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The Emergence and Development of Africa Decolonial Research Network (ADERN) in South Africa: A Reflection on Trajectories, Challenges, and Prospects
Get PDFOne of the fundamental challenges facing many of the decolonial initiatives today is the challenge of reproducing coloniality in the name its opposite, which is decolonization or decoloniality. This happens as a result of many reasons that include among them, the problem of entrapment in colonial mindset that comes with being socialized into a consenting colonial subject and the deliberate attempt to be part of the racket by selfish individuals, among others. Whether deliberate or not, the challenge of contradictions within the decolonial movement is a long-standing challenge that we cannot afford to neglect. For there are always invaluable lessons to be learnt in order to move the struggle to the next level. In this short treatise, I intend to review the challenges and prospects of the ADERN initiative within a modern university institution in South Africa with a view of unmasking some few lessons for the overral decolonial struggle after the demise of juridical-administrative colonialism
Internal communication challenges in corporate South Africa after the COVID-19 pandemic
No full textThe survival of organisations depends greatly on internal communication, but this function faces seemingly incompatible challenges, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Relatively little has been published on internal communication challenges in emerging economies and specifically in South Africa, with no research on these issues after the pandemic. To fill this gap, this qualitative longitudinal study inductively identifies internal communication challenges in the South African corporate context after the pandemic. Semi-structured interviews with internal communication practitioners at the Top 500 Companies in South Africa and highly recognised internal communication consultants provide the data. From data collected pre-pandemic, 12 challenges that internal communication functions must deal with were identified, which they grouped into four categories: access to technology, lack of formal communication training, parameters for inclusion of internal stakeholders, and management styles and structures. The longitudinal findings of this study show that many of these challenges are still relevant and even worsened, but new themes on internal communication issues emerged after the pandemic, with a specific focus on employee well-being, little credible information, digital imbalance, and future work structure issues. Suggestions are made on how to mitigate these challenges. Contributions include recommendations for practice and further research
Teach, Reflect, Grow:: Empowering Aspiring Educators through Structured Observations
Get PDFDoctoral training is increasingly accepted as creating the conditions for the development of mature researchers equipped with essential transferable skills such as the ability to design and deliver good teaching, especially for those envisioning a career in academia. While doctoral candidates are primarily focused on research, there is a pressing need for them to develop pedagogical competencies and professional skills essential for independent leadership. However, the scarcity of Continuous Professional Development (CPD) opportunities in teaching poses a significant challenge. This article explores the development and implementation of a structured teaching observation process within a foundational course for a "Certificate of Teaching in Higher Education" specifically aimed at PhD students. This process is designed to support the professional development of aspiring educators through a comprehensive, three-step observation framework involving pre-observation discussion, observation, and post-observation reflection. Our holistic reflections highlighted that, while resource-intensive, the process was instrumental in fostering learning; preparation and planning was highlighted as crucial for effective teaching; engagement and confidence varied widely among students; the process cultivated a teacher identity; creativity was emphasized, though constrained in some cases by existing course structures or students’ personalities; reflection helped in developing metacognitive skills; and feedback fostered improvement while also highlighting the tension between peer and instructor perspectives. The integration of feedback from both professional pedagogic experts and peer PhD students enriches the learning experience, promoting reflective practice and continuous improvement of teaching skills. This dual observation process offers diverse perspectives, fostering a culture of constructive feedback and professional growth
Indigenous African Filmmakers as Social Critics: A Study of Fẹ́mi Adébáyọ̀\u27s Jagunjagun
Get PDFAfrica had been integrated into international cinema circuits since the beginning of cinema in Europe in the late 19th century while film screenings debuted in Lagos in 1903. Cinema was a one-way street: Africans watched films but could not thrive because of lack of capital to fund production due to the complex and expensive training, infrastructure and technical apparatus that celluloid cinema requires. The fundamental message on the continent has been to reawaken the consciousness of the younger generation of Africans with indigenous African filmmakers producing quality works by portraying historical tales in an African context. This study, therefore, focuses on the creativity and artistic aura behind the Nollywood film, Jagunjagun produced by one of Africa’s thespians, Femi Adebayo. Jagunjagun brings to bear, the thematic analysis of characters, settings, acting, language, costumes and other acts of theatrics within the film to project the new toga of social criticism being displayed by filmmakers in Africa. This study, adopting exploratory research methodology, investigates the role films play as social critics in preserving and promoting the Nigerian culture locally and globally. Data was gathered through the thematic analysis of characters in the film while also using secondary sources. Post-colonial theory of film was adopted as a theoretical framework of the study
Breaking through the clutter and the impact of ambiguous arguments on consumers\u27 purchase decisions
Get PDFThe study explored the proliferation and codification of discursive resources related to ambiguous arguments. This has led to a point of clarification. Marketing communication scholars have purposefully neglected the impact of ambiguous arguments, focusing instead on strategic clarity. As a result, there is a lack of conceptualisation and clarity surrounding this topic. Nonetheless, studies about ambiguous arguments are still nascent because of the overbearing criticisms that ambiguity hinders effective communication and persuasion. The study experimented to investigate the impact of ambiguous arguments on consumers’ purchase decisions and demonstrated that ambiguous arguments elicit favourable purchase decisions (participants (N=260): ambiguous 130 high and 130 low). The findings reveal that highly ambiguous arguments were rated significantly more with relevance, actuality, accuracy and comprehensiveness. In addition, individuals exposed to highly ambiguous argument advertisements elicited more favourable purchase decisions than those exposed to low ambiguous argument advertisements. The findings suggest that highly ambiguous arguments (ads) undoubtedly affect consumers’ purchase decisions because of the newness, complexity and irresolvable argument presented. The motivation could not predict the relationship between ambiguous arguments and consumers’ purchase decisions. The study tested some of the key predictions of the elaboration likelihood model and strategic ambiguity model with the cues; and discovered that individuals are persuaded by central or peripheral routes based on their capacity to elaborate. The implications and future studies concerning the current theoretical framework and verifiable findings on the impacts of ambiguous arguments are carefully discussed, based on the findings
Psychological safety during a large-scale simulation-based learning event
No full textPsychological safety (PS) is currently endorsed as best practice in simulated learning environments. PS refers to the belief that a student can express their ideas and concerns without fear of negative consequences. Students who participate in simulation-based scenarios often experience psychological distress during such events if they are immersed in an environment that is not psychologically safe. This phenomenon has been researched in the field of nursing during both the briefing and debriefing phases of simulation. The aim of this study was to determine the level of PS of emergency care students at a large-scale simulation rescue training exercise. A quantitative survey design was used on student participants at an annual rescue training exercise in 2021. Students who participated in a high-fidelity rescue event scored a mean PS score of 48.76. Reluctance to take interpersonal risks and fear of making mistakes in a team setting were identified as areas of concern. When PS is understood and improved, the learning experience for students will be enhanced and they will be able to participate without fear of humiliation
Reimagining our space: Taking social justice principles online?
No full textIssues of social justice have been at the forefront in the quest to support students at the faculty-specific writing centre that is the focus of this study. This is in an effort to ensure that the centre remains not just a safe but a brave and non-judgemental space. The onset of Covid-19, and its imposition on our daily practices, required a hasty re-evaluation of our offering. This paper will outline our migration to a fully online mode of support and aims to establish whether the social justice principles harnessed in face-to-face support can and have been applied in the online platform. We approach this inquiry by evoking the voices of the writing centre consultants who spearhead our social justice agenda, with a view to determining their perceptions regarding this issue. Findings from such a study can be applied to the training offered to consultants in the hope of improving our offering
Doll making: An art therapy approach to support bereaved clients
Get PDFThis article is about an art therapy doll making process to support bereaved clients. I explore the potential of doll making in the context of bereavement and art therapy, using the lens of object relations theory and attachment theory. I reflect on an arts-based self study of my own doll making experience based on my Art Therapy Honours research. I will also present a process that art therapists can use when working with dolls and bereaved clients. The aim of this article is to answer the question, why is making dolls such a powerful and evocative experience, both as a support during bereavement but also beyond? The article emerges from a desire to understand how doll making can be used by art therapists to support bereaved clients, using both the existing literature on dolls and doll making as well as my own experience of making dolls. I use a literature review and reflections on my own doll making practice. The arts-based approach permits me to write from a personal perspective to investigate and explore my doll making experience, in relation to both practice and theory. Doll making can be a powerful and evocative activity that has many therapeutic benefits, in particular as a support for bereavement. There is limited literature on doll-making and art therapy, as well as bereavement and art therapy, and therefore this article is a contribution to original knowledge. It derives from a literature review, arts-based research and from personal reflection into my own processes, producing a process that is original and replicable
The Impact of the Coalition of Pentecostalism and African Traditional Religion (ATR) Religious Artifacts in Zimbabwe: The Case of United Family International (UFI)
Get PDFThe rise of the mega- Pentecostal churches in Zimbabwe has brought an overarching coalition of religious artifacts in its quest to engage with the private and public lives of many Zimbabweans. Adaptation to the unstable political and economic decline in Zimbabwe has led to some proliferation of complex, interwoven practices between Pentecostalism and African Traditional Religion. Intrinsic violence, manipulation, extortions, cunning miracles, misrepresentation of the Bible and an elusive rhetoric of prosperity are used to gain obedience of the suffering populace. Somewhat, an alliance of religious artifacts, expressions, identity, and meaning forms a new hybrid of African Pentecostalism in Zimbabwe. This article explores the social, economic, psychological and political meaning of these religious artifacts coalition. The article uses United Family International (UFI) as a case study. This study collected data through interviews and sermons analysis
The Religious Framing of the South Sudanese Civil Wars: The Enduring Legacy of Ngundeng’s Prophecy
Get PDFThis article discusses how a religious idea informed the political behaviour of South Sudanese leaders in the context of civil wars and the associated bitter contest for leadership. The prophecy which is invoked in the leadership contest in South Sudan is the prophecy of the 19th century Nuer prophet, Ngundeng Bong believed to predicted the course and outcome of the South Sudanese civil wars. At the centre of the prophecy is the prophetic power claim by one of the major political figures in South Sudan, i.e., Dr. Riek Machar and his leadership contest first with Dr. John Garang and currently with President Salva Kiir. In making sense of Machar’s self-understanding as a messiah, ‘predicted’ as it were by Ngundeng, the paper draws on the concept of political culture. It is argued that without endorsing Machar’s prophetic claim, it is imperative to understand the claim structure and how it is made plausible in the eyes of the believers, including Machar’s pragmatic mix of being a trained political strategist and a politician making use of a spiritual repertoire such as the enduring legacy of the Ngundeng prophecy featuring as a political capital