Journal of African Studies and Ethnographic Research
Journal of African Studies and Ethnographic Research is a peer reviewed journal which publishes research works on Africa or by Africans within and in diasporas, especially the continent's cultures, societies, politics, demography, languages, religion, economies and international relations.
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Assessing the effects of social-economic interactions between the Abagusii and the Nubian communities in Kisii Township (2003-2013)
The aim of the study was to assess effects of the interactions between the Abagusii and the Nubian communities 2003-2013. The study was guided by Ethnic Stratification and Ethnic Identity Theory. The study was qualitative in nature and Historical research design was used to provide chronology and transformation of the interactions between the Nubians and Abagusii of Kisii Township Location, Kisii County. This study targeted both Nubians and Abagusii communities who are living in Kisii Township Location, Kisii County. The community leaders such as elderly people, clan elders, chiefs, sub-chiefs, Islamic religious leaders and Christian religious leaders, were also targeted because they have vital information about the Nubians living within Kisii Township Location. Purposive and Snowball sampling procedures was used to identify 50 informants for the study. The analysed data was reported in form of narrations coupled with first hand quotation from the primary data. The study found out that the Nubians as ex British solders settled in Kisii in 1938. The study will help to identify the contribution of Nubians towards Kenya’s cultural heritage. It will also enrich historiography of Ethnic interaction not only in Kenya but also globally.
Copyright (c) 2022 Hesbon John, Evans Nyamwaka, Herman Kiriama https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Matumizi ya taswira katika usawiri wa mashairi ya Euphrase Kezilahabi na Kithaka wa Mberia
Makala hii imechunguza taswira na viwango vya taswira vinavyotumika katika usawiri wa maudhui ya ukoloni mamboleo na uchumi. Aina mbalimbali za taswira za lugha zimechanganuliwa. Taswira imegawika katika matapo mawili makuu: ishara na maelezo. Wamitila anachanganua zaidi taswira na kuibuka na taswira za uoni, za harufu, za joto, za mguso, za mwonjo na usikivu. Senkoro (1982:37) anatambua makundi matatu makuu ya taswira: zionekanazo, za mawazo na hisi. Taswira zionekanazo ni taswira za kiishara. Taswira za mawazo ni za kidhahania, ilhali taswira za hisi huibua hisi fulani mawazoni. Taswira za hisi hushughulikia mielekeo ya kihisia ya msomaji kuhusu hali fulani. Huweza kumfanya msomaji awe na wasiwasi, aone woga, au apandwe na hasira kwa vile hujihusisha na hisi za ndani. Taswira hizi zina nguvu kubwa ya kuganda akilini na kumwezesha msomaji kuupata ujumbe wa mtunzi vizuri. Kulingana na Senkoro (1982), taswira za hisi huweza pia kujengwa ndani ya tamathali. Utafiti huu ulitumia msingi wa nadharia ya Mtindo ilioasisiwa na Buffon (1930) na kuendelezwa na Leech (1969). Mtindo ni elementi ya kimsingi katika maana ya jumla ya kazi ya fasihi lakini ni kupitia maudhui ndipo maana halisi ya mitindo iliyotafitiwa imeweza kujitokeza. Hauwezi zungumzia mitindo bila kuzungumzia maudhui. Maudhui ya ukoloni mamboleo na uchumi yalitumika katika utafiti kwa vile ni mojawapo ya maudhui yanayoweza kubeba mabadiliko yanayoshamiri katika mitindo ya kishairi. Kwa hivyo, si kwamba maudhui mengine hayangetumika katika utafiti huu. Mashairi yaliyoteuliwa ndiyo yamechunguzwa katika utafiti huu. Mashairi yanayohusu maswala ya ukoloni mamboleo na uchumi yamechanganuliwa kwa kuegemea mihimili ya nadharia ya mtindo. Mihimili ya nadharia hii ya mtindo itatumika kuchanganua ulinganifu na utofauti uliopo katika uasilishaji wa mashairi. Ndiposa ufanano au utofauti uliopo katika kazi za washairi hawa ziweze kudhihirika.
Copyright (c) 2022 Job Juma https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
African indigenous languages and accommodation in peace-building: The case of Kenya’s Borabu- Sotik Border Local Peace Committees’ PB dialogues
A review of Language and PB literature shows that, as carriers of meanings and connotations, indigenous languages are central to effective community-based communication in contexts such as interethnic peace-building which has become indispensible due to the now rampant debilitating ethno-political-conflict. However, mother-languages have not only been relegated in language-policy planning (due to the demand for information technology-advancement related globalizing lingua franca), but their centrality in community-based communications has not been properly showcased in research. Therefore, this study, within the framework of Communication-Accommodation-Theory, tries to examine their role in the Borabu-Sotik Local-Peace-Committees’ peace-building dialogues; whose discourse demands accommodation and the understanding of the communities’ indigenous-knowledge, folklore, history and cultural norms & diversity. It was guided by the research-question: How and why were indigenous-languages used in the Borabu-Sotik Local-Peace-Committees’ interethnic peace-building dialogues, (if at all they were) and what is its effect on peace-building? Due to the nature of this question, the issue addressed and my epistemological-assumption that peace-building-communication is contextually relative; I used the qualitative exploratory case-study design in the interpretivism research-paradigm. I thus utilized various purposive non-probability sampling techniques to collect (through interviews, observations and FGDs) and analyze data inferentially and thematically. The findings showed that the BS PB-dialogues were replete with verbal-approximation strategies to Ekegusii and to the Kipsigis languages from Kiswahili (the peace-building default-language). Convergence to out-group indigenous-languages which showcased multilingualism, optimal speech-patterns, affiliation and good-will created intergroup rapport, co-operation & harmonious-relational outcomes. Over-convergence was however counterproductively perceived as unwarranted-allegiance. Divergence to the in-groups’ indigenous-languages evoked: ethno-linguistic distinctiveness, disassociation and non-accommodation. But it was evaluated less negatively when attributed to clarification, self-disclosure and reference to taboo/ untranslatable-concepts. The study concluded that the Borabu-Sotik inter-ethnic peace-building dialogues were imbued with divergence to indigenous Languages, that served various regulatory, heuristic and instrumental PB cognitive and affective functions, like: expressing cultural-values; creating interethnic-solidarity; mitigating conflict-effects and enemy-images. Research on how these languages can be formalized and strengthened for such communication-contexts in Kenya and in other ethno-political conflict-embroiled regions is necessary.
Indigenous Languages, Ekegusii, Kipsigis, Communication Accommodation Theory & Strategies, Approximation, Convergence, Divergence, Borabu & Sotik border Local Peace Committees, Peace Building intergroup Dialogues.
Copyright (c) 2022 Hellen Gesare-Omangi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
This paper seeks to review the development of research in the area of politeness over the years. Traced back to, at least, Goffman’s (1967) conceptualisation of face, politeness has not only picked up since, but it has also drawn considerable contestation amongst scholars owing to its intricacy. Here, I give an overview of the earlier and seminal works of Lakoff (1973) [Rules of Pragmatic Competence], Leech (1983) [Maxims of the Politeness Principle] and Brown and Levinson (1987) [Face-saving Model of Politeness], before terminating into the most current approaches, mainly characterised as the discursive approaches of politeness, whose notable proponents are Eelen (2001), Kadar and Bargiela-Chiappini (2011), Kadar and Haugh (2013) and Leech (2014). The discursive approaches break the mould by reflecting on politeness from this multi-pronged prism: universality vs culture-specific; longer fragments of speech; speaker vs hearer; interactants’ interpretations; and social practice. Building on this, I also offer my critique and propose modifications, including the following: focusing institutionalised politeness, politeness as a continuum and as a contextualised phenomenon. To conclude, I consider politeness not only intricate but also potentially open-ended. I hope, thus, this review contributes towards a more holistic and critical understanding of the concept and phenomenon of politeness.
context, discursive, face, impoliteness, overpoliteness, politeness, underpoliteness
Copyright (c) 2022 Evans Anyona Ondigi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Examining the factors that militate against women reporting domestic violence to DOVVSU amongst Talensi and Bolga in Northern Ghana
Globally, discrimination against women is an international epidemic that impacts many women's lives. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, which also underscore gender equality and women's empowerment for peace around the world and the duty of every country to check whatever happens to women in their countries accordingly. In Talensi district and Bolga Municipality of northern Ghana, women are vulnerable to violence because of the patriarchal society in the northern part of the country; the resulting male dominance results in extensive violence against women. This study looked at factors which actively opposed domestic violence reported to DOVVSU in the district of Talensi and the municipality of Bolga. Fifty married women were chosen using methodology known as purposive sampling. Semi-structured surveys and in-depth interviews were used to collect the data. Registration and transcription were used to evaluate the data. According to the findings of the study, at least seven out of 10 women in the district surveyed have been exposed to some form of violence. The study showed again that women who have a higher educational degree are more exploited by their wives than women who have lower education levels. That may happen because higher education women are more exposed and refuse to submit to their husbands. The study suggested that there should be DOVVSU units in the area, one would be very beneficial because the rate of abuse against women is troubling and the unit's presence in the district would be a message to men who harass women.
domestic, gender, violence, women, victim
Copyright (c) 2022 Maxwell Tengolzor Ba, Felicia Dapilee, Samuel Kwabla Segbefia https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The human body as a weapon: A question of aesthetics, economics and military logistics
Myths and legends have been extensively studied in orature even though they have been given a facile analysis. This qualitative desk top research presents an in-depth examination of Lwanda Magere folklore by bringing to perspective its images, signs and symbols and exposing their literary functions while theorizing the human body as a text. The study used the human body as text theory to analyse data. Berger (1987) notes that, ‘Looking fixedly at certain phrases sitting on the page, they begin to move, change shape, dance, wriggle, turn inside out, sprout wings and fly about flapping from one speech or speaker to another until my wits begin to turn.’ Berger’s finding in literary words applies intrinsically to human bodies and objects as texts. The paper has examined human bodies in gender, military and economic senses and data from the Lwanda Magere narrative as well as narratives from foreign folklore have been subjected to textual analysis and their discussions extended to touch on human bodies as prostheses, cyborgs and weapons in futuristic science fiction. The study found out that life dramatically changes when we continue to integrate scientific and technological elements into the human body. The result will affect ethics, morality, justice, economics and to a large extent what it means to be human in the future.
aesthetics, cyborgs, espionage, myth, prothesis, thenatos
Copyright (c) 2021 Jack Ogembo, Cellyne Anudo, Benard Kodak https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Religious beliefs in a scientific age: A question of metaphysical relativism
Relativism, in particular, and, on the one hand, is a family of philosophical views which deny claims to objectivity within a particular domain and assert that facts in that domain are relative to the perspective of an observer or the context in which they are assessed. Metaphysical Relativism, in general, and, on the other hand, is the position that objects in particular, and reality in general, only exist relative to other objects, and have no meaning in isolation – what they mean depends on how the individuals who hold such beliefs interpret them (the beliefs). This article explains what the language of religious belief is (or should be, using some selected examples of prophecies and discourses largely in Ghana) and how this language affects an otherwise what should have been a rational way of demonstrating one’s faith. The paper used, what has been adopted, stipulatively, metaphysical relativism as reason, perhaps, for why religious beliefs, no matter how illogical one may think, cannot be interpreted within the framework of logic.
fideism, metaphysical relativism, prophet, religious beliefs, rhetoric
Copyright (c) 2022 Richard Ansah, Juliet Oppong-Asare Ansah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Towards identification of argument structures of verb classes: A question of syntactic alternations and verb semantic classes
There is the general consensus among linguists today that verbs, to a large extent, are used in virtually all sentences in all languages. This study aimed to identify the argument structures of the verbs of cutting, verbs of contact by impact, verbs of change of state and verbs of perception. The sources of data for the study included written texts, conversations and my own introspection as a native speaker of Asante Twi. The study revealed that the patient argument which undergoes the change of state can only be expressed as theme. This study serves as a useful resource in classifying Akan verbs of cutting, contact, change of state and perception into their respective units. This will help learners and the language users in identifying various semantic characterisations of the various categorisations of verbs in the Akan language.
Akan language, argument structures, verbs of cutting, verbs of perception, semantic characterisations
Copyright (c) 2021 Collins Owusu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
An empirical study of Kirkpatrick's evaluation model and perceived competence in hospitality practice: Evidence from undergraduate hospitality students in Kenya
The study aimed at examining the effectiveness of Kirkpatrick’s four levels on undergraduate hospitality students’ perceived competence in hospitality practice. It adopted the concurrent mixed methods design and targeted final year undergraduate hospitality students in Kenyan Universities offering hospitality management. A total of 204 students completed questionnaires. In addition, 12 heads of departments and lecturers were interviewed. Data were analyzed using descriptive, thematic and inferential approaches. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to test the effects of Kirkpatrick’s model’s four levels on perceived competency. The study revealed that both the students and lecturers were satisfied with activities evaluating students at each level. The inferential analysis results confirmed that evaluation of reaction and evaluation of results had positive and significant effects on perceived competence in hospitality practice. Evaluation of behaviour had a negative and significant effect, while evaluation of learning had no significant effect on perceived competence in hospitality practice. It was concluded that each level of the Kirkpatrick’s model had a unique role to play in evaluation. However, future studies should seek to use experimental approaches to replicate the findings.
Kirkpatrick’s model, perceived competence, hospitality practice, experiential learning
Copyright (c) 2021 Alberta A. Onyuna, Jacqueline Korir, Dorothy Rotich https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
A gendered perspective of knowledge of domestic solid waste management within informal settlement: A case of Kiandutu Informal Settlement, Kiambu County, Kenya
The disastrous way in which the domestic solid waste is managed has caused a global outcry due to its effect to both people and the environment. Subsequently it is the management of domestic solid waste at the household level that is envisaged to reduce these risks. This study aimed at examining the domestic solid waste management knowledge in men and women in Kiandutu Informal Settlement in Kiambu County, Kenya had. The consideration of men and women was a principal issue to put into consideration because every complete community is made up of the two sexes, with each exhibiting different perceptions and attitudes towards a similar situation as informed by their knowledge base in the matter in consideration. The study was guided by the Social Context Theory and Identity Theory. The findings revealed that knowledge passed on to either men or women through gendered socialization is critical in the shaping of how men and women perceive domestic solid waste. The domestic solid waste knowledge exhibited gendered opinions, thoughts and beliefs all being regulated by the irrefutable socio-cultural and environmental factors. The study therefore suggests that strategic gendered awareness creation is a prerequisite to effective knowledge base for domestic solid waste particularly in the informal settlements.
domestic solid waste, gender, informal settlements, knowledge, socialization
Copyright (c) 2021 Willy W. Mwangi, Elishiba Kimani, Grace Okong’o, Christine Majale https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
We choose to see no evil: John Pombe Magufuli, the nationalist who championed the sovereignty of his country
This study sought to account for meaning construction in the blend of the conceptual metaphors found in the two songs sung by Bongo artists Harmonize and Rayvanny; identify the similarities in the political leadership qualities of President Thomas I. Sankara and John P. Magufuli and to discuss the lessons African leaders can learn from the strategic leadership styles of the two former African Statesmen. The study used the Conceptual Integration theory established by Fauconnier and Turner (2002) to analyze the data. A descriptive research design was employed and the data was analyzed qualitatively. Findings reveal that metaphors portray political leaders as larger-than-life individuals who are capable of providing solutions to myriad problems that bedevil their countries. The two former African presidents championed the sovereignty of their countries and defended the citizens against neo-colonialism and exploitation by foreigners.
corruption, development, metaphors, nationalism, Pan-Africanism
Copyright (c) 2021 Cellyne Anudo, Joseph Rotumoi, Benard Kodak https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
An evaluation of social and psychological effect of empowerment of women in Uganda through Technical and Vocational Education and Training participation
Designing effective policies to address gender challenges requires adequate information and understanding of gender indicators. These indicators collected by the study can be used for advocacy by highlighting key issues, backed up with statistics and other evidence. The indicators can be used to evaluate the outcomes of gender-focused and mainstream interventions and policies and help reveal barriers to achieve success. They can provide vital information for adjusting programmes and activities so that they better achieve gender equality goals and do not create adverse impacts on women and men. They can also be used to measure gender mainstreaming within organisations. They can also stimulate discussions and inspire recognition among participants of common experiences related to sensitive topics such as Gender-Based Violence.
Copyright (c) 2021 Martha Rose Lunyoro Muhwezi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Towards a structural description of some personal names: A case study
This study focuses on descriptive analysis of structure of personal names in the University of Cape Coast (UCC)’s 49th graduation brochure of the school of graduate studies. With reference to Agyekum (2006)’s classification of given and surnames, the research used doctrinal research method which largely depends on a collection and study of secondary data from various books as published by eminent scholars. This equally refers to as library-based research where texts or documents published in official, legal and journal articles are studied. The study found that personal names in the official document had three different structures of basically two components; given name(s) and surname. The name order is surname before the given name(s) and this is in conformity with name ordering in official documents.
anthroponomy, graduation brochure, personal name, structural description
Copyright (c) 2021 Nartey Samuel, Osmanu Ibrahim https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Examination of the effect of packaging materials on the shelf life of dried mushroom
The study investigated the type of packaging material ideal for long term preservation. Two types of packaging material, rubber bag and plastic container, were used. The dried samples were packaged in these materials for proximate analysis at days 0, 10 and 20. The dried Termitomyces spp was divided into 2 main parts. Each part was sub-divided into 8, giving a total of 16. The same procedure was used to divide the Pleurotus ostreatus. Four processing techniques were used such that each species was packaged in 4 rubber bags and 4 plastic containers. This resulted in having 4 rubber bags and 4 plastic containers packages for each species under each storage condition. Since 2 storage conditions (i.e. storing at 4oC and 30 – 33oC) were employed, 16 samples (8 for each species), in each storage condition were used. The entire storage duration was 20 days. 10 days storage intervals were allowed before the samples were analyzed for proximate composition. The study revealed that Baked and sun dried Termitomyces spp packaged in rubber bag had the highest amount of carbohydrate (80.761%) while blanched and sun dried Termitomyces spp packaged in plastic container had the lowest (54.453%). The study would assist the people of Kpelezo and its environs to use the ideal method to preserve the big haul of wild mushrooms they harvested during the peak season for future sales and use.
organoleptic properties, packaging material, proximate analysis, processed mushrooms, shelf life
Copyright (c) 2021 Gameli Kwabla Kokoti https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Analysis of trends of temperature and rainfall variations and tea yields from 1995 to 2019 in Kisii County, Kenya
The study examined the trends of temperature and rainfall variations and tea yields from 1995 to 2019 in Kisii County. The study targeted Kisii Meteorological Department, and three Kenya Tea Development Agency factories of Kisii County. Purposive sampling was used to choose tea factories and the meteorological Department. The study used document analysis was used to collect secondary data. Interview schedules were used to collect data from the field service coordinators who were key informants. Mann-Kendall (MK) test was used to detect trends of meteorological variables and tea yields. The results indicated that there was significant negative rainfall trend for January where rainfall has been decreasing at an average of 3.415 mm during the study period. Temperatures also depicted a positive trend though only trends for January and July were statistically significant (p<0.05). With regard to tea production levels, there were significant though negative trends in the months of February, March, June, July and December.
climate variability, rainfall trend, tea yields, temperatures, tea farmers
Copyright (c) 2021 Norah Moige Nyaiyo, Dennis Mabeya Mamboleo, Daniel Nyantika https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Early childhood assessment and observation of educators’ knowledge of learners in Sissala East Municipal, Ghana
The aim of the study was to assess the early childhood educators’ knowledge of learners. The research employed the mixed methods approach as the research design. The target population for the research included all early childhood educators in the Sissala East Municipal in the Upper West Region of Ghana. The total sample for the study was 164 early childhood educators. The researcher utilized three data collection instruments. The first was a questionnaire, the second instrument was the interview and the third was observation. The quantitative data analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20. The descriptive statistics (figures, percentages and frequencies) and percentages were used to analyse the respondents’ responses to the questionnaire after they had been coded. The data was presented in tables and percentages. The study revealed that the early childhood educators demonstrated awareness of learners’ challenges they bring to class but lack knowledge of how to address these challenges. The study suggests that foundation teachers need to create-literate-rich environments to enhance teaching and learning at the lower level.
lesson plans, lower level, early childhood educators, instructional materials, child-centred learning activities, literacy skills
Copyright (c) 2021 Wasila Mahamud https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The motif of African perfomance drama in the Kiswahili play: The example of Mashetani, Pungwa, Ngoma ya Ng’wanamalundi andMashetani Wamerudi
This paper investigates the use of devises of African performance drama and cultural heritage in the construction of the Kiswahili play. In the investigation the paper analyzed four Kiswahili plays sampled purposively for use of African performance drama devises as a recurring archetype used in the design and construction of the modern Kiswahili play. The play-books were Mashetani, Pungwa, Ngoma ya Ng’wanamalundi and Mashetani wamerudi. The analysis was based on two theories namely; New Historicism by Greenblatt and the theory of Inter-textuality by Julia Kristeva. The inter-textuality theory enabled a comparative identification of texts and the history of the themes adopted from African performance drama by the play writers in a span of almost fifty years to construct a typical modern Kiswahili play. The inter-textuality theory also enabled us to establish the freedom of the Kiswahili play author in making reference to African performance drama items in the plays and in analyzing their style, methods and themes adopted from African performance drama to reconstruct and realize a new typical modern Kiswahili play.
African performance drama, motif, Inter-textuality, New historicism, Kiswahili play
Copyright (c) 2020 EZRA NYAKUNDI MOSE https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Celebration of African music and song at the First Aswan Music Festival
African music is an epitome of the rich cultural heritage of the African people. This esteemed cultural heritage evident in the unique music genre found in the diverse ethnic societies in Africa must be celebrated, promoted and preserved to posterity. African music festival is one of the viable avenues of showing the culture and unity of Africans. This short commentary discusses the unique characteristics of African music, its status quo in the minds of the youth, and how music festivals such as the Aswan music festival can help ignite the love and passion for African music, educate the youth about the Afircan music heritage as well as help promote and preserve the rich cultural heritage of the African content. It argues that if African governments as well as private and public agencies assist in funding music festivals, it would help promote African music in global music industry and immortalize the rich cultural heritage of the African people.
Copyright (c) 2020 Dickson Adom https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
The Socio-Cultural and Economic History of the Fourteen Horroo Sons to 1876, Horro-Guduruu Wallaggaa, North East Wallaggaa, South of Mormor River, Oromia, Africa
The Fourteen Horroo Sons, Socio-cultural, Economic, Gadaa system, Qaalluu institution
Copyright (c) 2020 Melkamu Tafessa Amenu https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Orientation in request making among the Anlos
The primary aim of this study is to investigate different orientations in request making by Anlo conversational participants in natural settings. This purpose hinges on the background that requests in Anlo may be direct or indirect. The study employs qualitative research design. The population for this study is from three out of the thirty-six indigenous Anlo towns. In all, thirty-six respondents made up of children (aged between 9 and 14 years), youth (aged between 15 and 39 years) and the elderly (aged from 40 years and above) were selected from the three sites. The data collection instruments used for this study are observation, interview, role play and the use of discourse completion tests (D.C.Ts). Request as a socio-cultural event can be seen in terms of the participant whose perspective is much crucial to the performance of the request. The analysis has showed that the perspective from which the interlocutors view the request determines whether it should be granted or denied. The four orientations namely addressee orientation, speaker orientation, speaker and addressee orientation and lastly, request for permission for third party assistance are all relevant in Anlo. We are encouraged to ask our needs from those we think are in position to provide them for us.
Copyright (c) 2020 Calvin Mawuli Attricki, Agbemor Kwami Akpeleasi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
When language issues are neglected in decentralisation projects:
The legal framework in Cameroon has been evolving in recent years in favour of linguistic diversity and Cameroonian heritage languages. Beside the Cameroonian Constitution of 18 January 1996, three Cameroonian laws: Law No. 2004/17 of 22 July 2004 on the orientation of decentralization; Law No. 2004/18 of July 2004 to lay down rules applicable to councils; and Law No. 2004/19 of July 2004 to lay down rules applicable to regions, all provide a legal framework for the preservation and promotion of heritage languages and cultures of Cameroon. These laws provide the devolution (transfer) of some of the competences of the Central Government to the decentralised government (Municipalities and Regions). It is against this backdrop that some councils of Cameroon have begun integrating projects aiming at preserving and promoting heritage languages and cultures in their Communal Development Plan (CDP) (Ngouo and Chumbow 2017). This paper aims at making a policy discourse analysis of the CDP of five councils of the Far North Region of Cameroon which are the cradles of six Cameroonian languages, namely Mundang, Tupuri, Masana, Mafa, Giziga and Mada to evaluate the level of appropriation of these legal provisions provided by the decentralisation laws. The research questions is: What is the level of appropriation and implementation of the provisions of the laws on decentralisation by the councils of the Far North Region as far as heritage languages preservation and promotion are concerned? Beside the methodological approach which makes a policy discourse analysis of the CDPs of the host councils, interviews with council officials are used to elicit the entanglements causing low achievements.
Decentralization, heritage languages, communal development plan, municipality (council)
Copyright (c) 2020 Herbert Rostand Ngouo
One African traditional system that remains a subject of discussion in policy making cycles and in academia since the 1980s is land tenure. The renewed interest in land is as a result of increased competition and conflict around land and authority over land and the perceived role of land tenure on productivity. In the face of increasing population growth emanating from the influx of migrant farmers and multiple land users like the Fulani Pastoralists and the Sisala Charcoal burners, land has become a scarce resource to the extent that people of Atebubu Traditional Area contest to gain access to land. This paper assesses the nature of land tenure practices in the Atebubu Traditional Area. Through purposive sampling, 75 farmers from two communities in Atebubu Traditional Area and 7 traditional rulers and leaders of government institutions in the Atebubu district were interviewed. The researcher also engaged in active observation and informal discussions. Based on primary and secondary sources, it is established that land tenure practices in the Atebubu Traditional Area is modelled along the traditional political organisation and that tenure arrangement is predominantly customary and communal landholding.
Atebubu; commodification; communal fallow; eminent domain; Ghana; land tenure; residual rights; traditional
The discourse of autobiographical intention: An analysis of selected Kenyan autobiographies
The death and resurrection of the author has made for interesting discourse since Wimsatt and Beardsley famously attacked the author’s intention in writing as a fallacious presumption in 1946 and Barthes declared, in 1967, the death of the author, to when critics such as Carlier and Watts resurrected her/him in the first decade of the new milleum. By anchoring itself on Autobiographical theory, particularly on the tenets of Linda Anderson and Francis Hart, and by lending itself to a critical methodology of textual evaluation, this article particularises the discourse of intentionality in the genre of autobiography by making a close reading of selected Kenyan autobiographies: Not yet Uhuru, Walking in Kenyatta Struggles; My Story and Unbowed; One Woman’s Story. The article argues that the significance of intentionality in authorship gains credence in the emerging critical engagement in marginality, particularly on women’s writing, writing on differently sexualised bodies, writing on differently abled bodies and equally significant in the emerging narratives of re-imagining the postcolonial project of national construction and citizenship. The article argues that to thematise these spaces the re-instantiation of the subjective presence of the author in time and place is as significant as the re-instantiation of her/his voice.
Copyright (c) 2020 George Obara Nyandoro
Face and address terms: A case of some wedding invitation cards
This study investigated whether or not self-address terms used on wedding invitation cards in Sunyani, Ghana, can be considered as face-threatening. Eelen’s (2014) critique of politeness theory served as the conceptual lenses for the study. Using a longitudinal study approach and a snowballing data collection procedure, 442 wedding invitations cards were collected within a twelve-month period. Findings reveal five categories of self-address terms used on wedding invitation cards, namely, religious, academic, professional, honorific and affectionate. Moreover, while some respondents submit that it is necessary for couples to use their titles as address terms on their wedding invitation cards and that doing so is not face-threatening, other respondents argue that the use of such address terms is tantamount to flaunting one’s accomplishments and is definitely a face-threatening act that must be avoided. Largely, respondents within the University of Energy and Natural Resources community have the former view while those outside the University community hold the latter view. The implication of this study, therefore, is that context matters and affects the meaning that is assigned to address terms and such contexts must be taken into consideration should couples choose to use self-address terms on their wedding invitation cards.
Address terms, culture, face-threatening acts, Ghana, power, wedding invitation cards
Copyright (c) 2020 Cosmas Rai Amenorvi, Laura Yemoley Adotey
Academic Adjustment Difficulties of First Year Students of Senior High Schools in New Juaben Municipality
Existing researches have confirmed that adjustment of adolescents depends on the fulfillment of their significant specific needs that consist of physical, social and intellectual needs. This study however, sought to confirm whether these factors really contributed to academic adjustment difficulties of first year students of Senior High Schools in New Juaben Municipality. This study adopted a descriptive survey design. A sample size of 250 students was randomly selected from three of the Senior High Schools in the New Juaben Municipality of Ghana. Questionnaire was used to gather relevant research data for the study. Percentage and frequencies were used as statistical tools to analyze the results with the help of SPSS. The findings confirmed that students’ adjustment difficulties were based on physical, academic and social factors. It was found that rigid control of students in boarding houses by school authorities caused academic adjustment difficulties. Equally, the absence of counselors in schools was a contributing factor to their academic adjustment difficulties.
adjustment difficulties, adolescents, intellectual, physical
Examining the extent of teachers’ awareness of the general objectives of teaching Social Studies in senior high school level in Ghana
Teaching and learning of Social Studies as a new discipline is faced by a number of challenges in Africa and particularly in Ghana. A study by Odada (1988) in Uganda demonstrated a basic problem in the teaching of Social Studies as the teachers were totally untrained or inadequately trained to handle the subject, before the inception of the subject into the school curriculum. According to Tamakloe (1985), lack of competent tutors in the Teacher Training Colleges in Ghana was a great challenge to the teaching of the subject. He argued that most of the teachers who were handling the subject were not trained as Social Studies tutors but rather in other subject areas and this affected teachers produced to teach the subject in the basic schools. According to Merryfield and Mutebi (1991), teachers who were to handle the subject in the basic schools were not trained in Social Studies and also there were conflicts of traditional ideas of their various subjects with that of Social Studies might have accounted for the failure of the subject during the 1970’s. This research however, sought to examine the extent of teachers’ awareness of the general objectives of teaching Social Studies in senior high school level in the Eastern Region of Ghana. A descriptive research design was used for this study. This involved collection of data concerning the subject under study.
curriculum, students, social studies, senior high school, teaching, teachers
Examining the Historical Development of the Chieftaincy Institutions in Ghana
It is gratifying to note that a vast majority of Ghanaians especially the rural dwellers relate more easily to traditional authorities than even government agencies. In the event of any mishap or emergency, chief palaces are the first point of call. Chiefs and for that matter, the chieftaincy institution becomes a mobilizing force to gather people and resources to address any mishap emanating from an emergency situation. Chiefs by virtue of their social status in the political and social spectrum are the custodians of culture and traditions. Chieftaincy institution goes back at least five hundred years and pre-dated European contact and remained the basis of traditional governance in Ghana and for that matter Chamba Traditional Area. The study focused on the historical developments of chieftaincy institutions and the role that religion plays on the chieftaincy institution in the Chamba Traditional Area of Ghana. Ghanaian chieftaincy now has family units with family heads at the base of the chieftaincy triangle and the [Overlords or Kings] at the apex. Chieftaincy in Ghana has therefore emerged from the social fabric of the land. This means that unlike chieftaincy set-ups in other parts of Africa, the Ghanaian chieftaincy is nobody’s creation and therefore cannot be easily destroyed.
Chamba traditional area, chieftaincy, Ghana, government
Copyright (c) 2020 George Kojo Oku, Leo Andoh Korsah
Examining factors that promotes continuity of artistic perspectives: The case of Anlo traditional marriage system in Ghana
The Anlo Ewe are a sub-group of the Ewe people of approximately 6 million people, inhabiting southern Togo, Southern Benin, Southwest Nigeria, and South-eastern parts of the Volta Region of Ghana; meanwhile, a majority of Ewe are located in the entire southern half of Togo and southwest Benin. This study however, focused on the role of arts and cultural perspectives in traditional marriages of the Anlo sub-group of Ghana. This study will go a long way to add onto the existing research on African marriage contexts.
Copyright (c) 2020 Godwin Gbadagba, Empeh Etseh Henry, Agbeyewornu Kofi Kemevor https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
Language Distribution and Vitality: The Case of Mampruli among Migrants in the Sekyere Afram Plains District, Ghana
This study explores language distribution and vitality among migrants in selected communities in the Sekyere Afram Plains District of the Ashanti Region. The main goal of this paper is to determine language distribution and vitality and to account for the choice of Mampruli in the informal public space by migrant settlers in the district. Its analysis of data is done within the general framework of variationist sociolinguistics theory and communication accommodation theory. Fieldworker questionnaire and interview were used to collect data from 150 participants in 20 communities in the district. The study established that Mampruli, Dagbani and Konkomba are the dominant Languages that are used by migrants in the informal public space. Mampruli has become the most vital language used among the three languages and it is even leaking into the public space in certain domains in the entire district to partner Twi. The vitality and the choice of Mampruli by speakers are for social identity. Based on the data analysis, this paper predicts that sooner than later, Mampruli, in addition to Twi will be the most preferred language in the informal public space in the district since most migrants who are not native-speakers of Mampruli have been found to be using Mampruli in various social domains.
language distribution, language vitality, informal public space, Mampruli, migrants, multilingual communities, Sekyere Afram Plains.
Copyright (c) 2019 Fatawu Amidu, Enusah Manduaya Adam
Examining the Significance of Social Studies in the Development of Citizens in a Democracy
Social studies is referred to in some countries as social education and in other countries, it is taught as citizenship education (Ross, 2006). According to Hahn (1999), not all countries have policies requiring students to have an instruction that prepares them to be citizens. Until recent debates on citizenship education, some countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Netherlands did not have any programs in their education systems that were deliberately aimed at teaching political education or preparation of citizens (Hahn, 1999). The author further extols that in contrast, countries such as Denmark, Germany, and the USA have educational policies that are aimed at developing informed, participating citizens. In Great Britain, citizenship education is a contentious issue and is still at its embryonic stages as it was officially introduced in 2000 and became mandatory at secondary school level in September 2002 (Crick, 2007; Figueroa, 2004). This paper, however, attempts to examine the role of social studies in developing effective citizens and the current differing policies and practices on developing citizens among a few selected countries not only in Africa but beyond.
citizens, citizenship, education, social studies