Shaping the African Savannah: From Capitalist Frontier to Arid Eden in Namibia

The southern African savannah landscape is an Arid Eden, a last frontier, and an ancient ancestral land, and Michael Bollig's history explores how it came into being, how it was construed, and how local pastoralists relate to it. It highlights the intricate and changing relations between humans, arid savannah grasslands, and its co-evolving animal inhabitants, and how futures are being aspired to and planned for.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 425 pages
Publication date: 16 June 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The southern African savannah landscape has been portrayed in various ways in recent literature. It has been described as an Arid Eden, a sought-after exotic tourism destination for twenty-first-century travelers, a last frontier for early twentieth-century explorers, and an ancient ancestral land by Namibia's Herero communities. Spanning a 150-year history, Michael Bollig delves into the origins, interpretations, and relationships between local pastoralists and the arid savannah grasslands. His analysis centers on the intricate and evolving interactions between humans, the arid environment, and its co-evolving animal inhabitants. By examining the material relations, power struggles, and conflicts between commercial hunters, wildlife conservationists, wealthy cattle patrons, foraging clients, established homesteads, and recent migrants, Bollig sheds light on the complex dynamics within this region. Furthermore, he highlights how futures are being envisioned and planned amidst the growing challenges of climate change, global demands for cheap ores, and the pursuit of biodiversity conservation. This comprehensive history offers a rich understanding of the southern African savannah and its multifaceted connections, providing valuable insights into the past, present, and potential future of this remarkable landscape.

The southern African savannah landscape has been portrayed in various ways in recent literature. It has been described as an Arid Eden, a sought-after exotic tourism destination for twenty-first-century travelers, a last frontier for early twentieth-century explorers, and an ancient ancestral land by Namibia's Herero communities. Spanning a 150-year history, Michael Bollig delves into the origins, interpretations, and relationships between local pastoralists and the arid savannah grasslands. His analysis centers on the intricate and evolving interactions between humans, the arid environment, and its co-evolving animal inhabitants. By examining the material relations, power struggles, and conflicts between commercial hunters, wildlife conservationists, wealthy cattle patrons, foraging clients, established homesteads, and recent migrants, Bollig sheds light on the complex dynamics within this region. Furthermore, he highlights how futures are being envisioned and planned amidst the growing challenges of climate change, global demands for cheap ores, and the pursuit of biodiversity conservation. This comprehensive history offers a rich understanding of the southern African savannah and its multifaceted connections, providing valuable insights into the past, present, and potential future of this remarkable landscape.

Weight: 618g
Dimension: 152 x 227 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781108726399