Eating disorders: A social history of food consumption and supply in colonial Libreville (Gabon), c. 1840--1960

Libreville, the capital of the Central African nation of Gabon, is one of the most expensive cities in the world. Two of the reasons behind the high cost of living lie in the large amount of food imports to the city and the poor productivity of Gabonese agriculture. My thesis explores the complex legacy of the Atlantic slave trade and French colonial rule on the town's food supply. In particular, it highlights the culture and political strategies of the African town community who created an urban style of living and eating that incorporated European forms of food preparation and domestic labor. The inhabitants of Libreville's decision to adopt Western foods led to the rise of consumption patterns similar to European cities. The negative effects of colonial occupation, including the rise of the timber industry and the neglect of rural farmers, hindered food production in the surrounding region as well. Rather than passively accept European cultural forms and state policies, however, townspeople defended their consumer rights as part of a larger struggle to claim equal status to French citizens. Their negotiations with colonial authorities and urbanization continue to shape everyday life in the city today. My findings are based on 13 months of fieldwork in Libreville and extensive archival research in the United States, France, and Gabon.