Scientific Director & Chief Editor
Komla M. Avono (Ph.D.)
ISSN 2710-4699 Online
3 issues per year
The Role and Place of an Artist in an African Contemporary Society: A Reading of Odafe Atogun’s Taduno’s Song (2016)
Abstract: Contemporary African societies are undermined by political mismanagement. This delays the welfare of the population. Based on Odafe Atogun’s novel Taduno’s song (2016), this paper questions the function of the artist in the African contemporary society. The resort to cultural studies theory permits to view songs and music as factors of societal change thanks to the values they instill. The paper has found that beyond its entertainment function, art should also be committed to trigger the fight for freedom. The artist, therefore, should not be a puppet in the hands of the ruling class. He has the important responsibility to remain loyal to his ideals by defying the tyrannical regime in order to set the people free.
Keywords: African Liberation, Artist, Tyranny, Struggle, People
A Comparative Gaze on Cultural Diversity, Identity, and Religious Tensions in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease
Abstract: This work is a critical analysis of Chinua Achebe’s writing techniques in Thing Fall Apart and No Longer at Ease. It shows how characters’ culture, and identity shaped by society’s principles, and religious power, leads to alienation and isolation. It analyses identity dynamics of characters in relation to their social cultural, religious, economic and psychological duties. It also aims at showing the effects of religious difference and traditional downfall. The analysis details how the loss of religious identity by the Igbo people in Nigeria is influenced by the colonial impact and Christianity. The article leans on semiotics approach to interpret signs, symbolic tools to colonialism as a disfiguring force of cultural identity. Adopting a comparative reading of both novels, this work also reflects on the awareness of the conflicts between tradition and modernity and the impacts of colonial power in post-colonial fiction.
Keywords: Colonization, Culture, Identity, Religion, Resistance
Corruption and Social Dysfunction in University Enrollment: A Study of Ama Ata Aidoo’s “Feely-Feely”
Abstract: This study examines the ravages of corruption on the university performance and excellence as well as on the society as a whole. Based on sociocriticism, specifically new historicism, the study raises issues of unethical practices such as favoritism in the admission process that have been understudied. It equally questions this practice which breaks down families and demeans the university. The study has found that using corruption to achieve one’s objective is detrimental to interfamily harmony. It has also been found that laying emphasis on excellence is always rewarding.
Keywords : Corruption, Destiny, Ethics, Injustice, University.
Demythologizing the American Dream in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men
Abstract: Many twentieth century conventional American creative writers commonly believed that the American Dream can only be achieved through hard work. John Steinbeck goes against the tide as he demonstrates that taking for granted the achievability of the Dream by all can turn out to be an illusion and a trap. He highlights the failure of the American Dream through the lives of his white characters despite their determination to change their social status. This paper relies on New Historicism to analyze the pursuit and the failure of the American Dream by some white people in the twentieth century and on psychoanalytical literary criticism to reveal their unpredictability. It concludes that not the American Dream cannot be fulfilled only when one is white in the American context.
Keywords: American Dream, Illusion, Fulfilment, Trap, Great Depression.
Identities and Otherness in Une enfance métissée by Abdallah Mdarhri Alaoui
Abstract: Une enfance métissée tells the story of a childhood in colonial Morocco on the eve of its independence. In the novel, the troubled atmosphere of colonization has not failed to rub off on Morocco and its inhabitants. Thus, the question of identity is paramount. Spatially, the territory stretches from south to north; the colonized and the colonizer define themselves through their respective practices and behaviors, i.e., their cultures, and through this episode, this French colony is linked to the rest of the African countries with the same history. With this foreign presence, we witnessed a spatial reorganization of the land, the implantation of so-called modern culture, and undoubtedly the discovery of new sensations through human relationships. Colonization brought with it several other nationalities to Morocco and brought about many changes. Whipped up on all sides by these social and cultural upheavals, the youth is trying to forge an identity. In spite of this diversity of identity and culture, and in spite of this violence, tolerance remained a sure value for the Moroccans, and this is what made it possible for antagonistic forces to cohabit. In this work, colonial Morocco has an affirmed national and African identity.
Keywords: Youth Literature, Identity, Otherness, Diversity, Tolerance
Status of Speech and the Game of Creation in Le coiffeur de Kouta and Le boucher de Kouta by Massa Makan Diabaté
Abstract: The two novels the hairdresser of Kouta and The butcher of Kouta of Massa Makan Diabaté feature a novel very modeled on his Malinké culture and also the marks of orality. This scriptural choice is an affirmation and promotion of its cultural identity. A culture where the word occupies a preponderant place as in both novels. Indeed the word enjoys a special status throughout their narrative. This article is based on the rhetoric of Jean Robrieux to determine the nature of speech while analyzing the game of creation of the griot. Thus the rhetoric of Jean Robrieux will show that the word of the griot, in addition to being eloquent and persuasive, is ultimately saturated with meaning.
Keywords: Status, Speech, Orality, Morello, Rhetoric.
The Implicit Dimension of Characters in African Literature: Should the Name “Tiékoroni” Be Translated?
Abstract: This article is about how the translator should deal with the implicit. We are interested here in the situation of the translator who finds himself in the presence of Tiekoroni, the name of one of the characters of En attendant le vote des bêtes sauvages by Ahmadou Kourouma, a novel which traces the history of some great African Heads of State. Loaded with implication, this name, which is not random, paints the physical portrait of the character in order to facilitate his identification and avoid any confusion. Our objective through this study is to probe the different possibilities available to the translator who finds himself confronted with an implicit whose decoding conditions the understanding of the meaning of the source text.
Keywords: Tiekoroni, Character, Implicit, Decoding, Translation.
Orphan Prepositions in French: Semantic-Syntactic Properties and Didactic Relevance
Abstract: This article takes a broad look at the morphological, syntactic and semantic features of orphan prepositions in French, i.e. those used without a clearly expressed regime. The traditional subcategorization of prepositions does not always take into account the diversity of constructional patterns in which this distributional class, wrongly considered as simple, is embedded. The classification criteria are essentially semantic. Thus, prepositions are described as spatial, temporal, full or empty, lexical or functional, colored or colorless. However, the semantic interpretation is based on the description of the syntactic structure which often brings nuances to the meaning. The analysis of the syntactic behavior of certain prepositions and the recognition of the existence of null objects have led to the consideration of the distinction of the subcategory of orphan prepositions whose properties must be described through the variety of construction patterns, the nature and the functioning of the connected entities. The concerns in the present reflection relate to the linguistic foundations of the analyses made of them, the existence of specific rules in their construction, the relationship between them and adverbs, as well as their transitive and predicative character. The objective is to summarize the knowledge built around null prepositions, while placing them in a didactic perspective.
Keywords: Orphan Prepositions, Null Arguments, Transitivity, Definiteness, Semantics.
Vivirás América by Leopoldo Ayala: Lyricism and Revolution
Abstract: Vivirás América by Leopoldo Ayala is undoubtedly a poetry that calls out, especially in its form. This article is sociological readings which will consist for us in highlighting the specificities of this poetry which is interested in a particular period of Latin America and well belong: the celebration of the fights and the heroes of the revolutions by maintaining the memory of these struggles in the collective consciousness. Vivirás América is a poetry of combat. But what are the stakes of this poetry? To analyze this poetic work of Leopoldo Ayala written in a popular and denotative language, we have chosen the sociology of content. Indeed, the object of any literary analysis is to study the simulator socio-historical elements of a given text. This content analysis of Ayala’s work sheds light on the history of America and also on the tragic fate of the heroes who led the fight for emancipation there.
Keywords: Poetry, Sociological, Latin America, Fights.
Evolution of Occupational Health and Safety Consideration in Companies in Normandy, France: What Progress with ISO 45001?
Abstract: The implementation of an occupational health and safety (OHS) management system is essential to the functioning of a company. In the context of globalization, companies need to be efficient and competitive while reducing the risks and costs associated with occupational accidents and diseases. Indeed, essentially dedicated to the issue of health and safety at work, the ISO 45001 standard offers a perspective to comply with the regulations, placing the worker at the heart of the managerial process while maintaining their performance objectives. Normandy, qualified as one of the most important industrial areas in France, offers an excellent case study for the issue of health and safety at work. The aim of this article is to show the scope and importance of taking into account the consultation and participation of workers in occupational health and safety management systems in companies located in Normandy. The methodological approach was based on a literature review, field surveys of the target companies (55 companies) and data analysis. The results showed that the commitment of management and its willingness to involve the worker are the most important levers of action for building an effective management system. The integration of workers in the Occupational Health and Safety approach has thus become a reality in all companies. The results showed that the development of a prevention culture within the company is an essential aspect of the occupational risk management system. The combination of leadership, consultation and worker participation are fundamental within a company, although there are significant disparities in Normandy.
Keywords: Occupational Health and Safety, ISO 45001, Leadership, Worker, Consultation, Participation
Urban Demand Explosion and Land Security Challenges: An Analysis Based on Double Sales in the Municipality of Agoè-Nyivé 2, Togo
Abstract: Land, once abundant and inalienable, has in recent decades become a tradable commodity due to population growth. This research deals with the land issue which is still relevant due to the phenomena of multiple sales of plots of land in Togo. The objective of this study is to analyze the explanatory factors of the multiple sales of plots of land in the commune of Agoè-Nyivé 2. The research was by a mixed methodology with the use of quantitative and qualitative approaches through the Utilization of primary data collected in the field using a questionnaire and an interview guide, with stakeholders involved in land. Literature was also explored. The analysis, interpretation and discussion of the results were made using the evolutionary theory of property rights applied to land in African contexts and that of the strategic actor of Crozier and Friedberg. It appears from the results of this study that the land problem is explained by the non-applicability of the texts governing the sector by the actors of the land, the breach of trust of the sellers, the ignorance of the land provisions by the buyers and the cost and the administrative burden relating to the establishment of the land title.
Keywords: Population Explosion, Urban Demand, Difficulties in Securing Land, Double-Sale of Land, Togo
Responsible Self-Care Profile: A Model to Promote Among Individuals Living with Hypertension
Abstract: Hypertension being a chronic disease, requires the involvement of the patient in its management (self-care). Several profiles are known, however, the responsible type is the ideal one, to be promoted among people living with hypertension. The objective of this research is to describe this profile by identifying the factors that influence it. Data collection took place from December 2019 to March 2020 in the health regions of Togo. It enrolled 603 participants. Self-care, personality, knowledge and social support scales were used. A classification analysis made it possible to define three profiles, including the responsible type. This responsible profile includes 46.43% of the participants. It is composed of people with a mean self-care score of 69.94 (high level), a mean knowledge score of 12.2 (medium level), a mean social support score of 35.02 (medium level) and a personality trait marked by high Conscientiousness. Participants in this profile engage in health behaviour through ownership of approaches to managing hypertension. This profile is influenced by high education, personality, and a desire for self-discipline. Caregivers were asked to set this profile as a goal to be achieved in caring for people living with hypertension. The personality trait conscientiousness coupled with the average level of knowledge push these people to excellence. They are expert patients and are able to help their peers and have a good relationship with the nursing staff.
Keywords: Self-Care, Responsible Profile, High Blood Pressure
Training Programs at the Department of Criminology, Félix Houphouët-Boigny University, and Their Alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals
Abstract: This study proposes to evaluate the adequacy of the training offers of the UFR Criminology of the FHB University with the objectives of sustainable development. It will be a question of identifying the training offers, the educational objectives and/or professional skills targeted, in connection with the objectives of sustainable development in terms of the quality of training and teachers. A field survey was carried out in the said UFR from March to May 2021, with a sample of 150 people made up of: administrative staff, teachers and students. The data collected comes from documentary studies, interviews and observations and has been the subject of both quantitative and qualitative analysis. Our results showed that the ODFs are very scalable, tending more to conform rather to the LMD than to take into account the ODDs of which the respondents are almost unaware, a fortiori to refer to them in the design of educational models. The failure to take specific internal measures in terms of interruption/reintegration or FIP does not allow for inclusive training (SDG4), accompanied by a great lack of visibility of students with regard to the predispositions to the acquisition of a decent job (SDG8).
Keywords: Adequacy, Sustainable Development Goals, Training Offer, UFR Criminology
Violence and Territorial Control in Drug Dens in Abidjan
Abstract: The objective of this study is to analyze the means and strategies of appropriation and control of drug trafficking territories by the actors of smoking rooms. Data collection through a questionnaire, an interview guide and indirect observation were the subject of a quantitative and qualitative analysis (content analysis) with a sample of 67 actors from 10 smoking rooms. It appears that the appropriation of territories by traffickers takes into account the quality of public infrastructure and the resilience strategies of the inhabitants of the area. Criminal violence (rape, intimidation, physical attacks and theft of property) is used strategically and systematically to control territories against rival groups, the police and contain the anger and denunciations of the population.
Keywords: Violence, territory control, Smoking room, Drugs, Abidjan.
Ecological Delinquency in Informal Neighborhoods of Cocody (Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire): Typology, Contributing Factors, and Consequences
Abstract: This article aims to establish the typology of environmental crime in Moscou, Namaralogo and Allakro; to show the factors that generate it and its consequences. This study was based on the comprehensive approach and was helped by documentary study, direct observation and survey as well as qualitative analysis as methods and techniques for collecting and analyzing data. The results of the study show that environmental crime in precarious neighborhoods is due to overcrowding, the precariousness of urbanization as well as antisocial behaviors developed in these neighborhoods. Faced with environmental crime in these neighborhoods, the solutions have highlighted the empowerment of women in these neighborhoods and the creation of the Internal Sanitation Brigade as a local brigade.
Keywords: Environmental Crime, Precarious Neighborhoods, Living Environment, Cocody, Abidjan.
Traditional Chieftaincy or “Administrative Police” in Togo Under Colonial Rule (1884–1960)
Abstract: The colonial administration of Togo was carried out with the collaboration of local chiefs, whose power was institutionalized. Put at the bottom of the hierarchical structure of the colonial administration, traditional power had a mission of administrative policing in the territory. The exercise of the administrative police mission by local chiefs is the concern of this study. The exploitation of archival documents, periodicals, and bibliography on the colonial system in Togo has made it possible to note that the traditional chiefs were invested with the power to maintain order. The German (1884-1914) and French (1919-1960) administrations in Togo used authoritarian, energetic, and active chiefs to impose colonial order on the populations, even those who were far from administrative centers. Under the German administration, chiefs administered justice and had disciplinary powers. The French administration, on the other hand, had entrusted them, namely with missions of general police, rural police, and judicial police for the maintenance of “colonial peace.”
Keywords: Maintenance of Order, Colonial Peace, General Police, Judicial Police
Post-Electoral Crises and the Challenge of Development in Togo (1993–2020)
Abstract: After the period of democratic transition in Togo in 1992, several development plans were put in place to raise the economic level of the country. The objectives of these different plans did not really succeed given the poisonous political atmosphere that prevailed in the country. This contribution has the merit of showing how post-election crises put a damper on development research activities in Togo. The study is based on the observation that from 1993 to 2020, most of the elections that took place in the country had been boycotted by the opposition. The latter had judged their organizations to be non-transparent. Post-electoral socio-political crises followed, the resolution of which often puts the country’s development problems on hold. The documentary approach used is varied and consists of the archives of the electoral institutions of the Togolese Republic, various scientific publications on the political history of Togo during the period of the process of democratization of the country, field surveys with resource persons.
Keywords: Elections, Opposition, Post-Electoral Crises, Development Plan
Russia’s Contribution to the Maintenance of International Peace (2005–2017)
Abstract: The issue of peacekeeping is one of the main factors in the regulation of international relations. It often occupies a prominent place in the conceptions of countries. Historically, the basic principles of international peacekeeping were formulated by the Western powers, as they ideologically dominated international institutions with the United Nations (UN). It is only relatively recently that the major powers among them, Russia and China, have begun to formulate their own peacekeeping principles and put them into practice. The basic objectives of peacekeeping are understood in the same way by Western countries and emerging powers, while the political orientations are divergent. The events in Syria and the involvement of Russia have shown the differences in the two approaches to peacekeeping as a whole and to the participation of outside powers in peacekeeping operations. For the United States and most Europeans, the objective of peacemaking and conflict resolution is to protect individual rights and freedoms and to implement a “democratic transition” aimed at establishing a liberal and democratic regime. For Russia, as for other powers, the objective of peacemaking and conflict resolution is to strengthen the local state so that the state can guarantee order on its territory and stabilise the situation in the country and the region. The proposed article analyses Russia’s approach to the problem of peacekeeping at the theoretical and practical levels.
Keywords: Peace Building, Peacekeeping, Peacekeeping Operation, Russia, UN
Pastoral Livestock Farming and the Security Crisis in the Sahel: The Case of the Rural Commune of Tillia (Tahoua Region)
Abstract: Pastoral livestock breeding is currently experiencing and unprecedented crisis in the Sahel, particularity in the rural commune of Tillia (Niger). This crisis is due to the presence of non-state armed groups in the Sahel. The main objective of this article is to highlight the link between insecurity and pastoralism. More specifically, it analyzes the impact of insecurity on pastoralism in the commune of Tillia. The methodological approach adopted in this study is documentary research combined with field investigation. The results Élevage pastoral et crise sécuritaire au sahel : cas de la commune rurale de Tillia (Région de Tahoua) highlight the Islamic State’s assault on pastoralists in the Great Sahara and the reorganization of their mobility, and also analyze the disruption of the livestock marketing circuit and intercommunity tensions.
Keywords: Pastoralism, Insecurity, Forced Mobility, Community Tensions, Tillia