Uhuru Street

M.G Vassanji

Asian Africans in East Asian Africans in East Africa Africa the 1883 Act -- the importation of Indian

labour for the colonial machinery in East Africa

1) Coolies -- Indians (especially Goans) were recruited to run the railways after they were built (and Goans came to dominate the colonial civil services). 15, 000 of the 16, 000 "coolies"that worked on the railroads were Indians, who were renowned for their work ethic and competitiveness (Sowell, 1996). (source)

2)Stereotype of a dukawallah community-- rests on the generalization that all members of that community only engage in commerce; corrupt commerce at that.

Asian Africans in East Asian Africans in East Africa Africa Asian African –2nd class citizen but seen

as guest race Blacks – 3rd class. Miruka: “although the immigrant Asian

community has become naturalized to East Africa. (sic) It still remains an intriguing phenomenon to many [native] Africans, who view all Asians as inherently “shopkeepers” an intrigue strengthened by the fact that there is very little inter-marriage between the two communities” (qtd in Makokha 58)

TanzaniaTanzania1880 to 1919 -- Tanganyika as a German colony 1919 to 1961 -- a British trust territory. 1964 -- Tanganyika became Tanzania after forming a

union with Zanzibar in 1964. Asians – 1% of the total population,

◦ 1964 Zanzibar Revolution -- over 10,000 Asians were forced to migrate to the mainland as a result of violent attacks (also geared to Arabs), especially to Dar es Salaam.

◦ Feb., 1967, President Nyerere issued the Arusha Declaration which called for egalitarianism, socialism, and self-reliance. He introduced a form of African socialism termed Ujamaa (“pulling together”) . Factories and plantations were nationalized, and ajor investments were made in primary schools and health care (from the Answers.com site) but proved economically disastrous.

◦ In the 1970s over 50,000 Asians left Tanzania. (source)

Dar es SalaamDar es Salaam

The largest city in Tanzania

Vassanji “Forward” Vassanji “Forward” Dar es Salaam is a city on the east coast of

Africa, a coast that over the centuries was visited by Arab, Indian and European: traveller and merchant, slave trader, missionary and coloniser. Some 50 miles away on the Indian Ocean lies the former metropolis and slave market of the area, the isle of cloves, Zanzibar, barely visible on a clear day by some accounts ... Once upon a time Uhuru Street was called Kichwele Street. The change marked a great event in the country. Uhuru means "independence." This street of independence ran through the city. It began in the hinterland of exclusively African settlements, came downtown lined by Indian shops, and ended at the ocean [...](xi)

M.G Vassanji (1950~) M.G Vassanji (1950~) paternal great-grandfather had

immigrated to Kenya from the Indian state of Gujarat in the 1880s;

paternal grandparents -- born in Kenya.

mother born in Zanzibar, father in Kibwezi in Kenya.

Vassanji -- born in Nairobi and raised in Dar es Salaam on Uhuru Street

Uhuru Street – structure Uhuru Street – structure 1st-person narration (single-parent

family, sisters Razia, Mehroon, brothers Aloo)– “Ali” “Alizira” “For a Shilling” “Leaving”

3rd-person narration of interracial relations -- intersection among skin colors, gender

and class (e.g. “For a Shilling” “Alizira” and “In the Quiet of a Sunday Afternoon”)

-- "What Good Times We Had“ -- “Breaking Loose”

Uhuru Street --Collective Uhuru Street --Collective Life and HistoryLife and HistoryCharacters-- shopkeepers, servants,

schoolboys, and refugees on Uhuru street

Time: during the transition from colonialism to independence.

Colonial Heritage: English Lessons –Mr. Stuart (to “civilize,” as Eurasian? An ayah at home)

Transition seen in “The Driver”(54) “Refugee” (122)

Master-Servant Relations (1): Master-Servant Relations (1): "Ali""Ali"How are the masters dependent

on their servants? How is the Princess Margaret

presented? How do Ali’s stories reflect his

cultural backgrounds?Why does Ali have to be

dismissed?

Master-Servant Relations (2): Master-Servant Relations (2):

"The Driver”"The Driver”How does Idi deal with his work as a driver? (50, 53)

How do his masters Nurmohamed and his wife treat him? (e.g. toilet: 52)

What does Nurmohamed relate to his family?

Where do we see signs of Idi’s rebellion?

Breaking the Boundaries (1): Breaking the Boundaries (1): "Leaving""Leaving"The two sisters married Aloo trying to study abroad How is the mother related to her

two sons? The influences of Mr. Datoo and

Mr. Velji How does the mother

compromise?

Breaking the Boundaries (2): Breaking the Boundaries (2): “Breaking Loose”“Breaking Loose”How are Yasmin and Professor

Akoto presented differently? What are the obstacles between

them? (family, different perception of the others— Indians as shopkeeper and westernized, etc.)

"All Worlds Are Possible "All Worlds Are Possible Now"Now"A return story—is it like a

fantasy? Are all worlds possible? What are the dangers and

difficulties suggested? (132)How does he find “home” is Dar?

Does it make it?

Returning …Returning …0. All worlds are possible – worlds =

“Shadowy cargo vessels…reminders of deprivation, enticements to get up and go.”

ourselves “stretch[ed] between lives as contrary as the ends of a cross” (130)

1. Resists being defined by set plots (132)

2. Walking in the city – first reclaiming of Dar

Returning …(2)Returning …(2)

3. Returning to school, joining the former teacher who is very poor, and the powerful Lateef (secondment to Saudi Government); thinks of Almeida (who is jilted in love);

4. Finds permanence and home in Farida

Returning …(3)—losing Returning …(3)—losing FaridaFarida"In my reticence I was being modest,

but also I did not hasten because I was confident of the prize.  Now I saw it slip from me.  ... I got it when the Adidas-clad Karim let it drop that Lateef had been persuaded by his uncle to stay at their place--

My game is up.  For me now the pamanence of this weekly ritual, this breathless empty reclamation of the streets instead."

ReferencesReferences

Makokha, Justus Kizito Siboe. THE WORLDS IN-BETWEEN OF AN ASIAN AFRICAN WRITER: A POST-COLONIAL READING OF SELECTED NOVELS OF. MG VASSANJI. MA Thesis. Kenya U: 2006.