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Nachdem der erste große Krieg der Moderne Ende Juli 1914 seinen Anfang genommen hatte und innerhalb weniger Monate immer mehr Nationen in ein Kampfgeschehen von bis dahin unerreichtem Ausmaß eingetreten waren, ließ es sich – so wird in ausgewählten Puppenspielen der Zeit berichtet – alsbald auch ein altbekannter Spaßmacher und berühmtberüchtigter Spitzbub nicht nehmen, im weltumspannenden Kriegsgetümmel mitzumischen. Mit dem Kasper(l) unserer Tage, der wohl in vielen Menschen kraft seiner herzerwärmenden Kindlichkeit und seiner schalkhaften Harmlosigkeit Assoziationen an die eigene Kindheit hervorruft, hat der Lustigmacher des Ersten Weltkriegs wenig gemeinsam. Vorausgeschickt sei an dieser Stelle ein wesentlicher Aspekt: beim Kriegskasper(l) der Jahre 1914 bis 1918 handelt es sich nicht um eine für ein Kinderpublikum konzipierte Figur. In weiterer Folge differieren beispielsweise die Inhalte, die Figurenkonzeption oder die Darstellungsmittel in erheblicher, ja mitunter frappierender Weise von dem, was der unbedarfte Rezipient von heute sich vermutlich von einem Kasper(l)theater erwarten würde. Zum Gegenstand wissenschaftlicher Forschungen wurde der Spaßmacher des Ersten Weltkriegs allerdings äußerst selten erklärt: Sowohl die Literatur-, die Theater- und die Sprachwissenschaften als auch die historisch-volkskundlichen Disziplinen schenkten diesem Randphänomen des Literatur- und Kulturbetriebs bisher spärlich Beachtung. [...] Programm und zugleich Ziel dieser Masterarbeit ist eine Annäherung an das Phänomen des Kasper(l)s der Weltkriegszeit auf mehreren Ebenen unter Rückgriff auf ein interdisziplinäres Instrumentarium, wobei der philologische Zugang zu den Primärtexten durch die zusätzliche Einbeziehung sozialhistorischer wie auch soziologischer Theorien und Methoden maßgeblich bereichert werden kann. Diese fächerübergreifende Herangehensweise wurde gewählt, da die Kasper(l)stücke der Weltkriegsjahre 1914 bis 1918 eine Fülle von Anspielungen auf politische Ereignisse und soziale Zustände in sich bergen wie auch auf ihre sehr spezifische Weise die Gesellschaft bzw. die nationale Gemeinschaft der damaligen Zeit samt ihren Charakteristika, Anforderungen und Problemen widerspiegeln.
An analysis of natural resources in the Central African Republic has shown that the country has a strong national potential and a diversified ecosystem. However, the economy has drastically deteriorated over the years owing to mismanagement. As a result, people's welfare has become increasingly critical, reaching now the level of what can be called 'acute misery'. While studying issues of governance and the stabilisation of the economic system, this book pays a special attention to the analysis of the structural and contextual evolution of the economy of the Central African Republic. The study is a longitudinal assessment of the acts and undertakings spanning from the colonial times through 2003. A consideration of which tool to use to reach a particular economic goal requires, first and foremost, asking the question: 'If the goal is reached, are we capable of stabilizing the system?' This book is written as a guide for political decision making and a rational basis for economic policy making, through its analysis of the possible implications of instruments of target-oriented economic policy, the possible usage of rare resources, the costs of particular decisions, the sacrifice incurred by particular choices, etc. The major concern is about what the economist can bring in to prevent blind decision making: what rules can decision makers put in place to improve living conditions in the community.
There is a dearth of well researched books on important disciplines in law written by Cameroonians. This regrettable situation has invariably meant a reliance of substantive and practice books written mostly by Nigerian and English writers. While books written by these writers have been helpful, they have not always captured the peculiarities and judicial attitudes of the Cameroonian context. When approached from the perspective of practice in the Anglophone regions, not even Cameroonian writers of French orientation have done justice to this situation. This book contributes to filling this gap. It is a comprehensive review that combines an analysis of the principles and basic procedure of labour law in Cameroon. Yanou draws on solid academic research as well as a wide ranging experience in legal practice across Cameroon and Nigeria to present a coherent and practical elaboration of themes such as employment, dismissal, remedies for wrongful dismissal, compensation for industrial injuries, and trade unions. The book is also motivated by the desire for a repository for members of the Bar and Bench, judges, academics, students and human resources practitioners.
This thesis examines three made-for-television ‘Event Movies’ from the German production company teamWorx, made between 2006 and 2007 – Dresden (2006), Nicht alle waren Mörder (2006) and Die Flucht (2007) – within the context of contemporary debates of ‘Vergangenheitsbewältigung’ or ‘coming to terms with the past’ in Germany. It will deal with specific debates in memory of the National Socialist past, namely representations of Germans as victims of the Second World War and memory of the Holocaust. Although in recent years the importance of teamWorx’s television films has begun to be acknowledged by scholars in both Germany and the UK, this thesis represents the first attempt to analyse these three Event Movies as a unit and to explore in-depth the teamWorx company and its attitudes to historical film. As such, two interviews will be relied on throughout this thesis, with chairman of the board Nico Hofmann and Die Flucht’s director Kai Wessel. In order to place the films within the context of contemporary debates on memory of the Nazi past in Germany, the thesis will undertake a filmic analysis of the Event Movies, supported by both the intentions of the filmmakers and critical responses in the contemporary press. Of primary importance for the thesis will be the twin concerns of the authenticity of teamWorx’s productions, as claimed by the filmmakers and the Event Movies’ borrowing of filmmaking devices from Hollywood genres, in particular the melodrama. Following this analysis it will be asked to what extent the Event Movies affect and reflect contemporary debates on the legacy of National Socialism and how these films contribute to the normalisation of the Nazi past in Germany.
This posthumous publication is a collection of essays some of which are based on the author's research work while others record her thoughts on issues she regarded as important. The materials, which were written between 1991 and 1996, cover a range of subjects that have been tied together under the theme of women, law and justice in Uganda. They represent the author's central concerns, interests and views as they developed over the years.
I would like to start off my cultural-historical intervention with a trouvaille from the 'Denktagebuch', a sort of intellectual notebook, of Hannah Arendt, the famous German-Jewish philosopher (1906–1975). Arendt's publications include a most profound book on the 'Human Condition' (1958, in German 'Vita activa', 1960) in which she develops the idea of 'acting / Handlung' as the crucial realm of intersubjectivity and humanity. This realm is based in the space between human beings, a literal 'inter-est' of togetherness. It is only in this space, only in the relationship to others, that the full sense of the Self, including the involuntary expressions of the person, manifests itself. It is the same realm in which the moral, social and political life is created. In the notebook of the 44-year-old Arendt one comes across the following entry: "In nichts offenbart sich die eigentümliche Vieldeutigkeit der Sprache [...] deutlicher als in der Metapher. So habe ich zum Beispiel ein Leben lang die Metapher 'es öffnet sich mir das Herz' benutzt, ohne je die dazu gehörende physische Sensation erfahren zu haben. Erst seit ich die physische Sensation kenne, weiss ich, wie oft ich gelogen habe [...]. Wie aber hätte ich je die Wahrheit der physischen Sensation erfahren, wenn die Sprache mit ihrer Metapher mir nicht bereits eine Ahnung von der Bedeutsamkeit des Vorgangs gegeben hätte?" (Notebook II, 22 December 1950, Arendt 2002, 46) The entry discusses the mutual transferral between mind and body by reflecting the role of language as a mediator for minding the body and the embodiment of the mind. Since the phrase of the 'open heart' belongs to a register of long-established metaphors, these reflections concern the comprehension of body-metaphors and their role for a 'shared meaningful space of experiences' (Gallese 2009a, 527), i.e. language as transmitter of experiences and memory in cultural history.
Within the Walls of Hell
(2011)
The Land of Eternal Discomfort is a place where no one wants to go. It is hot and dirty. One is sure to experience depression once there and sleep is a luxury no longer attainable in that place. Unbelievable though it may seem one enters the Land of Eternal Discomfort by choice. It is a place destined for those who did not live a righteous life according to the Creator. The kind of life one lives down below determines where they go thereafter. For the seven characters in this play, the love of power and the hatred for those different and inferior to themselves leads them to choose a life of luxury gained through deceit, theft, adultery and murder. Against all the Creator's commands, they chose to live lives of self-gratification ignoring their obligations to their fellow man. The choice they made was for their lives down there but they will forever live with the consequences in their lives thereafter. Life down there does not last forever and the characters are destined to meet the Messenger at which time the choice will have already been made. When you finally meet the Messenger, pray that he is ushering you into the Land of Eternal Happiness because in the other place you are doomed forever. In the Land of Eternal Discomfort the gate can only open to let someone in. It cannot open to let anyone out. Once you are in there you can never get out again.
The Weeping Triangle
(2011)
The Weeping Triangle portrays a country that has been overtaken by corruption. This country had been awarded the most corrupt country in the world two times in a row and a third time is increasingly likely. In a world where money talks and violence is a way of life, most people succumb to the way things are lest they become victims of the system. Smith, however, is one of a kind. As a teacher entrusted with the lives of his students, Smith sees the need to curb the current direction of his country. Frustrated with the way things are, curious as to how things got so bad and motivated to make a change for the better, he stands out among the rest determined to make a difference no matter how small. Branded a fool for his bravery and incessant inquisitiveness, Smith stands up to those in authority; most of whom are bound by corruption. He refuses to partake in this illegal way of life. Encouraging his friends and anyone else to do the same proves difficult but does not deter his intentions. What hope does one have in a country full of lies, secrets, deceptions and bribery? The Weeping Triangle takes you through the journey of Smith and his friends making the most of what little hope there is.
Mit Beginn des Aufschwungs und der Zunahme der Beschäftigung veränderten sich in Rheinland-Pfalz die verschiedenen atypischen Beschäftigungsverhältnisse in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß. Die Leiharbeit, die während der Krise einen Einbruch verzeichnete, erreichte bis Mitte 2010 fast wieder ihren Rekordwert, den sie vor der Wirtschaftskrise erzielt hatte. Der ansteigende Trend der Leiharbeit setzt sich somit weiter fort. Gemessen an den Gesamtbeschäftigten spielt sie jedoch bislang eine geringe Rolle.
Drei Viertel aller Leiharbeitskräfte werden im Produzierenden Gewerbe eingesetzt. Die wichtigsten Gründe für den Einsatz von Leiharbeit sind weiterhin die voraussichtlich geringe Dauer des Einsatzes sowie die schnelle Verfügbarkeit der Arbeitskräfte. Andere Gründe, die zu einem längerfristigen Verbleib in der Leiharbeit führen können, vor allem die Vermeidung von Kosten für den Aufwand von Personalakquise und Trennung, sind jedoch ebenfalls von Bedeutung. Auf geringfügige Beschäftigung griffen Betriebe ebenfalls in den vergangenen Jahren verstärkt zurück. Obwohl ihr Anteil an den Gesamtbeschäftigten nach einem Anstieg während der Krise mit Beginn des Aufschwungs stagnierte, zeigt sich im längerfristigen Trend ein langsamer, aber stetiger Anstieg der geringfügigen Beschäftigung. Trotz des leichten Anstiegs der Midi-Jobs seit 2005 offenbart die Entwicklung der Midi-Jobs insgesamt einen vergleichsweise konstanten Verlauf, der durch die Krise und den beginnenden Aufschwung kaum beeinflusst wurde. Obwohl zu erwarten gewesen wäre, dass sich Teilzeitjobs mit Zeitverlauf nur langsam verändern, da sie überwiegend von Frauen in Anspruch genommen werden, um Beruf und familiäre Verpflichtung in Einklang zu bringen, stieg der Anteil der Teilzeitbeschäftigten an den Gesamtbeschäftigten nach der Krise deutlich an. Seit dem Beginn des Panels in Rheinland-Pfalz fand somit ein langsamer und stetiger Anstieg der Teilzeitarbeit statt, dessen Ende nicht absehbar ist. Die befristete Beschäftigung, die durch einen Rückgang während der Krisen gekennzeichnet war, erreichte mit der Belebung der Konjunktur einen neuen Rekordwert. Der Trend einer anhaltend steigenden Befristung der Arbeitsverhältnisse scheint somit ungebrochen. Der beginnende konjunkturelle Aufschwung nach der Wirtschaftskrise zeichnet sich somit durch differenzierte Auswirkungen auf die verschiedenen atypischen Beschäftigungsformen aus. Sie gewinnen zunehmend an Bedeutung; das Normalarbeitsverhältnis steht jedoch weiter im Vordergrund.
Je nach Wirtschaftszweig und Betriebsgröße reagierten die Betriebe mit unterschiedlichen Kombinationen von Arbeitszeitinstrumenten, um ihre betriebliche Beschäftigungssituation an die konjunkturellen Veränderungen anzupassen. Betriebe des Verarbeitendes Gewerbes verringerten mit dem beginnenden Aufschwung ihre durchschnittliche Wochenarbeitszeit überdurchschnittlich. Der Anteil der Betriebe mit Kurzarbeit blieb mit Beginn des Aufschwungs unverändert.
Das Baugewerbe zeichnete sich dadurch aus, dass es den höchsten Anteil an Betrieben mit Überstunden im Jahr 2009 aufwies, was angesichts der konjunkturellen Förderprogramme nicht erstaunt. Darüber hinaus war in 85 Prozent der Betriebe die bedarfsabhängige Einbeziehung des Samstags als weiteres Flexibilisierungsinstrument üblich. Betriebe mit Vertrauensarbeitszeit verdreifachten sich fast innerhalb von zwei Jahren. Der Anteil der Betriebe mit Kurzarbeit verringerte sich bis Mitte 2010 im Baugewerbe am stärksten. Der Wirtschaftszweig Handel/ Reparatur stand 2009 bezüglich der geleisteten Überstunden an letzter Stelle. Der Anteil der Betriebe, der Arbeitszeitkonten einsetzte, verringerte sich in diesem Sektor zwischen 2009 und 2010 um 50Prozent. Weiterhin zeichnete sich diese Branche dadurch aus, dass in 68 Prozent der Betriebe ständig oder regelmäßig samstags gearbeitet wurde. Der Dienstleistungssektor zeichnete sich durch einen unterdurchschnittlich hohen Anteil an Betrieben mit Überstunden während der Krise aus. Die konjunkturelle Erholung führte dazu, dass der Dienstleistungssektor als einziger Wirtschaftszweig einen Anstieg der durchschnittlichen Wochenarbeitszeit verzeichnete. Gleichzeitig hatte die Vertrauensarbeitszeit in dieser Branche eine hohe Bedeutung. Der Anteil der Kleinst- und Kleinbetriebe, in denen Überstunden geleistet wurden, verringerte sich nur geringfügig während der Krise. In keiner anderen Betriebsgrößenklasse lag der Anteil der Beschäftigten, der Überstunden ausbezahlt bekam, so hoch wie in den Kleinstbetrieben. Die kleinen Betriebe (10 bis 49 Beschäftigte) verzeichneten den stärksten Rückgang bezüglich des Einsatzes von Arbeitszeitkonten im Jahr 2010. Bei den Kleinst- und Kleinbetrieben fand mit der wirtschaftlichen Erholung auch eine Erhöhung der durchschnittlichen Wochenarbeitszeit statt. Der Anteil der mittleren und großen Betriebe, in denen Überstunden geleistet wurden, verringerte sich überdurchschnittlich im Jahr 2009. Nach dem Ende der Krise reduzierten die mittleren und großen Betriebe, im Gegensatz zu den Kleinst- und Kleinbetrieben, ihre durchschnittliche Wochenarbeitszeit. Die Großbetriebe nutzten das breite Spektrum der Arbeitszeitsteuerungen, das von ständiger Samstagsarbeit bis zu Vertrauensarbeitszeit und Arbeitszeitkorridoren reicht. Der Anteil der Großbetriebe, der Kurzarbeit einsetzte, halbierte sich nahezu zwischen 2009 und 2010
Insgesamt zeigt sich für die Gesamtheit der Betriebe in Rheinland-Pfalz hinsichtlich der Einschätzung der Ertragslage eine positive Entwicklung. Seit Beginn des Panels schätzten die Betriebe in Rhein-land-Pfalz die Ertragslage nie so positiv ein wie 2010. Rund 44 Pro-zent der Betriebe beurteilten ihre Ertragslage als sehr gut oder gut. Dies ist ein Anstieg um 12 Prozentpunkte im Vergleich zum Krisen-jahr 2009. Am positivsten bewertete der Bausektor seine Ertragslage im Jahr 2010, was vor allem auf die Konjunkturprogramme zurückzuführen sein dürfte. Das Verarbeitende Gewerbe, das sich offensichtlich noch nicht ganz von der Krise erholt hat, beurteilte die Ertragslage am negativ-sten. Betriebe mit Stellenbesetzungsproblemen weisen vergleich-bare Werte wie die Gesamtheit der Betriebe auf. Hingegen liegt der Anteil der Betriebe ohne Stellenbesetzungsprobleme, der seine Ertrags-lage als sehr gut oder gut einstuft, mit 71 Prozent weit über dem Durch-schnitt.Somit belegt die Auswertung, dass auch im Bereich der Ge-schäftspolitik, der Innovation, der Investitionen sowie der Planungen in verschiedenen Bereichen sich die Betriebe ohne Stellenbesetzungs probleme durch ein größeres Engagement, eine stärkere Zukunfts orientierung und eine höhere Innovationskraft auszeichnen. Möglicher-weise tragen diese in ihrer Gesamtheit dazu bei, dass die erwarteten
Fachkräfteprobleme deutlich besser zu bewältigt werden.
Testamente fungieren als Mittler zwischen Vergangenheit und Zukunft. Sie organisieren Memoria und Nachleben, beeinflussen Verwandtschaftsordnungen und bestimmen deren Reproduktion, sie verursachen oder lösen rechtliche, familiale, ökonomische Konflikte. Insofern zählt das Testament zu den wichtigsten kulturellen Formen des geregelten Übergangs von Leben zu Leben, durch den Tod getrennt.
Ulrike Vedders Studie analysiert das Testament im Spannungsfeld von Recht, Ökonomie und Kultur sowie im Zusammenhang mit Konzepten von Erbschaft, Vererbung und Nachleben. Sie entwickelt eine Poetologie des Testaments anhand der Literatur des 19. Jahrhunderts (von Jean Paul, Kleist, E.T.A. Hoffmann, Balzac, Heine, Droste-Hülshoff, Stifter, Melville, Keller, Storm, Fontane, Zola, James u.a.) und erforscht zudem das Testament als eine Form der Übertragung von Eigentum, Dingen, Rechten, Identität, Schuld, Leidenschaften. Als ein Medium für weitreichende - literarische und außerliterarische - Erbe- und Transferprozesse bildet das Testament eine zentrale Figur der kulturellen Tradierung sowie des Austausches zwischen verschiedenen Wissensfeldern, zwischen Literatur, alltäglicher Praxis und Wissenschaften.
An increasing number of poor Southern Africans live in poverty-stricken urban slums or shantytowns. Focusing on four shantytowns in the northern Namibian town of Oshakati, this book analyses the coping strategies of the poorest sections of such populations. The study is based on fieldwork conducted intermittently during a period of ten years. It combines theories of political, economic and cultural structuration, and of the material and cultural basis for social relations of inclusion and exclusion as practise. The poorest shanty dwellers are marginalised or excluded from vital urban and rural relationships and forced into social relations of poverty amongst themselves. Having experienced long-term processes of impoverishment, the very poorest and most destitute in the shantytowns tend to give up improving their lives and act in ways that further undermine their position.
In this thought provoking book, Komla Tsey argues that if governments, NGOs, development donor agencies and researchers are serious about development in Africa, they need to get down to ground level, both metaphorically and literally. They must search deep into Africa's own rich oral traditions by creating space and opportunity for ordinary Africans, whose voices have so far been conspicuously absent in the development discourse, to tell and share their own stories of development. Story-sharing as research methodology acts as a mirror, reflecting the participants' self-evaluation of where they have come from, where they are now, and how to proceed into the future. They are strategies that can empower and enable individuals and communities of people to be agents of their own change which, in Tsey's view, is what development is all about.
This volume, from an Africa perspective, examines the relationship between ethnicity and citizenship within the framework of nation-state. Its objective and scope engage relational aspects of political integration, awaken public conscience, and motivate civic engagement. It provides a platform that could be considered prerequisite for political transformation. Such a framework is indispensable not only for challenging the politics of exclusion and marginalization, but also for reconstructing fractured social relationships. The test of its validity and relevancy is not whether it accounts for particular traditions, but whether it provides a framework through which we can comprehend the dynamics of ethnic identities as an avenue for promoting participatory governance and democratic accountability. An interdisciplinary study of this kind brings forth practical and theoretical contributions to the evolving concepts of ethnicity and citizenship.
No Trifling Matter : Contributions of an Uncompromising Critic to the Democratic Process in Cameroon
(2011)
No Trifling Matter is a collection of controversial, critical weekly commentary on the reluctance of a monolithic regime to yield to popular aspirations for democracy in Cameroon. In these essays written between 1990 and November 1992, Godfrey Tangwa, alias Rotcod Gobata, doesnt quibble. He comes across as a man of courage and resolve; one ready to swim upstream in a manner of a desperate midwife eager to prevent a still birth (in this case, of democracy). His column is as daring an embarrassment to Biyas démocratie avancée as the radio programme Cameroon Report (later Cameroon Calling), was to Presidents Ahidjo and Biya in the hey days of the parti unique. Rotcod Gobata believes the time has come for Cameroon to graduate from a country over milked by mediocrity and callous indifference, to the paradise that it was meant to be for the poor and downtrodden. In this regard, he belongs with that rare breed of intellectuals who are genuine in their pursuit of collective betterment, and who in consequence, have opted to distance themselves from the stomach and all its trappings. This position is to be commended and encouraged, especially in a system where explanation is often mistaken for subversion, a system where the stomach is about the only political path-finder - the sole compass in use, a country where the champions of falsehood want all at their beck and call, and where a handful of thirsting palates daily jostle to share with Count Dracula the blood of the common and forgotten. Rotcod Gobata wants the new Cameroon to be rid of the ills and failures of the past five decades that have made it impossible for Cameroonians in their millions to live productive and creative lives.
Older people in Tanzania are disadvantaged and marginalized in many ways. They lack adequate formal social protection. They also suffer from diminishing family and community support. They face a series of multi-faceted problems and care for most AIDS-orphans, yet they are a much neglected target group in national social policy and international development programs. This book provides a theoretical discussion of ageing issues and their linkage to social protection. It depicts various policy frameworks at international, Pan-African and national level. And it provides extensive empirical findings on older people's living conditions.
Mit dem wachsenden Interesse für die Vorgänge des Lebendigen im 19. Jahrhundert rückten auch subjektive Erfahrungen in den Bereich lebenswissenschaftlicher Forschung. Damit wurde nicht zuletzt die Frage nach der adäquaten Perspektive virulent, von der aus sich ein Wissen über diese Innerlichkeiten generieren ließe. Das Buch nimmt in drei Fallstudien das neurologische Selbstexperiment Henry Heads, Jacques-Joseph Moreau de Tours' psychiatrische Versuche, den Wahnsinn mit Haschisch zu modellieren, und Benjamin Paul Bloods philosophisch ambitionierten Lachgaskonsum in den Blick, deren Protagonisten sich allesamt dafür entschieden die Innenperspektive einzunehmen und an sich selbst zu experimentieren.
Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam is a multicultural province within a multicultural state. Hence, its political leaders not only face the need to integrate ethnic and cultural diversity into a regional framework, but also have to define Aceh’s role within the Indonesian nation. During its violent past which was characterized by exploitation and military oppression, there were good reasons to emphasize sameness over diversity and to build up the consciousness of a unified Acehnese identity. From both an emic and an etic perspective, it is today widely accepted that there is such a thing as a homogeneous Acehnese culture which is rooted in a glorious, though troublesome, history of repression and rebellion and shaped by a strong Islamic piety. Even if it is true that Acehnese history has created a strong regional identity, it must not be forgotten that people living in this area belong to various ethnic and cultural groups and that they represent a rich variety of different cultures rather than simply a single homogeneous culture. As a matter of fact, the practises and discourses of Islam here also vary depending on the cultural background of the people. As elsewhere in Indonesia and beyond, world religions have to adapt to local customs, have to be appropriated by the local people, and have to be indigenized. This is the reason why adat still continues to play a role in every local context, even if it has been treated with suspicion in many parts of Indonesia since the Dutch colonial administration began using it as a counterforce against Islam in order to implement their divide-and-rule strategy. With this article, I wish to shed some light on the complexities of Acehnese culture, as it encompasses numerous very distinct local cultures and this reflects on the general significance of culture for the construction and reconstruction of post-tsunami Aceh.
Eine differenzierte Analyse der Stellenbesetzungsprobleme nach Berufsgruppen in der Region Rhein-Main hat gezeigt, dass in einigen Bereichen die Stellenbesetzungsproblematik gegen über dem Jahr 2009 deutlich zugenommen hat. Dies gilt tendenziell für fast alle hier unterschiedenen Berufsgruppen, in besonderem Maße jedoch für Naturwissenschaftler, Ingenieure und Informatiker sowie für Fachkräfte im Fertigungsbereich. Etwas erstaunlich ist, dass inzwischen scheinbar auch im geringqualifizierten Bereich bei einigen Betrieben Probleme bestehen, offene Stellen zu besetzen. Wie bereits im letzten IWAK-Report berichtet (vgl. IWAK-Report 2/2011), erwarten inzwischen fast 30 Prozent der Betriebe in der Region Rhein-Main Auswirkungen aufgrund des demographisch bedingten Rückgangs an Arbeitskräften. Betriebliche Strategien dagegen konzentrieren sich auf verstärkte betriebliche Aus- und Weiterbildung, innerbetriebliche Reorganisationsmaßnahmen sowie der verstärkten Rekrutierung von Arbeitskräften aus dem Ausland. Die differenzierte Analyse im vorliegenden Report zeigte, dass die Betriebe je nach Wirtschaftzweigzugehörigkeit sehr unterschiedliche Strategien bevorzugen. Das Baugewerbe und der Bereich Verkehr und Lagerei setzen überwiegend auf eine Rekrutierung von Arbeitskräften aus dem Ausland, die Finanzbranche fast ausschließlich auf verstärkte Ausbildung, der öffentliche Sektor verstärkt auf innerbetriebliche Reorganisation. Zudem wurde deutlich, dass ein hoher „Problemdruck“ seitens der Betriebe nicht automatisch zu der Entwicklung von Maßnahmen und Aktivitäten zur Reduktion eines befürchteten Arbeitskräftemangels führt. Einen möglichen Fachkräftemangel durch einen effektiveren Einsatz bislang unterwertig Beschäftigter zu reduzieren, scheint aus betrieblicher Sicht nur bedingt möglich. Nur recht wenige Betriebe sind der Ansicht, dass ein Teil ihrer Beschäftigten für ihre aktuelle Tätigkeit überqualifiziert seien. Untersuchungen anhand der Befragung von Erwerbstätigen kommen allerdings zu teilweise anderen Schlüssen (vgl.OECD 2011).
How can a black people, who do not even profess to Islam, claim to have originated from Egypt, which is such an Arabic and Islamic geographical setting? But the Kalenjiin people of Kenya have held on fast to a tradition that their ancestors in antiquity were part of ancient Pharaonic Egypt, which they variously call Tto and Misiri. As unlikely as it may sound, the persistence in keeping this oral tradition alive does not seem to be dying with time and distance from the claimed place of origin. The Misiri Legend Explored: A Linguistic Inquiry into the Kalenjiin People's Oral Tradition of Ancient Egyptian Origin establishes the Kalenjin oral tradition of Misirian origin on the basis of linguistic evidence - a genuine tool which Egyptology scholars and researchers need to have relied on much more to bring greater and more final results to their investigations. Students of ancient Egypt willing to accept that there is an irrational prejudice against the concept of ancient black African ingenuity will upgrade their stock of knowledge regarding ancient Egypt with the numerous discoveries laid out here. They will discover a powerful new tool for their trade in the form of the African languages and cultures that now lie South of the Sahara.
Joy in the Morning
(2011)
Hopolang was sexually abused by a neighbor and for nineteen years she didn't divulge her experience because she feared that she would be blamed. In the first edition of 'Joy Comes in the Morning' she shared her battle to regain her self-confidence and self-esteem by running into the arms of the One who can heal - God. Through poems, she expresses emotions, such as confusion, pain, fear, betrayal, guilt, regret, approval, self-pity, mistrust and forgiveness that she had to work through. In this revised edition of 'Joy Comes in the Morning', Hopolang recounts how she overcame, not only the trauma of being sexually abused but also other challenges, such as working through relationships and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro- something that she never imagined she could accomplish. As she narrates her experiences, her hope is that the lessons she learned will motivate and inspire her readers. No matter how difficult the circumstances are that we encounter in our lives, we can triumph, and joy always comes in the morning. As she walked the paths of recovery from sexual abuse, Hopolang Phororo longed to read stories she could relate to, of those who had suffered abuse and overcame it. Because such stories were not available, she decided to share her story, to reach out and inspire other women with the message that there is hope. Her passion to see young women realize their fullest potential has led her to set up the Daughters of Destiny (DoD) Ministry (mentoring young women), in countries where she has lived.
Die Reisetagebücher des Geographen Eduard Pechuël-Loesche von der afrikanischen Loango-Küste, die in der Bayerischen Staatsbibliothek in München als Teil seines Nachlasses aufbewahrt werden, decken leider nicht die gesamte Zeitspanne seines Forschungsaufenthaltes ab, weil die mitgebrachten Hefte bei seiner Ankunft (19.8.1874) bereits vollgeschrieben waren und der Nachschub erst Monate später eintraf. Die fortlaufenden Einträge beginnen daher erst mit den Nachträgen für die Zeit ab 24.2.1875 und reichen bis zum Ende seines Aufenthaltes am 5.5.1876. Die Edition konzentriert sich daher auf diesen Zeitabschnitt und begnügt sich für die Hinreise mit einer Zusammenfassung der wichtigsten Stationen.
Bei den Eintragungen handelt es sich meist um Notizen, die nur stichwortartig in oft unvollständigen Sätzen festgehalten worden waren. Die allgemeine Forschungssituation steht im Vordergrund; demgegenüber treten ethnographische Mitteilungen zurück. Die eigentlichen ethnographischen und sprachlichen Aufzeichnungen wurden offensichtlich in einem „Hauptbuch“, das in einem der Tagebücher erwähnt wird, sowie auf separaten Exzerpt-Zetteln eingetragen, die nicht mehr erhalten sind. Dennoch bilden diese unmittelbaren Tagebuchaufzeichnungen eine wesentliche Ergänzung zu den späteren Veröffentlichungen, besonders in Hinblick auf die Stimmungen und emotionalen Belastungen, denen diese Forschungsexpedition in hohem Maße unterworfen war.
Diese bisher vor allem im Ruf des Scheiterns stehende Expedition ist deshalb so interessant, weil sie eine der ersten interdisziplinären Feldforschungsversuche in Afrika gewesen ist. Ihre Ergebnisse überragen diejenigen der übrigen deutschen Afrika-Unternehmen dieser Zeit bei weitem. Sie hatte allerdings mit zahlreichen widrigen Umständen zu kämpfen, die es ihr verwehrten, ihre eigentliche Aufgabe, den Vorstoß ins Landesinnere (möglichst bis zu einer Erreichung der Ostküste) zu verwirklichen.
Je länger man sich mit diesen Tagebuchnotizen beschäftigt und mit den richtigen Fragen an sie herangeht, desto mehr erschließt sich ihr reichhaltiger Inhalt. Sie sind deshalb erst auf den dritten Blick tatsächlich eine wichtige und sehr vielseitige Quelle, die sich nicht ohne Vorwissen und nur in bestimmten Kontexten erschließt. Wegen ihres disparaten Charakters und ihrer Stakkato-artigen Darstellungsform eignen sich die Tagebücher zwar nicht als spannende Unterhaltungslektüre (und deshalb auch nicht als „normale“ Buchveröffentlichung), doch kann man ihr zu sehr unterschiedlichen Themen nützliche und vielseitige Informationen und Einblicke entlocken.
Da Eduard Pechuël-Loesche in seinen Tagebüchern immer wieder die Anfertigung bestimmter Aquarelle erwähnt, war es ein Glücksfall, dass diese Aquarelle aufgespürt werden und 31 davon in dieser Edition veröffentlicht werden konnten.
Der Edition wurde ein biographischer Abriss über Eduard Pechuël-Loesches Biographie und das Kapitel der Herausgeberin „Feldforschungsstreß an der Loango-Küste: Ein Blick in die Tagebücher von Eduard Pechuël-Loesche (1873–1876)“ aus dem Buch von Sylvia M. Schomburg-Scherff und Beatrix Heintze (Hg.), Die offenen Grenzen der Ethnologie. Schlaglichter auf ein sich wandelndes Fach, Frankfurt am Main: Lembeck 2000, vorangestellt.
One of the weaknesses of research in Africa is the little consideration that is given to questions of epistemology and methodology. What we see is the trivialization of research protocols which, consequently, are reduced to fantasy prescriptions that detach social studies from universal debates over the validity of science rather than an interrogation of research procedures induced by the complexity of social dynamics. As a result, social sciences have become an imitative discourse and a recital of exotic anecdotes without perspectives. Knowledge production therefore loses any heuristic bearing. It is on the basis of this reality that attempts to correct this tendency have been made in this book by discussing the methodological foundation of social science knowledge. This volume is a collection of papers presented during methodological workshops organized by CODESRIA. Its objective is to revitalize theory and methodology in field work in Africa while contributing to the creation of a critical space hinged upon the mastery of epistemological bases which are indispensable to any scientific imagination. Far from being a collection of technical certainties and certified methods, this book interrogates the uncertain itinerary of the process of social logics discovery. In that sense, it is a decisive step towards a critical systemization of ongoing theories and practices within the African scientific community. The reader can, therefore, identify the philosophical, historical, sociological and anthropological foundations of object construction, field data exploitation and research results delivery. This book explains the importance of the philosophical and social modalities of scientific practice, the influence of local historical contexts, the different usages of new investigative tools, including the audiovisual tools. Finally, the book, backed by classical theories, serves as an invitation toward considering scientific commitment to African field research from a reflective perspective.
Dust, Spittle and Wind
(2011)
Dust, Spittle and Wind is a story of youth, dreams of innocence and transcendence told within a postcolonial setting. It follows Olu Ray, the main character of the novel through a bitter-sweet journey of loss and self-realisation. The novel focuses on the final moment before actual emotional maturity when dreams either become flowers of brilliance or cold ashes. The novel describes the cold hand of fate as it swings between both extremes. Olu Ray eventually survives at the price of the abrupt loss of his innocence. The book teems with colourful characters and the blistering heat of the physical terrain appears to mirrors the lush sexuality on display. It explores the nature of taboo, the frustrations caused by it and the compulsions it provokes. In Sanya Osha's telling, society seems to be on the verge of irreparable breakdown but somehow manages to pull itself back from the abyss. The tension that runs through the novel is relentless but then, there is also much tenderness and subtlety that balances everything out. This is unquestionably a feat of powerful artistry. It deservedly won the Association of Nigerian Authors' Prize for prose in 1992.
The Power to Succeed
(2011)
This is the fascinating story of a young girl from a very poor family who raised her head high and raised the dignity of women through her own personal and determined effort. She did not yield to the victimizations of corrupt minds, nor to the temptations of apathy and pessimistic thinking; rather she saw everything optimistically and through many hardships achieved her life's ambitions.
The Power To Make A Choice
(2011)
Is it possible to make a difference in your life that no one else has ever made? What difference will you make as an individual in your life's situations? Have you ever considered yourself a possible obstacle to your future plans? Some people toil and amass knowledge and fame to make a difference. Some engage in a life of politics where they believe they can make a difference. Still, there are some who make a difference in a quiet way and move the world on. The difference you make may lead to negative or positive results and both ways have a price. It is worth exploring the powers you have and discovering the real you. Life is full of surprises. Life around you might be ignorant but you have the potential to move to a better understanding. This story portrays and affirms the uniqueness of each person: how one moves on in life amidst all the difficulties that life presents. Life is beautiful if we are able to challenge what we can and accept what we cannot change. The Power to Make a Choice is a powerful story on how to look within ourselves to make a difference.
Ausgangsfrage des Reports war, ob das Ausbildungsverhalten der Betriebe in Hessen 2010 noch unter den Folgen der Wirtschaftskrise litt oder schon vom beginnenden Aufschwung geprägt war. Die Ergebnisse weisen darauf hin, dass der Ausbildungsmarkt tatsächlich ein Spätindikator der wirtschaftlichen Entwicklung ist: Das Ausbildungsverhalten der Betriebe reagiert mit Verzögerung auf negative konjunkturelle Effekte, weswegen 2010 viele Ausbildungskennziffern noch unter dem Einfluss der Wirtschaftskrise stehen. Im Einzelnen trifft dies sowohl auf die Ausbildungsbeteiligung, die Ausbildungsintensität sowie die Übernahmebereitschaft der Betriebe zu, die allesamt etwas niedriger sind als im Jahr zuvor. Die Veränderungen sind jedoch nicht so massiv, dass von großen konjunkturellen Effekten auszugehen ist; insgesamt ist der Ausbildungsmarkt von strukturellen Faktoren und langfristigen Entwicklungen geprägt. Der Anteil der hessischen Betriebe, der 2010 ausbildete, lag bei nur noch 31 Prozent und damit vier Prozentpunkte niedriger als zwei Jahre zuvor. Insbesondere im Dienstleistungsbereich bilden viele Betriebe nicht aus, wobei das ungenutzte Potenzial, d.h. der Anteil der Betriebe, der trotz Berechtigung nicht ausbildet, im von der Krise besonders betroffenen Produzierenden Gewerbe noch höher liegt. Die Zahl der Auszubildenden insgesamt ging 2010 ebenfalls zurück, erneut vor allem im Produzierenden Gewerbe. Da zugleich die Zahl der sozialversicherungspflichtig Beschäftigten wieder anstieg, lag die Ausbildungsquote Hessens bei nur noch 4,9 Prozent und somit einen ganzen Prozentpunkt unter dem Vergleichswert von Westdeutschland.
Verantwortlich für den geringeren Anteil an Auszubildenden war unter anderem der Rückgang des Angebots an Ausbildungsstellen. 2010 boten hessische Betriebe deutlich weniger Ausbildungsplätze an als noch 2009. Zudem konnten nur knapp 83 Prozent dieser Stellen auch be‐
setzt werden, was den niedrigsten Wert seit Beginn der Panelbeobachtung darstellt. Besonders groß waren die Besetzungsprobleme bei den Kleinbetrieben und in den Bereichen Handel und Sonstigen Dienstleistungen. Ob hier bereits erste Anzeichen für die Effekte des demografischen Wandels zu verzeichnen sind, wir sich in den nächsten Jahren zeigen. Als weiterer Grund für die geringere Zahl an Auszubildenden ist schließlich die hohe Zahl an erfolgreichen Ausbildungsabschlüssen zu nennen. 2010 beendeten rund 36.500 Auszubildende ihre Ausbildung, was langfristig betrachtet ein sehr hoher Wert ist. Rund 51 Prozent hiervon waren Frauen, womit die weiblichen Auszubildenden zum zweiten Male die Majorität der erfolgreichen Absolventen stellen. Von diesen Absolventen wurden jedoch nur 58 Prozent in den Betrieb übernommen, was den niedrigsten Wert der letzten Jahre darstellt. Hierbei ist anzumerken, dass die Gründe häufig bei den Auszubildenden selbst zu suchen sind, die eine andere berufliche Orientierung suchen. Wirtschaftliche Gründe seitens der Betriebe sind nur recht selten maßgeblich für die Nicht‐Übernahme. Zusammenfassend lässt sich festhalten, dass auf dem hessischen Ausbildungsmarkt die Krise 2010 noch nicht überwunden war. Für die Zukunft sollte bei anhaltendem Wachstum jedoch wieder mit positiveren Zahlen zu rechnen sein.
Zusammenfassend lässt sich festhalten, dass der Trend zu immer größerer Flexibilisierung bei den Beschäftigungs‐ und Personalmaßnahmen in Hessen auch 2010 eine Fortsetzung fand. Der Anteil der befristeten Neueinstellungen nahm nochmals zu und liegt mittlerweile bei fast 50 Prozent. Mit anderen Worten: Fast die Hälfte aller Neueingestellten bekam zunächst nur einen befristeten Vertrag. Auch die Leiharbeit hat sich als Flexibilisierungsinstrument in Hessen etabliert, wenn auch auf niedrigerem Niveau: Nur in sieben Prozent der hessischen Betriebe finden sich Leiharbeitskräfte, diese machen derzeit rund zwei Prozent aller Beschäftigten aus. Vor allem in der Produktion (Verarbeitendes und Baugewerbe) ist Leiharbeit verbreitet, wobei die schnelle Verfügbarkeit der Beschäftigten und der zeitlich begrenzte Bedarf die Hauptgründe für deren Einsatz sind. Neben diesen langfristig wirksamen Entwicklungen war 2010 von besonderem Interesse, wie sich kurzfristige konjunkturelle Effekte auf die Personalbewegungen und die Personalpolitik auswirken.
Als Reaktion auf die Wirtschaftskrise setzten die Betriebe auf unterschiedlichste Maßnahmen, vor allem auf den Abbau von Überstunden und das Zurückstellen von Neueinstellungen. Der beginnende Aufschwung des Jahres 2010 spiegelte sich hingegen noch nicht durchgängig wieder. Die Zahl der Neueinstellungen blieb trotz Konjunkturbelebung auf vergleichsweise niedrigem Niveau; da zugleich auch recht wenig Entlassungen zu verzeichnen waren, konnte auch im Jahr 2010 in Hessen nur eine geringe Arbeitsmarktdynamik beobachtet werden. Allerdings gibt es auch Bereiche, in denen es 2010 zu einem deutlichen Aufwärtstrend kam. So stieg die Zahl der offenen Stellen um etwa 10.000 an, wobei vor allem der Dienstleistungsbereich eine höhere Nachfrage zeigte. Interessant ist hier, dass entgegen früherer Entwicklungen eine erhöhte Nachfrage vor allem nach einfachen Tätigkeiten bestand, während die Suche nach qualifizierten Beschäftigten noch verhalten blieb. Diese Momentaufnahme sollte aber nicht den Blick verstellen für das bereits bestehende Problem, Stellen für qualifizierte Arbeitskräfte nicht besetzen zu können. Dies betraf 2010 etwa sieben Prozent der hessischen Betriebe, in denen rund 23.500 qualifizierte Stellen nicht besetzt werden konnten. Gefragt, was die zentrale personalpolitische Herausforderung der nächsten Jahre sei, nennen die Betriebe folgerichtig die Rekrutierung von Fachkräften, während zu hohe Lohnkosten weniger bedeutsam sind als in der Vergangenheit. Der drohende Fachkräftemangel ist demnach ein übergreifendes Problem, dem durch gemeinsame Anstrengungen der Bildungs‐ und Arbeitsmarktakteure zu begegnen ist.
Als Leitfrage wurde eingangs formuliert, ob die Wirtschaftskrise auch im Jahr 2010 noch Auswirkungen auf die hessischen Betriebe hatte. Dies kann zusammenfassend bestätigt werden; bei fast allen untersuchten Indikatoren, die konjunkturellen Einflüssen unterliegen, liegt die Vermutung nahe, dass 2010 noch Kriseneffekte zu spüren sind, wenn diese auch häufig moderat ausfallen. Eine unmittelbare Bestätigung findet dieser Befund, wenn man die krisenbetroffenen Betriebe nach dem gegenwärtigen Status befragt. Für nicht einmal jeden zehnten Betrieb ist die Krise vollständig überwunden. Fast 30 Prozent befinden sich nach eigenen Angaben noch inmitten der Wirtschaftskrise, und für fast zwei Drittel der Betroffenen sind die Auswirkungen noch spürbar. Einschränkend ist hierbei festzuhalten, dass nur eine Minderheit der hessischen Betriebe direkt von der Krise betroffen war. Falls dies der Fall war, waren die Auswirkungen in der Regel negativ, insbesondere im Verarbeitenden Gewerbe sowie den exportorientierten Betrieben. Es gibt jedoch auch „Krisengewinner“, die von der konjunkturellen Lage und den Krisenmaßnahmen profitieren konnten, dies gilt vor allem für das Baugewerbe. Die betriebliche Einschätzung der Ertragslage des Geschäftsjahres 2009 liegt unter den Vorjahreswerten, aber noch immer deutlich besser als in den Jahren 2001 bis 2005. Die Erwartungen waren für 2010 eindeutig positiv: in Umkehrung der letztjährigen Daten rechnen deutlich mehr Betriebe mit einem steigenden Geschäftsvolumen im nächsten Jahr, besonders häufig im Verarbeitenden Gewerbe. Auch der Wettbewerbsdruck, dem sich die hessischen Betriebe ausgesetzt sehen, hat gegenüber 2009 abgenommen, wird aber noch immer höher empfunden als im Vorkrisenjahr 2008. Für hochgerechnet knapp 18.300 hessische Betriebe ist der Konkurrenzdruck derart hoch, dass er nach Einschätzung der Betriebe den Fortbestand gefährdet; dies sind knapp 4.000 weniger als im Vorjahr. Ein Rückgang an betrieblichen Aktivitäten lässt sich rückblickend bei den Investitionen beobachten. Der Anteil der investierenden Betriebe lag im Jahr 2009 auf dem niedrigsten Wert der langfristigen Betrachtung, wobei im Jahr der Krise vor allem die Investitionen in Anlagen und Betriebsausstattung zurückgingen. Die Investitionsplanungen sehen je doch für 2010 bei vielen Betrieben eine Erhöhung des Investitionsvolumens vor. Relativ unbeeinflusst von konjunkturellen Einflüssen zeigt sich allein das Innovationsverhalten der hessischen Betriebe. Sowohl der Anteil der innovativen Betriebe als auch die Art der Innovationen und organisatorischen Änderungen liegen innerhalb der langjährigen Beobachtung.
Die Finanzmarkt‐ und Wirtschaftskrise hat auch bei den betrieblichen Arbeitszeiten in Hessen Spuren hinterlassen. So ist der langfristige Trend zu längeren Arbeitszeiten zunächst unterbrochen worden: Die durchschnittliche vereinbarte Wochenarbeitszeit lag 2010 bei durchschnittlich 39,1 Stunden. Dies ist eine knappe halbe Stunde weniger als noch vor zwei Jahren. Insbesondere hat der Anteil der Betriebe, in denen weniger als 36 Stunden gearbeitet werden, zugenommen, während weiterhin in einer Mehrheit der hessischen Betriebe eine Arbeitszeit von über 40 Stunden gilt. Ebenfalls rückläufig war die Zahl der Betriebe, die anfallende Mehrarbeit mit Überstunden begegnete, wobei vor allem Mittel‐ und Großbetriebe dies seltener nutzten. Kompensiert werden Überstunden weiterhin vor allem durch Freizeitausgleich; die kostenintensivere Bezahlung spielt eine geringere Rolle. Am deutlichsten zeigte sich der Kriseneffekt erwartungsgemäß bei dem Instrument, dass unmittelbar zur Dämpfung von konjunkturellen Schwankungen vorgesehen ist: der betrieblichen Kurzarbeit. Während im Jahr 2006 nur 0,8 Prozent der hessischen Betriebe Kurzarbeit einsetzte, traf dies in den Jahren 2009 und 2010 auf rund fünf Prozent zu. Betroffen hiervon waren kumuliert im ersten Halbjahr 2010 hochgerechnet noch immer 107.000 Beschäftigte, mehrheitlich aus dem Verarbeitenden Gewerbe, das besonders stark unter der Krise litt. Neben diesen Bereichen, in denen kurzfristige konjunkturelle Einflüsse zu verzeichnen sind, gibt es jedoch einige Aspekte der betrieblichen Arbeitszeiten, in denen die Entwicklung langfristig und strukturell wirksam ist bzw. die generell eine hohe Konstanz aufweist. Dies gilt beispielsweise für das Instrument der individuellen Arbeitszeitkonten, das weiterhin von nur etwa jedem vierten hessischen Betrieb genutzt wird, wobei es vor allem in den Dienstleistungsbranchen sowie den kleineren Betrieben kaum zur Anwendung kommt. Andere Flexibilitätsinstrumente der Arbeitszeitsteuerung, wie z.B. Samstagsarbeit oder versetzte Arbeitszeiten, finden häufigere Anwendung, wobei auch hier nur geringe Veränderungen im Zeitverlauf zu beobachten sind. Der Anteil der Betriebe, die Teilzeitkräfte beschäftigen, hat 2010 wieder zugenommen und liegt in etwa auf dem hohen Niveau der letzten Jahre. Gleiches gilt für die Teilzeitquote, die weiterhin vor allem in Kleinbetrieben und dem Dienstleistungsbereich hoch ist. Die Ergebnisse lassen den Schluss zu, dass die Arbeitszeitinstrumente von den Betrieben flexibel eingesetzt werden, um konjunkturelle Effekte abzufedern; langfristige Trends bleiben hiervon meist unberührt.
In the on-going democratic debate, the Cameroonian media have not played the role of objective mediators. A one-party logic, of which government, opposition and the public are guilty, has prevented Cameroonian multipartyism from addressing the major issue: that of how best to bring about real participatory democracy. So far, democracy has served mainly as a face powder, an empty concept or slogan devoid of concrete meaning used to justify reactionary propaganda by the ruling party and its acolytes on the one hand, and revolutionary propaganda by the opposition and some pressure groups on the other. This polarisation in the Cameroonian political arena corresponds to a similar polarisation in the Cameroonian media. One can identify two main political tendencies in the media: first, there are those who argue that all the government does is good and in the best interest of Cameroon, and that the radical opposition is void of patriots and motivated only by selfish, regional, or ethnic self-interests. These comprise the publicly owned, government-controlled electronic and print media on the one hand, and pro-government 'privately' owned newspapers on the other. Second, there are those who claim that all the radical opposition does or stands for is in the best interest of Cameroon, and that the government and its allies are only motivated by a stubborn love of power and other selfish pursuits. These comprise the bulk of the privately owned papers. The media are polarised into two diametrically opposing camps, each claiming to know and represent the best interests of the Cameroonian people.
Predicaments
(2011)
In this juvenalia, his first collection of poems, Francis Nyamnjoh takes the reader back in time, even as the past catches up with the present, to show how unchanging and even painful life can be. Accordingly, the poems celebrate, mourn, ridicule, lambast, and lament, thereby highlighting Nyamnjoh's characteristic fascination with the plight of the person in society, a picture which reaffirms his already established role as the conscience of spaces, especially those African.
Homeless Waters
(2011)
Life in Safang could not have been more idyllic for Ngoma and Shaka, his elder sister. Under the wings of an attendant and storytelling mother, they didn't miss the father they hadn't known. Later on, in the alluvial valleys of Bonfuma and the lands beyond, Ngoma experiences the thrills and challenges of schooling and being schooled. Adolescents will appreciate his stories and struggles as he tries to reconcile his village roots with the desire for a modern education. He has special relationships with his grandfather, stepfather and teachers, and becomes captain of the college football team. But growing up with a sister does not make him understand the subtleties and complexities of girls. Whether Collette or Camille, they seem to be two sides of the same coin. Ngoma successfully manoeuvres between the two, without the slightest crisis, for a while. He seeks balance between God and girls, work and pleasure, learning and mischief. While life can be well salted, it can also be bitter. Jealousy rises and he discovers who matters and who doesn't. His life brings together the bearableness and unbearableness of belonging, of being in love and being free, of...
This is the story of the prolific professor Newit Anatole Lobe who after his studies and a failed marriage in the US decides to return home to Cameon, an imaginary post-colonial African state to take up a teaching job with the country's main university. When he refuses to join the machinations and antics of the power elites who want to hang on to power at all cost, he pays a heavy price. He plays a key role in the founding of an opposition party just to be betrayed by those in whom he placed his trust. He is arrested and detained on trumped up charges of subversion and complicity with external enemies of the state. He learns the hard way that life is larger than logic.
Sons and Daughters of the Soil : Land and Boundary Conflicts in North West Cameroon, 1955-2005
(2011)
This book makes a rare and original contribution on the history of little documented internal land conflicts and boundary misunderstandings in Cameroon, where attention has tended to focus too narrowly on international boundary conflicts such as that between Cameroon and Nigeria. The study is of the Bamenda Grassfields, the region most plagued by land and boundary conflicts in the country. Despite claims of common descent and cultural similarities by most communities in the region, relations have been tested and dominated by recurrent land and boundary conflicts since the middle of the 20th Century. Nkwi takes us through these contradictions, as he draws empirically and in general on his rich historical and ethnographic knowledge of the tensions and conflicts over land and boundaries in the region to situate and understand the conflicts between Bambili and Babanki-Tungoh - the epicenter of land and boundary - from c.1950s - 2009. Little if any scholarly attention has focused on this all important issue, its pernicious effects on the region notwithstanding. This book takes a bold step in the direction of the social history of land and boundary conflicts in Cameroon, and demonstrates that there is much of scholarly interest in understanding the centrality of land and boundaries in the configuration and contestation of human relations. In his innovative and stimulating blend of history and ethnography, Nkwi points to exciting new directions of paying closer attention to relationships informed by consciousness on and around land and boundaries.
The 21st century qualifies as one in which humanity raised environmental decay, especially climate change, as a key global concern requiring urgent political attention. The book Framework and Tools for Environmental Management in Africa is written from this perspective. It provides researchers from different disciplines including environmental sciences, engineering, commerce, planning, education, agriculture and law, as well as NGOs, government officials, policy makers and researchers, with a platform to engage with concerns relating to sustainable environmental management in this epoch. Topics covered include global landmarks for environmental governance, environmental management on African agenda, sustainability reporting, environmental impact assessment and public participation as well as environmental education. These remain viable in the African set-up where major development projects in mining and agriculture require greater scrutiny. With a collection of both revision and critical reflection questions, carefully constructed by authors with significant experiences from institutions of higher learning across Africa, readers will find this publication a valuable addition to their shelves.
Nicht erst seit der Wahl in Berlin 2011 ist die Piratenpartei in aller Munde. Doch trotz des großen Medienechos ist bisher relativ wenig über das Innenleben der Partei bekannt. Daher wurden im Frühjahr 2011 alle damals rund 12.000 Parteimitglieder eingeladen, an einer umfangreichen Befragung teilzunehmen.
Rund ein Viertel der Piraten folgte dem Ruf und gab Antworten auf Fragen zu ihrem Engagement, ihrem Demokratieverständnis, zur programmatischen Entwicklung, zur innerparteilichen Demokratie, Kommunikation und Partizipation. In dieser Studie zum Selbstverständnis der Partei werden die Ergebnisse anschaulich dargestellt und zusammengefasst. Abgerundet wird das Bild durch eine ausführliche Beschreibung zur Entwicklung der deutschen Piratenpartei und ihres internationalen Umfelds.
Tobias Neumann ist Jahrgang 1981 und hat Soziologie, Politologie und Philosophie studiert. Der Wahl-Frankfurter ist seit 2009 Mitglied der Piratenpartei, in der er seine Leidenschaft für Politik auslebt.
I Will Fly is a collection of 52 poems which bring to life a story of struggle and hope, the struggle of ordinary Cameroonians who daily entertain hardship, and of English-speaking Cameroonians born into a minority population. Disgruntlement leads to protests; but what happens when the protests fail to yield? Immigration and resignation, the latter, at times, becoming an invitation to death. Adventure and romance stand as the lifeline of others. Hope is a constant companion in these situations, inviting all and sundry to desist from giving adversary easy victories.
Blessing
(2011)
Fatti Ashi died. Startling her family and community, she comes back to life just a few hours after dying. Blessing chronicles the life of this Fatti Ashi, a young village girl who from the moment she rejoins the land of the living is faced with both obstacles and opportunities consistent with an attempted mergence of two worlds. From a child who is molded with her father's advice to merge ancestral skull worship and Christianity to an underprivileged teenager who falls in love with the alphabet and finally becoming a woman who desires emotional and financial independence, Fatti Ashi's life yields misunderstandings and isolation. As a child in the village, her life is a battleground for family rivalry and religious conflict. As a teenage wife in the city, she befriends a sex worker who encourages her to bring meaning into her life rather than simply living to the dictates of others. She takes up the challenge by embarking on adult education and becoming a breadwinner but is taken aback when her husband requests a divorce. In a search for solutions to save her marriage, she entertains traditional religion, Catholicism and Pentecostalism. Disappointment and desperation lead her to take a deeper look at the situation. Is she to stay married simply for convenience? Is she to continue following religious paths laid out by others, clearly not as beneficial to her? Is she to please society to her detriment? The long journey of self-discovery takes her through scandal and humiliation but in the end, she emerges as a confident, admired and happy woman.
Sing Love 101
(2011)
Sing Love 101 a collection of 101 love poems in which this wordsmith worth his words brings together the good, the bad and the ugly of human love experiences. The poems are glossed with the simplicity of a sweet gentle breeze that caresses the reader's heart like that blowing across his childhood rice fields in the summer. The poet highlights 'Love' as 'the Dream' none should let die.
Local Livelihoods and Protected Area Management : Biodiversity Conservation Problems in Cameroon
(2011)
Cameroon's tropical forest is home to numerous plants and animals. It is also inhabited by Baka pygmies who are foragers and Bantu farmers. These communities have developed forest-dependent livelihoods, cultures and religions. Destruction of the forest by commercial and state interests, subsistence agriculture and the harvesting of products has necessitated a considerable upsurge in environmental protection projects to conserve and rehabilitate ecosystems, forests, soils and water resources. Ultimately, the approach to conservation that is applied is the responsibility of the government and international development agencies. The case studies documented seek to demonstrate that a broader perspective linking environmental protection and human welfare is important for two reasons. First, it addresses the rights and needs of local people and more marginal groups in society. Second, it also ensures that fundamental conservation objectives are achieved in practice with the participation of local people. The book develop guidelines for a more integrative and socially-aware approach to environmental planning and project design and implementation. It outlines a participatory mapping procedure for the design and implementation of community forest programmes. This is a valuable book for land resource managers, environmentalists, environmental biologists, conservators, field workers and technicians involved with environmental conservation. With the professionalisation of courses in most universities, the book will constitute good reading for students of geography, biology, agriculture, forestry, botany and natural resource management.
Despite rapid urbanisation, Africa remains predominantly rural. This calls for decentralisation beyond the dominant concern by states and government with urban spaces. Rural areas, rural development and the future of rural settlements need to be understood and addressed in the context of the ongoing democratisation trends and the emergence and development of civil society. States have tended to tame rather than serve civil society in Africa. By establishing a single cultural reference and imposing a centralised state, African governments have exacerbated the fragmentation of civil society. However, political pluralism has slowly been gaining ground since the 1990s. This book explores the scope for implementing decentralisation programmes that focus on citizens in rural areas. For the purpose of decentralisation, civic participation in local politics and user participation in development programmes must be seen as two sides of the coin. The book focuses on spatial planning ? a process concerned with spatial organisation in an integrative manner, and incorporates the design, establishment and implementation of a desired spatial structural organisation of land. This is especially relevant in a context where the formulation of guidelines for spatial development at the overall level of a state is inadequate.
This book emphasises that planning is essential, as the conservation approaches of the past may not work in an ever-changing warmer environment. It appraises current management strategies, assesses the biological and physical effects of climate change on natural systems in Cameroon and designs a planning and management framework for each natural system within the context of global warming. Climate change poses a complex bewildering array of problems for ecosystems. The key question is, what can be done ? in addition to efforts to reduce CO2 emissions ? to increase the resistance and resilience of these natural systems to climate change? This book seeks to answer the above question by drawing from the vast array of scientific data available on the subject, and which may not be readily available to policy makers, resource planners, resource managers, environmentalists, students of geography, conservation biology and agronomy. It constitutes an important manual for those ready to confront the impacts of climate change. It is also a valuable document for teachers of the functioning and management of natural systems globally.
How do we understand and create kowledge? Does scientific knowledge cover all knowledge? Afrikology tries to answer these questions by tracing the issue of epistemology to the Cradle of Humanity in Africa and through such a reflection the Monograph establishes a basis for holistic and integrated ways of knowledge production that makes it possible to interface scientific knowledge with other forms of knowledge. In this way Afrikology responds to the crisis created by the fragmentation of knowledge through existing academic disciplines. Afrikology therefore advances transdisciplinarity and hermeneutics to a level where they attain a coherent basis for interacting with Afrikology as an epistemology which returns wholeness to understanding and knowledge production.
Archie Mafeje was an independent Pan-Africanist and cosmopolitan individual who sought to understand the world at a global level in order to locate Africa within that tapestry. In many ways, Archie Mafeje was one of the African intellectual pathfi nders. He contributed immensely to the African people's search for self-understanding, self-determination and political emancipation as they struggled against alienation and misrepresentation. In recognising the academic and intellectual contribution of Archie Mafeje, this monograph also refl ects on the African people's journey for emancipation in the search for African identity, self-control and self-understanding.
Essays in Criminology
(2011)
Crime in Africa is fast growing like African cities, African poverty, African indebtedness, African brain-drain and African dependence; everything in Africa appears to be growing very fast; population too has been fast growing except that it is being reduced by violence as we have witnessed in Rwanda, Burundi and Somalia and AIDS pandemic that is first spreading in Africa, claiming thousands of lives every year. This book is a collection of essays and papers not based on empirical research on crime in East Africa but general observations arising out of the author's experience as a criminologist in East Africa.
Dictionary of Criminology
(2011)
In professional disciplines, just as in academics, the definition of basic concepts is fundamental for adequate understanding of issues. A dictionary of criminology may be regarded as irrelevant for the simple reason that criminology cannot be said to constitute an academic or professional discipline in East Africa. But this dictionary is not limited to criminological or sociological concepts alone. Just like any academic discipline, it covers other areas of social studies such as law, economics and politics. The dictionary covers some areas that, to the average reader, are least related to law and crime; but to the specialist, even the least likely entry, like race, tribe and democracy is, in some remote way, linked to the incidence of crime, delinquency or deviance.
African historians documented the histories of their tribal people and have not investigated the role of slavery and colonialism in the shaping of the African personality; or how the two evils have in some way or other contributed to the slow economic growth of Africa. It is the belief of the author that reparations should be sought not to bring about economic development or to reduce dependence but redress wrongs the degradation, vandalism, terrorism and other inhuman treatment Africans have experienced nor is the demand racially motivated. The demand is for indemnity for inhuman acts committed against African people and is made in the belief that the international community will accept the reality of slave trade and later, imperialism and colonialism are crimes against humanity.
The Death of Asobo-Ntsi
(2011)
This novel re-visions history through narrative fiction: the history of his people that has long been silenced and distorted as a colonial strategy, the history of an African community at the crossroads. Asobo-Ntsi, the stubborn yet proud Fon of Nyen, is faced with some challenges amongst which are: his seven- and nine-man council that is not happy with his dictatorship and tax laws, a disgruntled quarter that attempts to secede, and also, the encroaching colonialist, Nwuoupang, with his church and administration. How Asobo-Ntsi handles these challenges is expressed powerfully and movingly with great narrative artistry that absorbs the reader and keeps him/her enthralled to the end.
Whilst the establishment of the African human rights system was a good gesture that signalled the recognition of the value and essence of international human rights in the continent, a continuous study of the system has become necessary. This is particularly in light of the fact that the continent is in desperate need of well established and effective regional human rights enforcement mechanisms. At the moment, the regional human rights system is stuck between prospects and pitfalls because of the gap that exists between the promise of human rights and their actual realisation. By all means, this trend needs to be reversed. The main objective and purpose of this book is to underscore the challenges besetting the effective enforcement of international human rights law in Africa and the prospects and promises of an effective regional human rights system.
The Cameroon Political Story is a long journey through the eyes and actions of the author himself. It is a mix between Mbile's memoirs, a bit of his biography and the Cameroon political story, heavily weighted in favour of that part of the Republic formerly identified as Southern Cameroons, later West Cameroon, now South West and North West Regions. The story is told in the interest of the Cameroonian youth and scholar who have often complained of the inadequate recording by political leaders of the life and deeds of their times. It is the story of an African boy of humble village beginnings who rose to participate in the making of a modern political community. It is hoped the book provides useful knowledge on the history, growth and constitutional evolution of Cameroon, a country which after more than a century of administrative metamorphosis settled to its present statehood in 1961, a Cameroon reborn.
Wena
(2011)
The collection of poems is an intriguing reflection of the sometimes torturous evolution of inner self which so many South Africans face as they struggle to find who they are in a multicultural society that espouses the values of traditional culture while reaching for the promise of a global community. Thus the blend of Xhosa and English as Ntsiki strives to merge her modern views with cultural roots. She feels strongly the need to reclaim her culture and language and blend them within the context of a cosmopolitan society. She captures the 'vibe and energy' of young South Africa and its blossoming as well as its quandaries. Ntsiki does not hesitate to deal with controversial and painful issues, such as rape, and her work challenges the reader to stop and think, really think. The quest for self expression and self-understanding echoes throughout the book and through it, she exhorts the reader to have the courage to explore and understand himself. Underlying many poems is the unspoken but burning desire that, by telling the truth, she will create possibilities for others to do the same. In many ways, 'Wena' is a celebration of life. The poems brim over with Ntsiki's own desire to drink to the full and then go out there and pour love and life out into the world. The manner in which she distills meaning and value from the negative is perhaps best expressed in her own words, from the poem, 'I choose life'.
The debate on the existence of African philosophy has taken central stage in academic circles, and academics and researchers have tussled with various aspects of this subject. This book notes that the debate on the existence of African philosophy is no longer necessary. Instead, it urges scholars to demonstrate the different philosophical genres embedded in African philosophy. As such, the book explores African metaphysical epistemology with the hope to redirect the debate on African philosophy. It articulates and systematizes metaphysical and epistemological issues in general and in particular on Africa. The book aptly shows how these issues intersect with the philosophy of life, traditional beliefs, knowledge systems and practices of ordinary Africans and the challenges they raise for scholarship in and on philosophy with relevance to Africa.
This is an engaged and extremely well-informed book on business and business ethics in a society with political and social-economic crises. As an engaging and engaged effort to bring a nexus between business ethics and business practices in any human society, the book invites the reader to partake in pressing debates on business ethics in times of crisis. The book provides a much needed interdisciplinary approach and marshals an extraordinary array of social and intellectual resources that positively inspire business people and business making. It is wholesome and systematic in its articulation of the political and social forces that shape and are shaped by business. Additionally, it gives the reader a guided tour into the fascinating creativity that shapes and characterises business culture in contemporary Zimbabwe.
This is a vivid, thought-provoking and fascinating text on some contentious issues in contemporary medical ethics. The book acknowledges the contribution of 'African tradition' and Western scholarship to the development of medical ethics as a university discipline. It questions the lack of consensus around such biomedical issues as euthanasia and traditional medicine. In many countries, the failure has resulted in public outcries. Its thrust centres on the nexus of practice and theory, and the importance of pragmatism and critical questioning in dealing with different cases on and around biomedicine. Its virtue is its significant shift from the traditional positions on selected biomedical issues to a more rigorous, pragmatic and critical questioning and understanding of the reasoning and positions of all involved and/or affected parties.
In Our Own Tongues gives poetic voice to three generations of African-American women. It celebrates how Black women speak and do in the ways best known to them. This powerful and healing collection of poetry touches on a variety of experiences in the United States regarding emotional abuse, physical and sexual assaults, racism, lynchings, political issues as well as the permeating smell of magnolias.
The Constitution of Kenya: Contemporary Reading, provides an in-depth assessment of the interface between constitutionalism and Kenya's new Constitution. Focusing on the historical trajectory on the search for a new Constitution, Chapter One lays the groundwork upon which the fault line between constitutionalism and the issue areas are articulated in the other chapters in relation to the new Constitution. The superb chapters on the carefully selected issue areas, make this edited volume an essential reading. The book makes an important contribution to the evolving constitutionalism and policy clarification on Kenya's new Constitution. It is a welcome and timely intervention by legal scholars and practitioners on the new constitution and the challenges facing Kenya in its implementation. The book is an excellent teaching and reading manual for students in law, history, politics, diplomacy, and international relations as well as for the practitioners.
At independence, Cameroon and Nigeria adhered to the OAU principle of UTI POSSEDETIS JURIS by inheriting the colonial administrative borders whose delineation in some parts was either imperfect or not demarcated or both. The two countries tried to correct these anomalies. But such efforts were later thwarted by incessant geostrategic reckoning, dilatory, and diversionary tactics in the seventies and eighties that persisted and resurfaced in the nineties with a more determined posture. On two occasions, the border conflict almost boiled over to a full-scale war. First, in May 1981 when there was the exchange of fire between Cameroonian and Nigerian coast guards and second, in February 1994 when Nigeria marched her troops into Cameroon's Bakassi Peninsula. Elsewhere in Africa, border incidents like these have often degenerated into war. But Cameroon and Nigeria together with the international community managed these protracted incidents from escalating into war. This book examines the part played by the disputing parties, Cameroon and Nigeria; the mediation, conciliatory and adjudicatory role of third parties; and the regional and international organisations, in the process of the resolution of the border dispute from 1981-2011. The study situates the nature and dynamics of the dispute historically, and comprehensively explores in detail its causes, settlement and resolution.
'Home is as old as one's skin but as elusive as an object seen through the wrong end of a telescope.' It is this sense of a view, skewed, intangible, which echoes throughout Karen Lazar's Hemispheres. Waking in hospital after a post-operative stroke, she finds one side of her body paralysed and her world knocked out of kilter. Spatial, perceptual and subjective changes force her to view her new life in facets. The fragmented view is made apparent by means of a triptych of clusters which charts Karen's experience from Metamorphosis, through Rehabilitation and Adaptation. Quietly reflective, deeply lyrical, Hemispheres is concerned with returning separated parts into a whole and coming home to the self.
This detailed, meticulous ethnographic study on mobile phone use among Nuba students at the University of Khartoum in Sudan, distinguishes itself from other studies by taking a focused look at the linguistic content of mobile phone interactions via text-messaging, portraying it as a site for the expression of personalized and affective language. While men and women appear to be equally aggressive consumers and producers of text-message poetry, women are formally discouraged in using the phone for relations that go beyond the publicly acceptable norms of 'keeping in touch' and making arrangements. Nonetheless, women use it for such purposes and many manage it discreetly, showing how this technology can serve to subvert discursive norms on gender and marriage. The mobile phone in Sudan enhances individual autonomy over interactions, making possible the extension and creation of social spaces. It simultaneously enlarges private space and trespasses into public space. Poetic themes and language, previously limited to elite producers - those both more literate and who had control over mass media domains, radio and newspapers - are exposed to anonymous recipients, who draw from, copy or forward them in continuous circulation, thereby staking a claim in the public sphere. Similarly, the mobile phone serves as a site for the exercise of several layers of identity in negotiation, and reflects or creates alternative identities and the contestation of existing discourses, communities in physical space and notions of belonging.
Bi Tirga
(2011)
Leonard Bi Tirga, son of a poor peasant, is a studious pupil. Due to shortage of finances, he has to leave school to make ends meet and pursue his studies. Leonard becomes a sweatshop labourer. As a young labourer, his life like that of his peers is hard. The pay rate is low and the work is hard. With his friends, they engage in trade union activism. A series of complicated and trying events reinforces their conviction to militate. Thus, Leonard and his friend Camille become Union leaders. Leonard's character trait and uprightness explains the book title, Bi Tirga. In the Moore language, this means a well educated, honest, hardworking, courageous and well-behaved youth.
Prison-reformation has been a controversial and politically charged issue in Kenya. In the past it has elicited such legendary and emotional responses as 'What reforms? Prisons are not supposed to be five star hotels!' Recently, however, there has been a greater consensus between the public sector and the civic society in Kenya - than has ever in the past - of the need to revisit the human rights of inmates in various Kenyan prisons. Since 2003 a number of ground breaking reforms have been introduced in Kenyan prisons and more reforms seem to be on the way. Jacqueline Korir in this book takes a serious and despassionate look into a single variable: the quality of catering in Kenyan prisons. Her findings were both shocking and challenging. The food was lacking in both nutritive value as well aesthetic appeal. The site of food samples was only reminiscent of a grotesque meaning of the famous Council in Church History - The Diet of Worms! This book, grounded, in empirical data analysis by hard statistics and backed by rare photographs from inside Kenyan prisons serves as an eye-opener to both the prison-reformists as well as students and teachers of African sociology and institutional catering all over the world.
Neoliberalism has become the dominant development agenda in Africa. Faced with a deep economic and political crisis, African governments have been compelled by powerful external agencies, in particular the Bretton Woods institutions and western states, to pursue this agenda as a necessary precondition for the receipt of development aid. What is particularly striking in Africa, however, is that neoliberal experiments there have displayed such remarkable diversity. This may be due not only to substantial differences in historical, economic and political trajectories on the African continent but also, and maybe more importantly, in the degree of resistance internal actors have demonstrated to the neoliberal reforms imposed on them. This book focuses on Cameroon which has had a complex economic and political history and is currently witnessing resistance to the neoliberal experiment by the authoritarian and neopatrimonial state elite and various civil-society groups. It is the culmination of over twenty years of fine and refined research by one of the leading scholars of Cameroon today.
Caprivi, the remote and narrow Namibian strip of land encapsulated by neighbouring Angola, Zambia and Botswana, has a contested colonial and postcolonial history. Bennett Kangumu traces the politics of its people in this complex borderlands since the late 19th century. Neglected by German and South African colonial administrations, its inhabitants were often pushed towards neighbouring territories though not being an integral part of them. At the same time, South African apartheid and homeland politics emphasised the ethnization of local identities. Becoming a strategic location in the ensuing liberation wars of the late 20th century, its history is often one of conquest and resistance, plunder, betrayal and rivalry. Kangumu shows how the inhabitants of Caprivi responded in various ways, notably in the form of regional nationalism when the Caprivi African National Union (CANU) was formed in the early 1960s. The Union?s merger with the dominant Namibian liberation movement, SWAPO, was a claim to end seperation and isolation, which, however, flarred up again in post-colonial Namibia.
Non-Europhone Intellectuals
(2011)
The history of Arabic writing spans a period of eight hundred years in sub-Saharan Africa. Hundreds of thousands of manuscripts in Arabic or Ajami (African languages written with the Arabic script) are preserved in public libraries and private collections in sub-Saharan Africa. This 'Islamic Library' includes historical, devotional, pedagogical, polemical and political writings, most of which have not yet been adequately studied. This book, Non-Europhone Intellectuals, studies the research carried out on the Islamic library and shows that Muslim intellectuals, in West Africa in particular, have produced huge literature in Arabic and Ajami. It is impossible to reconstitute this library completely. As the texts have existed for centuries and are mostly in the form of unpublished manuscripts, only some of them have been transmitted to us while others have perished because of poor conservation. Efforts toward collecting them continues and the documents collected thus far attest to an intense intellectual life and important debates on society that have been completely ignored by the overwhelming majority of Europhone intellectuals. During European colonial rule and after the independence of African nations, Islamic education experienced some neglect, but the Islamic scholarly tradition did not decline. On the contrary, it has prospered with the proliferation of modern Islamic schools and the rise of dozens of Islamic institutions of higher learning. In recent years, the field of Islamic studies in West Africa has continued to attract the attention of erudite scholars, notably in anthropology and history, who are investing in learning the languages and working on this Islamic archive. As more analytical works are done on this archive, there will be continued modification in terms of the debate on knowledge production in West Africa.
The Last Hope
(2011)
This play was written as part of an evaluation of Africa's oldest and most diverse rainforest conservation initiative in the Korup area, with the aim of highlighting and sharing some lessons learnt from the creation of the Korup National Park, through a period of full activity, to when activities were considerably reduced. It is a fine blend of the results of the evaluation and some carefully developed fictional, artistic materials for the achievement of an overall dramatic effect. Ekpe Inyang gives an informed artistic touch to achieve dramatic effects, succinctly relating the story of Cameroon's first rainforest national park, Korup.
Silent Voices
(2011)
This collection of poems spans a wide range of themes and subjects, including culture, politics, socio-economics, environment, and human rights. The poems are a reflection of Ekpe Inyang's close contact with and passionate observation of society, as well as his generous sharing of life experiences and personal philosophy. Ekpe's poetic journey started in 1992, and some of the poems in this collection have been published in national and internal newspapers, magazines, anthologies, and journals.
Through her Letters written to Friends, to her opponents: priests, magistrates, politicians, including the king, Elizabeth Hooton leaves a captivating testimony of her fights for and of her activism in quest of the Truth, Freedom, Justice and equity for all as well as peace on earth and within the Quaker movement. Hers was a fight and quest far from any guided by egoism pure and simple or by personal interest. She was driven by her interest in the common good of all and everywhere. In History of civilizations we have actors who fade away unnoticed or at times are just ignored whereas their contributions to the said civilizations as small as they might be have contributed tremendously in shaping without doubt the same civilizations. Elizabeth Hooton falls within this category of people whose contribution to contemporary English civilization and above all to the feminist movement can be read between the lines of the fragments of these letters; she wrote to her Friends and to the political leaders of England during an era of great changes which radically transformed the English society i.e. 17th Century England. She expresses herself in very caustic terms as a way of affirming the rights to equality of the oppressed woman and other marginals of the society of her time. She anchors her fight on the axis of a universal and Universalist quest for equality, a Quaker ideal.
Hermann Hoffmann (1819-1891) gilt als Pionier der Arealkunde und der Floristischen Kartierung auf Basis von Rasterfeldern. Seine "Nachträge zur Flora des Mittelrhein-Gebietes" erschienen in acht Folgen von 1879 bis 1889 und enthalten "bezifferte Täfelchen" (Erläuterung bei HOFFMANN 1879: 4), welche Vorläufer der heute üblichen Raster-Verbreitungskarten darstellen. Das von Hoffmann bearbeitete "Mittelrhein-Gebiet" umfasst einen quadratischen Ausschnitt Deutschlands, zu dem ein großer Teil des heutigen Bundeslandes Hessen sowie Teile angrenzender Bundesländer gehören (Nordrhein-Westfalen, Rheinland-Pfalz, Baden-Württemberg und Bayern, zudem in geringem Maße Saarland). Hoffmann unterteilte das Gebiet in 7 x 7 gleich große Rasterfelder, die jeweils einer Fläche von ungefähr 25 x 25 km entsprechen. Die "Nachträge" enthalten für etwa 580 Sippen Raster- Verbreitungskarten. Die erste Folge enthält nach einer Einleitung auch ein Ortsverzeichnis (S. 18-21) sowie ein "Systematisches Verzeichniß der aufgenommenen Arten" (S. 21-27). Die letzte Folge enthält ein "Schriften-Verzeichniß zur Flora des Mittelrhein-Gebietes (S. 23-32). Die Digitalisierung der entsprechenden Bände der Berichte der Oberhessischen Gesellschaft erfolgte im Rahmen des Projektes Biodiversity Heritage Library. Für das vorliegende Konvolut wurden die entsprechenden Bände heruntergeladen, die einzelnen Folgen der "Nachträge" wurden herausgeschnitten und zu einer einzigen PDF-Datei vereinigt.
Kerry Hammerton is a poet, writer and alternative health practitioner. She is a graduate of The University of the Witwatersrand (Johannesburg) and The College of Integrated Chinese Medicine (Reading, UK). Her poetry has been published in South African literary journals such as Carapace, New Contrast and New Coin, online at Litnet and Incwadi. She has also been a contributor to The Empty Tin Readings (May 2010) and The Poetry Project. These are the lies I told you is her fi rst poetry collection. Kerry has fewer wrinkles than she should have at her age - or so her friends tell her.
Broken Promises
(2011)
Ntombi's mom is out all the time with a new man, Zakes, leaving Ntombi to lookafter her little sister Zinzi. So Ntombi is missing practices for SA's 'Teen Voice' competition and the auditions are getting closer. Besides, Ntombi's keen to have her own fun, especially once she gets the attention of Mzi, one of Harmony High's hottest boys. But, what secrets are Zakes and Mzi hiding? How many promises will be broken before Ntombi finds out the truth?
Sugar Daddy
(2011)
Busi feels left out! Her friends have won a talent competition, but the only talent that she has is for being late for school! When she climbs out of a broken window at Harmony High and escapes onto the street her life is about to change. The smooth, handsome taxi driver, Parks, stops to pick her up and there is no going back. But, Busi soon finds herself out of her depth and realises that Parks has a secret he isn't sharing.
Cultural memory and narrative theology are well-known hallmarks of postmodern constructivist thought. The author's research into a century of Anglican history in the Mount Kenya region has helped to establish the little known village of Mutira on the world map of the history of Christianity in Africa. This book, a composition of African biographies and mission history, chronicles how the Anglican Church has carried out its work in Mutira area in the past 100 years.
Difficult Gifts
(2011)
Innerhalb einer Stadt bildet sich durch die dichte Bebauung und den erhöhten Energieumsatz gegenüber dem Umland ein davon deutlich abweichendes "Stadtklima" aus. Dieses ist beispielsweise durch eine höhere Temperatur in der Stadt gekennzeichnet, welche zur Ausbildung der sogenannten städtischen Wärmeinsel führt. Zudem lassen regionale Klimamodelle für die nächsten Jahrzehnte Klimaänderungen erwarten, die sich in den städtischen Ballungsräumen durch die Überlagerung mit der städtischen Wärmeinsel deutlich belastender auswirken als im Umland. Dies ist für die Menschen von elementarem Interesse, da bereits heute mehr als die Hälfte der Weltbevölkerung in Städten lebt. Der Klimawandel findet bereits statt: 60-jährige Messungen des Deutschen Wetterdienstes am Flughafen Frankfurt/Main belegen einen signifikanten Anstieg des Jahresmittels der Lufttemperatur von 0,35 °C pro Dekade. Die Anzahl der mittleren jährlichen Sommertage, das sind Tage an denen die Lufttemperatur 25 °C erreicht oder überschreitet, weist ebenfalls einen signifikanten Trend von 4,3 Tagen pro Dekade auf. Wenn dieser beobachtete Trend unverändert weiterginge, so wären für die Klimaperiode 2021 - 2050 durchschnittlich etwa 21 Sommertage pro Jahr mehr als in der Klimaperiode 1971 - 2000 zu erwarten. Eine zuverlässige Abschätzung muss jedoch die erwartete Änderung klimarelevanter Spurenstoffe berücksichtigen und daher auf den verfügbaren globalen und regionalen Klimaprojektionen basieren. Ziel der Untersuchung war es deshalb, auf der Basis von Projektionen regionaler Klimamodelle die Auswirkungen des Klimawandels für detaillierte Stadtstrukturen aufzuzeigen. Mit Hilfe eines Stadtklimamodells und der am Beispiel Frankfurt/Main entwickelten sogenannten „Quadermethode“ (Früh et al., 2011) konnte erstmals sowohl die vergangene als auch die zukünftige Wärmebelastung für Frankfurt am Main unter Berücksichtigung der vielfältigen Bebauungsstrukturen und sonstiger Flächennutzungen simuliert werden. Auch die klimatischen Auswirkungen der größeren Planungsvorhaben der Stadt wurden in diesem Zusammenhang untersucht. Auf der Grundlage des moderaten IPCC Emissionsszenarios A1B ergibt sich für das Stadtgebiet von Frankfurt bis zum Jahr 2050 eine Zunahme der mittleren jährlichen Anzahl von Sommertagen von derzeit etwa 44 Tagen pro Jahr, um weitere 5 bis 31 Tage. Damit wird Mitte des Jahrhunderts im Sommerhalbjahr jeder zweite bis vierte Tag in Frankfurt wärmer als 25 °C sein. Gleichzeitig wird auch die mittlere jährliche Anzahl "Sommerabende", das sind Abende an denen es um 22 Uhr noch mindestens 20 °C warm ist, um 5 bis 33 Tage ansteigen. Auch die Anzahl der "heißen Tage" mit einer Höchsttemperatur von mindestens 30 °C und der Tropennächte mit Lufttemperaturen, die nicht unter 20 °C sinken, wird deutlich zunehmen. Aufgrund der heute noch geringen Anzahl solcher Tage lassen sich für die Zukunft derzeit keine verlässlichen Aussagen treffen. Dies gilt auch für alle Untersuchungen, die für die Klimaperiode 2071 - 2100 durchgeführt wurden. Die Studie zeigt, dass die Zunahme der Sommertage bis Mitte des Jahrhunderts sich nicht signifikant zwischen dicht und locker bebauten Stadtteilen unterscheidet. Die Wärmebelastung wird also gleichermaßen stark zunehmen und zukünftig auch dort am höchsten sein wo sie es heute schon ist. Die Unterschiede zwischen Stadt und Umland werden sich aber nicht wie befürchtet verschärfen. Aber die Wahrscheinlichkeit, dass Hitzesommer – wie beispielsweise im Jahr 2003 – häufiger auftreten werden, nimmt bis Mitte des Jahrhunderts zu. Betrachtet man unterschiedliche Bebauungsstrukturen in Frankfurt, so belegen die Modellergebnisse zusätzlich, dass in dicht bebauten Gebieten, wie zum Beispiel der Innenstadt, die Wärmebelastung mit bis zu 54 Sommertagen pro Jahr bereits heute am stärksten ist. Hochhäuser, wie im Frankfurter Bankenviertel, können den Effekt dichter Bebauung zwar durch ihre abschattende Wirkung zumindest tagsüber etwas mildern. Da allerdings der Effekt der nächtlichen Wärmeinsel durch die Hochhäuser verstärkt wird, ist keineswegs als Anpassungsmaßnahme auf den Hochhausbau zu setzen. Neben den Auswirkungen der regionalen Klimaänderungen auf die Stadt werden auch die Auswirkungen bereits geplanter Veränderungen der Stadt untersucht. Dabei kann gezeigt werden, dass eine Umwandlung von bebauten Flächen in Grünflächen die durch den Klimawandel erwartete Zunahme an Sommertagen und -abenden etwa halbieren würde. Umgekehrt kann eine Verdichtung der Bebauung die erwartete Zunahme an Sommertagen und -abenden nahezu verdoppeln. Die Auswirkungen solcher Maßnahmen werden aber lokal sehr begrenzt sein. Um der erwarteten regionalen Klimaerwärmung im gesamten Stadtgebiet gegenzusteuern ist daher eine klimagünstige Gestaltung der Stadt in möglichst vielen Stadtbereichen notwendig. Parks und Grünanlagen nehmen unter zukünftigen Klimabedingungen somit in ihrer Bedeutung stark zu.
Conduit
(2011)
'These are poems of drowning and coming up again. Of surviving with lungs that breathe water and sunlight. These are poems of longing and loss. Of searching for a foothold in a world where all slides and changes. Sarah Frost is a new voice in South African poetry. A clear and strong and exciting voice. Read her.'- Kobus Moolman Sarah Frost is 37 years old and a single mother to a six year old boy. She works as an editor for Juta Legalbrief in Durban, South Africa. Sarah has been writing poetry for the past fourteen years. She has completed an MA in English Literature, and also a module on Creative Writing.
In most African countries, banana production has been consigned to subsistence production. However, a few countries, especially in Francophone West Africa, have recognised the commercial importance of banana, and have used their special relationship with France to export bananas. This has led to the dualization of the banana sector, with the traditional system existing side by side with a modern sector geared towards export trade. This book is one of the few comprehensive studies that have incorporated both the agronomic and economic aspects of banana production and marketing in Africa. It looks at all facets of banana production, from an historical perspective to the various traditional and modern technologies involved. The marketing aspect covers both the domestic and international trade, with emphasis on the preferential (ACP / DOM Lome Convention) and the open markets of the European Union. The book is a major contribution to understanding the internationalisation of the banana trade and to its ever-increasing investment portfolio, as the backbone of many a developing tropical economy. Although the emphasis is placed on Cameroon, other relevant African, tropical and subtropical banana-producing countries are mentioned where necessary, especially in the export sector where a degree of competition existed. Further, agricultural practices, soils, meteorological and climatological characteristics, pests and diseases, personnel and banana varieties grown, mean that findings in Cameroon are of relevance to other banana-producing countries, especially in Africa. Meanwhile, other African and tropical countries still contemplating entry into banana exports would benefit from the Cameroon experience. The book is of especial relevance to agronomists, entomologists, economists, farm managers, government policy makers, large, medium and small scale banana growers, and students and teachers in universities and schools of agriculture.
This report is an in-depth study of electoral commissions in six countries of West Africa - Benin, Cape Verde, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone - assessing their contribution in strengthening political participation in the region. As institutions that apply the rules governing elections, electoral management bodies (EMBs) have occupied, over the last two decades, the heart of discussion and practice on the critical question of effective citizen participation in the public affairs of their countries. The way in which they are established and the effectiveness of their operations have continued to preoccupy those who advocate for competitive elections, while reforms to the EMBs have taken centre stage in more general political reforms. Election Management Bodies in West Africa thus responds to the evident need for more knowledge about an institution that occupies a more and more important place in the political process in West Africa. Based on documentary research and detailed interviews in each country, the study provides a comparative analysis which highlights the similarities and differences in the structure and operations of each body, and attempts to establish the reasons for their comparative successes and failures.
Im Kontext des Wandels des fordistischen Wohlfahrtsstaates, hin zu einer neoliberalen Formation von Staatlichkeit, werden seit den 1980er Jahren Veränderungen der sozioökonomischen
Strukturen von Städten, wie auch innerhalb des Städtesystems, beobachtet. Das politische Argumentationsmuster der Städtekonkurrenz ist ein Resultat dieser Veränderung, wobei
es in die Verantwortungen der Städte verlagert wird, sich als Standort profilieren zu müssen, indem Aufwertungsmaßnahmen durchgeführt und städtische Potenziale ausgebaut werden
(Heeg und Rosol 2007: 492). Bob Jessop spricht in diesem Zusammenhang von einer Naturalisierung der neoliberalen Prinzipien, die auf der Ebene der Stadt zur Folge hat, dass Städte als chancengleich und damit selbstverantwortlich für ihre ökonomische Lage, d.h. für ihr Wohlergehen und die Möglichkeit attraktive Orte für Unternehmen und Bevölkerung zu sein, gesehen werden (Jessop 2002: 468). Folglich verschieben sich auch die Prioritäten der Stadtplanung,
so dass nicht mehr die Versorgung der Bevölkerung und der Abbau von sozialräumlichen Disparitäten als Ziel der Stadtplanung an erster Stelle stehen, sondern das Hauptziel
zunehmend darin besteht, die fiskalische und wirtschaftliche Wettbewerbsfähigkeit der Städte selbst zu erhalten (Schneider-Sliwa 1996: 318). Um im Wettbewerb zu bestehen, gilt es eine prosperierende, attraktive Innenstadt als Aushängeschild der Stadt vorweisen zu können bzw.
herzustellen.
In Rüsselheim wird die Situation der Innenstadt, gemessen an der wirtschaftlichen Lage, momentan sehr negativ beurteilt. Auch Zeitungsartikel zeichnen ein pessimistisches Bild der
Rüsselsheimer Innenstadt1: So druckt die Frankfurter Rundschau, um ein Beispiel heraus zu greifen, eine großformatige Kollage, bestehend aus den Schaufenstern der vielen leerstehenden Ladenflächen (Frankfurter Rundschau 27/28.02.10: R24). Die Sanierung der Innenstadt befindet sich bereits seit den 1990er Jahren in der Vorbereitung. Von der Stadt in Auftrag gegebene Studien attestieren dem gesamten öffentlichen Raum eine erhebliche Beeinträchtigung seiner Funktion als Geschäftsstandort, da die städtebauliche Gestalt nicht der für den Einzelhandel erforderlichen Aufenthaltsqualität und Atmosphäre gerecht wird. Dem soll mit umfassenden Sanierungsmaßnahmen begegnet werden, die als Antwort auf den Städtewettbewerb und die Standortkonkurrenz zu verstehen sind, in denen sich die Stadt besser aufstellen möchte. Die Planungen sind, so meine These, ausgerichtet auf eine Zielgruppe, die noch nicht vor Ort ist, d.h. Maßnahmen sollen die Stadt, insbesondere die Innenstadt, für eine „gewünschte Bevölkerung― erst attraktiv machen. Die derzeitigen Nutzungen und BewohnerInnen entsprechen nicht den Vorstellungen einer repräsentablen Innenstadt, worauf mit einer Umdefinition des Stadtraumes reagiert wird, um bestimmte Nutzungen zu verdrängen. In meiner Diplomarbeit möchte ich mich mit dem Diskurs um die Innenstadtsanierung in Rüsselsheim beschäftigen. Rüsselsheim erscheint mir für dieses Vorhaben sehr interessant, da sich die Diskussionen in dem großen Widerspruch zwischen Hoffnungen und Visionen für die Planung mit dem Ziel der Herstellung einer prosperierenden Stadt und der Ohnmacht, ob der unlösbaren (finanziellen) Situation, bewegen. Zudem spielt das Verhältnis der Stadt zu Opel eine Rolle, da die Wahrnehmung der Stadt verknüpft ist mit der Wahrnehmung der Situation
des Unternehmens Opel und auch Stadtentwicklung und Unternehmensentwicklung miteinander verschränkt sind, was sich im Stadtbild wieder findet. Womöglich lässt das den Diskurs um Planungen im Bezug auf den Wandel vom Fordismus zum Postfordismus besonders deutlich zu Tage treten, da Rüsselsheim zu Zeiten des Fordismus massiv expandierte und heute in diesem Zusammenhang stehende, strukturelle Probleme zu bearbeiten hat. Diese Situation ist mitbestimmend für die Diskussion um die durchzuführenden Sanierungsmaßnahmen.
Tanzania has been independent in 2011 for 50 years. While most neighbouring states have gone through violent conflicts, Tanzania has managed to implement extensive reforms without armed political conflicts, Hence, Tanzania is an interesting case for Peace and Development research. This dissertation analyses the political development in Tanzania since the introduction of the multiparty system in 1992, with a focus on the challenges for the democratisation process in connection with the 2000 and 2005 elections. The question of to what extent Tanzania had moved towards a consolidation of democracy, is analysed by looking at nine different institutions of importance for democratisation grouped in four spheres: the state, the political, civil and economic society. Focus is on the development of the political society, and the role of the opposition in particular. The analysis is based on secondary and primary material collected between September 2000 to April 2010. The main conclusion is that even if the institutions of liberal democracy have gradually developed, in practice single-party rule has continued, manifested in the 2005 election when the CCM won 92% of seats. Despite impressive economic growth, poverty remains deep and has not been substantially reduced. On a theoretical level this brings the old debate between liberal and substantive democracy back to the fore. Neither the economic nor the political reforms have brought about a transformation of the political and economic system resulting in the poor majority gaining substantially more political influence and improved economic conditions. Hence, it is argued that the interface between the economic, political and administrative reforms has not been sufficiently considered in the liberal democratic tradition. Liberal democracy is necessary for a democratic development, but not sufficient for democracy to be consolidated. For that a substantive democratic development is necessary.
This study explores the nationalist imagination, artistic philosophy and the overtly political dimension of Remi Raji's poetry. It is an attempt to construct a sustained critical discourse on Raji's ongoing body of works. Raji is one of the major poetic voices on the Nigerian literary scene today. With the publication of his first collection, A Harvest of Laughters, in 1997 Raji has continued to strengthen his craft and vision through subsequent volumes: Webs of Remembrance (2000), Shuttlesongs: America - a Poetic Guided Tour (2003), Lovesong for My Wasteland (2005); and Gather My Blood Rivers of Song (2009). Evidently he has attained poetic maturity and, given the frequency of his output, is set to realise a fulfilled poetic career. His maturation thus far through these five volumes deserves a major critical assessment, and a possible prediction for the direction of his artistic vision.
Zhero
(2011)
An inspiring and intriguing tale of heroism, Zhero's quest for education and self-worth takes him from the rustic village of Amabra to the cities of Port Harcourt and Lagos. Armed with a determination to succeed against all odds, his quest unearths a malignant problem in the society, which is the degradation and loss of human values. Vincent Egbuson's book is compendium of issues pervading contemporary Nigerian society. It beckons on its readers to emulate acts of kindness and self-sacrifice.
Jealous in Jozi
(2011)
Ntombi travels to Jozi for the finals of the Teen Voice competition. But it is not a bed of roses. She has left her boyfriend, Olwethu in Cape Town. Her jealous little sister Zinzi is out to make trouble while she's away. And, she must deal with the other contestants she's up against: the cool, talented and gorgeous Alex and the nasty twins, Lindiwe and Sindiwe. Thank goodness her room mate Mahlodi can help her make sense of her confusing emotions. (This is a sequel to Broken Promises.)
Shadows
(2011)
Shadows, as the title insinuates, splits open and lays bare the frightening vision of humanity, the heart of man depressed, a veritable inferno in which there is little to be enjoyed and everything to be endured, as all is vanity, a gnawing emptiness. Nothing is but what it seems. Simple but without being simplistic, there is in the damp climate of Doh's poetry broken promises, displaced emotional centres, a pervading sense of doom, of impending disaster, and a total helplessness reminiscent of Plato's proverbial mythical cave in which all reality is but shadow, devoid of substance, with the observer chained to the walls of his feelings, beliefs, and unfulfilled ambitions. The second section, Celebration, is, however, a source of warmth, of light, the sun's rays in an otherwise damp and and dark collection.
The advent of formal independence in former French colonies in Black Africa meant the dawn of a new era: the struggle against neocolonialism. African students rallying around this struggle became new strangers and targets for expulsion out of France. The French government of the time resorted, therefore, to massive expulsions against their labour and political organizations. The implementation in 1956 of the Loi-cadre Gaston Defferre ? meant to divide up Black Africa under French dominion ? and the ensuing explosion of the two great AOF and AEF federations along with the cancellation of scholarship federal commissions will considerably weaken the Fédération des étudiants d?Afrique noire en France (FEANF) [African Student Federation in France] in favour of territorial sections. This meant that African governments were to take charge of their own students. In turn, the former used their embassies and scholarship territorial commissions to squelch those student organizations that were hostile to their collaboration with the French authorities. Among the repressive strategies were the cancellation of scholarships and grants to hotels and residences that were reserved for their students (La Maison de la Côte d?Ivoire, du Gabon, de la Haute Volta, du Congo, d?AOF), the creation of pro-government associations such as that of the Senegalese Progressive Union (UPS), the Student Movement for the African and Malagasy Organization (MEOCAM), and the National Union for Students of Côte d?Ivoire (UNECI). This marked the beginning of the decline of the Fédération des étudiants d?Afrique noire en France (FEANF). The worm had entered the fruit of unity with the implementation of the Loi-cadre.
The struggle for independence and the unity of African countries was at its peak during the period between 1945 and 1960. These testing times turned out to be the formative years of the young Amady Aly Dieng, and set the stage for an eventful life of commitment and challenges of all sorts for someone who ? along with other young African students, many of whom later became leaders of their respective countries ? integrated the leadership of student organizations in France, honing his militant skills at the forefront of the intellectual and political struggle for independence and the unity of the nascent sovereign nations. Amady Aly Dieng?s memoirs are primarily meant to inspire young Africans toward taking action towards true independence and development. These memoirs reflect the historic evolution of youth militancy in Africa and are to serve as an inspiration to leaders of Africa today and tomorrow.
L'Evad de K... derives from a true story. The story begins with a flash back showing the hero in jail. Cegalo, an adolescent, lives in a difficult family. His father is a kind of headsman unable to educate his son. He strongly believes in the virtue of violence as a means of educating. The son ends up in delinquency. Robbery of tourists, especially white men is his favourite activity. After a hold-up, he is arrested and kept in custody. Unable to control him, the prison authorities decide to send him to the famous Prison of K...This prison is the most secure of the country and nobody has ever escaped from it. In order to survive, many prisoners are condemned to eat all that they can find, even mice. The law in that jungle is 'kill before you are killed'. During a nightmare, his late grandmother appears and orders him to return to his village. It's the beginning of a fantastic and dreadful adventure. He decides to escape from the Prison of K... He succeeds and after covering 300 km on foot, disguised as a mad man to avoid policemen. His aim is quite simple. He wants to return to jail in order to be judged normally, according to the new penal procedure code in force. He kidnaps the Senior Divisional Officer, the Attorney at law and the prison chief and returns to the cell. After the judgement, he is set free. He reconciles with his parents and above all finds Rosy, his childhood love.
In the atmosphere of suspicion and anger that characterizes our time, it is a joy to hear the voice of Iqbal, both passionate and serene. It is the voice of a soul that is deeply anchored in the Quranic Revelation, and precisely for that reason, open to all the other voices, seeking in them the path of his own fidelity. It is the voice of a man who has left behind all identitarian rigidity, who has 'broken all the idols of tribe and caste' to address himself to all human beings. But an unhappy accident has meant that this voice was buried, both in the general forgetting of Islamic modernism and in the very country that he named before its existence, Pakistan, whose multiple rigidities - political, religious, military - constitute a continual refutation of the very essence of his thought. But we all need to hear him again, citizens of the West, Muslims, and those from his native India, where a form of Hindu chauvinism rages in our times, in a way that exceeds his worst fears. Souleymane Bachir Diagne has done all of us an immense favor in making this voice heard once again, clear and convincing. - Charles Taylor, Professor, McGill University Quebec, Canada
This book on Professor Samir Amin retraces his family origins, intellectual itinerary, political struggles as well as his experience in economic policy formulation in Egypt, Mali and many other countries. The fundamentals which shaped Samir Amin's thinking, directed his life-long work and influenced his action spawned from his early discovery in high school of Marxism and Historical Materialism, used as a scientific analysis of the history of human societies. This book also highlights Samir Amin's invaluable contribution to the struggle against capitalism through his indefatigable fight to deconstruct the concepts that are used to disguise the true face of historical capitalism, which is nothing but an unabashed pursuit for accumulation and dispossession of dominated countries and peoples. Through a series of interviews with Samir Amin, the author unravels the poignant and great ideas which have been at the heart of his intellectual and political fight for the last half century. The author also provides a selection of texts which includes an exhaustive bibliography, with all published writings of Samir Amin in French. This rich work is meant for a large readership - students, researchers, teachers, political leaders and citizens who are interested in the phenomenon of globalisation and its impact on the so-called 'under-developed countries.
Universities and economic development in Africa: Pact, academic core and coordination draws together evidence and synthesises the findings from eight African case studies. The three key findings presented in this report are as follows: 1. There is a lack of clarity and agreement (pact) about a development model and the role of higher education in development, at both national and institutional levels. There is, however, an increasing awareness, particularly at government level, of the importance of universities in the global context of the knowledge economy. 2. Research production at the eight African universities is not strong enough to enable them to build on their traditional undergraduate teaching roles and make a sustained contribution to development via new knowledge production. A number of universities have manageable student-staff ratios and adequately qualifi ed staff, but inadequate funds for staff to engage in research. In addition, the incentive regimes do not support knowledge production. 3. In none of the countries in the sample is there a coordinated effort between government, external stakeholders and the university to systematically strengthen the contribution that the university can make to development. While at each of the universities there are exemplary development projects that connect strongly to external stakeholders and strengthen the academic core, the challenge is how to increase the number of these projects. The project on which this report is based forms part of a larger study on Higher Education and Economic Development in Africa, undertaken by the Higher Education Research and Advocacy Network in Africa (HERANA). HERANA is coordinated by the Centre for Higher Education Transformation in South Africa.
Removing
(2011)
Melissa Butler lives in Cape Town and Pittsburgh, PA. In the US, she teaches kindergarten. In South Africa, she writes and works with pre schools in the Eastern Cape. She has a Masters degree in Curriculum Theory from Penn State University and a Masters degree in Creative Writing from the University of Cape Town. This is her first book of poetry.
The Dialectics of Praxis and Theoria in African Philosophy : An Essay on Cultural Hermeneutics
(2011)
This book is a clarion call for African renaissance informed by African spirituality. It develops the vision that Africans can be the same in the process of change. Africans have to coincide with their ways of perceiving values, and to retrieve their identity wiped out by regrettable historical events. Even in this involvement of revalorisation of their stifled ways, Africans have to be aware of the fact that history has evolved and new human environments are taking place. Any attempt to recover African personality involves a triple necessity. First, to remember the past, second, to analyse critically what Africans have inherited from their past, and lastly, to project new ways and means for a genuine renaissance, free from alienation and exploitation. Bin-Kapela sees in Cultural hermeneutics an appropriate philosophical method to achieve this end of recognising and projecting African spirituality as a universal value.