Wahuni (the undesirables) : African urbanisation, crime and colonial order in Dar es Salaam, 1919-1961
The thesis examines African urbanisation in Dar es Salaam in the British colonial period and the official response to this phenomenon. It is divided into three parts. In Part One colonial urban policy is discussed. British officials initially showed a marked antipathy towards African urbanisation. The true home of the African was considered to be in the rural areas where his tribal society not only catered for his social and economic needs but also provided a medium through which he could conveniently be administered. Beginning in the 1940s there was a revision of colonial policy. The inevitable growth of permanent African urban communities was acknowledged. An attempt was made to nurture a 'respectable' class of urban African. At the same time, however, antipathy towards urbanisation persisted. Officials continued to display concern about the deleterious effects of the urban environment on the 'upcountry native', and in particular the growing problem of unemployment. Part Two is concerned with crime in Dar es Salaam. The most immediate aspect which informed official antipathy to African urbanisation was its role in the spread of criminality. Anxiety over the presence of growing numbers of Africans in the
Burton, Andrew
Colonial urban policy; Crime; Unemployment
Wahuni (the undesirables) : African urbanisation, crime and colonial order in Dar es Salaam, 1919-1961. The thesis examines African urbanisation in Dar es Salaam in the British colonial period and the official response to this phenomenon. It is divided into three parts. In Part One colonial urban policy is discussed. British officials initially showed a marked antipathy towards African urbanisation. The true home of the African was considered to be in the rural areas where his tribal society not only catered for his social and economic needs but also provided a medium through which he could conveniently be administered. Beginning in the 1940s there was a revision of colonial policy. The inevitable growth of permanent African urban communities was acknowledged. An attempt was made to nurture a 'respectable' class of urban African. At the same time, however, antipathy towards urbanisation persisted. Officials continued to display concern about the deleterious effects of the urban environment on the 'upcountry native', and in particular the growing problem of unemployment. Part Two is concerned with crime in Dar es Salaam. The most immediate aspect which informed official antipathy to African urbanisation was its role in the spread of criminality. Anxiety over the presence of growing numbers of Africans in the
undesirable african urbanisation crime colonial order examines african urbanisation british_colonial period official response phenomenon divide_three_part part_one colonial urban policy discuss british_official initially show mark antipathy towards african urbanisation true home african consider rural_area tribal society cater social_economic need also_provide medium could administer beginning revision colonial_policy inevitable growth permanent african urban_community acknowledge attempt_make nurture respectable class urban african time however antipathy towards urbanisation persist continue display concern effect urban_environment native particular grow problem unemployment part_two concerned crime immediate aspect inform official antipathy african urbanisation role spread criminality anxiety presence grow_number africans