Malawian Migration to Zimbabwe, 1900–1965: Tracing MachonaThis book explores the culture of migration that emerged in Malawi in the early twentieth century as the British colony became central to labour migration in southern Africa. Migrants who travelled to Zimbabwe stayed for years or decades, and those who never returned became known as machona – ‘the lost ones’. Through an analysis of colonial archives and oral histories, this book captures a range of migrant experiences during a period of enormous political change, including the rise of nationalist politics, and the creation and demise of the Central African Federation. Following migrants from origin to destination, and in some cases back again, this book explores gender, generation, ethnicity and class, and highlights life beyond the workplace in a racially segregated city. Malawian men and women shaped the culture and politics of urban Zimbabwe in ways that remain visible today. Ultimately, the voluntary movement of Africans within the African continent raises important questions about the history of diaspora communities and the politics of belonging in post-colonial Africa. |
Contents
| 1 | |
2 Labour Migration in Early Colonial Malawi | 21 |
3 Gender Class and Migration | 54 |
4 Nyasa Migrant Identities | 91 |
5 Community Leisure and Urban Life | 117 |
6 Migrant Networks and Nationalist PoliticsThe Federation Years | 153 |
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Affairs Commission African National African urban Association became Blantyre British Bulawayo burial societies CCAP Central Africa Central African Federation chapter Chewa Chief Chinteche Chipembere church citizenship colonial cultural dance Dedza early economic employment ethnic European families farms February Galatiya groups Harare History of Malawi husbands Ibid independence Interview Journal of Southern Kadalie labour migration land living Location Malawi Congress Party Malawian Malawian Migration Margaret Read migrant labour migrant workers Migration to Zimbabwe mines Mission missionaries movement nationalist Native Affairs Native Commissioner Native Labour Ngoni Ntcheu District Nyasa migrants Nyasaland African Congress Nyasaland Congress Nyasaland Government Representative Nyasaland Labour Nyasaland Natives Nyau Nyau societies organisation recruitment region Report residents rural Salisbury settler Shona social South Africa southern Africa Southern African Studies Southern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesian African territory Thyolo District tion Tonga tribal Urban African Affairs urban areas village Zambia Zimbabwe Zimbabwean Zomba