Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'African epistemology'

In 1998 the University of the Western Cape together with the University of Cape Town, and the Robben Island Museum introduced a Post-graduate Diploma in Museum and Heritage Studies. This programme was innovative in that not only did it bring together two universities in a programme where the inequalities of resources derived from their apartheid legacies was recognised, but it also formally incorporated an institution of public culture that was seeking to make a substantial imprint in the post-apartheid heritage sphere as part of its structure. In 2003 this programme attracted substantial funding from the Rockefeller Foundation and was rebranded as the African Program in Museum and Heritage Studies (APMHS). While this rebranding of the programme might seem to be innocently unproblematic and commendable as part of the effort at re-insertion of South Africa into Africa after the isolation of apartheid, an analysis of the concepts employed in the rebranding raises serious theoretical, conceptual, and disciplinary questions for heritage studies as an academic discipline and for its connections with other fields, especially the interdisciplinary study of Africa. What are the implications of a programme that brings together the concepts of ʹAfrican-Heritage-Studiesʹ? Does the rebranding signify a major epistemological positioning in the study of Africa or has it chosen to ignore debates on the problematic of the conjunction of the concepts? This study address these issues through a historical and philosophical analysis of the programme, exploring how it was developed both in relation to ideas of heritage and heritage studies in Africa and, most importantly by re-locating it in debates on the changing meaning of 
ʹAfricaʹ in African studies.

African American Studies
Ph.D.
In the cities of Richmond, Virginia; Charleston South Carolina; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Baltimore, Maryland, this dissertation endeavors to find out what can be learned about the archaeology(s) of Black memory(s) through Africological Epistemic Visual Storytelling (AEVS); their silences, their hauntings, their wake work, and their healing? This project is concerned with elucidating new African memories and African knowledges that emerge from a two-tier Afrocentric analysis of Eurocentric cartography that problematizes the dual hegemony of the colonial archive of public memory and the colonial map by using an Afrocentric methodology that deploys a Black Digital Humanities research design to create an African agentic ritual archive that counters the colonial one. Additionally, this dissertation explains the importance of understanding the imperial geographic logics inherent in the hegemonically quotidian cartographies of Europe and the United States that sanction white supremacist narratives of memory and suppress spatial imaginations and memories in African communities primarily, but Native American communities as well. It is the hope of the primary researcher that from this project knowledge will be gained about how African people can use knowledge gained from analyzing select monuments/sites of memorialization for the purposes of asserting agency, resisting, and possibly breaking the supposed correctness of the colonial map.
Temple University--Theses

African American Studies
M.A.
Often disconnected from the African diaspora, the Black South Pacific is constantly laid to the wayside. My research works to shed light on the voices of Afro-Oceanic scholars who are fully capable of articulating their own narratives based on their traditional foundational knowledge that may not align with standard western notions of knowledge but in fact create a system or methods of knowledge unique to the Afro-Oceanic community and traditions. The indigenous Afro-Oceanic agenda of self-determination, indigenous rights and sovereignty, integrity, spiritual healing, reconciliation and humble morality, builds capacity towards a systematic change and re-acknowledgement of indigenous Afro-Oceanic epistemologies. By identifying and analyzing indigenous Oceanic epistemologies, ontologies, and cosmologies, my research seeks to place Afro-Oceanic peoples within the broader African Diaspora. Scholars throughout Afro-Oceania such as Dr. A.M Tupuola, Dr. Vaioleti T.M, and Dr. Helu-Thaman inter
Temple University--Theses

The Spirit of Friendship: Girlfriends in Contemporary African American Literature examines spiritual subjectivities that inspire girlfriends in three contemporary novels to journey towards actualization. It examines the girlfriend bond as a space where the Divine Spirit can flourish and assist girlfriends as they seek to become actualized. This project raises epistemological questions as it suggests that within the girlfriend dynamic, knowledge that is traditionally subjugated is formed and refined. Finally, girlfriend epistemology is considered in light of Black Girl Magic, a contemporary social and cultural movement among Black women.

African descent students often are subjected to pedagogical practices and curricula that do not validate their home cultures or their individual and collective histories. In response to this problem, many teachers implement culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP) and curricula to address the needs of this population. Focusing on two African descent teachers in an African-centered school, the purpose of this qualitative African-centered inquiry was to 1) examine how the ancient Kemetic philosophy, Ma’at, manifests in their epistemologies, worldviews, and pedagogical practices, 2) explore how their epistemologies and worldviews inform their pedagogical practices, and 3) understand how their life experiences shaped their epistemologies and worldviews. A holistic theoretical framework comprised of Afrocentric and womanist theories and a CRP theoretical approach informed the “retooled” life history methodology employed in this study. The culturally sensitive data collection methods included dialogue, storytelling, participatory witnessing, and Afrocentric group conversation. Thematic and dialogic/performance narrative analysis techniques were used to analyze the data. The significance of this study is fourfold. First, this study adds to the paucity of existing literature on exemplary African descent teachers by bringing to the fore how the epistemologies and worldviews of teachers shape their pedagogical practices in an African-centered school. Second, this study explored the intended liberatory effects of African descent teachers’ implementation of CRP for themselves and for their students, ultimately affecting how both position themselves in the broader society. Third, use of the cardinal virtues of Ma’at (truth, justice, righteousness, order, harmony, balance, and reciprocity) as the philosophical foundation for this study presents an ontological alternative to privileging western philosophical frameworks typically used in educational research. Finally, as the ancient Kemetic philosophy employed in this study and as this study’s philosophical foundation, Ma'at specifically encourages policy makers, researchers, and practitioners to reexamine their notions of contemporary education in terms of its purpose, methods, and conceptions of the whole child. The findings illuminate ways that Ma’at undergirds the participants’ epistemologies, worldviews, and culturally relevant pedagogical practices enabling them to facilitate critical thinking, critical consciousness, and identity development with their students.

This thesis examines the local waterscapes of two smallholder irrigation farming systems in the dry lands of East African in a context of socio-ecological changes. It focuses on three aspects: institutional arrangements, gender relations and landscape investments.  This thesis is based on a reflexive analysis of cross-cultural, cross-language research, particularly focusing on the role of field assistants and interpreters, and on member checking as a method to ensure validity. Flexible irrigation infrastructure in Sibou, Kenya, and Engaruka, Tanzania, allow farmers to shift the course of water and to extend or reduce the area cultivated depending on seasonal rainfall patterns. Water conflicts are avoided through a decentralized common property management system. Water rights are continuously renegotiated depending on water supply. Water is seen as a common good the management of which is guided by mutual understanding to prevent conflicts through participation and shared information about water rights. However, participation in water management is a privilege that is endowed mostly to men. Strict patriarchal norms regulate control over water and practically exclude women from irrigation management. The control over water usage for productive means is a manifestation of masculinity. The same gender bias has emerged in recent decades as men have increased their engagement in agriculture by cultivating crops for sale. Women, because of their subordinated position, cannot take advantage of the recent livelihood diversification. Rather, the cultivation of horticultural products for sale has increased the workload for women who already farm most food crops for family consumption. In addition, they now have to weed and harvest the commercial crops that their husbands sell for profit. This agricultural gender divide is mirrored in men´s and women´s response to increased climate variability. Women intercrop as a risk adverting strategy, while men sow more rounds of crops for sale when the rain allows for it. Additionally, while discursively underestimated by men, women´s assistance is materially fundamental to maintaining of the irrigation infrastructure and to ensuring the soil fertility that makes the cultivation of crops for sale possible. In sum, this thesis highlights the adaptation potentials of contemporary smallholder irrigation systems through local common property regimes that, while not inclusive towards women, avoid conflicts generated by shifting water supply and increased climate variability. To be able to assess the success and viability of irrigation systems, research must be carried out at a local level. By studying how local water management works, how conflicts are adverted through common property regimes and how these systems adapt to socio-ecological changes, this thesis provides insights that are important both for the planning of current irrigation schemes and the rehabilitation or the extension of older systems. By investigating the factors behind the consistent marginalization of women from water management and their subordinated role in agricultural production, this study also cautions against the reproduction of these discriminatory norms in the planning of irrigation projects.

At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 4: Manuscript.

 

Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Visual Arts
Thesis (MA (VA)) -- Stellenbosch University, 2006.
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Cultural evolution & genre: an investigation of three South African graphic narratives of the South African Border war (1975-1988) Magister in Fine Arts thesis, Department of Fine Arts, Stellenbosch University This study analyses three South African graphic narratives in the context of culture evolving in the Darwinian sense. It is deemed necessary to consider evolutionary theory in such a study of graphic narratives as it considers the development of culture as resulting from a process of evolution akin to natural selection. Special attention is paid to the theory of memetics, in the field of evolutionary epistemology, and its proposal to model cultural evolution. While this model relies on evolutionary theory, the development of culture is seen as evolving separately from biological evolution. This evolutionary perspective on culture is combined with the concepts of discourse and genre in social semiotics and media studies to investigate the changes in the depiction of the Border war in South African graphic narratives. As such this study focuses on the strategic viewpoint of cultural evolution, the role of memes in genre and its interaction with the evolution of discourse. This approach is offered as a useful method to analyse cultural artefacts.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Kulturele evolusie & genre: 'n ondersoek van drie grafiese verhale van die Suid-Afrikaanse Grensoorlog (1975-1988) Magister in Beeldende Kunste tesis, Oepat1ement Beeldende Kunste, Universiteit van Stellcnbosch Hicrdie studic ontleed drie Suid-Afrikaanse graficse verhale in die konteks van kultuur wat evolueer in die Oarwinistiese sin. Oit word belangrik gereken om evolusieteorie in so 'n studie van grafiese verhale in ag te neem aangesien die ontwikkeling van kultuur as die resultaat van 'n proses van evolusie, verwand aan natuurlike seleksie, geag word. Spesiale aandag word geskenk aan die teorie van meme, in die veld van evolusieepistemologie, en die teorie se voorstel om kulturele evolusie te modelleer. Terwyl so 'n teorie op evolusieteorie steun, word die ontwikkeling van kultuur beskou as 'n afsonderlike proses van natuurlike seleksie. Hierdie evolusienere perspektief op kultuur word verenig met die konsepte van diskoers en genre in sosiale semiotiek en media studies om die veranderende uitbeelding van die Grensoorlog in Suid-Afrikaanse gratiese verhale na te vors. Sodanig fokus hierdie studie op die strategiesc oogpunt van kulturele evolusie, die rol van meme in genre en die interaksie met die ontwikkeling van diskoers. Hierdie benadering word aangebied as 'n waardevolle metode om kulturele artefakte te ontleed.

In “Marturia and the Gospel of John” the following hypothesis is investigated: Theological investigation of the ìáñôõñéá lexeme in the Gospel of John contributes significantly towards an understanding of an emerging, missional ecclesiology. The study is precipitated by the accelerated pace of change our society is currently experiencing. The technological developments of the past fifty years created a society that is totally dependent on the technology it developed. This dependence led to the developing of a new cultural paradigm in which the church is ill at home. Not only are the ecclesial structures ill-adapted to effectively minister to people who increasingly live in a different cultural milieu, but also the premises upon which itstheology is built, has increasingly come under scrutiny. The question of an emerging, missional ecclesiology is therefore not only a question of developing new ministry praxis. Neither is it a matter of reframing theological theses with new metaphors. A growing realisation exists of the need for theological research from the perspective of this developing new paradigm. Theology needs to turn to Scripture in a quest for such answers and it is proposed that a hermeneutic approach should be taken towards this investigation. This exegetical study is conducted from a New Testament perspective, specifically focusing on the Gospel of John. It is done through a sequential reading of the Gospel with special emphasis on the pericopes that contain the word-group, marturiva. Finally, the insights gathered from this study are systemized into a framework that aims to contribute towards the further development of an emerging, missional ecclesiology. It will be argued that ecclesiology serves as the integration point for reflection and practical missional ministry. As such, the church as object of investigation is the ultimate technological praxis, as the community of believers serves as the show-case of God’s presence in this world, as sacrament of his redemptive mission, and as mediator of the governance in his kingdom. Outline of the study In Chapter One attention is given to the changing cultural paradigm and the implications this holds for ministry as well as for theology. These changes are presented as the study’s research problem. The Gospel of John is also introduced as a case study in the ongoing development of an emerging, missional ecclesiology as foundational cornerstone to a postmodern theological paradigm. In Chapter Two the framework from which the hermeneutical study is undertaken, is established. A bird’s eye view of the Gospel of John is attempted and a preliminary investigation into the marturiva lexeme is also undertaken. Chapter Three investigates the testimony of John the Baptist, as recounted in John’s Gospel from John 1-4. Chapter Four reads the second part of Jesus’ public ministry, starting with John 5 and continuing until John concludes his narrative of this section of Jesus’ mission in John 12. Chapter Five studies John’s account of Jesus’ conversation with his disciples in John 13-17. It also reads John 18-21, which comprises of the Passion narrative and the Epilogue to the Gospel. In Chapter Six the matter at hand will be the development of an emerging, missional ecclesiology as a result of the exegetical study of John’s Gospel. Finally, we conclude the study by exploring some issues that need further investigation.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011.
New Testament Studies
unrestricted

The purpose of this life history qualitative study was to explore the Counter-Life Herstories of African American women faculty in U.S. Computing Education. Counter-Life Herstories are derived from Counterstories, life histories, and herstories as powerful social justice tools to uncover hidden truths about marginalized groups’ experiences. Through the collection of timelines, counter-life story interviews, and reflective journal writings, I co-constructed and interpreted the Counter-Life Herstories of five participants using an integrative conceptual framework that included critical race theory and Black feminist thought as interpretive frameworks, and Afrocentric feminist epistemology to govern my knowledge validation process. As an emerging African American woman scholar, with a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, I have a “unique angle of vision” to situate African American women’s distinctive educational experiences in the social-political context of U.S. Computing Education. In this study, I build upon limited knowledge about African American women’s experiences throughout U.S. Computing Education. My discoveries indicated unequivocally that my participants’ persistence in U.S. Computing Education was not solely based on their early positive reinforcements or strong academic preparation, but their resilience and ability to bounce back from insurmountable barriers, such as negative stereotypes and biases. This inquiry directly supports the U.S.’ national interest to diversify the Computing workforce, while revealing hidden truths about African American women’s experiences in U.S. Computing Education.

Bibliography: leaves 146-158.
This dissertation attempts to answer the question "Do the methodological and epistemological proposals of John M. Frame have anything to contribute to the construction of a contextual evangelical theology in South Africa - a theology which is both faithful to its evangelical roots and yet radically engaged with the contemporary context?" This question is dealt with in four stages. Firstly, Frame's theology is expounded against the background of its context in America. Secondly, four aspects of Frame's theology are critically evaluated. They are perspectivalism, theology as application, hermeneutics, and the relationship between theology and praxis. This evaluation has three dimensions. It investigates the relationship between Frame's theology and the historic Reformed tradition. It examines the use that is made of Frame's theology by other theologians related to the Westminster Seminaries, in particular, the work of Harvie M. Conn and Vern S. Poythress. Finally, the evaluation seeks to examine the usefulness of Frame's theology in the South African context. This analysis results in the identification of certain weaknesses in Frame's methodological proposals. The conclusion of this dissertation is that Frame's theology provides certain methodological tools which can be employed in the construction of a contextual South African theology which is both radically engaged with its context, and faithful to the core of the evangelical tradition. For this to be possible it is proposed that certain modifications need to be made to overcome the weaknesses of Frame's theology. These modifications are the following: the integration of a strongly christological approach to Frame's concept of lordship with particular reference to a theology of the cross; the affirmation that God is, in a particular way, the God of the poor and oppressed; an understanding of the accommodated and context-relatedness of biblical revelation, and the incorporation of perspectives from the sociology of knowledge.

The Bible Through African Eyes, is a comparative study of the epistemologies in primary research data from Zambia and select intra-biblical appropriations and re-appropriations of the Exodus event with a view to delineate continuities between them and to use these as a basis for African biblical hermeneutical methods. It is based on the hypothesis that the two epistemologies are similar. The thesis belongs to philosophical hermeneutics, cultural anthropology and biblical studies. The thesis addresses the imperative and identifies a basis for Africans to undertake biblical hermeneutics from African socio-cultural realities and epistemological constitution. It presumes that Modern Christian Missions to Africa were framed and propagated through a Western worldview and socio-cultural realities. It associates the historical critical method with the epistemological interests of modernity. The thesis regards the post colony as epistemological space for the once-colonised to participate in biblical scholarship from their own epistemological constitutions and social-cultural realities. Finally, it argues that epistemological continuities between the Zambian and the biblical material provide a base on which Africans can articulate biblical hermeneutic theory that is rooted in their socio-cultural realities and epistemology and is empathetic to the socio-cultural realities and epistemology in the biblical texts. The thesis will offer critical evaluation of the hermeneutics and homiletics of selected preachers in Eastern Province, Zambia, and the hermeneutics in select intra-biblical appropriations and re-appropriations of the Exodus event under the three scholarly disciplines mentioned above with a view to establish the epistemologies in them. It will compare these epistemologies to establish continuities. These continuities form the basis for articulating African biblical hermeneutical methods and establish the value of the epistemology in the Zambian data for biblical scholarship as an alternative to the ongoing hegemony of Western epistemology in biblical scholarship in Africa.

The contemporary experiences of racially marginalized people in the West are affected deeply by the hegemonic capitalist Orthodox cultural codes, or episteme, in which blackness operates as the symbol of Chaos. As it relates to people of African descent, these affects are marked by a denial of the black person's full status as an unproblematic subject, by ontological voids arising from the practice of enslavement over the past centuries, and by problems of representation within the West, where examples and points of reference for black identity are always tied up with conflicting interests. Utilizing Sylvia Wynter's model of the Ceremony as one means of describing the ways in which blacks in the West maneuver the extant psychological and philosophical perils of race in the Western world, I argue that the history of black responses to the West's ontological violence is alive and well, particularly in art forms like spoken word, where the power to define/name oneself is of paramount importance. Focusing on how art shaped black responses to ontologically debilitating circumstances, I argue that there has always existed a model for liberation within African American culture and tradition. This work takes an approach that is philosophical and theoretical in nature in order to address the wide breadth of the black experience that lies beyond the realm of statistics. The goal of this approach is to continue the work of unraveling hidden or under-discussed aspects of the black experience in order to more clearly find possibilities for addressing problems in the construction of race and marginalized people within the Western episteme. This work attempts to redefine the struggle for a healthier ontology within the framework of a process of liberation that transcends Orthodox limitations on the marginalized subject.

Este estudio parte del hecho de que todo problema científico se aborda dentro de una tradición determinada que tiene su historia particular. Es en esta tradición histórico-cultural que se plantean todos los problemas filosóficos, científicos, éticos, políticos, etc. Nunca pueden plantearse en un contexto a-histórico, en una suerte de «exilio cósmico», lingüístico, cultural o histórico. Y aun más, uno de los elementos constitutivos de la cultura, es la lengua. Ella es la matriz de todos los presupuestos con los que participamos en la aventura universal del pensamiento. En otros términos, no podemos participar en la aventura universal del pensamiento que a través de un lugar epistemológico concreto. Analizando la tradición científica africana, nos encontramos en presencia de una epistemología africana, cuyo lugar epistemológico concreto es BuKam (la cultura egipto-nubia). La cuestión que aquí se plantea, es la siguiente: ¿BuKam es realmente el criterio de fundación y de validación del pensamiento africano? Si la respuesta fuera afirmativa, aquello no podría más que relativizar les presupuestos científico-filosóficos que nos ha sido transmitido por la escuela occidental. Pues, si ignoramos los presupuestos teóricos de una tradición científica, no vamos a ningún lugar. Hay que confrontar los presupuestos con el fin de restablecer su receptividad. El juicio aquí, es lo real. ¿Lo real satisface los presupuestos filosóficos occidentales o se inclina más en la filosofía africana? Se inclina más a la africana. Los presupuestos son la base empírica de una cultura. Nuestra tesis es que la epistemología africana que se manifiesta particularmente en las obras de C. A. Diop, Th. Obenga, M. Bilolo, G. Biyogo, etc., es la fundamentación teórica de la enciclopedia del saber africano. Y la egiptología es la base sobre la cual podemos fundar una verdadera epistemología y reactivar la práctica científica en África. Además, es el horizonte en el que el pensamiento científico negroafricano recobra su significatividad y su validez histórica. En este sentido, se puede construir un corpus de ciencias humanas modernas en África. La referencia incesante a las humanidades clásicas negroafricanas, fundadas en BuKam, hace que repiense y se renueve la cultura africana moderna. Se trata de recrear África epistemológicamente. Aquí la ciencia, la filosofía y la historia (egiptología) asientan las bases sobre las que el nuevo espíritu egiptológico hace realidad una epistemología de las ciencias en África. Sin embargo, en el ejercicio de esta fundamentación, los teóricos de la epistemología africana han utilizado los presupuestos teóricos de la Occidentología (ciencia de Occidente), los cuales son ontológicos y dogmáticos. La razón reside en el presupuesto de que los hechos culturales occidentales, a través de Grecia y de Roma, tienen su origen en África, precisamente en el valle del Nilo. Además, este argumento se basa en la evidencia científica. Partiendo de la crítica pragmática del lenguaje del método de la revisitación, analizamos los textos de la tradición científica africana como el Himno de Akhenaton, el Documento filosófico de Memfis de Shabaka, el Libro de los muertos, la Biblia negra, las Enseñanzas de Ptahhotep, Merikare, Amenemope, los Textos Bantu (Assmann, Fourche, Morlinghem, Bimwenyi, Karenga), etc., donde se percibe, explícitamente, que estos textos utilizan los presupuestos del devenir (Dyalu), transformación (hpr, KiVwila), proceso (Kantu-Kaluka). Y, a su vez, dicen lo real de forma narrativa. Esta constatación nos viene de la ayuda de Tshiamalenga con quien hemos aprendido que lo real es un proceso multiforme, englobante y plural. En otros términos, la tradición BuKam, como las ciencias modernas, percibe lo real como lo Uno no-substancial y misterioso, que se transforma incesantemente en la totalidad, mientras que la tradición occidental a través de Parménides, Platón, Aristóteles, Descartes, Kant, Hartmann, Husserl, Heidegger, Sellars, Grossmann, Chisholm, Popper, Eccles, Ferrater Mora, etc., lo perciben como una yuxtaposición de substancias, unas de las cuales constituyen lo real verdadero y permanente, y otras, lo real engañoso, impermanente y fugaz. Solo Whitehead estaba en el buen camino, y en cierta medida Tales, Heráclito, Bruno, Berkeley, Bohm, Simondon, Von Wright, etc. Percibió lo real como proceso, pero lo confundió con lo que llama «actual entity» y la substancia (Dios). Perspectivas en las que trabajan actualmente las Process philosophy. Por tanto, los autores de la tradición occidental no han tratado en el problema de la substancia, y ni siquiera lo han criticado. Frege, Carnap, Hempel, Salmon, Kitcher, Van Fraassen, Quine, Tarski, Stegmüller, Hintikka, Davidson, Bunge, Putnam, Dummett, Strawson, Kripke, Habermas, Apel, Chomsky, Hacking, Laudan, etc., no se han desatado de su formación vinculada al platonismo. Además, siguen creyendo en el proyecto de Descartes y Kant. Su concepción teórica del conocimiento, se basa sobre los presupuestos del descubrimiento, esto es, de la ontología que es su referencia. Los presupuestos teóricos del conocimiento africano, se basa sobre la familiarización con lo real del que participamos (Russell también). Por tanto, es un presupuesto del proceso, de la transformación, del devenir. La familiarización con lo real, es siempre procesual. Toda realidad es procesual, eso es lo que nos enseña la nueva física (la relatividad, la gravitación cuántica, etc.), la biología molecular (los sistemas vivos no son permanentes), las matemáticas de la incompletitud, la epistemología de la complejidad (Morin). La filosofía de la substancia (Ousía) u ontología (on, ontos) es un invento de los griegos (to einai). Con ello han querido bloquear a la humanidad en un callejón sin salida al oponerse a los presupuestos del proceso. La ontología ha inventado la teodicea (Leibniz, Kagame, Lufuluabo, Elungu, etc.) fabricando los atributos de Dios (omnipresente, omnipotente, inmutable, bueno). Es algo terrible e increible. Los africanos hablan engendramiento y genealogía. Lo proceso es genealogía. Proponemos a que se revisite los presupuestos teóricos y eventualmente modificarlos. El árbol es conocido por frutos, reza el principio del pragmatismo, y la duda se verifica en la acción (Peirce, James, Wittgenstein). Los presupuestos vienen de la lengua que utiliza cada investigador. Y la lengua contiene millones y millones de presupuestos no fundados, por tanto, gratuitos. Wittgenstein hizo la experiencia al preguntar por las funciones del lenguaje y su filosofía cambió. Platón dice que los que han inventado la lengua eran unos ebrios. Pensar que lo real es una cosa, entidad, esencia o substancia, basho (Nishida, Tanabe y la escuela de Kyoto), es un presupuesto gratuito. La experiencia científica y los textos de la tradición africana, hablan de realidades que aparecen y desaparecen como la materia en física. Hablan de lo Un (Wa) que deviene Múltiple (hh). Lo real es proceso, fluctuación, transformación, devenir, movimiento. Lo real es el nombre que damos al proceso de nuestra percepción, a la manifestación fluctuante del devenir incesante que engloba el cosmos, lo divino y lo humano. Esta es la revolución pendiente para un filosofar de otro modo: socavar los presupuestos gratuitos en todos los ámbitos de la investigación científica. Quine dice que la investigación científica se basa sobre los enunciados de observación que son la base empírica de la ciencia, y que la filosofía es una actividad continua con la ciencia. Compartimos esta tesis. Simplemente añadir que, la actividad de la filosofía también es recursiva (Moulines), y debe socavar los presupuestos gratuitos. Además, la actividad filosófica ha de revisitar los presupuestos maâticos (Maât, Meyi) para repensar una nueva humanidad, y nuevas relaciones entre las culturas y las instituciones internacionales, con el fin de hacer triunfar la civilización sobre la barbarie.
The study starts from the fact that every scientific problem is approached from a certain tradition which has its own history. It´s in that historical-cultural tradition where philosophical, scientific, ethic, and other problems are set up. They never could be set up in a non historical context, a kind of “cosmic, linguistic, cultural or historic exile”. And even more: one of the culture constitutive parts is the language. It is all presuppositions matrix that take part in the universal adventure of the thought. In other words, we only can participate in that adventure from a specific epistemological place. When analyzing the African scientific tradition we find ourselves in front of an epistemology the place of which is precisely BuKam (Egyptian-Nubian culture). The question that here arises is the following one: Is really BuKam the place of the foundational criterium that also gives validation to the African thought? If the reply were positive it would only could play down scientific-philosophical presupposition transmitted to us by Western school. So, if we don´t know the theoretical presuppositions of a scientific tradition we cannot move forward. It´s necessary to compare presuppositions in order to restore their receptiveness. Here the judgment is the reality. Does reality satisfy Western presuppositions or leans towards African philosophy? Presuppositions are the empirical basis of a culture. My thesis on African epistemology is specially expressed in the works of C. A. Diop, Th. Obenga, M. Bilolo, G. Biyogo and other authors that are the African knowledge formation. And Egyptology is the basis on which we can create a real Epistemology and give new life to the scientific practice in Africa. In addition, it opens new horizons in which the scientific thought in Black Africa recovers its significative character and historical validity. The continuous reference to classical Black-African humanities, founded in BuKam, makes possible a new thought and a renewal of African modern culture. The question is an Africa recreation from the point of view of epistemology. At this point science, philosophy and history (Egyptology) lay down the basis on which the new egyptological spirit undertakes a science epistemology in Africa. However, while creating this foundation, the theorists of African epistemology have been using the theoretical assumptions of Western science which are ontological and dogmatic. The reason lies on the idea that Western cultural facts, through Greece and Rome, find their origin in Africa, precisely in the Nile valley. In addition this Argument is based on the scientific evidence. Starting from language pragmatic criticism re-visitation method, I analyze African texts of scientific tradition as The Great Hymn to the Aten, The Shabaka Stone (Memphis Philosophical Document), The Egyptian Book of the Dead, The Black Bible, The Maxims of Ptahhotep, Merikare, Amenemope, The Bantu Texts (Assmann, Fourche, Morlinghem, Bimwenyi, Karenga), and so on, in which we can notice that the Becoming (Dyalu), transformation (hpr, KiVwila), process (Kantu-Kaluka) presuppositions have been explicitly used. And in turn, those texts tell the reality in a narrative way. This noticing has been got thanks to Tshiamalenga with whom I´ve learnt that the reality is a multiform encompassing and diversing process. In other words, BuKam tradition, as modern sciences perceives the reality as a non-substantial and mysterious One, which is transformed continuously into the Totality, while Western tradition through Parmenides, Plato, Aristotle, Descartes, Kant, Hartmann, Husserl, Heidegger, Sellars, Grossmann, Chisholm, Popper, Eccles, Ferrater Mora, etc., perceive reality as a juxtaposition of substances; some of them constitute the reality, true and permanent, and others constitute a misleading reality, impermanent, fleeting. Only Whitehead was on the right way (Thales, Heraclites, Bruno, Berkeley, Bohm, Simondon, Von Wright, were also somehow once right way). He perceived the reality as a process but he mixed up what he called “actual entity” and the substance (God). The Process Philosophy is working now under this perspective. So the Western traditional authors neither dealt with the substance problem nor they criticized it. Frege, Carnap, Hempel, Salmon, Kitcher, Van Fraassen, Quine, Tarski, Stegmüller, Hintikka, Davidson, Bunge, Putnam, Dummett, Strawson, Kripke, Habermas, Apel, Chomsky, Hacking, Laudan, etc., didn´t separate themselves from their academic education linked to Platonism. In addition they still believe in Descartes and Kant projects. Their theoretical conception of knowledge is based on the presuppositions of discovery, what means on the ontology which is their reference. African theoretical presuppositions are based on the familiarization with the reality (as well as Russell). Therefore the African thought start from an assumption of process, Becoming, transformation. The familiarization with reality is always related to a process. The whole reality is related to it; that´s what we learn from the new Physics (relativity, quantum gravitation, etc.), molecular biology (living systems are not permanent), mathematics of incompleteness, epistemology of the complexity (Morin). The philosophy of substance (Ousia), or Ontology (on, ontos) is a Greek invention (to einai). By it the Greeks wanted to block the humanity in a cul-de-sac with no way out by being against the process presuppositions. The ontology invented the theodicy (Leibniz, Kagame, Lufuluabo, Elungu, etc.) by building God´s attributes (omnipresent, omnipotent, immutable, good). It´s something terrible and incredible. African people speak about engendering and genealogy. What is process is genealogy. I propose our own presuppositions to be revisited and by chance to be modified. “The tree is known by its fruits”, that´s what is stated by the pragmatism principle, and the doubt is checked in the action (Peirce, James, Wittgenstein). The presuppositions come from the language used by each researcher. And the language contains millions and millions not justified presuppositions, hence gratuitous. Wittgenstein experienced it by inquiring about the language functions and then his philosophy changed. Plato says that those who invented the language were drunk people. Thinking that the reality is something, an entity, an essence or a substance, Basho (Nishida, Tanabe and The Kyoto School) is gratuitous presupposition. African scientific experience and the texts of its tradition tell about realities that appear and disappear as the physical material. They tell us about the One (Wa) which becomes multiple (hh). Which is real is a process, fluctuation, transformation, continuous evolution, movement. Real is the name I give to our perception process, to the incessant evolution fluctuant appearance which includes the cosmos, the divine and the human. This is the revolution we are waiting to see for another philosophy: it ruins the gratuitous presuppositions of all the areas of scientific research. Quine says that scientific research is based on the observation statements, which are the empirical basis of science, and philosophy is a continuous activity of science. I agree with his thesis. I would only add that the philosophical activity is also recursive (Moulines), and has to undermine the gratuitous presuppositions. In addition, the philosophical activity should revisit the Maât (Meyi) presuppositions in order to reconsider a new humanity, and new relationship between cultures and international institutions to make civilization triumph over barbarity.

AFRIKAANS: In hierdie studie word daar na die narratiewe van Suid-Afrikaans gebore immigrante, wat hulself in Brisbane, Australië, gevestig het, geluister. Die plaaslike konteks word in die gereformeerde gemeente van Mansfield gevind en die ontwikkeling van diensbare leierskap word beskryf as deel van die kultuur van die gemeente wat fokus op die nood van immigrante. Die navorsing vind plaas vanuit ‘n epistemologie wat uit ‘n narratiewe benadering vloei. Die post-fundamentele teologiese posisionering inkorporeer die sosiale konstruksionisme, met die doel om ‘n dieper verstaan van die narratiewe navorsing te bewerkstellig. Die praxis word as die beginpunt van navorsing in hierdie post-fundamentele prakties-teologiese studie gesien. Die gevolg is dat eerstehandse kennis opgedoen en geïnterpreteer word deurdat die verhale van mede-navorsers aangehoor en beskryf word. Die plaaslike geloofsgemeenskap in Mansfield bied in-kontekstuele ervaringe wat deur die mede-navorsers vertel word en wat deur die tradisies van interpretasie beïnvloed word. Hierdie ervaringe word deur die aanstelling van respondente vanuit verskillende vakgebiede verder geïnterpreteer en betekenis word aan die verhale gegee in ‘n inter-dissiplinêre gesprek. Die inter-dissiplinêre gesprek word vanuit die teorie van transversale rasionaliteit gestimuleer en ‘n relevante literatuurstudie komplementeer die navorsingsproses en word in die studie geïntegreer. Aan die einde van die navorsingsproses word alternatiewe interpretasies en voorstelle gemaak wat dui op die konteks groter as net die plaaslike. Die navorsingsproses word dus ontwikkel vanuit ‘n post-fundamentele teologiese posionering met die doel om die narratiewe van immigrante aan die orde te stel. Hierdie narratiewe word geïnterpreteer en ‘n dieper verstaan word ontwikkel deurdat sekere diskoerse geïdentifiseer word deur ‘n proses van dekonstruksie. Kritiese vrae word gevra en die spesifieke temas vanuit die verhale word bespreek met die doel om die werklikheid van immigrasie te beskryf soos wat die mede-navorsers dit beleef. Die taalkwessie en hoe taal aangewend word om betekenis aan verhale te gee word bespreek. Die eie interpretasies van mede-navorsers word in opvolggesprekke getoets en die verhale word hierdeur toegelaat om te ontwikkel. Die geloofstaal en die taal van die twyfel van immigrante word aangehoor ten einde hulle belewenisse van die teenwoordigheid van God in hulle lewens tydens immigrasie te verstaan. Die ontwikkeling van Diensbare Leierskap word as ‘n natuurlike uitvloeisel van die immigrasieproses bespreek. Die immigrante beleef die diensbaarheid van die leiers in die gemeente van Mansfield positief. Hierdie studie vertel die verhale van immigrante wat deur die diensbaarheid van ander, self ook die kultuur van diensbaarheid aanneem en deelneem aan omgee-aksies om ander immigrante te bedien. Die literatuur oor diensbare leierskap wys self-leierskap, leierskap in spanverband, leierskapontwikkeling en strategiese leierskap uit as kritiese areas in die ontwikkeling van diensbare leierskap. Die gevolgtrekking op hierdie studie is dat diensbare leierskap as ‘n integrale deel van gelowige immigrasie verstaan word en dat dit intensioneel deel vorm van die leierskapkultuur in ‘n immigrant-vriendelike gemeente. Die voorstel wat hieruit voortvloei is dat verskillende gemeentes en kerkverbande kan baat by die aanwending van diensbare leierskap binne die konteks van immigrasie. ENGLISH: In this study narratives of immigration are listened to and described from the local context of the Christian Reformed Church, Mansfield in Brisbane, Australia. The development of servant leadership is described as part of the culture of the congregation. The congregation focuses on the needs of immigrants as an immigrant-friendly church. The research approach in this study flows from an epistemology based on a narrative theory. The post foundational approach incorporates social constructionism as part of the process in exploring a deeper meaning of the stories told by immigrants. Within this framework of post foundational practical theology, the praxis is the starting point of research. This consists of local knowledge, described and interpreted by the co-researchers and informed by traditions of interpretation. The experiences of co-researchers are interpreted on a second level with the appointment of four interdisciplinary respondents. The respondents take part in an interdisciplinary conversation and they each contribute from their field of experience. This is done by using transversal rationality and the in-context experiences are thickened through interdisciplinary investigation. Furthermore, a study of relevant literature is introduced and added to the conversation. At the end of the research process some suggestions and alternative interpretations that point beyond the local context, are made. The research process is therefore developed from a post foundational theological positioning with the aim of describing immigration narratives and interpreting these narratives in order to facilitate a deeper knowledge and insight into the immigration process. Different discourses will be explored by asking critical questions and using a process of deconstruction. The in-context experiences of co-researchers are the primary narrative and their interpretations of experiences will be studied. The language of co-researchers and how they use language will be discussed. Their own interpretations will be used as discussion points in follow up conversations and their narratives will therefore be allowed into a process of growth. Their language, pointing to their experience of the presence of God as well as their language of doubt in the process of immigration will be listened to. Servant leadership will be discussed as an integral part of immigration for believers. The stories of the co-researchers reveal servant leadership in many different forms as part of the culture of the congregation in Mansfield. The narratives show the co-researchers becoming part of the ministry of servant leaders in the congregation. Co-researchers experience the influence of the servant leadership of others in their lives and tell stories of how their needs as immigrants are met by the servant leaders in the congregation. The literature on servant leadership points to self leadership, team leadership, leadership development and strategic leadership as relevant themes to be explored. The conclusion of this study shows servant leadership as an integral part of immigration and that an intentional focus on a culture of servanthood will benefit an immigration friendly congregation. The proposal following from this study is to engage other congregations and churches in a conversation on the effect of servant leadership within the context of immigration.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2011.
Practical Theology
unrestricted

There is lack of evidence on which of the two highly recommended malaria prevention methods, insecticide treated bednets and indoor residual spraying, is more effective than the other. There is also limited peer reviewed literature that compares the characteristics of people who use the two malaria prevention methods. Based on the Health Belief Model, the research questions tested whether there is any relationship between the use of mosquito bednet or the use of indoor residual spraying and contracting malaria, and whether there is any relationship between sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors and the use of malaria prevention methods. Using a quantitative research design, secondary data from the 2011 Angola malaria indicator survey were analyzed. Chi-square for association, logistic regression, and multinomial logistic regression tests were used. There was no statistically significant association between the use of mosquito bednet and having malaria. However, the use of indoor residual spraying significantly reduced the likelihood of getting malaria. There was also a statistically significant association between place of residence, wealth index, level of education, and number of household members and using mosquito bednet and between wealth index and using indoor residual spraying. In conclusion, the malaria prevention programs should focus on indoor residual spraying. It is recommended that all households in southern Africa malaria prone areas should be regularly sprayed. The findings of this study contribute to positive social change in the sense that by using more effective malaria prevention method, individuals will be able to function normally on daily basis, save on expenses related to employment loses or treatment and care of the sick, as well as loss of life and improve own economic status.

Doctor Pharmaceuticae - Dpharm
The brain laterality of pharmacists may influence where the pharmacists are best suited to work. Brain laterality refers to the asymmetry of the hemispheres of the brain with regard to specific cognitive functions, such as objectivity and emotion. The left hemisphere functions objectively and rationally, whereas the right hemisphere is subjective and non-rational. Animal behaviour in the literature demonstrated an influence of brain laterality, thus selecting an ideal work environment may also be driven by brain laterality bias. Further support for the research included: amblyopia; hemiplegia; the WADA test. The research question investigated the matching of the brain laterality groups of pharmacists to their ideal work environments. The aims investigated: ear, eye, hand and foot dominance in determining brain laterality; influence of brain laterality and reductionistic variables on job choice; location of emotion generation and job choice. Five objectives investigated these aims: influence of brain laterality alone; influence of brain laterality and reductionistic variables; influence of a new brain laterality determining continuum; Propinquity Principle in achieving data; correctness of the Right Hemisphere Theory (RHT) or the Valence Theory (VT). The RHT suggests that the right hemisphere is dominant in processing all emotion. The VT argues that the left hemisphere is specialised in processing the positive emotions while the right hemisphere is specialised in processing the negative emotions. The resulting Null Hypothesis posits that there is no statistical difference between the different brain laterality groups enabling pharmacists to work competently in any placement. The Alternative Hypothesis was that there is a statistical difference between the brain laterality groups, thus brain laterality can be used to best place pharmacists into ideal placements.

Bibliography: pages 67-72.
The work presented here is a bounded excerpt of a broader programme of creative endeavour. Framed by the constraints of the MFA degree , the special value of this project has been the opportunity it has presented to articulate some of the ideas that have developed over a period of time and have informed my working process. The theme of mining and related activities forms the visible field in which I have extended my formal pictorial methodology . The visual primacy and corporeality of form in painting have been the enabling vehicles assisting me to re - code selected iconography. The genealogy of this form and its development is chronologically traced in three groups of work preceding the body of work executed for the MFA.

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, Departamento de Antropologia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Antropologia Social, 2017.
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Partindo de trabalho desenvolvido em um terreiro de candomblé em Santarém/Pa o Ilê Asé Oto Sindoyá, pude perceber que, por diversas vezes, a palavra conhecimento é acionada pelos afro-religiosos, especialmente as lideranças dessa casa, para se referir ao conjunto de elementos ligados ao modo como conduzem suas práticas, como experienciam o mundo, como se relacionam uns com os outros e com suas divindades. Considerando essa experiência, no presente trabalho tomo como objetivo central buscar compreender em quais termos terreiros de religiões de matriz africana se configuram espaços não apenas de práticas religiosas, mas de articulações de saberes. A proposta é expandir a reflexão acerca do que é considerado “saber”, no sentido de ir além do que é prescrito nos cânones da academia. Procedendo com uma reflexão acerca das matrizes de pensamento dominantes e de como estas impactam e se relacionam com a diversidade de conhecimentos que são erigidos, reproduzidos, recriados dentro de um terreiro, que tendem a ser invisibilizados e marginalizados.
On the basis of work undertaken at a terreiro de candomblé, in Santarém/Pa the Ilê Asé Oto Sindoyá, I realized that, on several occasions, the word knowledge is driven by the afro-religiosos, especially the leaders of this house, to refer to the set of elements related to how they lead their practices, such as experiencing the world, how they relate to each other and to their deities. Considering this experience, in this work I take as its central objective to seek to understand in what terms terreiros of religions of the afro-brazilian are spaces not only of religious practices, but joints of knowledges. The proposal is to expand the discussion about what is considered "know", in the sense of going beyond what is prescribed in the canons of the academy. Proceeding with a reflection on the matrices of dominant thought and how these impact and relate to the diversity of knowledge that are erected, reproduced, recreated inside a terreiro, which tend to be invisible and marginalized.

Discussions with members of the Dutch Reformed Church and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa in Ohrigstad, illustrate the possibilities of ubuntu language in dealing with misunderstanding and distrust. This research utilises a narrative approach, based on a postmodern epistemology and pastoral practical theology that explores ubuntu language as a helpful discourse. It engages the context of these two churches in Ohrigstad and investigates experiences and challenges within the local community. The local experiences are described against the broader history of the Dutch Reformed Church and the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa, which the Ohrigstad churches are imbedded in. Individual narrative research conversations with church members in Ohrigstad display a longstanding relationship with stories of trust and distrust. This culminates into a group discussion that explores the role of ubuntu language - and at times the lack thereof - in the concrete relationship between these two faith communities as an expression of recent South African history. The conversations offer local knowledge which displays both unique outcomes by strengthening identity, unleashing potential, celebrating diversity, awakening solidarity, revealing humanity, bolstering responsibility and enhancing Christianity, and it also deconstructs oppressive discourses including race and otherness, rich and poor, and language. The research offers an approach to deal with distrust and misunderstanding on grass roots level, using insights gained from ubuntu language.
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2016.
Practical Theology
PhD
Unrestricted

Dissertação (mestrado)—Universidade de Brasília, Instituto de Ciências Humanas, Departamento de História, Programa de Pós-graduação em História, 2016.
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A historiografia sobre Congo e Angola do século XVI ao XVIII frequentemente utilizou os relatos de missionários que vivenciaram a região nesse período, principalmente a história mais “tradicional” das décadas de 1940 e 1950. Durante a década de 1960 essas fontes deixaram de receber atenção devido à história oral que despontava no ambiente acadêmico como forma de reescrever uma história africana que falasse por si. Mas, rapidamente na década de 1970 e 1980 a historiografia volta-se mais uma vez para esses registros na tentativa de recriar uma percepção sobre o passado. Desde então, o modelo interpretativo que prevaleceu consistia em limpar as poeiras do etnocentrismo dessas narrativas a fim de deixar mais nítidos os elementos históricos da fonte. Recentemente, porém, surgem outras vias de interpretação para os registros missionários considerando suas descrições sobre o “espírito volátil” dos africanos como sendo, no fundo, um sintoma da rigidez e plasticidade dos próprios sistemas cosmológicos centro-africanos. Estudamos as diferentes abordagens historiográficas buscando compreender como esses sucessivos modelos teórico-metodológicos competem por uma melhor descrição da alteridade africana. Ao mesmo tempo em que circunscrevemos as formas pelas quais são operados e construídos os saberes sobre África. _____________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT
The historiography of Congo and Angola between sixteenth-eighteenth century often used the reports of missionaries who experienced on region in this period, especially the "traditional" history of the 1940s and 1950. Among the 1960s these sources don’t left received attention because of the to oral history that was rising in the academics studies as a way to rewrite an African history to speak for itself’s. But, in the 1970s and 1980s the historiography turns back, once more, to these records in an attempt to recreate a perception about the past. Since then, the interpretative model who prevailed has consisted in attempting to clean the dust of the ethnocentrism of these narratives in order to make clearer the historical elements of the source. Recently, however, rise other ways of interpretation the missionaries records considering his descriptions about the "volatile spirit" of Africans as being, in essence, a symptom of rigor and plasticity of the own cosmological systems in Central African systems.We have studied the different historiographical approaches trying to understand how these successive theoric-methodological models are competing for a better description of the African alterity. At the same time while we contain the roles in which they have controlled and built the knowledge about Africa.

By 2010, it is projected that there will be 25 million orphans worldwide. It is anticipated that 2.3 million children will be orphaned due to AIDS in South Africa by 2020. Traditionally, the extended family has absorbed most people affected by the disease but there is a growing concern that families are finding it increasingly difficult to cope, perhaps reaching saturation point. In the absence of alternatives, some children end up living alone in child-headed households (CHHs), the numbers of which are rising at an alarming rate. Despite the increase in this living arrangement research is scarce on the psychosocial consequences of AIDS related orphanhood. This is more evident concerning very young orphans living in CHHs. This qualitative study explores psychosocial issues pertaining to young orphans living in CHHs from an ecosystemic perspective. Four participants, who worked in various capacities for two non-governmental organisations, were interviewed in-depth about their experiences of working with young orphans. The conversations were subjected to an interpretive analysis where, in collaboration with the participants, central themes and sub-themes were identified. Eleven main themes emerged from the analysis: why children live in child-headed households; issues surrounding the death of a parent; experiences of a young child living in a child-headed household; the experience of living in a child-headed household; stigma; relationships with relatives; relationships with peers; relationships with crèches and teachers; relationships with the community; relationships with non-governmental organisations; and relationship to government and essential services. Based on an integration of the findings, a model was presented depicting the ecosytemic factors affecting the very young child living in a CHH. Copyright
Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010.
Psychology
unrestricted

Partant de la volonté de nous libérer de définitions techniques, technicistes ou produites dans la sociologiede l’appropriation sociale des usages des TIC afin de qualifier les usages de l’Internet par des organisations defemmes ou féministes en Afrique, nous avons privilégié dans cette thèse les travaux théoriques portant sur lepatriarcat et sur la colonialité du pouvoir (ensemble des relations sociales caractérisées par la subalternité –hiérarchisation entre dominants et dominés – produite par l’expansion du capitalisme). Ce parti pris nous apermis de poser un cadre d’analyse opératoire ne plaquant pas des analyses théoriques occidentales, sudaméricainesou asiatiques sur l’Afrique. Il a facilité la façon dont nous avons problématisé la relation entredomination masculine et domination liée à la colonialité de pouvoir, que nous avons nommée colonialitaire,dans un contexte de mondialisation et d’hypermodernité. Les manifestations différenciées de cette relation enAfrique du Sud et au Sénégal nous ont aidé à circonscrire le terrain et le contexte à partir desquels lesorganisations de femmes et féministes locales utilisent ou non l’Internet. La confrontation de leursreprésentations avec le cadre conceptuel est devenue informative et s’est avérée indispensable afin de qualifier lapolitisation de leurs usages. Il nous est ainsi apparu que l’Internet cristallise parmi les technologies del’information et de la communication un moyen par lequel la « société de l’information » est le produit comme laproduction d’une mondialisation hypermoderne où la colonialité du pouvoir et le patriarcat, en tant quesystèmes, s’exercent conjointement. Cette conjonction s’exprime par les biais théorique autant qu’empirique.Notamment nous avons observé que l’épistémologie utilisée dans ce cadre renoue avec des constructionstraditionnalistes, nationalistes, paternalistes et masculinistes des savoirs en écho à ce que permet cet outil :l’accélération de l’appropriation du corps des femmes, la surenchère rhétorique et politique des dominants,l’institutionnalisation des concepts, l’occidentalisation des pensées, les privatisations en tous secteurs, lesconcurrences croisées de l’Occident, l’Extrême et le Moyen-Orient sur les terrains tant économique, politiqueque socioculturel, religieux. Il est alors apparu que les inégalités de genre s’aggravent en même temps que lesidentités sexuelles à tous les niveaux (État, institutions, population) deviennent souterraines et que les rapportsdifférenciés de « race » et de classe se creusent. Fort de ce constat, nos analyses nous ont mené à réaliser que lesfemmes de « la base » se retrouvent en situation d’accentuer la prise en charge immédiate de la gestion del’urgence (augmentation de la pauvreté, des violences, diminution de l’accès aux ressources, à la santé, àl’éducation…), parfois d’accepter leur subalternité tout en la négociant auprès des dominants. Aussi, peu à peu
With our initial intention to be liberated from the definitions — technical, technocratic or thoseemanating from the sociology of the social appropriation of ICT uses — in order to analyze the usage of theInternet in women’s and feminist organizations in Africa, we focused in this thesis on theoretical workrelating to patriarchy and the coloniality of power (totality of social relations characterized by subalternity —hierarchization between the dominants and the dominated — produced by the expansion of capitalism.) Thisposition enabled us to establish a working analytical framework without imposing Western, South Americanor Asian theoretical analyses on Africa. It also facilitated how we expressed the problematic of therelationship between male domination and the domination inherent in the coloniality of power, which wehave called “colonialtairian” in the context of globalization and hypermodernity. The differentiatedmanifestations of this relationship in South Africa and Senegal helped us delineate the field and contextwithin which local women’s or feminist organizations use or don’t use the Internet. Comparing theirrepresentations within the conceptual framework proved edifying and indispensable in determining thepoliticization of their use. It thus became apparent that among the information and communicationtechnologies, the Internet crystallizes one means by which the “Information Society” is both the product andthe production of a hypermodern globalization in which the systems of coloniality of power and patriarchyfunction conjointly. This conjunction is clearly evidenced both theoretically and empirically. Especiallynoteworthy is that the epistemology used in this context reconnects to traditionalistic, nationalistic,paternalistic and male constructions of knowledge echoing what this tool facilitates: a rapid increase of theappropriation of women’s bodies, the dominants’ rhetorical and political grandstanding, theinstitutionalization of concepts, the Westernization of thought, privatization in all sectors and criss-crossingcompetition throughout the West, the Far East and Middle East in economic, political, socio-cultural andreligious areas. It then appeared that gender inequalities worsen at the same time as sexual identities on alllevels (state, institutions, population) are buried away, while differentiated “race” and class relationshipsbecome more pronounced

L’Afrique subsaharienne se présente, involontairement, comme une région en proie à une succession de crises, de conflits, de guerres civiles. Ces externalités négatives de l’instabilité socio-politique s’appréhendent, souvent, par le truchement du rite jaculatoire causal. D’où, les vocables « ethnies », « identité » – lorsqu’il n’est pas question de sous-développement, ou de l’injection du déficit démocratique –, auprès des commentateurs, sont, de façon cursive, convoqués pour expliquer le désordre perçu. Ainsi, les événements de 1994 au Rwanda sont ramenés à un conflit – « ethnique » – Hutu/Tutsi; négligeant par voie de conséquence l’acuité de la complexité de la réalité, ou à défaut, celle de la convergence de variables. Et pourtant, en descendant dans cette profondeur cognitive, tout observateur constaterait que l’instabilité socio-politique en Afrique subsaharienne reste une construction dans le temps et dans l’espace, optimisée par l’impénitent désir de pouvoir des acteurs politiques. Les structures historiques, loin d’être de véritables déterminants, participent à la construction sociale de la réalité porteuse d’idées, de règles et de pratiques représentationnelles qui érigent la nécessaire grammaire du bouleversement social. Nos présents travaux, non seulement, viennent examiner les causes habituellement avancées, mais s’opposent également aux arguments culturalistes mobilisés pour l’explication ou la compréhension de l’instabilité socio-politique en Afrique subsaharienne. C’est pourquoi, nous retenons que la justesse scientifique afférente à la compréhension du mouvement mécanistique socio-politique en Afrique subsaharienne est fonction du mode de connaissance de la réalité perçue. Par conséquent, nous estimons que l’instabilité socio-politique en Afrique subsaharienne, est un processus dynamique évolutif qui, nonobstant le désordre structurel, tend vers une stationnarité relative, puis absolue avant l’avènement de la stabilité
Subsaharan Africa presents itself, involuntarily, like an area in the grip of a succession of crises, conflicts, civil wars. These negative externalities of sociopolitical instability are apprehended, often, by the means of the causal ritual. That's why, the terms "ethnic group", "identity" - when it isn't question of underdevelopment, or the injection of democratic deficit - near the commentators, in a cursory mention, are convened to explain the perceived disorder. Thus, the events of 1994 in Rwanda are brought back to a "ethnic" conflict Hutu/Tutsi; negleging consequently the acuity of the complexity of reality or failing this, that of the convergence of variables. And yet, while going down in this cognitive depth, any observer would note that sociopolitical instability in subsaharan Africa remains a construction in time and space, optimized by the unrepentant desire of power of the political actors. The historical structures, far from being true determinants, take part in the social construction of reality carrying ideas, rules, and practices representational which set up the necessary grammar of the social upheaval. Our present work, not only comes to examine the usually advanced causes, but is also opposed to the culturalist arguments mobilized for the explanation or the comprehension of sociopolitical instability in subsaharan Africa. This is why, we retain that the scientific accuracy related with the comprehension of sociopolitical mechanisitc movement in subsaharan Africa is function of the mode of knowledge of perceived reality. Consequently, we estimate that sociopolitical instability in subsaharan Africa, is an evolutionary dynamic process which, notwhithstanding, the strutural disorder, strives for a relative stationnarity, then absolute before the advent of stability

Bien que la didactique du français langue étrangère ne soit reconnue comme telle que vers 1960, ses prémices sont à chercher dans les années d’après-guerre, période d’une rénovation en profondeur de la politique culturelle française à l’extérieur et de l’enseignement de la langue. À l’instigation conjointe du ministère des Affaires étrangères, des acteurs privés de la diffusion du français, des organisations de coopération culturelle internationale (Conseil de l’Europe et Unesco) et des pays francophones nouvellement indépendants, se répand dans le champ du FLE l’idéologie d’un français utile, pratique, courant – vivant, en somme – supplantant celle du français langue de culture qui tendait à se scléroser en même temps que l’image de la civilisation française. Pourtant, loin d’opposer ces deux idéologies linguistiques – français langue de culture / langue pratique – le champ du FLE va chercher à les concilier. Grâce à la déterritorialisation du français et à l’ouverture à l’altérité linguistique qui la caractérise, la francophonie fait figure de creuset à la fois pragmatique et humaniste qui donne un souffle nouveau au mythe messianique et universel du français
Even though French as a Foreign Language was acknowledged as a science only in the late 1950’s, its first fruits are to be sought in the post Second World War years, when a great renovation took place in the French cultural policy and the teaching of French. At the instigation of the Foreign Office, private protagonists of the French dissemination, international organisations for cultural cooperation (European Council and UNESCO), and newly independent francophone countries, is spread in that field the idea of an efficient, pragmatic and vivid French language, supplanting the one of a cultural language, which tended to ossify as well as the image of French civilisation itself. Nevertheless, far from opposing these two ideologies, the French as a Foreign Language field is going to try and conciliate them. Thanks to the exteritorialisation of French and to the interest for alterity that goes with it, francophony appears as the pragmatic and humanist melting-pot which revitalizes the universal messianic myth of French

Cette présente étude répond aux trois questions de recherche suivantes : Y-a-t-il une épistémologie africaine (francophone) ? Comment la méthodologie de la recherche littéraire se définit-elle ? Quelles sont les méthodes exactes employées par la recherche littéraire dans un contexte africain ? En nous appuyant sur l’oeuvre philosophique de Paulin J. Hountondji nous avons développé un concept de savoir africain. En l’absence des théories africaines sur la recherche littéraire nous recourrons aux théories formulées dans un contexte européen, par des chercheurs tels que Kathrin Busch, Ivan Jablonka et Corina Caduff. Ensuite, quatre oeuvres littéraires africaines, Wala Bok. Une histoire orale du hip hop au Sénégal de Fatou Kandé Senghor, Bribes d’une vie nigériane de Françoise Ugochukwu, La Gloire des imposteurs, lettres sur le Mali et l’Afrique d’Aminata Dramane Traoré et de Boubacar Boris Diop et Bogo. Notes de travail chez des potières à Bamako d’Emmanuelle Samson ont été analysées pour identifier les méthodes exactes employées par la recherche littéraire en Afrique.
This study answers the following three research questions : Does an African (francophone) epistemology exist ? How is the methodology of literary research defined ? What are the exact methods used by literary research in Africa ? Building on the philosophical work of Paulin J. Hountondji we develop a concept of African knowledge. In the absence of African theories of literary research we call upon European theories proposed by researchers such as Kathrin Busch, Ivan Jablonka and Corina Caduff. Next, four literary works, Wala Bok. Une histoire orale du hip hop au Sénégal by Fatou Kandé Senghor, Bribes d’une vie nigériane by Françoise Ugochukwu, La Gloire des imposteurs, lettres sur le Mali et l’Afrique by Aminata Dramane Traoré and Boubacar Boris Diop and Bogo. Notes de travail chez des potières à Bamako by Emmanuelle Samson are analyzed to identify the exact literary research methods used in Africa.

This thesis is an ethnography of mhande dance as a dynamic phenomenon that enunciates Karanga belief and normative values that are enacted through performance of mhande dance in its chief indigenous contexts: the kurova guva (settling the spirit of the dead) and the mutoro (rain making) rituals. Approached from an emic perspective, the study draws data from field research conducted between 2008 and 2010 among the rural Karanga of Shurugwi District in Zimbabwe. This study is an explication of mhande dance which provides the reader with cognitive understanding of the indigenous spiritual dance that embraces music, dance and gestures. The dance features both symbolize and spiritualize Karanga culture. Karanga scheme of reality (chivanhu) embodies two worlds: the natural and the supernatural in which the natural is explained by the supernatural. The supernatural is the world of the spirits with God (Mwari) being the Supreme Spirit. According to the Karanga, the deceased become spirit beings that maintain the quality of life of their human nature. Thus the Karanga spiritual world is populated with good and bad spirits where the good are referred to as ancestors (vadzimu) and the bad are identified differently; for example, sorcerers (varoyi) , alien (mashavi) and avenging spirits (ngozi). The Karanga believe in God who they venerate through their ancestors. Ancestors are empowered to overcome bad spirits and hence their siblings appease them in order that the spirits assist the humans to deal with challenges of life for which the natural world provides no solution. Karanga reality of the existence of spiritual beings is made to be a part of everyday life through the conduct of spiritual ritual ceremonies: kurova guva and mutoro wherein the performance of mhande dance occasions spirit possession. Thus, through its efficacious and symbolic features, mhande dance is experienced reality of Karanga epistemology (chikaranga).
Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2011.

During eighteen months of ethnographic fieldwork in the suburbs of southwest Houston, Texas I examined the ways in which White upper class students, teachers, administrators, and parents think about race. As a result of exploring racial language, racial discourse, and racial texts in two US history textbooks, classroom lectures and activities, students' conversations and interviews, and local parents' political organizing, I explored the ways in which White people often think about, construct, and employ race. More specifically I learned the ways in which the White elite residents of this particular suburb know race. I am calling their way of knowing race a "White epistemology of race." I demonstrate how this White epistemology of race has informed, shaped, and guided this particular White community's attitudes toward their own education and residential resources as well as the education and residential resources of their Black and Brown intra-district peers. This dissertation aims to theorize the White epistemology of race and show it to be the unyielding source of a White "redemptive" ideology that is supported and created by the deployment of certain racialized discourses that insist and depend upon representations of Black cultural pathology.
text

This study sought to investigate the alleged problem of &lsquo
academic dependency&rsquo
, on the part of South African sociologists, on western scholarship. The stated problem is said to undermine South African sociologists&rsquo
ability to set their own intellectual and epistemological agenda. Sociology in South Africa is characterised by two issues: &lsquo
negations&rsquo
and theoretical &lsquo
extraversion&rsquo
. In the light of the foregoing claim, the study sought to investigate the underlying epistemological features of sociology curriculum in one of the South African universities. In investigating these issues, the thesis relies on the notion of &lsquo
authentic interlocutors&rsquo
put forward by Archie Mafeje. Literature on transformation of the social sciences in (South) Africa was reviewed. Methodologically, the study assumes a qualitative approach. In order comprehensively to understand the problem under investigation, in-depth interviews were conducted along with a review of course outlines of the selected department of sociology
these, in turn, were subjected to content analysis. Interviewees included, respectively, academic members of staff and postgraduate students. The study concludes by highlighting the &lsquo
ontological disconnect&rsquo
, on the part of South African sociologists, not only with their immediate environment but the rest of the African continent. In maintaining this view, it argues that their ontological and epistemological standpoints only succeed in highlighting their cultural affinity with Euro-American perspectives. The said ontological disconnect and cultural affinity, it is argued, lead to extraverted curricula.

Studies in astronomy education have shown that socio-cultural factors combine with everyday human experience to create learning difficulties that are unique to this field. The history of astronomy also shows a complex link between science and religion. The foundations of modern astronomy lie in religious beliefs and practices, but over time, in the West, as science grew ever more powerful in explaining the apparently mechanistic processes of nature, the beliefs and understanding associated with scientific explanations came into conflict with those of the Christian church. In Africa, Western religious and scientific beliefs were brought by the missionaries, and imposed onto already existing beliefs systems. From colonial times to the present, Western knowledge has been privileged over local knowledge in African formal schooling. Little recognition has been given to the learning difficulties that may be caused in situations where the knowledge system taught at school is different to that imbibed through home and culture. The difficulties of epistemic access have been highlighted through the development of socio-cultural constructivist theories of learning. This study, which is based on the sociocultural constructivist theories of cultural border crossing and collateral learning, represents an investigation of the learning difficulties experienced by South African first year university students who study a compulsory course in basic astronomy called 'The Earth in Space'. The sample was thus a convenience sample, made up of 191 students who took the course between 2000 and 2004. The investigation was carried out using a pre-instruction questionnaire to record the precourse knowledge of the students. The questions that were asked focused on knowledge related to some of the key concepts in basic astronomy, such as an understanding of the nature of stars, the rotation and revolution of the earth and the phases of the moon. These questions had the dual purpose of benchmarking South African students' knowledge of the scientific explanations for these phenomena against similar international studies, as well as establishing the prevalence of cultural or traditional ideas held by these students. After the course had been completed, a post instruction questionnaire was used to establish students’ views on the difficulties they had experienced in learning in the course. This was followed up by semi-structured interviews with 25 of the students. The data obtained from the questionnaires were analysed using two methods: the first used a deductive coding system where the students’ responses were allocated to chosen categories, i.e. whether they conformed to the explanations of Western Modern Science or to cultural knowledge and beliefs, or both. The second method used a computer software programme, Atlas.ti, where each statement made by the student was recorded and coded, leading to an inductive, fine-grained analysis of their responses. The results from the pre-instruction questionnaire indicated that South African students display similar poor levels of knowledge in this field, to students from other Western and non-Western countries. The explanation for this lies in the fact that understanding the scientific explanations requires the ability to think abstractly, and to be able to construct complex mental models, in situations where the processes involved run counter to normal daily experience. However, the explanations given by the South African students also indicated that there were epistemological and ontological issues, related to conflicting beliefs in terms of culture and religion, which exacerbated the barriers to border crossing in this field. However, the data indicated that students did not find it as difficult to cross the barriers created by cultural or traditional beliefs as those caused by fundamentalist Christian beliefs. The biggest obstacle to learning related to conflict between creationist and scientific accounts of the formation of the Earth and Universe. While this is not unusual, as shown by studies carried out in the United States, where religious students are also affected by the apparent conflict between Christianity and science, the most significant finding of this study related to the existence and extent of this conflict in Black African students. In post-1994 South Africa, the revision of the national education system has resulted in a science curriculum that recognizes 'other ways of knowing'. These refer specifically, however, to Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) rather than religious beliefs. The curriculum does not acknowledge that African ontology is religious. It also does not recognize the duality of this ontology in terms of African Traditional Religion and Christianity, which is the stated religion of the majority of Black South Africans. The findings of this study indicate that because of the nature of African philosophy, religious ways of knowing need to be explicitly acknowledged as one of the 'other ways of knowing'. Such acknowledgement by science teachers and lecturers would help to prevent these different knowledge systems from being discarded or compartmentalized, which was found to lead either to the promotion of scientism, or to the preclusion of meaningful engagement with science.

Text in English, with abstracts in English, isiZulu and Sesotho
There is an urgent need to develop sustainable solutions to the epochal environmental problems that the world at large and Africa in particular are currently facing. The current environmental philosophy does not seem to be able to resolve satisfactorily all the environmental crises of our world, as they have been largely influenced by Western oriented perspectives on one hand that are laden with dualistic and anthropocentric view of the world, and are ethics based on the other hand, and as such focuses less on human beings’ relationship with Nature. To the extent that attempts were made by scholars to advance an African orientation in environmental philosophy, these attempts have been bedridden with over-reliance on ethics. Relying mainly on ethics as the philosophical framework for addressing environmental issues, it neglects the epistemological dimensions of the African intellectual thoughts. To this end, minimal results has been achieved in the quest for panacea to environmental crisis, especially in Africa. This study, thus, advances an African outlook in environmental philosophy that would be both participatory and interdisciplinary in the quest for more meaningful and pragmatic problem-solving frameworks in environmentalism. The research seeks to further improve in the development of an African oriented Environmental Philosophy by committing to the exploration of an African epistemic outlook for environmentalism. This exploration is hinged on the epistemic stance abstracted from indigenous knowledge systems of African people in general and the Yoruba and Igbo people of the Western part of Nigeria, in West Africa, in particular. Accordingly, the research queries the tendency of the current discourse of environmental philosophy to over rely on ethics. The study further argues for a shift in the conceptual framework, approaches and methods employable in confronting the environmental challenges besetting the world today. It opines that we construct African environmental philosophy from the idea of “African Epistemic Order” (AEO). It argues that an environmental philosophy that is African in orientation, must have a conceptual understanding of the ontological and relational holism pervading the African epistemic order. Such an understanding will enhance the reordering and healing of the damaged human’s relationship with the natural environment (Nature). This study, therefore, provides building blocks for an environmental philosophy that is both African in making, global in practice and affirming respect to Nature.
Kukhona isidingo esiphuthumayo sokuthola izixazululo eziqhubekela phambili ngesikhathi sezinkinga zendalo umhlaba wonkana, kanye ne-Afrika imbala ezibhekene nazo okwamanje. Okwamanje amafilosofi endalo abonakala engakwazi ukuxazulula izinkinga zendalo zomhlaba wethu ngokwanele. Lokhu kungoba kunomthelela omkhulu wemibono yamazwe aseNtshonalanga (enomthelela omkhulu wombono we-dualistic and anthropocentric ngomhlaba) kanti ngakolunye uhlangothi, kanti futhi ngenxa yokuthi aphansi kwenqubo yama-ethics ngakolunye uhlangothi. Kanti ke ngenxa yalokhu, kugxilwa kakhulu ebudlelwaneni phakathi kwabantu kanye nemvelo (okusho indalo yangokwemvelo). Ngisho noma imizamo yenziwe zifundiswa ukuqhubela phambili umbono wefilosofi yendalo, le mizamo ikhathazwe kakhulu ukuncika kwezama-ethics. Lolu cwaningo luqhubela phambili umbono ngesilosofi yesi-Afrika ngokwendalo, ezokwenza ukuthi kube nokubili, ukubamba iqhaza kanye nokuxhumana kwemikhakha ehlukene ekuthungatheni kwayo uhlaka lokuxazulula izinkinga olubambekayo ngokwendalo. Ucwaningo lufuna ukuthuthukisa iFilosofi yesi Afrika ngokwendalo ngokuzimisela ukuthungatha umthombo nombono wolwazi ngokwendalo. Lokhu kuthungatha kuncike kwisimo sezomthombo wolwazi otholakala kwizinqubo zesintu zabantu base-Afrika ngokunabile, kanti ikakhulukazi ngabantu bamaYoruba kanye nama-Igbo kwingxenye eseNtshonalanga neNigeria, eNtshonalanga Afrika ikakhulukazi. Lolu cwaningo, ngakho-ke luyisakhelo sefilosofi yendalo, engesi-Afrika ikakhulukazi, kodwa ebheka kumazwe omhlaba ngokwenza, kanye nokuqinisekisa mayelana Nemvelo.
Ho na le tlhoko e potlakileng ya ho ntlafatsa ditharollo tse tsitsitseng tsa mathata a nako a tikoloho ao lefatshe ka bophara, haholo-holo Afrika, a tobaneng le ona hajwale. Difilosofi tsa hajwale tsa tikoloho ha ho bonahale di ka kgona ho rarolla mathata ohle a tikoloho a lefatshe la rona ka mokgwa o kgotsofatsang. Lebaka ke hore di anngwe haholo ke dikgopolo tsa Bophirima (di le boima jwalo, ka lehlakore le le leng le nang le pono e habedi le le nkang botho bo le bohlokwa ho boteng ba lefatshe) ka lehlakoreng le leng hobane di thehilwe hodima melao ya boitshwaro. Kahoo, ha di shebane haholo le kamano dipakeng tsa batho le tlhaho (ke hore, tikoloho ya tlhaho). Le ha boiteko bo entswe ke ditsebi ho ntshetsa pele tlwaelo ya Maafrika ho filosofi ya tikoloho, boiteko bona le bona bo na le boitshetleho bo fetelletseng ho boitshwaro. Phuputso ena e ntshetsa pele pono ya Seafrika filosofing ya tikoloho eo e ka bang ya tshebedisano le ya ho kopana ha dithuto tse fapaneng molemong wa ho batla meralo e nang le moelelo le ho rarolla mathata bothateng ba tikoloho. Patlisiso ena e batla ho ntlafatsa ntshetsopele ya Filosofi ya Tikoloho e sekametseng Afrika ka ho itlama ho fuputsa pono ya tsebo ya Afrika bakeng sa tikoloho. Patlisiso ena e ipapisitse le boemo ba tsebo bo nkilweng ditsamaisong tsa tsebo ya matswallwa tsa batho ba Maafrika ka kakaretso le batho ba Yoruba le ba Igbo ba karolo e ka Bophirima ya Nigeria, Afrika Bophirima ka ho kgetheha. Phuputso ena, ka hona, e fana ka motheo bakeng sa filosofi ya tikoloho eo e leng ya Seafrika ka botlalo, e akaretsang tshebetsong, mme e tiisang bonnete ba Tlhaho.
Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology
D. Phil. (Philosophy)

abstract: The world of speculative fiction infuses the soul with the hope of the imaginary. My dissertation examines Afrofuturistic liminal imaginary space and the ways it is experienced as life-giving spaces. The imaginary and the aesthetics it births are formularies for art forms that speak to the hope of a transformed future. Speculative fiction, although in the realm of the imaginary, is an enlivened approach to express in the present collective possibilities and hopes of the people within those very imagined futures. During the past three decades, particularly, Black speculative fiction has been increasingly at the core of the new cultural productions of literature, film, horror, comics, fantasy, and music which tell the story of African descendant people. Afrofuturism is an analytic for exploration of the liberative revisioning of Black humanity in the face of persistent practices of structural injustice. My project presents the phenomenological exploration of Black Speculative Thought (ST) as it comes alive through artistic liminal spaces of Afrofuturist comic and science fiction conventions. I argue that Black imaginary liminal spaces such as Comicon Culture offer respite, renewal, and locales for creative resistance to thwart persistent alienation and nihilism of Black humanity. Furthermore, it is within these spaces where intersubjective agency can be taken up as a countermeasure to the existential realities and dominant hegemonic existences of everyday life. I examine the process, events, and experience of Black imaginary as it comes alive as potentiated hope for alternative futures. My intention is to marshal the theoretical specters of Critical Afrofuturism, Africana Philosophy, and Womanist Thought in this task.
Dissertation/Thesis
Doctoral Dissertation Women and Gender Studies 2019

Western psychology has in its current position and definition laid claim to the “psychology” landscape, despite being the construction of one epistemology. This imposition allows western psychology to dominate and control the “psychology” landscape, to the detriment of other equally valid and “scientific” “psychologies”. We argue for redefinition of western psychology in terms of lived experience or soul, so that it can co-exist with other “psychologies”. This should co-facilitate the process of repositioning western psychology into a dialogically equal relationship with indigenous african psychology. Redefinition of western psychology is dependant on psychologist’s appreciation of the relativity of epistemological frameworks and ability to challenge their own subjectivities. This in turn requires epistemological curiosity. This study adopts a conceptual, autoethnographic approach and methodology. Our aim is not to provide answers, but rather create a context for dialogue.
Psychology
M.A. (Psychology)

A presente investigação procura inscrever-se no domínio da epistemologia dos estudos literários, fazendo apelo a uma abordagem interdisciplinar que aponta para a necessidade de um comparatismo literário africano e, ao mesmo tempo, mundial. O conceito-chave com que operamos neste trabalho é o de disciplinarização, tendo em conta o seu potencial explicativo para entender o processo que nos irá conduzir à integração dos Estudos Literários Africanos no sistema disciplinar actual. Por disciplinarização entendemos o processo de definição que consiste na demarcação de uma determinada disciplina, por força de dinâmicas endógenas e exógenas, durante o qual se transita de uma fase pré-disciplinar para outra disciplinar, admitindo-se a existência de uma compatibilidade entre os fundamentos epistemológicos e metodológicos da produção e transmissão de conhecimentos e, por outro lado, a consagração da institucionalidade da disciplina como objecto de estudo. A profissionalização disciplinar será uma consequência desse processo e da formação de comunidades de agentes epistémicos que, conhecendo profundamente a história e os universos de referência da disciplina, sejam capazes de aplicar as metodologias mais adequadas no domínio da investigação e do ensino. Para compreender os fundamentos epistemológicos dos Estudos Literários Africanos, importa refletir sobre o momento a partir do qual se constituem como campo disciplinar na história da produção do conhecimento sobre o continente africano. Por outro lado, com o presente trabalho pretende-se avaliar o estatuto disciplinar da Literatura Angolana, num exercício que procura justificar as determinações da epistemologia disciplinar, operacionalizando os sentidos em que se pode analisar o conceito de disciplina. Deste modo, a atribuição do referido estatuto pressupõe o domínio de um instrumental teórico que implica a descrição dos tipos de conhecimento veiculados através dos processos de transmissão que caracterizam as disciplinas escolares e as disciplinas académicas.
This research seeks to enroll in the field of epistemology of literary studies, appealing to an interdisciplinary approach that points to the need for an African literary comparatism and at the same time, worldwide. The key concept with which we operate in this work is to disciplinarization, taking into account its potential impact to understand the process that will lead us to the integration of African Literary Studies in the current disciplinary system. By disciplinarization we understand the process of defining what is the demarcation of a particular discipline by virtue of endogenous and exogenous dynamics, during which get through a pre-disciplinary phase to the disciplinary phase, confirming that there is a compatibility, on one hand, between epistemological and methodological foundations of production and transmission of knowledge and, on the other hand, the consecration of institutionality of a discipline as an object of study.The disciplinary professionalization will be a consequence of this process and the formation of epistemic agents communities, deeply knowing the history and reference universes of a discipline, be able to apply the most appropriate methodologies for research and teaching. To understand the epistemological foundations of African Literary Studies, it is important to inquire about the moment from which are constituted as a disciplinary field in the history of knowledge production on the African continent. On the other hand, the present work aims to assess the disciplinary status of the Angolan literature, in an exercise that seeks to justify the determinations of the Disciplinary Epistemology, operationalizing the ways in which one can analyze the concept of discipline. Thus, the award of that status requires the mastery of a theoretical tool which implies the description of the properties of the types of knowledge conveyed through the transmission processes that characterize the school subjects and academic disciplines.

In South Africa, no occupational or professional councils for pastoral work exist as yet. In order to support pastoral counsellors in their negotiations to obtain professional status in this country, the presumed limitations and ineffectiveness of present mental health systems in South Africa is examined. Pastoral counselling as a possible national health resource is explored with reference to primary health care, freedom of choice, consumer rights, cost-effectiveness, spirituality, social change and reconciliation and multi-cultural application. Arguments are imbedded in relevant theory and supported by vignettes of suffering, survival, and redemption in spirituality. A postmodern, qualitative approach is used. Participants' narratives indicate that they have experienced healing through utilising their religion and spirituality. However, this study does not claim to provide conclusive proof that pastoral work is relevant in this country - it should be seen as part of a process which aims to develop pastoral counselling as a profession.
Practical Theology
M. TH. (Pastoral Therapy)

The study goes beyond knowledge existing in the literature study of the philosophy and theory of knowledge, knowledge management, African knowledge and the management of knowledge by African institutions, including the peace and security architecture of Africa, to reveal a coherent conceptual framework and themes to guide the field research. During the field studies of specific cases in the Great Lakes region of Africa, principles and practices emerged that formed a framework for a constructed Trans-dimensional Knowledge Management Model (TDKM-M) to develop a theoretical model for the management of knowledge for conflict resolution as the first step towards the revival of Africa. The study proposes practical solutions for the management of knowledge that would empower decisionmakers to intervene successfully in conflict situations. Furthermore, the study serves to expand the knowledge base in the field of trans-disciplinary African studies, transcending the boundary between political science and epistemology to navigate the middle ground between disciplines and the space that lies beyond all disciplines and dichotomised thinking towards a new holistic understanding. A systems approach using MIT (multi-disciplinarity, interdisciplinarity and trans-disciplinarity) and qualitative research methodology on a transnational level was followed. The study consists of a literature study and a field study consisting of a pilot study, semi-structured interviews and participation in communities of practice to access the worldviews of diverse cultures. An observable knowledge dimension, consisting of a normative foundation, empirical knowledge domain and analytical knowledge domain, is identified. Furthermore, a tacit metaphysical knowledge dimension is identified that is informed by the observable dimension. The two dimensions transacts with each other to attain a higher level of trans-dimensional knowledge. The TDKM-M proposes principles and practices of how trans-dimensional knowledge, including indigenous African knowledge and external knowledge, can be managed in a collective middle ground to produce holistic understanding. This higher level of understanding can activate intervention into the causes and consequences of conflict. Innovation of African society could follow, achieving desired outcomes such as peace, justice, human rights, self-empowerment and innovation towards transformative growth, competitiveness and negotiate equilibrium with the global community, and ultimately the revival of Africa.
Political Sciences
D. Litt. et Phil. (Politics)

Text in English with abstracts in English, isiZulu, Northern Sotho and Tshivenda
This study explores the phenomenon of stokvels − membership-based savings schemes providing for the social and financial wellbeing of their members as well as entertainment (Lukhele, 1990). The purpose of the study is to identify the existence of a different kind of economy that is not informed by the capitalist logic. The study aims to examine the values that underpin stokvels and to locate them within a particular socio-cultural and historical context. This is a qualitative research study and my research approach included fieldwork, participant observation, in-depth interviews and the procedure of genealogy. The study, employing these methods, has enabled me to draw a connection between the Khumalo clan - the generation of Mzilikazi Khumalo who was a friend to King Shaka and is argued to have played a pivotal role in building what is known as the Zulu nation today – and my uncles. In the six months I spent at Esihlengeni, a small village in Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, I interviewed 27 people, attended two funerals, one family ritual and conducted two focus group discussions with stokvel women. I found that stokvels are not centred on an African epistemic framework as anticipated in the problem statement but are still within the capitalist logic of profit and thus do not draw from the community’s traditional values. While stokvels are informed by the dominant capitalist logic, the community of Esihlengeni still draws from their cosmological worldview that provides them with a different understanding of the economy that is centred on cattle – the means that allow them to perform rituals that guarantee protection and continuity of life - to make sense of their world. Their insistence on the importance of cattle in this community is their cry to be allowed to exist and be recognised as humans that can think for themselves. I conclude by arguing that to understand this community correctly, we need to take the ontological difference seriously that we cannot possibly have only one way of existing. The community of Esihlengeni thus provides us with the economic theory that is centred on life in its totality – that takes both the physical and metaphysical into consideration to ensure the continuity of life. As such, the community of Esihlengeni should be regarded as a gift to be appreciated.
Lolucwaningo luhlaziya isimo sezitokofela – uhlelo lokonga olunika abayingxenye yalo ukweseka kwezomphakathi, ezomnotho nezokuzijabulisa (Lukhele 1990). Ingqikimba yokwenza lolucwaningo ukubonisa ubukhona bomnnotho ohlukile, ongatshelwa wumnotho ogxile kwinzuzo, phecelezi ikhephithalizimu. Injongo yalolucwaningo ukuhlolisisa izimiso ezisekela amastokofela nokuwabeka endaweni ethize yezinhlalo zomphakathi-namasiko kanye nomlando. Lolucwaningo lugxile kwizizathu zokuba yingxenye kuloluhlelo, indlela yokuthola imininingwane ixhumanisa ukuchitha isikhathi nabantu, ukubamba ingxenye kwizinto abazenzayo, ukubabuza imibuzo ejulile, nokudweba imvelaphi yabo. Kulolucwaningo, ngokusebenzisa lezizindlela zokucwaninga, ngakwazi ukuxhumanisa isizwe sakwaKhumalo – inzalo yenkosi uMzilikazi Khumalo owaye umngani wenkosi uShaka futhi kuthiwa wabamba iqhaza eliqavile ekwakheni isizwe esaziwa njengamaZulu namhlanje – nomalume bami. Ezinyangeni eziyisithupha engazicitha eSihlengeni - isigodi esiseFilidili KwaZulu-Natali, ngaba nendabangxoxiswano nabantu amangamashumi amabili nesikhombisa, ngaya emingcwabeni emibili nasembenzini owodwa womndeni, ngase ngikhulumisana namaqoqo amabili omama besitokofela. Ngathola ukuthi izitokofela azizinzile kwinqubomigomo yesintu njengoba ngangisola esitatimendeni socwaningo, kodwa angaphakathi komnotho ogxile kwinzuzo, ikhephithalizimi, ngakhoke awasebenzisi imikhuba yesintu yalomphakathi. Noma amastokofela egxile kumnotho oqgamile ogxile kwinzuzo, lomphakathi waseSihlengeni usasebenzisa indlela yawo yokuphila eveza inqubomgomo ehlukile yomnotho ogxile ezinkomeni - eziyisisekelo sokwenza amasiko aqinekisa ukuvikeleka nenqubekela phambili yempilo – ukuqondisisa imvelo. Ukuphikelela kokubaluleka kwezinkomo kulomphakathi isikhalo sokuthi uvumeleke ukuba aphile futhi ubonwe njengabantu abakwaziyo ukuzicabangela. Ngiphetha ngokuthi ukuqondisisa lomphakathi kahle, kumele sithathe ukuhlukana kwezizwe okuyimvelo yempilo ngokuzimisela, ukuthi kungenzeke kube nendlela eyodwa yokuphila. Umphakathi waseSihlengeni ngakhoke usinika inqubomugomo yomnotho egxile empilweni ngokuphelela kwayo – uthatha okubonakalayo nokungabonakali ukuqiniseka kokuqhubekela phambili kwempilo. Kanjaloke, umphakathi waseSihlengeni kumele ubonakale njengesipho okumelwe sibungazwe.
Nyakišišo ye e bolela ka ditokofele – dikema tša polokelo tša go thewa godimo ga boleloko go dira gore maloko a tšona a be le boiketlo go tša leago, matlotlo le boithabišo (Lukhele, 1990). Morero wa nyakišišo ye ke go hlaola go ba gona ga mehuta ya go fapana ya ekonomi yeo e sa huetšwego ke lotšiki ya bokepitale. Maikemišetšo a nyakišišo ke go lekola melawana yeo e thekgago ditokofele le go di bea ka gare ga maemo a itšeng a histori, a leago le a setšo. Ye ke nyakišišo ya khwalithethifi gomme sebopego sa nyakišišo ya ka se akaretša tlhohlomišo, temošo ya bakgathatema, dipoledišano tša go tsenelela le tshepedišo ya tšinealotši. Nyakišišo, ya go šomiša mekgwa ye, e nkgontšhitše go laetša kamano gare ga lešika la ga Khumalo ‒ moloko wa Mzilikazi Khumalo yoo a bego e le mogwera wa Kgošikgolo Shaka gape o dumelwa go ba a bapetše karolo ye bohlokwa kagong ya seo lehono se tsebjago bjalo ka setšhaba sa Mazulu ‒ le bomalome ba ka. Mo dikgweding tše tshela tše ke di feditšego Esihlengeni, motse wo monyane go la Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, ke boledišane le batho ba 27, ke tsenetše ditirelo tše pedi tša poloko, moetlo o tee wa lapa le go swara dipoledišano tše pedi tša go lebantšha sehlopha gotee le basadi ba setokofele. Ke hweditše gore ditokofele ga di latele foreimiweke ya epistemiki ya Afrika bjalo ka ge go letetšwe ka gare ga tlhalošo ya taba eupša di sa le ka gare ga lotšiki ya bokepitale ya poelo gomme ka go realo ga di latele ditumelo tša setšo tša setšhaba. Mola ditokofele di latela lotšiki ya bokepitale ye e bušago, setšhaba sa Esihlengeni se sa ntše se latela pono ya sona ya kosmolotši ya lefase yeo e ba fago kwešišo ye e fapanego ya ekonomi ya go thewa godimo ga dikgomo – mokgwa wo o ba dumelelago go phetha moetlo wa go tiišetša tšhireletšo le tšwelopele ya bophelo – go kwešiša lefase la bona. Phegelelo ya bona go bohlokwa bja dikgomo ka setšhabeng se ke sello sa bona sa gore ba dumelelwe go ba gona le go amogelwa bjalo ka batho bao ba kago inaganela. Ke fetša ka gore go kwešiša setšhaba se e le ka nnete, re nyaka go tšea kgopolo ya ontolotši bjalo ka ye bohlokwa ya gore re ka se kgonego ba fela le tsela e tee ya go phela. Setšhaba sa Esihlengeni ka go realo se re fa teori ya ekonomi yeo e theilwego godimo ga bophelo ka moka ga bjona – seo se akaretša bobedi fisikale le metafisikale go kgonthišiša tšwelopele ya bophelo. Bjalo, setšhaba sa Esihlengeni se swanela go tšewa bjalo ka mpho ye e amogelwago.
Ngudo iyi i tandula tshibveleli tsha zwiṱokofela − vhuraḓo ho ḓisendekaho nga zwikimu zwa u vhulunga u itela u dzudzanyea nga tshitshavha na lwa masheleni kha miraḓo khathihi na vhuḓimvumvusi (Lukhele, 1990). Ndivho ya ngudo ndi u topola u vha hone ha tshaka dzo fhambanaho dza ikonomi dzine dza sa ḓivhadzwe nga thevhekano ya pfuma. Ngudo yo pika u ṱola zwithu zwa ndeme zwo tikaho zwiṱokofela na u u wana vhukati hazwo nyimele ya matshilisano na mvelelo kathihi na ḓivhazwakale. Hei ndi ngudo ya ṱhoḓisiso ya ndeme na nyolo ya ṱhoḓisiso yanga yo katela mushumo wa nnḓa, u sedza vhadzheneli, inthaviwu dzo dzhenelelaho na kuitele kwa vhutumbukwa. Ngudo dzi shumisaho ngona idzi, dzo nkonisa u vhona vhuṱumani vhukati ha lushaka lwa ha Khumalo ‒ murafho wa ha Mzilikazi Khumalo we wa vha u khonani dza Khosi Shaka nahone hu pfi wo shela mulenzhe zwihulwane kha u fhaṱa zwi vhidzwaho uri lushaka lwa ha Zulu ṋamusi ‒ na vhomalume anga. Kha miṅwedzi ya rathi ye nda I fhedza ngei Esihlengeni, kuḓana ku re kha ḽa Vryheid, KwaZulu-Natal, ndo inthaviwa vhathu vha 27, nda dzhenela mbulungo mbili, nyitelatherelo nthihi ya muṱa na tshimbidza nyambedzano dza zwigwada zwo sedzaho mbili na vhafumakadzi vha zwiṱokofela. Ndo wana uri zwiṱokofela a zwo ngo ḓisendeka nga muhanga wa nḓivho ya Afrika sa zwe zwa lavhelelwa kha tshitatamende tsha thaidzo fhedzi hu kha ḓi vha nga ngomu ha thevhekano ya pfuma ya u bindula zwenezwo a zwo bvi kha zwithu zwa ndeme zwa sialala zwa tshitshavha. Musi zwiṱokofela zwi tshi ḓivhadzwa nga thevhekano thakhulwa ya pfuma, tshitshavha tsha Esihlengeni tshi kha ḓi dzhia u bva kha kuvhonele kwa mvelo kwa ḽifhasi ku vha ṋekedzaho kupfesesele kwo fhambanaho lwa ikonomi yo ḓisendekaho nga kholomo – nḓila ine ya vha tendela u shuma nyitelatherelo dzavho zwi themendelaho tsireledzo na u bvelaphanḓa ha vhutshilo – u itela u pfesesa ḽifhasi ḽavho. U omelela kha ndeme ya kholomo kha tshitshavha itshi sa tshililo tshavho tsha u tendelwa u vha hone na u dzhielwa nṱha sa vhathu vhane vha kona u ḓihumbulela. Ndi pendela nga u amba uri u itela u pfesesa tshoṱhe tshitshavha itshi ri tea u dzhia kuvhonele kwa zwa mvumbo ro khwaṱhisa uri ri sa tou vha na nḓila nthihi fhedzi ya u vha hone. Tshitshavha tsha Esihlengeni zwenezwo tshi ri fha thyori ya ikonomi yo ḓisendekaho nga vhutshilo ho fhelelaho – hezwo zwi dzhiela nṱha zwa muvhili na zwa khumbulelwa u khwaṱhisedza u bvelaphanḓa ha vhutshilo. Zwenezwo, tshitshavha tsha Esihlengeni tshi tea u dzhiiwa sa tshifhiwa tsho tewaho nga dzindivhuwo.
Anthropology and Archaeology
D. Phil. (Anthropology)