In de Hoorn van Afrika - Ethiopië, Djibouti, Somalië - heerst een relatieve staat van interreligieuze harmonie. Voor Somalië en Djibouti is dit makkelijk te begrijpen, omdat hier bijna de gehele... Show moreIn de Hoorn van Afrika - Ethiopië, Djibouti, Somalië - heerst een relatieve staat van interreligieuze harmonie. Voor Somalië en Djibouti is dit makkelijk te begrijpen, omdat hier bijna de gehele bevolking al vele eeuwen islamitisch is en bovendien tot één richting behoort, de soennitische. Maar ook in Ethiopië, waar moslims c. 45 procent van de bevolking uitmaken, is sprake van een relatief probleemloze verhouding, met name sinds 1974, toen de islam als tweede grote godsdienst erkend werd. Politieke organisatie op basis van religieuze identiteit lijkt noch in Ethiopië noch in Somalië een kans te maken. Deels is dit te verklaren uit het starre politieke systeem en de strenge staatscontrole op het openbare leven in deze landen, deels uit de etnische en etno-regionale verdeeldheid van de heterogene bevolking van de Hoorn. Show less
There is, as yet, still no adequate theoretical idiom to conceptualize, in an accepted, conventional manner, the processes conditioning ethnic naming and the political-economic embeddedness of... Show moreThere is, as yet, still no adequate theoretical idiom to conceptualize, in an accepted, conventional manner, the processes conditioning ethnic naming and the political-economic embeddedness of cultural complexities. The traditional primordial-mobilization dichotomy in ethnic studies, with its heuristic and descriptive advantages, remains attractive. Nonetheless, it would be advantageous for future anthropological studies of ethnic groups and relations to focus on the processes of infrastructural political-ecological conditioning of ethnic labels and their symbolic use. An explanation in terms of the psychological, affective validity of ethnicity is at most a derivative of such a process and has more to do with the individual experience rather than the collective aspects of ethnicity. The case of Maji 'awraja' (subprovince) in southwestern Ethiopia, where the author conducted fieldwork in 1988-1990, serves as illustration. The ethnonyms in use here primarily reflect a history of politico-ecological conflict between various groups of different composition and not a smooth transfer of cultural heritages within well-defined "tribes", despite a popular local image to the contrary. State discourse and policy plays a crucial role in the process. The discussion is restricted to four groups: the Dizi, the Tishana-Me'en, the Surma (or Tirma) and the Northerners (or "Amhara"). Bibliogr., notes, ref Show less
In 1983, the Ministry of Planning and National Development (MPND) of Kenya and the African Studies Centre, Leiden, started a programme of mutual studies whose objective was to analyse current... Show moreIn 1983, the Ministry of Planning and National Development (MPND) of Kenya and the African Studies Centre, Leiden, started a programme of mutual studies whose objective was to analyse current developments concerning food and nutrition in Kenya. The main subject areas are nutrition in rural development, regional and seasonal fluctuations in food supply and nutrition, and agricultural policies and agricultural production. Following the completion of several joint studies in Coast Province, a seminar on 'Sectoral discussions on seasonality, settlement and dairy development in Coast Province' was held in November 1990 at which the final results of several socioeconomic and nutrition surveys carried out during the period 1985-1987 were presented. The general objective of the seminar was to disseminate the study results among government officers concerned with the social and economic development of the area, to offer the results for discussion and to formulate recommendations for policy and planning purposes. This report contains a summary of each of the five main reports which were presented - a socioeconomic profile of the study populations in Kwale and Kilifi Districts, a study of seasonality in food consumption and anthropometry, a survey of economic and nutritional conditions at settlement schemes, a study of nutrition and dairy development and of women's groups - together with the seminar's recommendations. Show less
This paper discusses the concept of social security and criticizes the ILO definition of the concept as too limited to analyse non-Western social security systems. It develops an alternative... Show moreThis paper discusses the concept of social security and criticizes the ILO definition of the concept as too limited to analyse non-Western social security systems. It develops an alternative definition which includes, firstly, the protection by society of individuals or social groups against a fall in their standards of living as a result of temporary adversities, and, secondly, the promotion by society of the standards of living of those individuals or groups that are below an acceptable minimum level. This wider definition is justified by arguing that social security is a universal necessity. The paper further discusses principles and forms of social security systems, methods of redistribution, and determinants of social security systems. Show less
This is Part 4/5 of a series concerned with seasonality in the coastal lowlands of Kenya. Household surveys were carried out in six locations in Kwale and Kilifi Districts in 1985-1987. The present... Show moreThis is Part 4/5 of a series concerned with seasonality in the coastal lowlands of Kenya. Household surveys were carried out in six locations in Kwale and Kilifi Districts in 1985-1987. The present report deals with food consumption and the nutritional condition of the study population. Results show that the average energy intake in the sampled households is substantially lower than the reference requirements. However, energy intake differs according to research area, income class and season. On average, only about one-third of the energy intake is covered by the households' own food production. The general seasonality pattern of height and weight growth of the children differs little between the research areas. However, the amplitudes of the seasonal fluctuations differ between the areas. Household income level appears to be an important variable underlying differences in the seasonality of height growth and weight growth. The relationship between household income level and seasonality in the mothers' weight is more complex. In the present study, 'seasonal stress' is assessed in terms of a deterioration of the nutritional condition of the people. To a certain extent, most households are able to prevent this type of seasonal stress by buying food with money derived from a more or less regular type of off-farm employment and to a lesser extent also from farm sales. Show less
The National Land Act of 1964, designed to unify legislation concerning land, formally abolished the various local systems of land law in Senegal. The implementation of the various urban land... Show moreThe National Land Act of 1964, designed to unify legislation concerning land, formally abolished the various local systems of land law in Senegal. The implementation of the various urban land regulations and the efforts to restructure and regulate the spontaneous settlements which were started in Ziguinchor, the capital of the Casamance, in the 1970s resulted in a great number of urban land conflicts. This paper reviews Senegalese law relating to urban land. It explores the handling by the formal judicial and administrative institutions of urban land disputes and the conceptions and attitudes of the urbanites involved in these conflicts. The deliberate and systematic ignoring in the new national land law of the actual urban situation (more or less characterized by the persistence of - accommodated - traditional customs and values) seems to have contributed to the problems in the implementation of formal land law in Ziguinchor. The basic material for this paper has been drawn from court records and the minutes of special administrative arbitration commissions for review of land disputes. A main problem appears to be that land disputes submitted to court are handled by the criminal judge, although the 'defendants' do not feel in the least criminal. Besides, the material shows a difference between the general and formalistic decisions of the judge, and the more concrete solutions of the arbitration commissions that were set up to process the great number of urban land disputes. Show less
Breemer, H. van der; Bergh, R.; Hesseling, G.S.C.M. 1991
Ter gelegenheid van het afscheid van G. Grootenhuis als Algemeen Secretaris van het Afrika-Studiecentrum (ASC) te Leiden organiseerden het ASC en de Werkgemeenschap Afrika (WGA) een symposium... Show moreTer gelegenheid van het afscheid van G. Grootenhuis als Algemeen Secretaris van het Afrika-Studiecentrum (ASC) te Leiden organiseerden het ASC en de Werkgemeenschap Afrika (WGA) een symposium onder de titel 'De Nederlandse Afrikanistiek 1967-2000'. Dit stuk is gebaseerd op de voordracht die de auteur bij die gelegenheid hield. Hij geeft eerst een overzicht van de beschikbare hulpbronnen (personeel, fondsen, publikatiemogelijkheden) op dit moment. Vervolgens vergelijkt hij thema's van lopende onderzoeksprojecten met onderzoeksthema's uit 1981 en constateert een aantal blinde vlekken: stedelijke relatiepatronen, niet-statelijke vormen van sociale organisatie en machtsuitoefening, en materiële cultuur. Ook constateert de auteur dat er onder Afrikanisten weinig bereidheid is zich een Afrikaanse taal eigen te maken. Show less
This report is concerned with land distribution and rural development and presents the final results of a survey carried out in 1985-1986 in four settlement schemes: Diani and Ukunda in Kwale... Show moreThis report is concerned with land distribution and rural development and presents the final results of a survey carried out in 1985-1986 in four settlement schemes: Diani and Ukunda in Kwale District and Roka and Mtwapa in Kilifi District, Coast Province, Kenya. In each scheme 100 households were visited and information collected regarding small farm characteristics, off-farm employment, socioeconomic differentiation between households, food consumption and nutritional status. Data from a companion survey among the general population were available for comparison purposes. It was found that food crop production, mostly maize and cassava, covers only 60 percent of the staple food requirements. In all schemes, off-farm employment plays an important role and total household income consists for two thirds of employment income. The variation in income and income composition is large. Scheme households, on average, have a higher food energy consumption than the general population as well as a greater variation in diet. As regards nutritional status, there are significant differences between schemes and general population in respect of height-for-age of children. There is no traceable influence of individual schemes as such on the nutritional status of children. It is concluded that from the point of view of regional agricultural development the results of government settlement policy are far from optimal, but that from the point of view of the settler households the schemes are quite prosperous Show less
This is a detailed account of how the author, carrying out research into the urban therapeutic scene in Francistown, Botswana, over varying periods of time in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991, first... Show moreThis is a detailed account of how the author, carrying out research into the urban therapeutic scene in Francistown, Botswana, over varying periods of time in 1988, 1989, 1990 and 1991, first became a patient of a 'sangoma' traditional healer, and was subsequently trained and initiated as a 'sangoma' himself. Bibliogr., notes, ref Show less
Much has been written on African peasantries in general and on 'peasant wars' in Africa in particular, and yet there is a remarkable gap in the existing literature. On the one hand, literature on... Show moreMuch has been written on African peasantries in general and on 'peasant wars' in Africa in particular, and yet there is a remarkable gap in the existing literature. On the one hand, literature on peasant wars in general tends to ignore Africa South of the Sahara; on the other hand, none of the studies of specific African peasantries have probed their material in the light of the more general debates. The present paper tries to remedy this anomalous situation. It first discusses two general theories on the revolutionary potential of different categories of peasants, viz. the theory developed by H. Alavi (1965) and E.R. Wolf (1973) and that proposed by J.M. Paige (1975). It then examines these theories in light of some examples of peasant unrest from Africa, notably Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Chad, Madagascar, Angola, and Kenya. The analysis suggests that neither theory is able to account for all the cases examined. Show less
In deze bijdrage verkent de auteur de problematiek van chaos en domesticatie in het kader van ruimtelijke verplaatsing bij twee samenlevingen waar hij onderzoek verricht heeft: de Nkoja op het... Show moreIn deze bijdrage verkent de auteur de problematiek van chaos en domesticatie in het kader van ruimtelijke verplaatsing bij twee samenlevingen waar hij onderzoek verricht heeft: de Nkoja op het platteland van Zambia en de inwoners van Francistown, een middengrote stad in Botswana. Nkoja dorpen zijn tijdelijke conglomeraties van betrekkelijke vreemden die zich in hun onderlinge betrekkingen voortdurend bewust zijn van het optionele aspect van hun samenleven en strategisch uitzien naar mogelijkheden om, vooral door intra-rurale verhuizing, hun persoonlijke zekerheid te verbeteren. De chaos van hun individuele strevingen wordt getemd door het besef dat men gebruik maakt van dezelfde hulpbronnen, hetgeen co”rdinatie en overleg noodzakelijk maakt. Francistown is een centrum van verplaatsing. De toestroom van stedelijke migranten leidde tot een jaarlijkse groei van c. 8 procent in het laatste decennium. De spontane 'squatter' wijken zijn vanaf het eind van de jaren 70 gesaneerd en een deel van de bevolking is overgebracht naar nieuwe 'site-and-service' wijken. Losgeweekt uit hun eerdere sociale verbanden, worden zij hier geconfronteerd met een sociale chaos die zich vooralsnog moeilijk temmen laat. Noten Show less
The African National Congress (ANC), founded in 1912 as the voice of black South Africans, was banned by law on 30 March 1960, nine days after the Sharpeville massacre and at a time of... Show moreThe African National Congress (ANC), founded in 1912 as the voice of black South Africans, was banned by law on 30 March 1960, nine days after the Sharpeville massacre and at a time of unprecedented international pressure directed at the racial policies of the government of South Africa. The ANC remained illegal until 2 February 1990, when President De Klerk unbanned it, together with other illegal organizations. The ANC's period in exile may therefore be defined as lasting from 1960 to 1990. For most of that period the ANC leadership was based abroad, as were many of its most active rank and file members. The author first sketches the history of the ANC before its banning and then goes on to describe the main developments which affected the organization during its period in exile Show less
Over the past 15 years the Kenyan government has pursued a policy to stimulate the participation of women in the process of development. Women's groups have been the main focus of government... Show moreOver the past 15 years the Kenyan government has pursued a policy to stimulate the participation of women in the process of development. Women's groups have been the main focus of government policies in this regard. This paper presents the results of research, undertaken in 1985 and 1986, on women's groups in Coast Province in Kenya. The areas selected for this study are Diani-Ukunda in Kwale District and Mtwapa in Kilifi District. The report first describes the social and economic characteristics of the research locations, and the position of women in the family and their role in agriculture. Then it focuses on the importance of women's groups from a viewpoint of community development, but also on whether women gain an income from their joint activities. It is argued that the groups concerned offer only a few members a small and irregular income. The conditions connected with this situation and nonmaterial rewards for the group members are discussed. It is shown that the groups in Diani-Ukunda have a rather limited importance as far as community services are concerned, while the Mtwapa groups perform much better in this respect. The conditions connected with the differences in success are discussed as well as the motivations of members who, in spite of the slow progress of their groups, continue to participate. Show less
This study is concerned with the laws regulating compensation for extramarital pregnancy and maintenance of extramarital children in Botswana. More specifically, it aims to comprehend the reasons... Show moreThis study is concerned with the laws regulating compensation for extramarital pregnancy and maintenance of extramarital children in Botswana. More specifically, it aims to comprehend the reasons for the increase in extramarital reproduction and its seeming tolerance by the society; to make an in-depth review of the customary, Roman-Dutch and statutory laws relating to extramarital pregnancy and their relationship to each other; to find out the extent and manner in which these laws are used in practice, and their effectiveness; to comprehend the interaction between these plural sources of law, both at the institutional and grassroots level; and to draw theoretical and practical conclusions, with a view to recommending changes in the law which are relevant to its consumers' social reality and day-to-day lives. Data come from statutes and legal texts, decisions of the superior courts, decisions of two local courts, viz. the chief's court and the magistrate's court in Kanye, the traditional capital of the Ngwaketse, a survey of 178 unmarried mothers in Kanye carried out in 1989, and interviews and courtroom observations. Show less
