| Burying SM: The Politics of Knowledge and the Sociology of Power in Africa Contributor(s): Cohen, David W. (Author), Odhiambo, Atieno (Author) |
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ISBN: 0435080636 ISBN-13: 9780435080631 Publisher: Heinemann Educational Books OUR PRICE: $33.30 Product Type: Paperback Published: May 1992 Annotation: The distinguished Kenyan lawyer S.M. Otieno died intestate in 1986; the ensuing struggle between his Kikuyu widow and his Luo clan became a matter of national concern. Debates raged over what legal, cultural, social, and historical grounds should govern the disposition of SM's remains, what legal rights should be enjoyed by widows, and over the interests of the state. While closely scrutinizing the legal case record, the authors examine how history was constructed by the various litigants, counsel, jurists, and witnesses, including an elderly gravedigger and mason, a cook, and a professor of philosophy. The authors invited a half-dozen scholars from different disciplines to discuss "what the case was really about" and "how the story should be told." These brief commentaries are included. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Social Science | Sociology - General - Law | Legal History - Political Science |
| Dewey: 346.762 |
| LCCN: 91028283 |
| Series: Social History of Africa (Paperback) |
| Physical Information: 0.41" H x 6.06" W x 8.96" (0.56 lbs) 174 pages |
| Themes: - Chronological Period - 1980's - Cultural Region - East Africa - Ethnic Orientation - African |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The distinguished Kenyan lawyer S.M. Otieno died intestate in 1986; the ensuing struggle between his Kikuyu widow and his Luo clan became a matter of national concern. Debates raged over what legal, cultural, social, and historical grounds should govern the disposition of SM's remains, what legal rights should be enjoyed by widows, and over the interests of the state. While closely scrutinizing the legal case record, the authors examine how history was constructed by the various litigants, counsel, jurists, and witnesses, including an elderly gravedigger and mason, a cook, and a professor of philosophy. The authors invited a half-dozen scholars from different disciplines to discuss what the case was really about and how the story should be told. These brief commentaries are included. |
Contributor Bio(s): Cohen, David W.: - David William Cohen is Professor of Anthropology and History and Director of the Program of African Studies, Northwestern University.Odhiambo, Atieno: - E.S. Atieno Odhiambo is Professor of History at Rice University. |