Scientific Director & Chief Editor
Komla M. Avono (Ph.D.)
ISSN 2710-4699 Online
3 issues per year
Poetry as a Travelogue: AncestralLogic & CaribbeanBlues as a Journey back to the African People’s Fragmented History
Abstract
AncestralLogic & CaribbeanBlues (1993) is the fourth collection issued by the Ghanaian poet Kofi Anyidoho. The book represents an important literary endeavour through which the poet reflects from a pan African perspective on the mutilation of the black race throughout history. This article analyses the collection of poems from a postcolonial theoretical lens, arguing that it serves as a poetic travelogue through which Anyidoho revisits the fragmented, traumatic history of African peoples and highlights their enduring resilience. This is done through the concept of Sankofa that allows the reader to capture the particular interest that the poet devotes throughout the entire collection to the conditions of the descendants of Africans in the Caribbean. The survey has thus allowed to shed light on the people’s enduring challenge against Western hegemonic tutelage allowing them to progressively rise up from the endemic subaltern conditions that is their lot.
English SMS Language Use: Between Linguistic Appropriation and Identity Affirmation Among English Learners
Abstract
This article explores the role of English SMS language as a vehicle for linguistic appropriation and identity affirmation among non-native English learners. Drawing on linguistic identity theories and the sociocultural approach to learning, it analyses how digital exchanges, digital interactions via WhatsApp, constitute spaces for linguistic experimentation, socialization, and identity construction. Using a qualitative methodology combining corpus analysis and questionnaires, this research highlights learners’ linguistic creativity and their ability to negotiate their English-speaking identities in a multilingual environment. The results invite us to reconsider pedagogical practices by valuing the skills developed during these digital interactions and to recognize text messaging as a powerful tool for learning and social emancipation.
The Role of Machine Translation in African Languages: Potentials and Pitfalls
Abstract
This article examines the evolving role of machine translation (MT) in the context of African languages, highlighting its potential for linguistic equity and digital inclusion. With over 2,000 languages spoken across the continent, MT technologies present a unique opportunity to bridge linguistic divides, enhance access to information and services, and promote cultural and educational inclusion across diverse linguistic communities. However, deploying MT in African contexts is fraught with challenges. These include the scarcity of high-quality linguistic data, the structural and typological complexity of many African languages, and the lack of culturally adaptive translation models. The majority of extant MT systems are optimized for high-resource languages, frequently resulting in low accuracy and cultural misrepresentation when applied to African languages. The article posits a multidisciplinary, locally grounded approach to MT development, prioritizing the creation of inclusive datasets, investing in low-resource language technologies, and integrating cultural and contextual awareness into translation models. It is imperative that these issues are addressed in order to ensure that MT can serve as a tool for linguistic equity and digital inclusion across the continent.
Beyond Dystopian Tragedy: Louise O’Neill’s Dystopian Martyrs as Models of Resistance to the Beauty Myth
Abstract
Louise O’Neill’s Only Ever Yours is received as a young adult dystopian novel which, through its fatalistic depiction of women’s oppression, functions as a cautionary tale about the normative beauty discourses conveyed by contemporary popular media. Without questioning the effectiveness of the dystopian tragic scenarios to warn and educate, this article investigates whether the martyrs of O’Neill’s dystopian regime embody resistance. Through the lens of Naomi Wolf’s theory of the beauty myth, it examines the politics of O’Neill’s characterisation and argues that, though grounded on dystopian fatalism, O’Neill’s portrayal of women goes beyond mere dystopian tragedy to serve as a model for resistance to dominant beauty ideologies in post-Celtic Tiger Ireland. While the character of isabel [sic], through her defiant eating and dressing habits, demonstrates a rejection of consumerism and the aesthetic conformity, freida’s [sic] critical awakening offers a confessional narrative that encourages readers to question internalised beauty standards.
Human Predicament in Stoppard’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (1966)
Abstract
This article investigates the theatrical and philosophical representation of the human condition in Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern are Dead (1966). It explores Stoppard’s tragicomic depiction of modern existential anxieties, with an emphasis on the meaning of existence and mortality within a world stripped of spirituality and direction. It also analyses the role of drama performance in confronting life’s uncertainties and in fostering meaningful human connections. While closely analysing the existential dilemmas of Stoppard’s characters, this study situates his work within a broader intellectual tradition. It engages in a rich dialogue with the writings of prominent twentieth century poets, playwrights, and philosophers. In doing so, it positions Stoppard’s play as a significant contribution to modern philosophical theatre. It is a compelling reflection on the collective search for meaning in a chaotic, modern cultural landscape.
A Study of Phonological Correlates between the Lingua Franca Core (LFC), Received Pronunciation and the Nigerian English Accent (NEA)
Abstract
English as a Lingua Franca (ELF) has shifted global linguistic priorities by emphasizing mutual intelligibility over adherence to native-speaker norms. This study examines the extent to which the Nigerian English Accent (NEA) aligns with Jenkins’ Lingua Franca Core (LFC) – a set of pronunciation features identified as essential for effective ELF communication. Using comparative phonological analysis, the study draws on segmental descriptions of Nigerian English by Awonusi (2004) and Adetugbo (2004), alongside Jenkins’ (2000, 2007) LFC framework. The findings reveal that NEA shares significant phonological features with the LFC, particularly in the preservation of voicing contrasts and initial consonant clusters, suggesting strong potential for intelligibility in ELF contexts. However, divergences such as vowel neutralization, interdental fricative substitutions, and inconsistent nuclear stress may hinder clarity in more complex communicative settings. These features, while common in many World Englishes varieties, highlight areas for targeted pedagogical attention. The study concludes that Nigerian English, as a localized variety, aligns more closely with intelligibility-focused ELF norms than with traditional native-speaker models like Received Pronunciation. Consequently, pronunciation teaching in Nigeria should prioritize features affecting intelligibility rather than enforcing native-like accuracy, supporting learners to communicate effectively while maintaining linguistic identity.
Investment in Human Capital and the Ghanaian Sustainable Development in Darko’s Between Two Worlds
Abstract
When developing his theory of human capital, Theodore William Schultz contends: “The quality of human effort can be greatly improved and its productivity enhanced…. The investment in human capital accounts for most of the impressive rise in the real earnings per worker” (1). The theory sustains that investing in human capital develops his or her productivity, economy and life. This vision is not different from the African postcolonial politics. Africa, conceived as a local space, requires its nations to invest in its human capital to get rid of the colonial poverty. This has always been the concern of the postcolonial Pan-African thinkers. Marcus Garvey’s “Africa for the Africans” is the nativist slogan that perfectly translates this Pan-African vision of investing in human capital for the sustainable development of the African countries. Using the theory of investing in human capital, this article argues that Amma Darko represents in Between Two Worlds this Pan-African leaders’ politics of investing in human capital for the local development of the African countries. Since with colonial heritage in Ghana the dying of the traditional economic system by Western monetary system gives room to the colonial poverty, Nkrumah invests in the human capital for the development of Ghana. Analysing Darko’s novel from the point of view of Theodore William Schultz’s economic concept of investment in human capital, this article concludes that Nkrumah invests in local and diasporic human capital for the sustainable development of the Ghanaian society.
General Ulysses S. Grant: From the American Civil War Battles to the White House
Abstract
This article examines General Ulysses S. Grant’s political and military legacy, in his progression from being a Union general during the American Civil War to the President of the United States. As a war leader with decisive battlefield records, Grant emerged as a national hero whose success on the battlefield propelled him to the White House. As the eighteenth U.S. president (1869–1877), Grant had the challenging task of reconstructing a fragmented nation during the Reconstruction era. The article explores how Grant’s military experience influenced his political values, especially his dedication to upholding the Union and protecting the rights of emancipated African Americans. It also addresses the significant challenges he faced in office as well, such as corruption scandals that plagued his administration and damaged public trust. By analysing key moments from both his military campaigns and presidency, the study offers a more balanced understanding of Grant as a war-tested leader motivated by moral conviction, and rooted in political complexity. From his speeches, letters, and contemporary records, Grant emerges not only as a man of action but also as a pivotal figure in America’s transformation during the post-war 19th century. This article employs a mixed- research approach drawing on New historicism, and Psychobiography as interpretive frameworks.
Immigration Dreams, Gender Struggles, and Disillusionment in the Cosmopolitan Spaces of The Empress by Tanika Gupta
Abstract
In The Empress, the British female playwright Tanika Gupta describes the immigrant experience in Cosmopolitan London. Through the narratives of the main protagonists Abdul Karim and Rani Das, the play puts forward the cultural exchange between Indian and English subjects. It depicts both the difficulties and opportunities encountered by these characters as a result of cultural exchange and integration. This study aims to show how cosmopolitanism shapes and is shaped by the immigrant experience, revealing both the advantages and disadvantages of multicultural interactions. Homi Bhabha’s (1994) postcolonial concepts will serve as a theoretical basis for this analysis.
The Functional Uniqueness of Wessex in the Works of Thomas Hardy
Abstract
This article examines the literary and symbolic functions of Wessex in the novels of Thomas Hardy. Wessex, a fictionalized version of southwest England, serves both as a physical setting and a narrative device that shapes themes such as progress, sexuality, fate, and naturalism. The Wessex is single eyes, alone in the world, beautiful place and meaningful area which is not a surprise guest in the life of Thomas Hardy. The aim is to demonstrate the intrinsic value of this mythical region on Hardy’s literary production and worldview.
Translinguism as a Reason for Transculturality in the Narrative Fiction of Kangni Alem
Abstract
Translinguism is becoming more and more motif which crosses the diegetic universe of Francophone narrative fiction. By its obsessive redeployment, the concept aligns with the dynamics of transculturality. Thus, in the corpus, which serves as the basis for this development, languages interact with the French language to produce coherent and intelligible narratives. From the perspective of Basarab Nicolescu’s transdisciplinarity, this article aims to explore the functioning of translinguism and its axiology through the writing of the Togolese writer Kangni Alem. For that purpose, the argumentation addresses the aesthetic and symbolic dimensions of the English language as well as the inclusion of the writer’s mother tongue gbe in the lens of language globalization.
Private Sphere, Public Sphere and Political Sphere: Angelina Emily Grimké (1805-1879) and Sarah Moore Grimké (1792-1873), Two Symbols of Social Commitment and Resilience
Abstract
The Grimké sisters, through their exemplary social commitment and unparalleled resilience, represent a typical example of women who came to feminism through abolitionism. These examples are especially remarkable considering their backgrounds. Our study focuses on how the Grimké sisters, drawing on their daily lives and personal experiences, were able to wage intense and courageous lifelong struggles for the abolition of Black slavery and the reconsideration of the place and role of women in American society. Their political career was all too short. But, with fascinating resilience, they were among the very first women to seriously analyze women’s oppression, even though most of their arguments were based on the Bible. They violently condemned patriarchy and made women feel the bonds that united them.
Economic empowerment of women in rural areas of Benin: the case of beneficiaries of the Single Window for Social Protection – GUPS in Bonou
Abstract
This research analyzes income management strategies and economic empowerment of artisan and merchant women in Damè-Wogon, Bonou commune, Benin. Through a qualitative approach supported by quantitative data involving 50 GUPS beneficiaries, the research draws on methodological individualism of Simmel and Weber (1977) and strategic analysis of Crozier and Friedberg (1977) to analyze the influence of social protection mechanisms on economic empowerment. Data collected through questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and direct observation reveal that small businesses (food vendors, spice sellers, fish sellers and manufactured goods vendors) and small crafts (hairdressing, tailoring, weaving and photography) constitute the main income-generating activities. Analysis of management strategies shows that 42% of income is invested in children’s education, 18% in personal needs, 16% in reinvestments, 10% in goods purchases, 8% in savings, 4% in workshop construction and 2% in taxes. These findings reveal diversified income utilization strategies and highlight the significant contribution of GUPS to women’s economic empowerment in the Beninese rural context
Social Status, Sexual Division of Labor and Socioeconomic Role of Female Slaves in Pre-Colonial Baoulé
Abstract
Before colonization, Baoulé society assigned social roles based on gender: men and women performed specific tasks deemed appropriate to their sex. However, this division was not applied equally to everyone, particularly enslaved women. This study shows that, although they assisted their mistresses, enslaved women did not fully enjoy the rights associated with femininity in the gender-based division of labor. Based on oral interviews conducted in several Baoulé villages and the analysis of colonial written sources, the research reveals that enslaved status restricted women’s access to certain gender-based protections. Often considered movable property, they were forced to carry out tasks deemed masculine, especially when there was a shortage of male slaves. Moreover, their reproductive role within the servile system deprived them of any rights over their children, who automatically became the master’s property. This study thus highlights a double marginalization: enslaved women were denied the privileges granted to free women and subjected to a system that exploited both their bodies and their labor, disregarding the gender norms that otherwise governed Baoulé society.
Impact of Study Grants on the Choice of Academic Programs in Public Universities of Benin
Abstract
This article analyzes the impact of study allowances on the choice of university courses in Benin, revealing a tension between state regulatory strategies and the individual aspirations of students. Through a mixed approach combining the analysis of regulatory texts (2016-2023) and interviews with 25 key players (institutional managers, teachers, students), the research shows that the coupling of study allowances with study courses introduces a fundamental bias of assessment that massively orients enrolment on the basis of baccalaureate performance alone. Students, constrained by financial imperatives, adopt “calculatory” choices, favouring certain courses despite a personal lack of interest in them, all of which leads to high dropout rates and academic demotivation. The government, via the MESRS, justifies this regulation by a logic of controlling the cost of study grants, but reproduces a hierarchy of knowledge (Bourdieu 17) and limits freedom of choice. The article highlights the responsibilities shared between the State, universities and students, and advocates for a reform integrating individualized criteria (cognitive potential; alignment between study and professional projects) and a balance between strategic courses, fundamental studies and classical humanities, in order to reconcile economic efficiency, educational equity and the preservation of academic diversity in Benin
New Technologies and Cinema in the Promotion of Intangible Cultural Heritage at the Ouidah History Museum
Abstract
Located in the former Portuguese fort of Ouidah, the Ouidah History Museum serves a dual purpose: as a site of remembrance for the transatlantic slave trade and as a space for promoting local cultural expressions. Despite the richness of the region’s intangible heritage—particularly vodoun rituals, songs, dances, and artisanal knowledge—traditional museographic methods struggle to make this heritage accessible. This article explores the potential of new technologies and cinema as innovative tools for cultural mediation and the safeguarding of living heritage. It begins with an analysis of digital technologies applied to museums in Africa and worldwide, highlighting immersive tools such as augmented reality, virtual reality, and interactive installations, which can transform museum visits into sensory and participatory experiences. Although technical and financial constraints can hinder their implementation in African contexts, pioneering initiatives such as the Zinsou Foundation in Benin show promising developments. The case study “Vodoun, Voices and Visions of a Living Heritage” proposes a hybrid museum project combining documentary film, immersive recordings, digital animations, and community participation. The article advocates for the creation of an audiovisual production center, the training of young filmmakers, the development of regional networks of connected museums, and the design of a national digital museology strategy
The Rhetorical Effects of Inversion Techniques: A Case Study of Germinal, The Red and the Black, Dangerous Liaisons
Abstract
This paper examines the rhetorical effects of interrogative inversion constructions in Germinal by Emile Zola, The Red and the Black by Stendhal, and Dangerous Liaisons by Laclos. The analysis is based on three complementary approaches: syntactic, semantic, and pragmatic. Syntactically, the insertion of words or groups of words into interrogative constructions gives them a rhetorical character. We conclude that rhetorical interrogative constructions are polyphonic and represent a highly stylistic linguistic phenomenon.
On Negative Contraction in Baoulé
Abstract
This study investigates negative contraction in Baule, a Kwa language of Côte d’Ivoire. It is based on fieldwork conducted with Baule speakers from the Tiébissou department. The analysis identifies two primary negative morphemes: má̰ for verbal clauses and ná̰ for non-verbal clauses and imperative statements. In spoken discourse, these morphemes undergo contraction to á and á̰ due to linguistic economy. Within complex sentences containing multiple verbs, contraction manifests as the deletion of one of the negative markers. Negative constructions in Baule thus apply to a wide range of syntactic structures, demonstrating the flexibility of the negative system, where contraction serves as a syntactic optimization mechanism while preserving the negative meaning across diverse types of utterances.
Germany and African Americans: An Analysis of an Overlooked InteractionOn Negative Contraction in Baoulé
Abstract
Globalization has profoundly transformed the humanities and social sciences, compelling these disciplines to rethink their theoretical and methodological frameworks in light of global cultural and political interdependencies. In this context, the study of relations between Germany and Black America reveals complex historical dynamics, major political stakes, and significant cultural transformations. This article explores transatlantic interactions through an interdisciplinary approach, highlighting intellectual exchanges, identity representations, and contemporary debates. By examining German studies from a globalized perspective, it addresses the new challenges and opportunities related to integrating voices and narratives that are often marginalized in the analysis of international and cultural relations. Drawing on a diverse corpus comprising diplomatic archives, Afro-American literary texts translated into German, and scholarly articles from both cultural spheres, this study employs a comparative and historical approach to examine the modes of circulation and resonance of identity representations within the transatlantic space
Reasons for Use and User Experience of WhatsApp as an Informal Teaching Tool in Distance Learning
Abstract
This study examines the informal use of WhatsApp as a teaching tool by distance learning learners. It analyzes the reasons for using this application as well as the experience of using it in a training context. The results highlight that ease of access and ease of use are the main reasons for its adoption. WhatsApp is primarily used for coordination and sharing resources and information. The study demonstrates the importance of integrating accessibility, availability, and usability criteria when choosing digital platforms for distance learning.
Honoré de Balzac, or the Eternal Return of the Dead
Abstract
Honoré de Balzac stands among the most influential novelists in French literature. His prolific output includes Le Colonel Chabert (1832), a work that explores social mores and delves into themes such as war, identity, betrayal, death, and the notion of eternal return. The narrative follows Hyacinthe Chabert, a colonel in Napoleon I’s Grand Army who, presumed dead and buried, reemerges to challenge the social order and reclaim his former identity.
This article seeks to examine the motif of the dead returning in Balzac’s novel, as embodied by Colonel Chabert, and to illustrate how the character’s fate is shaped by a persistent and tragic misfortune. Specifically, it investigates the recurring patterns and symbolic structures that underpin Chabert’s resurrection, drawing on the theoretical framework of ethnocriticism developed by Jean-Marie Privat and Marie Scarpa.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
The women potters of Bolou are experiencing difficulties in the production of various pottery materials. Nevertheless, they are developing winning strategies to empower themselves and cover their needs and those of their families. This article is based on a qualitative approach, using in-depth individual interviews, focus groups, observation and photography. The results underline the cultural originality of pottery through the specialization of the villages Adanto, Bolougan, Klokpoe and Kpeme in the production of different utensils and the preservation of cooperative solidarity among women potters. In addition, the economic usefulness of this township’s pottery products in households and religious practices encourage trade and tourism, which provide women potters with income, which they invest in personal expenses and children’s education.
The Creative Dynamism of the Image of Women in the Spanish Novel of the Golden Age and the 20th Century
Abstract
Women hold a significant place in Spanish novelistic production. Various representations of women emerge, depending on the author’s sensitivity. Two key periods drew our attention due to the dynamic role that the image of women plays in the Spanish novel: The Golden Age and the 20th century. This study seeks to demonstrate that the image of women in Spanish literature is an evolving one. During the Golden Age, women were seen primarily as supporting figures for men, thus victims of machismo and social inequality. Their presence often symbolized temptation, and they were portrayed as sexual objects. However, in the 20th-century novel, women are no longer depicted as “sweet demons,” but rather as individuals with dignity and honor, who strive to uphold both. In this light, the female figure is no longer confined to the domestic sphere; she becomes a model of admirable virtues and a true agent of development. Following a thematic approach, we propose in this work to analyze this creative dynamism of the image of women in the evolution of Spanish society.
Social Integration of Retirees from Kloto in Togo, in the Light of the Nature of their Link with their Community of Origin
Abstract
Despite the financial support they provide for retirees, Togolese authorities have taken no measure regarding their social integration. This research deals with social integration of retirees in Kloto prefecture. Most of the time, retirees from Kloto prefecture go back to their home communities to spend their retirement. At their resettlement, they are confronted with socio-cultural obstacles, which affect their integration. This raises the following question: what is the kind of social relation the retirees maintained with their community during the career period, which guarantees their social integration during retirement? This article aims at analysing the conditions under which social life during career determines the retiree’s level of integration and acceptance. Data collection consists of qualitative and quantitative approaches. Results achieved reveal that the social reintegration of retirees into their community depends on the way their social life during their activity period is perceived. Thus, the more socially isolated they were from their community during their pre-retirement period, the less accepted and integrated they will be. The social importance of this research is to show that there is a social and cultural life to organize for retirement period, and that reforms can be undertaken to improve the social life of retirees in Togo.
The Schooling of Indigenous Children in Loundoungou, Republic of the Congo: Between Systemic Marginalization and Educational Resilience
Abstract
This article examines the challenges of schooling for indigenous children in Loundoungou, Republic of Congo, where they experience systemic marginalisation from Bantu children. Through a qualitative analysis based on interviews with teachers and field observations, we examine the structural, socio-cultural and pedagogical obstacles facing these children. The results reveal a complex dynamic of exclusion, influenced by historical, economic and identity-related factors. Despite these difficulties, some indigenous children manage to succeed at school, demonstrating educational resilience. Recommendations are put forward for inclusive and equitable education
Spain and Irregular Sub-Saharan Immigration: From the Effect of Sophisticated Myth to Concerted Inaction
Abstract
This article offers a critical reading of irregular sub-Saharan migration to Spain, linking the symbolic, political and diplomatic dimensions of the phenomenon. It shows that this migration, often perceived as an imminent danger, is constructed as a sophisticated myth, that is, a socially and politically instrumentalised narrative, fed by the media, African imaginations and alarmist discourse. At the same time, state and European responses, far from being non-existent, are the result of concerted inaction: a strategy of delegated management, marked by the outsourcing of controls, the contractualisation of security and the fragmentation of responsibilities. This form of migration governance, based on repression rather than support, is proving ineffective and contrary to the principles of justice. The article argues for a rethinking of Spanish policy along three lines: deconstructing the imaginary crisis; putting an end to security delegation in favour of egalitarian diplomacy; and opening up legal channels for movement. Through this approach, migration is seen not as a threat, but as a structural and potentially beneficial phenomenon, provided that it is managed, humanised and integrated into a framework of Euro-African cooperation that respects fundamental rights. Spain could thus become a driving force behind a change in the migration paradigm
Figures of Mother in Maghrebi French-Language Novels
Abstract
This article’s aim is to analyze the representations of the maternal character in texts written by five French-speaking novelists from the Maghreb. Within the framework of postcolonial theories, according to Yves Clavaron’s analytical model, this study is based on the hypothesis that the character of the mother embodies a negative figure in these authors. The discourse on the maternal figure appears on the one hand to reflect the authors’ desire to challenge patriarchy and the prevailing misogyny and on the other hand, to invite a redefinition of feminine identity.
Orthographic Challenges in Representing the Vowel Phonemes [ø] and [œ]: A Case Study of French as a Foreign Language (FLE) Students at Level 200, Department of French Education – UEW
Abstract
This study investigates the challenges faced by second-year French as Foreign Language (FLE) students at the University of Education, Winneba (UEW) in writing correctly the corresponding graphemes of the phonemes [ø] and [œ]. A test of dictation comprising ten items was administered to assess their proficiency in these specific phonemes. The analysis revealed a significant difficulty among students in accurately spelling in writing the graphemes corresponding to the pair of phonemes [ø] and [œ], attributed to the absence of these sounds in their first (L1) and second (L2) languages. This finding underscores the necessity for targeted phonological awareness creation and training to enhance their oral proficiency in French.
A Gendered Approach in Bioethical Analysis in the Era of Biomedical Technoscience: What Epistemological Relevance?
Abstract
This article evaluates the epistemological appropriateness of a gendered approach to bioethics. Drawing on the foundations of the discipline (Potter; Beauchamp & Childress), it examines the contributions and limitations of gendered perspectives (relational autonomy, casuistry) in issues such as assisted reproductive technology, menopause, and intergenerational responsibilities. This text shows that, while these approaches enrich the analysis of concrete situations, they expose decisions to the risk of inconsistency and normative fragmentation. Drawing on Hans Jonas’s ethics of responsibility, this article proposes refocusing bioethics on universalizable principles that reaffirm the centrality of the human being, while leaving room for contextual sensitivity when it can be justified and deliberate.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
Jean Marie Adiafffi characterizes Bossonism as an African religion whose aim is human liberation from all spiritual and mental alienation. In argumentative logic of the practice of Nzassa, the Ivorian writer stands out in his collection, Of lightning and lightning (1980) by a singular linguistic practice, marked by a subversion of conventions and quest for inclusiveness. ADIAFFI’s writing, woven between theocentrism and neo glottophagy, reveals indications of a resolutely inclusive approach. What are these clues? How does the poet present them in this work? In our communication, we will show how the author presents the elements that militate in favor of inclusive writing.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
Between 1946 and 1960, political divergences and strategic choices in the struggle for Togo’s independence generated a deep social fracture, marked by the inability of Togolese society to build the unity required for the economic progress of the young state. Rivalries for political hegemony between nationalist leaders—former allies turned opponents—and between progressives, once adversaries, further eroded the social fabric. This crisis culminated in the coup d’état of 13 January 1963, the very first in postcolonial Africa, which led to the assassination of President Sylvanus Olympio. In its aftermath, the need for reconciliation appeared as both an urgent imperative and a daunting challenge in the face of divisions, injustices, and animosities. The Insurrectional Military Committee (CMI) entrusted this mission to Nicolas Grunitzky, leader of the Togolese Party of Progress, recalled from exile in Dahomey (present-day Benin). However, after four years in power, his inability to overcome these fractures became evident, and his government was peacefully overthrown on 13 January 1967. Lieutenant-Colonel Étienne Eyadéma Gnassingbé seized power on 14 April 1967. Through the creation of the National Reconciliation Committee (CNR), he pledged to rebuild national cohesion and promote a spirit of unity. This policy culminated in the founding of the Rally of the Togolese People (RPT) in 1969, a single-party framework designed to cement national unity. The present study analyzes the action and results of this policy of national unity, from Eyadéma’s rise to power through the popular uprisings of 1990.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
This paper deals with the congruence between the notions of language deployed in the teaching / learning of language activities (grammar, spelling of use, grammatical spelling, conjugation, vocabulary) and writing skills in middle school, especially in the 6th grade, by analyzing both the practices of teachers and those of learners. Aiming to show the link that exists between the teaching of language activities and the training of learners in writing, this research puts on the table of reflection a thorny question of the didactics of writing, that of the impact of language notions on the scriptural practices of learners. The interest of this study therefore stems from the desire to raise teachers’ and learners’ awareness of the capitalization of language activities in the development of learners’ scriptural skills for better text production. The results of the field study show that this congruence relationship is little known by both teachers and learners. An optimization of writing skills necessarily involves the development of a metalanguage awareness in the development of learners’ writing skills
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
This article focuses on the sociopolitical image of French-speaking West Africa as represented in two novels by Ibrahim Ly, within the field of imagery and their networks of meaning. The central issue is tied to this still burning theme, concerning the mindset that weighed on African society of the past and continues to hinder its aspirations for progress. The two novels analyzed express the author’s revolt against traditional African society and the current military regime, reflecting both his political commitment and his desire to see rapid changes take place in his country and, more broadly, in West Africa.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
This work has a dual purpose. On the one hand, it aims to highlight Jean de la Fontaine’s innate propensity to clean up the morals of his fundamentally depraved era across all social classes. In truth, through his Fables, he strives to educate humans by instilling in them cardinal virtues, in line with his worldview, imbued with higher values. Thus, in his immense body of work, the fabulist offers a diverse range of themes, foremost among which are politics and society, which are integral to people’s daily lives. On the other hand, La Fontaine, in the construction of his Fables, demonstrates an unparalleled combinatorial dexterity. He uses all the subtleties of narrative, all the devices of discourse and even rhetoric to satisfy the demands of his art, but also to please a knowledgeable and demanding audience.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
This study analyzes the evolution of the sociopolitical organization of the Bikpakpaam from the 16th century to the 1930s. Based on a corpus of written (German and French administrations) and oral (2023–2024 surveys in Togo and Ghana), we describe the pre-colonial structure based on family (lidicaal), lineage (limaantɔl) and clan (linikeel), governed by the gerontocracy (Utindaan, Uniŋkpil, council of elders). We show how the colonial administration introduced chieftaincy (Tibɔtiir), reconfigured local authority and modified political, economic and sociocultural practices (collective work, cash crops, local justice). Finally,the article discusses the ambivalences of this institution: initially contested, it became a vector of change while giving rise to internal rivalries.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
This article analyzes the discursive manifestations of violence in Ahmadou Kourouma’s Allah n’est pas obligatoire (Allah Is Not Obliged), using Critical Discourse Pragmatics (CDP), Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), and Linguistic Pragmatics. The aim is to examine how linguistic choices and speech acts in the text contribute to the construction and propagation of violence. The analysis reveals the use of a hybrid language, mixing French with Malinke expressions. Lexical choices and speech acts participate in a process of dehumanization of the other, thus justifying violence against them. In addition, the repetition of insults and swear words creates a climate where verbal violence becomes commonplace and accepted, legitimizing violence in the characters’ everyday interactions. Some characters also manipulate language to influence the perceptions and beliefs of others, legitimizing acts of violence through moral or religious justifications. By exposing the reader to these linguistic mechanisms of violence, Kourouma invites him to critically reflect on the sociopolitical dynamics of West Africa, thus contributing to a better understanding of the power structures and ideologies that perpetuate violence.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
This study explores the morphosyntactic challenges faced by learners of French as a Foreign Language (FFL) in using the past participle agreement with the auxiliary avoir, particularly when preceded by the relative pronoun que. Grounded in a quantitative research design, the study employed two key data collection instruments: structured tests to FFL students from three distinct educational backgrounds: Senior High Schools (SHS), teacher training colleges (écoles normales), and francophone institutions. The analysis focused on students’ written responses, using descriptive statistics to examine their performance on items requiring correct application of past participle agreement rules. Results indicate a general difficulty among learners in applying these rules, especially in contexts involving complex syntactic structures. Notably, performance varied across the groups, with teacher training students generally outperforming their peers from SHS and francophone backgrounds in most test items. The findings highlight the need for targeted pedagogical interventions to improve learners’ mastery of morphosyntactic features, particularly in written French expression. This study contributes to ongoing efforts to enhance FFL instruction through evidence-based approaches adapted to learners’ specific needs.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
This article examines the trajectory of the concert-party in Togo, a popular theatrical form originating from the ports of the Gulf of Guinea, its codes (itinerant advertising, dance, first open, participatory performance), and its transformations in the 21st century. Based on fieldwork (observations/interviews) and a return to historical sources (Ricard, Cole), we analyze how the form is being reconfigured (duration, gender-mixed troupes, Gazo-kini, the Kétéké vs. Asihu principle), and how it reshapes its archetypes and languages. The Gbadamassi case study illustrates a postdramaturgy that combines heritage and innovation. Finally, we discuss the challenges (funding, training, digital audiences) and the prospects for active heritage-making.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
This essay illustrates the complexity of “African” individualization processes, which are not limited to a strict dichotomy between the individual and the community, but are anchored in social compromises and rearrangements typical of contemporary African contexts. It also emphasizes the coexistence and tensions between self-assertion and relations with others, a key theme in the development of contemporary African identity. Furthermore, the essay attempts to examine the complex relationship between processes of individualization and classical forms of alterity against the backdrop of profound social, economic and cultural changes in Africa. It attempts to shed light on the transformations taking place in African societies, which have a more communal and anti-individualistic history. In this context, the article aims to analyse the social impact, in particular the weakening of classical solidarity and the restructuring of social relations in the context of globalization and liberal capitalism. To achieve its objectives, the article draws on a multidisciplinary method involving sociology, anthropology, social philosophy and literary studies. This approach facilitates the understanding of hybrid individualization processes, symbolic representations of the individual in different domains (politics, religion, culture) as well as new modalities of sociability. This study thus provides a new perspective on African modernity by emphasizing the dynamic interaction between individualism and alterity in modern societies.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
Recently, a noticeable increase in deaths associated with unhappy love experiences has been observed (cf. LNT). Against this backdrop, the present study engages with three of ‘Goethe’s most significant dramas’, namely the tragedies Stella, Egmont, and Clavigo (cf. Hinderer). It explores the issue of (voluntary) love death, focusing on its manifestations within this triadic textual corpus and its dramatic representation by the author, most especially as portrayed through the female main characters. Adopting a methodological approach grounded in the literary hermeneutics, the study examines the extent to which (voluntary) death, in connection with love, is anchored in the thematic structure of Goethe’s dramatic works. Furthermore, it elucidates the symbolic dimensions this issue assumes within the context of Goethe’s texts. Finally, the study demonstrates the new perspectives that emerge through a productive “re-reading” of these works, particularly with regard to contemporary social life.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
This article examines the representation of the city in Mario Levrero’s involuntary trilogy, La ciudad, El lugar y París, within the tradition of the urban novel. Through a three-dimensional textual reading, private spaces (oppression), public spaces (uninhabitability), and mobility (disorientation), and drawing on Lefebvre and Bauman, we show that Levrero’s urban landscape is constructed as a hostile environment. Montevideo functions as a memorial anchor; Paris as a horizon of desire whose materialization reveals the distance between the imaginary and the real city. The trilogy thus articulates a disoriented and dehumanized urban experience that interrogates the narrator’s subjectivity and his connections to others.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
Following the 1973 economic crisis, unemployment becomes widespread in Spain. To alleviate the suffering of the unemployed, the Spanish authorities offered them minimum incomes. However, these passive employment policies have limitations, and unemployment continued to affect many citizens in Spain. In order to facilitate their entry into the labor market, the Spanish public authorities implement active employment policies nationwide. Following their implementation in Spain, active employment policies divided public opinion and fueled contradictory debates. This article examines the role of active employment policies (AEPs) in Spain after the 1973 crisis. Through a documentary review (regulations, evaluations, and regional studies), we analyze the impact of active employment policies on unemployment. Despite some inherent weaknesses in the public services responsible for their implementation and the lack of an evaluation system for active employment policies, these measures contribute to promoting employment and professional integration for groups addressing difficulties in accessing the labor market. These active employment policies offer training programs, employment intermediation, entrepreneurship, career guidance, job motivation for individuals, and business bonuses.
Socio-cultural and Economic Contribution of Pottery in the Bolou Canton (Zio 2 Municipality) in Togo
Abstract
This article examines the management of war booty in Plutarch’s Life of Alexander, distinguishing between distribution to troops, honorary gifts, storage/minting, and the treatment of individuals (slavery, executions, clemency). Based on the Ozanam translation (Gallimard, 2001) and citing the internal divisions of the work, we show that Plutarch constructs an image of Alexander in which the leader’s generosity serves a strategy of loyalty and government, without excluding acts of coercion (Thebes; Gaza; Susa). The study highlights the tension between biographical praise and the reality of military predation, and specifies the narrative processes by which Plutarch justifies, qualifies, or condemns these practices.