This paper discusses the search for hidden post-colonial archives on Africanist research and ways of making these available to scholars and the general public. These are diverse sets of archives:... Show moreThis paper discusses the search for hidden post-colonial archives on Africanist research and ways of making these available to scholars and the general public. These are diverse sets of archives: the personal archives of the scholar that are often hidden in 'trunks' at home, and the institutional archives in libraries in Africa. Modern technologies have also increased the archiving problem by adding hidden digitalized archives, namely the electronic archives on African websites and other electronic storage systems. And finally there are the digital archives of scholars to add to the list too. How can these archives be saved and made accessible to the wider scholarly community? Archiving should be a concern of both librarians and researchers/scholars who are faced with increased data-gathering possibilities and the need to store them electronically. How can we ensure that data is and will remain available in an open way? The practice of archiving will be explored in this paper, using the African Studies Centre in Leiden as an example. It is calling for collaboration between librarians and researchers to create 'living' archives of scholarly research and also of digital material that are 'open access'. Show less
In the 1990s a livelihood approach to poverty in Africa emerged, with an emphasis on agency as opposed to structure. Situated in an actor-oriented perspective, the livelihood approach focuses on ... Show moreIn the 1990s a livelihood approach to poverty in Africa emerged, with an emphasis on agency as opposed to structure. Situated in an actor-oriented perspective, the livelihood approach focuses on (poor) individuals and households, aiming at a dynamic and holistic understanding of their actions. This chapter outlines the disciplinary roots of the livelihood approach and its modern articulations. It then argues that a new generation of livelihood studies is needed which politicizes issues of livelihood by putting more emphasis on the analysis of power relations, both on the micro and the meso/macro levels. In addition, the increasing multilocality of African livelihoods, associated with income diversification, multitasking and growing mobility, should be taken into account. The new multilocal networks of African livelihoods could constitute an important undercurrent for the strengthening of African development. Bibliogr. [ASC Leiden abstract] Show less
The fishing practices of fishers at ten landing sites in Malindi and Kilifi Districts that were surveyed in 1999 as part of a larger research project are discussed in this article. The focus of... Show moreThe fishing practices of fishers at ten landing sites in Malindi and Kilifi Districts that were surveyed in 1999 as part of a larger research project are discussed in this article. The focus of the research was on income diversification among fishers, pressure on marine resources and the relationship between the two. It was hypothesized that fishers with additional resources strengthen livelihood strategies and improve household security, and those who succeed in diversifying their incomes can be expected to have a more positive attitude towards conservation measures and will exact less pressure on marine resources. Two types of income diversification were distinguished: 1) 'activity' diversification at the individual level where fishers had other income besides fishing, and 2) 'earner' diversification at the household level where fishers belonged to a household with more than one income earner. Key indicators were selected that represented four features of artisanal fishing, namely: 1) the number of fishers; 2) the fishing grounds; 3) the type of equipment; and 4) the frequency of fishing. There was no significant relationship between 'earner' diversification and fishing practices while 'activity' diversification correlated significantly with two selected indicators. Fishers with 'multiple' activities used more destructive gear and fished inshore grounds more often, while there was no sign that they were more willing to stop fishing in favour of alternative employment. It was concluded that an activity diversification of fishers did not reduce the pressure on the marine environment. Instead the opposite occurred, fishers who had other employment onshore fished less prudently. Show less
This paper examines attitudes towards marine conservation among fishers from two villages in Kilifi District, Kenya. It focuses on how the views of fishers have contributed to their willingness to... Show moreThis paper examines attitudes towards marine conservation among fishers from two villages in Kilifi District, Kenya. It focuses on how the views of fishers have contributed to their willingness to engage in marine conservation and considers how these attitudes developed. Uyombo is situated near the Watamu Marine National Park and Reserve and the fishers from this village have encountered formal methods of conservation in their daily fishing activities. There is no marine park in the vicinity of Takaungu but fishers in Takaungu have used informal methods of conservation in the past, unlike those employed in Uyombo). These traditional ways have, however, lost most of their effectiveness. Data were collected in 2000, 2001 and 2003 and the study shows how experiences have shaped fishers' attitudes towards conservation and their perceptions of how conservation efforts should, or should not, be carried out. The fishers from Uyombo, as a result of their experiences with the Marine National Park, have developed such a negative attitude towards marine conservation that it may be difficult to involve them in any meaningful activities in the future. The fishers in Takaungu, on the other hand, are willing to participate in marine conservation activities provided these do not endanger their livelihoods and are on an equal partnership basis. Show less
This paper examines how to research the changing outlines of African livelihoods in the present era of globalisation. After an analysis of the historical and theoretical context in which the... Show moreThis paper examines how to research the changing outlines of African livelihoods in the present era of globalisation. After an analysis of the historical and theoretical context in which the modern livelihood approach developed, two trends in modern livelihood studies are discussed, i.e. its increased holistic features and the surmounting of its micro-orientation. - Subsequently, the most pressing issues in livelihood research are reviewed: decomposition of households, increased diversification and increased multi-locality of livelihoods under globalisation. The next sections focus on two major theoretical and methodological challenges facing the livelihood approach at present. Firstly, with respect to the problem of access, we will demonstrate that the livelihood approach can become more powerful analytically by improving its theoretical depth through incorporating valuable elements of sovereignty and power. Secondly, there is the access to livelihood opportunities in relation to decision-making. In this context, we review various relevant concepts, such as livelihood strategies and styles, in order to operationalise the improved theoretical depth. We then propose livelihood trajectories as an appropriate methodology for examining pathways of African livelihoods. In so doing, the paper also sets the agenda for future research on African livelihoods. Paper presented at the 11th General Assembly of CODESRIA, 6-10 December 2005, Maputo. Show less
