This paper aims at examining colonial state responses and management to the Nyamwezi Migrant Labourers in Nzega and Zanzibar, 1890s-1950s. The research was carried out in Nzega and Zanzibar, and it used a qualitative technique to analyze data under the direction of predetermined objective and themes. The most common method was qualitative, with a focus on the subject matter that was interpretive and realistic. The research also included archival materials. The author used both primary and secondary sources to present and discuss findings. The findings in the paper examines how the colonial government dealt with the laborers in Nzega and Zanzibar, focusing on how labor recruits were treated, and labor agents were informed about illnesses, finally the paper provide an insight on how the colonial state managed grievances regarding low wages, erratic work schedules, holidays, and employer segregation from the laborers. It was concluded that labor migration among the Nyamwezi was a result of the introduction and consolidation of capitalist relations in the Nyamwezi area. This was a result of the region's capitalist transformation.
| Published in | History Research (Volume 14, Issue 1) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.history.20261401.13 |
| Page(s) | 17-30 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Nyamwezi, Migration, Labour, Migrant Labour, Capitalism
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APA Style
Alawi, M. H. (2026). The Paradox of Colonial Labour Migration: Colonial State Responses and Management to the Nyamwezi Migrant Labourers in Nzega and Zanzibar 1890s-1950s. History Research, 14(1), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.history.20261401.13
ACS Style
Alawi, M. H. The Paradox of Colonial Labour Migration: Colonial State Responses and Management to the Nyamwezi Migrant Labourers in Nzega and Zanzibar 1890s-1950s. Hist. Res. 2026, 14(1), 17-30. doi: 10.11648/j.history.20261401.13
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Download@article{10.11648/j.history.20261401.13,
author = {Mikidadi Hamisi Alawi},
title = {The Paradox of Colonial Labour Migration: Colonial State Responses and Management to the Nyamwezi Migrant Labourers in Nzega and Zanzibar 1890s-1950s},
journal = {History Research},
volume = {14},
number = {1},
pages = {17-30},
doi = {10.11648/j.history.20261401.13},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.history.20261401.13},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.history.20261401.13},
abstract = {This paper aims at examining colonial state responses and management to the Nyamwezi Migrant Labourers in Nzega and Zanzibar, 1890s-1950s. The research was carried out in Nzega and Zanzibar, and it used a qualitative technique to analyze data under the direction of predetermined objective and themes. The most common method was qualitative, with a focus on the subject matter that was interpretive and realistic. The research also included archival materials. The author used both primary and secondary sources to present and discuss findings. The findings in the paper examines how the colonial government dealt with the laborers in Nzega and Zanzibar, focusing on how labor recruits were treated, and labor agents were informed about illnesses, finally the paper provide an insight on how the colonial state managed grievances regarding low wages, erratic work schedules, holidays, and employer segregation from the laborers. It was concluded that labor migration among the Nyamwezi was a result of the introduction and consolidation of capitalist relations in the Nyamwezi area. This was a result of the region's capitalist transformation.},
year = {2026}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - The Paradox of Colonial Labour Migration: Colonial State Responses and Management to the Nyamwezi Migrant Labourers in Nzega and Zanzibar 1890s-1950s AU - Mikidadi Hamisi Alawi Y1 - 2026/02/02 PY - 2026 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.history.20261401.13 DO - 10.11648/j.history.20261401.13 T2 - History Research JF - History Research JO - History Research SP - 17 EP - 30 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2376-6719 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.history.20261401.13 AB - This paper aims at examining colonial state responses and management to the Nyamwezi Migrant Labourers in Nzega and Zanzibar, 1890s-1950s. The research was carried out in Nzega and Zanzibar, and it used a qualitative technique to analyze data under the direction of predetermined objective and themes. The most common method was qualitative, with a focus on the subject matter that was interpretive and realistic. The research also included archival materials. The author used both primary and secondary sources to present and discuss findings. The findings in the paper examines how the colonial government dealt with the laborers in Nzega and Zanzibar, focusing on how labor recruits were treated, and labor agents were informed about illnesses, finally the paper provide an insight on how the colonial state managed grievances regarding low wages, erratic work schedules, holidays, and employer segregation from the laborers. It was concluded that labor migration among the Nyamwezi was a result of the introduction and consolidation of capitalist relations in the Nyamwezi area. This was a result of the region's capitalist transformation. VL - 14 IS - 1 ER -
Department of Humanities, Catholic University of Mbeya (CuoM), Mbeya, Tanzania
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