Grasslands Herds Sell explores the intersection of traditional Masai cattle trading with the emerging digital economy in East Africa. It examines how mobile technology and digital platforms are reshaping the economic, social, and cultural landscape of pastoralist communities. The book highlights the importance of understanding existing social structures and cultural values when integrating technology. For instance, it shows how mobile money platforms impact price discovery and market access for traders. The book takes a mixed-methods approach, combining ethnographic fieldwork with quantitative analysis of transaction data. It is structured in three parts, beginning with the historical context of Masai cattle trading and the current state of digital market penetration. It then examines the impact of digital platforms on market efficiency, analyzing changes in transaction costs and market access. Finally, it investigates the social dynamics of cattle trading, including the role of trust and the emergence of new forms of entrepreneurship. A key insight is how technology adoption affects traditional relationships between buyers and sellers. The book argues that successful integration requires considering established norms to avoid marginalizing community members. By focusing on the Masai cattle trade, Grasslands Herds Sell provides detailed insights relevant to development economics, digital anthropology, and those interested in the challenges of integrating traditional communities into the global digital economy.
