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Fish, Family, and the Gendered Politics of Descent Along Uganda’s Southern Littorals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 July 2018

Jennifer L. Johnson
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Abstract:

This article examines historic gendered negotiations over identity, descent, and access to land along Uganda’s southern littorals by thinking about belonging with an exceptionally diverse assemblage of small fish. Based on accounts from contemporary littoral residents, the comparative historic ethnographic record, and fisheries scientists, the article describes the reproductive practices of enkejje as they may have been visible from Uganda’s southern littorals and situates the practices of raising socially recognized children within broader historical developments of clanship and public healing. Attending to these small fish in moments and in places where groups are under construction reorients analyses of descent politics beyond an often implicit focus on male interests towards the work of grandmothers, aunts, and mothers in debating the qualities of the most foundational units of the body politic – male and female children constituted relationally as persons through their status as legitimate family members.

Résumé:

Cet article examine les négociations historiques genrées sur l’identité, la lignée et l’accès à la terre le long des littoraux sud de l’Ouganda en pensant au phénomène d’appartenance avec l’aide d’un assemblage exceptionnellement diversifié de petits poissons. Basé sur des témoignages de résidents littoraux contemporains, de l’histoire ethnographique comparée et des études scientifiques halieutiques, cet article décrit les pratiques reproductrices d’enkejje telles qu’elles peuvent être visibles depuis les côtes sud ougandaises et situe les pratiques d’éducation des enfants socialement reconnus dans des développements historiques plus larges des clans et de guérison publique. Etudier ces petits poissons dans les moments et dans les endroits où les groupes sont en construction réoriente les analyses de la politique de descendance au-delà d’un intérêt masculin souvent implicite envers le travail des grands-mères, tantes et mères en discutant les qualités des unités les plus fondamentales du corps. Ainsi les enfants de sexe masculin et féminin sont constitués en tant que personnes par le biais de leur statut de membres légitimes de la famille.

Type
Towards Multispecies History
Information
History in Africa , Volume 45 , June 2018 , pp. 445 - 471
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2018 

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