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The Resource Diamonds in the rough : corporate paternalism and African professionalism on the mines of colonial Angola, 1917-1975, Todd Cleveland

Diamonds in the rough : corporate paternalism and African professionalism on the mines of colonial Angola, 1917-1975, Todd Cleveland

Creator
Summary
Diamonds in the Rough explores the lives of African laborers on Angola's diamond mines from the commencement of operations in 1917 to the colony's independence from Portugal in 1975. The mines were owned and operated by the Diamond Company of Angola, or Diamang, which enjoyed exclusive mining and labor concessions granted by the colonial government. Through these monopolies, the company became the most profitable enterprise in Portugal's African empire. After a tumultuous initial period, the company's mines and mining encampments experienced a remarkable degree of stability, in striking contrast to the labor unrest and ethnic conflicts that flared in other regions. Even during the Angolan war for independence (1961✹75), Diamang's zone of influence remained comparatively untroubled. Todd Cleveland explains that this unparalleled level of quietude was a product of three factors: African workers' high levels of social and occupational commitment, or professionalism; the extreme isolation of the mining installations; and efforts by Diamang to attract and retain scarce laborers through a calculated paternalism. The company's offer of decent accommodations and recreational activities, as well as the presence of women and children, induced reciprocal behavior on the part of the miners, a professionalism that pervaded both the social and the workplace environments. This disparity between the harshness of the colonial labor regime elsewhere and the relatively agreeable conditions and attendant professionalism of employees at Diamang opens up new ways of thinking about how Africans in colonial contexts engaged with forced labor, mining capital, and ultimately, each other.--
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Extent
xv, 289 pages
Contents
  • List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Chapter 1: An Introduction to Angola's Diamond Past Paternalism, Professionalism, and Place Chapter 2: A Bountiful Place The Political Economy of Lunda, 1870✹1975 Chapter 3: The Recruitment Process, 1921✹75 Chapter 4: A Group Effort The Collaborative Process of Diamond Extraction, 1917✹75 Chapter 5: Negotiating Stability Laborers' Work-Site Strategies, 1922✹75 Chapter 6: Eventful Evenings Life after the Whistle Blew, 1925✹75 Chapter 7: To Stay or to Leave The End of the Labor Contract, 1921✹75 Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index
Isbn
9780821421352
Instance
Label
Diamonds in the rough : corporate paternalism and African professionalism on the mines of colonial Angola, 1917-1975
Title
Diamonds in the rough
Title remainder
corporate paternalism and African professionalism on the mines of colonial Angola, 1917-1975
Statement of responsibility
Todd Cleveland
Creator
Subject
Language
eng
Summary
Diamonds in the Rough explores the lives of African laborers on Angola's diamond mines from the commencement of operations in 1917 to the colony's independence from Portugal in 1975. The mines were owned and operated by the Diamond Company of Angola, or Diamang, which enjoyed exclusive mining and labor concessions granted by the colonial government. Through these monopolies, the company became the most profitable enterprise in Portugal's African empire. After a tumultuous initial period, the company's mines and mining encampments experienced a remarkable degree of stability, in striking contrast to the labor unrest and ethnic conflicts that flared in other regions. Even during the Angolan war for independence (1961✹75), Diamang's zone of influence remained comparatively untroubled. Todd Cleveland explains that this unparalleled level of quietude was a product of three factors: African workers' high levels of social and occupational commitment, or professionalism; the extreme isolation of the mining installations; and efforts by Diamang to attract and retain scarce laborers through a calculated paternalism. The company's offer of decent accommodations and recreational activities, as well as the presence of women and children, induced reciprocal behavior on the part of the miners, a professionalism that pervaded both the social and the workplace environments. This disparity between the harshness of the colonial labor regime elsewhere and the relatively agreeable conditions and attendant professionalism of employees at Diamang opens up new ways of thinking about how Africans in colonial contexts engaged with forced labor, mining capital, and ultimately, each other.--
Member of
Assigning source
Provided by Publisher
Cataloging source
IEN/DLC
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Cleveland, Todd
Dewey number
338.278209673
Index
index present
Literary form
non fiction
Nature of contents
bibliography
Series statement
New African histories
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Diamond industry and trade
  • Diamond mines and mining
  • Diamond miners
Label
Diamonds in the rough : corporate paternalism and African professionalism on the mines of colonial Angola, 1917-1975, Todd Cleveland
Instantiates
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier.
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent.
Contents
List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Chapter 1: An Introduction to Angola's Diamond Past Paternalism, Professionalism, and Place Chapter 2: A Bountiful Place The Political Economy of Lunda, 1870✹1975 Chapter 3: The Recruitment Process, 1921✹75 Chapter 4: A Group Effort The Collaborative Process of Diamond Extraction, 1917✹75 Chapter 5: Negotiating Stability Laborers' Work-Site Strategies, 1922✹75 Chapter 6: Eventful Evenings Life after the Whistle Blew, 1925✹75 Chapter 7: To Stay or to Leave The End of the Labor Contract, 1921✹75 Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index
Control code
FIEb17815381
Dimensions
24 cm.
Extent
xv, 289 pages
Isbn
9780821421352
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia.
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
(OCoLC)895302038
Label
Diamonds in the rough : corporate paternalism and African professionalism on the mines of colonial Angola, 1917-1975, Todd Cleveland
Publication
Bibliography note
Includes bibliographical references and index
Carrier category
volume
Carrier category code
  • nc
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier.
Content category
text
Content type code
  • txt
Content type MARC source
rdacontent.
Contents
List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Chapter 1: An Introduction to Angola's Diamond Past Paternalism, Professionalism, and Place Chapter 2: A Bountiful Place The Political Economy of Lunda, 1870✹1975 Chapter 3: The Recruitment Process, 1921✹75 Chapter 4: A Group Effort The Collaborative Process of Diamond Extraction, 1917✹75 Chapter 5: Negotiating Stability Laborers' Work-Site Strategies, 1922✹75 Chapter 6: Eventful Evenings Life after the Whistle Blew, 1925✹75 Chapter 7: To Stay or to Leave The End of the Labor Contract, 1921✹75 Epilogue Notes Bibliography Index
Control code
FIEb17815381
Dimensions
24 cm.
Extent
xv, 289 pages
Isbn
9780821421352
Media category
unmediated
Media MARC source
rdamedia.
Media type code
  • n
Other physical details
illustrations
System control number
(OCoLC)895302038

Subject

Member of

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