Communities In Southern Africa Research Articles

Inequality or insecurity? The case of pre-colonial farming communities in southern Africa

Comparative studies of inequality based on archaeological data rely on universal notions of status or prestige that are not always meaningful across diverse cultural contexts. Here, the authors evaluate three broadly contemporaneous urban communities (Marothodi, Molokwane and Kaditshwene) in the southern African interior in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries AD. The study combines a statistical measure of inequality, the Gini coefficient, with insights from the rich ethnohistorical archives of African knowledge systems. The results suggest markedly different levels of inequality, but contextualisation points to divergent social strategies for settlement organisation and for managing sociopolitical insecurity. The findings raise important questions about cross-cultural indices of social inequality.

The future of African wild fruits – a drive towards responsible production and consumption of the marula fruit

The marula fruit has played a central role in the dietary intake, socioeconomic standing, and cultural practices of communities in southern Africa for over 10,000 years. The marula fruit is rich in nutritional compounds such as vitamins, minerals, organic acids, and amino acids which contribute to the health properties of the final products. These products can be sold informally by locals or developed into commercially viable, export products. The recent domestic and international demand for marula fruit-based products has raised sustainability concerns such as over-harvesting, habitat destruction, and unsustainable production practices. Given these challenges, a responsible and inclusive approach to marula production and consumption is required to meet the nutritional needs and sustainably contribute to the socioeconomic development of these communities. As a result, a scoping review approach was used to map out the literature on the production and consumption of the marula fruit. All reviewed literature explicitly focused on the marula fruit, the responsible use of the marula fruit, and sustainability practices in the production and consumption of marula fruit-based products. Furthermore, this review examined the potential benefits and challenges of expanding the production and consumption of marula products and identified strategies for promoting sustainable practices and equitable distribution of benefits. Despite the challenges in pre-and-postharvest processing, the marula fruit has remained a valuable resource. Thus, the sustainable production and consumption of the marula fruit require a holistic approach that addresses these challenges and promotes sustainable practices and equitable distribution of benefits. Central to this approach is the application of various technologies to establish robust value chains so the marula fruit industry can thrive.

Perceptions on utilization, population, and factors that affecting local distribution of Mimusops zeyheri in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa

Abstract. Lubisi NP, Ramarumo LJ, Manyaga M, Mbeng WO, Mokgehle S. 2023. Perceptions on utilization, population, and factors that affecting local distribution of Mimusops zeyheri in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, South Africa. Biodiversitas 24: 6432-6439. Mimusops zeyheri Sond., was once an important plant species to local communities in Southern Africa but nowadays is considered as underutilized plant. Undoubtedly, the neglect of indigenous knowledge associated with M zeyheri could lead to its gradual disappearance. This study aimed to evaluate local people‘s perceptions about the contribution of M. zeyheri to their livelihoods, population status and factors affecting its local distributions in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa. Semi-structured research questionnaires were administered to 52 randomly selected respondents. The majority of respondents (67.31%) perceived the decline in the population of M. zeyheri within the studied sites. More than three-quarters of laypeople (78.6%), two-thirds of farmers (66.7%), and 57.1% of environmentalists stated that M. zeyheri possessed more economic benefits than other livelihood benefits. A total percentage of 44.20% of participants perceived fire as the main factor that negatively affects the distribution of M. zeyheri in the studied regions. Documenting information about people's perceptions regarding the contributions of M. zeyheri to local livelihoods and assessing factors that affect its local distribution is a fundamental step toward understanding its associated sociocultural values, socio-economic, and threats. Future studies should incorporate both ethnobotanical and ecological data-gathering methods and validations.

Socio-Economic Benefits of Colophospermum mopane in a Changing Climate in Northern Namibia

Millions of local communities in southern Africa depend on forest ecosystems and the goods and services they provide for their livelihoods. This paper aims to assess the socio-economic benefits of forest goods and services in a changing climate by focusing on the forest products of Colophospermum mopane (C. mopane) in the Kunene and Omusati regions in northern Namibia. We used C. mopane product data from 2011 to 2021. Our analyses showed that local communities harvested five main products from C. mopane, namely firewood, poles, droppers, rafters, and roots. Firewood and poles were the primary C. mopane products harvested by local communities, mainly for subsistence use. Our results suggest that C. mopane potentially continues to the provision of goods and services for the livelihood of local communities, despite the changing climate in northern Namibia. We propose future studies in predictive analysis focus on extreme weather events, such as forest fires, droughts, floods, and other climate-related hazards that affect goods and services provided by forest ecosystems in the northern regions and the entire country.

Entangled lives, relational ontology and rock paintings: Elephant and human figures in the rock art of the Western Cape, South Africa

From the form and composition of painted images of humans, elephants and ‘elephanthropes’ (elephant human therianthropes) from the northern Cederberg, we propose that elephants were considered as ‘other-than-human-persons’ by painters. This is supported by the role of elephants in San stories, the ethnography of relational ontologies among hunter-gatherer communities in southern Africa and beyond, and the selective choices of painters in constructing images. We argue that paintings and stories of deliberately associated elephant and human subjects from a range of San expressive contexts are evidence for this ontological position, derived from ecological entanglement in ‘real life’. Painters considered their and elephants’ lives to intersect at conceptual as well as ecological levels. From the contexts in expressive culture, elephants were viewed as intelligent and socially coherent beings, occasionally difficult neighbours, and sensitive affinal relatives, needing respect and careful treatment. Paintings of elephants reference these relationships.

The economic-administrative role of geographic information systems in rural tourism and exhaustive local community development in African marginalized communities

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to examine the latent part of geographic information systems in inclusive sustainable rural tourism, community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) and community development and empowerment in Southern Africa, Africa generally and many rural areas elsewhere worldwide.Design/methodology/approachThe viewpoint utilizes literature and document reviews to assess African and worldwide agricultural, environmental and tourism resources management scenarios. It thus liaises with CBNRM and geographic information systems in sustainable tourism and local community development applications.FindingsThis review viewpoint uncovers a better potential synergetic relationship between tourism and rural (agricultural) activities that geographic information systems along a concept of CBNRM can amplify. Hence, it has poised a need for a decent and integrated tourism strategy to develop and empower the pertinent communities in many rural and marginalized areas within the continent.Originality/valueMany rural communities in Southern Africa and Africa broadly dwell in low-income areas. Such milieus are rich in natural biodiversity, including tourism destination areas. Geographic information systems, sustainable tourism and CBNRM can form a gestalt of local community development projects within their environs.

Barriers and facilitators to Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WaSH) practices in Southern Africa: A scoping review.

A healthy and a dignified life experience requires adequate water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) coverage. However, inadequate WaSH resources remain a significant public health challenge in many communities in Southern Africa. A systematic search of peer-reviewed journal articles from 2010 -May 2022 was undertaken on Medline, PubMed, EbscoHost and Google Scholar from 2010 to May 2022 was searched using combinations of predefined search terms with Boolean operators. Eighteen peer-reviewed articles from Southern Africa satisfied the inclusion criteria for this review. The general themes that emerged for both barriers and facilitators included geographical inequalities, climate change, investment in WaSH resources, low levels of knowledge on water borne-diseases and ineffective local community engagement. Key facilitators to improved WaSH practices included improved WaSH infrastructure, effective local community engagement, increased latrine ownership by individual households and the development of social capital. Water and sanitation are critical to ensuring a healthy lifestyle. However, many people and communities in Southern Africa still lack access to safe water and improved sanitation facilities. Rural areas are the most affected by barriers to improved WaSH facilities due to lack of WaSH infrastructure compared to urban settings. Our review has shown that, the current WaSH conditions in Southern Africa do not equate to the improved WaSH standards described in SDG 6 on ensuring access to water and sanitation for all. Key barriers to improved WaSH practices identified include rurality, climate change, low investments in WaSH infrastructure, inadequate knowledge on water-borne illnesses and lack of community engagement.

The early history of clicks in Nguni

Abstract Language contact between migrating Bantu speakers and resident Khoisan speakers has resulted in the adoption of clicks in various southern African Bantu languages. This paper uses the comparative method to show that for one particular cluster of Bantu click languages, the Nguni languages, a large number of phonemic clicks can be reconstructed to its putative ancestor Proto-Nguni, including a palatal click rarely found in Bantu languages and no longer used as such in any living Nguni language. Although clicks have undergone subsequent developments in individual Nguni languages, no new click phonemes were acquired through language contact, showing that clicks were already present very early in the history of the Nguni languages. This relative chronology provides new insights into how the relations between Bantu- and Khoisan-speaking communities in southern Africa developed over time.

Research Site Anonymity in Context.

This paper utilizes critical theory to interrogate and problematize the practice of anonymising research sites as an ethical imperative. The contributing authors conduct research in and with various communities in southern Africa, position themselves and work from and within diverse areas and specialities of the social sciences. This article is developed from their rich and wide spectrum of field experience with a great diversity of communities, but mainly the poorer, under-resourced, socially and economically marginalized. The authors strongly identify with these communities whose anonymity in published research is seen as marginalizing. Such research sites are places and communities where these researchers grew up and live in, and thus not just as peripheral or 'out there' entities. Therefore, the naming of research sites in this context is deemed as being ethical, out of respect for participants, for a contextually embedded understanding, and for well-targeted interventions and policy influence.

Geographical information systems in sustainable rural tourism and local community empowerment: A natural resources management appraisal for Musina Municipality’ Society

ABSTRACT The purpose of this examination is to prospect the underlying capacity of diverse geographic information systems in sustainable rural tourism and local community empowerment in South Africa and, extensively, Africa. Hence, corresponds with diverse rural areas elsewhere globally, utilizing the case of Musina Municipality in Limpopo Province, South Africa. The case study appropriates narrative literature review (with existing documents reviews), interviews, and focuses group discussion in studying African and comprehensive agricultural, environmental, and tourism reservoirs management situations. It links community-based natural resource management (CBNRM) and geographic information systems to sustainable tourism implications in Musina Municipality. Numerous agricultural communities in Southern Africa and Africa comprehensively reside in low-income districts; Musina Municipality is no different. Such localities are plentiful in natural biodiversity and tourism host provinces. Geographic information systems, sustainable tourism, agriculture (AG), and community-based natural resource management can generate a medley of local community development schemes within such environs.

Affirmation of Unhu as Reflected in Selected Manyika Proverbs

Unhu/ubuntu is one of the important mainstays of black communities in Southern Africa. It emphasizes the connectedness of people and the need for them to work together and sustains families thus ensuring their continued existence. This paper thus argues that the vanhu/abantu (people) of the sub-region have employed proverbs among other ways to ensure that unhu keeps people going even when faced with daunting challenges. It asserts that through the use of some of these aspects of living heritage in the form of expressions like proverbs, unhu has been, and continues to be affirmed. Through an analysis of some proverbs of the Manyika, especially those of the Tangwena people on the border with Mozambique, by employing the speech act theory, this paper discusses how through proverbial lore the Manyika have buttressed and affirmed unhu in their communities, primarily among their children. The paper concludes by emphasizing that such gems of intangible cultural heritage need to be vigorously preserved, promoted and safeguarded through various means that include radio and online interactive platforms.

Participatory art for navigating political capabilities and aspirations among rural youth in Zimbabwe

While exploring the everyday experiences of Tonga youth, this paper draws on a participatory graffiti-on-board project in Binga, a rural community in Zimbabwe. Focus is placed on what shapes and drives youth aspirations in precarious contexts marked by unemployment and poverty. Using graffiti to create participatory and artistic engagements, the research aims to stretch the limited boundaries of social and political space available to the youth for discussing issues that concern their development pathways and livelihoods. The article presents everyday narratives that impact on Tonga youths’ aspirations, endeavouring to create a space where they can visualise their prospective futures. Additionally, exhibition spaces are seen as sites for the construction of a collective voice and political capabilities for the youth. We argue that aspirations among disadvantaged youth evidence the broader geopolitical conflict that exists in marginalised communities in Southern Africa. A lack of spaces to construct political voice among the youth curtails their capabilities and agency to choose from existing development opportunities in an uncertain future. We discuss the potential role of participatory art in relation to this in providing spaces for political voice, unsettling established power dynamics and developing a collective, unified voice that might influence governance processes in fragile contexts.

An analysis of factors affecting the speed of establishment of field-based farmer learning alliances: A case of Farmer Learning Centres (FLCs) in southern Zimbabwe

Farmer learning alliances are an important vehicle for information dissemination and co-innovation among smallholder communities in southern Africa. However, the process of establishing functional farmer learning alliances tends to be uneven, slow, and costly for many development agents. This study explored factors that can be used to account for the unevenness in the speed of establishment of Farmer Learning Centres (FLCs). Twenty FLCs were initiated in Beitbridge District, southern Zimbabwe, and monitored over two years. Three categories of FLCs were observed in terms of time taken to reach maturity and full functionality: Slow, Medium, and Fast. Discriminant analysis was used to identify significant discriminatory factors among the three FLC categories. Results indicated that the number of meetings attended, the main source of livelihoods, age, sex, marital status, and years of formal education of the household head, and support from local leaders, differentially accounted for the speed of FLC establishment. The study recommends that learning alliances should be introduced through extension and local leaders as they are key information disseminators and custodians of local resources, and enterprise-specific training should be done to encourage full commitment to learning alliances to foster quicker establishment.

Impact of HIV co-infection in patients presenting with hepatic hydatid disease

Background: HIV and echinococcus granulosis (EG) co-infection, whilst rare globally, still affects communities in Southern Africa and appears to be increasing. In this, the first comparative study between patients with hepatic hydatid disease (HHD) with and without HIV co-infection in the same population, the hypothesis from case studies that co-infection-associated immune modulation may lead to a more severe clinical presentation of HHD was assessed. Material & Methods: Patients presenting at the Surgical Gastroenterology unit, Groote Schuur Hospital, South Africa with HHD between 2012 and 2018, and for whom the HIV status was known, were included. Demographic characteristics, clinical parameters and serological and laboratory tests were compared in patients, with and without HIV co-infection. Results: HIV prevalence in the study population (n=38) was 50%. Females predominated in both groups (16/19 HIV+ and 14/19 HIV-). HIV+ patients tended to be younger (median age 32 vs. 39; p=0.181) with a lower BMI (median 23.6 vs. 25.4; p=0.126). No significant clinical differences were found. Abdominal pain was the most common symptom (15/19 in both groups) and abdominal tenderness the most common clinical finding (9/19 HIV+ and 10/19 HIV- patients). EG serology was positive in only 10/19 HIV+ patients, compared to 16/19 HIV- patients (p<0.060). Laboratory findings were similar, however conjugated bilirubin was more often raised in HIV+ patients (p<0.064). Conclusion: Whilst supporting previous reports of an impaired EG antibody response in HIV+ patients, this study refutes the hypothesis of a more severe clinical presentation. The HIV co-infection rate was higher than the prevalence in the general South African population of 12.6%, indicating that HIV is an important factor in HHD infection. Most patients were controlled on anti-retrovirals, suggesting disease severity might be contained by HIV suppression. Urgent surgery should be dictated by disease severity rather than the presence of HIV co-infection.

Living currency: The multiple roles of livestock in livelihood sustenance and exchange in the context of rural indigenous communities in southern Africa

Modern national and international monetary currencies continue to be the accepted universal media of exchange globally and, to a large extent, have expanded and displaced indigenous currencies and their roles within some community settings. There are, however, areas where indigenous currencies such as livestock (see Schneider, 1964), are considered as the most significant aspect of traditional economies. This paper explores the past and present roles of livestock as indigenous living currency amongst the Nguni and Shona people of southern Africa, mainly drawn from collaborative autoethnography. It further highlights how livestock currencies used alongside monetary ones have sustained and created multifaceted livelihood strategies of such rural area dwellers through intergenerational learning processes. This is against the background of the global economic instability ushered forth by modern economic practices (Karmin, 2008). The paper suggests that traditional 'living' currencies provide a more sustainable economy that enhances the socio-ecological resilience of indigenous rural communities in southern Africa. It also emphasises the need to recognise the coexistence of plural economies beyond the current monopoly of modern capitalist monetary economies.

Living currency: The multiple roles of livestock in livelihood sustenance and exchange in the context of rural indigenous communities in southern Africa

Living currency: The multiple roles of livestock in livelihood sustenance and exchange in the context of rural indigenous communities in southern Africa

Climate Change Adaptation through the Water-Energy-Food Nexus in Southern Africa.

Climate change is a complex and cross-cutting problem that needs an integrated and transformative systems approach to respond to the challenge. Current sectoral approaches to climate change adaptation initiatives often create imbalances and retard sustainable development. Regional and international literature on climate change adaptation opportunities and challenges applicable to southern Africa from a water-energy-food (WEF) nexus perspective was reviewed. Specifically, this review highlights climate change impacts on water, energy, and food resources in southern Africa, while exploring mitigation and adaptation opportunities. The review further recommends strategies to develop cross-sectoral sustainable measures aimed at building resilient communities. Regional WEF nexus related institutions and legal frameworks were also reviewed to relate the WEF nexus to policy. Southern Africa is witnessing an increased frequency and intensity in climate change-associated extreme weather events, causing water, food, and energy insecurity. A projected reduction of 20% in annual rainfall by 2080 in southern Africa will only increase the regional socio-economic challenges. This is exacerbating regional resource scarcities and vulnerabilities. It will also have direct and indirect impacts on nutrition, human well-being, and health. Reduced agricultural production, lack of access to clean water, sanitation, and clean, sustainable energy are the major areas of concern. The region is already experiencing an upsurge of vector borne diseases (malaria and dengue fever), and water and food-borne diseases (cholera and diarrhoea). What is clear is that climate change impacts are cross-sectoral and multidimensional, and therefore require cross-sectoral mitigation and adaptation approaches. In this regard, a well-coordinated and integrated WEF nexus approach offers opportunities to build resilient systems, harmonise interventions, and mitigate trade-offs and hence improve sustainability. This would be achieved through greater resource mobilisation and coordination, policy convergence across sectors, and targeting nexus points in the landscape. The WEF nexus approach has potential to increase the resilience of marginalised communities in southern Africa by contributing towards attaining the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and 13).

Sexually Transmitted Bedfellows: Exquisite Association Between HIV and Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 in 21 Communities in Southern Africa in the HIV Prevention Trials Network 071 (PopART) Study.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) are strongly associated, although mechanisms are not fully understood. An HIV prevention trial allowed reexamination of this association at individual and community levels. The HIV Prevention Trials Network 071 (PopART) study evaluates a combination prevention intervention in 21 urban communities in Zambia and South Africa. To measure impact on HIV infection incidence, a cohort of approximately 2000 adults (age range, 18-44 years) was selected randomly from each community. Baseline data on sociodemographic characteristics, behavior, and HIV/HSV2 serologic findings were used to examine the association between HIV and HSV2. At the community level, HIV prevalence was plotted against HSV2 prevalence. A total of 38691 adults participated. HSV2 prevalence among women and men was 50% and 22%, respectively, in Zambia and 60% and 27%, respectively, in South Africa. Estimated HSV2 infection incidence among those aged 18-24 years was 8.06 cases/100 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.76-9.35) and 1.76 cases/100 person-years (95% CI, 1.30-2.22) among women and men, respectively. A 6-fold higher odds of HIV infection was seen in HSV2-infected individuals in both sexes, after adjustment for confounders (odds ratio, 6.66 [95% CI, 6.07-7.31] among women and 6.57 [95% CI, 5.56-7.77] among men). At the community-level, there was a strong linear relationship between HIV and HSV2 prevalence (ρ = 0.92; P < .001). There was an exquisite association between these 2 infections, at the individual and community levels, likely due in part to a powerful cofactor effect of HSV2 on HIV transmission. HSV2 control could contribute to HIV prevention.

Sing, eat, pray: transmission of tradition in Lemba communities in Southern Africa

ABSTRACTMost Lemba traditions and customs are transmitted by means of songs, chants, recitations, praises, proverbs, and prayers, in addition to written documents. Songs, recitations, and certain prayers could be described as poems or set speech; they form part of everyday language and are memorised. Others are sung, chanted, or prayed only on special occasions, such as the ritual slaughter of animals or during circumcision rites. The way the Lemba sing, eat, and pray expresses their unity and their conscious transferal and reinforcement of cultural and religious identity. It also reflects their understanding of their origin and the belief that their religious-cultural practices (embedded in an African culture) have been handed down to them from their Hebrew ancestors.

Reconsidering disaster resilience: a nonlinear systems paradigm in agricultural communities in Southern Africa

Disasters continue to have a dramatic impact on lives, livelihoods and environments communities depend on. In response to these losses, the global community has developed various theories, assessment methodologies and policies aimed at reducing global losses. A contemporary outcome of these interventions is to build the disaster resilience. However, despite the disaster resilience-building endeavours espoused by policies, theories and methodologies, very little progress is being made in reducing disaster losses. This paper argues that a possible reason behind the limitations of current resilience-building policies and methodologies could be that most of these policies are based a mechanistic scientific paradigm that places an emphasis on system components that are perceived to build resilience and not the function of systems as a whole. This often leads to resilience-building initiatives that are based on a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach. This paper argues for the use of a complex adaptive systems approach to building resilience. This approach argues that contextual factors within different social systems will have a nonlinear affect on disaster resilience-building efforts. Therefore, it is crucial to move away from ‘one-size-fits-all’ approaches to more flexible approaches to building resilience. These hypotheses are tested by means of a correlation statistical analysis of agricultural communities in Southern Africa. Results of this analysis indicate that unique resilience profiles are evident in almost all of the communities studied. This indicates that resilience is not the same for everybody, and that resilience-building endeavours should be flexible enough to be adapted for different contexts.