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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Social Interaction and the Management of Songhay Socio-Political Change |
Author: | Stoller, Paul |
Year: | 1981 |
Periodical: | Africa: Journal of the International African Institute |
Volume: | 51 |
Issue: | 3 |
Pages: | 765-780 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Niger |
Subjects: | Songhai ethnicity Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) |
External links: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/1159608 https://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pao:&rft_dat=xri:pao:article:4011-1981-051-00-000018 |
Abstract: | In the present article the author focuses on informal talk as the primary social interactive mechanism being used by Songhay political actors in the current competition for political influence in Songhay country in the Republic of Niger. In the first section, the author presents a historical overview of the social structure of Songhay, taking into consideration new social categories which devolve both from the colonial epoch and from the post-independence era, and describing not only the arrangements of Songhay social roles and statuses, but also the ideological and economic forces which have today created a climate of competition for prestige in Songhay country. The second section describes how Songhay and non-Songhay alike have used informal talk and other strategies of social interaction to promote their political interests. The growing importance of money in the Songhay view of things has allowed the non-Songhay merchants to use a variety of symbolic media in discussion groups and other social context to create a new perception of them, rather than the Songhay nobles, as potential leaders in a changing world. Notes, ref., French sum. |