African Languages and Societies Commons^™

Arts-Based Sustainability: From New York To Malawi, Martha B. Lerski

Publications and Research

Recognizing that libraries serve multiple constituencies and subject areas, this chapter documents and advocates for development of transdisciplinary arts-based research (ABR) and culture-related projects linked to environmental challenges. Libraries contribute collections and spaces, as well as the research of library and information scientists. Libraries are currently among invisible contributors to sustainability planning and services. The chapter will link this invisibility to the value of what visual arts refer to as negative space elements in subjects ranging from traditional ecological knowledge to environmental science. Library collections, projects, and research contribute to education for sustainable development (ESD) as required to achieve the …

Becoming A Beloved Community: A Restorative Reckoning For A Radical Conversion To Transform Discourse In Higher Education, Latasha Tomay Varlack-Butler

Dissertations

This dissertation critically examines the misappropriation of Restorative Justice Discourse (RJD) within three predominantly white institutions (PWIs), analyzing 59 institutional documents through Critical Discourse Analysis, Relational Critical Discourse Analysis, and Rhetorical Criticism (Fairclough, 1995; Vaandering, 2021; van Dijk, 2008). Tribal Colleges and Universities and South African institutions have emerged as exemplars of authentic RJD, countering co-optation within PWIs. The findings demonstrate that RJD as applied in PWIs is framed in ways that attenuate its transformative potential, perpetuating color-evasiveness (Bonilla-Silva, 2017) and obscuring the intersectional experiences of Black, Indigenous, and disabled communities (Crenshaw, 1991; Million, 2009).

Grounded in decolonial praxis (Smith, …

Rethinking Resource Exploitation: Shared Capitalist Motivations In Ghana’S Gold Mining Sector, Benedicta Donkor

Senior Theses

The relationship between Chinese involvement in Ghana's gold mining sector and its impact on sovereignty, development, and resource governance has ignited significant debate. While neo-colonial frameworks often dominate discussions, this thesis argues that such perspectives oversimplify the complex dynamics at play. Instead, Chinese involvement is better understood as mutual capitalist exploitation, where both Chinese and Ghanaian actors are driven by shared profit motives within a global capitalist system. This mutual exploitation is enabled by weak governance, regulatory gaps, and systemic corruption, creating a permissive environment for resource exploitation at the expense of societal and environmental well-being. The thesis critically examines …

The Endurance Of West African Textiles Through The Ages, Sarah Isak-Goode

The Confluence

West Africans have a long history of creating distinctive textiles. Yet, they are frequently misunderstood. Though often bold, the patterns and colors used in textiles have a subtle meaning. Separately and together, many of these patterns and symbols represent an unspoken language among natives. Research from the pre-colonial era to the contemporary era has shown that these textiles have persisted because of the reverence West Africans hold for both their heritage and personal expression. Further research is recommended to gain understanding of these textiles, from both the past and the present, as well as the West Africans who have intently …

Presence Of The Past: The Translation Of Traditional Culture Into Contemporary Form Among The Igbo Peoples Of Southeastern Nigeria, Nelson Agalaba

Bachelor of Architecture Theses - 5th Year

Architecture serves as the physical embodiment of a group’s cultural values, history, and social dynamics- or identity. The arrival of European colonialism and modernism brought about a paradigm shift, prioritizing a universal European aesthetic and “international style”, displacing indigenous architectural traditions and severing the deep connections between culture and the natural and built environments. The global south has experienced the brunt of this process, especially the African continent. For example, the Igbo peoples of southeastern Nigeria have lost nearly all examples of their building traditions and have been in a constant struggle to create an architecture that captures their rich …

Les Blattes Orgueilleuses, Siham Amraoui

Journal of Amazigh Studies

N/A

La Diglossie Et L’Enseignement De La Langue Amazighe Au Maroc, Abdelaziz Yannous, Fatima Agrou

Journal of Amazigh Studies

L'école joue un rôle essentiel dans la formation de la personnalité et le développement cognitif de l'enfant, en complément de la famille. Ces deux institutions forment la base principale de la socialisation, à travers les interactions familiales d'une part et le milieu scolaire d'autre part. Cet article examine l’enseignement de l’amazighe standard (AS) dans les écoles marocaines, perçu comme une langue artificielle avec un métalangage souvent méconnu des locutrices et locuteurs amazighophones. Les supports pédagogiques sont présentés non seulement dans une variante autre que Tamazight, mais aussi dans une langue standardisée comportant un nouveau lexique, créant ainsi une situation de …

Enjeux De Contacts De Langues Et D’Oralitures Dans Les Noms D’Ogresse Dans La Kabylie Des Babors, Massinissa Garaoun

Journal of Amazigh Studies

La Kabylie des Babors est une région montagneuse littorale située au nord-est de l’Algérie. Trois langues amazighes y sont pratiquées : la tabǧawit (ou kabyle oriental), la taɛemmuct (ou chaoui des Amouchas) et la tasaḥlit. L’une des figures majeures du conte amazigh et nord-africain est l’ogresse (Farès). Celle-ci est décrite comme une créature féminine, vivant seule ou en famille, isolée des Hommes et pouvant se nourrir de ces derniers. À partir d’un corpus de contes recueillis auprès de femmes originaires de différentes confédérations des Babors depuis 2017, j’ai rassemblé les dénominations ainsi que les principales caractéristiques attribuées aux ogres …

‘Amazigh Literary Space’: Intersection And Hybridity Across Languages And Media, Daniela Merolla

Journal of Amazigh Studies

My contribution will focus on multilingualism and multimedia in the ‘Amazigh literary and cinematographic space’ (Merolla De l’art, “Amazigh/Berber Literature”). Examining this notion coined in the 1990’s (Merolla “Gender and Community”) allows us to reflect on ongoing debates regarding North African literatures in postcolonial contexts. It also helps to see that Amazigh/Berber literature solely defined as Amazigh-language production tends to isolate works and performances that engage with multiple languages and literary traditions, cultural intersections, and hybridization in North Africa and its diasporas. The discussion is contextualized within the historical development of what is sometimes referred to as the “North …

Beyond The Binary: Amazigh Ethnicity And Transformational Resistance, Nour Sidhoum

Journal of Amazigh Studies

This article explores Amazigh activism in Algeria, focusing on the role of language, memory, and political mobilisation in reshaping national identity. It critically examines the reductive Arab/Berber binary, arguing that such oppositions, rooted in French colonial logic, provide the vocabulary through which Amazigh identity claims are confined within minority paradigms. The aim is to reconceptualise Amazigh ethnic identity as a form of transformational resistance that challenges dominant power structures rather than merely seeking accommodation within them. Drawing on a diverse range of primary and secondary sources—including memoirs of key figures in Algerian nationalism such as Hocine Aït Ahmed and Sadek …

Hybridity In Amazigh Language, Culture, And Literature, Jas Editorial Staff

Journal of Amazigh Studies

N/A

What We Don't Say Out Loud, Antwan Bowen

Master's Projects

What We Don’t Say Out Loud is a collection of original short stories that explore themes of identity, race, family, queerness, humor, and emotional vulnerability through the lens of Black and marginalized voices. These narratives blend literary realism with elements of magical realism, satire, and personal essay to reflect the emotional truths and unspoken complexities that shape everyday life. Central to the collection is a commitment to portraying characters in their full humanity, often resisting trauma-centered tropes in favor of layered, internal storytelling. From the raw, personal account of Black fatherhood in “The Best Day and the Worst Night,” to …

Stitch Theory, Brittany Adeline Adama King

Theses and Dissertations

This paper weaves personal history together using “stitched” citational text, supporting the concept that an archive can function as support, as worn; as garment.

Woman-To-Woman Marriage In West Africa: A Vanishing Tradition Of Power And Agency, Bright Alozie

Black Studies Faculty Publications and Presentations

In lieu of an abstract, here is an excerpt: Marriage in west Africa has played a central role in shaping aspects of society, and has evolved over time. While traditional heterosexual unions dominate discussions, a lesser-known but significant practice – woman-to-woman marriage – has existed for centuries. In my research, I examined this institution, which allows a woman to assume the role of a husband by marrying another woman. There’s evidence of woman-to-woman marriage in more than 40 societies across west Africa, including the Igbo of Nigeria, the Frafra of Ghana and the Dahomeans of present-day Benin.

What Is Order? An Exploration Of Exchange And Mobility Within The Streets Of Yaoundé, Cameroon, Quentin L. Messer Iii

Cameroon: Development and Social Change

This paper explores how order materializes as people, vehicles, and resources exchange on Yaoundé’s streets. Using qualitative and descriptive research approaches, it draws on primary data from interviews with prominent groups of informal sector actors, street vendors, and taxi drivers, as well as observations conducted throughout Yaoundé. The study also includes a literature review of twelve scholarly articles that assemble a robust foundational understanding of how “order” has been influenced and adapted within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the past fifty years. The study reveals that kinship as a basis for urban order arose due to state distrust and mismanagement of …

Ubuntu: The Spirit Of African Communalism: An Exploration Of Community And Perceptions Of Mental Health In Cameroon, Aïssata Koné

Cameroon: Development and Social Change

This month-long research project focused on elements of African collectivism through the ubuntu philosophy in Cameroonian society as it relates to perceptions of mental health. Taking a mixed-methods approach, questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. The Metzian Ubuntu Inventory developed by Terblanché-Greef et al. (2023) was used to measure ubuntu. Results show that participants were heavily in alignment with the cultural values outlined by the ubuntu philosophy. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts was used to analyze perceptions of mental health in Cameroon. Five major themes of, defining mental health, stress relieving methods, prosocial behavior & communication, the mental …

Review Of Ordinary Whites In Apartheid Society: Social Histories Of Accommodation, Gary Prevost

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Religious Bodies Crime Control Strategies In Lagos Slums, Nigeria, Lateef Adeyemo

The Journal of Social Encounters

In Lagos' slum areas, where crime and social instability are rampant, religious bodies are uniquely positioned to influence positive change. This study adopted a qualitative, cross-sectional approach, guided by social disorganisation and stakeholder theories, to examine their impact. Purposive sampling was used to select 61 participants for in-depth interviews and key informant interviews. Findings indicate that religious bodies primarily engage youth through sermons and occasional events but lack structured crime control mechanisms. Key challenges include community resistance, limited police collaboration, resource constraints, and threats from violent youth. Furthermore, doctrinal concerns and fear of backlash hinder interfaith collaboration, with some …

Fratelli Tutti And Social Media: Solidarity And Social Networks Among Locals And Urban Refugees In Kampala, Uganda, Augustine Bahemuka

The Journal of Social Encounters

Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis’ social encyclical, exhorts all Christians and people of good will to cultivate a spirit of fraternity and solidarity with all people in need, regardless of socio-cultural or creedal or racial differences. He challenges us to broaden our perception of “neighbour” to even include those people whose plight we encounter via social media – our digital neighbours. This paper shows how the Association of Refugee Women in Uganda (AORW- U) has used social media to amplify the voices of urban refugees living in Kampala, thereby raising public awareness; attracting global and local partnerships; and creating healthy social …

Social Solidarity & Philanthropy In African Contexts, Dennis Kilama, Patricia Snell Herzog, David P. King

The Journal of Social Encounters

Within Western contexts, philanthropy has been conceptualized as formal and organizational, with less emphasis on its informal contours. This paper identifies social solidarity as crucial to understanding philanthropy in African contexts. The first section explores concepts of philanthropy, such as reciprocity and cooperation. Second, recognizing solidarity as a key aspect of philanthropy, we review how social solidarity has been theorized and studied. Third, we illustrate how philanthropy in Kenya and Uganda is embedded within specific contexts. Philanthropy can be found in horizontal (formal), vertical (informal), and hybrid forms. Alongside formal philanthropy, efforts to benefit others in Africa often emerge informally …

Right To Education And Access To Schooling: Understanding The Role Of Students’ Transportation Challenges In Selected Junior Secondary Schools In Ilorin, Nigeria, Usman Bolaji Abdulkadir, Egbinola Temitope Anuoluwa

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Working Paper: The Role Of Nafeer And Social Networks In Sudan’S Humanitarian Response And The Challenges For International Aid, Mazin Sharfi

The Journal of Social Encounters

This paper explores the integral role of Nafeer, a traditional Sudanese communal practice, and social networks in addressing humanitarian crises, focusing on the ongoing 2023 conflict. Nafeer, rooted in rural agricultural settings, has evolved to mobilise urban communities for emergency responses, while social networks extend social support beyond family ties, providing a complementary layer of resource-sharing. Both systems, decentralised and grassroots in nature, contrast sharply with formal international aid structures. The research highlights how Nafeer and social networks mobilise resources through traditional means, such as mobilising social capital and economic resources including remittances, and modern mechanisms, like crowdfunding. It underscores …

Recommended Resources On Darfur And Sudan

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Of Sudan, Remember Us, Esther Sprague

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Review Essay: Ibn Khaldun On Sufism, Eslam Elbahlawan

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

World Day Of Prayer For Peace In Sudan On 11 April 2025 - Booklet For Faith Leaders, - Pax Christi International

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

World Day Of Prayer For Peace In Sudan On 11 April 2025 - Booklet For Communities, - Pax Christi International

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

The Chatham House Speech By Dr. Abdalla Hamdok, October 31, 2024, And The Following Recent Developments In Sudan, Tayseer Elfaki Mustafa

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Democracy Under Fire: The Battle Between Negotiation And Military Force In Sudan's Two-Year Civil War, Mad Gabriel

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.

Comments On Former Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok’S Chatham House Proposal, Salih Mustafa

The Journal of Social Encounters

No abstract provided.