Social and Cultural Integration: A Case Study of the East African Hadramis

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Periodical article

Title:	Social and Cultural Integration: A Case Study of the East African Hadramis
Author:	Le Guennec-Coppens, Françoise
Year:	1989
Periodical:	Africa: Journal of the International African Institute
Volume:	59
Issue:	2
Pages:	185-195
Language:	English
Geographic terms:	Kenya Comoros
Subjects:	social integration Arabs Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/1160487
Abstract:	Even though they are of mixed blood and often integrated with local groups that constitute Swahili society, the Hadramis represent a considerable portion of the 'Arabs' who have come from the southern Arabian peninsula to settle along the East African shore. This article underlines two factors that have contributed to the social and cultural process of integration of the Hadramis since the 19th century: the social origin of these migrants, and the character of the different host communities, particularly those of Kenya and the Comoro Islands. In Kenya, the Hadramis were the object of a degree of segregation on the part of the dominant groups. Even today the Hadramis still constitute a definite social category, although their way of life has become standardized and has adapted to the local conditions. In contrast with Kenya, the Hadramis were warmly welcomed on the Comoro Islands and even benefited from an enormous prestige. Today they have completely intermingled with the Comoros community. Bibliogr., notes, ref., sum. in French.