UNAM Open Access Journal University of Namibia
Not a member yet
612 research outputs found
Sort by
Being and Nothingness: Trauma, loss and alienation in Tsitsi Dangarembga’s The Book of Not
No full textIn this article, I reveal how Dangarembga’s narrative echoes Fanon’s “black skin, white masks” psy-chology. The protagonist’s internalisation of a Eurocentric view of her race and culture culminates in a profound belief in her own inferiority and that of her people. I use Laing and Fanon’s psychoanalytic theories to portray the protagonist’s struggle with her sense of identity and ontological security. I argue that the subsequent fractured sense of self she experiences affects her to such an extent that shame, guilt and self-negation dominate her mental make-up. What emerges is that the destabilising effect of the trauma of blackness results in a nullification of subjectivity - a total sense of not-being - that causes the protagonist to plummet into the depths of depression
Analysis of factors influencing first year University Undergraduate performance in selected pure Mathematics courses at the National University of Science and Technology – Zimbabwe
Get PDFIn 2012, the National University of Science and Technology (NUST) in Zimbabwe reviewed the University qualification entry cut-off points downwards in the Applied Mathematics Department. Following the review, there has been a worrisome and distinct change in student performance in first year mathematics courses. To explore the possible causes of the poor performance amongst students, a two-stage probability sampling technique was used to collect secondary data covering mainly admission entry level qualification for each student. A one-way Sir Ronald Fisher’s Analysis of Variance model (ANOVA) was used to explore the contribution of various hypothesised factors to performance in first year undergraduate courses. Mathematics grade at advance level and overall performance in all subjects done at Advanced level by a student have a significant influence on his or her first year pure Mathematics courses performance at NUST. We recommend that the Department should em-ploy remedial strategies to first year pure Mathematics courses if students with low scores in advance level mathematics are to be admitted. Instead of focusing on service courses with large classes only, the Department should prioritise allocating extra tutorial hours to pure Mathematics courses. Furthermore the effects of brain drain can- not be ignored, hence the University should find ways to curb or deal with the gap that the highly experienced staff who left, created
Isolation and Genus identification of bacteria from urine contaminated soils of Windhoek
Get PDFPublic urination is a common sight in the vicinity of drinking establishments in Katutura, as well as other open spaces around Windhoek. A study was conducted to determine if there was a shift in the balance of the microflora in urine contaminated soils. It was hypothesized that, given soils from the same geographic region but under distinct urine conditions, the identity and counts of the pathogenic and actinobacteria communities would vary. For the purpose of this study, pathogenic microorganisms were limited to those known to cause infections of the urinary tract. Soil samples from 4 contaminated locations (Ara-Dorado, Hakahana, Eveline and Greenwell Matongo suburbs) and controls were qualitatively tested for urease activity. Selective media was used for the isolation and enumeration of pathogenic and beneficial actinobacterial colonies. Dorado showed the greatest extend of urease activity>>>Hakahana and Eveline>>Green well matongo. There is a significant difference between the colony counts at a contaminated and non-contaminated (control) site, p = 0.019(= 0.05). The results indicated that public urination introduces pathogenic bacteria, causing a shift in the balance of the normal flora
Setswana mother tongue: opportunities and challenges in Namibian schools
Get PDFThe official language policy in Namibia states that schools should teach grade 1 to 3 pupils in their mother tongue, but it is seldom taught as a medium of instruction in those grades. Where it is taught, there are seldom qualified teachers to teach it. This research investigates the teaching of Setswana language in schools in order to assess the factors contributing to the gap between policy and reality. Setswana speakers in Namibia constitute 0.3% of households (NSA, 2012) (unlike in Botswana where they are the majority and in South Africa, they constitute a substantial group). The rationale is that knowing the challenges and opportunities to providing mother tongue education to Batswana people may contribute to policy formulation that allows achievement of Namibia’s goal of Education for All (EFA). Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were the main qualitative data collection methods utilised for this study. Findings indicate that among the challenges of teaching in the mother tongue to Setswana children include; lack of qualified teachers, lack of teaching material, and conflict between curriculum panelists and Setswana subject advisor at NIED. Among the opportunities are collaboration with Botswana and South Africa governments on Setswana curriculum development in schools, Namibian schools, sourcing Setswana school materials and a pool of potential Setswana language teachers from Botswana and South Africa. It can be concluded that concerted efforts should be made by authorities to promote the use of local languages (such as Setswana) as a medium of instruction
Confronting the global: The ‘mediatization’ of local culture and Namibian youth receptions of media power
No full textThis paper investigates the idea of the ‘mediatization’ of Namibian cultures, media power, and degrees of reflexive actor ‘negotiations’ of media institutionalism. It seeks to understand awareness of and reaction to local and global power narratives in relation to actors’ symbolic relationships with media. Research reveals that Namibian youth are often positive regarding the novelty and opportunities that global media off er for identity and lifestyle negotiations. However, it also revealed ontological anxieties about erosion of ‘traditional’ culture on the one hand, and concerns on the other about the absence of representation or recognition of the ‘local’ in global media productions. The Windhoek research on which this paper is based conceptually establishes three reflexive youth orientations and identities toward local/global media power: cultural appropriationist, cultural traditionalist and cultural representationalist. Theories of power and media are contrasted and analysed in relation to these reflexive categories, giving special reference to Lukes (2005). The paper concludes that while media culture today appears to be instrumental in Namibian identity formation and cultural change, social tensions and conflict over matters of culture and power are evident
Gender representation in children’s literature: Limits and potential in Stephen Alumenda’s Marita goes to school and Marita’s great idea, and Jairos Kangira’s The bundle of firewood
No full textDifferent societies across the globe usually contrast masculinity with femininity. Men are often por-trayed in more positive terms that include being strong, achievers and providers, while women are depicted as the opposite. Such masculinities have emerged to be frameworks within which literary texts can be critiqued. In this article, I employ hegemonic and subordinate masculinities to argue that children’s stories can be utilised to transform unequal gender relations. I explore how Stephen Alu-menda and Jairos Kangira respond to gender issues in Zimbabwean children’s literature. The first sec-tion is a brief introduction that unpacks the concept of children’s literature and places the discussion of gender representation in children’s literature within the context of African literature. In the second segment, I outline how Alumenda endeavours to promote the education of the girl child. The third part highlights how this theme is advanced by Jairos Kangira, another author of children’s books
Birds of Katima Mulilo town, Zambezi region, Namibia
Get PDFLarge river valleys are usually characterized by high level of biodiversity, avian diversity. In Namibia, two towns are located in such valleys: Rundu on Okavango and Katima Malilo on Zambezi. To date, no quantitative studies on any components of biodiversity have been conducted in those towns. In January-May 2013, a total of 36 days were spent on quantitative studies of birds in Katima Mulilo town. The line transect and territory mapping methods were used in this study. A total of 122 resident (breeding), 9 visitors and 9 Palearctic migrants were recorded. The group of dominant species was composed of the following four species: Grey-headed Sparrow, Black-eyed Bulbul, Laughing Dove, and Blue Waxbill. They comprised together 42.5% of all birds. The group of subdominant species included: Rock Dove, Pied Crow, Cape Turtle-Dove, Red-eyed Dove, Southern Masked Weaver, Burchell’s Starling and Mourning Dove. Together they comprised 18.7%. The remaining 112 species comprised 38.8%. The most numerous feeding guilds were granivores (51.3%), frugivores and insectivores (each with c. 20%). Most birds (61.3%) nested in trees and shrubs. Katima Mulilo is probably the only town in whole southern Africa, where all four Streptopelia-doves are common species: Laughing, Cape Turtle, Red-eyed, and Mourning Dove. The only sparrow, which occurs in Katima Mulilo, is the Grey-headed Sparrow. Of special interest is the occurrence of dozen or so species which do not occur in other towns in Namibia, such as African Fish Eagle, Broad-billed Roller, Schalow’s Lorie, Trumpeter Hornbill, among others
Gender-based violence and masculinity in Namibia: a structuralist framing of the debate
Get PDFGender-based violence in Namibia is pervasive and solutions to it remain elusive. How we address the problem depends on how we frame it. Gender-based is directly linked to unequal relationships of power and do not stand in isolation of structural and cultural violence in our society. There is a long history of gender inequality and gender-based violence that is deeply imbedded in Namibia’s history. Colonialism was violent and its effects still structures representations of masculinity. It has shaped violent hegemonic and subaltern masculinities. There is also a history of gender-based violence embedded in traditional African patriarchy that is often denied. Gender-based violence should not be sought in the biological or psychological essences of individual perpetrators but, instead, in the nature of our society, our histories and ethnographies of violence. This article locates gender-based violence in a social-historical context and seeks to illuminate some of the intersections between violent masculinities, gender, race and class
A review on urban soil water erosion
Get PDFAccelerated soil water erosion is one of the major global environmental problems that adversely affect both rural and urban areas. While many investigations have been initiated to efficiently understand and effectively manage water erosion problems in agricultural areas, specific knowledge on urban water erosion is less pronounced. This paper aims at providing an overview of the extent at which erosion dynamics processes have been explored in urban areas. Based on the last decade’s publications, the majority (64%) of studies were conducted in the developed world, mostly in humid subtropical and humid continental climate regions. Furthermore, researchers largely concentrated on off site erosion, focusing on contaminated sediments and on stream erosion. The employed methods were mostly traditional approaches (81% of all articles) compared to modern methods of remote sensing and modelling. This review identifies limitations in methods employed, and gaps in focal research topics and urban-specific management strategies. In particular, the paper argues that approaches oriented towards minimising the risks from water erosion in urban areas are urgently needed. The review findings are expected to be of interest to researchers, urban planners and environmental related managers
A condition assessment of the prehistoric art from the Bushman Paradise Cave, Groβe Spitzkoppe, Namibia.
Get PDFThe main objective of this study was to assess the overall physical state of the prehistoric rock paintings of the Spitzkoppe. This article presents an evaluation of the condition of the rock art at the Bushman Paradise site. Ideally, a condition survey should be carried out periodically and be used as a monitoring and evaluation tool. This article is a contribution to ideas and methods that can be used to develop integrated and informed conservation strategies for rock art sites in Namibia. It identifies and classifies the causes of deterioration or damage of the rock art at the Bushman Paradise. We argue that systematic documentation is crucial for site management purposes because it is from detailed documentation that a statement of significance of sites can be generated. We conclude from the analysis that anthropogenic causes of deterioration at the Bushman Paradise outweigh natural causes. We conclude by proposing site specific conservation interventions that can be replicated at other sites of similar nature in the Spitzkoppe and Namibia in general