Transnational Nomads: How Somalis Cope with Refugee Life in the Dadaab Camps of Kenya

by Cindy Horst

There is a tendency to consider all refugees as 'vulnerable victims': an attitude reinforced by the stream of images depicting refugees living in abject conditions. This groundbreaking study of Somalis in a Kenyan refugee camp reveals the inadequacy of such assumptions by describing the rich personal and social histories that refugees bring with them to the camps. The author focuses on the ways in which Somalis are able to adapt their 'nomadic' heritage in order to cope with camp life; a heritage that includes a high degree of mobility and strong social networks that reach beyond the confines of the camp as far as the U.S. and Europe.

Genres: Nonfiction, Africa

252 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Kribsoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another of the great strengths of Horst's book is the candour with which she discusses her research methodologies and attempts to solicit feedback from Somalis both in Dadaab and in the wider transnational community… Her transparent approach to discussing her research methods and attempts to invite critical reading of her work by Somalis in various locations make this an important contribution to literature on research methods that will be of use to students and scholars in the social sciences