Facing problems of land, natural resources and environment, Sahelian governments have become increasingly aware that solutions must be sought first among local communities. These communities, in... Show moreFacing problems of land, natural resources and environment, Sahelian governments have become increasingly aware that solutions must be sought first among local communities. These communities, in association with government at local and national levels, should be responsible for land and natural resource management. This chapter discusses recent land tenure and environmental management developments as they have occurred in Mali. First, a historical summary of the policies followed in Mali with respect to decentralization, land tenure and management of natural resources shows that the strongly centralized government which was introduced in all French colonies was continued after independence by the Malian government. The government regarded itself as the sole authority capable of managing land and natural resources, leaving little room for local initiatives. Events taking place between 1990 and 1992, however, have led to a change in policy: land policy and environmental management are now invariably linked with decentralization. Next, certain legal and institutional constraints concerning the local management of land and natural resources are discussed, with special attention being paid to local management contracts. Finally, political dimensions of improved environmental protection in Mali are considered, focusing on problems of rapid implementation of decentralization and the importance of a durable democracy. Show less
The chapters in this collection record a workshop held at the School of Oriental and African Studies, in April 1991, on African languages, development and the State. The book is divided into an... Show moreThe chapters in this collection record a workshop held at the School of Oriental and African Studies, in April 1991, on African languages, development and the State. The book is divided into an introductory chapter, by Richard Fardon and Graham Furniss, and three parts. Part 1, West Africa, contains papers by Ayo Bamgbose (multilingualism), C. Magbaily Fyle (policy toward Krio in Sierra Leone), Mamoud Akanni Igu‚ and Raphael Windali N'ou‚ni (the politics of language in B‚nin), Ben Ohi Elugbe (minority language development in Rivers and Bendel States, Nigeria), Gillian F. Hansford (mother tongue literacy among the Chumburung speakers in Ghana). Part 2, Central and Southern Africa, contains papers by J.M.M. Katupha (language use in Mozambique), Jean Benjamin (language and the struggle for racial equality in the development of a non-racial southern African nation), Nhlanhla P. Maake (a new language policy for post-apartheid South Africa), James Fairhead (linguistic pluralism in a Bwisha community, eastern Zaire), Wim van Binsbergen (minority languages in Zambia (Nkoya) and Botswana (Kalanga)). Part 3, East Africa, contains papers by Gnter Schlee (loanwords in Oromo and Rendille), Jan Blommaert (the metaphors of modernization in Tanzanian language policy), David Parkin (Arabic, Swahili and the vernaculars in Kenya). Show less
