In the early 1980s, Kathleen Sheldon traveled to Mozambique to pursue research for her doctoral dissertation in history, accompanied by her physician husband who worked for the Ministry of Health, and their toddler daughter who attended local childcare. Their travel there was an act of solidarity with the newly independent socialist Frelimo government, which had called for international supporters who were called cooperantes.

Amidst the height of the Cold War, international politics impeded her research and her family’s access to food and other essential supplies. For many Mozambicans, those years are remembered as the mackerel years (os anos de carapau), referring to the distasteful fish that for many months was the only source of protein available in the markets.

“The Mackerel Years is a riveting account of the lived experiences of the author, a prominent historian of Mozambique, and her physician husband Steve Tarzynski in post-independent Mozambique (1982-1984). But it is more than just a memoir. Embedded in her rich narrative are detailed discussions with Mozambican women in their households, workplaces and communities, first-hand accounts of the challenges of healthcare in the recently independent country and a critical analysis of the efforts of South Africa-backed insurgents to destabilize the Frelimo government. Beautifully written, this masterful work once again demonstrates the feminist maxim that the ‘personal is political’.”

- Allen Isaacman, Regents Professor, University of Minnesota, and Extraordinary Professor,  University of Western Cape

“This is a compelling memoir with very funny, intriguing but also illuminating experiences. It is an excellent contribution to the intersections of personal and public histories from the perspective of a highly accomplished historian.”

-Victor Igreja, University of Southern Queensland

“The Mackerel Years is an unparalleled and valuable perspective on Mozambique in the uncertain early years of the revolution. For decades Sheldon’s scholarship has shed light on the historical experiences of Mozambican women. But we didn’t know until now what that ground-breaking fieldwork entailed. Sheldon brings to life the joy, camaraderie, struggle, and humanity of living through profound transformation in lively, page-turning prose.”

Laura Mitchell, University of California, Irvine

Kathleen Sheldon is an independent historian whose publications focus on African women’s history and history in Mozambique. Her books include African Women: Early History to the 21^st Century, Pounders of Grain: A History of Women, Work, and Politics in Mozambique, the Historical Dictionary of Women in Sub-Saharan Africa, and an edited collection, Courtyards, Markets, City Streets: Urban Women in Africa.

CATEGORY : Memoir/history/AFRICA    World Rights

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