Traditional Chiefs Research Articles

Factors influencing health facility delivery among women of reproductive age in Lilongwe district; Malawi: a cross-section study

utilization of health facility for delivery could save pregnant women from avoidable maternal deaths. However, use of health facility in deliveries remains inconsistent. The main study objective was to identify factors influencing health facility delivery among women of reproductive age in Lilongwe District. a cross-sectional study using structured questionnaires administered to 210 women of reproductive age was used. Chi-square (or Fischer Exact Test), where appropriate was used to analyze data. the findings of the study revealed that the level of health facility delivery in Lilongwe District is 73.8%. It revealed that 97.1% of the respondents are aware of health facility delivery and most (89.5%) prefer health worker as the best person to assist pregnant women during delivery. There is a significant association between level of knowledge (p = 0.000), the level of education (p=0.000), employment (94.7%) and religious teachings (p=0.000) with delivery in a health facility. The study further shows that more Muslim´s women (91.7%) delivered at health facility compared to their counterparts from others religions and African traditionalists (20%). in conclusion, the level of knowledge, age, level of education and marital status, Occupation, monthly income, and the amount spent during the past delivery, and the religious teachings influence health facility delivery. We recommend the sharing of the findings with different stakeholders in order to find the solutions and the need for dialogue with traditional chiefs and religious leaders on advocating for health facility delivery.

Analysis of Actors Involved in the Bamboo Value Chain and Strategies for the Development of the Bamboo Sector in the Menoua Division, West Region of Cameroon

Bamboo is an important non-timber forest product owing to its multipurpose nature. In Cameroon, bamboo has always been neglected and seen as worthless by many communities. However, in recent years, bamboo has received renewed attention which has made many communities and different stakeholders to gain interest in the resource. This study which was carried out in the Menoua division, West region of Cameroon between February to July 2021 sought to identify and characterise the actors involved in the bamboo sector, and assess the different strategies that could be employed to develop the bamboo sector. Data were collected using quantitative and qualitative methods in 6 sub-divisions in Menoua division (Dschang, Santchou, Fongo Tongo, Fokoué, Penka Michel and Nkong-Ni). For the selection of study sites, the criterion used was the proximity of households to the area where the bamboo resource is found. Using the simple random sampling method, 53 households were surveyed across the Menoua division. Key informant and expert interviews were also conducted with mayors, traditional chiefs, heads of forestry posts, heads of research institutions/structures and craftsmen involved in the bamboo sector. Using SPHINX software version 5, a survey form was designed. The data collected was coded and analysed using EXCEL 2010 and SPSS. Map data was analysed using ARCGIS version 2.18. Results indicated that there were two main groups of actors: direct actors (collectors, collectors/transporters, producers/collectors, producers/collectors/transporters, collectors/traders) and indirect actors (Municipal Councils, Decentralized Services of the Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife—MINFOF, Development partners like INBAR, Research Institutions like the Institute of Agricultural Research for Development—IRAD, and academic institutions like the University of Dschang). The direct actors are directly linked to the bamboo value chain while the indirect actors are those whose decisions influence the sector (e.g. MINFOF) or those who provide financial and technical support (Municipal Councils, INBAR; IRAD, the University of Dschang). The main strategies proposed by the local population for the development of the bamboo sector were regular sensitization campaigns on the benefits of bamboo (92%) and the provision of technical, material and financial support to bamboo producers (41%). Key informants/experts proposed the following in order to ensure the development of the bamboo sector in the Menoua division: raising awareness about bamboo, its different varieties and benefits; creating bamboo plantations (with varieties adapted to the agro-ecological zone i.e. the western highlands) in order to reduce the pressure on other resources; setting up support mechanisms for producers and other actors in the bamboo value chain; allocating land/agricultural areas for bamboo plantations as there is land scarcity in the Menoua division. Based on the strategic framework developed from this study, in order to ensure an adequate and effective development of the bamboo sector in the Menoua division, there should be among others: multiplication of awareness-raising and training programmes for farmers on bamboo production techniques; more support for smallholder farmers by providing them bamboo plants in quality and quantity; production of bamboo stems in quality and quantity; more awareness campaigns for young craftsmen on the advantages of the bamboo craft sector; more training campaigns for craftsmen on modern bamboo processing techniques; and the establishment of a well-developed and sustainable bamboo-based craft sector.

Analysis of indigenous African political leadership among the Luba people of Kasai in the Democratic Republic of Congo

This paper aims to examine the nature of indigenous African political leadership among the Luba People of Kasai in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The study employed qualitative research that was rooted in phenomenology. The concentration of the study was on the Kasai Central Province. The target population was charm givers, militia, and political leaders were selected as the units of observation by the researcher. The political leaders comprised of local traditional chiefs of villages and modern leaders. A sample size of 40 participants was adequate to enable the researcher to obtain rich information and reach the saturation point. The targeted 40 participants were: 10 charm givers, 8 members of the provincial parliament, 4 provincial ministers, 13 traditional leaders, and 5 militia leaders. The study used In-depth Interviews (IDIs), focus group discussions, and observations to collect data. The findings indicate indigenous traditional leadership among the Luba has various sources of power. These include the use of various symbols of Luba traditional leadership to perform duties on behalf of the community. The use of the manga is also in line with the customs and traditions of the Luba people and guides the leader on the right things to do while on the throne.

Economic impacts of shopping malls: The Accra (Ghana) case study

In the neoliberal globalization era, urban economic development (UED) has become topical issue in several sub-Saharan African cities. This paper investigates economic impact of shopping malls, and the role traditional rulers could play in enhancing poverty reduction through mall development. Using a case study methodology involving two of Accra's (Ghana) malls and relying on poverty reduction/wealth creation conceptual framework, the paper finds that the impact of (an informal) decision arrived with traditional chiefs has a more demonstrable impact on West Hills’ local communities and better enhances poverty alleviation than Accra Mall where no such decision was made. Concurrently, the paper finds that local participation in malls, related to wealth creation for citizens, is low. The paper, therefore, argues that the involvement of traditional authority typifies organic form of UED and that while the malls may be enhancing poverty reduction, they may not be enhancing wealth creation to any substantial degree. The paper, therefore, recommends a national policy on malls to optimize malls’ economic benefits.

The Making of Contemporary Art in Tanzania

The Making of Contemporary Art in Tanzania

Barriers to cervical cancer prevention in rural Cameroon: a qualitative study on healthcare providers’ perspective

ObjectiveCervical cancer in Cameroon ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths, mainly due to the lack of prevention. Our principal objective...

Multilevel governance of large-scale land acquisitions: a case study of the institutional politics of scale of the farm block program in Zambia

Scholarly debate continues about the role of institutional policies in shaping outcomes of large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) in host countries. In contribution to this debate, this paper aims at assessing how land governance institutional structures in Zambia interplay with LSLA deals. It draws on the theory of multilevel governance. The paper tests the theory on Nansanga farm block that is part of the long-standing agricultural policy to improve the agriculture sector. Overall, the LSLA-policy interplay is plagued with national party politics, and lack of institutional coherence in land governance between state and customary structures. The results reveal institutional overlaps and policy inadequacy in governing signed LSLA deals. Rural development and commercial agriculture are the most important LSLA policy thrusts. Finally, traditional chiefs, local councils and commissioner of lands represent the multilevel governance structures of land governance in Zambia where corruption is perceived to be the most rampant in LSLA deals.

Traditional Authorities and Spatial Planning in Urban Burkina Faso: Exploring the Roles and Land Value Capture by Moose Chieftaincies in Ouagadougou

ABSTRACT In terms of urban spatial planning, decentralisation and urban growth make it necessary to rethink the sources of legitimacy, agreements and conflicts relating to the actors’ strategies for land access in Ouagadougou. By localising the power and land management in local arenas (municipal territories and neighbourhoods), the decentralisation policy – that has promoted the participatory approach – and legal pluralism have exacerbated land-use competition. Institutional change and competition over land have reactivated the authority of the Moose traditional authorities in the urban development (‘lotissement’), as well as facilitating land value capture by them. In the urban land configuration, grassroots groups refer to competing normative repertories (legal/official versus traditional/local) to negotiate access to land for housing. This proves that traditional chiefs and state institutions were in tandem in the political-administrative management of urban development in Ouagadougou. However, facing the limits of the institutional hybridity and their correlative unsatisfied demand, grassroots people have empowered locally accountable representatives to fight for their land rights. With the growing influence of civil society organisations in urban politics, the domination of the public and traditional authorities is in flux. Based on qualitative empirical research, this article shows that the dynamic interplay between bureaucratic institutions, traditional authorities and grassroots organisations is contributing to reshape governance systems, as well as the construction of statehood in Burkina Faso.

Commodification of family lands and the changing dynamics of access in Ghana

The new scramble for land in Africa has revived debates on customary land tenure – a phenomenon that has become almost synonymous with the role of traditional chiefs in land politics. At the same time, investors continue to seek opportunities in complex customary land tenure systems, which may not necessarily be within the absolute domains of chiefs. This paper examines the politics of compensation and rent distribution following the process of a large-scale expropriation of family lands for an oil palm plantation in Ghana’s eastern corridor. It demonstrates how and why the sudden commodification of land and the accompanying individualisation of land holdings alter the power structure and entitlements within families, often concentrating authority in the hands of a few elderly male kin and exacerbating inequality. The resulting changes could be attributed to the state’s role in land and investment policies. However, family heads also used the ensuing process of compensation and rent distribution to increase their influence and income at the expense of some smallholder farmers, sharecroppers, migrants, women and the youth. Even as the state continues to promote such farmland investments, civil society and researchers can influence public policies to protect marginalised groups.

The influence of rurality and its indigenous knowledge on teaching methods in higher education – lessons from Ukulange Mbusa of the Bemba people of Zambia

This study was on the influence of rurality and its Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) with reference to the Ukulange Mbusa (UM) ceremony of the Bemba people of the Northern Zambia. Rurality is a demographic and a social category and implies distance from urban centres, sparse population, lack of amenities, infrastructure and sometimes social deprivation. A lot of forms of indigenous knowledge are imparted on learners from rural areas before they join universities and meet other knowledge systems. The study tried to establish if some learning and teaching approaches, methods and techniques used in such traditional ceremonies and settings could influence the teaching and learning in higher learning institutions. Interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGD), and documents analysis were used to collect data. The sample was drawn from traditional chiefs, women counsellors (alangizi) and university students initiated in the Ukulange Mbusa ceremony. Findings of the study are that the positive influences of rurality and their forms of indigenous knowledge are often minimised, misunderstood, ignored, viewed as backward, local, native, and therefore not suitable for use in higher learning institutions. However, this study argues that progressive indigenous forms of knowledge must be hybridized with the university ones, save negative ones such as those fuelling early marriages.
 
 Keywords: Indigenous knowledge, Rurality, Folklore, Culture, ZambiaHow to cite this article:Banda, D. & Kapwepwe, M. 2020. The influence of rurality and its indigenous knowledge on teaching methods in higher education – lessons from Ukulange Mbusa of the Bemba people of Zambia. Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in the South. 4(2): 197-217. https://doi.org/10.36615/sotls.v4i2.148.This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Chiefs, Democracy, and Development in Contemporary Africa

Traditional chiefs have a special ability to organize collective responses to local problems in many communities.

Why do community members believe mothers and babies are dying? Behavioral versus situational attribution in rural northern Ghana

ObjectiveRates of maternal and neonatal death remain high in the Global South, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, indicators vary significantly by geography. This study aimed to understand what communities in northern Ghana with frequent maternal and newborn deaths or near deaths (near-misses) perceive to be the causes. As part of a larger study, four communities in Ghana's Northern Region were identified as areas with high concentrations of deaths and near-misses of mothers and babies. DesignStakeholders were interviewed using in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus-group discussions (FGDs). Field workers conducted 12 FGDs and 12 IDIs across a total of 126 participants. SettingThis exploratory descriptive study was conducted in the East Mamprusi District in the Northern Region of Ghana, in the communities of Jawani, Nagboo, Gbangu and Wundua. ParticipantsFGDs were led by trained field workers and attended by traditional chiefs and their elders, members of women's groups, and traditional birth attendants in each of the four study communities. IDIs, or one-on-one interviews, were conducted with traditional healers who manage maternal and neonatal cases, community health nurses, and midwives. Measurements and findingsQualitative data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed using the Attride-Sterling analytical framework. Discussions focused on where blame should be attributed for the negative outcomes of mothers and babies – with blame either being directed at the actions or inactions of the mothers (behavioral), or at the larger factors associated with poverty (situational) that necessitate mothers’ behavior. For example, some respondents blamed women for their poor diets, while others blamed the lack of money or household support to buy nutritious foods. Blame was rarely attributed to the fathers despite local gender norms of males being the household decision-makers with regard to spending and care-seeking. Key conclusionsThese findings contribute to a small but growing body of literature on the blaming of mothers for their own deaths and those of their newborns – a phenomenon also described in high-income countries – and is supported by blame attribution theories that explain the self-protective nature of victim-blaming. Implications for practiceThese results carry important implications for education and intervention design related to maternal and neonatal mortality, including more focused efforts at incorporating men and the larger community. More research is warranted on blame attribution for these adverse outcomes and its effects on the victims.

Barriers to implementing a social license to operate in mining communities: A case study of peri-urban South Africa

This article interrogates the concept of the “social licence to operate” – defined here as “community acceptance of mining” – from a community perspective. It focuses on the case of South Africa’s peri-urban areas, which are both interesting and unique due to the country’s transition from apartheid to democracy, and the impact this has on company-community relations, and on the social licence. Most people who reside in communities in peri-urban South Africa do not own land and struggled against apartheid. They continue to live marginal lives, with limited economic opportunities. These communities are not governed by traditional authorities or chiefs so defining community leadership and formulating its legitimacy is a challenge. Through an interrogation of the social licence phenomenon, using legitimacy theory as an underpinning framework, we identify several factors which impact on the community’s ability to “grant” a social licence. We conclude that if conditions relating to these factors are unfavourable, the requirements for a social licence cannot be met. We focus specifically on the “leadership legitimacy” gap within communities, and the impact that this has had on communities’ ability to influence the social licence outcome. Through an in-depth exploration of the phenomenon from the perspective of two mining communities, we introduce a new theoretical component referred to as “community legitimacy”, which better represents the reality experienced within, and amongst, communities.

On the Impact of the Occult on State Legitimacy and Democratization Aid in Africa

The impact of occult belief on legitimacy of the state and on aid for democratization in Africa: Among politicians and development experts in Africa alike there is a growing awareness of the never decreasing importance of the belief in magic and witchcraft on political decision making since pre-colonial times. Demonstration of the control of occult forces as a means of enhancing legitimacy of traditional or charismatic rule had been considered for over a century to be the prerogative of traditional chiefs and their marabouts; now it proved to be effective for the modern political elite and the state as well. An increasing number of African states officially recognized the existence of magic and witchcraft, and they adapted the imposed colonial law accordingly. In addition magic-religious belief systems, as represented by the vodun or African independent churches (e.g. the Kimbanguists), boasting to control witchcraft, are promoted by African political leaders to enhance legitimacy both of the political class and of state governance. At the same time, development experts tried to take into account the socio cultural dimension of development; they called for an of development aid. This call was justified, because endogenization should be considered as a pre-requisite of sustainable aid; however, under certain conditions it may be ambiguous and dangerous as well. Concerning the consideration of occult belief it may lead to the promotion of illegitimate rule and violation of basic human rights.

Succession Under Customary Law in Nigeria. The Rule of Primogeniture versus the Deposition of a Traditional Ruler (Onojie) in Edo State: A critique of the Provisions of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Edicts No 16 of 1979

Before the advent of colonial administration in the area, which is presently known as Nigeria, there existed a people occupying vast areas of territories, which were traditionally dominated by highly diverse ethnic groups with highly sophisticated language systems. Apart from the variation in the languages, there also exist shape differences in terms of customs and traditions. However, with the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorate by Lord Frederick Lugard the former Governor-General of Nigeria in 1914 these territories were brought together for the convenience of British Colonial Administration. The new territory was called Nigeria. In furtherance of their quest for effective colonial administration, the British used to their advantage the traditional institutions that were well established in the country. Although traditional structures differ considerately from one ethnic group to another, but it was a common feature for these various ethnic groups to have their own established traditional institution with a recognised ruler, who may in turn be subordinate to the ruler of a larger community. The procedure regulating succession to the throne of these various traditional institutions are well defined by customs and traditions. These traditional ruler exercises absolute powers, and wade considerable influence in the affairs concerning their area of jurisdiction. However since the attainment of Independence in 1960, and followed by alternating between Military rule and civilian administration saw the decline and in some cases the eroding of the powers once excised by these traditional rulers. The once reviled absolute rulers suddenly discover that they are now subject to the powers of the state as provided in the various Traditional Rulers and Chief Law of the various states in the federation. These laws prescribed the mode of selection, appointment and discipline of a traditional ruler, which could include deposition or dethronement. In Edo State, succession to the throne as a traditional ruler in most of the communities is governed by the rule of primogeniture. Among the Esan people of Edo State their traditional ruler is known as the “Onojie” and succession to the throne is strictly by the principle of primogeniture. Recently, the Onojie of Uromi was deposed by the Edo State Government acting in accordance with provision of the Traditional Rulers and Chief Edict No 6 Laws of Bendel State of Nigeria 1979 applicable to Edo State. This article seeks to examine critically the aforesaid deposition of the Onojie against the Rule of primogeniture that regulate succession to the throne under Esan customary law.

Revitalisation of the Tonga Language in Zimbabwe: The Motivational Factors

This article investigates the motivation behind the Tonga people’s initiation of the language revitalisation process. It is based on research conducted in the Binga District, which was the epicentre of the Tonga language revitalisation project in the Zambezi Valley. The participants in the study were purposively sampled from various stakeholders in the project, inter alia, traditional chiefs, officials from the education sector, former and serving employees of NGOs, members of the Tonga Language and Culture Committee (TOLACCO) and Chairpersons of the Zimbabwe Indigenous Languages Promotion Association (ZILPA). The article identifies a number of socio-cultural and religious factors that motivated and propelled the Tonga people to embark on a project of language revitalisation. Within the theoretical framework of Human Needs Theory, the article critically analyses how these factors motivated the Tonga community to embark upon their language revitalisation initiative.

Electoral Consequences of Colonial Invention: Brokers, Chiefs, and Distribution in Northern Ghana

AbstractThis article studies the effects of traditional chiefs—a common type of broker—on voters’ ability to extract state resources from politicians. Using original data from Northern Ghana, the author shows that chieftaincy positions invented by colonial authorities are especially prone to capture, leaving voters worse off compared both to more accountable chiefs whose authority dates to the precolonial period and to voters who lack formal chiefs who can serve as brokers. The latter comparison exploits exogenous assignment of ethnic groups to the colonial invention of chieftaincy in the late nineteenth century. The findings suggest that whether voters benefit from brokers amidst clientelistic electoral competition depends on the accountability relationship between brokers and their clients.

Traditional leadership, community participation and mining development in South Africa: The case of Fuleni, Saint Lucia, KwaZulu-Natal

In South Africa, proposals for mining are becoming increasingly situated in rural areas, with communities impacted negatively by local resource extraction due to environmental and social impacts. Unfortunately, traditional leadership structures have largely posed a barrier towards inclusion of local community concerns/decisions over mining development, with collusion between traditional leaders and mining companies. Although there has been some information surrounding traditional leaders approving mining developments on communal lands and with no local community participation, there has been limited case studies and academic discourse to examine the micro politics of the interaction between leaders, the mining corporations, government and local communities, including external traditional leadership forces outside the community influencing mining developments. This paper will focus on the rural community of Fuleni, Northern KwaZulu-Natal, which is being targeted for mining development by Ibutho Coal mining. It will also examine the role of the traditional leadership in engaging local community concerns against mining development. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants (community and civil society organisations providing support to residents). Corruption between the local traditional leadership council and the mining company influenced the lack of inclusion of the local community concerns over mining development. Corruption was also found within the ward leadership council, the Ingonyama Trust Board and with the Zulu King, which therefore perpetuated local traditional leadership mining corruption. Additionally, whereas during apartheid the state used the traditional chiefs as ‘representative’ of the people to legitimise decisions made, the new democracy has seen a continuation of this practice, but with mining, conglomerates exercising more control over the government and traditional chiefs to ensure mining development

Ebbs and Flows of Authority: Decentralization, Development and the Hydrosocial Cycle in Lesotho

Dominant development discourse holds that water scarcity reflects geophysical limitations, lack of infrastructure or lack of government provision. However, this paper outlines the ways in which scarcity can only be fully explained in the context of development, specifically, neoliberal economic policies and related notions of good governance. Water is Lesotho’s primary natural resource, yet many of its inhabitants remain severely water insecure. Presently, decentralization and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) are embraced in Lesotho as a philosophy and method to engage varied stakeholders and to empower community members. Using a water committee in Qalo, Lesotho as a case study, this paper explores the micro-politics of water governance. As individuals contest who is responsible for managing water resources for the village—by aligning themselves with traditional chiefs, elected officials, or neither—they transform or reinforce specific hydro-social configurations. While decentralized resource management aims to increase equity and local ownership over resources, as well as moderate the authority of traditional chiefs, water access is instead impacted by conflicts over management responsibility for water resources. Drawing on theories of political ecology and governmentality to extend recent scholarship on IWRM, this paper re-centers the political in water governance by situating local tensions within national policies and development agendas and demonstrating how scarcity is hydro-social.

Partnering with traditional Chiefs to expand access to cervical cancer prevention services in rural Zambia.

To evaluate how the influence of traditional Chiefs can be leveraged to promote access to cervical cancer prevention services in rural Zambia. A retrospective review of outcome data was conducted for all screening outreach events that occurred in Zambian Chiefdoms between October 4, 2015, and October 3, 2016. Members of the health promotion team of the Cervical Cancer Prevention Program in Zambia visited local Chiefs to inform them of the importance of cervical cancer prevention. The local Chiefs then summoned adults living within their Chiefdoms to assemble for cervical cancer prevention health talks. Screen-and-treat services were implemented within each of the Chiefdoms over a 1-week period. VIA-enhanced digital imaging of the cervix (digital cervicography) was offered to 8399 women in ten Chiefdoms as part of a village-based screening (VBS) program. In all, 419 (4.9%) women had positive screening test results. Of these women, 276 (65.8%) were treated immediately with thermocoagulation and 143 (34.1%) were referred to provincial government hospitals to undergo either the loop electrosurgical excision procedure/large loop excision of the transformation zone (n=109, 26.0%) or punch biopsy (n=34, 8.1%). The influence of traditional Chiefs was leveraged to facilitate access to cervical cancer prevention services in rural Zambia.