Scientific Director & Chief Editor
Komla M. Avono (Ph.D.)
ISSN 2710-4699 Online
3 issues per year
Deficient Motherhood and its Impacts on the Male Child Development: An Approach to “Basil” in Gloria Naylor’s The Men of Brewster Place
Abstract: Unlike animals and the vegetation whose behavior and maturity are believed to be innate, human beings take time to mature as they must be educated and trained. Any gap in the training process may be fatal to the progeny. Basil (a protagonist of one of the episodes of? Gloria Naylor’s The Men of Brewster Place (1998), faces life-dismantling challenges in his young adulthood due to his mother’s deficient upbringing. This paper examines how lenient and negligent maternal parenting can affect the psychic, emotional, mental, and social development of a male child. Using the psychoanalytic approach, this study has found out that the mother’s responsibility in education is vital to male child’s successful maturing.
Keywords: Archetype, Collective Unconscious, Maturing, Guilt, Deficient Motherhood.
The Poetics of “Regnal Names” in Life and a Half and The Shameful State by Sony Labou Tansi
Abstract: The literary work of the Congolese writer Sony Labou Tansi presents a large number of characters with varying statuses. They are distinguished by the names they bear. This contribution analyzes “the names of reigns” that heads of states or sovereigns receive or attribute to themselves as soon as they take power. It shows that in the work of Sony Labou Tansi, the names are consubstantial with the exercise of power. To better circumscribe this problematic, we resort to poetics as both a theory and an approach to the literary text. Poetics is, in fact, interested in the properties of the literary text, and the character is one of them. Among the attributes of the latter, the name is undoubtedly the one which best determines its semiotic course.
Keywords: Names, Characters, Consubstantial, Poetic, Sovereigns, Power
Prince Fama in Ahmadou Kourouma’s The Suns of Independence: From Honors to Horror
Abstract : The present reflection examines Les Soleils des indépendances from the perspective of honour and horror. Centred around Prince Fama, the scenography of honour is essentially a principle that governs the life of the hero. The honour which he authoritatively wears in his finery and prestige leads to the wanderings, inconsistencies and viral deviation of the new world, embodied by the independence and its escorting trappings. Individual and collective decay ruins the vanities and vacuums of honour to give voice to a spectacularisation of horror. The description bases its relevance and strength on a textual and narrative rhetoric to which it associates an aesthetic intelligence that informs a kind of large-format image setting. The concrete expressionism of words cannot ultimately absolve the tragedy of the hero.
Keywords: Fama, Prince, Honour, Deviance, Horror, Tragedy
The Image of the Poet in Jean Vauthier’s The Dreamer
Abstract: This article proposes to analyze the image of the poet in The Dreamer by Jean Vauthier. In a world increasingly influenced by scientific discoveries which have stimulated economic expansion, and have enabled men and women to find occupations suited to their aptitudes and tastes, the question of the place of the poet and of the very importance of poetry arises acutely. In a poetic approach coupled with the method of analysis of the theatrical text of Michel Vinaver, the lyricism of Jean Vauthier in the relevant fragments reserved for the study makes it possible to examine the image of the poet and to account for the importance of poetry in today’s world.
Keywords: Science, Importance of Poetry, Poetry, the Image of the Poet, the World Today.
Lyric Enunciation and the Question of Rhythm in N’dolo Sung Poetry of Côte d’Ivoire
Abstract: In most traditional African societies, there are poetic forms for saying goodbye to the dead. These are poems that retrace facts, feats and even physical portrait of the deceased. These outpouring works make it possible to express the bruises of the community facing death. Lyric inspiration texts, they try to soften the audience. N’dolo poetry fits in this direction. It is one of the poetries that accompanies the deceased in Agni country. This poetic genre is imbued with lexemes and punctuation with a lyrical connotation. The serial rhythm highlights a lyricism of the elegiac type.
Keywords: Poetic, Lyrical enunciation, N’dolo, Elegiac, Tight rhythm, Serial rhythm.
An Anthropological Approach to Understanding Ritual Infanticide Among the Yom People of Benin
Abstract: Infanticide is often practiced by the Yom community. It is a phenomenon that consists of killing infants deemed to be witch children. No other socio-cultural group is the source of this practice, even if it exists in other forms elsewhere. The present research aims to analyze the problem of the persistence of the phenomenon of ritual infanticide in the Yom community. A qualitative methodological approach based on documentary research, observation and interviews with 51 individuals was used, using the technique of reasoned choice and snowballing. The strategic functionalist approaches of B. Malinowki and the determinism of the sociology of deviance of A. Ogien were used to analyze the data. The research reveals that children born at eight months by the buttocks, face up, beginning dentition through the upper jaw, with visible birth defects are considered a source of curse by the community. They must then be removed by physical extermination so that peace reigns in the community.
Keywords: Practices, Infanticide, Child Witches, Yom Community, Copargo
Philosophy and Humanity
Abstract: Devoted to the assessment of the relationship between Philosophy and Humanity, and recalling the significance of the claim of philosophy by Africans, this article attempts to show the absurdity of a certain conception of philosophy that would make it, the sole property of one culture to the detriment of others. Philosophy, whatever its content, is the expression of a certain attitude of (man) human being in the world, and therefore embodies the cultural identity/heritage of a people. And no people can claim to be the repository of the universal, which is only possible through the encounter of individuals. The reflection thus leads to the idea that the Western claim to be the homeland of philosophy, is a metaphysical violence and constitutes the real crisis of humanity. Hence, the need to break with the overhanging universalism in order to put forward the dialogue between cultures, the only possibility to build a lateral universal.
Keywords:Centrism, humanity, Philosophy, Universal, Universalism.
Akodesséwa (Lomé): A Market with the Features of a “Commercial Ghetto”
Abstract: The difficulties of urban integration that arise in Togolese cities require, in order to understand them, to question the social dynamics and especially the cultural logics at work. The territorial properties of the different districts in the city of Lomé determine the forms and logics of grouping of individuals. Akodessewa’s tendency towards territorial isolation is the consequence of the difficulties of professional integration and requires analyzing the system in terms of the residential trajectories of populations between Akodessewa and the territories of other neighborhoods and regions. To understand Akodesséwa’s functional logic, this research, apart from documentary research, was based on individual interviews with 34 actors from different socio-professional categories in the space dedicated to the sale of spare parts. The results obtained from the calculation of the isolation indices and the location quotient first showed a tendency towards homogeneity in the territory. It then emerged that Akodessewa fulfills a function of social but also religious recovery for the candidates for the city from the savannah region.
Keywords: Akodesséwa, Socio-Professional Integration, Religious Recovery
Social Representations of the “Génie Tchatcheur” Phenomenon in Schools in Zinder
Abstract: This paper is a reflection on the phenomenon of collective crises affecting girls in Niger’s schools in general and Zinder in connection with the social and cultural representations was in the school world concerns. This phenomenon called “Chatter genius” by the actors is the subject of sociological analysis. To corroborate these assumptions, the mixed approach has been implemented through quantitative and qualitative research. Girls affected by the “genius Chatter” the questionnaire survey has uncovered their characteristics, the description of the manifestation of the crisis, the severity of the ease of spreading its scale, and their perception of those around them. Above all, it permits direction of conflicts and difficulties of the therapeutic choice of route. Interviews with the entourage (parents, administrative and technical staff and students) and therapists also understand various interpretations of the crisis and the difficulties they create in relation to decision making.
Keywords: “Chatter genius”, Social and Cultural Representation, Possession, School Environment, Collective Crisis.
A Socio-Political Approach to Cannabis Decriminalization: The Case of Côte d’Ivoire
Abstract: Cannabis is a drug that circulates afloat in the West African sub-region. In Côte d’Ivoire, more than 20 tonnes of canned ready-to-use packaging were seized and destroyed in 2018 and more than 30 tonnes in 2019. Illegal and prohibited for both medical and domestic use, cannabis today offers certain therapeutic and commercial opportunities. While discussions are being carried out around the world to relax legislation in favor of this plant, French-speaking African countries remain silent. What is certain, the debate on the decriminalization of cannabis has been launched and no country should remain on the sidelines at the risk of losing this other strategic opportunity. How long do you have to resist? Not for long, but certainly too late.
Keywords: Cannabis, Decriminalization, Legalization, Opportunity, Illicit.
Qualitative Analysis of the Psychosocial Determinants in Youth Delinquency Choices in Côte d’Ivoire: The Case of Cybercriminals (“Brouteurs”) and Juvenile Offenders (“Microbes”)
Abstract: This study analyzes the psychological determinants of the choice of the type of delinquency by children in conflict with the law (microbe) and cybercriminals (grazers). This research is qualitative. We interviewed a microbe and a cybercriminal. These subjects were subjected to a semi-structured interview. Their words are exploited using content analysis. Subjects were interviewed for their socio-economic background, personality, peer influence or gang membership, drug addiction, use of mystical practices, misdemeanors and crimes committed. An examination of the results shows that the personality is the prominent factor, determining the shift into delinquency and the choice of the form of delinquency
Keywords: Delinquent, Microbe, Cybercriminal
Causal Explanation, Motorcycle Accident Experiences, and Risky Behaviors Among Motorcyclists in Bouaké
Abstract: Motorcycle accidents are becoming a major concern for the populations and also the municipal authorities of Bouaké. The problem of motorcycle accidents motivates this research, which aims to explain the phenomenon from the perspective of causal attribution and the experience of motorcycle accidents. The data were collected by means of a questionnaire from a sample of 200 motorcyclists ranging in age from 20 to 30 years, holding a category A license and with a seniority of 2 years. The results obtained by means of multivariate analysis of variance show that the causal attribution and the experience of motorcycle accidents, by their individual and combined effects influence the adoption of accident-prone behaviors among motorcyclists in Bouaké. It emerges from this research that the external causal explanation and the experience of motorcycle accidents must be taken into account in the prevention of motorcycle accidents.
Keywords: accidents, causal explanation, risk behavior, experience, motorcycle taxi
The Impact of Communication on Agricultural Development: The Case of the Baguinéda Irrigated Perimeter Authority in Mali
Abstract: As a country with an agricultural vocation, the development of agriculture in Mali through communication contributes to the well-being of the Malian populations, which is the stake of this study. It deals with communication for the benefit of the farm. This is to understand the use and impacts of communication on agricultural development of the irrigated perimeter Office in Baguinéda (OPIB). It is a question of knowing the operating mode of the administration of the OPIB but also the perception, the appreciation, the level of satisfaction or the wishes of the target farmers-producers. It is also knowing the induced effects and the concrete results obtained. Through a field survey, with the management of the OPIB and the producers, we managed to show the instructions for use and the effects of communication for the agricultural development of the OPIB : It is the importance of communication for agricultural development that has been corroborated. From their positive perception to the concrete results obtained, through their good appreciation, satisfaction and expectations, the producers confirmed an appropriate use, to be improved, of communication for agricultural development by the OPIB.
Keywords: Communication ; Agriculture ; Development ; OPIB ; Mali
Violence in University Settings in Niger
Abstract: This exploratory article on academic violence in Niger builds on Epstein’s shared responsibility theory. The results are conclusive and show that individuals know’s what academic violence is, but also the exisence of shared responsibility. Academic violence is a convergence of factors that produces a convergence and interaction of responsibilities. The responsibility for violence in the university environment is attributed in order to the family, to the politicians, to the school here the University and finally to the society.
Keywords: Academic violence, shared responsability, Epstein, Niger
Conflict Management Appropriation by Villages in the Commune of M’Batto
Abstract: The text analyzes the legitimation mechanisms associated with the appropriation of conflict management in the municipality of M’batto. It is based on the sanctions and fines provided for by village communities in the event of the mobilization of official regulatory bodies. Adopting an ethnosociological perspective, the data collection was carried out on the basis of observation and individual interviews. Empirically, the text intends to contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the study of the appropriation of conflict management in Côte d’Ivoire. The results of the study highlight that the rites of appropriation of conflict management in the municipality of M’batto. In addition, the conception of customary authority as a guarantor of village order; the sanctions and penalties incurred as an obstacle to recourse to state regulatory bodies and social frameworks constitute the factors in the appropriation of conflict management in the said municipality.
Keywords: Ownership of Conflict Management, Social Norms, M’batto, Côte d’Ivoire
Social Representations of Teachers and Student Engagement: A Case Study of UFHB Students in Abidjan
Abstract: This article analyzes the impact of teacher representation on study engagement among ndergraduate students enrolled in of Criminology and General Economics at Félix Houphouët-Boigny University. Analysis of data collected by questionnaire from 256 subjects reveals that the dimensions “personal identification with studies” and “valuation of studies” have significant links with the representation of the teacher. In other words, the student’s representation of his teacher plays a fundamental role in his involvement in the dimensions indicated. Regarding the dimension “perceived ability to act on studies”, the results invalidate our hypothesis. There is therefore no link between this dimension and the representation of the teacher. However, the results obtained allow recommendations to be made in terms of teaching and supervision practices for students in order to promote their involvement in studies.
Keywords: Representation, Teacher, Student, Personal Involvement
Social Discomfort in A Child of the Country and Condemned with Concern
Abstract: The restriction of individual freedom and ambitions has been a major concern for men and women over time. Securing one’s rights is an unalienable value that we achieve very often through strenuous efforts. Marginalization of individuals as regards their rights is a source of strength for the victims who perpetrate crimes epitomizing their dignity they are denied by the strongest men in society. Richard Wright’s Native Son and Cal Avono’s Condamné avec souci portray respectively a society, which produces reactionary people. Taking inspiration from the Psychoanalytic criticism, this article highlights the causes of demeanors in their text. In other words, the article sought to pinpoint the perception of the marginalized people in the American and African contexts so as to analyze their place and the unavoidable behaviors they adopt challenging arbitrary norms for a sustainable development.
Keywords: Malaise, restriction, marginalization, victimhood, behaviors
The Role of Social Support in Self-Care Practices Among Individuals Living with Hypertension
Abstract: The effective management of hypertension (hypertension) requires involvement of the sick person. This ability to take care of oneself is self-care. Several factors influence self-care, one of which is social support. The authors disagree on the contribution of social support to the self-care process. The objective of this research is to determine the place of social support in identifying the social factors that influence the self-care of people living with hypertension. Correlational research was conducted with 603 sick people. The collection took place in the health regions of Togo from December 2019 to March 2020. Social support varies according to age, gender and level of education. It has a relatively small negative factor contribution (31%) in the self-care process. Even if the ill person needs their support network to overcome their difficulties, the intervention of loved ones must be controlled to avoid overwhelming and intrusive support capable of interfering with self-care
Keywords: HTA, person living with hypertension, social support and self-care
West Germany and Mali around 1960: Political Relations Between the Two Countries, Especially in the Aftermath of Mali’s Independence
Abstract: The state Mali of today results from the West African empire of Mali of the Middle Ages. On the territory of Mali, there was first of all the Ghana Empire, then the Mali Empire, and then the Songhai. At the end of the 19th century, French Men came to the territory of Mali of today. They made Mali a French colony, which was independent in 1960. The objective of this study is to know what kind of political decisions Mali took towards West Germany when that country became independent. From its independence on, Mali declared itself as socialist state. Still, this country entered nevertheless in diplomatic relations with West Germany, which, from 1960 on, helped that country in agriculture economy and decentralization.
Keywords: Mali, France, Colony, West Germany, Empire
The Original Mandingue World in Ahmadou Kourouma’s The Suns of Independence: A Space of Fulfillment
Abstract: An interstitial space between the real and the fictitious, Horodougou, at least its representation in The Suns of Independence by Ahmadou Kourouma, is the place where Fama Doumbouya, faced with the many difficulties of everyday life in the “capital”, rediscovers honor and happiness. That he should never have lost because of his princely origins. The great gap that exists between the image of this miserable character in the big city where the “ sons of bastards ” reign and that of a Malinké prince respected and venerated on the land of origin of his ancestors in Horodougou, confers an improving function to the encompassing space of the Mandingo and makes it a place of full development for him. This article attempts to describe these “little moments of happiness” which animate the character in this novel and which have a considerable impact on his psychology. From where the deduction that the feeling of happiness can also be the consequence of the type of relation which the individual maintains with an intimate space.
Keywords: Representation – Horodougou – space – happiness – Mandingo – novel.
The Hidden Dimension of Pedagogy in the Ouenzé II School District in Brazzaville
Abstract: Our study focuses on the hidden dimension of teacher education Ouenze 2 in Brazzaville. This concept is defined as “the set of unanticipated situations that occur in the teaching-learning process that the teacher face.” The objectives of this study were to highlight the characteristics of the hidden dimension and its impact on the teaching-learning process. It was also a question of checking if the masters are aware of it. Observation and interview have served as instruments of investigation. Examination of the facts observed with teachers and the description they have given of their practice revealed that teaching work cannot be exonerated from the hidden dimension of pedagogy because it is intrinsic to any pedagogic practice to the point where it goes unnoticed. Awareness of the hidden dimension, far from being a puzzle, can become an added value on the management and authority of the master. To do this, it is necessary to review the training of teachers, to raise awareness and recontextualize the notion of class to increase the educational effectiveness of our teachers.
Keywords: Prescribed Dimension, Hidden Dimension, Reality of Classroom, Teaching Activity