The change in the scale and functions of towns in Africa is accompanied by evolving institutional socio-economic practices. In this paper I will address brokerage and the recruitment of new migrant labour in the town of Shashemene, Ethiopia. Brokering migrant labour is a relatively lucrative economic activity in the town and competition among the brokers to attract new labour migrants is intensive. Claims over the brokerage system involve processes of negotiations, grouping, cooperation and c..
