Research
Rewriting Chagga History: Focus on Ethno-Anthropological Distortions and Misconceptions
The paper aimed at displaying the necessity of rewriting Chagga history (one of the numerous African microhistories) with reference to ethno-anthropological distortions and misconceptions made over the centuries. Amid this objective history recorders are called upon to rewrite African history, a bigger entity formed by local and regional African histories. After the definition of keywords (Chagga, Chaggaland, history, microhistory, historicism, historiography, anthropology, and ethnology), the paper’s relevance was embedded in the realization that rewriting history is a never-ending exercise and due to that fact, history (microhistories in particular) should be rewritten continuously. The towering finding of the paper was that it is imperative to rewrite Chagga history because, as it is the case with African history, for quite a long time Chagga culture has been misunderstood and as a result distorted by least informed foreign historians, anthropologists and ethnologists. Using an historical-linguistic and ethno-anthropological methodology, the paper came up with the conclusion that there can only be correct African history if there are correct African microhistories, Chagga history being one of them.
Joseph Merinyo: A Patriotic Chagga Nationalist and Adamant Champion for Justice and Human Rights
Thispaper sought to highlight the life and work of Joseph Merinyo, using historical-biographical and ethnoanthropological approach. The main tools used in data collection were interviews, discussions, and literature analysis. Serving the society as a houseboy, clerk, store keeper, interpreter and informant, Joseph Merinyo rose from being a simple villager to a high-profile nationalist and freedom fighter – working closely with local chiefs, foreign researchers and administrators. The main finding of the paper was that Merinyo was a patriot, nationalist, and a frontline activist who unwaveringly fought for social justice and human rights. Key terms (patriot, nationalist, justice, kingmaker, human rights, and diplomacy) were defined according to the context of the paper and it was concluded that hard work, social commitment, and self-sacrifice were virtues which elevated Merinyo to international stature and reputation. Studying people like Joseph Merinyo enables members of the society, the younger generation in particular, understand the legacy of African makers of history. As a challenge and invitation for future research, two recommendations were made. First, it is necessary to study important persons like Joseph Merinyo because such studies help to interpret Africa to the outside world; and second, African heroes and heroines should be studied – not only to satisfy historical curiosity but also to benefit from the immeasurable insights packed in the history of their lives.
