The Metis of Senegal

The Metis of Senegal is a history of politics and society among an influential group of mixed-race people who settled in coastal Africa under French colonialism. Hilary Jones describes how the metis carved out a niche as middleman traders for European merchants. As the colonial presence spread, the metis entered into politics and began to assert their position as local elites and power brokers against French rule. Many of the descendants of these traders continue to wield influence in contemporary Senegal. Jones's nuanced portrait of metis ascendency examines the influence of family connections, marriage negotiations, and inheritance laws from both male and female perspectives.