Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Author Nidhi Mahajan will discuss her book Moorings: Voyages of Capital across the Indian Ocean. Wooden sailing vessels, known as dhows, or vahans, have long linked Africa and Asia across the Indian ocean. This talk follows the Sagar Sanpati from Mandvi, India, to the Old Port of Mombasa to explore how interregional connections are forged and strengthened through hospitality. On board the dhow, hospitality facilitates trade, eases tensions, and reshapes personal relationships. Viewed from the vessel, distinctions between host and guest blur, reconfiguring notions of space and sovereignty.

This event is free and open to the public.

Sponsored by the Africana Studies program, Anthropology department, Political Science department, International Studies program, History department, Religion department, and the Science, Technology, and Society program.