African Culture Research Articles

Stick Fighting and Stick Fencing in Ancient Egypt and Their Impact On the Present Day

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of stick fighting or stick fencing-like activities in ancient Egypt on modern sport. In the study, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to investigate stick fighting and fencing activities in ancient Egypt and their impact on contemporary sport. The literature review focused on historical documents, tomb paintings, hieroglyphs and archaeological findings from the ancient Egyptian period from 3000 B.C. In ancient Egypt, stick fighting was a widely practised sport alongside wrestling. In ancient Egypt, stick fighting was a rivalry between two players. Although stick fencing is a very popular attraction for exhibition fights, it is sometimes not seen as a fight against an opponent, but rather as a dance performance. It is said that the stick or club wielders wore masks during the matches. The fencers had to bow to the audience before the fight. They then held their sticks in a crossed position. It is assumed that there was a scoring system for fighting with sticks. Although in ancient Egypt fighting with sticks or acrobatic movements with sticks were used for demonstration purposes such as dance events, this could have been the origin of modern fencing and combat training. The aesthetic movements and manoeuvres with sticks and the wearing of masks by the athletes are similar to today's fencing. In ancient Egypt, stick fighters can be seen as stick fencers. In African and Middle Eastern cultures, stick fencing is still widespread and is reflected in the traditions.

Acts of gender activism in Stephen Chifunyise’s selected plays

This article explores Stephen Chifunyise’s portrayal of empowering identities of women which are considered as ‘gender activist’. Many of Chifunyise’s plays deal with gendered issues of space, democracy, governance and citizenship. The plays are rooted in African culture which attempts to balance the gendered nature of African communities to effectively advocate for the adoption of critical changes that have happened within these communities. The article views Chifunyise as a gender activist who uses theatre to bring to the fore issues which highlight the plight of women. The article utilizes an Africana Womanist perspective to analyse how Chifunyise includes women in society and more importantly, structures the way in which they are to be included as partners to the development of societies. Africana Womanism acknowledges men as part of this experience and as being key in its construction and in the deconstruction of women’s oppression. The article will analyse Chifunyise’s Waiting for Constitution (2010) and 365 (2011).

Cultural Conflicts In Christian Conversion: The Talensi Perspective

This paper focuses on the conflicts between the Christian faith and African traditional religion with particular reference to the Talensi of northern Ghana. It examines the religious and cultural experiences of Talensi Christian converts. Through interviews and participation of participants, the study set out to examine the phenomenon of religious conversion and Christian expression among the Talensi. African scholars believe that whenever a new religion comes into contact with African cultures there is always conflict. Christian evangelization involves the propagation of the Christian faith and the establishment of churches. The study revealed that wherever the gospel is proclaimed, it engages local cultures, and the result has always been conflict or accommodation. Critical to this encounter is the way the new faith is propagated and appropriated in the traditional society. The study concludes that since African traditional religion is part of the African ethos, an understanding of it should be considered in Christian evangelization. Ignoring the traditional beliefs, attitudes and practices of traditional people has implications for the way the Christian faith can be transmitted, accepted and appropriated in traditional societies. For Christianity to gain deep roots in traditional contexts such as the Talensi, the study recommends that proper bridges be built between the Christian faith and traditional cultures. Keywords: Culture, Gospel, Evangelization, Conversion, Syncretism, Discipleship.

A Critical Analysis of Cremation Burials Within Some of the South African Tribes: A Contextual Practical Theological View

The colonial erosion of African traditional and cultural practices continues to dislocate the African identity in different ways. The changes and shifts made to burial practices have simply paved a way for the colonial agenda to bring about more Western ways of doing things, burial rites included. It is important to note that cremation, as another way of burying the dead, is slowly becoming a norm for black people. This paper intends to not only unveil the causes and contestations around cremation burials, but to also seek an African theological response as a way to guide black African culture moving forward.

Obiajulu’s Children and the Wicked Sons of Eli (1 Sam 2:11–17)

The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas (1 Sam 2:11-36), served along with their father as priests at Shiloh in the tabernacle, where the ark of the covenant was housed (11am 1:3). While in service, Eli’s children became sons of worthlessness (bənȇ-bəliyyaʿal), dishonest, wicked and corrupt, as well as refused to know the Lord (lō’ yāḏə‘û ՚eṯ-ʾădōnāi) and his teachings. They were unrighteous, greedy, intimidating, immoral, and abusive to women at the entrance of the temple (vv. 12-22). Eli did little to correct them, leading to God’s punishment. Some scholars have examined this narrative with Western historical models, lacking African stories, cultures, customs, and experiences, where there are similar incidences of children’s misbehaviors and challenges of their upbringing in the African context. Using an African Biblical Hermeneutical approach with illustrative stories from Zain E. Asher’s memoir, “Where the Children Take Us: How One Family Achieved the Unimaginable,” this work contextually examines 1 Sam 2:11-17, within the theological contexts of the Books of Samuel and Deuteronomistic History (Josh–2 Kings). It compares Obiajulu’s disciplined and trained children (Obinze, Chiwetel, Zain, Kandibe) and the obedient boy, Samuel (vv. 18-22), with the consequences of the blasphemies and corruption of Eli’s children (vv. 11-17). It proposes lessons that no matter how we perform our duties in the church, schools and families, sadness may still come if we neglect to train our children responsibly in righteousness, integrity, hard work, and in the fear of the Lord.

25 Years of Türkiye’s Media Initiatives in Africa

Since around 2005, Türkiye has focused on establishing close relations with African countries, spanning politics, economics, culture, and media. This study aims to briefly touch upon the transformation of press and media in Africa and examine Türkiye’s initiatives in the African media landscape, particularly since 2005. This original work aims to serve as a guide for both media professionals and decision-makers in Türkiye’s foreign policy. Additionally, it seeks to ensure that the country’s media relations with African countries are based on a solid foundation. Due to the broad scope of the subject, Türkiye’s media initiatives have been analyzed under separate headings. Moreover, Türkiye’s steps in media relations with African countries, especially since 2005, have been investigated. To gather information on the topic, news articles, official statements, agreements signed by Türkiye with African countries in the media field, and decisions made during this process have been examined. Upon examination of the country’s media relations with African countries, it is observed that various initiatives have been taken, particularly since 2008. These relations in the media field have seen an upward trend through the 2020s. However, there is a need for further steps to be taken, particularly in areas such as the employment of African media professionals and collaboration in the media field, as well as producing more content related to Africa.

African Epistemology and Culture: Creating a Sustainable Development

African Epistemology and Culture: Creating a Sustainable Development

African theology of reconstruction and queer epistemic violence: A theo-ethical discourse

The legacies of colonialism in South Africa and broadly in Africa have problematised discourses on violence and discrimination. To counter coloniality and its continued efforts to dehumanise Africa, many Africans have often uncritically embraced certain notions of African culture that exacerbates the problem of homophobic violence and discrimination. This has left certain African discourses embracing ubuntu without critically addressing the violence and discrimination where ubuntu is often promoted. Recognising the attempts of African reconstruction theologians such as Mugambi and Ka Mana who advocate the necessity for African epistemic paradigms or epistemic justice, I engage their paradigms considering epistemic violence from the context of the queer community. Ubuntu must be understood within the context of African holism, a framework which African reconstruction theology makes use of. Using Dotson’s three orders of epistemic oppression, I argue that Mugambi’s theological paradigm could become problematic for the queer community because of the epistemic shells it carries into the future from the past. Considering the queer community, I argue that the epistemic flexibility of Ka Mana’s theology of reconstruction allows for more engagement because of its commitment to an ethic of African holism. At the heart of such an ethic is a commitment to the unity and the interconnectedness between God, humans, ancestors, plants and animals. This paper makes a theological contribution by engaging queer epistemic violence from the context of two African theological reconstruction paradigms.Intradisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary implications: This paper engages discourses from African masculinities, social sciences, African theology and philosophy with reference to epistemic violence enacted against the queer community.

Transliteration in Selected Nigerian Novels and The Discourse in Traditional Ceremonies in Urhobo And Ukwani

The study investigates the use and importance of transliteration in selected Nigerian novels as well as the discourse in traditional ceremonies such as marriage and funeral in Urhobo and Ukwuani in Delta State. Unlike in literary works where some works have been done in transliteration, none has been carried out on the English used in traditional ceremonies. Even in literary works, studies on transliteration are mostly aimed at how English is "domesticated" to reflect African culture. None of the studies has actually specified what aspects of African culture each transliterated expression reflects. Owing to this gap in literature, this work aims at providing a socio-linguistic explanations for the special linguistic choices made in Achebe's Arrow of God, Anthills of the Savannah, Chimamanda Ngozi, Adichie's Purple Hibiscus and in traditional ceremonies. The theoritical framework adopted for the study is the Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis of communication accomodation, which attempts to explain the relationship between language and the interpretation of social reality. Data were sourced from the novels and the speeches of spokesmen in marriage and funeral ceremonies of heterogeneous nature and were analysed through descriptive method. The following research questions guided the analysis: i. Are there defining characteristics that determine the English used in the novels and the traditional ceremonies? ii. Are there similarities between the language used in the novels and the ones used in the traditional ceremonies? iii. Is the variety of English used relevant to African culture? iv. What specific aspects of African culture do the linguistic choices made reflect? The findings from the study show that the expressions identified reflect and promote African culture. The findings also show that there are similarities between the language of the novels and that of traditional ceremonies.

Decolonizing Gender Dynamics: Reclaiming Lawino’s Voice in Okot p’Bitek’s Song of Lawino

Using Ngũgĩ wa Thiong’o’s decolonization theory, this article argues that Okot p’Bitek’s Song of Lawino reclaims African cultural voice and identity. Even though it is available in English, Song of Lawino is a kind of narrative poetry borrowed from the traditional Acholi song. This study uses contextual and stylistic analysis to show how p’Bitek’s poetry acts as a force for decolonization, advocates for cultural preservation, and addresses collective issues. Findings show that by satirizing African middle-class elites who adhere to Western values, the two chapters from Song of Lawino studied “The Woman with Whom I Share My Husband” and “Let Them Prepare the Malakwang Dish” highlight the clash between European and African cultures. In these poems, Lawino challenges gender dynamics and defends traditional practices, as well as criticizes the shallowness of Westernized lifestyles adopted by her husband Ocol. Through this strong-willed woman’s criticism, Okot p’Bitek’s poetry reveals the negative impacts of credulous cultural assimilation and underlines the import

Aesthetics of Afro-Andean Smoking Culture: Early Modern Peruvian Tobacco Pipes at the Edge of the Atlantic World

Although situated at the geographic margin of the early modern Atlantic World, the Pacific coast of Peru was an important region in the development of African diasporic material culture. Adopting an interdisciplinary material historical approach, we present the first systematic discussion of the known Afro-Atlantic-style tobacco pipes to be archaeologically recovered in Peru. Eighteen Afro-Atlantic-style tobacco pipes or pipe sherds dating to Peru’s Spanish colonial period have been identified across sites in the coastal cities of Lima and Trujillo and from a vineyard hacienda in rural Nasca. Tobacco pipes are among the most recognized and debated forms of early modern Atlantic African and diasporic expressions of material culture, as such, they present a powerful entry point to understanding the aesthetic consequences of colonial projects and diverse articulations across the Atlantic World. The material history of Afro-Atlantic smoking culture exemplifies how aesthetics moved between localities and developed diasporic entanglements. In addition to the formal analysis and visual description of the pipes, we examine historical documentation and the work of nineteenth-century Afro-Peruvian watercolorist Francisco (Pancho) Fierro to better understand the aesthetics of Afro-Andean smoking culture in Spanish colonial and early Republican Peru.

Analysing the Intersection between Law and Creative Writing: An Analysis of Petina Gappah’s Literary Writing Prose

This study is an analytical transposition of law and creative writing. The article starts by exposing how the intersection is experienced and positioned. The two fields are based on rhetoric. Rhetoric serves as the foundation for both forensic argument and creative writing, and the dynamic relationships between the two fields also leave many other traces, as we can see in the dramatic performances that connect judges and attorneys to actors, the performative effects of literary language, jurists’ and literary critics’ shared concerns with interpretation, demonstration, and proof, and the function of narrative schemas as templates. There are more similarities between legal scripts and creative writing than there are conflicts. Petina Gappah is someone who has managed well in the two fields, making her writings a marvel to both lay readers and those with a law background. The short stories and novels discussed in the article are embedded in the African culture and legal frameworks of reality. The short story “In the Matter between Goto and Goto” is a thought-provoking depiction of divorce in the Zimbabwean context. The story illustrates the conflicts between the customary and the legal face of marriage. The article picks and analyses three major themes emerging from this story, which are, culture and the law, the issue of gender and justice, and lastly, the limits of law in a legal system.

Eurocentrism, Afrocentrism, Postcolonialism and Hybridity in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun and August Wilson’s Radio Golf

This paper is a thematic study dealing with a postcolonial critical view of Eurocentrism and Afrocentrism in Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun (1959) and August Wilson’s Radio Golf (2005). In A Raisin in the Sun, Beneatha views Western cultures as superior and she ultimately opts for Afrocentrism. The spirit of Beneatha will be analysed with a focus on Frantz Fanon’s arguments against ‘négritude’ and Eurocentrism. Hansberry, through the voice of Mama Lena, calls for a union between the African and the American selves, as well as between the Western and the non-Western cultures. The issue of the oscillation between Eurocentrism and Africanness is shared by August Wilson in his last contemporary play where he exposes different facets and layers of identity. Contemporary black citizens have achieved their American dreams of collecting lucre, but they are still grappling between keeping faithful to their African heritage and cultural repertoire or adopting the Western way of life and distance themselves from their roots. This dilemma is best exemplified through Harmond and his wife Mame Wilks. Unlike Wilks, who imitates the prestigious way of life and looks for appearances and social status, Harmond crosses the boundaries of Eurocentrism and Afrocentrism and he tries to find a space for intercultural communication between the Western and the African cultures. The discussion part will relate the two plays to the recent events surrounding Floyd’s murder during the Covid-19 Pandemic. The aim is to examine the critical situation of blacks during crisis and to demonstrate that they are disproportionally targeted. The rationale for choosing a modern African-American text that explores contemporary Eurocentrism, Afrocentrism, assimilation, nativism, and decolonization is to show that race is a universal issue. The goal is to suggest hybridity as the best alternative for establishing a more humanitarian society where different races can be interwoven.

‘Point and Kill’ vs Animal Rights: A Moral Examination

This study critically examines the ethical implications of the practice known as "point and kill," wherein nonhuman animals are selected and immediately killed for food, a practice that has become commonplace in many African cultures. While food is essential for the survival and growth of both human and nonhuman animals, the manner in which nonhuman animals are often treated as mere commodities raises significant ethical concerns. Despite extensive debates in contemporary animal ethics, the focus has predominantly been on issues such as biomedical research, animal confinement, and entertainment, with relatively little attention given to the ethical ramifications of using animals for food, particularly in the context of practices like "point and kill." This paper addresses the gap in the literature by interrogating the moral worth of nonhuman animals and questioning the justification for their wanton killing for human consumption. Employing critical and conceptual analysis, the study draws on the Igbo philosophy of ‘ugwu anu’ (animal integrity) to argue against speciesism and advocate for the moral consideration of nonhuman animals. It contends that nonhuman animals deserve care, respect, and fair treatment, and that the practice of "point and kill" reflects a speciesist attitude that undermines the inherent value of animal life. By bringing this issue to the forefront, the study contributes to the broader discourse on animal ethics and calls for a reevaluation of culturally ingrained practices that perpetuate animal suffering.

The Roles of Riddles, Puzzles, and Narratives as Pedagogy in Video Games: A Case of African-Themed Video Games

Critical thinking can be promoted through narratives, puzzles, and riddles. Literature has indicated a need to reactivate African narratives to preserve African legacies for future generations. This study argues that African riddles, puzzles, and narratives should be used in African-themed video games to promote critical thinking and awareness of African culture. It emphasizes the importance of African-centered puzzles as a culturally relevant pedagogy that fosters students’ understanding of African cultural values. The study used a participatory culture framework to bring students together to develop an African-themed video game. The game, called Nolwazi, was investigated ethnographically to highlight critical aspects. The study presents the findings of the investigation and analysis. It concludes with a discussion of the importance of using African riddles, puzzles, and narratives in video games.

J. A. Ajao and the real estate enterprise in 20th century Lagos

Abstract Scholarly studies of business enterprises in colonial Lagos have neglected Chief Joseph Adediran Ajao, a foremost investor in the real estate enterprise. Though there are sketchy details about him in social circles and passing but constant references to him typified by «Ajao Estate» and «Papa Ajao» communities, there is yet to be any thorough scholarly study of his enterprise. Using family records, archival documents, court records, newspaper reports, interviews, published works, and site visit, this study examines the entrepreneurship of Chief Joseph Adediran Ajao. It sheds light on Chief Ajao’s entrepreneurial exploit first in the import and export trade from which he earned substantial wealth, and ultimately on his investment in land and real estate, where he left an extant impression as one of the largest land-owning individuals in Lagos. On the premise that African culture had a significant impact on African businesses, this study is situated within the context of Yoruba philosophy of business and enterprise. The study concludes that: one, Chief J. A. Ajao was a forerunner of the emergence of real estate enterprise in Lagos; two, Chief J. A. Ajao’s import-export business, J. A. Ajao and Brothers, though eclipsed by his real estate enterprise, was no less significant; and three, J. A. Ajao’s enterprise ensured that his name achieved an eponym status in Lagos.

The Untold Symbolic Significance of African Cultures, the Case of the Bukusu Circumcision Ritual in Kenya

Most Africans cultures were observed and practiced within the confines of their moral values that carried coded meaning which required more attention to understand hidden symbolism contained therein. Among the Bukusu people of Western Kenya for instance, circumcision was perhaps a cultural routine that was practiced with strict observance of several stages and rituals that indirectly communicated important messages to the initiates and the society at large. Hence, this paper examines key stages that are involved in order to successfully complete a Bukusu circumcision ritual. Such phases contained unique features and moral values that have not been told in many academic and scholarly writings since the inception of African leadership after colonialism. For the success in this objective, the tenets of the structural functionalism approach were very relevant in the illustration of the significance of the ritual itself and its key components that are deeply embedded and enshrined in the doctrines that dictated the operations of this rite. The study heavily relied on primary data which was corroborated by the existing secondary date to generate findings contained in this paper. Much of the primary data was collected through Oral Interviews (abbreviated as O.I in the entire text) and also through extensive readings from the Kenya National Archives (abbreviated as KNA in the text).

Exploring maternal and child healthcare projects in South African communities through Ubuntu lens: an appreciative inquiry

BackgroundUbuntu, a Nguni Bantu term meaning “humanity towards other”, embodies a philosophy of collectivism, interconnectedness and mutual respect, which is deeply ingrained in South African culture. Ubuntu led community-based collaborative projects enhance community engagement of several stakeholders to ensure improved health outcomes for the mothers and children in the region. Similarly, collaborations between universities are required to co-create evidence-based interventions with healthcare systems and communities to achieve healthcare objectives. This paper explores maternal and child healthcare (MCH) projects in South African communities through the Ubuntu lens, using an appreciative inquiry approach.MethodsA Qualitative approach based on the 5-cycle of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as proposed by Cooperrider and Srivastava were applied. A purposive sampling method was used to select participants (n = 14) who are members of the Ubuntu MCH project. Data was gathered through workshop group discussions. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data analysis followed the six steps of narrative analysis.ResultsThree main themes were identified: Academic growth of personnel; professional empowerment and Ubuntu mentorship.ConclusionThis study confirms that the Ubuntu principles emphasises solidarity, cohesion, and collaboration. The study recommends leveraging on Ubuntu principles to strengthen maternal and child healthcare services, suggesting that such this approach can lead to more sustainable and impactful health improvements in South African communities.

Sociopolitical Oppression and Suppression in Soyinka’s A Play of Giant

The concept of oppression is one of the most vital concepts in contemporary political discourses in the literary works. This concept has some interdisciplinary characteristics which are associated with culture, religion, sociology and politics. Therefore, this paper critically explores various sociopolitical oppression and suppression of Africans by their leaders (fellow Africans) in most parts of the continent as portrayed by Wole Soyinka. The paper reveals how African leaders misuse power, serve their personal interest instead of the citizens who voted them to power. In the Play of Giant, Soyinka uses satire to depict the attitude of many African leaders towards their citizens. It shows that the leaders have less sympathy towards the masses. It also shows inferiority complex, dictatorship, abuse of power, intolerance, immorality, and insensitiveness of African leaders which are all against the African cultures but inherited from colonialism.

Situating Ubuntu Philosophy in Pre-service Teacher Education

Ubuntu African philosophy and its values have been a subject of discussion by stakeholders due to its humanness and communal nature. It embodies African cultural values and belief systems that form the ways of life of indigenous people. These critical attributes of Ubuntu have necessitated its integration into pre-service teacher education to prepare Ubuntu-focused teachers who can contribute to decolonizing the education system in South Africa and beyond. However, efforts must be made to integrate Ubuntu values into pre-service teacher education. This paper reports on an investigation of the relevance of Ubuntu’s philosophy to pre-service teacher education. The investigation adopted the qualitative integrative literature review approach by selecting twenty-four articles from Scopus, EBSCO, and Google Scholar databases for review. The authors selected relevant articles using the relevant inclusion criteria and analyzed them under different themes to answer the two research questions formulated for this study. In order to increase teachers’ capacity to support the decolonization of education in Africa, the article suggests that the humanness and communalism approaches to education should be incorporated into pre-service teacher education curricula. That the quest for colonial knowledge over the years in South Africa and, indeed, Africa has been attributed to the Eurocentric and increased domination of African culture of togetherness and ethics of care. The paper also concludes that Ubuntu higher education can serve as a framework for decolonizing the African higher education system. The authors suggest that there is a need to formulate strategies for integrating important values of Ubuntu, like humanness, interconnectedness, and communalism, into the pre-service teacher education program.