Indigenous Food Production Practices Vis-a-Vis Western Culture: A Historical Study of Livestock Production Among the Abagusii of Kenya, 1904-1920

This paper examines how the Abagusii navigated through the imposition of Western culture on their indigenous livestock production practices. Pre-colonial livestock production among the Abagusii was embedded within their economic, social and cultural structures. However, the advent of British colonial rule and the influence of Christian missionaries precipitated profound transformations in livestock production disrupting its indigenous significance and functions. Drawing upon the frameworks of the Articulation of Modes of Production and Agency theories, this paper traces the historical evolution of livestock production among the Abagusii, delineating the trajectory from an indigenous socioeconomic pillar to a marginalized sector under Western culture. The study explores the impact of colonial taxation policies, land alienation, forced labour and the promotion of cash crop farming, which collectively undermined the indigenous livestock economy. Missionary influences further reshaped social and economic structures, as missionary education and religious conversion redirected labour away from livestock farming. Using a historical research design, data was methodically collected from archival sources, oral interviews, and secondary sources. Through thematic analysis, patterns emerged, illuminating how external forces gradually reshaped livestock production in Gusiiland. The study reveals that despite colonial disruptions, the Abagusii community exhibited resilience by adapting their livestock practices to the evolving economic landscape, integrating aspects of capitalist agriculture while striving to maintain elements of indigenous livestock rearing. Furthermore, the research uncovers how the introduction of missionary work altered Abagusii indigenous knowledge through the acquiring of missionary education pushing younger generations away from livestock farming toward wage labour and administrative roles. Despite these shifts, livestock continued to hold cultural significance, albeit in a diminished economic capacity. In essence, the transformation of livestock production among the Abagusii of Kenya epitomizes the complex interaction between indigenous, colonial economic policies and missionary interventions. While colonial capitalism and missionary efforts sought to restructure indigenous agricultural systems, the Abagusii community employed adaptive strategies that ensured the partial retention and modification of their livestock economy. The study advocates for contemporary policies aimed at revitalizing livestock farming among marginalized communities to incorporate historical insights, cultural sensitivity, and community-driven development approaches.