オマーン人の移動とネットワーク : 社会人類学的視点から

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Oman's political expansion into East Africa began in the middle of the 17th century. After the 19th century when the Omani Sultan established Zanzibar as the capital and also started permanently residing there, migration from Oman to East Africa accelerated. However, as the result of the Zanzibar revolution in 1964, in which many Arabs were killed, the succeeding aggravation of social and economic condition in East Africa, as well as the accession of Sultan Qabus to the throne in 1970 and his call for the return of Omanis abroad, many Omanis in East Africa returned to their homeland, Oman. These African Omanis formed one social category called "Zanjibari (Zanzibari)". This paper, based on my field data arising from interviews, explores the cultural and social aspects of the African Omani network. In chapter II, following a consideration of the historical and social relationship between Oman and East Africa, I examine how the dispersed social network of African Omanis was formed during the process of their departure from the Sharqiya region, migration to East Africa, and return to Oman. Neither connections with family in their homelands, nor the Arab identity were lost, despite the fact that they settled down in East Africa and became Swahilized. I further point out that the network of migration is crisscrossed between Muscat, the Sharqiya region and East Africa, composing of the ties of kinship and tribal relationships. In present-day Muscat, some spheres exist in which we can affirm the strong connection between Oman and East Africa. In chapter III, I examine the influence of African Omanis upon Oman since their return from East Africa from the viewpoints of culture, education and religion. African Omanis speak Swahili and eat Swahili food in Oman. Swahili is the second language spoken next to Arabic and Swahili food is widely accepted in Oman. They enter the Omani workforce as professionals. This is due to the fact that when many Omani immigrants in East Africa returned to Oman during the 1970s, higher education had not spread in Oman. Therefore, it was the educated African Omanis who contributed to Oman's nation-building, which suffered from serious shortages of manpower. African Omanis who could not find satisfactory education or jobs in Oman went abroad and expanded their networks. Lastly, as regards religion, some African Omanis provide financial assistance to develop Ibadi Islamic foundation in Zanzibar. Omani immigrants established communities in Africa, but their society disintegrated due to Zanzibar revolution, which was caused by historical contact with Britain. Omani immigrants moved to and within Africa and finally returned to Oman relying by kinship relations. The network based on kinship always reliably facilitated their migration. The networks which African Omanis built up brought Swahili culture to Oman and African Omanis now live in conjunction with both Omani Arab and Swahili cultures in Oman.
日本中東学会の論文
2004-03-31

オマーン人の移動とネットワーク : 社会人類学的視点から

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