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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The Martial Spirit: Yao Soldiers in British Service in Nyasaland (Malawi), 1895-1939 |
Author: | Marjomaa, Risto |
Year: | 2003 |
Periodical: | The Journal of African History |
Volume: | 44 |
Issue: | 3 |
Period: | November |
Pages: | 413-432 |
Language: | English |
Geographic terms: | Malawi Great Britain |
Subjects: | Yao colonialism military recruitment Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Military, Defense and Arms History and Exploration |
External link: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/4100792 |
Abstract: | During the colonial period, the Yao formed the main source of recruits for the King's African Rifles Nyasaland (Malawi) battalions. Originally, the main reason for the large number of Yao volunteers was probably the simple fact that the recruitment office was near Yao areas. However, due to prevailing racial ideals the British colonial military interpreted this as a sign of a 'martial spirit'. This led to active encouragement to enlist the Yao, which in turn made military service ever more attractive among this group. They became the 'martial race' of Nyasaland, a concept which continued to affect British recruitment policies until the Second World War. Notes, ref., sum. [Journal abstract] |