“"[A] masterful tale of the political and social formation of Tanzanian national identity." -Gregory Barz, Vanderbilt University This engaging book provides important insight into the meaning and value of popular forms of expression during a time of political and social change in East Africa.”

“[A] masterful tale of the political and social formation of Tanzanian national identity.”
 — Gregory Barz, Vanderbilt University

“. . . Edmondson’s book is a significant study for Africanists, anthropologists, and post-socialist scholars looking to identify the way the artists, the state, and audiences negotiate and interpret meaning in public performances. It is also an important contribution to the limited academic writing on the theatre arts in Tanzania.”
 — Journal of Folklore Research

“. . . the book is also highly stimulating, thought-provoking, and informative. It is a significant contribution to the study of contemporary musical and theatrical performances and society in Tanzania.51, 3 Dec. 2008”
 — Imani Sanga, University Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

“. . . What Edmondson accomplishes with a real sense of dramatic tension in her writing is to explore the particular appeal and philosophy of each group as they battle for artistic and financial supremacy. She does this within a framework which sees each group as expressive of a particular attitude towards the post-one-party and newly capitalist state that emerged in the 1990s.#70 Dec. 2008”
 — Jane Plastow, University of Leeds

“. . . this study of the multifaceted character of the three troupes’ [TOT (Tanzania Theatre One), the Muungano Cultural Troupe, and the Mandela Cultural Troupe] artistic practices is a valuable contribution to mapping the state of the performing arts in sub-Saharan Africa. It invites further investigation into one of the region’s most fascinating phenomena: the traveling, popular, commercial theatre movement.Vol. 61.1 March 2009”
 — Joachim Fiebach, Berlin

“[Edmondson's] research is solid, her theory sound, and her writing style enjoyable. Performance and Politics in Tanzania will make a valuable addition to any scholar’s library.”
 — Cultural Analysis