Wednesday, 24 October 2012, 1pm

– Ethnographic Film Series –

Law and War in Rural Kenya

Film screening of Law and War in Rural Kenya by : Suzette Heald, 2010 , 64 min

School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
Khalili Lecture Theatre, SOAS, College Building, Thornhaugh Street off Russell Square, London WC1H 0XG (http://www.soas.ac.uk/visitors/location/maps/)

In 1998, a new movement swept through Kuria, in S.W. Kenya with dramatic effect. Cattle raiding fuelled by the increasing presence of guns had led to a situation of total insecurity, with all in fear of the thieves. In April of that year, a group of men in just one location, Bukira East, effected a new organisation merging ideas from the Tanzanian vigilante movement, sungusungu, with their own indigenous assembly, the iritongo. Within a year the movement had spread throughout Kuria and the District as a whole was at peace.  This film revisits the iritongo movement ten years later. In telling the story of its origin, and its current operation, it reveals a broad contrast between the areas where the iritongo still operates, though with some difficulty, and those where it has faltered and died. In these latter areas there has been a revival of clan raiding and warfare.

Organised by the Royal Anthropological Institute’s Film Committee and SOAS Department of Anthropology and Sociology

These are public free events. All are welcome. No booking required.