Straining: Young Men Working through Waithood in Freetown, Sierra Leone

Abstract

Young men in precarious situations of persistent un(der)employment in post-civil war Freetown, Sierra Leone are depicted in popular and policy debate as “stuck” economically or “dangerous” and prone to violence. In the present paper, by contrast, we draw on young men's explanations of their work and livelihood struggles as “straining.” We explore the logic of straining, its innovations and demands, and its geography across the city, especially where acts of straining interface with the prohibition and criminalisation of informal trading. We argue that straining innovates and endures because of (not despite) young men's marginalisation and limited autonomy and power. In this context, young men build forms of provisional agency and enact dynamic forms of waithood, in their strategies to earn a living to try to support their families and to negotiate a transition from youth to manhood. Drawing on this research, we argue for a more complex understanding of young men at work in Freetown, in particular, and of the “youth bulge,” in general, in African cities.

Youth and Food Systems Transformation

“…a new but socially attenuated form of adulthood" (Honwana, 2012: 20). However, the claim that "the majority of young Africans today live in waithood" (Honwana, 2012: 20) finds only limited support in the broader literature (Finn and Oldfield, 2015;Ungruhe and Esson, 2017;Kovacheva et al, 2018).…”

Dead End? Young Mototaxi Drivers Between Being Stuck, Bridging Potholes and Building a Future in Goma, Eastern Congo

“…By roaming their way through a volatile and unpredictable urban environment, they confront situations of uncertainty on an everyday basis. In literature, we find many active verbs that refer to agentive struggle, such as "maneuvering" (Berner & Trulsson, 2000), "navigating" (Vigh, 2009), "managing" (Langevang, 2008), "cruising" (Archambault, 2013), "straining" (Finn & Oldfield, 2015) or "hustling" (Thieme, 2013) to name a few.…”

Trusting the Math and Mistrusting Humans

“…15 Even if the civil conflict in Sierra Leone ended in 2002, in the early 2010s life was 'still like a war' in Makeni, 'layf na wa-o', a point with which many of my interlocutors agreed. They 'suffered' and 'strained' (Finn and Oldfield 2015) just to get enough food for the day. Witch guns (fangay) were substituted for the AK-47.…”

“…They were managed instead of managing other actors. They 'struggled', 'suffered' (Bledsoe 1990) and 'strained' (Finn and Oldfield 2015). They aimed at more 'enjoyment', increased 'comforts' and a 'better life' -more trᴐs.…”