Ethnology of A-Kamba and Other East African Tribes

The first ethnography of the Kamba, written by C. W. Hobley (1867–1947) and first published in 1910.

C. W. Hobley (1867–1947) was a colonial administrator stationed in Kenya between 1894 and 1921. This ethnography contains detailed descriptions of the social, political and economic life of the indigenous Kenyan Kamba people with accounts of their cultural practices. This was the first published ethnography of this people.C. W. Hobley (1867–1947) was a colonial administrator who was stationed in Kenya between 1894 and 1921. Following the implementation of Indirect Rule in Kenya, indigenous law and custom were followed in political and judicial proceedings, with the colonial administration requiring a working knowledge of traditional customs. This book contains information collected by C. W. Hobley during his tenure as administrator of Nyanza Province and was first published in 1910 as part of the Cambridge Archaeological and Ethnological Series. This detailed ethnography was the first systematic survey of the Kamba people, and provides a comprehensive description of their traditional society, cultural practices and political and economic life. A description of the social organization of the Masai people is also provided. This volume contains views on ethnicity which were acceptable at the time it was first published.