UNAM Open Access Journal University of Namibia
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Utilization of water quality index (WQI) in water quality assessment of groundwater in Agbor metropolis, Delta State Nigeria
Get PDFA water quality index provides a single number that expresses the overall quality at a certain location and time based on several water parameters. The objective of the study was to calculate the Water Quality Index (WQI) of groundwater in Agbor metropolis, Delta State Nigeria in order to assess its suitability for drinking and domestic purposes. WQI was determined on the basis of various physico-chemical parameters namely pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), Turbidity, Total suspended Solids (TSS), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Sulphate, Nitrate, Phosphate, Chloride, Copper, Lead, Iron, Zinc and Cadmium. The calculation of the WQI was done using weighted arithmetic index method. The WQI was found to be 45.46 indicating that the groundwater in the study area is of good quality in its un- treated state quality and therefore safe for human consumption and domestic purposes
Prevalence, trends and risk factors of breast cancer Mortality in Namibia: 2000-2015
Get PDFThe objectives of the study were to establish prevalence, trends and risk factors for breast cancer survival in Namibia. Secondary data was available from the Namibia Cancer Association Registry for breast, cervical and prostate cancer from the year 2000 to 2015. Patient survival was measured by age at death and the event variable was whether the patient was still alive or dead. Covariates included sex, ethnicity, and region. Descriptive summary statistics in form of tables, charts and graphs were used to profile the background characteristics of the patients. Kaplan-Meier curves were constructed and the Cox proportional hazards model was used to establish the determinants of survival among cancer patients. Results showed that breast cancer survival was influenced by age, region and ethnicity. Policy efforts should focus on the whites, basters and Herero speaking groups. Khomas region had the highest percentage of cancer cases and this calls for further research on the causes
Theoretical configurations and considerations on African popular culture
Get PDFThis conceptual paper deals with some theoretical configurations and considerations of the form and content of African popular culture/s. It problematizes the subject by raising some provocative questions that may produce further and, perhaps, new areas for discussions. The three leading questions are: What exactly is popular culture? For whom and by what means is such culture produced and consumed? To whom and to what end is such culture popular? The paper touches on questions of identity, especially pertaining to the youth; and the link between popular culture and social, political and economic power. Further, the paper deals with aspects of production, including mass production, and consumption of popular culture. The role of popular culture in the political processes is interrogated in terms of mobilization, resistance, articulation and maintenance of identities that provide alternative ways of interpreting different social forces. Issues of nationalism and national culture in the face of “globalization” are also touched on vis-à-vis African popular cultures. We also ask whether we should view the subject from purely anti-elitist and pro-masses outlook. Generally the paper probes into the place of popular culture within the bigger definition of culture as a drapery of physical, mental and emotional actions whose nexus holds a particular people together within and oftentimes across generations
Speakers living and languages dying: The endangerment of !Xóõ and øHua in Botswana
Get PDF!Xóõ and øHua are San languages spoken in Botswana, with !Xóõ also cross-bordering into South Africa and Namibia. !Xóõ is a Southern Khoesan language genetically affiliated to the Taa branch of Khoesan languages. The classification of øHua has been rather problematic. It has been classified with Southern Khoesan or Northern Khoesan, as an isolate or into the Ju-øHoan conglomerate. Both of these languages are acutely endangered. The objective of this article to is address the classification of !Xóõ and øHua, discuss the geographical spread in Botswana and lay out factors that lead to their acute endangerment in the country. The paper argues that endangering factors include the San relocation exercise in Botswana, contact with powerful Bantu groups and the current anguage/ language-in-education policy. The collective effect of these factors is the obliteration of !Xóõ and the øHua cultures and languages, and the domination and marginalization of these people in the land of their birth. The paper further recommends that this decimation of !Xóõ and øHua language and culture could be curbed by an enabling political will, documentation of these cultures and languages, the development of orthographies if possible, among other things
Matumizi ya lugha katika mandhari-lugha ya jiji la Dar es Salaam: Ulinganishi wa dhima za Kiswahili na Kiingereza
Get PDFNumerous studies have been undertaken on the uses of language in the linguistic-landscape of various cities in the world, for instance in Bangkok, Tokyo, Vilnius, Amsterdam, and Gaborone. Those studies revealed that the number of multilingual communities is increasing in the linguistic-landscape, with English use increasing more and more. The question is, what is the language use situation in the linguistic-landscape of Dar es Salaam city? The aim of this paper is to answer that question as well as comparing the functions of Kiswahili and English languages in the linguistic-landscape of Dar es Salaam city. Data were gathered through photographing, interview and observation. The findings of this study revealed the use of seven languages in the area of study. Furthermore, some language functions are similar to both languages (Kiswahili and English) while others are specifically to either Kiswahili or English
Challenges of teaching Kiswahili polysems and homonyms through translation in foreign language classes
Get PDFIn teaching a foreign language, certain language features (i.e. polysems and homonyms) are not introduced as issues or topics for discussion and therefore, they emerge as weeds in the discussion (Klepousniotou, 2002). When this occurs, instructors struggle to handle them differently. This article investigated the challenges of teaching Kiswahili polysems and homonyms through translation in foreign language classes. The data for this study was collected throughobservation and documentary review methods. Findings show that Kiswahili has a complex system of polysems than homonyms. It has been further observed that translation method alone may not be adequate in handling problematic issues such as polysems and homonyms. Since polysems and homonyms are characterized by multiple meanings, a combination of translation method and componential analysis (analysis of semantic features) works better. Lastly, instructors should teach them in context instead of treating them as isolated words and they should be introduced at the intermediate through advanced levels of foreign language proficiency
Skills needed to interpret transcendental languages: The case of Bhasukuma spirit medium language mediation
Get PDFWhile interpreting is increasingly becoming important, some interpreting forms still have no visibility in the field and research landscape, transcendental language mediation (henceforth TLM) being a case in point. The present paper examines linguistic and nonlinguistic skills and competencies that are inherent and necessary in interpreting transcendental languages, in view of giving indigenous interpreting forms and sub-forms more visibility in the interpreting research landscape and discourse. As its theoretical underpinning, the paper is guided by ideas from postcoloniality and scriptocentrism. The data were obtained through observation of 24 spirit medium language mediation events and semi-structured interviews to 24 Bhasukuma spirit mediums and 24 mediators in Mwanza, Geita, Shinyanga and Simiyu administrative regions of the United Republic of Tanzania. Findings suggest that there are prior-to-mediation-process skills and during-mediation process skills, which provide more support to the previous studies which found that mediation of transcendental languages is an aspect of interpreting. It is recommended that African scholars should take it as their prerogative to expose more African realities to the world to better peoples’ understanding
Assessment practices in Africa today
Get PDFThe 1990 Jomtien World Conference ‘Education for All’ and the 2000 World Education Forum in Daka encouraged governments in developing countries to shift their emphasis from measuring outcomes to establishing the extent to which their education systems could provide quality in education (Howie, 2012, p. 81). Within the global economy, governments are held responsible for providing adequate education. This increased political pressure has led to direct links between national economies and education. The purpose of this paper is to identify tensions found in the various types of literacy and numeracy assessments within Africa; from large international high-stakes testing to local classroom formative and summative assessments. Four high-stakes tests commonly found in Africa are discussed. They are: school-leaving exams which assess all subjects at Grade 12 level; Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS); The Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ); and, finally, the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS). I discuss four principles of summative and formative assessments based on the work of Johnston and Costello (2005, p. 256-265). They include: assessment as a social practice, minds in society, representation and interpretation and, lastly, practices of teacher assessments
What do reflection and emotion got to do with it? My journey as a novice researcher
Get PDFIn this manuscript I am attempting to provide insight into my journey as a novice researcher completing my Master’s research that explored Working Women's Perceptions of Power, Gender-Based Violence and HIV-infection (Freeman, 2010). I considered reflexivity as it relates to the analysis of qualitative data by drawing and reflecting on my master’s studies in the field of sociology. The study explored working women’s perceptions of power, gender-based violence and HIV-infection risks within intimate relationships. This problem was addressed by conducting an exploratory study with five female employees in an airline business who participated in in-depth, face-to-face interviews. This manuscript covers a brief introduction to reflexivity in qualitative data analysis, provides a reflective account, Theoretical Perspective, Interpersonal and Institutional context of research, the Emotional Response to Methodology and concludes with some lessons learned and recommendations for other novice researchers
Level of adherence to safety measures on construction sites in Abuja, Nigeria
Get PDFThe construction industry is known to be one of the most hazardous industries in terms of the activities on the construction site and it has poor safety records. In order to have a comprehensive understanding and gainfully benefit from safety measures on site, the causes of accidents and level of adherence to safety rules needed to be examined. Therefore, this research assessed the level of adherence to safety measures on construction sites in Abuja, Nigeria. A well-structured self-administered questionnaire survey of 140 selected firms was conducted in Abuja. Findings showed that the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is the most used safety measure on construction site. Using factor analysis, the causes of accidents were classified into three dimensions namely poor safety planning; poor adherence and worker attitude, while safety measures were grouped into five underlying factors: personal protective equipment; effective enforcement; safety prevention mechanism; safety arrangement and safety culture. The study concluded that there is high adherence level to safety measures by the medium and large construction firms in the study area. It is recommended that construction firms should ensure that operatives comply with the prescribed safety and health measures so as to reduce accident occurrence on construction sites