Trans Internet-Zeitschrift für Kulturwissenschaften 16. Nr. Dezember 2005
 

8.3. Innovation and Reproduction in Black Cultures and Societies: A comparative Dialogue and Lessons for the Future
Herausgeber | Editor | Éditeur: Erhabor S. Idemudia (University of Namibia, Windhoek)

Dokumentation | Documentation | Documentation


Report: Innovation and Reproduction in Black Cultures and Societies: A comparative Dialogue and Lessons for the Future

Erhabor S. Idemudia (University of Namibia, Windoek)
[BIO]

Introduction and background

Globalization has necessitated that the world accept changes particularly in developing societies. The genesis of change is anchored on new innovations. The section themes on these innovations were aptly discussed at the IRICS-INST conference such as globalization and mental health, innovations in education etc. with a view of fostering developments in black societies and understanding lessons to be learnt for the future.

Highlights of the Section

Papers presented in the Section include: Global movement and health potential of black migrants in Germany: A study of mental health indices using MMPI (Erhabor Sunday IDEMUDIA, University of Namibia, Windhoek Namibia). The paper, empirical in approach linked globalization and movement and its attendant mental health implications using MMPI (a psychological instrument) to profile the nature of mental health report of African migrants living in Germany.

Another empirical paper presented titled ‘Innovations and Educational Development: Literacy difficulties amongst Namibian Herero-English bilingual school children-do they occur in one or both analysis?’ (Veii, K. University of Namibia, Windhoek Namibia) extensively dealt with children’s performance on different psychological measures for English and Herero speaking languages. An in-depth analysis of implications for new and emerging innovations in the Namibian educational system was discussed.

Olukayode Ayooluwa Afolabi and Moses Shaka Agbonkhese (of the Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma Nigeria and Rhode Island, USA respectively) also discussed a theoretical paper on "Migration and development in Africa: A psychosocial analysis".

‘Revolutionary politics and the emerging innovations in Nigerian educational system-dialogue and lessons for the future" was a paper presented by Benedict o. Emunemu, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. The paper x-rayed the Nigerian educational systems including the role of World Bank on the educational system of developing societies and this generated debates on the way forward for Nigerian educational system.

Robin R. Cruz (Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) presented a highly interesting paper on "To be black or to be African? Dilemmas and paradoxes in Orisha (Orisa) religion in Brazil" while Finex Nghlovu (Zimbabwe) also discussed "Self-induced Tsunamis, internal migrations ad cultural innovations in 21 st Century Zimbabwe. Peace Ibeagha (University of Ibadan) also presented an empirical paper on "Cultural factors and mood: Adolescent irritability pattern among marketing and non-marketing south east ethnic families".

Papers presented attracted questions from participants and also generated future research questions. For example both practical and theoretical solutions on how to prevent the current migration flow to Europe and the USA among Africans and what can be done in the home and receiving countries. Other future lessons concerns the educational systems in Namibia and Nigeria and several other issues highlighted such as the difference between blackness and an African were points of hallmarks. Finally, some of the papers also generated cultural, educational, social and gender issues.

The IRICS-INST conference, no doubt created the expected medium for exchange of experiences among Africans and those working with Africans and black societies. The opportunity helped us to meet each other at a cross-cultural cross road to bring about some understanding at a deep level notwithstanding some differences that were encountered particularly on the debate of being black and being African. In doing so, we were able to attend fundamental questions and dealt with some of the problems and challenges of our existence.

© Erhabor S. Idemudia (University of Namibia, Windoek)


8.3. Innovation and Reproduction in Black Cultures and Societies: A comparative Dialogue and Lessons for the Future

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TRANS       Inhalt | Table of Contents | Contenu  16 Nr.


For quotation purposes:
Erhabor S. Idemudia (University of Namibia, Windoek): Report: Innovation and Reproduction in Black Cultures and Societies: A comparative Dialogue and Lessons for the Future. In: TRANS. Internet-Zeitschrift für Kulturwissenschaften. No. 16/2005. WWW: http://www.inst.at/trans/16Nr/08_3/idemudia_bericht16.htm

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