A Review of Isaac Oluwole Delano’s Pioneering Works on Yoruba Grammar, Orthography, Lexicography and Cultural Education.

Tis is a reproduction and an improved version of our opening chapter on Selected Works of Chief Isaac O. Delano on Yoruba Language. In it, we reintroduce the seminal works of the legendary writer and language educator, I. O. Delano. Many of these works have become obscure to the reading public due to an apparent lack of intentional publication. Delano, known for his prolific writings, wrote a few books relating to Yoruba language and grammar. Tis segment looks at four major non-fiction works of Chief Isaac O. Delano. For the most part, the segment deals with his efforts on Yoruba language, but to some extent, too, it looks at some additional non-language related writings often embedded in his works on language. For example, in Appendix I of his 1965 book, A Modern Yoruba Grammar, the author provides an array of proverbs and sayings in the language with their English equivalents. In Appendix II, Delano infused two old texts into the book, which comprise of a sermon and an essay on schooling. Clearly, Delano seems to have a penchant for dissemination of relevant cultural education in all his works. Indeed, one could say Yoruba Cultural education has always been apparently one of Delano’s passions as well as hidden agenda in writing his books, and he does so relentlessly. In what follows, we 216 Toyin Falola and Michael Oladejo Afolayan examine the four works in no particular order, although the Modern Grammar is given a relatively more detailed review and summarization. The four books are: A Modern Yoruba Grammar; Àgbékà Ọr̀ ọ̀ Yorùbá: Appropriate Words and Expressions in Yoruba; Conversation in Yoruba and English; and Atúmọ̀Èdè Yorùbá.

Compliance with Covid-19 Non-Medicinal Preventive Protocol and Intent to Accept Covid-19 Vaccine Among Adults in South Eastern Nigeria

Background A Non-pharmaceutical public health measures are being promoted for mitigating the risk and impact of epidemic and pandemic covid-19 influenza and the introduction of its vaccine necessitate the assessment of individual perception regarding the vaccine. This study assessed compliance with covid-19 non-medicinal preventive protocol and intent to accept covid-19 vaccine among adults in Owerri West, Imo state Nigeria. Method Descriptive cross sectional research design was employed in recruiting four hundred and thirty six (436) participants used for the study. Using SPSS version 23, data were subjected to descriptive and Chi-square analysis. Results Results showed that almost all of them 433(99%) have heard about covid-19 especially from radio 151(35%). A vast number of them know the cause of the disease 397(92%) and when and where it was first reported 423(98%). They were aware that the disease is transmitted through respiratory droplet 351(81%) and it can enter the body through the nose 400(92%), mouth 359(83%) and eyes 362(84%). Moreover, almost all of them know that the disease has no cure 398(92%). On their perception, majority of them strongly agreed that the disease is real and is a serious disease but not in Nigeria where most of the participants disagreed that people did not die from the disease 303(69%). Most of them strongly perceived that the disease can be prevented through regular washing of hands with soap 291(67%), maintaining social distance 223(51%), wearing of nose mask 204(47%), cleaning and disinfecting the environment 231(53%). However, most of them sometimes wear nose mask wash their hands with soap 298(68%) and maintain at least one meter distance when with others 283(65%). Equally, the participants sometimes wash cloth nose mask before reuse 288(66%) but never share nose mask with any other person 200(46%). Moreover, most of them sometimes touch face with fingers 231(53%), clean and disinfect door handles 258(59%), tables and chairs 252(58%). Most of them sometimes sneeze/cough into their elbow 244(56%) and dispose tissue paper used for sneezing/coughing into a closed bin 325(75%), travel in a crowded vehicle 244(56%), attend events with more than 50 persons in attendance 189(43%) and in general sometimes follow all the recommended preventive measures 259(59%) resulting in greater proportions of them 197(45%) observing low level of compliance. Major barrier for not observing the preventive measures as reported by majority of the respondents is that hand washing with soap for up to 20 minutes is lack of time 203(47%), feel uncomfortable with wearing of nose mask 180(41%), attend crowded events because it is very crucial 167(38%) and usually touch their face when cleaning sweat 178(41%). Only few of the participants 114(26%) were willing to accept vaccine especially if it given free of charge 151(35%) in liquid form 55(48%) and its safety trusted 352(81%). Prominent reason for not taking vaccine was because of hidden agenda behind it which is not to the advantage of humanity 87(27%) whereas prominent reason for accepting it was to prevent the recipient from getting the disease 88(77%). Conclusion With the exception of religion, all the demographic characteristics had significant influence (p<0.05) on the level of compliance to covid-19 preventive measures and respondents’ intent to accept covid-19 vaccine when provided. Therefore, to increase vaccine acceptability, baseless rumors and myths against the COVID-19 vaccines must be checked and they should be reached out with scientific facts describing the safety and efficacy of the vaccines.

A Hidden Agenda of Imperial Appropriation and Power Play? Iconological Considerations Concerning Apse Images and Their Role in the Iconoclast Controversy

According to the written sources, the Iconoclast controversy was all about the veneration of icons. It started in the late seventh century, after most iconodule provinces had been lost to Byzantine rule, and lasted until the turn of the millennium or so, when icon veneration became generally established in the remaining parts of the Byzantine Empire. However, as far as material evidence and actual images are concerned, the Iconoclast controversy centred on apse images and other, equally large and monumental representations, none of which were ever venerated. Prior to Iconoclasm, such images had not been customary at Constantinople, where the early Christian tradition had been largely aniconic and focused on the symbol of the cross. Thus, the introduction of monumental Christian imagery to Constantinople appears to have been a major aspect of the Iconoclast controversy. This paper asks why and finds that the images in question, whilst not for veneration and therefore not essential to the theological debate, stood out for imperial propaganda. They led to close visual integration of the emperor and the church that had previously been kept apart, because aniconic traditions used to limit imperial presence inside Constantinopolitan church buildings. It seems, then, that the Iconoclast controversy, although conducted in religious terms, was partly driven by a hidden agenda of imperial appropriation and power play.

In the Name of Living with Virus: Enforcement of (Hidden) Agenda to Throttle Idea of Inclusive Education and Development

Inclusive idea of education in India though implied in the Indian constitution, has always been looked upon with suspicion by the privileged castes, classes, gender, and ethnic groups. The reason was apprehension of undoing of the status quo that has had remained primordial and backed by religious sanctions for social stratification. Therefore, idea of affirmative action towards disadvantaged sections in education in general and higher education in particular has faced stiff resistance by the conservative (status quoist) forces with ideas such as merit, efficiency and promotion of liberalization. However, with the limited implementation of the affirmative action policies such conservative idea was challenged, and representation of the disadvantaged sections was ensured, albeit partially. As a result, glimmerings of hope could be seen alongside with the amelioration of the disadvantaged statuses and (partial) inclusive development. But the present government with their covert strategies has always wished to hamper such inclusive idea in education. And amidst the present pandemic COVID-19 situation, they have found the golden opportunity to blow such development by arbitrarily shifting the policies pertaining to education to cause subtle exclusion of the disadvantaged groups. Such a shift in the policies is deliberate as has been proposed as universal and non-temporary change especially in higher education, that is, changes have been introduced with post-pandemic effect. Also, this change that has tendency for leaning towards liberalization/privatization can be seen as a logical continuation of their policies for withdrawal of the state from providing (higher) education in terms of continuous reduction in allotment of budget towards education. Interestingly, to divert attention and avoid critical reflection the change in policies are conveniently placed under the guise of (forced) living with the virus that has caused pandemic COVID-19.

What Does Our Body Tell Us in Therapy?

Verbal interaction seems to be the main instrument of treatment. In this article the the unconscious language of the body interaction will be looked at, as it seems to be not only an important transmitter of an emotional therapeutic atmosphere, but also valid to find out the conflict contents, relation pattern, and helps to work with structural problems. Results about early parent-child interaction show like a mirror the specific needs of a successful therapy relation especially in personality disorder treatment. Counter transference is based mainly on the awareness for the own body reactions and feelings, mirroring the unconscious themes of the client. To look as a therapist how the own body reacts with specific impulses, feelings and emotions can help to discover the associated psychodynamic terms of conflict contents and structural needs. The interpretation of the own body sensations can be helpful in the application of positive and psychodynamic therapies as well as in cognitive approaches to see the body interaction like an instrument to understand the hidden agenda.

Varia: Cultural Nationalism and Postcolonial Imperatives in Irene Salami-Agunloye’s Emotan: A Benin Heroine and Emmy Idegu’s Ata Igala the Great

This article examines the efforts of postcolonial creative writers, particularly dramatists, who attempt to rethink the seeming erosion of African culture in the face of western cultural expansion. The present research adopts the methods of descriptive and content analysis, as it dwells on books, journal articles, and internet materials to examine its subject. Of immediate interest are two Nigerian plays, Ata Igala the Great by Emmy Idegu and Emotan: A Benin Heroine by Irene Salami-Agunloye, which are read as paradigmatic texts for interpreting problematic postcolonial relationships. The article contributes to discussions related to colonialism and the hidden agenda of neo-colonialism, which are often interpreted in terms of western economic interests underlying cultural expansion. The article demonstrates how African postcolonial writers have striven to reverse this trend by promoting Africa’s cultural aesthetics as they represent indigenous ways of life and their problematic interaction with western cultural patterns. The discussed works focus on cultural canons related to African life, such as consultation with oracles, ancestor worship, and festivals; and they demonstrate the aesthetic specifics of African dance, music, songs, and their semiotic significance. The article concludes that even though the two plays “speak back” to power, their strength lies in the articulation of certain aesthetic patterns that contribute to African self-location. Thus, the plays not only attempt to assert African culture, but they also strive to rethink the meanings of western cultural imperialism.

Conflict of interest: The case of a non-decision-making committee at a South African public higher education institution

The avoidance of a conflict of interest within private and public institutions is closely associated with good corporate governance. This study departed from the question of whether a conflict of interest is possible within a non-decision-making institutional committee. For this purpose, a high-level non-decision-making committee within a South African public higher education institution was selected as a case study. This article reports on an exploratory qualitative study consisting of qualitative content analysis of the constituting and operational documents of this committee, as well as on a study of the perceptions and lived experiences of the selected committee. It was found that the selected committee was established to be a high-level consultative body for the executive management committee of the university on decisions of strategic operational nature. This committee does not have any decision-making duties. Conflict of interest is perceived by committee members in terms of either the explicit or the hidden agenda metaphor. According to the explicit agenda metaphor, a conflict of interest within a non-decision-making committee is not possible, whilst the hidden agenda metaphor holds that a conflict of interest is the reality of members’ lived experiences. This article provides a comparison of the two perspectives according to three defining attributes of the concept and shows a need for a logical and principled definition of the concept ‘conflict of interest’ within the context of higher education and the public sector at large.

Membaca Ambiguitas pada Ilustrasi Visual Narasi Pembelajaran Sejarah di Media Sosial

Sejarah dipelajari melalui berbagai metode menggunakan berbagai media yang berkembang mengikuti perkembangan teknologi. Belajar sejarah tidak lagi membosankan karena dimungkinkan sang pembelajar bebas memilih media yang cocok dan disukainya, termasuk penggunaan berbagai ilustrasi visual. Belajar sejarah menjadi semakin menarik, ketika dilakukan oleh reenactor yang melibatkan penggunaan kostum dan merekayasa impresian sebagaimana serdadu pada jaman perang dahulu. Namun pembelajaran sejarah ternyata menciptakan berbagai narasi yang sarat kepentingan serta menjadi artikulasi dari hidden agenda. Pembelajaran yang juga berpotensi menciptakan kebingungan visual, ketika banyak kreator konten mencampuir-adukan ilustrasi visual secara bebas dan mengabaikan otentisitasnya. Alih-alih sebagai pendongkrak daya tarik yang bebas menggunakan cuplikan dokumentasi sejarah, film komersiil, bahkan dokumentasi drama teatrikal peringatan peperangan sebagai ilustrasi visual pendukung konten tentang pertempuran. Ilustrasi visual itu disusun serampangan yang hanya mengutamakan dramatisasi, mengabaikan otentisitas dan time frame. Ilustrasi visual itu malah menjadi bentuk ambiguitas konten kesejarahan. Paper ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan studi pustaka dan wawancara kemudian analisis visual menggunakan sudut pandang semiologi Barthesian.

Anxiety and Depression in COVID-19 Times

The millennial generation has been known as the most anxious and depressed one, due to lack of more physical attachment. During these COVID-19 times, these problem had been widened for everyone - many had been panic about the illness, the media had played an awful hole on it, creating a scenario of huge risk for lives and jobs. We are facing a perfect storm, where we are not allowed to do most of the recreation and healthie programs - like visit the ones beloved, go to gym, go to a party. The use of internet have a lot of misinformation about the pandemic and even physicians, scientists and health politicians overload us with useless information. It was really hard to identify what was important. In this situation, dealing with uncertainty, anxiety and depression had created a huge problem for physicians and psychologists. How to help and support that. There are many strategies that we have used. First to diminish the search of information over COVID-19, selecting one trustable source. Second, contact your beloved ones, if possible with video call on an everyday basis. Third, develop a routine of physical activities in order to keep your body health. Fourth try to develop a health pattern of food. Together they can diminish the chance of having anxiety and depression. But if you need support for a professional, it’s important to have teams of professional available to give attention to that issues. The very first is a phone support or internet support, by teams that could discuss the problems and develop a personal strategy to deal with this situation. But when that is not enough, we must have a consultation with a physician or a psychologist. The approach must discuss fillings, worries and how to plan this isolation times. Most of us have a hidden agenda and fear that must be addressed and at this time it is important to allow the patients to talk about freely, and to develop empathy with their worries. After that we can promote some activities to diminish the fillings of anxiety and depression.