Ethnicity, Democracy and Citizenship in Africa

’At a time when ethnic identities are becoming more politically salient this book provides an invaluable account of their appeal to ordinary Kenyans. Balaton-Chrimes provides a nuanced account of the relationship between perceptions of indigeneity and autochthony, and citizenship, but also practical suggestions on how the negative aspects of ethnic politics can be mitigated in a modern democracy.’ Gabrielle Lynch, University of Warwick, UK ’This book brings the tormented history of the Nubians to new life by opening up broader and unexpected implications. Once the soldiers of choice for the British colonial armies, these Nubians now desperately defend their belonging as citizens of Kenya by claiming Kibera, one of Nairobi’s most overpopulated slums, as their ethnic homeland, invoking a doubtful colonial charter. Balaton-Chrimes creatively shows how this tortuous history raises important questions to notions of citizenship in general. Thus, she highlights how contributions from the South can open up new vistas to current debates in the North. At least as important is that her emphasis on a disaggregated approach to citizenship allows her to link it in positive and even promising ways to notions of ethnicity and autochthony.’ Peter Geschiere, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands