"A brilliant book. Callaci's original approach enables readers to better understand the making of urban life beyond colonial and postcolonial cities. She does this in such a way that the reader is engrossed by novelty and guided by a sense of theoretical clarity." -- Patrick Hege H-Soz-Kult, H-Net Reviews "Explores a variety of texts--didactic booklets aimed at young women, pulp fiction novellas, and song lyrics . A notable strength of the book is its treatment of these sources not only as reflective and productive of a particular moral imagination but also as inextricably entangled in the making of material gender positionalities through the material and reputational economies involved in the creation of these texts. A valuable contribution to the historiography of this well-studied city [Dar es Salaam] and its inhabitants." -- Leander Schneider American Historical Review "Callaci has provided an excellent exploration of a crucial aspect of Tanzanian history and urban studies, and in the process, she creates a model for scholars seeking a broad understanding of African city dwellers and communities. This volume will be valuable reading for upper division students as well as graduate students and scholars in history, African Studies, post-socialist studies, urban studies, qualitative sociology, and anthropology.

" -- Anne S. Lewinson International Journal of African Historical Studies.