African Languages and Societies Commons^™

What Is The Difference Between “Muslim” And “Islamic”?, Ahmed E. Souaiaia

Ahmed E SOUAIAIA

Oil Wealth, Resource Curse And Development: Any Lessons For Ghana?, Felix Kumah-Abiwu, Edward Brenya, James Agbodzakey

Felix Kumah-Abiwu

Ghana’s new status as an oil-producing country has invigorated the scholarly debate on the resource curse theory, which assumes that countries with vast natural resource wealth like oil, diamond and gold are likely to experience slow economic growth and development as compared to countries with scarce natural resources. Although the development literature is well endowed with cases of countries with huge natural resources that have experienced slow economic growth, the literature is also clear on few other countries with enormous natural resources that continue to experience high economic growth due to strong political institutions and democratic practices. Norway and Botswana …

A Functionalist Theory Of Oversight, Riccardo Pelizzo, Abel Kinyondo, Aminu Umar

riccardo pelizzo

The literature on oversight provides various approaches that have been used to measure oversight effectiveness. They include inferring oversight from the quality of governance, equating it with the presence of oversight activities as well as equating it with oversight capacity. However all these approaches are problematic as they wrongly consider oversight to be unidimensional. As a result they tend to produce measures that are too general and vague to provide a meaningful assessment of oversight effectiveness. It is in this context that this paper identifies the structural elements of oversight and goes on to contend that since oversight is a …

The Aesthetic Of Revolution In The Film And Literature Of Naguib Mahfouz, Nathaniel Greenberg

Nathaniel Greenberg

In the wake of the 1952 Revolution, Egypt’s future Nobel laureate in literature devoted himself exclusively to writing for film. The Aesthetic of Revolution in the Film and Literature of Naguib Mahfouz is the first full-length study in English to examine this critical period in the author’s career and to contextualize it within the scope of post-revolutionary Egyptian politics and culture. Before returning to literature in 1959 with his post-revolutionary masterpiece Children of the Alley, Mahfouz wrote or co-wrote some twenty odd scripts, many of them among the most successful in Egyptian history. He did so at a time when …

History In The Making: Tunisia's Revolution, Nathaniel Greenberg

Nathaniel Greenberg

ON THE NIGHT of January 24, 2011, I sat smoking shisha and sipping tea at a coffee shop in the downtown Cairo neighborhood of Lazoghly, just blocks from Tahrir Square. The Tunisian revolution had reached a crescendo, but there was little talk of it in this largely working-class neighborhood. With rumors spreading that protests were planned for the coming day, I asked some of the regulars if they thought Egypt could go the way of Tunisia. It was a laughable query. Egypt was too divided, they said, Mubarak too powerful. The following day seemed to confirm their skepticism. No one …

Katama Mkangi's Subaltern Sociology: Legacies Of Race And Colonialism At The Coast Of East Africa, Jesse Benjamin

Jesse Benjamin

No abstract provided.

Decolonizing Nationalism: Reading Nkrumah And Nyerere’S Pan-African Epistemology, Jesse Benjamin

Jesse Benjamin

Using the perspective of intellectual history, this essay explores the lives and philosophies of Julius K. Nyerere and Kwame Nkrumah, heads of state in Tanzania and Ghana, respectively, as well as philosophers, activists, and Pan-African leaders throughout their lifetimes. The central focus is on their concepts and practices of nationalism, and their attempts to transcend the confines of colonial, Western epistemologies in formulating new African social practices. Their concepts of African socialism, pan-Africanism, and neo-colonialism are examined closely. Their lived experiences with injustice in Africa and the Black Atlantic shaped their perspectives. Their unfinished work bequeathed to us tools for …

The Security Challenges Of Drug Trafficking In West Africa: Why Agenda-Setting Matters, Felix Kumah-Abiwu

Felix Kumah-Abiwu

Reproduced with permission of the editor. Available at http://www.africa-upeace.org/images/pdfs/Publications/PEACEBUILDING.pdf

Anatomy Of Dissent In Islamic Societies, Ahmed Souaiaia

Ahmed E SOUAIAIA

The 'Arab Spring' that began in 2011 has placed a spotlight on the transfer of political power in Islamic societies, reviving old questions about the place of political dissent and rebellion in Islamic civilization and raising new ones about the place of religion in modern Islamic societies.

In Anatomy of Dissent in Islamic Societies, Ahmed E. Souaiaia examines the complex historical evolution of Islamic civilization in an effort to trace the roots of the paradigms and principles of Islamic political and legal theories. This study is one of the first attempts at providing a fuller picture of the place of …

Smart Power For Hard Problems: The Role Of Special Operation Forces Strengthening The Rule Of Law And Human Rights In Africa, Kevin H. Govern

Kevin H. Govern

This article will assess the roles and responsibilities of Special Operations Forces (SOF) within the newly created U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) as an active proponent of a so-called “smart power” national security strategy. In particular, it will outline the economic, political, and military challenges faced in Africa; specifically, how and why SOCAFRICA is the U.S. force of choice for promoting human rights and rule of law in Africa. With the goals of the U.S. military in mind, questions will necessarily arise as to “what success looks like” for both the U.S. and African nations, and the roles of each in …

A Commentary On Business And Knowledge Opportunities For Africa’S Rise, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

Fareed Zakaria’s insightful and fascinating book, The Post-American World (2008) deals with the gradual demise of America’s power and global dominance and the consequent rise of marginal or regional powers, which include Africa. Zakaria’s hypothesis about the ‘‘post- American world’’ resides principally in America’s weakening domestic and international prowess associated with her fighting prolonged wars in recent time, dwindling manufacturing scale, weakening domestic economy and the rise of Asian Tigers as well as China. This postulation also deals with the gradual manifestation of periphery countries’ potential or ability to lead the global economy with their natural endowments, rapid wave of …

Fabricating Unease: Intertextuality, The Nation And Intellectual Leadership Crisis In No Longer At Ease, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

The subject matter of the nation is a usual staple on the menu of postcolonial Nigerian fiction. In this sense, the repertoire of Chinua Achebe’s art echoes an incurable preoccupation with Nigeria’s postcolonial condition as a nation. Also, this paper explores the centrality of intertextuality in the production of Achebe’s fiction, primarily his political novel about crisis plaguing intellectual leadership, No Longer at Ease (1960). Intellectual leadership deals with championing the espousal of intellectual development for societal alchemy; it also deals with mental or intellectual engagement capable of raising awareness as well as educating people about societal issues for change. …

An Inconvenient Image Of Nigeria’S Environment – A Commentary On Peter Maass’S Crude World: The Violent Twilight Of Oil (2009)., Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

The American industrialist and oil dealer Paul J. Getty’s statement that ‘‘the meek shall inherit the earth, but not the mineral rights’’ reverberates with the message of Crude World: The Violent Twilight of Oil (2009). In this masterfully written and provocative piece on the blessings and curses of oil, global oil politics and mineral-induced conflicts as well as socio-economic disequilibrium following oil exploration, Peter Maass, brings once more to light the contradictions inherent in oil deposits. In the words of the Venezuelan oil minister, Juan Pablo Perez Alfonzo, oil is ‘‘the devil’s excrement’’, a metonymy for gold, which is the …

Sustaining Development Through Servant-Leadership: A Commentary On Nnamdi Azikiwe’S My Odyssey: An Autobiography (1970)., Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

The thrust of this paper is a commentary on Nnamdi Azikiwe’s My Odyssey: An Autobiography (1970) as a reflection of a template for sustaining development in Africa through the prism of personal journey (odyssey) that resonates with servant-leadership. Although written over four decades, My Odyssey offers a vignette of how leadership ought to be envisioned in the present time for Africa’s development through an accomplished leader’s personal experience. Another point worth noting here is that a commentary on this book will be made, not a review of the book per se, going by the fact that book reviews tend to …

Caught Between Chief And Missionary: Tswana Evangelists And European Colonisation, Stephen Volz

Stephen Volz

Dimensionalising Cultural Implications Of The Multinationals In The Niger Delta: A Consequentialist Approach For Resistance, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

The presence of multinational oil corporations in Nigeria – which include Agip, Chevron, Elf, Mobil, Shell, and Total among others have come with heavy consequences to the nation’s cultural heritage and identity in the global marketplace. This is particularly the case in the Niger delta region of Nigeria considered as the goose that lays the golden egg, that is, oil, which has been described in many quarters as a major source of the nation’s malaise. The cultural and environmental damage of oil exploration as well as the pauperisation of the locals is inextricably linked to the ruse of global capitalism, …

Rethinking Labour Turnover: Prospecting For Shared Leadership, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

This paper argues that without shared leadership organisations experience high labour turnover. Shared leadership is about collaborative, participatory leadership that takes employees’ views and interests on board in decision-making and leadership process. Labour turnover is the movement of people (employees) into and out of organisations. Thus, this study argues that if the interests and opinions of employees are not considered in organisational decision-making process and leadership, they will feel disenchanted as well as alienated from the organisation’s leadership. This will in the final analysis cause them to leave for greener pasture. Also, attempts will be made to show that without …

Power, Language And Context: A Sociolinguistic Reading Of Bill Clinton’S Between Hope And History, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

A sociolinguistic reading of Between Hope and History unpacks the thrusts of the book that are couched in Bill Clinton’s overall political and ideological philosophy as well as the achievements of his first tenure of office as President of the United States of America. The book also states the hallmarks of his campaign manifestoes for his second term through the use of apt linguistic and sociolinguistic elements. The acknowledgement of language as a medium for acquiring power is integral in all communicative situations aimed at rhetorical or sociolinguistic value. An outstanding feature of Bill Clinton’s Between Hope and History: Meeting …

African Teachers On The Colonial Frontier: Tswana Evangelists And Their Communities During The Nineteenth Century, Stephen Volz

Stephen Volz

Waterstone’S And The Changing Bookselling Environment In The Uk: The Journey So Far And Prospects, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

This study investigates the market environment of the United Kingdom high street bookselling business with emphasis on Waterstone’s. In doing this, stress shall be placed on a brief exploration of the global outlook of book retailing venture as it relates to the United Kingdom. Another focus of this paper is the micro"environment and macro"environment of book retailing business in the United Kingdom and the internal environment of Waterstone’s – that is a look at the PESTEL, SWOT, consumer behaviour, and Porter’s Five Forces as well as strategies for a re"invented Waterstone’s. Finally, marketing and management strategies for improved services and …

Homing In On Paradigm Shift: Ryanair Leadership In The Age Of Expensive Air Trave, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

This investigation borders on a critical evaluation of the leadership style of Ryanair in the age of expensive air travel. Another thrust of the paper is a critical look at the organizational model in place at Ryanair which has made it one of the world’s most successful airlines. In doing this we shall be exploring the leadership model and paradigms as well as leadership style that Michael O’Leary, the CEO of this airline has brought to bear in the organization, which have made it an airline of choice in Europe. Also, the study will be evaluating the transformational change occasioned …

The Nigerian Press, The Public Sphere And Sustainable Development: Engaging The Post Amnesty Deal In The Niger Delta, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

The coalescence of effective media and the public sphere is a synergy that brings about democracy, sustainable development and good governance. Irrespective of its shortcomings, the Nigerian media has been described as a bastion of people’s agitation, which impacts on the public sphere, a realm where private individuals meet to address societal questions with the state. This is the case with the Nigerian press, whose duties and ideals have been called to action in the wake of the amnesty deal in the Niger delta. In order to achieve peace and good governance in the region, serious grassroots and national information …

When Language Means Power: A Sociolinguistic Study Of Bill Clinton’S Between Hope And History: Meeting America’S Challenges For The 21 St Centur, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

The acknowledgement of language as a medium for acquiring power is integral in all communicative situations aimed at rhetorical or sociolinguistic effectiveness. Every sociolinguistic setting operates with disparate set of linguistic rules in order to maximise power in such instance. Thus, the kernel of this study is to interrogate how power is exerted and couched in political languages or speeches that take as their primacy the social arrangement of the people being addressed. Studies abound regarding sociolinguistic strategies that are employed to gain power through well crafted linguistic pieces that pay attention to target audience’s social, political and cultural configurations. …

Changing The Canon: Chinua Achebe’S Women, Public Sphere And The Politics Of Inclusion In Nigeria, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

This paper examines the subjugation of Nigerian women with regard to how their political marginalisation constricts the public sphere, the resource centre of public opinion, which strengthens the ideals of democracy and good governance. The political marginalisation of women in Nigeria is a rectilinear upshot of their low participation in government and politics necessitated by patriarchy. This patriarchal practice has animated the urgency of expanded public sphere as well as feminism, an ideological, aesthetic and cultural movement, steeped in agitating for the rights of women and expanding the frontiers of their participation in the political process. In the political novel …

Poetics Of Resistance: Ecocritical Reading Of Ojaide’S Delta Blues & Home Songss And Daydream Of Ants And Other Poem, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

ABSTRACT Nigerian written poetry spans about six decades, from its inception, and has been a medium of engagement, decrying colonialism, cultural imperialism, socio-economic oppression and political tyranny. Tanure Ojaide’s poetic enterprise follows in the footsteps of this mould of interdiction, which can be called resistance poetics. Particularly, his collections of poetry, Delta Blues & Home Songs and Daydream of Ants and Other Poems, are illustrations of ecocritical literature. Ecocriticism in literature is a form of aesthetics that concerns itself with the nature of relationship between literature and the natural environment. Ojaide considers the ecocritical art of poetry as a kind …

Managing Organizational Change: Leadership, Tesco, And Leahy's Resignatio, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

The central issues here are the consequences and the impacts of the announcement of the resignation of Sir Terry Leahy, the CEO of Tesco, from the organisation in March 2011. The announcement on the 8 th of June 2010 that Leahy, Tesco’s chief executive officer and one of Britain’s most respected businessmen, would be retiring after transforming the organisation into the world’s third biggest retailer, has generated a groundswell of reactions. The impact of this change, as well as how to manage the change resulting from his resignation is part of the concern of this report. Another concern of this …

Towards A Paradigm Shift In The Niger Delta: Transformational Leadership Change In The Era Of Post Amnesty Deal, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

Since the 6 th of August 2009 when the implementation of the amnesty initiative started, there have been reported cases of politicisation of the programme, loss of faith in the regime’s leadership style to drive real change, doubts about the presidency’s intentions and further militarisation of the region’s public space among other contentious issues. The Amnesty deal reached between the Nigerian federal government and the oil producing states, which was brokered by President Yar ‘Adua has been considered a mere ruse, a charade rather than a commitment to changing the culture of business as usual in the region. This paper …

State Violence And The Writer: Towards The Dialectics Of Intellectual Militancy In Transcending Postcolonial Nigerian Contradictions., Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

The hub of this paper is how State violence manifests in the Nigerian novel, particularly in the context of the reprehensible postcolonial order that impinges on nation-building. By definition, State violence means forceful, coercive and high-handed appropriation of the apparatuses of the State by the ruling class for political and selfish ends, which results in physical, psychological and ethical harm or damage. In circumventing the contradictions posed by this inept practice, intellectual militancy is the option to bring change in Nigeria as illustrated by Nigerian writers (novelists) in their works. Intellectual militancy amounts to revolutionary aesthetics, political education and intellectual …

Aesthetics Of Resistance And Sustainability: Tanure Ojaide And The Niger Delta Question, Uzoechi Nwagbara

Dr Uzoechi Nwagbara

The paper endeavours to establish the centrality of ecocriticism in the poetry of Tanure Ojaide. It will be argued in this paper that Ojaide’s poetry negates ecological imperialism, a capitalist practice that destroys the periphery’s natural world. In Ojaide’s poetics, there is an illustration of the nature and strategies he employs to actualise resistance literature – essentially premised on ecocritical literature. Ecocritical literature or ecocriticism is a form of literary criticism that considers the nature of the relationship existing between literature and the natural environment. Ojaide’s raison d'être for this artistic preoccupation is simple: the environmental and ecological predation in …

Timbuktu: A Lesson In Underdevelopment, Riccardo Pelizzo

riccardo pelizzo

Th e purpose of the present paper is to investigate Timbuktu’s economic decline in the three centuries elapsed between 1526, when Leo Africanus reached the Mysterious City, and 1830, when the fi rst European explorers arrived in Timbuktu. It is argued that Timbuktu’s decline was neither an accident nor the result of inevitable natural conditions. Timbuktu’s decay was the product of historical and social forces. Specifi cally, it is argued that Timbuktu lost power and prestige because its market decayed. However, it is also suggested that no single factor can account individually for this event. Th e crisis of Timbuktu’s …