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Review Essay
Get PDFDespite the disparate and, at times, contradictory approaches of the books I will review in this essay, the four taken together elucidate the complex, fluid nature of African religious beliefs and practices. J. D. Y. Peel’s historical anthropology Christianity, Islam, and Oriṣa Religion: Three Traditions in Comparison and Interaction, published posthumously, champions and masterfully models the comparative method in reflecting on Yoruba history, thereby revealing the incredible diversity that has characterized the religious lives of the Yoruba people over time. The collected volume Ifá Divination, Knowledge, Power, and Performance, edited by Jacob K. Olupona and Rowland O. Abiodun, is dedicated to the preservation of Yoruba religion in its many iterations throughout the world and encourages the partnership between ancient traditions and twenty-first century technology to accomplish this purpose. Paul Gifford in Christianity, Development and Modernity in Africa, prescribes African Christianity’s abandonment of its “enchanted dimension,” namely, those beliefs and practices that are rooted in the belief in the pervasiveness of the spiritual realm. In What is Not Sacred?: African Spirituality, Laurenti Magesa argues precisely the opposite point, pressing for an increased and unapologetic incorporation of African traditional worldviews, including an acute spiritual awareness, into African Christianity
Peeping into the Sacralisation of Marijuana in Urban Slums: A Study of Muslim Youth in Maamobi, Ghana
Get PDFThe smoking of marijuana is considered a criminal act in many parts of the world. In Ghana, marijuana is a criminalized substance. However, the disclosure by the Narcotic Drugs Control Board (NACOB) that Ghana places first and third in the consumption of marijuana in Africa and the world respectively has sustained the debate about the criminalization of the substance. The arrest and prosecution of a popular hip-hop musician, Emmanuel Botchwey, for publicly smoking marijuana has further deepened the debate. This essay seeks to contribute to the debate on the use of marijuana in urban slums, focusing on the sacralisation of marijuana by Muslim youth in Maamobi. The paper argues that, while the consumption of marijuana pre-dates colonialism, the criminalization of the substance in Ghana is a recent phenomenon, largely influenced by the colonialists’ conceptualization of marijuana as a substance that is only smoked for recreational purposes
A Contextual Interpretation of Disability Inclusion in 2 Samuel 9 and the Bamasaaba of Eastern Uganda
Get PDFDisability inclusion among African communities is shaped by African religious discourse on disability, which influence the perceptionsof the society. This article provides a contextual reading of disability inclusion in 2 Samuel 9 and among Bamasaaba of Eastern Uganda. The authors argue that although inclusive communities are affirmed in both Old and New Testaments, some oppressive and discriminative interpretations of biblical texts still exist. It explores how interpretation of disability in 2 Samuel 9 and among Bamasaaba can transform religious perceptions on disability inclusion. Through interpretive hermeneutical approach and historical-critical methods, the article establishes that aspects of identity, social status and perception as interpreted in 2 Samuel 9 correspond to how Bamasaaba construct disability phenomenon in their socio-religious contexts. Contextual interpretation of disability inclusion is significant for the liberation, inclusion, and empowerment of people with disability to actively participate in society. Using African disability hermeneutics, biblical texts can be interpreted to transform the negative attitudes, theological views and religious perceptions on disability. Arguably, transforming the religious perceptions is necessary to removing barriers to inclusive religious and social participation of persons with disability
BRICS Shaping the Course of Humanity
No full textOpening the 14th summit of the BRICS, the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, said the BRICS had demonstrated resilience and vitality, that they together faced many shared challenges and opportunities. They practically coordinated their efforts, enhanced cooperation and used solidarity to confront shared difficulties. Held under the 2022 theme -Fostering High-quality Partnership and Embarking on a New Journey of BRICS Cooperation- the BRICS theme hoped to “shape the course of humanity”, Jinping reminded his peers
Efforts of Different Regimes in Kenya Toward National Cohesion and Integration, 1963-2022
Get PDFKenya like many states in the African continent is a multi-ethnic nation. Since its independence in 1963, Kenya has had challenges in putting together its communities. Conflict always arises as a result of the unequal distribution of resources among communities. This article will strive to unravel the efforts of different regimes in Kenya since its independence in achieving national cohesion and integration. The article argues for a rethinking of socio-economic policies through political goodwill and instilling national ethos, otherwise, the initiatives for national cohesion and integration will be in vain, stillborn, and frustrated across the nation. To adequately answer the above question, the researcher will be guided by this sole objective which is to examine the efforts of different regimes in Kenya toward achieving national cohesion and integration. The assumptions of the study will be, ethnic conflict is influenced by the context, typology of actors, and nature of the divergent interests sought for. The study is expected to offer a unique opportunity for policymakers to understand the political context and varied interests of various political players to not only predict the outcome but also determine the agenda-setting for national cohesion and integration in Kenya. The article adopted a qualitative approach by going through available literature on the subject matter to reach a logical conclusion. The author concludes by offering policy recommendations necessary for achieving national cohesion and integration in Kenya.
Regard socio-historique sur les contradictions positionnelles et présentielles des Burkinabè et des Sénégalaises dans la politique.
Get PDFPolitical science has been dealing with the object "woman" since the mid-1950s, along with the variable "sex" in political behavior, and this article claims to be part of the field of political sociology, but also of feminist studies in Africa. Its objective is to come back, from a historical point of view, on the possibility of a considerable presence and position of women in Burkina Faso and Senegal while emphasizing the existing controversies which divert them in a first time, from the political scenes and to have, in a second time, a situation answering the legality. This reflection wonders therefore about the existing contradictions of the presence and the political position of the Burkinabe and Senegalese women?
Certainly, the observation made in these two countries for which we have an intuitive discernment, points out the historical dynamism of women in the fight for the acquisition of their rights, notably political. Only internally, it is also perceptible that clear efforts remain to be made both in terms of the presence of women on the political scene and in terms of positions or places occupied within parties or in nominative and elective functions.La Science politique traite de l’objet « femme » depuis le milieu des années 1950 avec la variable « sexe » dans le comportement politique[1].A cet effet, cet article revendique son inscription dans le champ de la sociologie politique mais aussi dans celui des études féministes en Afrique. Son objectif est de revenir, d’un point de vue socio-historique sur la possibilité d’une présence et d’une position considérables des femmes du Burkina Faso et du Sénégal tout en mettant l’accent sur les controverses existantes et qui les détournent dans un premier temps, des scènes politiques et d’y avoir, dans un second temps, une situation répondant à la légalité. Cette réflexion s’interroge dès lors sur les contradictions existantes de la présence et de la position politique des Burkinabé et des Sénégalaises ?
Assurément, le constat fait dans ces deux pays pour lesquels nous avons un discernement intuitif, fait remarquer le dynamisme historique des femmes dans la lutte pour l’acquisition de leurs droits, notamment politiques. Seulement en interne, il est aussi perceptible que des efforts nets restent à faire tant sur le plan de la présence des femmes sur la scène politique que sur le plan des postes ou places occupées au sein des partis ou encore dans les fonctions nominatives et électives.
[1] Se référer aux travaux de l’école de Culumbia avec Lazarsfeld, ceux de Nonna Mayer, Duverger, ou encore ceux de Mattei Doggan
African Indigenous Research to Decolonisation of African Universities’ Curricula: A (South) African Perspective
Get PDFThe phrase African indigenous research (AIR) depicts a novel research thrust that seeks a global entrance into the mainstream research assortment as a competitive area of study. A discourse on decolonisation attempts to reverse the gains of colonialism. Existing studies show that most (South) African universities’ curricula can be traced to the colonial era. A rereading of available scholarly conversations depicts some reluctance on the part of education authorities towards decolonising the (South) African universities’ curricula. It is in the context of the above that the present study engages conversations on decolonisation in order to establish a common ground that affords AIR a notable articulation on decolonisation of (South) African Universities’ curricula. The present research is anchored on a critical race theory (CRT) in which narrative inquiry as a methodological approach is utilised. Although the phrase African universities’ curricula is employed, the study will focus on the (South) African universities’ curricula as representative examples. The (South) African scenario is preferred as a case study due to the author’s familiarisation with (South) African universities as well as African decolonisation discourses. The study attempts to answer the following three questions (1) what motivated research conversations on decolonisation? (2) why is the study on decolonisation of the curricula in (South) African universities necessary? and (3) what is the global impact of decolonisation processes in (South) Africa?  
Strathalan Cave revisited: Stone Age networks and environments at the foot of the Drakensberg, South Africa
Get PDFThe broader Drakensberg is an important region for understanding population dynamics and adaptation between the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Here, we announce our campaign to re-excavate Strathalan Cave in the northeastern Cape of South Africa. Strathalan Cave sits at the foothills of the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg at the edge of the Great Escarpment of southern Africa. Well-known for its organic preservation, the site is important for understanding the archaeology of the region. People have occupied Strathalan Cave intermittently from ca. 29 000 years ago (ka), so exploring occupational patterns at sites such as these is a valuable means of understanding Stone Age behaviour during glacial Marine Isotope Stage 2 (ca. 29-14 ka). In this paper, we provide the first detailed description of the geological, geomorphological, sedimentary and environmental context of Strathalan Cave and review previous studies conducted on the site and region. We also introduce the goals of our re-excavation project and present a detailed map of the three cavities that make up the Strathalan Cave complex as part of a new, comprehensive, spatial control system established on site. Given the remarkable preservation of organic materials, Strathalan Cave may provide an important and rare source of archaeological and palaeoenvironmental data for this period. Future work at Strathalan will likely contribute to our understanding of the links between settlement patterns and environmental change. This is especially important given that Strathalan sits at the juncture between different environmental and geographic regions
The Multilateral Integration of Blockchain, Ethical Packet Sniffing and AI for Cybersecurity in BRICS Countries
Get PDFThis policy brief proposes that the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa) should plan and coordinate on ways to mitigate cybersecurity risks on a multilateral level. The BRICS countries are ideal for such a meta-governance mechanism which could coordinate toward the circumvention of some cyber risks. This Policy brief proposes that there should be an integration of blockchain technologies, packet sniffing technologies and AI detection tools to help mitigate emerging cybersecurity risks. The policy brief outlines the risks and challenges prevalent in this current climate, whilst also proposing potential remedies sourced from rigorous academic studies. The precise amendments include the synthesised mechanism of blockchain-based internet registries, packet sniffing technologies AI verification tools and capacity building to aid in the mitigation of cybersecurity risks. In 2007, a cyber-attack in Brazil plunged more than 3 million people into darkness. Cyberattacks collectively cost the BRICS countries $50.3bn in 2013. These funds could have been reinvested into the economy. BRICS needs the rapid technological integration of cyber-crime mitigation tools, tools which this policy brief will outline
“Your Womb is Our Enemy!” : The Rape of Tigray as Genocidal Rape.
Get PDFWar crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide were committed in the war in Tigray. This article focuses on the use of sexual violence as an instrument of war. It narrates the scale, nature, and intentions of the sexual violence perpetrated on Tigrayan women, girls, men and boys. It showcases the extreme cruelty, dehumanization and intent to sterilize and inflict maximum damage from stories of victims and witnesses. It compares them with the rape crimes committed in other cases and concludes the nature of the crime was genocidal