The Beach as a Stage – Renegotiations of Power Dynamics at the Kenyan South Coast

Researcher: Janna Perbix
Supervisor: PD Dr. Angelika Mietzner

This doctoral project investigates the complex social and cultural dynamics unfolding between local beach operators—often referred to as “beach boys”—and international tourists on Kenya’s southern coast, specifically in the popular resort town of Diani. These encounters are not isolated exchanges; they are shaped by intricate power relations influenced by both global forces and local realities. At the heart of the analysis lies the idea of the beach (and other key spaces) as a stage: a site where power is performed, contested, and constantly renegotiated. This perspective opens up a deeper understanding of how tourism restructures everyday life, social relationships, and cultural identities along the coast—while also highlighting how local communities actively shape and respond to these changes.

Drawing on historical contexts of trade, colonialism, and early tourism, the project situates present-day interactions within a broader socio-economic narrative. It examines hotels and resorts as carefully controlled environments that regulate contact between tourists and locals, in stark contrast to the beach as an open, unpredictable space of encounter. Moving off-stage, it explores palm wine bars and other local spaces as crucial “backstage” areas where beach operators relax, reflect, and maintain cultural practices beyond the gaze of tourists.

Ultimately, this research sheds light on the everyday negotiations at the intersection of global tourism and local agency—revealing the beach not just as a leisure destination, but as a microcosm of larger social transformations.