The present volume sets forth to analyse illustrative aspects of the deep-rooted immersion of the populations of the eastern coasts of Africa in the vast network of commercial, cultural and religious interactions that extend to the Middle-East and the Indian subcontinent, as well as the long-time involvement of various exogenous military, administrative and economic powers (Ottoman, Omani, Portuguese, Dutch, British, French and, more recently, European-Americans).

The Nubi language is spoken in Uganda and Kenya. Nubi is Arabic, since about 90% of its vocabulary is of an Arabic nature. It is often termed a creole, since many of its structural and developmental features resemble those of known creoles. The growth and development of the Nubi language must be situated near Lake Albert towards the end of the nineteenth century. This period is well documented and is described at length in the first part. This volume also provides a detailed description of the Nubi language of Uganda, and it deals with the development of the language and searches for the relevant Arabic source dialects. The book includes more than one thousand examples and several texts, recorded by the author during two extensive periods of field research.

This book provides an overview of Uganda, a country that represents the hope and despair of modern Africa. It deals with a brief examination of the factors and themes that have influenced Uganda's historical development, focusing mainly on the postindependence period.

Using a convincing causal model of violence, Kasozi attributes the major causes of violence in Uganda to social inequality, the failure to develop legitimate conflict resolution mechanisms, and factors that have influenced the domain and patterns of conflict in that society (such as lack of a common language, religious sectarianism, vigilante justice, and gender inequality). He concludes the study by drawing comparisons with neighbouring countries and offering some prescriptions for alleviating the violence. Kasozi was assisted by Nakanyike Musisi and James Mukooza Sejjengo, who participated in the research on this book. The Social Origins of Violence in Uganda is one of the most thorough and comprehensive analyses of the causes, levels, and incidence of more than two decades of violence in Uganda.

The book is aimed at students and scholars of conflict, Africa, ethnic politics, and religion. It may also appeal to religious and political leaders. It proposes a new perspective on how ethnicity and religion shape political outcomes and violence in Africa, adding psychological elements to standard political science arguments.