A History of the Asians in East Africa, ca. 1886 to 1945

by Jagjit Singh Mangat

In the 19th and 20th centuries, people commonly known simply as Asians from the Indian subcontinent settled in East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda) in ever-increasing numbers. By the turn of the 20th century, Indian immigrants outnumbered Europeans in the region by more than a 2:1 ratio. It signified the extraordinary influence they wield over and the effect they have on the socioeconomic, political, and cultural aspects of East African society. Because existing literature on the subject is either incomplete or cursory, an overall assessment of the large-scale Asian immigration impact on East African development is woefully inadequate. Therefore, in what is one of the most exhaustive examinations of the phenomenon ever produced, this book came into being under the expert research of Jagjit Singh Mangat. In light of the dearth of written sources-with the few available being drastically hard to find-Mangat uses interviews with surviving immigrants to flesh out our knowledge and understanding. For instance, he introduces us to traders who pioneered commercial exploitation of the protectorate's interior during the 1880s and 1890s-a people and their endeavor little known outside local Asian tradition until now. While subjective in nature, these interviews nonetheless provide comprehensive insight into the life and work of early Asian immigrants, from their own unique viewpoint. Using both official and unofficial documentation from the India Records Office in London, the Proceedings of the Emigration Department at the India Office, and records of the former Bombay Presidency, to name a few, A History of the Asians in East Africa, ca. 1886 to 1945, is a definitive record of the extraordinary journey of Indian immigrants and their powerful impact and influence on the development of East Africa in the past and how that has shaped the region today.

Genres: Nonfiction

254 pages, Paperback

First published August 21, 2012

Reviews

[The Blaxpat]

This is a solid historical read, though it isn't a comprehensive guide. First, Asians means Indians here. And East Africa here only covers Kenya, Zanzibar and (somewhat) Uganda/ Tanzania responsibly. It was also originally written in 1969, so it's a pioneering work that has been used for much more comprehensive contemporary texts. It seems to have decent numbers on population, as well as median income, that remain relevant for researchers today. But, do not expect anything on south of Kilwa - Natal or Mozambique - except fleeting comparisons.