Ancestral and Territorial Homelands: The Politics of the Indian Diaspora in Kenya

Abstract

Abstract:This is a review essay of Sana Aiyar's book Indians in Kenya: The Politics of Diaspora. I frame the discussion in the context not only of Indians in Kenya but also in other parts of Africa, particularly South Africa. The rhetoric of the clash of civilizations is introduced, and its implicit and explicit resonance in solidarities and tensions between Indians and Africans is discussed. After highlighting the many merits of Aiyar's account, I end with a call for a more explicit engagement with matters of gender and the role of women in this history.