Cultural Practices Research Articles

Current state of knowledge on cultural practices and sanitary threats of the horse in Algerian society

Abstract Algeria is a typical country of great and ancestral equestrian tradition where horses are a varied asset in terms of animal genetic resources, offering an important diversity of breeds in terms of their adaptation and their capacity for production in their natural environment. This literature review aims to illustrate the role played by the horse in Algerian culture and traditions from the past to the present and, to present main diseases studied throughout the country. The equine industry occupies a prominent place in the history and economy of North Africa, especially in Algeria, horse has a major role in sustainable development, particularly in the environmental field, by playing a particular role in the management of spaces and landscapes beneficial to the maintenance and development of biodiversity, but also in its relationship with humans. Especially in the Center and West of the country, horses are the main actors of "Fantasia", which ensures the continuity of an authentic military equestrian tradition, it is a simulation of traditional military action. According to the prevalence rates, the main diseases threatening horses’ health are Equine Influenza, West Nile Virus, Equine Viral Arteritis, Equine granulocytic anaplasmosis, Lyme disease, Toxoplasmosis, Microsporidiosis and Pinworms. However, low rates were observed for Rhinopneumonitis, Brucellosis, Surra and Cryptosporidiosis. Actually, horses deserve more attention from public authorities and civil society, to preserve this animal considered as a part of the national and humanitarian heritage.

Unraveling The Threads of Tradition: The Transformation of Kepayang (Pangium edule Reinw.) Ethnobotanical Knowledge in Sarolangun, Central Sumatra

For centuries, the Sarolangun community in Central Sumatra has depended on kepayang for its essential roles in nutrition, medicine, environmental conservation, and cultural practices. However, modernization now threatens the preservation of indigenous knowledge and traditions related to kepayang. This study investigates the shifts in ethnobotanical knowledge concerning kepayang in six villages across three sub-districts of Sarolangun Regency, Jambi Province, encompassing urban, peri-urban, and rural landscapes representative of the region’s main kepayang production areas. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, data were collected from 68 participants through in-depth interviews and participatory observations utilizing snowball sampling. Findings reveal the plant’s diverse uses and evolving application patterns, with a broader range of uses in rural areas compared to urban ones. Despite these shifts, kepayang retains its culinary significance throughout the community, symbolizing cultural continuity. Additionally, its role in oral traditions continues to impart moral values to younger generations, supporting collective wisdom essential for conservation. This research advocates for a balanced conservation strategy that integrates ecological preservation with cultural heritage and sustainable development, adapting to local knowledge’s evolution while exploring kepayang's potential for economic benefits within the community.

Ubarampe Ritual 'Guyang Jaran' in the Jaran Kepang Turonggo Mudo Art in Temanggung: A Semiotic Study by Charles Sanders Peirce

Jaran Kepang dance is a Javanese art form that features horses made of woven bamboo. This dance is not only entertainment for the community, but also holds values that symbolize life in Javanese society. This research aims to reveal the meaning of ubarampe in the guyang jaran ritual performed in the art of jaran kepang. This research used a descriptive qualitative method with Charles Sanders Pierce's semiotic theory. The research involved the Jaran Kepang Turonggo Mudo group in Legoksari Village, Tlogomulyo District, Temanggung Regency. Data were collected through interviews, observations, and documentation, then analyzed using data source triangulation. The results showed that, the guyang jaran ritual means bathing horses in the sendhang which starts from installing offerings to end praying together at pepundhen as a form of respect for ancestral spirits, repelling bad luck, and preserving culture. Some types of ubarampe used are tumpeng, sega kapirata, sega bakar, endhog jawa, ingkung, cambah pethek, juaddah pasar, jenang abang putih, incense, candles, cigarettes, kembang setaman, kembang durang, kembang wangi, degan ijo, and wedang 7 werna. Overall, the ubarampe in the guyang jaran ritual has the meaning of prayer requests, gratitude, and a form of harmonious relationship between humans and nature as well as a medium for the Legoksari village community and makes it integral in cultural and spiritual practices.

Culture-specific discourse in marketing: a study of socio-cultural traditions in Jordanian shops and streets

Abstract This study investigates the various marketing strategies employed in the malls and streets of Amman, Jordan. Specifically, it aims to identify the different methods salespeople use to attract customers’ attention to their products indirectly, and sometimes through non-verbal means. The study illustrates how the theoretical concepts of speech acts, as discussed by Searle and Grice, are utilized in the marketing strategies observed in Jordanian malls and streets. It also examines how vendors and advertisers employ language not only to convey information but also to perform actions, such as persuading or invoking cultural values, without explicitly stating their intentions. By analyzing the subtleties of language use in advertisements, product promotions, and street performances, the study reveals how indirect speech acts are employed to engage consumers, foster a sense of community, and promote products. Indirect speech acts can imply more than what is explicitly stated, adding layers of meaning that facilitate communication between the customer and the salesperson. The findings indicate that each of the products discussed in this paper, commonly found on Jordanian streets, in shops, and in malls, has a unique marketing discourse crafted and employed by business owners or their staff to attract customers. Overall, indirect speech acts in Jordanian malls and streets reflect a sophisticated form of communication that is deeply rooted in local cultural and social practices, utilizing non-verbal cues such as music and scents to convey messages subtly. These methods are highly effective in achieving advertising objectives, aligning with cultural values that emphasize respect and subtlety in interpersonal interactions.

‘Bapedi A Re Boeleng Setṧong’ - Consequences of Undermining Ancestral Beliefs with Regards to the Concept of ‘Mohlobolo’ from Bapedi People’s Cultural Perspective

There appears to be an increasing interest in the integration of the concept ‘mohlobolo’ and traditional wedding ceremony (monyanya) in the Bapedi society, and this revives and strengthens Bapedi people’s traditional relationship with the ancestral realm. Strengthening interactions of ancestors of both families (bride and groom) through the significance role played by ‘mohlobolo’ has been a common practice for ages in the Bapedi society, but some families deliberately ignore this practice as the consequence of being mesmerized by external theological beliefs and modern technologies. There has been unsatisfactory integration of the concept ‘mohlobolo’ and traditional wedding ceremony even though Bapedi cultural heritage and identity advocates its use, and significant meaning stating that it strengthens the marriage relationship and preserves Bapedi people’s cultural wedding practice. Amongst Bapedi people, teamwork is preferable to get everyone involved and to facilitate ancestor veneration. This paper has its goal a drive to recognize ancestral beliefs as the foundation of a happy family and the creation of spiritual and religious values within Bapedi people’s cultural context. To address the objectives of this study, the following primary research questions were considered: 1) What are the consequences of undermining the pivotal role played by the concept ‘mohlobolo’ in traditional Bapedi wedding ceremonies? and 2) why are innocent children and grandchildren suffering because of the ignorance and negligence by their parents and grandparents? The primary sources for data collection include observations and oral interviews that were conducted through face-to-face interaction. The interviews were aimed at eliciting first-hand information on the knowledge of the subject matter. The secondary sources included among others, materials such as journal articles, books and theses, and of course personal experience. The results have shown that in the Bapedi society, some families are disintegrated as the consequence of undermining the pivotal role played by the concept ‘mohlobolo’. There appears to be unpleasant marriage relationship in some families; female partners cannot procreate, etc. It was concluded that ‘mohlobolo’ serves as the eternal bond between the families and the ancestors of the two families that are coming together through the bride and bridegroom.

Glorifying my gods: cultural politics of statue making, Hindu symbolism, and power iconography

ABSTRACT This paper examines the recent emergence of statue-making in India, a powerful political-cultural state apparatus. Statue-making commemorates historical figures and events, thereby recreating dominant cultural narratives. The study focuses on how the Modi government has favoured Hindu culture and iconography through statue-making, particularly reinforcing the revival of Hindu visuals in public space. The paper uses qualitative approaches and data analysis investigating contemporary Indian statues as examples to investigate the complex relationship between statue-making and cultural politics. It highlights the conflicts that arise when monuments become contested sites. The paper argues that statue-making in India is a significant cultural practice that reflects and influences the political landscape. This Hindu iconography challenges the secular ideals of leaders like Nehru and Ambedkar, reshaping India’s religious and cultural identities through Modi’s policies, which feature statues and Hindu symbolism in public spaces.

Presence of microplastics during high rainfall events in the Cauvery River (South India): Ecological risk and cultural practices.

Rivers directly support the development of a region/country; however, globally, these aquatic regions are impacted by recent human activity. During a rainfall event, we monitored the baseline information on the spatial variability of microplastics (MPs) in the Cauvery River in South India. Forty surface water samples from two selected sites were collected between 27 September and 16 October 2022 during the commencement of monsoon which indicates 69 and 43 pieces L-1 of MPs, respectively. SEM and FTIR analysis on the surface morphotypes (cracks, grooves, pits) and elemental (Si, Ti, Mg, Cu, Ta) presence/adsorption of these elements' (in particle) surface indicates surface deformation of fibers, which is mainly due to external input/forces. Fragments of polymers establish a high degree of deterioration indicating its longer trajectory in the aquatic environment. The origin of extended fiber ranges between 631.65 and 5639.9µm, which is being associated with laundry activities for textiles, household items, and fishing gear. Toxicity and ecological risk assessment suggest significant degree of weathered MPs due to photo-oxidation process and aging owing to exposition of intense UV light. This research serves as a strong illustration of the multiple pressures from urban development and cultural practices that have a bigger influence on the river ecosystem like Cauvery River and regular monitoring.

Creation, Preservation and Documentation of Oral Tradition in Ancient Yorùbá and Hebraic Cultures

Oral tradition in both ancient Yoruba and Hebraic cultures has remained challenging in contemporary times. This study therefore comparatively examines the creation, preservation, and documentation of oral tradition in ancient Yoruba and Hebraic cultures with the view to evaluating its transition and historical trajectory. Historical narrative and documentary/archival research methods as well as Key Informant Interview (KII) employed in this study. Data was generated and subjected to content analysis. In Yoruba cosmology, oral traditions created were more concretized in the minds of people through cultural activities demonstrated in the form of moonlight stories, folktales, festivals, and so on that portrayed the community norms, beliefs, practices, and morals. These cultural practices become immortalized through repeated performances over a period and these cultures are being celebrated even to date. On the other hand, the Hebraic people believe that the oral tradition was a creation of God for man and that these traditions passed down orally in successive patterns from one generation to another prior to their documentation. Regarding, the preservation and documentation of oral tradition in ancient Yoruba, it is believed that it is passed from mouth to mouth and through stories from one lineage to another. However, for the Hebraic people, the oral traditions preserved before their documentation as observed in the Hebrew Scriptures as well as seen in the written “Torah” (the first five books of the Old Testament). Consequently, the Hebraic oral traditions preserved through memorization, documented first in the Mishnah and some other ancient documents. Preserved in stories that illustrated the model of a sage who was in the order of Moses and was called the “rabbi”. The influence of globalization, misinterpretation and migration on Yoruba oral traditions remains challenging. This is not an exemption even with the Hebraic oral traditions though written.

Weed Management Practices in Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.): A Review

Cowpea is an important pulse crop. Weeds posses a severe problem in cowpea production and, if it is not managed with best management practices, can act as a hibernating agent and reduce yield and quality. An attempt was made to collect published data on weed management practices aimed at maximizing yield of cowpea. This work was done at Department of Agronomy, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore - 641 003, Tamil Nadu, India. The literature search was done during July 2023 to January 2024. About 120 review and research papers were screened from various databases, including the TNAU library, Google Scholar, Scopus, Research Gate, ARCC journals and 75 papers were used to write this paper. This review article documents information gathered on importance of cowpea, nutritional profile of cowpea, anti-nutritional factors, health benefits, critical period of weed control, yield reduction percentage, weed flora in cowpea, SSB, mulching, manual weeding, cultural practices, chemical methods and IWM in cowpea was comprehensively presented.

Species Diversity in Coastal Homegardens of Kerala, India: A Study Across Agro-ecological Units (AEUs)

This study examines the biodiversity of coastal homegardens in Kerala, focusing on crop and regional diversity across Agro-Ecological Units (AEUs). Using the Shannon-Weiner index, the study found crop diversity values ranging from 0.347 for tubers to 0.998 for fruits, influenced by local ecology, cultural practices, and socio-economic factors. Biodiversity indices for Courtyard, Mid-region, and Outer region were 1.117, 1.433, and 1.255, respectively, with overall biodiversity indices of 1.058, 1.159, and 1.547 for AEU 1, AEU 3, and AEU 4. Statistical analysis yielded an F value of 0.961 and a P value of 0.4345, indicating no significant difference in biodiversity indices across the regions within homegardens studied. The correlation analysis revealed significant relationships between personal and social factors of coastal homegarden farmers and biodiversity. Education, information source utilization, and economic motivation were significantly correlated with biodiversity at the 0.05 level, while market orientation showed a stronger correlation at the 0.01 level. The study underscores the need for collaborative efforts to enhance biodiversity through crop diversification, agroforestry, and support for small-scale and marginalized farmers.

Pesticide use in integrated pest and pollinator management framework to protect pollinator health.

Agricultural pesticides have historically been a critical tool in controlling pests and diseases, preventing widespread suffering and crop losses that led to catastrophes such as the Great Irish Famine (1845-1852) and the Cotton Boll Weevil Infestation (1915-1916). However, their usage has brought challenges, including resistance development, secondary pest outbreaks, harm to non-target organisms like pollinators, and environmental contamination. In response to these concerns, integrated pest management (IPM) has emerged as a comprehensive approach, emphasizing non-chemical pest control methods such as cultural practices, biological control, and crop rotation, with pesticides as the last resort. IPM has evolved, influenced by regulations like the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), which prioritizes human health protection, especially for children. The development of systemic pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids, introduced a more efficient and targeted pest control method within the IPM framework. However, they have also raised concerns due to their potential adverse effects on pollinators. In recent years, integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) has emerged as an enhanced approach, integrating pollinator health considerations into pest management strategies. In this article, we discuss this new approach, and briefly present an example of a modifying pesticide program in Pennsylvania apple orchards to illustrate the application of IPPM, in order to highlight the importance of IPPM in sustaining agriculture, protecting vital pollinators, and maintaining effective pest control practices. © 2024 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Weed management in direct wet-seeded rice - A comprehensive review to higher productivity

This review examines various weed control strategies for Direct Seeded Rice systems. The diverse weed flora in DSR includes grasses (Echinochloa colona), sedges (Cyperus iria) and broadleaf weeds (Ludwigia parviflora) being prevalent. Integrated weed management combining cultural, mechanical, biological and chemical methods is recommended for sustainable control. Cultural practices such as stale seedbed techniques, crop rotations and flooding help suppress the growth of weeds. Mechanical methods, including hand weeding and the use of weeders, are effective but labour-intensive. Chemical control via pre-emergence (pretilachlor) and post-emergence (bispyribac-sodium) herbicides has shown promising results optimally. This review highlights that an integrated approach utilizing multiple complementary weed management tactics is essential for effective and sustainable weed control in direct-seeded rice. The proper timing of interventions, combinations of methods, and consideration of local conditions are essential factors. Although chemical herbicides are still valuable tools, there is a growing emphasis on reducing their use by integrating alternative methods. Overall, continued review of innovative biological and ecological approaches can further enhance the existing options for weed management in DSR systems.

Between national identity and transnational connections: the case of a Chinese temple in Brunei Darussalam

ABSTRACT This article examines how Teng Yun Temple, the oldest sanctioned Chinese temple in Brunei Darussalam, navigates assimilation pressures in a Muslim-majority country while upholding religious orthodoxy and cultural identity through transnational ties with its ancestral land. Serving as a symbol of ethnic Chinese identity, the temple is a bastion of Chinese religious and cultural heritage in a conservative country where political power and cultural space available for non-Malay/Muslims are circumscribed. This article delves into Teng Yun Temple’s strategies to adapt religious practices and maintain transnational connections in response to restrictive state regulations. It highlights the agency of Brunei’s Chinese minority in preserving their culture and religious practices, showcasing the role of the temple in the country’s religious diversity. The case study sheds light on local and transnational dynamics within a Southeast Asian Chinese religious organization, revealing how a religious minority navigates identity and state policies.

When culture becomes relevant in intercultural lingua franca communication

AbstractLiterature has argued that (a) culture makes intercultural communication more prone to miscommunication and that (b) culture is a non‐issue in intercultural communication. The former has been linked to differences in cultural norms and communicative practices, while the latter has been attributed to the existence of cultural differences even in intracultural communication. While it is true that culture is not always a relevant factor in intercultural communication, it is also true that culture can cause a rift between interactants. In this paper, I explore when culture becomes a relevant factor in intercultural lingua franca communication and under what circumstances interactants make reference to cultural differences. Drawing on data from a wide variety of intercultural encounters observed in informal interactions collected across East Asia and South‐East Asia, this paper examines the relevance of culture in intercultural communication and looks at how interactants construe their identity as situated in their respective cultural backgrounds.

“Girls doing a big job” in diaspora: cosmopolitan minority and making modern Chinese women associations in white Australia

ABSTRACT During Australia's “White Australia” policy (1901-1973), Chinese women in Sydney defied limitations through voluntary work. Starting with social clubs and local relief funds, their efforts culminated in the 1954 Chinese Women's Association of Australia (CWAA). This study explores how these women navigated inclusion and exclusion by leveraging their voluntary efforts. Fundraising, cultural events, and community activities became platforms for them to express their evolving identities and reshape social dynamics. The paper argues that cultural practices empowered women-led Chinese voluntary organizations in the diaspora. It introduces the concept of a “cosmopolitan minority,” where “Chineseness” is performed identities transcending race or ethnicity alone. Cosmopolitan life allowed these women to leverage intercultural understanding for navigating their complex situation and fostering resilience. Through collaboration and community building, they strategically performed their heritage, ultimately shaping associations and spaces to assert agency and define their ideal lives within the diaspora.

Transformation towards Organic Cassava Production in Yasothon Province, Thailand

With the marked increase in consumer and commercial demand for organic foods and products, organic cassava production has become a viable alternative for small growers because it can lead to the sustainability of the agriculture and food production system. However, few studies have been conducted to enable a more comprehensive understanding of the factors that contribute to the transformation from chemical into organic cassava production systems. This study quantitatively aimed to identify socioeconomic, cassava profitability, and institutional factors that influence the cultural practice transformation towards organic cassava production in a district of Yasothon province, Thailand. We used a structured interview schedule to collect data from 283 sampled cassava growers comprising 236 chemical cassava growers and 47 organic cassava growers in the district during the period from August 2020 to November 2020. Quantitatively, we used the binary logistic regression method to identify the positive and negative factors contributing to the transformation of cassava production systems including growers’ motivations for the transformation. The study findings indicated that income from organic cassava was taken as the main motivation for growers’ decisions to transform (40.3%). We found that organic cassava farm gate price, access to formal credit, labor used and membership in growers’ organizations were positive significant factors that affected the cultural practice transformation. Finally, small cassava growers as well as stakeholders should systemically be considered by policymakers and in strategic intervention through relevant institutions.

Unequal homework: The hidden forces of social class contexts and parental self‐efficacy in shaping educational outcomes

AbstractThe Covid‐19 outbreak forced families and teachers to use digital technology to support students to engage in distance learning at home. According to their social class, families’ digital equipment, competences and uses vary markedly, which in turn, impacts children's academic achievement. Social class has also a great influence on cultural and parental practices at home, as well as on parental self‐efficacy regarding supporting children's academic achievement. The present study investigated whether, within a single model, structural factors, including home environment, cultural capital, and digital capital, contribute both directly and indirectly (via parental self‐efficacy) to the development of academic inequalities during homework. As predicted, analyses showed that families from working‐class backgrounds are less equipped and feel less competent in digital technology as compared to families from middle‐ and upper‐class backgrounds. Our findings also showed that families’ social class is a significant predictor of cultural capital and parental self‐efficacy which in turn contributes to educational inequalities in achievement. Future studies should delve deeper into the role of parental practices and their involvement, during homework, to educational inequalities.

Group-differentiated rights for Indigenous communities that straddle borders

ABSTRACT This paper examines the normative justification for special rights for Indigenous peoples whose traditional territories straddle contemporary international borders. Examining the Mohawks of Akwesasne (Quebec, Ontario, and New York state) and the Tohono O’odham (Arizona and Sonora, Mexico) as cases, I demonstrate how state claims to territorial jurisdiction and border regulation often interfere with the lives of Indigenous people whose social, cultural, economic, spiritual and political practices and relationships cluster across contemporary international boundaries. Through the concept of group occupancy interests, I argue that members of Indigenous nations whose territories straddle borders possess special rights to access and use lands presently claimed by states of which they are not recognized citizens. Moreover, I demonstrate how border-straddling Indigenous nations challenge the unlimited sovereignty of contemporary states with respect to border policy: the occupancy and self-determination interests of Indigenous peoples may ground the moral rights of their communities to co-manage international border crossings with states. Finally, I argue that collective interests in cross-border political identities and self-determination can ground the rights of Indigenous peoples to form unified cross-border jurisdictional units that demand recognition by states, alongside the rights of Indigenous peoples to regulate group membership.

Biblical discourses and compulsory monogamy among the Vatsonga people in South Africa

The 19th-century missionary-biblical discourses that marked the missionary-colonial project promulgated under the guise of Christianisation and civilisation of the heathens in Africa rendered the recipients as slaves. In Africa, the perpetual legacy of this project still manifests among others by the continued demonisation of African cultural practices. Among the vast South African conventional practices that were frowned upon by the missionaries and continue to be demonised through biblical rhetoric is polygamy. This article investigated how the 19th-century missionaries’ biblical discourses promulgated compulsory monogamy among the Vatsonga people in South Africa. It further looked at how the narrative continues to be spread by Christians using biblical discourses in contemporary South Africa. The article argued that this narrative is tantamount to what Wa Thiong’o calls a ‘cultural bomb’, which uses biblical discourses to eradicate African cultural practices. It further contended that the hegemonic superiority complex of Western epistemologies and cultural practices needs to be problematised. Thus, the article used the desktop research methodology to collect and analyse data. The findings revealed that 19th-century biblical discourses are still used as a colonial tool to disregard the Vatsonga cultural marital practices.Contribution: This article aims to contribute to the body of knowledge and discourses that address the legacies of colonialism around the coming of missionaries in Africa. Therefore, this task was sought to be completed by the decolonial call to change the narrative.

Critical Analysis of Nutritional Factors in Disease Epidemiology and Prevention

The burden of NCDs, including obesity, diabetes, CVDs, and some cancers, has upped the importance of nutrition in the health of a nation. Malnutrition and over nutrition, which are the major nutritional factors, play important roles in disease distribution in the world. With regard to the analysis of this paper, the author has given a critical perspective on how dietary habits, socioeconomic factors, and cultural practices are determinants of the epidemiology of diseases. Therefore, the present paper employs a literature review, epidemiological data, and case studies to unveil the connection between diet and disease as well as the way forward. Some of the discoveries made include understanding that poor diets are the leading causes of NCDs, micronutrient deficiencies are still a problem with the poor, and processed foods are very much a threat. The discussion reviews the difficulties in shifting to a healthier diet. It presents solutions for the economic issue and the behavioral modification problem in policy-making, healthcare approaches, and public health practice.