bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Connaissances locales et leur utilisation dans la gestion des parcs à karité en Côte d’Ivoire
Authors: Diarassouba Nafan , Koffi Kouablan E. , N’Guessan Kanga A. , Van Damme Patrick , Sangare Abdourahamane
Published: February 2018

In order to assess both the level of botanical knowledge of the shea tree species possessed by certain communities, and the relative importance of the species to those communities, an inventory has been taken of the different uses of shea resources. To this end, research was conducted involving 257 people belonging to 12 different ethnic groups in seven departments of the north of the Côte d’Ivoire [Ivory Coast]. The results of these investigations clearly demonstrate the socio- economic importance of shea trees to the local populations of the zone investigated. Some ethnic groups prove to have a very good botanical knowledge of the species and its qualities and have developed systems of management of shea orchards that could facilitate the domestication and conservation of the species. In addition to the commercial use of the kernel and of shea butter on local and regional markets, many other parts of the shea tree and derived products (roots, leaves, peels, oilcakes, latexes and even mistletoes are used for a range of different purposes by rural communities in Côte d’Ivoire [the Ivory Coast]. In medicine and in traditional pharmacopeia, these parts are used in the treatment of several diseases. Shea is also valued at the cultural, nutritional, agricultural, cosmetic, artisanal level. Key words: Agroforestry, Ethnobotany, Vitellaria paradoxa, Côte d’Ivoire
The making and legitimacy of the Ethiopian constitution: towards bridging the gap between constitutional design and constitutional practice
Authors: Regassa Tsegaye
Published: February 2018

This article describes the making of the 1995 constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) and analyzes its implications for legitimacy. It contends that legitimacy of the constitution, which fosters delity to it, can –as one among other factors– help bridge the gap between constitutional design and constitutional practice. By making a process-content-context analysis of the constitution, it argues that the Ethiopian constitution which had a weak original legitimacy, can earn a derivative legitimacy through aggressive implementation. Aggressive imple- mentation, it is maintained, demands fidelity to the constitution. Fidelity and other components of a redemptive constitutional practice (such as creative constitutional interpretation, constitutionally informed legislation, positive constitutional amendment, and constitutionally responsible voting) help deal with the perennial question of how to bridge the gap between constitutional design and constitutional practice in Ethiopia and beyond. Key words: Ethiopia, making of constitutions, constitutional legitimacy, fidelity to constitutions, constitutional redemption
Building intellectual bridges: from African studies and African American studies to Africana studies in the United States
Authors: Zeleza Paul Tiyambe
Published: February 2018

The study of Africa and its peoples in the United States has a complex history. It has involved the study of both an external and internal other, of social realities in Africa and the condition of people of African descent in the United States. This paper traces and examines the complex intellectual, institutional, and ideological histories and intersections of African studies and African American studies. It argues that the two fields were founded by African American scholar activists as part of a Pan-African project before their divergence in the historically white universities after World War II in the maelstrom of decolonization in Africa and civil rights struggles in the United States. However, from the late 1980s and 1990s, the two elds began to converge, a process captured in the development of what has been called Africana studies. The factors behind this are attributed to both demographic shifts in American society and the academy including increased African migrations in general and of African academics in particular fleeing structural adjustment programs that devastated African universities, as well as the emergence of new scholarly paradigms especially the field of diaspora studies. The paper concludes with an examination of the likely impact of the Obama era on Africana studies. Key words: African studies, African American studies, African diaspora studies, Africana studies
The EU as an emerging coordinator in development cooperation: perspectives from sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Delputte Sarah
Published: February 2018

This report presents the proceedings of the eld research conducted in the framework of a doctoral research on the European Union (EU) as an emerging coordinator in development cooperation. This research aims to seek in-depth and interpreted understanding of the paradox between the EU’s ambitions on the one hand and practice on the ground on the other by investigating the EU’s role in four sub-Saharan African countries (Tanzania, Zambia, Burkina Faso and Senegal). As such, it aims to add empirical evidence to the debate on the role of the EU as a development actor. More specifically, it investigates how the ambitions of the EU are translated at country level and in which situations the EU is more/less likely to act as a coordinator, making use of a pragmatist research approach. This approach is especially suited to problem-driven research that aims to understand a complex phenomenon. The article introduces the research question and the rationale, gives an overview of the research approach and the methodological considerations and ends with a summary of the research process and the preliminary findings of the eld research. Key words: EU development policy, aid effectiveness, coordination, pragmatism, interview research
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with shade trees and Coffea arabica L. in a coffee-based agroforestry system in Bonga, Southwestern Ethiopia
Authors: Sewnet Tadesse Chanie , Tuju Fassil Assefa
Published: February 2018

In a first step to understand the interactions between Coffea arabica L. trees and mycorrhizae in Ethiopia, an investigation of the current mycorrhizal colonization status of roots was undertaken. We sampled 14 shade tree species occurring in coffee populations in Bonga forest, Ethiopia. Milletia ferruginea, Scheffiera abyssinica, Croton macrostachyus, Ficus vasta, F. sur, Albizia gummifera, Olea capensis, Cordia africana, Ehretia abyssinica, Pouteria adolfi-friederici, Pavetta oliveriana, Prunus africana, Phoenix reclinata and Polyscias fulva. Coffee trees sampled under each shade tree were all shown to be colonized by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi). Four genera and 9 different species of AM fungi were found in the soils. Glomus (Sp1, Sp2, & Sp3 & Sp4), Scutellospora (Sp1 & Sp2) and Gigaspora (Sp1 & Sp2) were found under all 14 shade tree species, whereas Acaulospora (Sp1) occurred only in slightly acidic soils, within a pH range of 4.93-5.75. Generally, roots of the coffee trees were colonized by arbuscules to a greater degree than those of their shade trees, the arbuscular colonization percentage (AC%) of the former being higher than the latter (signifIcant difference at 0.05 level). Though differences were not statistically signifIcant, the overall hyphal colonization percentage (HC%) and mycorrhizal hyphal colonization percentage (MHC%) were shown to be slightly higher under coffee trees than under their shade trees. However, the differences were statistically significant at 0.05 level in the case of HC% values of coffee trees under Pouteria adolf-friederici and MHC% under Cordia africana. Spore density and all types of proportional root colonization parameters (HC%, MHC%, AC% and vesicular colonization percentage, VC%) for both coffee and shade trees were negatively and significantly correlated with organic soil carbon, total N, available P, EC and Zn. Correlation between arbuscular colonization for coffee (AC%) and organic carbon was not significantly positive at a 0.05 level. Incidence of specific spore morphotypes was also correlated with physical and chemical soil properties. Results indicate that AM fungi could potentially be important in aforestation and help to promote coffee production activities in Ethiopia providing an alternative to expensive chemical fertilizer use, and would offer management methods that take advantage of natural systems dynamics that could potentially preserve and enhance coffee production. Key words: aforestation; agroforestry, coffee groves, ecology, integrated production systems, rhizosphere, sustainable agriculture, symbiosis
Editorial
Authors: Van Damme Patrick
Published: February 2018

The present issue of Afrika Focus delves into the way in which the Democratic (what’s in a word...) Republic of Congo has been dealing with its ‘way to peace’, via an article that looks at the issue through a discourse analysis perspective. In another article, the growing pains that often accompany the road to democracy in Africa are illustrated by the case of Togo. A third piece in this issue, a case study from Kenya, examines the gum Arabic value chain. The gum is an adhesive and food additive, often used in sweets and soft drinks, and thus an important commodity bought by big multinational companies. For centuries, it has been a source of income for a number of sub-Sahara African countries. Moreover, wars have been fought over the staple – as recently as last year, May 2013, at least 60 people were killed in ethnic (...) clashes in Sudan's arid Darfur region, over land producing gum Arabic. The deaths were the result of an ongoing dispute between two ethnic groups in South Darfur, over pasture and acacia trees, from which the gum is obtained. The Gemir group accused the Beni-Halba community of trying to take away land it had owned for more than 300 years. This shows that even a neutral (to sweet) subject such as gum Arabic can help to illustrate, and even explain, the root causes of political unrest in a number of countries. And this brings us to the last and fourth article that, even though it deals with poetry, reiterates the same political thematic as highlighted above, as it deals with ‘contemporary Nigerian poets [that] have had to contend with the social and political problems besetting Nigeria’s landscape by using satire as a suitable medium’. Perhaps the latter is amongst the most viable – and maybe only – coping strategies to allow people to survive Nigeria’s (and any ‘difficult’ country’s) distressing environment: if you can’t beat them, laugh at them...
Depoliticised ethnicity in Tanzania: a structural and historical narrative
Authors: Malipula Mrisho
Published: February 2018

Much of the literature on ethnicity in Africa regards ethnicity as a central cleavage and associates its politicisation with civil war and deteriorating socio-economic conditions. Tanzanian society is not structured by this cleavage, making it an outlier among African states. Despite the negative impact of politicised ethnicity, little is known of the circumstances through which it germinates and comes to have negative consequences, or how it can be suppressed in Africa. The present article attempts a comprehensive analysis of the structural and historical factors that have made the move away from politicisation of ethnicity in Tanzania possible. It provides an eclectic structural and historical explanation that attributes lack of ethnic salience in Tanzanian politics to a particular ethnic structure, to certain colonial administrative and economic approaches, and to a sustained nation-building ethos. The argument results from a critical analysis of secondary material on ethnicity and the politics of Tanzania. Key words: ethnicity, politicisation of ethnicity, ethnic salience, nation-building, Tanzania
Fertilizer supply chain in Ethiopia: structure, performance and policy analysis
Authors: Agbahey Johanes U.I. , Grethe Harald , Negatu Workneh
Published: February 2018

In Ethiopia, less than 40% of farmers use fertilizer and those who do, apply rates signi cantly be- low those recommended. This low fertilizer use is primarily due to prices being two to three times higher than prices on the world markets. Reducing the price of fertilizer requires a sound un- derstanding of the product ́s supply chain. This study investigates whether fertilizer is delivered to farmers in an ef cient way and at the lowest possible costs using an institutional economics framework. It was conducted in the Arsi zone and relied on secondary data as well as primary data collected through interviews. The ndings point out the presence of several formal and informal institutions regulating the market. A market monopoly at each stage of the supply chain and a striking correspondence between the central organization of the chain and the rise in left-over stocks were observed. This pinpoints the imperfect structure of the chain and a misallocation of resources locked up in fertilizer stockholding. In order to improve the demand estimation pro- cedure, this study suggests that incentives should be instituted to enhance the reliability of the information transferred along the process. Additionally, expert knowledge used in the process should be well documented, stock inventories should not be limited to central warehouses and stockholding needs to be reduced.
A review of factors associated with the utilization of healthcare services and strategies for improving postpartum care in Africa
Authors: Belemsaga Danielle Yugbare , Kouanda Seni , Goujon Anne , Kiendrebeogo Joel A. , Duysburgh Els , Degomme Olivier , Temmerman Marleen
Published: February 2018

Reducing maternal mortality continues to be a major challenge for African countries. We conducted a literature review to identify the factors associated with the utilization of maternal and child healthcare services during the postpartum period and the strategies for strengthening postpartum healthcare in Africa. We carried out an electronic search in several databases of texts published between 1995 and 2012 related to maternal and child health. Seventyfive publications fitted the eligibility criteria. Our analysis shows that to a large extent the socio-economic context was dominant among the factors associated with the quality and utilization of postpartum services. The best interventions were those on immediate postpartum maternal care combining several intervention packages such as community mobilization and provision of services, community outreach services and health training. The integration within health facilities of mother and child clinics was shown to contribute signifiHealthcantly to improving the frequency of mothers’ postpartum visits. Key words: postpartum care, postnatal care, maternal and child health, health interventions, health strategies, sub-Saharan Africa
Land conflicts and the livelihood of Pastoral Maasai Women in Kilosa district of Morogoro, Tanzania
Authors: Massoi Lucy Willy
Published: February 2018

This summary of my PhD thesis analyses conflicts around land in relation to pastoral Maasai women livelihoods in Tanzania. Issues of pastoralism and land use conflicts in Tanzania are well documented in literature. However, a gendered analysis of conflicts around land in relation to land reforms (changes in the use and ownership of, and access to land and land resources), prolonged climate variability and change, and food insecurity, hardly exists in the literature. Of particular concern is the rudimentary analysis of these conflicts as it relates to pastoral Maasai women, the primary and secondary users of land in pastoral livelihoods. Data analysed in this report were collected in Kilosa district, located in Morogoro, Tanzania, one of the renowned hotspots for pastoral-farmer conflicts in Tanzania. Within Kilosa, data were collect in pastoral Maasai settlements [villages] of Twatwatwa, Kiduhi, Ngaiti, and Mabwegere, and pastoral Maasai women were central focus. Through ethnographic research methods namely focus group discussions, interviews, and participant observations, I have found that vulnerabilities to conflicts around land are gender differentiated, and that pastoral Maasai women experience climate change, food insecurity, and land reforms differently from men. An overall conclusion in this report is that, conflicts around land in Kilosa are intricate in nature and cannot be analysed from a single narrative, and pastoral Maasai women by virtue of their specific gender roles and the gender relations are hit hard. I therefore argue that, (1) for secure land reforms, the political, economic, and social structures through which land access is mediated must also be reformed; (2) there should be a holistic conflict mitigation approach and strategies in resolving conflict around land in Kilosa. The approaches should focus at engaging pastoralists and pastoralist women in particular, and their institutions and making them an integral part of the solutions. (3) Decisions dealing with climate change mitigation strategies such as the Kilosa eviction of 2009 should also involve pastoralist women whose livelihood depends directly and/or indirectly on climate sensitive resources; (4) the introduction of forage crops production [such as grasses and legumes] in Kilosa is imperative. This will assist in increasing pasture production, which eventually will boost livestock production [livestock, the main preferred food source among the pastoral Maasai]. Equally, availability of forage crops within pastoralists reach reduces unplanned herd mobility, and at the same time lessens challenges that pastoralist women face in their responsibilities as default food managers.

Key words: Bantu languages, Ubangian languages, contact langues, documentations, reconstructions, classifications
Before they pass away. De verhalen achter de foto’s. Hannelore Vandenbussche. Uitgeverij Brandt, Amsterdam, 2015
Authors: Van Damme Patrick
Published: February 2018

Before they pass away is ‘ [A] historic volume [that ]showcases tribal cultures around the world. With globalization, these societies are to be prized for their distinctive lifestyles, art and traditions. They live in close harmony with nature, now a rarity in our modern era. Jimmy Nelson not only presents us with stunning images of customs and artifacts, but also offers insightful portraits of people who are the guardians of a culture that they – and we – hope will be passed on to future generations in all its glory. Nelson's large-plate eld camera captures every intricate detail and ne nuance for posterity. What's more, this splendid pageantry is set against a vivid backdrop of some of the world's most pristine landscapes’.
Rituals and coutumes in the European slave trade on Madagascar in the 17th and 18th centuries
Authors: Thiébaut Rafaël
Published: February 2018

In this text, we will retrace the commercial interactions linked to the slave trade between Europeans and Malagasy in the 17th and 18th centuries. As is often the case, this commerce was much more than a simple exchange of products, it can be termed a ritual, created by Malagasy sovereigns to which the Dutch and French merchants had to adhere. This ranged from presenting courtesy gifts up to the delivery of oral and written venerations, and represented an important cofirmation of power. The monarch often kept the upper hand over the Europeans who found themselves on hostile terrain, though the latter were not completely stripped of power as they effectively controlled the volume of this external commerce. Key words: slave trade, Indian Ocean World, local sovereignty, history of Madagascar, European companies
Epidemiology of tsetse flies and trypanosomes with a case study in Ethiopia
Authors: Abdi Reta Duguma
Published: February 2018

The aim of this study was to quantify the abundance of tsetse ies using traditional traps and using anti-tsetse saliva ELISA test and the trypanosome infection prevalence in the tsetse ies and cattle. An area-wide tsetse fly and cattle trypanosomosis survey was conducted in Ethiopia. Groups of mice and pigs were experimentally exposed to G. m. morsitans bite to develop total saliva and rTsal ELISA tests that are capable to detect and monitor the induced anti-saliva antibodies of tsetse following host exposure to tsetse bite. A meta-analysis was conducted on prevalence of trypanosome infection in tsetse flies in the field or in laboratory-controlled conditions. Published information available since 1950s was reviewed. The findings indicated that tsetse ies and trypanosome infections of cattle are widely distributed in Ethiopia and their abundance is affected by spatial factors such as altitude, river drainage system, local factors at PA level (presence of game reserves and land use/encroachment). There was no significant association between tsetse density and prevalence of trypanosomes in cattle. Total tsetse saliva and recombinant Tsal1 protein coated indirect ELISA are sensitive immunological probes to detect contact with tsetse flies. The new serological test at hand is a sensitive indicator that can differentiate regimens of tsetse y bites (various degree of exposure of animals) and that can also detect tsetse fly bite after a prolonged period without exposure. The overall prevalence of trypanosome infection in tsetse fly populations was 10.3% and 31.0% for the eld survey data and laboratory experiment data, respectively. Both spatial (country) and temporal (year of pub- lication) variation are noticed in trypanosome infection prevalence of eld collected tsetse flies. The lack of association between tsetse density and prevalence of trypanosomes in cattle needs further investigation on the role of Tabanus and Stomoxys for mechanical trypanosome transmission. Due to the ongoing interventions, the vector could decline to a low level beyond the fly catching capacity by traps. The current serological ELISA test could be an important surveil- lance tool with sensitive diagnostic value. Key words: cattle trypanosomosis, tsetse fly abundance, tsetse infections, tsetse monitoring tools
Introduction of HPV vaccination in Kenya
Authors: Vermandere Heleen
Published: February 2018

HPV vaccination prevents cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. Measured HPV vaccine acceptability is often high but does it also lead to high uptake? Methodology: A cohort was set up assessing HPV vaccine acceptability and other health behav- iour constructs before, and vaccine uptake after an HPV vaccination programme in Eldoret, Kenya. Focus groups shed light on the motivation for vaccine uptake or refusal. Results: Acceptability was high but was no strong predictor of uptake, and neither were the constructs of the Health Belief Model. Lack of information and fear of side effects were major barriers. Feeling uncomfortable to discuss cervical cancer hampered open communication. Discussion: Distrust towards new vaccines and the health system blocked translation from willingness-to-vaccinate to actual uptake, as did organizational factors such as poor promotion. Conclusion: Future research should include broader concepts such as vaccine hesitancy and factors beyond personal control in order to predict vaccine uptake. Key words: HPV vaccination, acceptability, uptake, longitudinal study, Kenya
Marie. Overleven met de dood
Authors: Van Damme Patrick
Published: February 2018

This book brings us the story of Marie, who was a young girl when the Rwanda genocide crisis broke out in 1994. The book is the result of a number of conversations between Marie and Peter Verlinden, the main co-author. The work is a very personal and personalised account of what happened on and after April 6. It starts with the internal flight, within Rwanda, and the journey to the Congolese rainforest, starting in October 1996. This was the moment when the refugee camps in eastern Congo were attacked by the Rwanda army of president Paul Kagame. It has been documented that his soldiers chased down and killed the majority of refugees, numbering more than 200,000 according to a report by the United Nations. According to survivors and other eye witnesses the actual number was probably double that.
Abadaringi. Jeroen Janssen Oogachtend, Leuven, 2015
Authors: Van Damme Patrick
Published: February 2018

Abadaringi is a so-called graphic novel that relates the dramatic events of the 1994 Rwandan genocide through the eyes of both the author and his former students. Before the events Janssen taught in an Arts School in Nyundo. He returned 20 years later to meet ceux de l’Ecole d’Art (which is the meaning of Abadaringi). Using his discussions with them he reconstructs an idiosyncratic history. His respondents do not accuse, they remain sympathetic and open. Janssen clearly does not want to tell us who was right or wrong. Rather, he tries to bring us back to the Rwanda he knew. What results is a (literally) colourful set of testimonies, set in, we might say, 50 shades of green. Don’t expect a profound analysis, but do appreciate his story-telling skills. And if it is the ‘truth’ you seek (which truth ? whose truth ?) then turn to serious non-fiction literature or documentaries . A ‘nice’ read in an unusual format !
Cowpea (Vigna Unguiculata (L.) Walp.): Traditional and improved Cropping Methods in northern Nigeria
Authors: Sampers Wim , Van Damme Patrick , Pauwels Frans
Published: February 2018

The present article describes the traditional cowpea cropping system in Dambatta, Kano State, Nigeria. Through a baseline survey it becomes clear that traditionally cowpea is mostly intercropped with cereals, that the importance of land preparation is marginal, that yields are low and that, in general, the technical level of the cowpea grower is low (low inputs of fertilizer and pesticide). In a second part some data are given about a project that introduced a new cowpea variety, T.V.X.-3.236, and improved methods. It is shown that, although better yields are possible, the extension service does not succeed in motivating the farmers enough so that the outcome of the project intervention is uncertain.KEYWORDS : Vigna unguiculata, cowpea, Nigeria, extension.
Belgian Missionaries in Central Africa, at the End of the 19th and in the 20th Century. Evangelization: not a World apart
Authors: Blondeel William
Published: February 2018

This contribution is an attempt to define in rather general terms the field in which Belgian catholic missionaries were active in Central Africa at the end of the 19th and in the 20th century. It is not an acceptable synthesis, but rather a "tour d'horizon". The image of the missionary is examined as a consistent whole as well as in its different aspects, such as teacher, medical agent, social worker and researcher. The relation between the mission on the one hand and the whole community life on the other appears as a central issue. KEYWORDS : Belgian catholic missions, (Belgian) Congo, Ruanda- Urundi.
Exotic Man as seen in the French Language Editions of Belgian Geography Handbooks
Authors: Vincke Edouard
Published: February 2018

A critical study of geography handbooks for schools dating back to 1880, and centred on one aspect at human geography: physical variety and cultural differences. The author retraces the portrait of "the other man" as this has been presented to pupils. The handbooks express a very ethnocentric discourse, marked by determinism and social evolutionism. Large sections of the text are nothing else than justifications of colonialism in Central Africa. Darwinian theory on evolution has not been taken into account as an explanation of the diversity in humankind, the latter having been considered only under the angle of "race".
The Conflict of the Western Sahara: a Wall of Sand and a Wall of Silence
Authors: Cordier Geert
Published: February 2018

For more than a decade the Saharawi people have been fighting for their independence, first against the Spanish colonialists then against Morocco and Mauretania. Although Mauretania has withdrawn from the conflict, the POLISARIO-front, the liberation organisation of the Saharawi people, remains at war with Morocco. The Western Sahara, thus still forms a pole of tension in Northern Africa but the European Press does not pay it much attention. However committees to support the Saharawi people have been trying to break down this wall of silence. An "intergroupe de solidarité avec le peuple sahraoui", set up in the European parliament in May 1986, may constitute a major step towards mobilizing public opinion on the Saharawi case. This article, which gives a chronology of the conflict in its regional context, seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the problems of the Saharawi. KEYWORDS : liberation war, Morocco, occupation, POLISARIO, Western Sahara
Female genital cutting and the politics of Islamicate practices in Egypt: debating development and the religious/ secular divide
Authors: Van Raemdonck An
Published: February 2018

My PhD dissertation examined discourses on Female Genital Cutting (FGC) in contemporary Egypt, particularly concerning the relation between FGC and religion. FGC is practiced by both Muslims and Christians and Egypt is among the countries with the highest prevalence rates. Through ethnographic research, the study analysed the vernacularization of transnational activism as an important intervention into local cultural and social debates on gender, sexuality and family norms, in addition to understandings of Islam, Muslim-Christian relations and concepts of race, nation and progress. I argue that FGC is best characterized as an Islamicate practice. A narrow, reifying conceptualization of religion precludes lived understandings of the relation of FGC to Islam and subsequently, precludes more profound social and cultural debate on gendered practices. Key words: FGC, religion, Islam, Egypt, critical development studies
As the body must appear: contemporary performances in post-Marikana South Africa
Authors: De Smet Sofie , Breyne Marieke
Published: February 2018

On the 16th of August 2012 34 Lonmin miners lost their lives at Marikana in South Africa. Marikana bears witness to the socio-economic inequality and precarious work and living conditions in South Africa’s new globalized state. Two site-specific contemporary performances Mari and Kana (2015) and Iqhiya Emnyama (The black cloth, 2015) voice this sad event in a remarkable way. In this article we critically reflect on the performances’ avenues of creating transformative encounters between performers, spectators and the performance sites in South African society. Both performances invoke for the audience members a remarkable awareness of the performance site as the spectator is obliged to navigate him- or herself in a politically induced public landscape in Cape Town’s Company Garden. We concur that Mari and Kana and Iqhiya Emnyama both elicit a profound reflection on the daily life struggle of mourning women against inhumanity and socio-economic inequality in a neoliberal South Africa. Unsettling the dominant focus on resilient subjects, the omnipresence of women’s vulnerability in the two performances nurtures a rethinking process on structural justice. In doing so, we more closely analyse the performances’ intention to subvert the constructed category of ‘the mourning South African woman’ via multiple representations of mourning precedents as cultural elements. We conclude that both performances entail unique driving forces that question existing power systems that impact on SA and the problematic structural injustice at the heart of the massacre. Key words: Marikana, South Africa, Infecting the City, performance, gender inequality, neoliberalism, widowhood
The Media Appeals Tribunal and the Protection of Information Bill as challenges to freedom of expression and good governance in South Africa
Authors: Thomas Marie Kristie Tania
Published: February 2018

This paper examines the Media Appeals Tribunal (MAT) and the Protection of Information Bill (PIB) as potential challenges to freedom of expression and good governance in South Africa. The modus operandi and the objectives of MAT and PIB are presented and examined to indicate whether these may act as threats to freedom of expression and good governance. This paper uses information obtained from academic articles, the South African Constitution, legislative documents, news articles as well as African and international reports. This research finds that if MAT and PIB are passed as laws without substantial amendments in favour of the genuine respect for freedom of media and press, they will potentially lead to the regression of both freedom of expression and good governance and above all, threaten democracy in South Africa. Key words: Media Appeals Tribunal, Protection of Information Bill, freedom of expression, good governance, democracy, South Africa
Alternative Energy-sources to replace Wood and Coal in Africa
Authors: Baert Daniel , Bangurambona Bonaventure , Kuyken Hugo
Published: February 2018

In the article, the possibility of the use of alternative energy sources (a.e.) in Africa is discussed. The authors give some criteria which have to be fulfilled before a.e. sources can succesfully be applicated. KEYWORDS: alternative energy sources, cooking, heating, photovoltaic generators, refrigeration.
Wole Soyinka. The Profile of a Nobel Prize Winner.
Authors: Vermeulen Julien
Published: February 2018

It is always difficult to define exactly why a particular author has been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature. This approach will deal with four different aspects which may have contributed to Wole Soyinka's. award. It cannot be denied that Soyinka is the author of an extensive and richly varied work, which has been appreciated by critics the world over. Especially the satirical qualities of his style have been praised on many occasions. But we have to focus our attention on two other important aspects. We can only achieve a full understanding of Soyinka's dramas when we interpret them against the background of Yoruba drama and Yoruba cultural tradition. And we can only appreciate Soyinka's work if we pay attention to the social context in which it is situated. This political commitment, as well as the international reputation Soyinka has helped to create as a director and an actor, are essential elements that have contributed to this Nobel Prize award. KEYWORDS : African literature in English, Nobel Prize, Wole Soyinka
The Realization of the Constitutional Guidelines for a Democratic South Africa
Authors: Pekane Ted , Reyntjens Filip
Published: February 2018

Africa Focus publishes a Dutch translation of the "constitutional guidelines for a democratic South Africa", adopted in March 1988 at Lusaka, by the African National congress (ANC), together with a preface (by F.Reyntjens) and an extensive introduction written by Ted Pekane, member of the constitutional committee of the ANC, about the drafting of this important text. In the preface is referred to the political signification of a constitutional text in Africa today and to the more pragmatic content of the guidelines, compared to the Freedom Charter of 1955. T. Pekane explains the external factors that contributed to the drafting of the guidelines. He also points out the dangers of the "acceptable" models of constitution for the post-Apartheid period advanced by internal and external forces : a lot of those models are discreet options for a status-quo. KEYWORDS : African National Congress, constitution, politics, South Africa
Integrated Development Project Identification an Follow-Up Methods (Dapaong, Northern Togo)
Authors: Counet Myriam , Van Damme Patrick
Published: February 2018

The article treats the methodological aspects of the creation of a Vredeseilanden (Flemish N.G.O., "Islands of Peace") project through an example in Dapaong, northern Togo. The philosophy of Vredeseilanden and problematics of the region are presented in the introduction. Interventions were defined through an active participation of the target group during a so-called active listening phase. This participatory approach is also used when evaluating project interventions.KEY WORDS : Identification, integrated development, feasibility study, cereal banks, evaluation, participatory approach.
Traditional Uses of Euphorbia Tirucalli
Authors: Van Damme Patrick
Published: February 2018

This article reviews the traditional uses of E. tirucalli. This succulent latex plant, although originating from southern Africa, is now growing as a hedge plant in tropical and subtropical regions all over the world. Its special chemical properties have induced people to use it as a source of poison against bacteria, amoebas, nematodes, insects, fish, birds and mammals. Its medicinal use has also been recorded in a wide variety of settings. In a few cases, the latex has been used for the production of varnish and paint. KEY WORDS: ethnobotany, latex, rubber, poisonous plants
Conceptions of Time and Time Experience. A problem in Intercultural Communication. Case-Study: Rwanda
Authors: Cammaer Gerda
Published: February 2018

The confrontation between people from different cultures causes a lot of problems, most of all communication problems. They are too often considered as only langu- age-problems, but the so-called "cultural-shock" is a lot more comprehensive. Reducing any cultural problem to language troubles, means ignoring the non-verbal and other cultural principles that make cultures so rich and different. The experience of time and the concepts of time are such principles, rooted in culture and traditions. For the members of the culture in question, these time-principles have become so natural that they remain unexperienced or even unconscious, but they might surprise, even irritate, the members of other cultures. The scientific discipline called "chronemics" examines how humans perceive, structure and use time as communication. Every culture has its own conception of time and its own customs for the use of time. In this sense the Western culture is totally different from the Central African culture in Rwanda. This often causes intercultural conflicts when Europeans working in Rwanda are confronted with the different attitudes towards time of the Rwandese people and vice versa. The purpose of this research is to find an answer to the question whether the intercultural communication between Rwandese people and Europeans (sometimes, often, always) is disturbed because of misunderstandings caused by the differences in their time-codes. This survey contains two parts: first, a literature study on intercultural communication and time as a message system with references to the two cultures in question and second, a field study in Rwanda consisting of 120 questionnaires answered by Europeans and Rwandese people who work together.KEY WORDS: chronemics, communication science, intercultural communication, formal time, informal time, Rwanda
Promotion of Total Castration in the Ram of the Far North Cameroon: an Example of a not Justified Promotion of a Technology
Authors: Thys Eric
Published: February 2018

The problem of a not justified promotion of a technique is explained through the example of the total castration in sheep in a sahelo-soudanian area of Africa. The actual situation of the total castration in sheep and the influence on some zootechnical parameters are studied in the far north of Cameroon. No benefit of this promotion has been observed in the local socio-economical environment. More emphasis has to be laid on the improvement of feeding and on a better flock management. In regard to the better understanding of problems in livestock extension, a multidisciplinary approach is recommended. KEY WORDS: castration, meat production, multidisciplinarity, sahelo-soudanian Africa, sheep, transfer of technology, zootechny
A Survey of Kiswahili Literature: 1970-1988
Authors: Mulokozi Mugyabuso M.
Published: February 2018

A survey is given of the development of Kiswahili written literature during the past two decades. Particular attention is given to (a) the rise of the socially critical literature, (b) the emergence of experimental forms of literature, (c) the growing popularity of pop'fiction, (d) the continued development of the nationalistic-cum- cultural novel and (e) the quantitative and qualitative growth of Kiswahili translations. All this is placed against the background of East-African cultural and political developments since Independence.KEY WORDS: Tanzania, Swahili, literature (poetry, drama, fiction), East African historical and political development
The 'Ancient' Rwanda Photo-Documentation in the Museum of Tervuren
Authors: Creemers-Palmers Magda
Published: February 2018

In september 1989 the 'Musée national du Rwanda' was inaugurated in Butare (Rwanda). Construction and arrangement of the Museum were completed by the 'Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale' of Tervuren. For this occasion, Tervuren started to collect an 'ancient' photo-documentation of Rwanda, to supply the new Rwanda-Museum with pictorial sources.Public as well as some private collections were gathered so that a final selection could be done. Up till now this photo-documentation is still kept in the Museum of Tervuren. For the sake of the historical research about Rwanda, our final purpose is, in co-operation with the Rwanda-Museum, to complete and to gather as much the photographic evidence as possible. Moreover, these sources need to be identified and described; only future and elaborated research will reveal more data about this important photographic documentation. KEY WORDS: African photo-history, photography, 'Musée national du Rwanda' (Butare), 'Musée royal de l'Afrique centrale'(Tervuren), photo-documentation, Rwanda
Ethnicity, Food, and Politics: the Example of the Yasa in the Cameroonian South Province
Authors: Ndonko Flavien Tiokou
Published: February 2018

In Cameroon, ethnicity is present in food as well as in anthroponymy. Neighbou- ring populations use it to auto-identify themselves and to indicate their spatial settlement. The 'leaves'eaters', the 'crabs'eaters' and the '"fruits de l'arbre à pain"-eaters' live together in peace on the Coast of the country by assuming their ethnicity. They even take over new political and administrative structures as guide mark in self presentation. Even the political power who officially tries to 'erase' ethnicity is not able to compose without it. Ethnicity has become a political strategy and is being mobilized or demobilized to balance or control the power. KEY WORDS: Ethnicity, food, politics, space, stereotype
On growth habits and forms: the utility of stem anatomy to define growth habits of Melastomataceae
Authors: Naranjo Vásquez Juan Pablo , Torres Mauricio , Quijano Mario Alberto
Published: February 2018

Background and Aims: The growth habit is a character commonly used in taxonomic descriptions of plants and one of the first to be taught to students of plant morphology. Defining growth habits has turned into a complex matter due to the proliferation of terms. By definition, some habits can be distinguished by plant stem anatomy, but there are actually few studies that evaluate this correspondence. The family Melastomataceae is an excellent group to investigate how stem anatomy varies among plants with contrasting growth habits because it shows considerable variation in growth habits and stem anatomy. In this study, we analyzed whether stem anatomy characteristics vary consistently across growth habits in species of Melastomataceae.Methods: Eighteen species of Melastomataceae were collected in different Colombian ecosystems. Observation of 125 stem anatomy characters was performed on fixed internode slices, which were cut by freehand in transverse, radial longitudinal, and tangential planes. We used as a prior a classification of growth habits that we consolidated from a literature review, aiming to reconcile multiple schemes of classification of habits across vascular plants.Key results: Few anatomical characteristics were shared exclusively by species of one particular growth habit. Therefore, the Melastomataceae species analyzed here could be grouped in three general growth habits: trees/shrubs, herbaceous, and climbers.Conclusions: Many of the current definitions of growth habits are a mixture of different topics including ecology, specimen size, and the presence of specialized organs. For the concept of growth habits to be useful, it should be avoided to elevate ranges of size, habitats, or specific functional morphology adaptations to the generalized category of growth habits.
Tratamiento taxonómico de la tribu Mutisieae (Asteraceae) en México
Authors: Redonda Martínez Rosario
Published: February 2018

Antecedentes y Objetivos: La tribu Mutisieae incluye 14 géneros y alrededor de 200 especies que se distribuyen principalmente en Sudamérica; agrupa varios taxones de asteráceas con corolas bilabiadas y cabezuelas heterógamas que contienen flores trimórficas o dimórficas. El objetivo de este trabajo es presentar un tratamiento taxonómico actualizado de la tribu en México.Métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de trabajos taxonómicos de los géneros de Mutisieae presentes en México, se consultaron colecciones físicas y en línea de diversos herbarios, y portales electrónicos con la finalidad de generar la lista de especies mexicanas, claves de identificación y descripciones de los miembros mexicanos de esta tribu.Resultados clave: En México, la tribu Mutisieae incluye cuatro géneros y 16 especies, de las cuales nueve son endémicas. Chaptalia es el más diverso con 12, seguido de Leibnitzia con dos, mientras que Adenocaulon y Gerbera están representados por un taxon cada uno.Conclusiones: La riqueza específica de Mutisieae en México es baja; sin embargo, el endemismo es considerable dado que los nueve taxones con distribución restringida al país representan 56.25% del total de las Mutisieae mexicanas. Las 12 especies de Chaptalia equivalen a 30% del género; los siete taxones endémicos corresponden a 58.33% de la diversidad de la tribu, que ocurre en el territorio nacional.
Notothylas javanica (Anthocerotophyta: Notothyladaceae): nuevo registro para la brioflora de México
Authors: Escolástico-Ortiz Dennis Alejandro , Juárez-Martínez Catalina
Published: February 2018

Antecedentes y Objetivos: En México, los registros del género Notothylas se limitan a escasos reportes en la literatura y ejemplares de herbario. En este estudio, Notothylas javanica se reporta por primera vez para México.Métodos: Se examinaron los caracteres morfológicos de Notothylas javanica utilizando los microscopios estereoscópico, óptico y electrónico de barrido. Los ejemplares recolectados se depositaron en MEXU.Resultados clave: Se presenta la descripción, ilustración y datos ecológicos de la especie. Se discuten las diferencias y similitudes con las otras especies de Notothylas registradas para México. Adicionalmente, se presenta una clave para la determinación de las especies mexicanas de Notothylas.Conclusiones: La información disponible para Notothylas sugiere la presencia de al menos tres especies en México. A fin de incrementar el conocimiento del género en este país, se recomienda explorar zonas clave y, además, realizar estudios que permitan conocer su diversidad, ecología y distribución geográfica.
Hawking Irreversibility and Socio-Economic Determinism
Authors: Lane Jan-Erik , Dieterlen Florent
Published: February 2018

Physicist Stephen Hawking has suggested that climate changes is about to become unstoppable. One may introduce a concept of Hawking irreversibility as the point where temperature has risen so much that the global warming consequences threaten the survival of mankind. The recent news out of China that its CO2s are increasing again makes this term highly policy relevant. Moreover, the methane emissions have started to augment, which also calls up Hawking irreversibility. The drive behind these dire developments is the endless zest for affluence and wealth, fueled by ever larger energy consumption.