The Study of ‘Social Change’ in British West Africa

Africa ◽  
1953 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 274-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Little
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
West Africa ◽  
The Other ◽  
Western Civilization ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Electric Light ◽  
Opening Paragraph ◽  
Foreign Consumption

Opening ParagraphA visitor to West Africa today will find most of the conventional trappings of a western civilization. He can travel on trains and in motor-cars and airplanes, and stay at rest-houses equipped with electric light and a flushed toilet. He can visit African homes furnished in the latest western style in which there is refrigeration and cooking is done by electricity. He will see Africans working in shops, offices, and factories, growing crops for foreign consumption, and leasing and renting land. He will visit churches and schools, play outdoor games, attend dances, performances of amateur dramatics, baby shows, and buy a flag for charity—all these activities being organized by Africans. On the other hand, he will also see a majority of Africans living in huts of wattle and daub and of grass, herding cattle, and cultivating their farms and plots with home-made implements, pounding their food in mortars, crossing rivers in dug-out canoes, dancing to the music of wooden drums, and worshipping ancient gods and spirits.

The Social Organization of Credit in a West African Cattle Market

Africa ◽  
1965 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abner Cohen
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Social Organization ◽  
West African ◽  
The Other ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
African Cattle ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Social ◽  
Opening Paragraph ◽  
Cattle Market

Opening ParagraphCredit is a vital economic institution without which trade becomes very limited. In the industrial Western societies, where it is highly developed, it operates through formal, standardized arrangements and procedures by which the solvency of the debtor is closely assessed, securities against possible default are provided, and the conditions of the agreement are documented and endorsed by the parties concerned. Ultimately, these arrangements and procedures are upheld by legislated rules and sanctions administered by central, bureaucratized, fairly impartial, efficient, and effective courts and police. In West Africa, on the other hand, where long-distance trade has been fostered by varying ecological circumstances, such organization has not yet evolved, particularly for long-distance trade. Nevertheless extensive systems of credit have been developed.

scholarly journals Cyclical theories of social change: Spengler and Toynbee

Sociologija ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 289-312
Author(s):  
Dragoljub Kaurin
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Social Change ◽  
The Other ◽  
Sociological Study ◽  
The West ◽  
Theoretical Concepts ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Historical Cycles ◽  
Proper Unit ◽  
Oswald Spengler

This paper is centrally concerned with discussing critically and rethinking the theoretical concepts put forward by Oswald Spengler in Decline of the West and Arnold Toynbee in A Study of History. It focuses on the theoretical, heuristic and epistemological value of these theories in the era of renaissance of philosophic history in some quarters (see for example Graham, 2002) and cooperation between social sciences. Spengler is credited with the idea of historical cycles, rethinking of the progressivist view and discovering a radically different approach to the study of the human past, which is embodied in his idea of culture as the proper unit for historical and sociological study. However, some of his views proved to be intrinsically intellectually dubious, but on the whole, his was a major contribution to the study of social change. Arnold Toynbee on the other hand was more empirically and sociologically oriented, while Spengler?s views are more heavily philosophical. Toynbee partly developed his ideas rather consistently, but at the same time included many unclear and inaccurate points in his theory. Both authors can be rightfully considered to be classical authors in this field and both provided incentive for studies that cross-cut social sciences (philosophy, history, sociology). Moreover, Decline of the West and A Study of History are truly post-disciplinary works.

Early Bantu Ethnography from a Philological Point of View

Africa ◽  
1930 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. J. v. Warmelo
Keyword(s):  
Point Of View ◽  
The Other ◽  
Bantu Languages ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Compact Body ◽  
The One ◽  
Opening Paragraph

Opening ParagraphFew of the secrets that Africa still holds from us to-day have, I think, such an absorbing interest as the problem of Bantu in its relation to the neighbouring families and types of speech. Taking the continent of Africa as a whole, we find on the one hand the huge, yet marvellously homogeneous and compact body of the Bantu languages, clear-cut in structure, simple and transparent in phonology, and, at the back of much apparent diversity, exceptionally uniform in vocabulary. On the other hand there are in Africa numerous other languages of various type, which differ so much amongst each other that they have not yet been brought under any but the very broadest of classifications. The essential points of these are as follows.

Patterns of Authority in West Africa

Africa ◽  
1951 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 261-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Brown
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Political System ◽  
West African ◽  
The Other ◽  
Political Structure ◽  
Political Relations ◽  
Comparative Review ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Opening Paragraph ◽  
Size And Structure

Opening ParagraphThe development of large centralized states in West Africa has long been recognized. The complexity of organization of the few well-known kingdoms, but not their differences in size and structure, is constantly emphasized in the literature. The number and variety of West African groups which have not developed states have, on the other hand, frequently been underestimated. In a comparative review by Professors Fortes and Evans-Pritchard two types of political system, centralized and segmentary, have been described for Africa as a whole, with examples of each in West Africa. A survey of West African societies suggests, however, that finer distinctions are possible and that not all these societies can be placed in one or other of these two categories. In particular, this classification omits consideration of ‘stateless’ societies in which associations, rather than a segmentary lineage system, regulate political relations; and it fails to distinguish different types of authority and political structure in states.

The Political Function of the Poro. (Part II.)

Africa ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Little
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
The Political ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Political Function ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Opening Paragraph

Opening ParagraphIn the concluding paragraphs of Part I of this article it was pointed out that in addition to its judicial functions the Poro society possessed some important powers of administration. On the other hand, there was also evidence to suggest that the society carried on this wide range of activities, amounting almost to government of the country, as an instrument of the chiefs.

scholarly journals Redefining Translation Competence in an Electronic Age. In Defence of a Minimalist Approach

2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 481-497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Pym
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
General Trend ◽  
Linguistic Analysis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Minimalist Approach ◽  
Translator Training ◽  
Multicomponent Model ◽  
Professional Change

Abstract Since the 1970s the notion of “translation competence” has been viewed as at least 1) a mode of bilingualism, open to linguistic analysis, 2) a question of market demands, given to extreme historical and social change, 3) a multicomponent competence, involving sets of skills that are linguistic, cultural, technological and professional, and 4) a “supercompetence” that would somehow stand above the rest. The general trend among theorists has been to expand the multicomponent model so as to bring new skills and proficiencies into the field of translator training. This trend may be expected to continue with the increasing use of electronic tools. Here it is argued, however, that the multicomponential expansions of competence are partly grounded in institutional interests and are conceptually flawed in that they will always be one or two steps behind market demands. On the other hand, a simple minimalist concept of translation competence, based on the production then elimination of alternatives, can help orient translator training in times of rapid technological and professional change.

Milho Zaburro and Milho Maçaroca in Guinea and in the Islands of Cabo Verde

Africa ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Teixeira da Mota ◽  
António Carreira
Keyword(s):  
Zea Mays ◽  
The Other ◽  
American Variety ◽  
Cabo Verde ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Opening Paragraph

Opening ParagraphIt has been claimed that Zea mays existed in Africa before the discovery of America, but the plant is more generally considered to be a native of America, which could have spread through other continents only in post-Columbian times.This latter opinion has recently been challenged by several writers. Jeffreys, for instance, has since 1953 consistently maintained that on arrival in Guinea the Portuguese found Zea mays already well established there, as the cereal they called milho zaburro, previously introduced by the Arabs, who would have visited America long before Columbus. On the other hand, V. de Magalhães Godinho, pertinently refuting many of Jeffreys's reasonings and identifications, has put forward the view that, before the Portuguese voyages of discovery, there existed in Africa a variety of Zea mays, which was subsequently replaced by the American variety; the Portuguese would have become familiar with this variety in Morocco, and it would be this plant which they called milho zaburro, or milho maçaroca. To both these authors the designations milho maçaroca and Zea mays are indisputably synonymous.

Big Houses in Kano Emirate

Africa ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Polly Hill
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Special Reference ◽  
The Other ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Economic Organization ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Opening Paragraph ◽  
The Village ◽  
Compare And Contrast

Opening ParagraphIn 1971–2 I undertook research in part of the very densely populated farming zone around Kano city (often called the Kano close-settled zone) in order to compare it with a Hausa village, Batagarawa, some 100 miles further north in Katsina Emirate, where I had lived and worked in 1967. At Batagarawa farmland is not scarce and members of the community are free to establish farms on uncultivated (bush) land, some of which is no further than a mile or so from the village. For some 30 to 40 miles or more around Kano city, on the other hand, there is little or no uncultivated bush and farmers with insufficient land are obliged to buy or to ‘borrow’ (aro) farmland from others. My purpose was to compare and contrast the socio-economic organization and economic conditions of farmers in the two localities, with special reference, in so far as this variable could be isolated, to population density.

scholarly journals Menelaah Pembagian Profesi Catur Warna ditinjau dari Implementasi Ajaran Catur Asrama

Dharma Duta ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tardi Edung
Keyword(s):  
Social Change ◽  
Social Status ◽  
Caste System ◽  
The Other ◽  
Life Transition ◽  
Multicultural Society ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Social ◽  
Rule Of Life

Social change is bound to happen and this continues as long as there is life on this earth. Increasing the individual's social status in society occurs in accordance with the profession occupied, change and increase one's position is absolutely there. How is the social status of an individual seen from the teachings of boarding chess. The problematic of life is quite diverse and complex, requiring individuals to live governed by the rules, norms and rules that exist in that society and none of them may deny it. Caste is the profession of a person in society who forms themselves in groups, natural arrangements. Color / caste depicts the characteristic spirit which is synthesis in Hindu mind with belief towards collaboration from race and cooperation from culture, caste system is the result of tolerance and belief. On the other hand racial color / caste is the emphasis of definite differences in human groups that cannot possibly be erased or destroyed by social change. This teaching determines whether an individual is respectable or not in his position in a homogeneous and multicultural society based on values ​​and norms as a rule of life. Transition of individual social status is adjusted to the profession occupied in society, both based on knowledge, appreciation in the form of honor and power. Changes in the profession can occur because of science, maturation of a household, self-introspection and leaving all positions in this world to more complex stages. Boarding Chess gives direction to the position of individuals in society

scholarly journals Waiting and Disenchantment: Kourouma's 'Les Soleils des Indépendances' and Oupoch's 'En attendant la Liberté'

Afrika Focus ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 3 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Godwin Okebaram Uwah
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
General Condition ◽  
Good Life ◽  
The Other ◽  
Effect Change ◽  
Absolute Certainty ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Life Values

Like Samuel Beckett's characters in En attendant Godot, the protagonists of Ahmadou Kourouma's Les Soleils des Indépendances and Gnaoulé Oupoh's En Attendant la Liberté wait for something to happen to change their lives. As they wait, they ascribe to the object of waiting an absolute certainty translated in terms of recognition, realization of the promises of independence, continuity of dynasty, freedom, and other good life-values. Ultimately, disenchantment displaces hope; the object of waiting eludes them and their general condition either worsens or, at best, remains static. Paradoxically, the characters continue to wait in anticipation of a turn-around in their destiny. Waiting thus becomes a type of imprisonment. To break the impasse, Oupoh seems to advocate continued struggle and a timely confrontation to effect change. Kourouma, on the other hand, appears to endorse existential revolt and self-abnegation; in his estimation, any change that does not liberate man from his Self merely perpetuates self-imprisonment. But for both the waiting game continues, and so does the paradox.KEYWORDS : West Africa, Kourouma, literature, motives, Oupoh 

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