Hasil untuk "History of Africa"

F. Weill, D. Domman, Elisabeth Njamkepo et al.

Adedamola Adetiba

Reda Rafei

This article offers a new perspective on children and youth’s coerced displacement in the context of the Ottoman Middle East and highlights their potential as a social group to inform studies of children, kinship, and family vis-a-vis the state. Using iltizām contracts, I argue that the Ottoman state prioritized its stability and economic interests and turned a blind eye to promises it made to ensure the “well-being” of young Ottoman subjects. The contracts recorded around the mid-eighteenth century document an institutionalized practice by the state to remove and incarcerate young and minor males associated with the families of multazims, or tax farmers, who generally hailed from the class of provincial notables, or a‘yān, to persuade the latter to render payment of taxes. Although multazims appeared to be indifferent to the fate of their castaway children, evidence suggests that multazims took advantage of geopolitical changes toward the last quarter of the eighteenth century to avoid the incarceration of their children, as the practice completely disappeared at that time. This article also attempts to approach the question of whether this forced displacement of children represents a form of mobility, in comparison to other forms of children’s mobility, like the devširme, and explores what this meant for the expansion, or retraction, of the state power and its governing policies.

Emad Farahat, Holger Gärtner

The southern Mediterranean region, particularly North Africa, is a crucial area for biodiversity conservation. However, the impacts of climate change on plant species in this region are not well understood. Dendroecology, the study of tree rings, is a valuable technique for analyzing the effects of environmental changes on woody plants over time. In this study, we intend to assess the state of the art in dendrochronological research in North Africa and identify knowledge gaps and limitations in the field. The period of analysis spans from 1979 to 2023. We used all the available literature in Dendrobox and Google Scholar during this period. Our study revealed several research gaps in the region, including the need for more studies on the history of forest fires and their relationship to climate conditions in Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia, the impact of climate on the anatomical characteristics of growth rings, and the effects of climate change on tree species diversity and forest health. Applying this technique in the future would allow for detailed insights into the effect of climate on the internal structure and growth of forest trees. The findings of this study will help guide future research and contribute to a better understanding of the climate-growth relationship of woody plants in North Africa.

Krisztina Kállai

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Valencia V. Ndlangamandla, Adeola Salawu-Rotimi, Vuyiswa S. Bushula-Njah et al.

<i>Cannabis sativa</i> L. is a monotypic genus belonging to the family Cannabaceae. It is one of the oldest species cultivated by humans, believed to have originated in Central Asia. In pivotal judgements in 2016 and 2018, the South African Constitutional Court legalised the use of <i>Cannabis</i> within the country for medicinal and recreational purposes, respectively. These decrees opened opportunities for in-depth research where previously there had been varying sentiments for research to be conducted on the plant. This review seeks to examine the history, genetic diversity, and chemical profile of <i>Cannabis</i>. The cultivation of <i>Cannabis</i> by indigenous people of southern Africa dates back to the eighteenth century. Indigenous rural communities have been supporting their livelihoods through <i>Cannabis</i> farming even before its legalisation. However, there are limited studies on the plant’s diversity, both morphologically and genetically, and its chemical composition. Also, there is a lack of proper documentation of <i>Cannabis</i> varieties in southern Africa. Currently, the National Centre for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) has 15 genome assemblies of <i>Cannabis</i> obtained from hemp and drug cultivars; however, none of these are representatives of African samples. More studies are needed to explore the species’ knowledge gaps on genetic diversity and chemical profiles to develop the <i>Cannabis</i> sector in southern Africa.

E. Frankema, Marlous van Waijenburg

Abstract This review article seeks to build bridges between mainstream African history and the more historically oriented branch of the ‘new’ economic history of Africa. We survey four central topics of the new economic history of Africa — growth, trade, labor, and inequality — and argue that the increased use of quantitative methods and comparative perspectives have sharpened views on long-term trajectories of economic development within Africa and placed the region more firmly into debates of global economic development. The revival of African economic history opens new opportunities for Africanist historians to enrich the interdisciplinary approaches they have taken to study questions of demography, poverty, slavery, labor, inequality, migration, state formation, and colonialism. These fruits, however, can only be reaped if the institutional boundaries between the fields of history and economic history are softened and both sides engage in greater mutual engagement. Our paper aims to move closer to a shared vision on the benefits and limitations of varying quantitative methods, and how these approaches underpin both more and less convincing narratives of long-term African development.

Joseph Muyangata, Sibiziwe Shumba

The COVID-19 pandemic which started in China in 2019, was originally described as a public health emergency of intercontinental concern by the World Health Organization (WHO) in January 2020. Due to its speedy rate of spread, the WHO then declared it a pandemic after 6 weeks. The global spread of COVID-19 has been attributed to the high mobility between and within countries. Having noted the wide spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, almost every country affected, developed strict and restrictive public health measures to control the spread of the virus. Such measures included restrictions on country borders and social gatherings. Hence, the main purpose of the paper was to explore the impact of the COVID-19 crisis in relation to religion, health and poverty in Harare urban communities as well as determining solutions to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on those sectors. The research methodology was qualitative in nature. Primary data were collected through in-depth telephone interviews and online open-ended questionnaires. Purposive sampling was used to select the study participants. The findings showed that the COVID-19 pandemic triggered and exposed the inequalities in health. The pandemic also had a strong impact on religious activities and it exacerbated poverty levels as well. Those who had all the access to medication, food and vaccinations during the height of COVID-19 may not fully appreciate the impact that poverty coupled with pandemics left on their communities both religiously and socially. Malnutrition, hunger and sickness were the order of the day among the poor. Contribution: The conclusion was that COVID-19 negatively impacted on the health, religious and social sectors. Therefore, it is critical to maintain preventive and curative services, especially for the most vulnerable populations such as children, older persons, and people with disabilities.

R. Nagoshi, G. Goergen, Kodjo Agbeko Tounou et al.

Fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda J.E. Smith) is a noctuid moth pest endemic throughout the Western Hemisphere that has recently become widespread in sub-Saharan Africa. There is a strong expectation of significant damage to African maize crop yield and a high likelihood of further dispersal, putting the rest of the Eastern Hemisphere at risk. Specimens from multiple locations in six countries spanning the northern portion of the infested region were analyzed for genetic markers. The similarity of haplotypes between the African collections was consistent with a common origin, but significant differences in the relative frequency of the haplotypes indicated limitations in migration. The mitochondrial marker frequently used to identify two host strains appears to be compromised, making uncertain previous reports that both strains are present in Africa. This more extensive study confirmed initial indications based on Togo populations that Florida and the Greater Antilles are the likely source of at least a subset of the African infestation and further suggest an entry point in western Africa. The origin of a second subgroup is less clear as it was rarely found in the collections and has a haplotype that has not yet been observed in the Western Hemisphere.

Ebele, E. Nnadozie, Obinna O. Ike, Ngozi U. Chuke et al.

The study investigated the influence of psychological ownership on the association between satisfaction with work-family balance and intention to stay in the profession in South-Eastern Nigerian public hospitals. An exploratory research design was adopted for a study that was conducted among 389 nurses recruited from public hospitals in South-eastern Nigeria (females: 373 (96 %); males: 16(4 %); mean age: 37.40 years; SD = 6.33). Participants completed self-report measures of satisfaction with work-family balance, psychological ownership, and intention to stay. Regression analyses showed that work-family balance and psychological ownership positively correlated with nurses' intention to stay. Psychological ownership also moderated the relationship between satisfaction with work-family balance and intention to stay. These findings indicated that psychological ownership and satisfaction with work-family balance are necessary preconditions for striking a balance between job demands and employees’ responsibilities to encourage intention to stay and improve commitment and productivity. Thus, the current findings help hospital managements comprehend and appreciate the critical roles of psychological ownership and satisfaction with work-family balance in enhancing nurses’ intention to stay.

Said Ali, Jeanne N. Samake, Joseph Spear et al.

Abstract Malaria control in Somaliland depends on the effective identification of potential malaria vectors, particularly those that may be invasive. The malaria vector Anopheles stephensi has been detected in multiple countries in the Horn of Africa (HOA), but data on its geographic distribution and population genetic diversity are incomplete. We implemented a vector surveillance program and performed molecular analysis of Anopheles in three urban areas in Somaliland. Our study confirmed the presence of both the invasive An. stephensi and the long-established HOA malaria vector Anopheles arabiensis. Further analysis of An. stephensi genetic diversity revealed three cytochrome oxidase I (COI) haplotypes, all of which have been observed in other countries in East Africa and one also observed in South Asia. We also detected the knockdown resistance (kdr) L1014F mutation, which is associated with pyrethroid resistance; this finding supports the need for further assessment of the potential for insecticide resistance. The detection of multiple haplotypes previously observed in other regions of East Africa indicates that An. stephensi is an established population in Somaliland and likely shares its origin with other newly identified An. stephensi populations in East Africa. The detection of genetic diversity in An. stephensi in Somaliland provides a basis for future studies on the history of the species in the region and its dispersal throughout East Africa. Graphical Abstract

Justin Eduviere Agheyisi, Iro Aghedo

There is a climate of insecurity in Nigeria owing to pervasive violent crime across the country. Although the wide socio-economic gap between the rich and the poor, high rate of unemployment, and governance deficit are blamed for rising insecurity, analysts often neglect the role of the built environment. Informal housing and unplanned neighborhoods are often stigmatized as spaces of crime in the global South. Drawing from the conceptual framework of permeability and crime prevention through environmental design (CPTED), we investigate the vulnerability of residential neighborhoods to security threats in Benin City. Vulnerability was interrogated at two levels. At the neighborhood level, our findings showed that environmental risk factors associated with informal housing and incremental development render the neighborhoods permeable and limit crime policing. At the residential level, our findings revealed that inappropriate target hardening limits natural surveillance and communal use of outhouse facilities renders homes indefensible. Situational crimes such as burglary and robbery are high in the absence of regular police patrols and neighborhood watch. Conclusions point to the need to incorporate informal housing and environmental risk factors into CPTED literature in the context of the cities in the global South, establishment of neighborhood or community policing to partner with the Nigerian police in crime fighting, and settlement upgrading to enhance natural surveillance, police patrol and rapid response to distress calls in the event of criminal attacks.

M. Asante

Andrew Scheibe, Shaun Shelly, Tara Gerardy et al.

Abstract Background Emerging data points to a potential heroin use epidemic in South Africa. Despite this, access to methadone maintenance therapy and other evidence-based treatment options remains negligible. We aimed to assess retention, changes in substance use and quality of life after 6 months on methadone maintenance therapy provided through a low-threshold service in Durban, South Africa. Methods We enrolled a cohort of 54 people with an opioid use disorder into the study. We reviewed and described baseline socio-demographic characteristics. Baseline and 6-month substance use was assessed using the World Health Organization’s Alcohol Smoking and Substance Use Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and quality of life, using the SF-12. We compared changes at 6 months on methadone to baseline using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and paired-tests for the ASSIST and SF-12 scores, respectively. McNemar’s test was used for comparisons between paired results of categorical variables relating to injecting frequency. Results The majority of the participants were young, Black African males, with a history of drug use spanning over 10 years. Retention after 6 months was 81%. After 6 months, the median heroin ASSIST score decreased from 37 to 9 (p < 0.0001) and the cannabis ASSIST score increased from 12.5 to 21 (p = 0.0003). The median mental health composite score of the SF-12 increased from 41.4 to 48.7 (p = 0.0254). Conclusions Interim findings suggest high retention, significant reductions in heroin use and improvements in mental health among participants retained on methadone maintenance therapy for 6 months. Further research into longer term outcomes and the reasons contributing to these changes would strengthen recommendations for the scale-up of methadone maintenance therapy in South Africa.

Carlos Shenga, Amílcar Pereira

Systematic African studies have revealed that electoral violence tends to have a negative impact driving Africans away from participating in elections. However, by using a multidimensional approach to electoral violence and electoral participation, combined with a recent dynamic from the 2016 to 2018 Afrobarometer public opinion surveys of 33 African countries, this study finds the opposite. Africans who perceived electoral violence were more likely to attend an election campaign rally and vote. Instead of being used by the incumbent to prevent the opposition supporters from voting, electoral violence appears to motivate those who perceive it to participate. However, whilst election violence may increase electoral participation, this malpractice is not conducive for consolidating democracy or fostering support for, or satisfaction with, democracy.

Jean Pascal Demba Diop, Rokhaya Ndiaye Diallo, Violaine Bourdon-Huguenin et al.

Abstract Background Pathogenic variants associated with hereditary breast cancer have been reported for BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) genes in patients from multiple ethnicities, but limited information is available from sub-Saharan African populations. We report a BRCA2 pathogenic variant in a Senegalese family with hereditary breast cancer. Methods An index case from a consanguineous family and nineteen healthy female relatives were recruited after informed consent. Along with this family, 14 other index cases with family history of breast cancer were also recruited. For the control populations we recruited 48 healthy women with no cancer diagnosis and 48 women diagnosed with sporadic breast cancer without family history. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. All BRCA2 exons were amplified by PCR and sequenced. Sequences were compared to the BRCA2 GenBank reference sequence (NM_000059.3) using Alamut Software. Results We identified a novel nonsense pathogenic variant c.5219 T > G; p.(Leu1740Ter) in exon 11 of BRCA2 in the index case. The pathogenic variant was also identified in three sisters and one daughter, but was absent in the controls and unrelated cases. Conclusions This is the first report of a novel BRCA2 pathogenic variant in a Senegalese family with hereditary breast cancer. This result confirms the diversity of hereditary breast cancer pathogenic variants across populations and extends our knowledge of genetic susceptibility to breast cancer in Africa.

Sarah Jane Steele, Naeemah Abrahams, Kristal Duncan et al.

<h4>Background</h4>Estimates for the prevalence of rape and other forms of sexual violence (SV) vary in South Africa. This survey aimed to provide clarity by quantifying the prevalence of SV (forced sex or sexual acts) by 1) sexual partners, and 2) non-partners, and to describe factors associated with these outcomes among women (18-49 years) living in Rustenburg Municipality.<h4>Materials and methods</h4>We conducted a cluster-randomized household survey (November-December 2015). Women were asked about their experiences of SV, associated attitudes and behaviours, and access to services. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with partner and non-partner SV.<h4>Results</h4>Of eligible households, 83·1% (1700/2044) participated. Of 966 women invited, 836 participated (86·5%). Average age of participants was 31.6 years (95%CI: 30·9, 32·4) with 45% having completed at least secondary school, and 60% unemployed or looking for work. Lifetime prevalence of SV was 24.9% (95%CI: 21·7-28·5), reaching 9.0% (95% CI: 6·6-12·1) by age 15. Almost one third told no one of their SV experiences. Factors related to financial dependence were associated with SV by a partner. History of termination of pregnancy increased the likelihood of SV by a non-partner as an adult. Women who experienced SV in childhood or as an adult were more likely to experience SV from a different type of perpetrator than those who did not.<h4>Conclusions</h4>We found a high prevalence of SV, including during childhood, in this setting, with limited access to care. This and the high morbidity attributed to SV calls for increased service provision.

D. I. Axelrod, P. Raven

Mandla Makhanya, Erna Oliver

No abstract available.

Wakako Fujita, Sebalda Leshabari, Ecstasy Danford Mlay et al.