often based on the notion of "martial race." This concept was contested by African peoples and shaped by their interactions with Europeans. This book explores how cultural practices and notions of warfare and martial traditions shifted and were transformed across different periods, including the precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial eras. It also examines the role of gender, slavery, and claims to special status by veterans of anticolonial revolutionary wars in shaping martial identities.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 348 pages
Publication date: 04 January 2024
Publisher: Ohio University Press

European colonizers in Africa relied heavily on the services of local soldiers and military auxiliaries to maintain their power. These African men were initially recruited by European surveyors and explorers during the late 19th century and subsequently enlisted in the notorious campaigns of pacification. The two world wars further increased the number of African soldiers in European employ, and many of them continued their work even into the era of decolonization in the 1960s and 1970s.

Colonial administrators and military planners often employed the concept of "martial race" to select their recruits. This notion suggested that certain peoples were inherently more suited for warfare and fighting. However, the concept of "martial race" was inherently flawed and obscured more than it revealed. Few Europeans could agree on which "races" or ethnic groups were considered "martial," and the identities of these groups were constantly evolving. Nevertheless, this belief remained a fundamental guiding principle of European presence in colonial Africa.

The concept of "martial race" remains an awkward and ill-fitting Eurocentric category until African contributions, perspectives, and agencies are considered. "Martial race" was never a label neatly affixed by European administrators; rather, African peoples both contested its terms and shaped its contours. This book therefore takes as its starting point the idea of martial race and recasts it as a zone in which African men and women negotiated with their European counterparts, as well as with one another.

The contributors to this volume adopt a broad approach to the topic, one that minimizes divisions between the precolonial, colonial, and postcolonial eras and explores how cultural practices and notions of warfare and violence have shaped African societies. They examine the experiences of African soldiers and military auxiliaries, as well as the broader social and political implications of their involvement in European colonial projects.

The book also highlights the ways in which African men and women resisted and challenged European dominance. It explores the role of African resistance movements, such as the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya, in shaping the course of colonial history. The contributors also consider the legacy of colonialism and the ongoing struggles for justice and equality in Africa, highlighting the importance of recognizing and respecting the diverse experiences and perspectives of African peoples.

In conclusion, this book provides a valuable contribution to the study of colonialism and imperialism. It challenges the notion of "martial race" and highlights the complex and multifaceted ways in which African men and women negotiated with their European counterparts and shaped the course of colonial history. By recognizing and respecting the diverse experiences and perspectives of African peoples, we can better understand the legacy of colonialism and work towards a more just and equitable world.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780821426180