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Social stratification on the Swahili coast: from race to class?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 December 2011

François Constantin
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Extract

The analysis of ‘social stratification’ (a polite way of speaking of inequality) is crucial to that of political power, though not easy, regardless of the social group investigated. At the cost of oversimplification, die-hard theoreticians minimise the problem by using ready-made typologies and causal links purporting to explain all living social structures.

Résumé

La stratification sociale sur la côte swahili: entre race et classe

L'analyse de la stratification sociale est en soi un exercice difficile, car elle doit intégrer, dans une perspective dynamique, des éléments matériels (pouvoir, puissance) et symboliques (valeurs, culture, prestige). La complexité des sociétés côtières est-africaines ajoute encore à la difficulté. L'analyse historique amène en effet à souligner l'importance de la superposition des strates successives venant d'au-delà des mers (Arabie du sud, Inde, Europe) qui s'imposent comme élites économiques, mais aussi politiques, sinon symboliques. Toutefois, en établissant des classifications juridiques fondées sur la discrimination raciale (et secondairement sur des critères de différenciation de type segmentaire), elles entravent l'exercice d'une véritable hégémonie susceptible d'avoir des effets intégrateurs.

Les changements sociaux consécutifs à l'entrée dans l'économie capitaliste mondiale font éclater ces classifications et conduisent à l'indépendance et à la promotion d'élites africaines autochtones (mais originaires le plus souvent de l'intérieur); ils ne suffisent pas toutefois à effacer les solidarités et les représentations héritées de l'histoire. Représentations imaginaires, contrôle des ressources économiques, contrôle de l'espace politique participent toujours à la structuration des hiérarchies sociales où les réseaux traditionnels (parenté, clans) ont encore leur place. Essentiels dans certaines circonstances (état de crise), ils ne doivent cependant pas faire oublier l'émergence de formes nouvelles de différenciation, annonciatrices de classes sociales.

Type
Research Article
Information
Africa , Volume 59 , Issue 2: Social Stratification in Swahili Society , April 1989 , pp. 145 - 160
Copyright
Copyright © International African Institute 1989

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