Contributors and Acknowledgements
Conversationists/Narrators: …………………………………… Gabra Community partners, 1978-2026
Lead Author…………………………………………… Professor Emeritus, Dr. Paul W. Robinson
Research Associate/Co-Investigator…………………………………………… Wata Guyo Ibrae
Study Team……………………………………………………………….. Professor Dr. Matt Carotenuto
Study Team………………………………………………………….. Professor Dr. Abdelwahab Sinnary
Study Team…………………………………………………………………………………….. Njau Kibochi
Website Design…………………………………………………………………………… Mutanu Mbithi
Research Assistant (1980-81)…………………………………………………………. Mamo Barako
Research Assistant (1980-81)…………………………………………………. Sora Budha Godana
Acknowledgements & Gratitude
Hon. Chachu Ganya, Shanu Abudho, Chris Bunting & Rebekah Bunting, Northern Kenya Fund founders: For your inspiration to suggest this project in the wake of the devastating 3 1/2 year drought of 2019-2023, and for challenging me to take it on. For your financial support that has has made possible the entire project; for your encouragement, and your conviction that this will make a difference to the Gabra and other pastoralists communities, And Shanu & Chachu, for your extraordinary hospitality in Kalacha & Nairobi.
Elaine Walsh Carney, the Board, & Leadership of Northern Kenya Fund: For your commitment to the young people of pastoralist communities in northern Kenya, and your conviction that a flourishing future for them is possible.
Wata Guyo Ibrae, Research Assistant in 1978-1979 and Associate and Collaborator in this project: Your linguistic skills, cultural and historical knowledge, and tireless work identifying interviewees, traveling extensively, conducting interviews and doing translations have made this study possible.
Sinnary Abdelwahab, Michael Wairingu, Lina Karingi, Matt Carotenuto and the staff of the St. Lawrence University Kenya Program, Nairobi: For your generous and kind hospitality, support, and participation personally and professionally. Your enthusiasm and welcome have given life and a joyful homecoming to us.
St. Lawrence University and the African Security Initiative: For continued support for collaborative research in Kenya and website design.
Sam & Melody Harrell & the leadership of Africa Exchange: For gratis use of your 4×4 vehicle, which made possible our initial survey and re-familiarization trip to the Chalbi.
Fr. Antony Mahl and team, Catholic Church Kalacha: For your hospitality, conversations, and assistance during our stays in the Chalbi.
Francis Mwangi, Director, Richard Wato, Director, and John Njenga, AV Archivist, Kenya National Archives, together with your team: For your efforts in preserving critical historical documents, recordings and memorabilia, and for facilitating retrieval of cassette recordings digitized for this public resource.
Salim Amin, Chairman, Camerapix, together with Caleb Ouma and your team: For your commitment to preserving Kenyan history and your professional engagement with digitizing the ancient cassette recordings that give life to this collection of Gabra oral history.
To any and all who are inadvertently not mentioned here who assisted us in any way in this project. Your contributions have made this project possible.
To Mutanu Mbithi: For your creativity and technical skills on three continents in translating these voices for a digital audience.
The Gabra Community Who, for untold generation have shepherded both the natural environment and your livestock in what many consider an inhospitable environment, but which you know to be rich, productive and blessed beyond measure.
