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Paper short abstract:

The presentation will focus on assessing the closeness of past and present Maasai indigenous people to “frugal abundance”, which means living well without much consumption. The research provides avenues for deeper connections between degrowth and African ideas and practices.

Paper long abstract:

So far, African engagement with degrowth has been minimal. However, as argued by Escobar (2015), degrowth has the potential to resonate with imaginaries and practices in the so-called Global South. In this optic, my research relies on the notion of “frugal abundance”, which roughly means living well with low levels of consumption. This term has been popularised by degrowth and post-development thinker Serge Latouche. The notion of frugal abundance might be more appealing than degrowth in Africa, as it more clearly resonates with African practices and realities without directly questioning economic growth.

Anthropologists such as Marshall Sahlins have provided evidence that some African societies used to be close to frugal abundance. Despite colonial and post-colonial changes, some societies might still be close to it. After giving a more formal definition of frugal abundance, my presentation will focus on the past and present closeness of the Maasai indigenous people to frugal abundance.

To do so, I will rely on preliminary results from quantitative (surveys) and qualitative (participatory workshops, participant observation, interviews) data collected during a one-month fieldwork in two Kenyan Maasai communities. The results will notably provide evidence that, despite low levels of consumption, Maasai communities are very satisfied with their lives and are generally happy not to have and consume more. Differences between older and younger generations will be highlighted. Overall, the research provides avenues for deeper connections between degrowth and African ideas and practices.