Review
It is a masterful synthesis of gender, ethnicity and social change in Anlo society...And I suspect I will continue to buy Greene's book for other Anlo chiefs who discover this gem.' - Emmanuel Akyeampong in Journal of African History 'This is an excellent book, the real triumph of which lies in its integrated coverage of themes and historical periods that are more commonly sorted into discrete boxes ... this book is a must for all those interested in ethnicity in Africa, as well as for those whose interests lie in the area of gender history.' - Simon Nugent in Africa 'The categories of ethnic insider/ethnic outsider deployed in this analysis have important parallels in other Atlantic Basin societies, whilst the complex history of immigration and competing social structure illuminates social processes which are now occurring widely in Africa beyond the littoral.' - Barrie Sharpe in African Affairs '...masterful synthesis...' - Margaret Snyder in Choice
Product Description
This study brings together the fields of gender studies and ethnic studies to examine precolonial Africa. The focus is on the history of the Anlo-Ewe of south-eastern Ghana from the 17th-19th centuries, though in the last two chapters the author extends her analysis to the 20th century. The changing boundary between we and they is documented, as the community absorbed refugees, traders and conquerors. As family eldes competed for limited resources, they began to sacrifice the interests of young womenunder their authority. The women reacted against being marginalized, and aligned themselves with non-kin, who most often were religiously influential ethnic outsiders in the community. By the end of the 19th century, the boundary between we and they ,and the way in which men and women intracted, had changed significantly.
