Scientific Director & Chief Editor
Komla M. Avono (Ph.D.)
ISSN 2710-4699 Online
3 issues per year
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Speaking Without Saying: The Power of the Word How in Rhetorical Questions in Émile Zola’s Germinal, Albert Camus’s La Peste, and Choderlos de Laclos’s Les Liaisons dangereuses
Abstract
This study is based on a linguistic, stylistic and pragmatic analysis of rhetorical questions, adopting a descriptive, analytical, and omparative approach. The analytical corpus is established through purposive sampling, whereby only occurrences found in interrogative sentences introduced by the interrogative adverb how are retained. Furthermore, only those interrogative structures whose primary function is not to elicit an answer, but rather to convey emotion, indignation, irony, or reflection, are included in the corpus for analysis. In French literature, the word how functions as both a linguistic and symbolic device whose meaning far exceeds its grammatical role as an interrogative marker. In Emile Zola’s Germinal, in Albert Camus’ La Peste, and in Choderlos de Laclos’s Les Liaisons dangereuses, it becomes the core of a discursive strategy in which questioning replaces assertion to provoke reflection, emotion, or persuasion. In Germinal, how expresses the silent revolt of characters confronted with social injustice and working-class misery. The interrogative form, often tinged with bitterness or indignation, serves as an implicit protest: to ask the question is already to denounce. Through its intonational and affective force, how transforms rhetorical questioning into an act of moral resistance, giving voice to a collective outcry against oppression. Conversely, in Laclos’s epistolary world, the word how becomes an instrument of manipulation and power. Beneath an appearance of innocence, it conceals a strategy of seduction or psychological control: the question feigns surprise in order to persuade or destabilize the interlocutor. This ambivalence grants how a performative dimension, allowing it to act upon the recipient while maintaining the guise of inquiry. Far from being mere interrogative statements intended to elicit an answer, these questions function as a rhetorical devise that invites readers to reflect on the human condition, suffering, solidarity, and the absurdity of existence. Thus, in the three works, the rhetorical how epitomizes the ability of language to “speak without saying”. It creates a tension between what is said and what is implied, revealing the expressive power of interrogation as a vehicle for social critique and symbolic authority.
Keywords:Rhetorical questions, modality, interrogation, performative
Social Responsibilities as Reflected in the Mottos of Sãaba, Blacksmiths of The Moogo
Abstract
The Sãaba form a distinctive social group within the Moaaga cutural community. constitute a social layer of the moaaga mosaic, long settled in Moogo. They are masters of fire who know how to work iron at the forge. Their social responsibility is multifaceted and can be understood through their collective mottos. Indeed, the collective mottos which are laudatory linguistic constructions of an identity nature reflect the major functions that blacksmiths fulfill in moaaga country. So, what are the social roles of the Sãya highlighted in the mottos? This reflection, which arises from the work of collecting a corpus of collective mottos of blacksmiths, aims to show the place occupied by this social entity in Moogo. It starts from the postulate according to which the blacksmith is considered in moaaga country as a transcendental being. The ethnolinguistic approach applied to the corpus reveals their functions as mediators, providers of sustenance, hearlers and civilizing agents of the Moogo.
Keywords:Mottos, blacksmith, Moose, social responsibility, ethnolinguistic
The Criticism of African and African American Novels: Between Contextualized and Contested Readings
Abstract
This paper examines how theoretical and ideological frameworks shape the interpretation of African and African American novels within a context marked by tensions among competing critical approaches. The central problem lies in the limitations of unilateral readings, whether Eurocentric or Afrocentric, formalist or contextualized, in the production of meaning and the reception of literary works. To address this issue, the study adopts a methodology based on a critical review of major literary theories, drawing on insights from sociocriticism, semiotics, narratology, and postcolonial theory. This approach enables an analysis of both textual structures and the historical, cultural, and ideological determinants that inform interpretation. The analysis highlights the decisive role of the reader in interpretive divergences and clearly distinguishes reception from understanding as two complementary levels of literary analysis. It further demonstrates that exclusive critical approaches tend to produce partial readings, whereas an interdisciplinary perspective provides a more comprehensive account of issues related to power, identity, and representation. The study ultimately argues that an integrated and contextualized approach is essential for capturing the complexity of African and African American novels and for producing more rigorous and well-grounded interpretations.
Keywords:Literary criticism, African and African American novels, sociocriticism, postcolonial theory, reader, reception
Mask Symbolism and Igbo Cosmology: A Study of the Egwugwu in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart
Abstract
In many African societies, the mask occupies a central place in the spiritual and social order. It functions as a marker of cultural identity in societies where masking traditions are ritually and socially institutionalized. In line with this perspective, this article analyses the representation of egwugwu masks in Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, in order to shed light on their essence, symbolism and functions in Igbo cosmology. By mobilizing an ethnocritical approach, the study shows that the egwugwu, beyond their ritual dimension, structure the relationships between the visible and the invisible, the individual and the community, tradition and social order. It thus appears that Achebe’s text makes the mask a privileged mediator between the living, ancestors and deities. The article also examines the tensions generated by colonial intrusion and concludes that fictional novels, by showing the complexity of the Igbo mask, participate in the safeguarding and enhancement of African cosmologies in the world literary space.
Keywords:Igbo cosmology, egwugwu, mask symbolism, Chinua Achebe, Things Fall Apart, African literature
Pseudo-anglicisms and Lexical Creativity in Contemporary Spanish Sports Speech
Abstract
The Spanish language is currently facing the entry of many anglicisms, in particular in the field of sport. But, in this article, we talk about pseudo-anglicisms. If through the mechanisms of lexical creation, the Spanish language created many pseudo-anglicisms, the first ones entered Spanish through French. These pseudo-anglicisms result from an excessive anglomania that encourages the uncontrolled use of anglicisms. The English morphemes man – recordman and ing – footing – are among the most obvious examples. The differences between English and Spanish lead also to adaptations that modify the morphology of English words such as friqui (<freaky), córner (<corner kick), penalti (<penalty kick). Finally, English speakers can sometimes be puzzled by some anglicisms whose meanings did change in Spanish such as speaker (used in the framework of sports events) whereas the corresponding English word is announcer.
Keywords:Anglicism, pseudo-anglicism, sports language, contemporary Spanish, lexical creativity, language contact
Mapping Trauma and Hope: Semiotics, Sexual Violence, and Reconciliation in Ahmat Dangor’s Bitter Fruit
Abstract
This paper combines Ferdinand de Saussure’s and Charles Sanders Peirce’s theories of the sign with recent developments in literary semiotics to analyze textual and symbolic patterns of trauma and hope in Bitter Fruit. It first situates Dangor’s text within the universe of signs by showing how characters’ traumatic experiences imbue it with historically grounded meanings. Then, in light of literary semiotics, it examines expressive glimpses of the provocative question of reconciliation and identity in the post-apartheid era to better analyze Dangor’s contribution to transitional justice discourse. Finally, the paper interprets the ambivalent meanings of signs, using Lydia’s and Michael’s journeys from psychological crisis to healing, to suggest that these sign systems map trauma and hope, while revealing Dangor’s commitment to imagining a more humane post-apartheid society.
Keywords:Achmat Dangor, identity, memory, post-apartheid, semiotics, trauma, Truth and Reconciliation Commision
The French Military Base Croci in Abéché: Defensive, Offensive, and Security Dynamics
Abstract
The French military presence in Chad calls for a discussion of the events that preceded the country’s independence process. It constituted an early foundation of the foreign and military policy that was subsequently established. The creation of the Croci military base in Abéché was intended to address logistical and security challenges in the vast regions of eastern Chad. The objective of this study on the French Croci base in Abéché is to enhance understanding of Chad’s military and security history. The methodology adopted consists of collecting information from key informants and supplementing or cross-checking it with data drawn from books and academic journals. Direct field observations were also conducted. These made it possible to identify and understand the main reasons behind the establishment of the Croci base in Abéché
Keywords:Agreements, French military base, defense, Abéché
From Cosmology to Space Technologies: Environmental and Ethical Issues Regarding Space Exploitation
Abstract
From mythological cosmogonies to technological astrophysics, and from geocentrism to heliocentrism, the aim of cosmology is to understand the universe’s origin, structure, evolution, and destiny. This article proceeds from the
hypothesis that space technologies—stemming from advancements in astronomy and astrophysics—have ambivalent effects on the environment. The central question is whether the tools and technologies associated with space exploration exacerbate the environmental crisis or offer a means to resolve it. The analysis employs a diachronic and quantitative approach combined with critical inquiry to trace the evolution of cosmological concepts over time, examine space-utilization technologies, and evaluate their environmental, ethical, and political implications. The findings indicate that, on the one hand, these technologies are assets for understanding and predicting environmental phenomena. On the other hand, through atmospheric and stratospheric pollution and the overexploitation of space, space technologies are detrimental to the environment. With the intensification of astrophysical and astronautical activities, space is becoming a geostrategic hub, a site for corporate conglomerates, and a zone for postmodern tourism. While the environmental benefits and risks of space activities are well known, the drive for power, profitability, and utilitarianism has overshadowed environmental concerns; consequently, the political, scientific, and ethical responses fall short of the urgency of the environmental crisis. Yet, the time to act is now.
Keywords:Cosmology, space technologies, orbital pollution, climate crisis, environmental ethics, stratosphere
Land Use and Flood-Related Health Risks in the Moundou Watershed, Chad
Abstract
This study analyses land-use dynamics and flood-related health risks in the city of Moundou. The main objective is to demonstrate the value of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) in understanding the
interactions between urbanisation, the environment and public health. The methodology is based on a holistic-systemic approach combining the analysis of Landsat satellite imagery (1990, 2005 and 2020), topographic data (SRTM), household surveys (489 households) and health data from health centres, supplemented by bacteriological analyses of water samples. The results reveal a rapid and unplanned expansion of urbanised areas, accompanied by a decline in natural and agricultural spaces and increasing encroachment into floodplains. This spatial transformation has led to land sealing; disruption of water flows and an increase in flooding. Flooding contributes to surface water pollution and water stagnation, thereby contributing to the spread of waterborne and vector-borne diseases. Analyses show, in particular, a high prevalence of diarrhoeal diseases, typhoid fever and malaria, as well as the presence of Escherichia coli in drinking water. Health risks in Moundou result from a complex interaction between urban dynamics, natural constraints and socio-economic vulnerability. There is therefore a need for integrated risk management based on urban planning, improved sanitation infrastructure and disease prevention.
Keywords:Land use, Flooding, Health risks, GIS, Remote sensing, Urbanisation, Moundou
A Semiotic Study of Visuals from the 2025 Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) and the 2024 National Culture Week (SNC)
Abstract
Nowadays, many festivals celebrate culture. As a form of resilience, these events promote indigenous values that convey the fundamentals of culture. That is why so many festivals are emerging and emphasizing visual communication in their activities. In this sense, the visual elements of the 2025 Ouagadougou Pan-African Film and Television Festival (FESPACO) and the 2024 National Culture Week (SNC) serve as emblematic media given the scale of these festivals and their deep cultural roots. Based on this observation, the primary objective of this research was to reveal the intrinsic elements of these visual materials, which simultaneously symbolize a return to ancestral and African cultural values. The theoretical approach of the µ group to these visuals—the subject of this study—presents a culturally diverse African union, characterized by love for one’s neighbor and a continent of peace where social cohesion reigns. The analysis therefore aims to examine these visuals through their linguistic, plastic, and iconic signifiers, exploring their denotative and connotative dimensions that highlight this richness rooted in endogenous knowledge.
Keywords:Visual semiotics, iconic sign, plastic sign, linguistic sign, endogeneity
Evaluation of Youth Training in the Design and Operationalization of a Sexual and Reproductive Health Chatbot in Ouagadougou Partnership Countries
Abstract
In the countries of the Ouagadougou Partnership (OP), adolescents and young people under the age of 25 make up a large proportion of the population. The use of digital technologies to promote behaviors that support sexual and reproductive health is a promising high-impact practice. This article evaluates the effectiveness of a remote training program for 120 young people from the nine WP countries on the design and implementation of a chatbot on Sexual and Reproductive Health rights. The results suggest that the technology is perceived as accessible, interactive, and less expensive than a traditional mobile app (potentially cost-effective). More than 2,700 young people were reached by the program, with 14,500 messages exchanged via the chatbot, approximately 93% of participants improved their digital skills by the end of the training, with a completion rate of 75%.
Keywords:DSSR-BOT, chatbot, sexual and reproductive health, youth training, Ouagadougou Partnership, digital health
Inhabiting Stereotypes to Deconstruct Them: Strategies of Gender and Race Deconstruction in Calixthe Beyala’s L’homme qui m’offrait le ciel
Abstract
The early phases of canonization in modern African literature long privileged male voices. The emergence of women in the literary field from the 1980s onwards constitutes an unprecedented phenomenon. These women writers distinguish themselves and break with the themes developed by their male peers, taking it upon themselves to contest symbolic assignments and deconstruct gender and racial stereotypes. This study analyses the mechanisms of construction and deconstruction of these stereotypes in Calixthe Beyala’s L’homme qui m’offrait le ciel (2007), through the character of Andela, a Black, single, female writer and activist. Drawing on narrative semiotics and enunciative analysis, this reflection shows how the writing manages to deconstruct stereotypes by inhabiting them through the enunciative subjectivity of the ‘I’, novelistic polyphony, humour, irony, plurilingualism and transgressive aesthetics. The main finding is that Beyala’s deconstruction operates not through frontal denunciation but through strategic inhabitation of dominant representations, turning them against themselves.
Keywords:Stereotype, social gender, race, deconstruction, women’s writing
Cultural Practices, Bodily Autonomy, and Girls’ Unfreedom in Annor Nimako’s Mutilated
Abstract
This paper examines the cultural rationales used to legitimise female genital mutilation and the critique of their drawbacks in Annor Nimako’s Mutilated (2001). As a complex system of values, culture incorporates practices that have become increasingly contested in contemporary human rights and gender discourses, such as female genital mutilation. Given the dynamic nature of culture and its profound influence on social development, some cultural practices must be subjected to continuous critical evaluation to determine their impact on individual dignity and collective well-being. Thus, drawing on Feminist Literary Criticism and New Historicism, this article intends to show the relevance and value of the female genital mutilation to contemporary African societies. It also aims to claim the abolition of the studied practice once its obnoxiousness as well as its infringement on both the freedom and the holistic development of the targeted social group is corroborated.
Keywords:Bodily autonomy, counter-history, cultural reconfiguration, female genital mutilation, patriarchy
Brian Chikwava’s Harare North: A Pedagogy of Resistance in an Exile Narrative
Abstract
Connecting Zimbabwe and England through an exile narration, Brian Chikwava’s Harare North is received with acclamations and excitement among critics, particularly literary critics. The unnamed protagonist, through his particular way of telling [his] transnational stories has attracted critical attention and given rise to analyses combining exilic, linguistic and identity issues among other interests. In this analysis though, emphasis is placed on the very protagonist and his narrative style with the objective of showing that the novel is a pedagogical material bringing to the forefront pragmatics of resistance; resistance being a space of negotiation across geographical locations. As a consequence, this work is elaborated through Sigmund Freud’s psychoanalysis and Ngugi Wa Thiong’o’s postcolonial perspective which will shape the interpretation of the novel and recounted events throughout the analysis. This study is located within the terrains of decolonial discourses with the aim of resulting in possibilities of countering alterity among African migrants/exiles.
Keywords:Exile, heritage, identity, linguistic hybridity, resistance, Zimbabwean diaspora
The English Language and the Production of Endogenous Knowledge in Africa: Issues, Limitations and Perspectives for an Authentic African Science
Abstract
The globalization of science has established English as the dominant language of international scholarly communication, creating both opportunities and challenges for the development of African endogenous knowledge. This article examines how the use of English influences the production, dissemination, and recognition of indigenous African knowledge within the broader project of building an authentic African science. The study is based on a critical review of the literature, drawing on to publications published between 1986 and 2024, with a particular focus on Anglophone African contexts, including Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya. The analysis reveals that English facilitates access to international journals, research funding, and transnational scientific networks, thereby enhancing the global visibility of African researchers. However, the review also identifies recurring mechanisms that constrain the development of endogenous knowledge, including linguistic gatekeeping in academic publishing, the decontextualization of indigenous concepts through translation, and the predominance of Western epistemological frameworks in research evaluation and dissemination. These dynamics often create tensions between international recognition and local relevance. To address these challenges, the article proposes a conceptual framework for authentic African science based on multilingual knowledge production, the integration of endogenous knowledge into research and higher education, and the promotion of bilingual scientific publishing. The framework positions English as a language of mediation rather than domination, enabling African researchers to engage with global scientific communities while preserving local cognitive and cultural traditions. The study concludes that the future of authentic African science depends on balancing international openness with the preservation of Africa’s linguistic and epistemic diversity. By identifying key mechanisms of exclusion and proposing a structured model for multilingual scientific practice, the article contributes to ongoing debates on language policy, knowledge decolonization, and the development of culturally grounded scientific
systems in Africa.
Keywords:English language, endogenous knowledge, Africa, African science, scientific production, decolonization of knowledge, academic multilingualism
Social Representations of the Causes of School Dropout among Parents, Students, and Teachers in Ipelcé, Burkina Faso
Abstract
School attrition rates have a negative impact on Burkina Faso’s education system despite efforts to provide a quality education. This observation prompted the present study, titled: “Social Perceptions of the Causes of School Dropout Among Parents, Students, and Teachers in Ipelcé, Burkina Faso.” Using a quantitative approach, our study aims to determine whether perceptions of the factors contributing to school dropout differ across social groups. The results obtained from questionnaires administered to a sample of social groups—including parents, students, and teachers—reveal that the perceptions formed are not necessarily the most common ones. Indeed, in the municipality of Ipelcé, social perceptions of the factors contributing to school dropout vary depending on the social category to which each individual belongs. In light of these differences, we have suggested measures to foster a better understanding and greater involvement of all stakeholders in the fight against school attrition.
Keywords:School attrition, social perceptions, educational stakeholders, Burkina
Social Habitualization of Wastewater Disposal Practices in Ivorian Public Spaces: The Case of Yamoussoukro
Abstract
Discharging wastewater into public spaces is a common practice in several Ivorian cities, despite its health and environmental implications. This article analyzes the social mechanisms that foster the legitimization and social habituation of this practice in Yamoussoukro. The study is based on qualitative research conducted with 180 individuals from six neighborhoods representing the city’s residential, economic, and evolving areas. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews to gather their perceptions, experiences, and practices regarding the subject of the study. The results show that inadequate sanitation infrastructure and household economic constraints drive the reliance on informal wastewater disposal. They also reveal that the lack of sanctions, the collective normalization of behaviors, and their sociocultural transmission contribute to their acceptance and perpetuation. The article concludes that informal wastewater disposal in public spaces is not merely a matter of material constraints but is also part of a social construction process rooted in mechanisms of normalization, legitimization, and sociocultural transmission. Consequently, improving urban sanitation requires not only infrastructure investment but also efforts to raise awareness and transform social norms regarding the use of public space.
Keywords:Social habituation, wastewater, social norms, public space, Yamoussoukro
Exile, Identity Metamorphosis, and Colonial Traces on Nature: A Postcolonial Ecocritical Reading of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe
Abstract
Exile appears as a central issue in early modern drama and eighteenth-century fiction, reconfiguring both human identity and ecological landscapes. Grounded in postcolonial ecocriticism, this article examines William Shakespeare’s The Tempest and Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe through postcolonial ecocriticism in order to show how exile becomes a colonial threshold where displaced European subjects reconstruct authority by reorganizing island ecologies and subordinating indigenous figures. In The Tempest, Prospero’s symbolic performance of power is used to control the island and its autochthonous inhabitants, while in Robinson Crusoe, Crusoe’s authority is materially enacted through labor, agriculture, and spatial reorganization. Drawing on Homi K. Bhabha’s concepts of mimicry and ambivalence, as well as Timothy Morton’s theory of dark ecology, the research depicts how exile functions as a place of marginalization where natural landscapes and indigenous people are subjected to colonial supremacy. The study ultimately reveals the involvement of exile in identity metamorphosis as well as the lasting effect of colonialism on environment and culture.
Keywords:Colonialism, dark ecology, exile, postcolonial ecocriticism
Documentation and Digital Archiving of Niaboua: Compiling a Lexical Database for Long-Term Preservation
Abstract
The disappearance of languages has been at the center of scholarly debate over the past decade, as languages around the world continue to vanish at an alarming rate. In the face of this accelerating linguistic loss, it is crucial to harness digital technologies to preserve endangered languages and safeguard their linguistic and cultural heritage. As part of this research, we developed an online lexical database accessible to a wide range of users. Providing open access to these Niaboua language resources will contribute to the advancement of scientific research in general and linguistic research in particular. Moreover, because the resources are available digitally, researchers will be able to consult and analyze them remotely, thereby reducing the need for repeated field visits.
Keywords:Digital technology, language extinction, niaboua, language preservation
The Punto Fijo Pact in Venezuela’s Political Development: Democratic Consolidation and Geopolitical alignment with the United States
Abstract
This article examines the Punto Fijo Pact, signed in 1958 by Venezuelan political leaders to establish the foundations of democracy in their country. Its objective is to assess whether the implementation of the Pact genuinely led Venezuela toward this democratic ideal or whether it merely constituted a political agreement that implicitly aligned the country with the United States. Based on a qualitative and analytical approach, the findings show that Venezuela experienced forty years of political stability and significant economic and social progress. However, within the context of the Cold War, the Pact became firmly embedded in the ideological and strategic vision of its powerful northern neighbor. As a result, political exclusion and economic dependence emerged, tarnishing the image of Venezuela’s young democracy.
Keywords:Pact, democracy, ideology, strategic, dependency
The Venezuelan Crisis: Between the Promise of Glory and Geopolitical Brutality (1998–2026)
Abstract
When Hugo Chávez Frías came to power in Venezuela on 2 February 1999, following years of economic crisis and violent state repression under the government of Carlos Andrés Pérez—most notably during the Caracazo—he pledged to reform the Venezuelan armed forces and, above all, to build a new participatory socialist republic in which the people would become the principal agents of their own destiny. Carlos Andrés Pérez, a social democrat, served two terms as President of Venezuela. His first term, from 1974 to 1979, marked a significant shift, particularly in the country’s economic management. Yet Venezuela, an oil-producing country and a founding member of OPEC, derived limited benefit from its petroleum wealth for much of its history, partly because the sector had long been dominated by foreign companies. Hugo Chávez built his political project around Marxist and Bolivarian ideals, which he personally embodied, while also relying on the support of military figures, some of whom originated from sectors traditionally associated with the Venezuelan Right. During the early years of his presidency, buoyed by substantial oil revenues, the Bolivarian Revolution enjoyed considerable popular support. However, mounting difficulties soon emerged, particularly as tensions with the United States intensified. More than a decade after Chávez’s death, Nicolás Maduro, his political successor and heir to the Venezuelan Revolution, has further exposed and intensified the contradictions inherent in Chavismo, plunging the country into a prolonged period of political, economic, and social uncertainty of unprecedented magnitude for the Venezuelan population.
Keywords:Venezuela, Revolution, Hugo Chávez, Nicolás Maduro, Crisis, Populism, Participatory Socialism
Reciprocity, Symbolic Kinship, and the Normalization of Rule Violations in a Public Hospital in Abidjan
Abstract
This article examines how professional solidarity, reciprocal exchanges, and symbolic kinship transform rule violations into socially accepted practices within a public hospital in Abidjan. Although frontline personnel including civil servants, internally funded employees, and auxiliary staff and administrative managers remain aware of the constant threat of institutional sanctions, they simultaneously adapt to informal organizational arrangements. Based on an ethnographic study conducted in Abidjan between February and April 2024, the research combines peripheral participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and informal conversations. The findings portray the public hospital as a social space where professional ties and community-based symbolic kinship foster collective strategies that compete with formal institutional rules. Mutual assistance, informal arrangements for covering colleagues’ absences, informal financial transfers, and symbolic kinship ties between frontline personnel and managers reshape workplace relationships and serve as protective mechanisms against institutional constraints.
Keywords:Reciprocity, symbolic kinship, rule violations, state employees, service exchanges
Online Verbal Violence and the Reshaping of Interactional Norms Among Generation Z: A Discourse Analysis of Facebook and YouTube Comments in the Ivorian Context
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the manifestation of verbal violence on digital social media by examining the utterances produced by members of Generation Z. To better understand the loss of social and normative reference points among this hyperconnected generation, the study draws on discourse analysis as well as pragmatic and enunciative linguistics. To this end, utterances involving acts of verbal violence were collected from Facebook and YouTube. The corpus, consisting of approximately fifty posts (videos and publications) and about two hundred comments, was analyzed to identify a wide range of discursive strategies, including disqualification, the use of dark humor, and lexical dehumanization. These strategies illustrate broader discursive phenomena that contribute to the denial of otherness and to the subversion of social and normative values.
Keywords:Digital identity, discourse analysis, digital social networks, Generation Z, verbal violence
Christian Music, Affect, and the Experience of Place: An Autoethnographic Approach to Spiritual Trajectories in the Ivorian Context
Abstract
Religious experience constitutes an essential axis in analyzing the condition of modern man and the sources of his actions. Within its system of rituals, it offers an integration of music that serves as a channel for experiencing manifestations of the divine. However, music— fundamentally cultural and yielding different understandings depending on its setting— could simultaneously evoke a sensory experience that asserts itself in urban music just as it does in so-called Christian music. Thus, what is it about urban music that succeeds in moving the emotions beyond religious affiliations? Using a phenomenological and autoethnographic approach, this study leads to the idea that the persistence of cultural identity and rhythmic presence could constitute a rational and plausible explanation. This approach has the privilege of leveraging personal, seemingly subjective experiences to unlock a truthful discourse about a reality that can only be experienced subjectively.
Keywords:Autoethnography, musical affect, religious experience, Ivorian music, rhythm
Verb-particle Constructions in ɟībūō,a Soubré bété Variety: A Structural and Syntactic Study
Abstract
In this article, it is shown that verb-particle constructions constitute an important object of study for understanding the structural and syntactic organization of ɟībūō.Based on field data consisting of approximately 150 sentences elicited from three different informants through varied questioning techniques, and after cross-checking the data and conducting a descriptive analysis, this research identified the verb-particle forms, their functions, and their semantic values. Preliminary results suggest that these constructions play a central role in meaning modification between the bare verb and the verb-particle from. Concerning their distribution within the clause, a difference was observed depending on whether the sentence contains an auxiliary. After tallying occurrences, seven verbal particles were attested in ɟībūō.:kɷ́(on), kɾɷ́(face), zɔ̄(down), wɾú (head), mʉ́(inside), mɾʉ́(belly), and cɛ̄(hand), and three auxiliaries: jī(Inacc), jɛ̄(Acc) kʌ́(Inacc). All verb-particle forms are compatible with the auxiliaries, and their use exhibits no semantic ambiguity.
Keywords:Particle, auxiliary, structure, syntax
Assessment of the Activities of Village Committees Combating African Animal Trypanosomiasis in the Cotton-Growing Region of Northern Côte d’Ivoire
Abstract
African animal trypanosomiasis (AAT), transmitted by tse-tse flies, is a barrier to the development of livestock farming in Côte d’Ivoire. To strengthen the fight against this disease, Village Control Committees (CVLs) were established in the cotton-growing region. The objective of this study is to evaluate the activities of the VCLs. It is a qualitative study conducted in December 2022 in 28 localities. The sampling method was purposive and random, resulting in 152 individual interviews. The data were processed and analyzed using thematic content analysis and QGIS software. The study showed that respondents associate the period during which the CVLs were operational with a perceived decrease in tsetse flies and in outbreaks of bovine diseases, including TAA. However, their operations were compromised by a lack of monitoring, resources, and incentives. Ensuring the sustainability of the CVLs requires better institutional support and increased community awareness.
Keywords:Evaluation, TAA, CVL, tsetse flies, Ivory Coast
Legitimizing Polygyny in Samatiguila: Social Logics and Women’s Agency in an Exploratory Qualitative Study
Abstract
This article examines the varied social logics underlying the social legitimation of polygyny among Muslims in Samatiguila, a locality in northwestern Côte d’Ivoire. Although polygamy is legally prohibited in Côte d’Ivoire, it remains a predominant marital institution, sustained by religious, customary, communal, economic, and reproductive logics. Through a qualitative exploratory study based on life narratives and interviews of ten people (imams, customary chiefs, and spouses engaged in polygynous unions), this article highlights the practices of adaptation, negotiation, and, at times, resistance adopted by women. Rather than positioning themselves solely as victims, certain women’s narratives present polygyny as a space for security, prestige, economic optimization, or reproductive valorization. Drawing on a small corpus recruited through personal networks, this study takes a comprehensive rather than statistically representative approach. This marital system emerges as a complex social field in which constraints and opportunities coexist, and in which gender relations are continually redefined at the crossroads of Mandingo traditions, Islamic prescriptions, and local socio-economic realities.
Keywords:Polygyny, social legitimation, Islam, women’s negotiation practices, Samatiguila
Thinking the Algorithm with Michel Serres: Technique, the Body, and Humanity in the Digital Age
Abstract
This article proceeds from a conceptual and comparative reading of Serres, brought into dialogue with Arendt and Stiegler, in order to think the algorithm in the digital age. I examine the process by which the algorithm extends, radicalizes, or displaces the ancestral gesture of externalizing human memory and knowledge. Through a hermeneutic and comparative approach, we bring to light the anthropological mutation that Serres likens to the invention of writing, so as to open a new perspective on how we engage with the world, the body, and technique. The purpose of this article, situated within the field of digital ethics is to grasp the anthropological dimension of the algorithmic mutation, which unfolds between the promise of cognitive emancipation and the risk of technical alienation.
Keywords:Serres, algorithm, philosophy of technology, the body, hominescence, tiers-instruit, artificial intelligence, digital ethics
Development Policy and Public Infrastructure Development in Côte d’Ivoire (1920-1939): Investments, Taxation, and Territorial Inequalities
Abstract
This study examines how French colonial policy reforms implemented between 1920 and 1939 influenced the development of public infrastructure and institutions in Côte d’Ivoire by assessing their scope, limitations, and territorial impact. The methodology is based on a cross-analysis of archival sources (administrative reports, decrees, and telegrams), quantitative data (public investment, the expansion of road and railway networks, schools, and health facilities), and a wide range of scholarly publications. The findings reveal a significant increase in public investment, reflected in the construction of wharfs, lighthouses, and navigational beacons in strategic areas, as well as the expansion of railway and road networks to facilitate the export of raw materials required by imperial and metropolitan markets. At the same time, the territorial administration was strengthened, while public health services and primary education expanded, particularly in coastal regions. However, these developments remained largely subordinated to France’s economic and strategic priorities rather than to the balanced development of the colony or the broader well-being of African populations. Consequently, they reinforced the structural inequalities inherited from colonial rule, the effects of which continue to shape postcolonial representations and territorial dynamics in Côte d’Ivoire.
Keywords:Colonial development policy, public infrastructure, fiscal extraction, territorial inequalities, Côte d’Ivoire
Internal Organization and Syllabic Governance in Moba
Abstract
This study examines the internal organization and syllabic government in Moba, a crossborder Gur language spoken in West Africa, particularly in Togo, Ghana, and Burkina Faso. Drawing on the hierarchical syllable model developed (Kaye and Lowenstamm) and the theory of syllabic government proposed (Kaye, Lowenstamm, and Vergnaud), the study investigates both the internal structure of the Moba syllable and the governing relations established among its constituent elements. Based on the analysis of a corpus of 650 words and 300 sentences collected through fieldwork with native speakers, the findings show that the Moba syllable exhibits a hierarchically organized internal structure composed of basic constituents that may include empty positions. The types of syllabic government identified in Moba are intrasegmental government, intraconstituent government, and interconstituent government. The study further demonstrates that the interaction between syllabic structure and syllabic government in Moba provides relevant empirical evidence for phonological theory and contributes to the discussion of the universal properties of syllabic organization.
Keywords:Syllable, syllabic structure, syllabic government, syllabic constituent, Moba
Panegyric, performance, and ritual emotions: the poetic of donsomaana in Zassi Goro and Ahmadou Kourouma
Abstract
Donsomaana is a cultural and literary practice specific to the Manding cultural area. It is an epic genre closely related to other forms of literary discourse, particularly panegyric, invocations, and prayers. These narrative forms are also manifested in the works of Francophone writers of Manding origin, notably Zassi Goro and Ahmadou Kourouma. This study examines how Z. Goro and A. Kourouma transform the laudatory, genealogical, and ritual procedures of donsomaana into novelistic devices capable of simultaneously producing legitimation, memory, emotion, and critique. More specifically, it focuses on the panegyric rhetoric and ritual emotions evoked by Z. Goro in Le dernier Sîm-bon and A. Kourouma in En attendant le vote des bêtes sauvages. The study demonstrates both the continuity with the forms of donsomaana and their novelistic transformation, particularly their satirical reorientation in Kourouma’s work. The analysis draws on sociocriticism and literary anthropology to explore the relationship between these forms of speech, transposed, reconfigured, or stylized through novelistic writing, and donsomaana, the hunters’ purificatory narrative.
Keywords:Donsomaana, panegyric,performance, ritual emotions, Manding hunters, African novel
The Directorate of Civic Education (DFC) in Togo, 2001–2025: Actions, Limitations, and Challenges of a Citizenship Education Policy
Abstract
Incivism, understood as the failure to fulfill civic duties or comply with the laws and rules governing collective life, constitutes a major challenge to social cohesion and the development of states. It differs from incivility, which refers more specifically to behavior that violates basic norms of courtesy and social conduct. In Togo, behaviors considered uncivic have become particularly widespread since the political transformations that began on 5 October 1990 with the advent of political pluralism. They include, among others, disrespect for state symbols, disobedience to public authority, non-compliance with laws and republican institutions, damage to public property, declining civic participation, intolerance, and the weakening of national solidarity. In response to this situation, the Directorate of Civic Education (DFC), established to promote civic values, has undertaken various awareness-raising, training, and civic education initiatives since 2001, in collaboration with public institutions and civil society organizations. Despite these efforts, however, certain forms of uncivic behavior persist. This article examines the actions implemented by the DFC between 2001 and 2025, the institutional limitations that have reduced their effectiveness, and the factors that help explain the persistence of incivism. Drawing on a qualitative approach based on documentary analysis and data collected from relevant stakeholders, the study highlights the principal challenges involved in developing a sustainable citizenship education policy in Togo.
Keywords:Citizenship, civic education, incivism, public policy, DFC, governance, Togo