The Honey Gatherer

Abstract

SummaryThe story, of course, is about a honey gatherer. But it’s also about the uncertainties and ambiguities of fieldwork. I’ve often written about Gabra nomads, far to the north of where “The Honey Gatherer” takes place. Many years ago, before I went north, I lived and worked as a volunteer teacher near Bungoma, in western Kenya, where this story takes place. Those experiences turned me from my early career in journalism to anthropology. Throughout my life, I’ve befriended beekeepers and honey gatherers. The story is part of a larger project on identity and place.