Description
Offers an extremely sophisticated, nuanced view of the social and political construction of an African middle class in colonial Zimbabwe.” ―Elizabeth Schmidt
Tracing their quest for social recognition from the time of Cecil Rhodes to Rhodesia’s unilateral declaration of independence, Michael O. West shows how some Africans were in a position to avail themselves of scarce educational and social opportunities with a purpose to reach some extent of upward mobility in a society that used to be hostile to their ambitions. Although rather few in number and not wealthy by colonial standards, this comparatively better class of Africans challenged individual and social barriers imposed by colonialism to grow to be the locus of protest against European domination. This extensive and original book opens new point of view into relations between colonizers and colonized in colonial Zimbabwe.