Abstract Domestic violence during pregnancy is a critical yet often neglected issue in Ethiopia, threatening the health and rights of pregnant women. This phenomenological study explores the types of domestic violence experienced by pregnant women in Bahir Dar City through in-depth interviews with 20 pregnant women and consultations with seven health professionals and religious leaders. Four main forms of abuse emerged: sexual violence, including forced sex and pressure to terminate pregnancies; psychological violence, such as verbal threats, blame and isolation; physical violence, involving beatings and forced heavy labour; and economic violence, where women’s access to financial resources is controlled or denied. These abuses are deeply embedded in patriarchal norms and normalised within family structures. Many women remain silent due to social pressure and a desire to maintain family unity. Addressing this issue requires urgent public awareness campaigns, legal reforms, and targeted support services to safeguard the health, dignity and rights of pregnant women in Ethiopia.
Abstract Political party defection has become a major issue in Nigeria’s democratic dispensation, bringing about major concerns for the country’s supposed representative governance scheme. Nowhere has this instability been more evident in recent times than in Rivers State, with multiple state legislators switching to the national ruling party and plunging the state into chaos. This paper examines the constitutional basis for and the implications of political party defection in Nigeria. It analyses the import of defection for the democratic wellbeing and political stability of Nigeria, while drawing lessons from Ghana and the US. The paper finds that Nigeria struggles with weak constitutional provisions on defection. It concludes with recommendations for electoral and constitutional reforms aimed at curbing opportunistic defections while strengthening party ideology, political stability and voter trust in democratic processes.
Abstract This article presents a comparative lexical analysis of the Decha and Gesha dialects of Kafi Noonoo, a language spoken in South-Western Ethiopia. Drawing on 895 lexemes from Summer Institute of Linguistics word lists, the study investigates systematic variation and convergence across semantic domains such as flora and fauna, health, farming, numerals, human character, adornments and clothing, disability, and interpersonal relationships. A descriptive research design was employed, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected through elicitation, participant observation and introspection, using purposive sampling to select 16 informants balanced by gender and age, based on linguistic competence and cultural knowledge. The findings reveal 83.7% lexical similarity (749 items) and 16.3% divergence (146 items), indicating high mutual intelligibility despite sociocultural and geographic variation. Unlike prior studies focused on phonology, this research foregrounds lexical investigation as central to understanding intra-language variation. The results can inform language planning, curriculum design, and cultural preservation, supporting inclusive language policy.
Media and scholarly attention seldom address issues of transport justice facing black working-class women in South Africa. Through in-depth interviews with working-class women from Orange Farm, this research article exposes the challenges faced by women who rely on unsafe minibus taxis (referred to as "taxis") for their daily commute to Johannesburg. The findings highlight that women, as an oppressed group, encounter injustices not only within their homes and workplaces but also during their use of public transport. This paper asserts that transport serves as another realm where the interviewed women experience oppression, intersecting with issues of class, race and gender. The results underscore that, despite 30 years of democracy, South Africa has yet to achieve transport justice for black working-class women.
Biofortified crops are widely promoted as sustainable solutions to micronutrient deficiencies, yet their adoption by smallholder farmers remains uneven. This PhD research examines the drivers and barriers shaping the adoption of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) in Ethiopia, where vitamin A deficiency persists despite national nutrition strategies. Using an integrated conceptual framework combining the motivation-opportunity-ability model, the technology acceptance model, the theory of planned behaviour and the diffusion of innovations theory, the study applies a mixed-methods design: a systematic review, a survey of 370 farmers, a qualitative training experiment with 65 producers and a stakeholder-based SWOT-SMART analysis involving 60 actors. The findings reveal that adoption depends not only on nutritional awareness but on institutional support, training intensity, access to quality vines and coordinated stakeholder engagement. The research underscores the importance of integrating behavioural and system-level interventions to achieve sustainable biofortification outcomes.
This study argues that the precarious conditions experienced by Zimbabwean migrants in South Africa are structurally embedded within the capitalist economy, with undocumented status serving as a mechanism for super-exploitation. Drawing on Marini's concept of super-exploitation and on Amin's and Frank's dependency theory, the study contends that undocumented migrants are deliberately positioned as a hyper-exploitable labour force, subjected to deskilling, wage suppression and exclusion from legal protections. To examine these dynamics, the study collected life history data from Zimbabwean migrants in Cape Town, exploring their experiences in the labour market, their inability to leverage academic qualifications and their encounters with law enforcement. The findings show that illegality is not merely a juridical status but a structural condition that reinforces precarity. Migrants are systematically excluded from skilled employment, forced into low-wage jobs and subjected to racialised policing that sustains their vulnerability. This study contributes to debates on migrant labour and precarity by illustrating how South Africa's legal and economic structures reproduce migrant exploitation as a means of maintaining a surplus labour force for capital accumulation.
This review examines the dynamics of patronage politics, clientelism and prebendal-ism in South Africa, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, exploring their historical roots, contemporary manifestations and implications for governance. Drawing on a systematic synthesis of peer-reviewed literature and applying the PRISMA 2020 framework, we find that patronage politics have evolved in South Africa, reinforcing factionalism and crony capitalism, weakening governance and public sector efficiency. In Nigeria, prebendal-ism has entrenched corruption and elite resource appropriation and has facilitated its federal structure and oil wealth distribution. Zimbabwe's political landscape is characterised by entrenched patron-client networks marked by elite capture of institutions, cronyism and unprecedented rent-seeking behaviour that persists despite severe economic constraints. The review highlights the role of historical legacies, socio-political structures and institutional weaknesses in sustaining the impact of patronage on grassroots political engagement and informal resilience mechanisms. There is a need for governance reforms, institutional strengthening and policy innovations to mitigate the effects of clientelism and prebendalism on democratic consolidation and sustainable development in Africa.
In higher education, the benefits of linking teaching and research are voiced mostly by academics, while a student perspective is largely missing from the debate. In the present study, students' experience of research integration was explored with a focus on reflection about research, participation in research, awareness of current research and motivation to do research. In total, 261 students from eight undergraduate courses at two public universities in Mozambique were involved. The findings of this study establish a baseline in research experiences in these universities. Compared with a critical benchmark (80%), students' average research experiences are consistently below par. Furthermore, significant differences between university courses can be observed. The findings reflect the nature of teaching-intensive universities and suggest the linkage between teaching and research is possibly diffuse or indirect in these institutions. Building on this research, a revised Students' Perceptions of Research Integration Questionnaire is put forward as a tool for future studies to boost the teaching-research nexus (TRN) in Mozambican universities.
This contribution reports on the project "Responsive Government and Population Wellbeing in the Later Roman Empire (3rd-5th Century AD)", funded by the Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek and the National Research Foundation, a partnership between Ghent University and the South African universities of Stellenbosch and the Western Cape. By adapting modern wellbeing indices to ancient sources, the project investigates how the late Roman state addressed the physical, social and economic needs of its population through a responsive political system driven by pressure from below. Drawing on findings from the 2025 Stellenbosch project conference, the report comments on the difficulty of disentangling political self-interest from genuine care for population welfare and highlights the historical role of local non-state actors. Finally, it briefly reflects on the contemporary relevance of these patterns by juxtaposing ancient governance practices with present-day challenges to population wellbeing in South Africa and Belgium.
This paper explores the multidisciplinary significance of oral narratives and traditions in understanding the entanglements between human and non-human entities within ecological systems, particularly in the context of the global crisis. Drawing insights from two academic workshops held in different settings, the discussion collectively emphasises the importance of oral narratives in addressing ecological challenges and promoting inclusive development. The findings highlight the evolving role of fables, not merely as didactic tales but as multifaceted narratives that integrate scientific analysis, artistic expression, and cultural evaluation. By fostering dialogue among scholars, artists, and practitioners across various disciplines, the workshops underscore the critical role of storytelling in reimagining relationships between humans and non-humans and advocate for collaborative solutions to current crises. This paper argues that the study of oral narratives transcends traditional literary boundaries, offering valuable frameworks for understanding ecological interactions and non-human agency, thereby contributing to more comprehensive discourses on sustainable coexistence.
This study presents an overview of post-apartheid South African foreign policy. South Africa, after enduring centuries of segregation, experienced a systematic and institutionalised form of racial discrimination - apartheid - in all sections of its society for about four decades. International resistance saw South Africa become a pariah state in the community of nations. Following the removal of restrictions on opposition political parties and the release of incarcerated political prisoners in 1990, the National Party led by F.W. De Klerk laid the foundation for a democratic transition. This process culminated in the victory at the 1994 polls of Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress. Six principles emerged as aspirations of South Africa's foreign policy: human rights, respect for international law, the promotion of democracy, the pursuit of peace via non-violent mechanisms, dedication to Africa's welfare, and international cooperation to advance economic development. The literature reveals a consistent foreign policy trajectory from President Mandela to President Ramaphosa, with human rights maintained as a key feature. Although some foreign policy experts attest to some inconsistencies in the state's foreign policy, these disparities have been explained as being in line with the state's present economic or national interests.
One of the roles of movies in society is identity formation or reinforcement of race, tribe or people. In Nigeria, as in many other countries in the world, movie productions constitute a significant part of cultural productions and the entertainment industry. Yet movies are not created just for entertainment: they are used to recreate and revalidate specific meanings, perceptions or ways of life. Abeokuta, roughly translated as "Under the rock, is an iconic fortress of a Yoruba sub-group referred to as the Egba people. It is the foremost cradle of Egba people's identity that from its inception has been the backdrop against which Egba people's identity and philosophy have been shaped. Considering the nexus between movie production and the significance of the historical location, the researchers examine how director Tunde Kelani uses Abeokuta as a locale to showcase the Egba people's identity in his biopic film, Ayinla. We also explore the creative and narrative techniques employed in depicting Abeokuta as an ancient city, and we explicitly investigate the significance of Abeokuta, its cultural values, cultural lifestyles and activities. Based on the auteur film theory and social responsibility theory, this article adopts a qualitative content analysis technique to gather data from the movie Ayinla, concentrating on cinematic scenes that depict Abeokuta's identity. It also uses an in-depth interview method to collect data from the film producer and notable Egba broadcasters and historians. It is hoped that this article will contribute to the body of knowledge about the Abeokuta and Egba people in Nigeria and the diaspora.
This article explores gender construction and expectations in Oromo oral narratives, highlighting their fluidity and openness to evaluation. It is based on Oromo oral narratives collected through fieldwork methods such as oral performances, in-depth interviews and group discussions. The study confirms that gender portrayal within Oromo oral narratives is dynamic. It demonstrates the performance-dependent nature of Oromo oral narratives, focusing on a diverse representation of male and female characters. In the analysed narratives, female figures reflect diverse qualities such as wisdom, peacemaking nature and assertiveness. On the other hand, male characters exhibit heroic and authoritarian traits, seeking advice from their female counterparts. Generally, the article asserts that Oromo oral narrative interpretability is influenced by the audience, performer, message and context, challenging simplistic negative or positive gender portrayals in oral narratives.
This research investigates the co-creation of primary-level heritage education in Haut-Uele, DRC—a region marked by colonial disruption and ongoing epistemicide— drawing upon social pedagogy, socioconstructivist theory, and auto-ethnographic experience. The project brought together teachers, families, elders, and educational authorities through participatory interviews, focus groups, and hands-on workshops, closely involving local actors at every stage. Museum objects and associated intangible heritage were collaboratively integrated into school curricula, with content continually adapted through collective validation and the lived experiences of participants. The methodological framework emphasized inclusive dialogue, contextual learning, and critical reflection, directly addressing epistemic injustice and cultural rupture. The findings highlight that such educational restitution—realized through co-creation, dialogue, and reflexive engagement—not only fosters cultural pride, intergenerational negotiation, and safe engagement with sensitive heritage; it promises to outweigh material restitution as colonial reparation and as a source of empowerment for local communities.
This work examines the history of mural paintings created on various buildings, including painted earthen dwellings and colonial brick structures such as the courthouses of Niangara and Isiro, as well as the tribunal and prison of the Kopa chiefdom, many now in ruins. Produced by Congolese artists from the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, these works existed before the arrival of colonizers but were subsequently encouraged by colonial influence. Their execution on colonial brick buildings, often commissioned by colonial administrators, testifies to the latter’s clear interest in this artistic tradition, which also became a tourist attraction. These paintings constitute an essential element of local artistic heritage. This report traces the history of this practice as a cultural expression and analyzes its social significance.
In this paper, I will argue that in many histories "politics" is not restricted to processes of decision-making by human actors only in the interests of humans. Human societies may also include non-human entities in the political arena and build in limits to prevent "politics" from being reasoned solely from the perspective of human interests. During the colonial era, however, such thinking was re-evaluated through conceptual frameworks then prevalent in Europe and connected to stereotypes about African rule, focusing on one "chief". This led to profound changes of the meanings of "politics" in colonised societies. I will take Gikuyu history in Central Kenya as a case study to further this argument.
This article explores a tension within contemporary museum and cultural policies, focusing on the decolonisation of colonial collections and associated knowledge production. Despite ongoing efforts, these initiatives often remain under the control of Western institutions, leaving the concerned countries and communities unequally involved. This exclusion perpetuates colonial trauma and provokes activism against museums and governments. Based on research within the AFRISURGE project in the north-east of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), this study combines research on customary authority in contemporary governance with the perspectives of north-east Congolese communities regarding their heritage housed in the Royal Museum for Central Africa. The article highlights the need for inclusive and co-creative socially responsible museology, offering insights into how people want to engage with their heritage and exploring approaches to overcoming exclusionary aspects in decolonising museum agendas.
This paper examines customary governance struggles in recent history in the context of the city of Aba, situated in north-eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which was detached from the Kakwa chiefdom following the country's decentralisation policy in the 1980s. This policy granted Aba its own state administration, formally ending the control of customary authorities. Kakwa chiefs have repeatedly contested this separation, seeking to reclaim administrative influence. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and semi-structured interviews, the study analyses how two successive chiefs have continued to assert authority over Aba by invoking custom, negotiating with state actors and mobilising public strikes. These tactics are situated within the broader socio-political and historical landscape of the region. The paper argues that understanding the chiefs' persistent influence provides valuable insights into how traditional leaders adapt and maintain power at the local level despite formal state structures.
This work examines the history of mural paintings created on various buildings, including painted earthen dwellings and colonial brick structures such as the courthouses of Niangara and Isiro, as well as the tribunal and prison of the Kopa chiefdom, many now in ruins. Produced by Congolese artists from the northeastern region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, these works existed before the arrival of colonizers but were subsequently encouraged by colonial influence. Their execution on colonial brick buildings, often commissioned by colonial administrators, testifies to the latter's clear interest in this artistic tradition, which also became a tourist attraction. These paintings constitute an essential element of local artistic heritage. This report traces the history of this practice as a cultural expression and analyzes its social significance.
This article discusses the role of customary chiefs in urban governance, focusing on Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). On the one hand, the article shows how chiefs have, to a large degree, retreated from the urban centre through the sale of most of their land-a move which has severely reduced their power and authority. On the other hand, it shows that customary chiefs still play an important role in urban affairs, given the large peri-urban character of Kinshasa. This is discussed through three different kinds of conflict, framed as "open moments" that uncover various forms of power and interests. By focusing on land conflicts, political conflicts and succession conflicts, the article shows how chiefs navigate various power struggles and continue to play a role in urban governance. In doing so, they use their "capacity of customary command". At the same time, it also shows the vulnerability of the chiefs to patronage and corruption, and their dependence on power networks within the state. In this sense, the functioning of the chiefs in urban affairs in Kinshasa is very much a reflection and magnification of the ways in which the state operates.
