Laura Ann Twagira
Papers
2
Total Citations
12
H-Index
2
About
Laura Ann Twagira is a historian whose research lies at the intersection of technology, gender, and agricultural development in twentieth-century West Africa, with a particular focus on Mali. Her most influential work, the 2014 article “‘Robot Farmers’ and Cosmopolitan Workers: Technological Masculinity and Agricultural Development in the French Soudan (Mali), 1945–68,” has garnered 9 citations and remains a key reference for scholars examining how colonial and postcolonial development projects shaped masculine identities. In this piece, Twagira challenges conventional narratives by showing that African farmers were not passive recipients of technology but instead actively redefined their labor and masculinity through engagement with mechanized agriculture. Her research reveals how cosmopolitan workers navigated the tensions between local knowledge and imported machinery, ultimately forging new forms of technological expertise. Twagira’s contributions are notable for centering African agency and gender dynamics within histories of development, offering a nuanced counterpoint to top-down modernization theories. Her work continues to influence studies of labor, technology, and identity in African history, making her a vital voice for students and researchers interested in the social dimensions of agricultural change.
Research Focus
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Top Papers
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