The Nordic Africa Institute
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Faith as politics : reflections in commemoration of Beyers Naudé (1915-2004)
No full textBeyers Naudé was in his later life one of the leading Afrikaner anti-apartheid activists. Convinced by the strength of his faith he took a courageous political stand in a time in South African history when it was much needed. In May 2015, Oom Bey's hundredth birthday was reason to remember and celebrate his service to the people. Faith As Politics is an anthology with contributions from researchers, diplomats, activists and clergies who all have one thing in common – they were all engaged in the struggle against apartheid at the same time as Naudé. And almost all of them worked with him in one way or another. This is a unique depiction of a man whose faith, struggle and courage deserve to be recognized.Contents: Preface / Henning Melber -- Faith as Politics - and Politics as Faith: Beyers Naudé and Dag Hammarskjöld / Henning Melber -- Ecumenical Witness for Social Justice: Beyers Naudé and Denis Hurley / N. Barney Pityana -- Beyers Naudé as Teacher: Memories of a Student / Ben Khumalo-Seegelken -- A Response to Ben Khumalo-Seegelken / Hans S.A. Engdahl -- Beyers Naudé’s Prophetic Voice / Horst Kleinschmidt -- A Response to Horst Kleinschmidt / Birgitta Karlström-Dorph -- Beyers Naudé and the Theology of Reconciliation / Christo Lombard -- A Response to Christo Lombard / Rune Forsbeck –- UkuBuyisana / Ben Khumalo-Seegelken </p
In pursuit of paradise : Senegalese women, muridism and migration
No full textMuridism is a Sufi order which originated in Senegal, West Africa, at the end of the 19th century and is now in rapid expansion with the Senegalese emigrants around the world. Among the Murids the belief is strong that the founder Shaykh Amadou Bamba and his mother Mame Diarra Bousso can help them gain a better life on earth and entry into Paradise. The book gives an account of some Murid women the author has met in Senegal and on Tenerife. Their various paths of life are described with a focus on trade, religion and gender relations. In what ways do women's conditions of life differ from those of their own country? What do the women strive for? And how does Muridism influence their daily life in Senegal and in the diaspora? Eva Evers Rosander has been Associate Senior Researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, until 2014. She is Associate Professor at the Department of Social Anthropology, Stockholm University, and has done extensive anthropological fieldwork in Spain, Senegal and Morocco.Translation from the Swedish original: Nyckeln till paradiset : senegalesiska kvinnors livsvägar (2011)</p
Agricultural water institutions in East Africa
No full textClimate change is causing growing variability and uncertainty in rainfall in Africa. Since the continent's food production systems are dominantly rain-fed, these changes are putting food security at even higher risk. In order to reduce this dependency, institutional reforms in the agricultural water sectors have become a priority in research and policy. In this report, Atakilte Beyene, senior researcher at the Nordic Africa Institute, together with twelve researchers based in Africa, studies current agricultural water reforms in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and other East African countries. The report consists of four case studies and an introductory section. The first case study evaluates the performance of community participation in water resources governance in the Mount Kenya Region. It uncovers the implication of a ban on traditional institutions on water security at a catchment level. The second case analyses the prospects of introducing pro-poor water schemes in conditions where climate change and water inequality are already challenges. It identifies incentive mechanisms that enhance more efficient distribution and utilization of water resources. The third case examines impacts of competitive and intensive farming strategies, especially irrigation schemes, on water demands. The final case study explores how advances in information and communication technologies improve water-use management systems across organizational and geographic scales.CONTENTS: 1. Introduction -- Agricultural water resources in perspective -- Key aspects of water institution reforms -- The case studies -- References -- 2. Performance Assessment and Evaluation of Community Participation in Water Sector Governance -- The case of Ngaciuma-Kinyaritha catchment, Mount Kenya Region -- 3. Climate Change, Pro-Poor Schemes and Water Inequality -- Strengths and Weaknesses of Kauti Irrigation Water Users’ Association, Kenya -- 4. Competitive Farming Strategies and their Effect on Water Provision and Profitability among Smallholder Farms -- The Case of Muooni Dam Site, Kenya -- 5. Strengthening Formal Institutions in the Lake Victoria Basin: Role of Integrated Icts in Sustainable Irrigation Resources</p
Burkina Faso's one-week coup and its implications for free and fair elections
No full textIn the upcoming elections in Burkina Faso, there’s a need for a clear democratic break with the three decades of de facto one-party rule. At the same time, a moderate approach is needed in dealing with the controversial legacy of the former regime, to avoid further polarisation in an already fraught political situation. These are the recommendations of Jesper Bjarnesen and Cristiano Lanzano, senior researchers at the Nordic Africa Institute, in a policy note on Burkina Faso’s one-week coup and its implications for free and fair elections
A fair electoral process can ease divisions in Nigeria : decentralised politics brought on a new set of challenges in the north
No full textDecentralisation is regarded as a way of reducing political competition between people. However, studies in Nigeria show that decentralised politics actually can fuel confl icts and ethnic divisions as community identities become basis for representation.The February 2015 elections have – if the electoral process is free and fair – a potential to ease some of the divisions that decentralisation has fuelled in northern Nigeria
Nigeria’s Response to Transnational Organise Crime and Jihadist Activities in West Africa
No full textNigeria's status and role as a regional power continues to impact the entire West African sub-region. However the country is facing serious security challenges that are complicated by transnational threats which are associated with organised crime and the activities of jihadist movements. Threats to security linked to the activities of illegal migrants, smugglers, drug traffickers and human traffickers in West Africa have attracted considerable attention from scholars, policy makers and practitioners alike. As the activities of the Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'awati wal-Jihad (People Committed to the Propagation of the Prophet's Teachings and Jihad) also known as Boko Haram are spreading fast through the northern part of the country into a number of countries in West and Central Africa - notably Chad, Niger, and Cameroon - fears and anxiety have become more noticeable among stakeholders. Also, the challenge of piracy and maritime insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea threatens Nigeria's national security as well as regional stability. This study presents the role of Nigeria as a regional hegemon, and also discusses its response to transnational organised criminality and jihadist activities in the sub-region, highlighting Nigeria's official response as well as other interventions undertaken through bilateral and multilateral platforms. The study concludes that there is no controversy about the desirability of the Nigerian government to curb transnational organised crime and jihadist activities in the country. However, the complexities of strategies and modalities for effective curbing of transnational threats still requires in-depth and concerted efforts than have been given by stakeholders. One may argue that the prospects for effective control of cross-border crime in West Africa are positive. Both at bilateral and multilateral levels, Nigeria has shown commitment to working with other countries within the West African sub-region to address the menace of transnational criminality including smuggling, human trafficking and cross-border banditry. On the otherhand, the oversubscription of Nigeria and some of its immediate neighbours to pseudo-nationalist policies hinder the implementation of broad-based regional strategies to address transnational threats. Thus the general apathy and lack of courage in official circles and among civil society organizations and other non-state actors in West Africa to organise across national frontiers and engage in security and development discourse, all have the tendency to limit the prospects of effective control of transnational criminality. The efforts of the Nigerian government at combating transnational organised crime and the spread of jihadist activities are yielding somegains. However, lack of political will, bad governance, and poorly equipped and motivated defence and security agencies coupled with other problems such as the porosity of the borders and non-involvement of the people have continued to inhibit progress
Witchcraft, witch killings and Christianity : The works of religion and parallel cosmologies in Tanzania
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Rethinking the Mediterranean crisis : advice for policy makers facing a humanitarian catastrophe
No full textCreate legal entry points into the EU and start recruiting labour through EU embassies in Africa. But don’t forget to take into account the individual aspirations and capabilities of the migrants. Here are some recommendations for policy makers seeking a solution to the Mediterranean crisis. The significant proportion of migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa must be taken into account when seeking solution to the Mediterranean crisis Interventions should prioritise long-term solutions that take the aspirations and capabilities of migrants and refugees into account Creation of legal entry points into the EU should be a central priority, in order to remove the incentive for future migrants to risk their lives at sea Active recruitment of labour through EU embassies in Africa would further reduce the incentive to pursue illegal means of entering Europe