Contemporary Issues in Swahili Ethnography

The term ‘Swahili’ describes the Muslim peoples of the East African coast. In this volume, the authors discuss a range of contemporary issues: the shifting roles of Islam on the mainland coast; consumerism, conservation, memory and belonging in Zanzibar; how a Muslim society deals with HIV/AIDS; social change, development and political strategies in the Comoros; and Swahili women in London. This reflects the diversity of the Swahili world: despite a cohesive cultural identity built upon shared practices, religious beliefs and language, the challenges facing Swahili people are multiple and complex. This book includes articles first published in the Journal of Eastern African Studies.