Anjouan (Comores), un nœud dans les réseaux de l’océan Indien. Émergence et rôle d’une société urbaine lettrée et marchande (XVIIe-XXe siècle)

This article discusses the specific role played by the makabaila of Ndzuwani Island (Comoro archipelago) in trade routes across the Indian Ocean. Townspeople of Ndzuwani Island, the makabaila were learned merchants and landowners with their origin in the Bâ ‘Alawî sharif clan from Hadhramawt. Establ...

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Main Author: Sophie Blanchy
Format: Article
Language:deu
Published: Institut des Mondes Africains 2015-12-01
Series:Afriques
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Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/afriques/1817
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author Sophie Blanchy
author_facet Sophie Blanchy
author_sort Sophie Blanchy
collection DOAJ
description This article discusses the specific role played by the makabaila of Ndzuwani Island (Comoro archipelago) in trade routes across the Indian Ocean. Townspeople of Ndzuwani Island, the makabaila were learned merchants and landowners with their origin in the Bâ ‘Alawî sharif clan from Hadhramawt. Established on the Swahili coast since the sixteenth century and in the Comoros at the end of this century, these sharifs developed intensive commercial links between Hadhramawt, the Lamu archipelago, and the Comoros. Several factors helped the makabaila make the island a commercial hub, including logistical maritime access and development of towns, which were both economic and intellectual centres producing elite ideology. Unlike that of other Comorian people, the makabaila ethos was linked not to territory but to networks. The subsequent French colonisation of this island at the end of the nineteenth century did not prevent the makabaila from retaining their dominant status. Key to this was the monopoly they fostered on education. In the twentieth century, Ndzuwani became one of the largest suppliers of aromatic plants in the world. When independence arrived, the makabaila controlled this exportation, which was essential in maintaining social stratification and power.
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spelling doaj-art-2ba62d06191f43e6a116e2208ed8f6f92025-01-09T13:03:06ZdeuInstitut des Mondes AfricainsAfriques2108-67962015-12-01610.4000/afriques.1817Anjouan (Comores), un nœud dans les réseaux de l’océan Indien. Émergence et rôle d’une société urbaine lettrée et marchande (XVIIe-XXe siècle)Sophie BlanchyThis article discusses the specific role played by the makabaila of Ndzuwani Island (Comoro archipelago) in trade routes across the Indian Ocean. Townspeople of Ndzuwani Island, the makabaila were learned merchants and landowners with their origin in the Bâ ‘Alawî sharif clan from Hadhramawt. Established on the Swahili coast since the sixteenth century and in the Comoros at the end of this century, these sharifs developed intensive commercial links between Hadhramawt, the Lamu archipelago, and the Comoros. Several factors helped the makabaila make the island a commercial hub, including logistical maritime access and development of towns, which were both economic and intellectual centres producing elite ideology. Unlike that of other Comorian people, the makabaila ethos was linked not to territory but to networks. The subsequent French colonisation of this island at the end of the nineteenth century did not prevent the makabaila from retaining their dominant status. Key to this was the monopoly they fostered on education. In the twentieth century, Ndzuwani became one of the largest suppliers of aromatic plants in the world. When independence arrived, the makabaila controlled this exportation, which was essential in maintaining social stratification and power.https://journals.openedition.org/afriques/1817tradeComorosNdzuwaniHadramieducationnetworks
spellingShingle Sophie Blanchy
Anjouan (Comores), un nœud dans les réseaux de l’océan Indien. Émergence et rôle d’une société urbaine lettrée et marchande (XVIIe-XXe siècle)
Afriques
trade
Comoros
Ndzuwani
Hadrami
education
networks
title Anjouan (Comores), un nœud dans les réseaux de l’océan Indien. Émergence et rôle d’une société urbaine lettrée et marchande (XVIIe-XXe siècle)
title_full Anjouan (Comores), un nœud dans les réseaux de l’océan Indien. Émergence et rôle d’une société urbaine lettrée et marchande (XVIIe-XXe siècle)
title_fullStr Anjouan (Comores), un nœud dans les réseaux de l’océan Indien. Émergence et rôle d’une société urbaine lettrée et marchande (XVIIe-XXe siècle)
title_full_unstemmed Anjouan (Comores), un nœud dans les réseaux de l’océan Indien. Émergence et rôle d’une société urbaine lettrée et marchande (XVIIe-XXe siècle)
title_short Anjouan (Comores), un nœud dans les réseaux de l’océan Indien. Émergence et rôle d’une société urbaine lettrée et marchande (XVIIe-XXe siècle)
title_sort anjouan comores un noeud dans les reseaux de l ocean indien emergence et role d une societe urbaine lettree et marchande xviie xxe siecle
topic trade
Comoros
Ndzuwani
Hadrami
education
networks
url https://journals.openedition.org/afriques/1817
work_keys_str_mv AT sophieblanchy anjouancomoresunnœuddanslesreseauxdeloceanindienemergenceetroledunesocieteurbainelettreeetmarchandexviiexxesiecle