Pub Date : 2023-11-17DOI: 10.1163/2031356x-20230208
Leen De Nutte
Given the far-reaching and long-term impact of collective violence and the post-conflict setting on the entire social ecology of children, this doctoral research explores how caregivers experience and negotiate the changes in children’s upbringing during and after collective violence, and how they receive support therein. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 59 caregivers and eight social workers living in post-conflict Kitgum District, northern Uganda, between 2014 and 2016. We gained important insights about the ways individuals, families and communities had coped with and adjusted their individual and communal worlds as a result of living under protracted war and armed conflict, spanning different generations and settings (i.e., forced displacement and encampment, captivity and post-war villages). We further illustrate how post-conflict return and reintegration following forced displacement, encampment and/or captivity can be regarded as complex and ongoing processes, which play out on different relational and structural levels and take place in a changed and changing social landscape.
{"title":"Upbringing in a Context of Prolonged Collective Violence: Lived Experiences of Caregivers in Northern Uganda","authors":"Leen De Nutte","doi":"10.1163/2031356x-20230208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/2031356x-20230208","url":null,"abstract":"Given the far-reaching and long-term impact of collective violence and the post-conflict setting on the entire social ecology of children, this doctoral research explores how caregivers experience and negotiate the changes in children’s upbringing during and after collective violence, and how they receive support therein. Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions were conducted with 59 caregivers and eight social workers living in post-conflict Kitgum District, northern Uganda, between 2014 and 2016. We gained important insights about the ways individuals, families and communities had coped with and adjusted their individual and communal worlds as a result of living under protracted war and armed conflict, spanning different generations and settings (i.e., forced displacement and encampment, captivity and post-war villages). We further illustrate how post-conflict return and reintegration following forced displacement, encampment and/or captivity can be regarded as complex and ongoing processes, which play out on different relational and structural levels and take place in a changed and changing social landscape.","PeriodicalId":32512,"journal":{"name":"Afrika Focus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139263689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-17DOI: 10.1163/2031356x-20230207
O. Chete
Youths have been found to lack interest in agricultural activities. This study investigated rural youth involvement in oil palm processing in Okitipupa local government area, Nigeria. Quantitative data were obtained from 120 rural youths through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Chi-square and correlation analysis were used to test the relationships between socio-economic characteristics, constraints on operations and the involvement of rural youth in oil palm processing. The mean age of respondents was 31 years; they were mostly single (65.0%) and literate (95.0%). Bad roads (x̅ = 2.98) and high cost of transportation (x̅ = 2.91) were the most severe constraints confronted by the respondents. Gender (χ2 = −32.85, p = 0.001) and years of education (χ2 = 96.51, p = 0.002) had a significant positive relationship with involvement in oil palm processing activities. Poor processing equipment (r = −0.38, p = 0.00) and bad roads (r = −0.40, p = 0.04) had a negative correlation with involvement in oil palm processing activities. Rehabilitation of road networks and access to innovative methods would improve involvement in oil palm processing activities.
{"title":"Rural Youth Involvement in Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq) Processing in Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo State, Nigeria","authors":"O. Chete","doi":"10.1163/2031356x-20230207","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/2031356x-20230207","url":null,"abstract":"Youths have been found to lack interest in agricultural activities. This study investigated rural youth involvement in oil palm processing in Okitipupa local government area, Nigeria. Quantitative data were obtained from 120 rural youths through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Chi-square and correlation analysis were used to test the relationships between socio-economic characteristics, constraints on operations and the involvement of rural youth in oil palm processing. The mean age of respondents was 31 years; they were mostly single (65.0%) and literate (95.0%). Bad roads (x̅ = 2.98) and high cost of transportation (x̅ = 2.91) were the most severe constraints confronted by the respondents. Gender (χ2 = −32.85, p = 0.001) and years of education (χ2 = 96.51, p = 0.002) had a significant positive relationship with involvement in oil palm processing activities. Poor processing equipment (r = −0.38, p = 0.00) and bad roads (r = −0.40, p = 0.04) had a negative correlation with involvement in oil palm processing activities. Rehabilitation of road networks and access to innovative methods would improve involvement in oil palm processing activities.","PeriodicalId":32512,"journal":{"name":"Afrika Focus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139265277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-17DOI: 10.1163/2031356x-20230211
Juliana M. Pistorius, Yves T’Sjoen, Alwyn Roux
Amid mounting assaults on political freedom and self-determination – both on the African continent and further afield, the work of the Pan-African Gorée Institute for Democracy, Development and Culture in Africa is more urgent than ever. This article reflects on the first thirty years of the Institute’s existence. It pays special attention to gorin’s creative projects, developed under the motto ‘Imagine Africa’, and reflects on South African poet Breyten Breytenbach’s formative role in the establishment of gorin’s cultural activities. The article concludes with a call for renewed engagement with gorin’s pan-African democratic endeavours.
{"title":"The Pan-African Gorée Institute at Thirty: A Tribute to Breyten Breytenbach and the Power of the Imagination","authors":"Juliana M. Pistorius, Yves T’Sjoen, Alwyn Roux","doi":"10.1163/2031356x-20230211","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/2031356x-20230211","url":null,"abstract":"Amid mounting assaults on political freedom and self-determination – both on the African continent and further afield, the work of the Pan-African Gorée Institute for Democracy, Development and Culture in Africa is more urgent than ever. This article reflects on the first thirty years of the Institute’s existence. It pays special attention to gorin’s creative projects, developed under the motto ‘Imagine Africa’, and reflects on South African poet Breyten Breytenbach’s formative role in the establishment of gorin’s cultural activities. The article concludes with a call for renewed engagement with gorin’s pan-African democratic endeavours.","PeriodicalId":32512,"journal":{"name":"Afrika Focus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139263541","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-17DOI: 10.1163/2031356x-20230210
Heidi Goes
My doctoral dissertation is aimed at gaining a better understanding of how the Kikongo Language Cluster (klc) as we know it today was shaped through time, with a special focus on Cabinda, Angola. It does so by adopting a historical-comparative linguistic approach to phonological, morphophonological and morphological variation which current-day language varieties manifest, both among each other and with regard to historical varieties for which documentation is available. This diachronic study spanning nearly four centuries complements earlier studies on the history of the klc within the BantUGent research group, especially the lexicon-based phylogenetic classifications. It has relied on the vast, multifaceted and long-range documentation on the klc accumulated since the KongoKing project (2012–2016) and continued during the BantuFirst project (2018–2023). The PhD thesis is cumulative, including four articles pertaining to (1) Bantu spirantisation and 7 > 5 vowel reduction, (2) progressive vowel harmony involving verb derivational suffixes, (3) the broader morphophonology of the verb ending *-ide, and (4) diminutive marking. These articles are preceded by an introduction including several original-language maps of Cabinda and other data from several fieldwork missions. The conclusion offers answers to the dissertation’s four main research questions, three pertaining to the historical development of the klc and one to the planned promotion across Cabinda of the standardised language Ibinda.
{"title":"A Historical-Comparative Approach to the Kikongo Language Cluster, with a Special Focus on Cabinda","authors":"Heidi Goes","doi":"10.1163/2031356x-20230210","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/2031356x-20230210","url":null,"abstract":"My doctoral dissertation is aimed at gaining a better understanding of how the Kikongo Language Cluster (klc) as we know it today was shaped through time, with a special focus on Cabinda, Angola. It does so by adopting a historical-comparative linguistic approach to phonological, morphophonological and morphological variation which current-day language varieties manifest, both among each other and with regard to historical varieties for which documentation is available. This diachronic study spanning nearly four centuries complements earlier studies on the history of the klc within the BantUGent research group, especially the lexicon-based phylogenetic classifications. It has relied on the vast, multifaceted and long-range documentation on the klc accumulated since the KongoKing project (2012–2016) and continued during the BantuFirst project (2018–2023). The PhD thesis is cumulative, including four articles pertaining to (1) Bantu spirantisation and 7 > 5 vowel reduction, (2) progressive vowel harmony involving verb derivational suffixes, (3) the broader morphophonology of the verb ending *-ide, and (4) diminutive marking. These articles are preceded by an introduction including several original-language maps of Cabinda and other data from several fieldwork missions. The conclusion offers answers to the dissertation’s four main research questions, three pertaining to the historical development of the klc and one to the planned promotion across Cabinda of the standardised language Ibinda.","PeriodicalId":32512,"journal":{"name":"Afrika Focus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139263896","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-17DOI: 10.1163/2031356x-20230205
Dap Louw, Christa Beyers
The importance of teachers in a child’s development is well known. However, relatively little research has been conducted on their influence on a child’s psycho-emotional development, and almost none on long-term negative effects. This study aimed to add to the much-needed data in this regard. It focused on 115 respondents in Free State province, South Africa. The respondents consisted of primary and high school teachers, ranging in age from 20 to older than 65 (sd = 10.84). More female (n = 81, 70%) than male (n = 34, 30%) respondents participated, and most were white (n = 92, 80%). A mixed-methods research design was employed, making use of a self-compiled questionnaire. More than 50% of the respondents indicated that they continue to experience psycho-emotional impacts such as depression and feelings of inferiority inflicted by teachers many years prior. Limitations of the study are discussed, and recommendations are made on how to address this important problem.
{"title":"Exploring Negative Teacher Behaviour towards Learners: The Long-Term Psycho-Emotional Effects","authors":"Dap Louw, Christa Beyers","doi":"10.1163/2031356x-20230205","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/2031356x-20230205","url":null,"abstract":"The importance of teachers in a child’s development is well known. However, relatively little research has been conducted on their influence on a child’s psycho-emotional development, and almost none on long-term negative effects. This study aimed to add to the much-needed data in this regard. It focused on 115 respondents in Free State province, South Africa. The respondents consisted of primary and high school teachers, ranging in age from 20 to older than 65 (sd = 10.84). More female (n = 81, 70%) than male (n = 34, 30%) respondents participated, and most were white (n = 92, 80%). A mixed-methods research design was employed, making use of a self-compiled questionnaire. More than 50% of the respondents indicated that they continue to experience psycho-emotional impacts such as depression and feelings of inferiority inflicted by teachers many years prior. Limitations of the study are discussed, and recommendations are made on how to address this important problem.","PeriodicalId":32512,"journal":{"name":"Afrika Focus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139265190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-17DOI: 10.1163/2031356x-20230203
Stuart Garfield Strauss
The huge number of learners dropping out of the formal schooling system has a significant impact on the ever-increasing unemployment rate in South Africa, which can be perceived as a major reason for numerous parents and caregivers living in dire poverty. Learners from socio-economically deprived areas rarely have access to educational resources and literacy materials and neither do most of them attend schools that do. This post-apartheid South African reality has given rise to an education system which is marred by inequality, exposing the masses of learners from rural areas, townships and other under-resourced locations to difficult and complex challenges at institutions of learning. One such challenge, as emphasised by scholars like Howie (2017) and Spaull (2013), relates to learners’ poor performance in literacy-related tasks, especially when participating in continental and international evaluation programmes. Within the context of these literacy challenges, this study explored the literacy and language practices of students, lecturers and other role-players at a higher education institute in the Western Cape, particularly to establish how these role-players negotiate the challenges relating to their educational interactions. In order to contribute to the study of literacy and language practices at this selected higher education institution, this study deemed it necessary to not only focus on students who are currently studying, but to also include teachers who completed their teacher training four decades ago at the same institution. In this way, the article provides insight into past and present role-players’ engagement with literacy and language as learners, students, teachers and lecturers at the educational institutions they attended. Using a qualitative approach to data collection, the study involved conducting focus groups and semi-structured interviews to gather data relating to participants’ schooling histories, their challenges with language and literacy, and their perception of their educational futures. The data emanating from these methodological approaches are analysed and interpreted, followed by a presentation of the findings with suggestions for future research.
{"title":"Exploring the Language and Literacy Challenges of Entry-Level Education Students and Experienced Teachers at a South African University: A Stance-Taking Analysis","authors":"Stuart Garfield Strauss","doi":"10.1163/2031356x-20230203","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/2031356x-20230203","url":null,"abstract":"The huge number of learners dropping out of the formal schooling system has a significant impact on the ever-increasing unemployment rate in South Africa, which can be perceived as a major reason for numerous parents and caregivers living in dire poverty. Learners from socio-economically deprived areas rarely have access to educational resources and literacy materials and neither do most of them attend schools that do. This post-apartheid South African reality has given rise to an education system which is marred by inequality, exposing the masses of learners from rural areas, townships and other under-resourced locations to difficult and complex challenges at institutions of learning. One such challenge, as emphasised by scholars like Howie (2017) and Spaull (2013), relates to learners’ poor performance in literacy-related tasks, especially when participating in continental and international evaluation programmes. Within the context of these literacy challenges, this study explored the literacy and language practices of students, lecturers and other role-players at a higher education institute in the Western Cape, particularly to establish how these role-players negotiate the challenges relating to their educational interactions. In order to contribute to the study of literacy and language practices at this selected higher education institution, this study deemed it necessary to not only focus on students who are currently studying, but to also include teachers who completed their teacher training four decades ago at the same institution. In this way, the article provides insight into past and present role-players’ engagement with literacy and language as learners, students, teachers and lecturers at the educational institutions they attended. Using a qualitative approach to data collection, the study involved conducting focus groups and semi-structured interviews to gather data relating to participants’ schooling histories, their challenges with language and literacy, and their perception of their educational futures. The data emanating from these methodological approaches are analysed and interpreted, followed by a presentation of the findings with suggestions for future research.","PeriodicalId":32512,"journal":{"name":"Afrika Focus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139263531","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-17DOI: 10.1163/2031356x-20230206
Mahlompho P. Talasi, V. Thebe
This article explores the low absorption of male labour in Lesotho’s textile industry. The research adopted a qualitative approach to interrogate dynamics in the industry and perspectives from social actors, including textile employees, key individuals and members of society. It revealed that the dynamics of change in the industry, particularly the technological leaps achieved by some factories, have created opportunities for men but have not necessarily resulted in changes in societal gender stereotypes, namely how society defines specific occupations as either masculine or feminine. Men working in textiles encounter barriers related to widespread and unchallenged stereotypes, characterised by denigration and feminisation by sections of society. The article concludes by alluding to the significance of paying attention to gender stereotypes embedded in societal and historical dynamics in seeking to understand the situation of men in the industry, and the potential implications of the introduction of technology in the industry.
{"title":"“Basali ba lifemeng”:1 Gender Stereotyping and the Low Absorption of Male Labour in Lesotho’s Textile Industry","authors":"Mahlompho P. Talasi, V. Thebe","doi":"10.1163/2031356x-20230206","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/2031356x-20230206","url":null,"abstract":"This article explores the low absorption of male labour in Lesotho’s textile industry. The research adopted a qualitative approach to interrogate dynamics in the industry and perspectives from social actors, including textile employees, key individuals and members of society. It revealed that the dynamics of change in the industry, particularly the technological leaps achieved by some factories, have created opportunities for men but have not necessarily resulted in changes in societal gender stereotypes, namely how society defines specific occupations as either masculine or feminine. Men working in textiles encounter barriers related to widespread and unchallenged stereotypes, characterised by denigration and feminisation by sections of society. The article concludes by alluding to the significance of paying attention to gender stereotypes embedded in societal and historical dynamics in seeking to understand the situation of men in the industry, and the potential implications of the introduction of technology in the industry.","PeriodicalId":32512,"journal":{"name":"Afrika Focus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139265167","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-17DOI: 10.1163/2031356x-20230204
Robin Jilesen, M. Wegerif
This article examines the impacts of climate- and environment-related adversity on migration from other sub-Saharan African countries to the prominent migration destination of South Africa. It describes factors and processes influencing migration decisions and identifies migration policy implications. Information was gathered through in-depth qualitative research conducted with 20 migrants now residing in South Africa’s Gauteng province, as well as interviews with key informants with expertise on migration and climate change and a review of existing literature. The principal finding is that although climatic and environmental stresses are not the primary drivers of migration, they play important direct and indirect contributing roles, often intersecting with economic, political, social and demographic drivers. Whether people respond to adverse conditions by migrating depends on the obstacles and facilitating factors, personal and household characteristics, and expectations of the destination. National and international migration policies need to more comprehensively address these increasingly important determinants of migration.
{"title":"Climate, Environment and Migration: Experiences of Migrants in South Africa","authors":"Robin Jilesen, M. Wegerif","doi":"10.1163/2031356x-20230204","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/2031356x-20230204","url":null,"abstract":"This article examines the impacts of climate- and environment-related adversity on migration from other sub-Saharan African countries to the prominent migration destination of South Africa. It describes factors and processes influencing migration decisions and identifies migration policy implications. Information was gathered through in-depth qualitative research conducted with 20 migrants now residing in South Africa’s Gauteng province, as well as interviews with key informants with expertise on migration and climate change and a review of existing literature. The principal finding is that although climatic and environmental stresses are not the primary drivers of migration, they play important direct and indirect contributing roles, often intersecting with economic, political, social and demographic drivers. Whether people respond to adverse conditions by migrating depends on the obstacles and facilitating factors, personal and household characteristics, and expectations of the destination. National and international migration policies need to more comprehensively address these increasingly important determinants of migration.","PeriodicalId":32512,"journal":{"name":"Afrika Focus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139266315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-11-17DOI: 10.1163/2031356x-20230209
Merkebu Getachew
According to model projections, coffee cultivation areas will need to move to higher elevations as suitability moves upslope to compensate for increased temperatures. However, shifting coffee-growing areas upslope may bring conflicts with land use and crops other than coffee and induce adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts associated with deforestation for new coffee cultivation. Moreover, model projections are largely limited to ex-situ experiments based on downscaled global climate models, and thus empirical data are still needed to assess climate change impacts on coffee production in Ethiopia in the future. Furthermore, conditions such as shade tree canopy closure, soil fertility and elevation may either ameliorate or exacerbate climate change impacts. In the absence of significant interventions, this could result in considerable land use change, increased vulnerability of coffee-dependent livelihoods and a potential shortage of coffee supply. Hence, to generate trustworthy and accurate information for climate-resilient Ethiopian coffee production, more field-based experiments are needed. In this PhD thesis, I used coffee plants growing at contrasting elevations using a space-for-time substitution approach for warming in south-west Ethiopia. The coffee plants were superimposed under various shade tree species with multi-strata canopy architecture. The potential of increasing canopy closure in modulating responses to increasing temperature, and the associated effect on coffee plant traits, green bean quality and biochemistry, were thoroughly explored. Based on my findings, I was able to identify potential limiting factors, to close the coffee quality gap by providing improved management recommendations tailored to the local ecological conditions while acknowledging the dynamic drivers (mainly resource availability and climatic variability) for the long-term sustainability of the coffee industry.
{"title":"Coffee Leaf Traits, Bean Quality and Biochemistry across Elevation and Shade Gradients in Ethiopia","authors":"Merkebu Getachew","doi":"10.1163/2031356x-20230209","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/2031356x-20230209","url":null,"abstract":"According to model projections, coffee cultivation areas will need to move to higher elevations as suitability moves upslope to compensate for increased temperatures. However, shifting coffee-growing areas upslope may bring conflicts with land use and crops other than coffee and induce adverse socio-economic and environmental impacts associated with deforestation for new coffee cultivation. Moreover, model projections are largely limited to ex-situ experiments based on downscaled global climate models, and thus empirical data are still needed to assess climate change impacts on coffee production in Ethiopia in the future. Furthermore, conditions such as shade tree canopy closure, soil fertility and elevation may either ameliorate or exacerbate climate change impacts. In the absence of significant interventions, this could result in considerable land use change, increased vulnerability of coffee-dependent livelihoods and a potential shortage of coffee supply. Hence, to generate trustworthy and accurate information for climate-resilient Ethiopian coffee production, more field-based experiments are needed. In this PhD thesis, I used coffee plants growing at contrasting elevations using a space-for-time substitution approach for warming in south-west Ethiopia. The coffee plants were superimposed under various shade tree species with multi-strata canopy architecture. The potential of increasing canopy closure in modulating responses to increasing temperature, and the associated effect on coffee plant traits, green bean quality and biochemistry, were thoroughly explored. Based on my findings, I was able to identify potential limiting factors, to close the coffee quality gap by providing improved management recommendations tailored to the local ecological conditions while acknowledging the dynamic drivers (mainly resource availability and climatic variability) for the long-term sustainability of the coffee industry.","PeriodicalId":32512,"journal":{"name":"Afrika Focus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139266550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-06-01DOI: 10.1163/2031-356x-20230105
Kiasha Naidoo
The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa is a momentous text in the history of South Africa’s liberation from the apartheid regime. It marks a break with the old regime, which sought to protect the prosperity of the country’s white minority while oppressing the black majority. The shift posited in the Constitution was clearly legal, but it was also conceptual. It was written with the intention to change the normative structure and principles of justification. As I will argue, it puts forward a normative discourse based on humanism. Since humanism has a rocky history, rife with exclusion and subjugation, it is important to clarify the sort of humanism contained in the Constitution of South Africa as one which understands the human as a site of potential. Although the Constitution may place value on such a humanism, it is not clear that our other social discourses cohere with this apprehension of the human. Specifically, I claim that the tendency in South African discourse (in various realms) to deploy neoliberal reason is at odds with the humanism outlined in the South African Constitution and therefore also does not allow for its actualisation.
{"title":"The Incompatibility of Humanism in the South African Constitution with Neoliberal Governmentality","authors":"Kiasha Naidoo","doi":"10.1163/2031-356x-20230105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1163/2031-356x-20230105","url":null,"abstract":"\u0000The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa is a momentous text in the history of South Africa’s liberation from the apartheid regime. It marks a break with the old regime, which sought to protect the prosperity of the country’s white minority while oppressing the black majority. The shift posited in the Constitution was clearly legal, but it was also conceptual. It was written with the intention to change the normative structure and principles of justification. As I will argue, it puts forward a normative discourse based on humanism. Since humanism has a rocky history, rife with exclusion and subjugation, it is important to clarify the sort of humanism contained in the Constitution of South Africa as one which understands the human as a site of potential. Although the Constitution may place value on such a humanism, it is not clear that our other social discourses cohere with this apprehension of the human. Specifically, I claim that the tendency in South African discourse (in various realms) to deploy neoliberal reason is at odds with the humanism outlined in the South African Constitution and therefore also does not allow for its actualisation.","PeriodicalId":32512,"journal":{"name":"Afrika Focus","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75566021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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