African Soils Research Articles

Molecular characters of Boleodorus thylactus (Nematoda) associated with avocado (Persea americana) using ITS rDNA from regions of South Africa

Plant-parasitic nematodes are the main challenge for fruit production in Limpopo Province, South Africa. Besides, the family Tylenchidae are ectoparasite, affecting the yield in a high population. Boleodorus species are not being reported from avocado in South Africa; therefore, its identification is vital to avocado farmers. Hence, molecular study for its accurate identification is needed. This molecular study was conducted in 2022 at the University of Limpopo to identify the nematodes from South African soil associated with crops and trees. First, the recovered nematode was extracted using the tray method, and then its DNA was extracted using the chelex method. Afterward, ITS rDNA was amplified using specific primers to identify the nematode. The Nblast analysis based on the ITS rDNA showed 100% similarity with a population of Boleodorus thylactus (MZ099822, MZ099823) from Canada. In addition, phylogenetic analysis using the maximum likelihood method as implemented in mega x software was done. The phylogenetic analysis put the South African populations of B. thylactus together with other B. thylactus with a 100-bootstrap value. In conclusion, this species' diversity needs to be investigated to determine the impact of this nematode on the avocado yield.

Evaluation of simple and multivariate linear regression models for exchangeable base cation conversion between seven measurement techniques on South African soils

Conversions of exchangeable base cation concentrations between different analytical methods are required for comparisons of soil test results with norm values developed using specific methods. Different methods vary in extraction efficiency due to underlying chemical mechanisms of cation exchange. There is a lack of knowledge pertaining to the combined effects of soil physicochemical properties on the accuracy and parsimony of conversion models. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop equations for conversion of exchangeable base cation (Ca, Mg, K and Na) concentrations between seven different methods of measurement for soils dominated by moderate-activity clays. Additional objectives included the discussion of chemical mechanisms influencing nutrient extraction efficiency, development of root mean square error (RMSE) thresholds for model selection, and evaluation of the effects of soil physicochemical properties on model performance. The ammonium acetate (1 M and 0.2 M, pH = 7), compulsive exchange, Ambic-I, Mehlich-III, Bray-II and Citric acid (1%) soil test methods were performed on 57 soils from a Mediterranean climatic zone. Simple linear regressions (SLR) as well as multivariate linear regressions (MLR) incorporating soil physicochemical properties as parameters were developed. The accuracy of cross-validated models was comparable to accuracy of predictions for samples included in calibration. MLR equations (RMSECV = 1.4–1.6 cmolc kg−1, 0.4 cmolc kg−1, 16–20 mg kg−1 and 25–40 mg kg−1 for Ca, Mg, Na and K, respectively) were generally more accurate than SLR models. Relationships between Ca content extracted by different methods depended on soil alkalinity. Use of the developed SLR or MLR models to convert nutrient quantities between different methods should be chosen based on contextual accuracy requirements.

Judging the Holy Cow: Examining the Role of Implicit Bias in Judicial Rulings – An Analysis of the Decision in Mbena v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services 2015 4 All SA 361 (ECP)

This contribution is an investigation into the role of implicit (as opposed to explicit) biases in judicial rulings by examining the judgment of Chetty J in Mbena v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services 2015 4 All SA 361 (ECP). Implicit bias refers to prejudice on a visceral level, namely unconscious bias, of which the bearer, to wit the judicial officer, is unaware. I suggest that exploring implicit bias in judicial rulings in the context of South Africa's harsh stigmatising shaming culture driven by incarceration as its dominant sentencing regime, will introduce a valuable window in identifying, as well as possibly illuminating and eliminating, unjustified and harmful biases. In this contribution I specifically focus against the generalised bias against ex-offenders in South Africa's harsh stigmatising shaming culture (which I distinguish from integrative shaming cultures found in Japan, China and many African societies) which attitude perpetuates the marginalisation, stigmatisation and discrimination on offenders which exceed their court-sanctioned punishment. I attempt to outline the reasons as to why the isolation and elimination of social biases of this nature are important since, in the view of many criminologists but particularly John Braithwaite, stigma is counter-productive and criminogenic as it leads to enhanced recidivism rates. To this end, I analyse the salient features of the case within a broad social context (including a consideration of phenomena such as the prison-industrial complex on South African soil) which exceeds a narrow legal framework. My roadmap for the paper encompasses a consideration of the salient, albeit disputed, facts of the case with a view towards an alternative, if plausible reading based on the probabilities of the two sets of conflicting facts presented by the opposing parties. I highlight the significance of the judgment before recommendations for improved public policy formulation are proffered.

Judging the Holy Cow: Examining the Role of Implicit Bias in Judicial Rulings – An Analysis of the Decision in Mbena v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services 2015 4 All SA 361 (ECP)

This contribution is an investigation into the role of implicit (as opposed to explicit) biases in judicial rulings by examining the judgment of Chetty J in Mbena v Minister of Justice and Correctional Services 2015 4 All SA 361 (ECP). Implicit bias refers to prejudice on a visceral level, namely unconscious bias, of which the bearer, to wit the judicial officer, is unaware. I suggest that exploring implicit bias in judicial rulings in the context of South Africa's harsh stigmatising shaming culture driven by incarceration as its dominant sentencing regime, will introduce a valuable window in identifying, as well as possibly illuminating and eliminating, unjustified and harmful biases. In this contribution I specifically focus on the generalised bias against ex-offenders in South Africa's harsh stigmatising shaming culture (which I distinguish from integrative shaming cultures found in Japan, China and many African societies) which attitude perpetuates the marginalisation, stigmatisation and discrimination of offenders which exceed their court-sanctioned punishment. I attempt to outline the reasons as to why the isolation and elimination of social biases of this nature are important since, in the view of many criminologists but particularly John Braithwaite, stigma is counter-productive and criminogenic as it leads to enhanced recidivism rates. To this end, I analyse the salient features of the case within a broad social context (including a consideration of phenomena such as the prison-industrial complex on South African soil) which exceeds a narrow legal framework. My roadmap for the paper encompasses a consideration of the salient, albeit disputed, facts of the case with a view towards an alternative, if plausible reading based on the probabilities of the two sets of conflicting facts presented by the opposing parties. I highlight the significance of the judgment before recommendations for improved public policy formulation are proffered.

Molecular characters of parasitic nematode (Hemicycliophora typica) associated with eggplant (Solanum melongena) using 28S rDNA from regions of South Africa

Solanum melongena is the sixth most important vegetable worldwide. In recent years, eggplant production has been increasing. Therefore, study about plant diseases in this plant is important. One of the most important diseases in eggplant is plant-parasitic nematodes. Therefore, this molecular study was conducted in 2021 at the University of Limpopo to identify the plant-parasitic nematodes identified from South African soil causing yield loss in eggplant. The recovered nematode was extracted using the tray method, and then its DNA was extracted using the Chelex method. Afterward, 28S rDNA was amplified using specific primers to identify the nematode. The Nblast analysis based on the large subunit ribosomal DNA showed 99% similarity with a population of Hemicycliophora typica (KF430515) from South Africa. In addition, phylogenetic analysis using the maximum likelihood method as implemented in mega x software was done. The phylogenetic analysis put the South African populations of H. typica together with other H. typica with a 100-bootstrap value. In conclusion, the results showed that 28S could detect the H. typica, and therefore the species is verified by the molecular method. Also, the ecological behavior of the H. typica in terms of the economic impact on the eggplant needs to be investigated.

L'intégration africaine face au régionalisme: état des lieux, défis et perspectives

"The African continent, long on the fringes of history, after more than half a century of independence, continues to ask questions about its future. After having missed the appointment of development and then that of globalization, the time has come, in this context of integration, since it is not necessary to reinvent the wheel, for Africa to assume and to take off. There is nothing new, the European experiences of integration, enriched by centuries of world domination and nourished by years of planetary conflicts, constitute a boon of theories and doctrines in the light of the current processes of integration. The proximity of cultures, values and history is a major player in the sharing of customs. In order to constitute its own model, the culmination of African integration is the genius of the synthesis resulting from the dialectic between its tradition and Western modernity. This is an effective approach to overcoming regionalism on African soil for integration on a continental scale. Keywords: integration, regionalism, neocolonialism, pan-Africanism, Eurafrique. "

Phylogenetic relationships among Bradyrhizobium species nodulating groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.), jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis L.) and soybean (Glycine max Merr.) in Eswatini

This study assessed the genetic diversity and phylogenetic relationships of rhizobial isolates obtained from root nodules of groundnut, jack bean and soybean planted in different locations within Eswatini. Seventy-six rhizobial isolates were studied using ERIC-PCR (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus) fingerprinting and PCR amplification of 16S rRNA, housekeeping genes (atpD, dnaK, glnll and rpoB) and symbiotic genes (nifH and nodC). The dendrogram generated from the ERIC-PCR banding patterns grouped the test rhizobial isolates into 16 major clusters (Cluster I–XVI), with three isolates, namely TUTAHeS60, TUTGMeS3 and TUTAHeS127, forming outgroups of Clusters IV, VI and IX, respectively. Furthermore, the 76 test isolates were grouped into 56 ERIC-PCR types at 70% similarity level. The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and multilocus sequence analysis of four housekeeping (atpD, dnaK, glnII and rpoB) and two symbiotic (nifH and nodC) genes showed that all three legumes (groundnut, jack bean and soybean) were nodulated by bacterial symbionts belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium, with some isolates exhibiting high divergence from the known reference type strains. The results also showed that B. arachidis, B. iriomotense and B. canariense were the closest type strains to the groundnut isolates, while B. pachyrhizi and B. elkanii were the closest relatives to the bacterial symbionts associated with the nodulation of both jack bean and soybean. This study is the first report to describe of the bacterial symbionts nodulating jack bean in African soils.

CHINA’S GEO-ECONOMIC INTEREST IN AFRICA: A SHORT OVERVIEW

The article examines China’s geo-economic interest in Africa. China intends to exercise its leverage over both coastal frontiers for trade and defense and its hinterland for rich mineral, metal, and fossil deposits. Furthermore, the debt trap seems to be one of the methods through which China intended to bargain with Africa to bag as much advantage as it could gain. The question that emerges from this critical engagement with China-Africa relations is to look into how the reality of Africa’s narrative of development is projected both from outside and within and the contradiction embodied in that projection. China used the narrative of development to set its feet on African soil. This paper discusses China’s penetration into Africa by offering interest-free loans and its gradual emergence as a neocolonial power through expanding its network. The method used in the study to establish China’s monopoly and interfering streak in African affairs through BRI is the analysis of available data based on which the objectives and the conclusions are drawn.

Effect of Organic Fertilizers on the Soil Properties and Bacterial Communities of Marigold Rhizosphere Soil

The investigation was undertaken to study the impact of different organic inputs on the soil properties of African marigold rhizosphere soil. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) for RBD with three replications was carried out using OPSTAT. The present investigation was conducted in experimental farm, Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat, Assam, between 2020-2021. The African marigold variety ‘Seracole’ was chosen for the experiment consisting of 7 treatment combinations with one treatment comprising of the recommended dose of fertilizers and the other six treatment comprising of various organic manures, rock phosphate with a consortium of Azotobacter, Azospirillum and PSB. It was observed that T7 {Enriched compost (5 t/ha)} exhibited the highest values for soil pH, soil moisture content, organic Carbon, available Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium, Microbial Biomass Carbon and various soil enzymes followed by T3 {Vermicompost (5t/ha) + Rock phosphate (100 kg/ha) + Microbial consortium}. Considering the positive effect on growth, yield, quality and soil health, T3 and T7 both can be considered best for adopting at the field level to reap good economic yield accompanied by better quality and sustainable soil health.

Job–Sirach

Job–Sirach Christopher T. Begg, Fred W. Guyette, Michael W. Duggan, Brian J. Meldrum, Richard A. Taylor, and J. Edward Owens Christopher T. Begg Catholic University of America Fred W. Guyette Erskine College and Seminary Michael W. Duggan Calgary AB, Canada Brian J. Meldrum Catholic University of America Richard A. Taylor Dallas Theological Seminary J. Edward Owens OSST, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio TX 1455. [The Library of the Ketubim and the Wisdom Books] Stéphanie Anthonioz, "La bibliothèque des Ketûvîm et les livres de sagesse. Histoire d'un cosmopolitisme d'époque hellénistique," Hen N.S. 42 (1, 2020) 7-19. In Jewish tradition, "Wisdom Literature" is closely associated with the library of the Ketubim, even though the two are not identical. What then, my question runs, is the origin of the former term and what is the nature of the connection between the two corpora? In other words, my focus here is on the history of the OT wisdom books and that of the Ketubim collection, as well as on the possible intellectual influences on these developments, and the social and political crisis that made the Hellenistic period so painful a time in [End Page 526] Judea and elsewhere and yet at the same time also so fruitful a period that the concept of "cosmpolitization" seems entirely appropriate to designate it and the collections of wisdom writings that emerged during it. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] Google Scholar 1456. [The Exegesis of OT Wisdom Literature in the Last Two Centuries] Eberhard Bons, "La sagesse de l'Ancien Testament au carrefour des nations. Quelques réflexions sur l'exégèse biblique des deux derniers siècles," Hen N.S. 42 (1, 2020) 20-33. Whereas the Pentateuch, the Historical Books and the Prophetic Books of the OT have all been the subject of countless publications, this is much less the case with the OT's Wisdom Literature, even though there has been some increase in scholarly treatments of the latter in recent years. Against this background, I seek to make the case for two hypotheses: first, the above state of affairs is partly a reflection of the history of exegesis during the last 100 years, and more particularly of the influence of the views of Julius Wellhausen on that history, and second, if Wisdom indeed stands at the crossroads of the nations as the overall title for the above issue of Henoch suggests, then it also stands at the crossroads between Israelite traditions and those of other peoples. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] Google Scholar 1457. [A Dialogue between Proverbs from Africa and Biblical Wisdom Literature] Eleonora Hof, "Wijsheid is niet slechts in één huis te vinden—dialoog tussen spreekwoorden uit Afrika en Bijblelse wijsheidsliteratur [Wisdom is not found in only one house: The Dialogue between Proverbs from Africa and Biblical Wisdom Literature]," ACEBT 31 (2017) 107-18. African approaches to biblical wisdom literature tend to critique the dominant Eurocentric hermeneutical approach, doing so on the basis of the consideration that this literature needs to interpreted, not only on the basis of ANE parallels, but also through the lens of indigenous African wisdom. My paper surveys approaches to such a dialogue between African and biblical wisdom. First, the African Proverbs Project has for more than 20 years been collecting a wide range of indigenous proverbs and making these available on its website and Facebook pages. This project offers a positive outlook on African proverbs and urges pastors to root their sermons deeply in African soil by drawing on indigenous categories of wisdom. Two other authors, K. Bediako-Akoto and L. P. Kimilike, take a more critical approach. The former paints a particularly bleak picture concerning the skewed view of gender relationships, menstruation, and female sexuality reflected in these proverbs. He does not discern any possibilities of salvaging such sayings, but rather calls for a liberating re-reading of biblical texts. Similarly, Kimilike voices his concerns about the gender violence that comes to expression in many proverbial African sayings, but still discerns a liberating potential in the sayings about poverty. This liberating potential emerges...

Agency, Growth, and Ownership on African Soil: an SFL Analysis of a World History Textbook

Agency, Growth, and Ownership on African Soil: an SFL Analysis of a World History Textbook

Südwester Reiter: Fear, Belonging, and Settler Colonial Violence in Namibia

ABSTRACT This article examines the continuities between the Herero and Nama genocide and the history of the Reiterdenkmal statue in Windhoek, Namibia. It interprets the statue as an extension of the lived experience of the genocide and a contested symbol of settler belonging. The Reiterdenkmal reformulated colonial violence as white victimhood and black savagery, and advanced German settler claims over African soil. Violence and the “rider” together remade black African space into white settler space. Yet, this settler belonging was and remains grounded on fears. Uncertainty over belonging and fear of the Natives had driven the killing and exploitation of black Africans in the first place, and settler identities remain uncertain as the legacies and reckonings of past violence continue unresolved in independent Namibia.

Evaluation of global and continental scale soil maps for southern Africa using selected soil properties

Earth-systems modelling of the critical zone often require soil maps that represent in-field conditions. Some developing regions, such as southern Africa, do not have detailed soil data for all areas and are often reliant on data from global soil maps and data sets. This raises the question of global and regional soil map and soil data accuracy at local levels. Although previous studies have indicated that global soil maps do not always provide an accurate representation of in-field soil conditions, it is not clear how inaccurate these maps and data are for southern Africa. This study assessed the accuracy of widely used global and continental-scale soil maps for southern Africa. The accuracy of the soil maps was assessed by comparing profile and mapped soil data. Three soil maps of global, continental, and regional scale (Harmonized World Soil Database version 1.2, SOTER for southern African, and AfSoilGrids250m) were compared to observation data from two profile data sets (Africa Soil Profile Database and South African Soil Profile Database). Furthermore, maps of selected soil properties of the AfSoilGrids250m rasters were compared to the Harmonized World Soil Database map.Soil properties were statistically compared through Lin’s Concordance Correlation Coefficient, Root Mean Square Error, and Mean Absolute Error. Investigated maps and point data generally correlated poorly and large Root Mean Square Error and Mean Absolute Error values were observed for most of the properties. Of the investigated soil maps, the digital AfSoilGrids250m soil property raster layers provided the most accurate estimate of in-field soil conditions for selected soil properties in the study region.

Influence of Urban Informal Settlements on Trace Element Accumulation in Road Dust and Their Possible Health Implications in Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa

The study was aimed at assessing the influence of urban informal settlement on trace element accumulation in road dust from the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa, and their possible health implications. The concentration of major and trace elements was determined using the wavelength dispersive XRF method. The major elements in descending order were SiO2 (72.76%), Al2O3 (6.90%), Fe2O3 (3.88%), CaO (2.71%), K2O (1.56%), Na2O (0.99%), MgO (0.94%), MnO (0.57%), TiO2 (0.40%), and P2O5 (0.16%), with SiO2 and P2O5 at above-average shale values. The average mean concentrations of 17 trace elements in decreasing order were Cr (637.4), Ba (625.6), Zn (231.8), Zr (190.2), Sr (120.2), V (69), Rb (66), Cu (61), Ni (49), Pb (30.8), Co (17.4), Y (14.4), Nb (8.6), As (7.2), Sc (5.8), Th (4.58), and U (2.9) mg/kg. Trace elements such as Cr, Cu, Zn, Zr, Ba, and Pb surpassed their average shale values, and only Cr surpassed the South African soil screening values. The assessment of pollution through the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) revealed that road dust was moderately to heavily contaminated by Cr, whereas all other trace elements were categorized as being uncontaminated to moderately contaminated. The contamination factor (CF) exhibited road dust to be very highly contaminated by Cr, moderately contaminated by Zn, Pb, Cu, Zr, and Ba, and lowly contaminated by Co, U, Nb, Ni, As, Y, V, Rb, Sc, Sr, and Th. The pollution load index (PLI) also affirmed that the road dust in this study was very highly polluted by trace elements. Moreover, the results of the enrichment factor (EF) categorized Cr as having a significant degree of enrichment. Zn was elucidated as being minimally enriched, whereas all other trace elements were of natural origin. The results of the non-carcinogenic risk assessment revealed a possibility of non-carcinogenic risks to both children and adults. For the carcinogenic risk, the total CR values in children and adults were above the acceptable limit, signifying a likelihood of carcinogenic risk to the local inhabitants. From the findings of this study, it can be concluded that the levels of trace elements in the road dust of this informal settlement had the possibility to contribute to both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, and that children were at a higher risk than the adult population.

Soil pH influences the organic acid metabolism and exudation in cluster roots of Protea species from the Mediterranean-type fynbos ecosystem, Western Cape, South Africa

In nutrient-poor ecosystems, certain plant families have evolved specific adaptations for phosphate acquisition, namely cluster roots or proteoid roots. Cluster rooted species have a unique suite of adaptations that enable them to survive in nutrient poor ecosystems, such as the Fynbos biome of South Africa. The Fynbos biome has heterogeneous soils which caused radiation of varying soil pH within small localised areas. Previous studies on cluster rooted species ignored the possibility that cluster root functioning may differ at varying soil pH levels and soil types. Therefore, two native Fynbos protea species, Protea cynaroides (L.) L. and Protea obtusifolia H.Buek ex Meisn. were compared to assess the impact of different soil pH levels on organic acid metabolism and exudation in cluster rooted species. Our results show that cluster roots of the acidic-soil grown P. cynaroides is more effective and more efficient than that of the alkaline-soil grown P. obtusifolia. Our findings indicated that the mechanisms for P acquisition vary greatly, depending on substrate and plant organ type. This suggested that the metabolism of each species is adapted to specific soil pH and that these species have evolutionary adapted their P acquisition mechanisms for these extreme soils. The limited nutrient availability and variation in soil pH South African soils has led to various localised adaptations for cluster rooted species.

Differential Response of Acidobacteria to Water Content, Soil Type, and Land Use During an Extended Drought in African Savannah Soils.

Although climate change is expected to increase the extent of drylands worldwide, the effect of drought on the soil microbiome is still insufficiently understood as for dominant but little characterized phyla like the Acidobacteria. In the present study the active acidobacterial communities of Namibian soils differing in type, physicochemical parameters, and land use were characterized by high-throughput sequencing. Water content, pH, major ions and nutrients were distinct for sandy soils, woodlands or dry agriculture on loamy sands. Soils were repeatedly sampled over a 2-year time period and covered consecutively a strong rainy, a dry, a normal rainy and a weak rainy season. The increasing drought had differential effects on different soils. Linear modeling of the soil water content across all sampling locations and sampling dates revealed that the accumulated precipitation of the preceding season had only a weak, but statistically significant effect, whereas woodland and irrigation exerted a strong positive effect on water content. The decrease in soil water content was accompanied by a pronounced decrease in the fraction of active Acidobacteria (7.9–0.7%) while overall bacterial community size/cell counts remained constant. Notably, the strongest decline in the relative fraction of Acidobacteria was observed after the first cycle of rainy and dry season, rather than after the weakest rainy season at the end of the observation period. Over the 2-year period, also the β-diversity of soil Acidobacteria changed. During the first year this change in composition was related to soil type (loamy sand) and land use (woodland) as explanatory variables. A total of 188 different acidobacterial sequence variants affiliated with the “Acidobacteriia,” Blastocatellia, and Vicinamibacteria changed significantly in abundance, suggesting either drought sensitivity or formation of dormant cell forms. Comparative physiological testing of 15 Namibian isolates revealed species-specific and differential responses in viability during long-term continuous desiccation or drying-rewetting cycles. These different responses were not determined by phylogenetic affiliation and provide a first explanation for the effect of drought on soil Acidobacteria. In conclusion, the response of acidobacterial communities to water availability is non-linear, most likely caused by the different physiological adaptations of the different taxa present.

Colour of heterorhabditis zealandica-infected-Galleria mellonella dependent on the Photorhabdus symbiont, with two new nematode-symbiotic associations reported

Bacterial symbionts associated with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) play an important role in terms of the insecticidal properties of nematodes in pest control. Galleria mellonella larvae, shortly after being infected with three different strains of Heterorhabditis zealandica, which were isolated from South African soil, changed from pale white to steel grey-blue (blue), bright red, and yellow with a green tint (green), respectively. The genetic relatedness of the bacterial symbionts that were isolated from the three strains of H. zealandica was determined by means of comparing the 16S rRNA, recA, gyrB, dnaN, gltX and infB gene sequences. Subsequently, comparing the concatenated sequences revealed the presence of three distinct Photorhabdus species. The H. zealandica strain SF41, associated with Photorhabdus heterorhabditis, produced ‘blue’ G. mellonella larvae. The H. zealandica strain MJ2C, associated with Photorhabdus thracensis, yielded ‘green’ G. mellonella larvae, while the H. zealandica strain LLM associated with Photorhabdus laumondii subsp. laumondii yielded red larvae. The colour changes in G. mellonella larvae were found to have been instigated by a particular Photorhabdus species associated with H. zealandica. The red and ‘green’ phenotypes of G. mellonella larvae were found to represent new combinations of Heterorhabditis and Photorhabdus. In future studies, the colour of infected G. mellonella larvae needs to be reported as a phenotypic character, as it indicates the different bacterial species associated with the same nematode host, as shown in the case of H. zealandica.

Engelbert Mveng and Jean Marc Éla:

The history of African theology reveals the emergence of two dominant theological trends: inculturation and liberation. The former aims to incarnate the Christian faith into African culture, while the latter seeks to reclaim the intrinsic worth of the African violated by colonialism and promote the social transformation of Africa. However, the 1990s witnessed a preponderance of inculturation theology that engaged the attention of many African theologians. During this period, Engelbert Mveng (1930-1995) and Jean Marc Éla (1936-2008) sought to inculturate the Christian faith into the African soil in a manner that speaks to the peculiarities of Africa without creating a dichotomy between inculturation and liberation methods. Their respective contextual theologies contributed towards fostering a creative balance between inculturation and liberation trends. This article examines the seminal contributions of Mveng and Éla towards sieving out a decolonised African theology. It uses analytical and comparative approaches to present the theologies of Mveng and Éla. It will argue that although inculturation and liberation emphases are distinct, they are complimentary in an effort to graft a contextual theology that is truly Christian and African.

Unravelling causes of poor crop response to applied N and P fertilizers on African soils – CORRIGENDUM

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Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Peacekeepers on African Soil during COVID-19 : Procedures, Challenges, Lessons

Active United Nation missions on African soil are: MINURSO in Western Sahara, UNMISS in South Sudan, MINUSMA in Mali, MONUSCO in Democratic Republic of the Congo, MINUSCA in Central African Republic and UNISFA in Abyei. Peacekeeping has always been highly dynamic and has evolved in the face of new issues. But, in addition to the challenges they face while assisting host countries on the difficult path from conflict to peace, peacekeepers have recently had to deal with procedures and obstacles caused by the global COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the article is to investigate the performance of everyday tasks in the COVID-19 era with an emphasis on issues related to the availability of basic supplies for UN peacekeepers, personal protective equipment, medical services, welfare, travel restrictions, and connections with the resident population in Africa. In this paper, we will present the results of qualitative research (in-depth interviews) on the experiences of UN staff from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) who served in the mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), in the period 2020-2022. In anticipation of malaria, typhoid, hepatitis, salmonella, etc., the peacekeepers faced a new unknown disease, a shortage of medicines, they had no access to hospitals, and personal protective masks were made from their underwear. In some areas the local population believed that COVID19 was a “mysterious disease” brought and spread by peacekeepers and this fact shed new light on (non)cooperation with UN staff. Apart from the UN, the mission staff were (not) provided with support and assistance in various ways by the countries which they came from.