Transactional Culture in Colonial Dakar, 1902-44

Professor Rachel M. Petrocelli

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English

University of Rochester Press
18 June 2024

African history; Colonialism & imperialism; Urban communities; Politics & government; Urban economics

Series: Rochester Studies in African History and the Diaspora

Examines Dakar's transformation from a small colonial capital to a dynamic city, highlighting how its resourceful residents challenged French control by forging adaptive economic relationships. During a transformative era in the first half of the twentieth century, Dakar-former capital of French West Africa and present-day capital of Senegal-evolved from a small colonial capital meant to serve the French administration to a dynamic city shaped not solely by colonial planners but by its resourceful inhabitants. In this important book, author Rachel Petrocelli introduces the concept of transactional culture, a set of norms and practices forged by Dakar's residents to navigate life under colonial rule. A central element of this culture was transience, a defining feature permeating various facets of life in Dakar, from commerce and employment to housing and interactions with the state.

The book uncovers a central dynamic: economic relationships in Dakar were continually molded by the ebb and flow of diverse individuals, each pursuing their own objectives, despite relentless efforts of the French state to exert control. Both Europeans and Africans embraced adaptability in Dakar over fixed residence, while immigrant communities implanted themselves and became integral to the city's transactional culture. In a compelling narrative based on court records and other primary sources, author Rachel Petrocelli shows that as the French colonial state sought to shape and control Dakar, it enacted policies to intentionally limit city dwellers' financial resources. Practices like pawning possessions and taking out credit emerged as financial strategies as a result, integrating Dakarois of every background. These practices persisted long after French rule ended, underscoring the enduring impact of Dakar's colonial history.

By: Professor Rachel M. Petrocelli
Imprint: University of Rochester Press
Country of Publication: United States
Dimensions: Height: 229mm, Width: 152mm,
Weight: 388g
ISBN: 9781648250774
ISBN 10: 1648250777
Series: Rochester Studies in African History and the Diaspora
Pages: 212
Publication Date: 18 June 2024
Audience: Professional and scholarly , Undergraduate
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Illusory Roots: Europeans, Autochthony, and Visions of a Capital City 2. The Rhetoric of Refoulement in Colonial Dakar 3. Challenges and Solutions of the Transient City 4. Impediments and Ingenuity in Financial Life 5. Ethnic Boundaries, Economic Niches, and Ambiguities in the Colonial City 6. The Lebanese and the Local in the Interwar Period 7. War's Window: Urban Informality and Control Epilogue Bibliography Index

RACHEL M. PETROCELLI is Professor of History at Santiago Canyon College in Southern California.