Search results

1

Perspectives of development of ecotourism in West Africa - examples from Niger, Mali and the Iyory Coast

100%

Kulczyk S.

Miscellanea Geographica. Regional Studies on Development

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2006

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vol. 12

251-259

EN

Ecotourism, understood as a form of leisure conforming with the principles of environmental protection and promoting its natural and cultural values, is dynamically developing in almost all parts of the world. Properly carried out, ecotourism projects may be an essential instrument of regional development. Problems of ecotourism development in four areas of West Africa, i.e. the Comoe National Park (Ivory Coast), the Dogoń Country (Mali), the northern Dallol Boss Region and Koure (Niger), and the Air and Tenere Natural Reserves (Niger) are discussed in the article. A common characteristic of the chosen areas are their significant natural and cultural values and the occurrence of tourist activeness allowing to ąualify them as ecotouristic sites. The analysis of both external and internal success factors in ecotourism leads to the conclusion that, in the discussed regions, ecotourism development is a positive phenomenon. It should, however, be accompanied by continuous supervision of environmental conditions and ecological education of the local population.

2

„Krokodyle przemienione" i kontrakty z duchami: czarownicy w kulturach Gwinei Bissau

80%

Brzezińska M.

Przegląd Orientalistyczny

|

2013

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issue 1-2(245-246)

84-101

EN

This article discusses witchcraft beliefs present among inhabitants of multiethnic settings of Guinea-Bissau, West Africa. Witchcraft, which is a prevalent feature of most African cultures, entails a form of psychic aggression performed in an invisible way by some community members against others. Drawing on my research in Guinea-Bissau, I present a range of local beliefs and imagery concerning methods by which witches act. Among them, there is a belief in the possibility of gaining the power of witchcraft through a contract with a nature spirit, which then has to be paid for with human life. The local vernacular includes imagery of cannibalistic attacks, common to much of Africa; witches are described as “eating human flesh” or the life energy of the victims. Beliefs in the ability of witches to transform themselves into animals are characteristic of the region and they set themselves apart from the majority of similar beliefs on the African continent. Here, the magical transformation ensures not only the necessary camouflage which facilitates the invisible attack, but also – in other cases – provides the external means for direct physical assault. I compare some of the local Guinean beliefs with those present in other cultures of the continent, as documented by the rich literature available on the topic. I also discuss some contemporary transformations of witchcraft beliefs that occur due to socio-cultural and economic changes taking place in African societies.

3

Sztuka bogactwem Afryki? Wpływ rynku antykwarycznego na życie codzienne mieszkańców Afryki Zachodniej

80%

Podyma K.

Forum Politologiczne

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2011

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vol. 12 - Problemy bogactwa i biedy we współczesnej Afryce

611-628

EN

Could art, be a part of culture, be perceived as Africa's wealth? Could art dealing become the basis for the change of status of people who reproduce it? Or is it merely a cliche, referring to the general concept of art being able to spiritually enrich people? It was the European approach to the value of an object that gave African artefacts an entirely new financial dimension. Thus, culture became interwoven with economy, with which traditionally it had very little in common. Through the growth of the antiquarian market, this co-relation has created an entirely new direction of development of the parts of culture involved and a new approach guided by the dynamics of global economy. According to these dynamics, anything could become an object of trade. In practice, demand started to dictate the scale of the reproductiveness of non-art, and its value began to grow in a disproportionate and totally random manner. Culture, a part of the economic puzzle, became entangled in a network of mutual intercultural reactions stimulated solely by demand and supply. This mutual interest shaped the changes which took place within the local cultures, and which were driven by tourism and the demands of the antiquarian market. Art, a part of culture - the most measurable and tangible one - has clearly found its place in the commercial marketplace shaped by the interests of the non-African world. The uniqueness, distinctiveness, and the aesthetic and religious aspects of African artefacts have created a base for investment, whose roots can be traced back to the times of the Cubist discovery.

4

Zubożenie ludności miejskiej w Afryce Zachodniej

80%

Pawlik J. J.

Forum Politologiczne

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2011

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vol. 12 - Problemy bogactwa i biedy we współczesnej Afryce

447-467

EN

Since about twenty years the poverty of urban population in West Africa is growing. This impoverishment is due to the draconian limitation of public expenses and persistent economic crisis. Based on the documents of DIAL (Development, Institutions and Globalization) Centre in Paris the paper demands for the causes of this situation. First, the author presents the actual situation of deficiency of food and rapid increase of prices. In that circumstances the middle-class employees (teachers, health and public agents, etc.) are enable to support their families. Main cause of this situation are the consequences of structural adjustment, i.e. the limitation of public help, reduction in salaries, mass dismissals, the devaluation of Franc CFA and the rapid increase of population. In response to constantly aggravating situation the people take second job, borrow money, and cultivate crops and vegetables. The growth of earning activities of women is one of issues of insufficiency of men's salaries. After all, facing the crisis inhabitants of African towns prove a lot of creativity and initiative.

5

Osama ben Laden i al-Kaida w świadomości mieszkańców Afryki Zachodniej

80%

Buchalik L.

Forum Politologiczne

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2009

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vol. 9 - Ugrupowania polityczne i ruchy społeczne w Afryce

275-287

EN

The author of the article put the question about the cause of the popularity of the Osama bin Laden and Al-Kaida in Africa. He wonders if Africans are susceptible to the ideas preached by Al-Kaida, would they be the supporters of the terrorists? Wearing t-shirts and hanging posters with the likeness of bin Laden shows the identification with the ideas preaching by Al-Kaida. Africans, mostly Muslims, are not discouraged that Osama bin Laden is guilty of the death of thousands of people. They emphasize in unison that he is the part of the Muslim community, „he is a Muslim the same as we are". For Africans, of very important value is the person who is strong and who protects the weakest and that is exactly how the image of Osama bin Laden is created for people. In the utterances of some people we can also find the effort to deny that Osama bin Laden could be the culprit of the attacks „that is not bin Laden who organized the assassination, he is Muslim and Koran tells us not to kill". After the WTC attack the likeness of bin Laden appeared on a mass scale in Africa. It was possible to meet it in many situations. The most obvious examples being the stickers on vehicles and t-shirts worn by people of different ages. Less visible were the watches, scarf, calendars and posters. In spite of the mass media hype that sprung up around the Osama bin Laden, he is not the most popular person in the West Africa. For example, Bob Marley or Thomas Sankara are more popular. Wearing the t-shirts or pasting the stickers showing certain symbols, images or inscriptions are some kind of declaration. It would be too great, a simplification to say that wearing the t-shirt with Obama bin Laden is likely to identify with his actions. Some people have very little concept about him, and the shirts that they are wearing are only the fashion and the popularity of the person. The inhabitants of Burkina Faso clearly emphasize that the numerous copies of the likeness of Osama bin Laden result from the fact that „here are many Muslims and bin Laden is also a Muslim, that's why they wear his t-shirts". The identification with the strong figure does not apply only to bin Laden. In the market is possible to find posters which praise the deeds of Saddam Hussein and local traditional chiefs. Osama bin Laden is also very popular in other continents so his popularity in Africa is not surprising. His popularity doesn't mean that Africans are more susceptible to support terrorism than people from the other part of the world. Nowadays, there is no evidence for the existence of the structure of Al-Kaida in the West of Africa, with the possible exception of Sierra Leone and Guinea Bissau.

6

Norber Cyffer & Georg Ziegelmeyer (eds.), When Languages Meet. Language Contact and Change in West Africa, “Topics in African Studies” 13, Köln: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, 2009, 160 pp.

80%

Pawlak N.

Studies in African Languages and Cultures

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2010

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issue 44

115-118

EN

A review of a book by Norber Cyffer & Georg Ziegelmeyer (eds.) "When Languages Meet. Language Contact and Change in West Africa".

7

Energy Security of West Africa: the Case of Natural Gas

80%

Zigah E.

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2019

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vol. 12

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issue 19

91-110

FR

L’Indice de sécurité d’approvisionnement en gaz sert à évaluer la sécurité d’approvisionnement en gaz naturel de quatre pays producteurs de gaz en Afrique de l’Ouest à l’aide de cinq indicateurs: Intensité gazière, dépendance à l’égard des importations nettes de gaz, ratio de la production gazière nationale aux importations, consommation intérieure brute et risque géopolitique. Cette étude a montré que la sécurité de l’approvisionnement en gaz naturel en Afrique de l’Ouest constitue un enjeu essentiel car certains des principaux producteurs de gaz naturel de la région sont des plus exposés aux perturbations de l’approvisionnement. La plupart des pays étudiés comptent uniquement sur la production nationale pour garantir leur sécurité d’approvisionnement. Le manque de diversification des sources d’approvisionnement et l’absence de stockages de gaz naturel pour garantir la sécurité de l’approvisionnement sont les principaux déterminants de la forte vulnérabilité des producteurs de gaz naturel dans la région.

EN

The Gas Supply Security Index (GSSI) is used to assess the security of natural gas supply of four gas producing countries in West Africa using five indicators: Gas Intensity, Net Gas Import Dependency, Ratio of Domestic Gas Production to Imports, Gross Inland Consumption and Geopolitical Risk. This study identified that security of natural gas supply in West Africa is a major challenge as some of the major natural gas producers within the region are highly vulnerable to supply disruptions. Most of the countries studied rely solely on domestic production for supply security. Lack of diversification of supply source and the absence of natural gas storage facilities to safeguard the security of supply were identified as the major factors accounting for the high vulnerability among the natural gas producers within the region.

8

70%

Oladiti A. A., Ajibade S. I., Oyewale G. M.

West Bohemian Historical Review

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2022

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vol. 12

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issue 2

249-261

EN

Smallpox, also known as (Sopona), is one of the epidemic plagues experienced among the Yoruba people of West Africa especially in Abeokuta and Lagos under colonial rule. The aim of this study is to examine the Yoruba perception of the management of smallpox infection, socio-cultural beliefs about it and the colonial interventions in the management of the disease condition in Africa. This is necessary to explain the construction of indigenous knowledge via indigenous traditional science related to the history of medicine in Nigeria under colonialism. There is paucity of data and detailed historical narratives on the local interpretations and colonial interventions of the sopona pandemic and the procedures adopted in the containment of the spread of the disease as well as the colonial response to the disease outbreak. The interconnectivity between the pandemic and colonial rule shows that the disease condition was more difficult to control than officials expected, thereby increasing the transmission rate and spreading the epidemic among the population. Over the period, large numbers of people among the natives and colonial invaders died from the disease, causing widespread fear to the colonial authorities. The colonial officials in Nigeria were not equipped to handle the outbreak, given their uncertain knowledge of its etiology and lack of vaccination or drug for its treatment in Western medical science during the colonial period. The study relied on both primary and secondary sources. Primary data included oral interviews, newspaper reports and archival materials. Secondary sources were obtained from university libraries and research institutes across Nigeria. Data were historically analysed from the outbreak of smallpox to the period modern vaccination was introduced in 20th Century. The innovativeness of this study is to articulate how local people handled and interpreted disease conditions with their socio-cultural system and beliefs in contrast to the colonial perspectives and interventions in cases of illness and health among the Yoruba people of Africa in the colonial era. It is, therefore, against this background that this study provides a historical analysis of the Sopona pandemic among the Yoruba people of West Africa in colonial times.

15

Participatory approach to identify interventions to improve the health, safety, and work productivity of smallholder women vegetable farmers in the Gambia

70%

Vanderwal L., Rautiainen R., Ramirez M., Kuye R., Peek-Asa C., Cook T., Culp K., Donham K.

International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health

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2011

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vol. 24

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issue 1

36-47

EN

Objective: This paper describes the qualitative, community-based participatory approach used to identify culturally-acceptable and sustainable interventions to improve the occupational health, safety, and productivity of smallholder women vegetable farmers in The Gambia (West Africa). Materials and Methods: This approach was used to conduct: 1) analysis of the tasks and methods traditionally used in vegetable production, and 2) selection of interventions. Results: The most arduous garden tasks that were amenable to interventions were identified, and the interventions were selected through a participatory process for further evaluation. Conclusions: Factors contributing to the successful implementation of the participatory approach used in this study included the following: 1) ensuring that cultural norms were respected and observed; 2) working closely with the existing garden leadership structure; and 3) research team members working with the subjects for an extended period of time to gain first-hand understanding of the selected tasks and to build credibility with the subjects.

16

Some features of salt-architecture in the medieval Sudanic cities: Taghaza in Mali as a model

70%

Ali I. H. I.

African Journal of Economics, Politics and Social Studies

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2023

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vol. 2(1)

69-77

EN

The Salt played a vital role in the life of west African societies, including the land of Sudan, from the dawn of their early history. In some cases, it was even more valuable than gold because of the lack of salt in most Sudanic kingdoms, such as Ghana, Mali & Songhai. The most famous of these Salinas was known as Taghaza, in addition to Ulil & Tatantatal, etc. They were related to what is called salt-architecture. We took Taghaza as an example of this rare architecture. West Africans used salt to preserve food, for healing and even for building houses, mosques and city walls. As the city of Taghaza, currently located in Mali, is in the most famous salt region, it is considered to be the best model of a salty city in west Africa. Salt contributed to the Sahara trade, known as the trade of salt and gold. Salt was indispensable for most inhabitants of West Africa. They lived near e salt quarries and used it mainly to build their houses and any other constructions they need.

17

The reasons, impacts and limitations of cybercrime policies in Anglophone West Africa: a review

61%

Abubakari Y.

Przestrzeń Społeczna

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2021

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vol. 1

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issue 1/2021 (21)

EN

The fast and consistent growth of cybercrime and its socio-economic consequence have received scholarly attention both within organisations, governmental bodies and researchers in academic environment. Cybercrime is well known to have widely affected the economic conditions of organisations, political economies and individuals. The main objective of this study was to systematically review and outline the current state of research on the determiners of cybercrime adaptation, consequences of cybercrime and the hindrances of cybercrime policies in Anglophone West Africa. The database search was done between 20th December 2020 and 9th January 2021. The search was done through three electronic databases, including Scopus, Sage and Google Scholar. According to the eligibility criteria, articles were included if they were written in English and addressed the issue of cybercrime in Anglophone West Africa, and either the consequence or reasons for cybercrime adaptation or the hindrances of cybercrime policies. Included articles were critically read and data was extracted for reporting. The total number of articles included in the study amounted to 24. Out of the 24 articles, 13 addressed the issues of cybercrime consequences, 6 tackled the reasons and 6 addressed the hindrances of cybercrime policies and regulations. The study revealed that cybercrime has micro-, mesoand macroeconomic impacts in West Africa. At the micro level, citizens loses both financial resourcesand international travel opportunities. E-businesses at the meso level are victimised both financially and reputationally. At the macro level, countries where cybercrime is prevalence experience a reduction in foreign investment, damage of international reputation and financial problems. The review has also shown that cybercrime perpetrators lose focus in education. The review also revealed that the reason for cybercrime adaptation is associated with economic strains and corruption at the governmental level. Lastly, hindrances of cybercrime policies circulate around corruption, government interference, ineffective implementation of cybercrime laws and inconsistencies in the content of cybercrime policies. Based on the limitations provided in the study, the present author recommends further studies to include articles in different languages. It is also recommended for future potential researchersto study how cybercrime reflects in the lives of perpetrators and their perspectives on the mitigative interventions. The author argues that to further increase the effectiveness of cybercrime mitigation process in Africa, future studies is needed to understand how cybercrime is organised in African societies.

18

Rola i funkcje lançados i tangomãos na przełomie XVI i XVII w.

61%

Gadecki K.

Afryka

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2014

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issue 39

83-104

EN

In this article, I described the commercial role and functions of lançados and tangomãos at the turn of the 16th and 17th century. They were Portuguese runaways who fled to West Africa and lived there amongst Africans. The main occupation of lançados and tangomãos was trade, as they served as middlemen between African people and European merchants. They also worked as translators and guides after they acclimatized to African societies and learnt their languages and customs. Since the second half of the 16th century they became an important part of barter throughout the whole African coast from the Senegal River to Sierra Leone. Although they were Portuguese, they traded also with other European merchants (mainly French, English and Dutch) who came to that region, which finally prevented the Portuguese Crown from monopolizing the commerce in West Africa.

19

Liberalisation and the regional air network configuration from Nigeria to other West African Countries

61%

Oluwakoya A. O., Ajayi D. D.

Prace Komisji Geografii Przemysłu Polskiego Towarzystwa Geograficznego

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2021

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vol. 35

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issue 4

50-63

EN

This paper examines the liberalisation and the regional air network configuration from Nigeria to other West African regions. It aims to study the impacts of liberalisation on the regional spatial structure of air networks from Nigeria to West Africa in the pre and post-liberalisation. The pre-liberalisation covers between 1988-2000, and the post-liberalisation ranges from 2001 to 2018. The methodology involves using the graph theory to calculate the route and the network topology in the pre and post-liberalisation and compare the resulting index. This hypothesis was tested using the alpha index. The alpha index analysis compares the level of connection in a pre-and post-liberalisation network via graphical depictions of each period’s route and network structure and the resulting alpha index. The pre-liberalisation alpha index for the route and network was 0.297, while the post-liberalisation alpha index was 0.334. The alpha index ranged from 0 to 1 and was the perfect network for the post‐liberalisation period. In post-liberalisation, the alpha index of the route and network are higher than in pre-liberalisation. Hence, the connection is better in post-liberalisation.

20

Translation as Rewriting: Cultural Theoretical Appraisal of Shakespeare’s "Macbeth" in the Ewe language of West Africa

61%

Agbozo G. E.

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2018

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vol. 18

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issue 33

43-56

EN

The cultural turn in translation theory brought attention to the idea that translation is not a purely linguistic phenomenon but one that is also constrained by culture. The cultural turn considers translation as a rewriting of an original text. In this paper, I attempt to find reflections of the cultural turn in a translation into an African language. As such, the paper reads William Shakespeare’s Macbeth in the Ewe language of West Africa, Shakespeare ʄe Makbet, as rewriting. Walter Blege is the translator and the Bureau of Ghana Languages is the publisher of the target text meant for Ewe language audience in Ghana. The target text is for learning and acquiring the Ewe language especially in the area of developing reading comprehension skills. Following Andre Lefevere and Jeremy Munday, this paper suggests that Shakespeare ʄe Makbet is a rewritten text as it follows some cultural constraints in its translation. The study provides insight into the motivations for some of the translator/rewriter’s choices. Given the less attention paid to the Ewe language and many other African languages, the paper proposes translation as a socio-psychological tool for revitalizing interest in the learning and acquisition of African and other lesser-known languages.

Refine search results

Perspectives of development of ecotourism in West Africa - examples from Niger, Mali and the Iyory Coast

„Krokodyle przemienione" i kontrakty z duchami: czarownicy w kulturach Gwinei Bissau

Sztuka bogactwem Afryki? Wpływ rynku antykwarycznego na życie codzienne mieszkańców Afryki Zachodniej

Zubożenie ludności miejskiej w Afryce Zachodniej

Osama ben Laden i al-Kaida w świadomości mieszkańców Afryki Zachodniej

Norber Cyffer & Georg Ziegelmeyer (eds.), When Languages Meet. Language Contact and Change in West Africa, “Topics in African Studies” 13, Köln: Rüdiger Köppe Verlag, 2009, 160 pp.

Energy Security of West Africa: the Case of Natural Gas

The contribution of prof. Tadeusz Lewicki (1906–1992) to Islamic and West African studies

HAS FOREIGN AID IMPROVED GOVERNANCE AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT IN WEST AFRICA?

Voda v západní Africe: Zdroj konfliktu, či podnět ke spolupráci?

RECONCILING THE TWO WEST AFRICAS: MANAGING ETHNIC AND LINGUAL DIVERSITY FOR REGIONAL INTEGRATION

Podróże i poselstwa władców zachodnioafrykańskich do Portugalii w XV w.

The Sopona Pandemic among the Yoruba of West Africa: Local Interpretations and Colonial Interventions

Participatory approach to identify interventions to improve the health, safety, and work productivity of smallholder women vegetable farmers in the Gambia

Some features of salt-architecture in the medieval Sudanic cities: Taghaza in Mali as a model

The reasons, impacts and limitations of cybercrime policies in Anglophone West Africa: a review

Rola i funkcje lançados i tangomãos na przełomie XVI i XVII w.

Liberalisation and the regional air network configuration from Nigeria to other West African Countries

Translation as Rewriting: Cultural Theoretical Appraisal of Shakespeare’s "Macbeth" in the Ewe language of West Africa