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Beautiful Justice: The Role of Aesthetic Beauty in Restoring Transcendent Connection
No full textThis article seeks to illuminate how colonial and apartheid systems dispossessed people of colour in South Africa of the natural and cultural beauty inherent in their ancestral, socio-cultural and/or lived environments. It underscores how these systems forced people into survival conditions that hindered their capacity to cultivate beauty in their surroundings, cultural practices, and inner lives. Beauty, which often plays a central role in fostering psycho-spiritual development and connection, was systematically disrupted, distorted, and undermined. Within the arts therapies, there lies a unique potential to address these intergenerational disruptions by facilitating experiences of beauty as a pathway to restorative healing and justice
Party Politics and Electoral Violence in Nigerian 4th Republic: Implications for Democracy
Full text linkElectoral process in Nigerian fourth republic is gradually degenerating to a conflict situation and has become a recipe for electoral violence. Election periods in Nigeria witness high spate of assassination, maiming, thuggery, arson, unlawful arrest, abductions and intimidation of persons or group of persons. It creates an atmosphere of war which tends to create room for the survival of the fittest. This is because elections are seen not only as opportunity to control political power but an access to national resources. It is seen as an investment which no one will like to lose and so fair and foul means are exploited to get electoral votes. This ugly situation has negative implications on democracy. This study highlights the critical roles that political parties in Nigerian fourth republic play in the promotion of electoral violence. The research design for this study was historical-descriptive design. The data were obtained through secondary sources. Guided by the research methodology and structural functionalist theoretical framework, the study established a link between the character of party politics in Nigerian fourth republic and electoral violence. It found out that party politics was the major factor behind electoral violence in Nigeria which in turn hinders the democratic aspiration of the country. The study concluded that political parties in Nigeria have proved to be undemocratic and anti-democratic institutions. It recommended inter-alia, that political parties should be made to play critical roles in democratic consolidation and so, should change from mere institutions for acquiring political power to effective institutions that are capable of mediating and reconciling societal interests and conflicts. In addition, the rules and procedures that govern electoral behavior and conducts should be strictly applied and enforced to serve as deterrence
Determinants of M-Commerce Platform Adoption Among Individuals in South African Township Communities
No full textSince the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in 2020, there has been an increase in the adoption of e-commerce (electronic commerce) from which m-commerce (mobile commerce) was born. M-commerce is the use of a mobile phone to purchase goods and services. Most of the South African population resides in townships and rural areas and contributes significantly to the economy. The study researched m-commerce adoption in South African townships by determining the factors that affect m-commerce adoption in South African townships. The study only focused on two townships in Johannesburg: Soweto and Tembisa. A conceptual research model based on the following factors from the UTAUT2 technology model: performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, and facilitating conditions, with social media and trust as two additional constructs. A digital online survey was used to collect respondents’ data, and it was analysed quantitatively using SPSS. The findings of the study are discussed in detail, including testing the hypotheses formulated. Social media and perceived security have a significant, positive effect on the trust of South African township residents to adopt m-commerce platforms. Performance expectancy, hedonic motivation, trust, and facilitating conditions positively affect the intention of South African township residents to adopt m-commerce; however, trust and facilitating conditions were insignificant
Exploring the Effects of Black Twitter (X) on South African Millennials’ Mental Health
No full textThis study qualitatively explored the perceptions of black South African millennials about the effects of Black Twitter (X) on their mental health. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with black South African millennials who actively interact on Black Twitter (X). The data was analysed using thematic analysis. Participants had positive and negative perceptions of the influence of Black Twitter (X) on their mental health. Participants identified Black Twitter (X) as a convenient source of information and a form of escapism but the prevalence of trolling and hateful content causes anxiety and depression. The effect of Black Twitter (X) on black South African millennials’ mental health is complex. It can provide a supportive community, inspire activism, and increase awareness of vital issues. However, it does present challenges, such as the possibility of cyberbullying and negative interactions. Recognising these dynamics is essential to maximise advantages and minimise potentially damaging disadvantages
Advancing Gender Equality in Muslim Leadership: Women\u27s Representation in Ulama Bodies in Post-Apartheid South Africa
No full textMost In the post-apartheid landscape of South Africa, the constitutional promise of equality continues to challenge traditional power structures, particularly within religious institutions. This article critically examines the systematic exclusion of women from leadership roles in Muslim ulama bodies, despite significant advancements in religious education and scholarly achievements by Muslim women. The research argues that the exclusion of women from ulama bodies is neither theologically justified nor practically defensible. By drawing on egalitarian interpretations of Islamic traditions, historical examples of women\u27s scholarly contributions in Islam, and contemporary global practices of women\u27s religious leadership, the article challenges entrenched patriarchal interpretations that restrict women\u27s roles. Specifically, this study explores the historical context of the Muslim community in South Africa, the current composition of ulama bodies, and the extensive scholarly achievements of Muslim women. It highlights how these bodies wield considerable authority in matters of marriage, divorce, inheritance, and issuing religious legal opinions, yet remain exclusively male-led. The article reveals that Muslim women in South Africa are now extensively educated in Islamic sciences and are fully capable of occupying leadership positions. By advocating for gender diversity in religious leadership, the research proposes a path towards more inclusive, representative, and equitable religious governance that aligns with both Islamic principles and South Africa’s constitutional values of gender equality
Haitian Creole, A Perpetual Victory on Coloniality: A triple chasm and a common denominator
No full textThis article examines Haitian history and identity through the lens of Haitian Creole as both a cultural creation and a victory against coloniality. Jean Casimir argues that Haiti cannot be understood solely through frameworks imposed by European colonial states, but rather through the fractures and continuities that have shaped the nation since its revolutionary origins. Three ruptures are central: the divide between state institutions and colonial structures, the separation of coastal elites from rural “outside people,” and tensions among leaders of varied social and educational backgrounds. These fractures did not create rigid hierarchies but revealed tensions within a society bound by collective pride in autonomy and resistance
Delinking, Decoloniality and De-Westernisation
Full text linkThe planetary world-wide conversation on decoloniality, there has been some conceptual confusion that in this essay I am attempting to elucidate. The elucidation is not based on the premise that decoloniality is endowed with a universal meaning, like modernity, but it is based on the analytic and prospective meaning that decoloniality acquired after the seminal work of Peruvian sociologist and activist Anibal Quijano. Additionally, my argument is based on the conceptual distinctions I have been making since 2010, between decoloniality and de-westernization
Crisis of Trust and Military Takeovers in West Africa: Analyzing Factors and Citizen Reactions in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger
Full text linkThe recurrent military coups in West Africa, with the most recent cases in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, point to an increasing crisis of trust between citizens and their governments. According to the Colpus 2023 report, military coups have increased significantly across the African
continent since 2020, indicating the deterioration of democratic systems due to diverse political, social, and economic causes. Although each country has a distinct context, a variety of interacting factors encouraged military takeover resulting in a worrying pattern spanning history, politics, and geopolitics. Drawing from secondary data including media reports, peer reviewed research, reports from international organizations, and grey literature, this paper offers conceptual, and comparative account of this development. The paper highlights how governance failures, rampant corruption, insecurity from violent extremist groups, and socioeconomic inequalities contribute to eroding public trust. The significance of this study lies in its contribution to both scholarship and policy by providing insights into interplay between governance, security, and societal trust and advances theoretical debates on democratic resilience and coup prevention for the future of the regio
Connections between post-1994 Health Care and Street-level Bureaucracy
Full text linkPerformance metrics continue to be a useful tool for modifying bureaucratic procedures in the workplace, although the majority of bureaucracy research and intervention has been centred on increasing efficiency. Lipsky (1980) contends that street-level bureaucracy is compelled to consider the public objectives of efficiency and cost effectiveness, except for unique circumstances like a new service plan for locating clients. This conceptual article, which is based on secondary sources like journals, explains how the provision of health services changed during the apartheid era and how it was notably progressive considering the passage of laws protecting patients’ constitutional rights. The article further argues that improvements in people’s access to health care were brought about by the democratic dispensation, departing from a time when segregation of South African health services was regulated by law