This eagerly awaited, major new study, looks at an African town through 150 years from the mid-19th century when it was an independent small city-state. Afgooye in southern Somalia is a complex community made up of different groups who established a common polity. Their institutions have endured through colonialism and independence, and remain relevant in the modern world. The book is arranged theoretically, describing different aspects of the life and traditional politics of the community. These topics are brought together in the concluding analysis of Afgooye's most famous institution, the annual Stick Fight and the larger festival of which it is part.The author writes with elegance and subtlety, providing detailed descriptions of the history and social context of the Geledi.