Abstract
The Mau Mau Uprising was a violent anticolonial struggle that took place in Kenya between 1952 and 1960. During the Uprising, firearms were extremely difficult for Mau Mau fighters to obtain. The few precision weapons they could acquire came from raided government armories or those found on the battlefield. In order to make up the difference, the Mau Mau leadership turned to resources that were more readily available and relied on the ingenuity of their supporters. The result was a series of homemade firearms manufactured by Mau Mau fighters and sympathizers. This thesis argues that homemade guns were a unique example of the successful adaptation of firearms technology. In addition, the Mau Mau made the guns integral to their military efforts. To this day, the guns hold a prominent place within Mau Mau historical memory.
Notes
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Graduation Date
2020
Semester
Spring
Advisor
Walker, Ezekiel
Degree
Master of Arts (M.A.)
College
College of Arts and Humanities
Department
History
Degree Program
History
Format
application/pdf
Identifier
CFE0008044; DP0023184
URL
https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0023184
Language
English
Release Date
May 2020
Length of Campus-only Access
None
Access Status
Masters Thesis (Open Access)
STARS Citation
Stoddard, James, "Mau Mau Blasters: The Homemade Guns of the Mau Mau Uprising" (2020). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2020-2023. 138.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd2020/138