African
Journals Online
The Journal of Cultural Studies
Vol. 3, No. 2, 2001.
Abstracts
Editorial
An essence of cultural studies in contemporary times is the
need to capture identity markers and dynamics of peoples, groups
and sub-groups through portrayals of the frames and movements of
experience in such contexts that reflect the interaction of
thought systems, social values and power relations. This issue of
the journal seeks to answer to that crux by focusing on some
aspects of Africa's cultural practices and productions that
encapsulate mass participation. Drawing upon varied
epistemological and disciplinary perspectives, it defines and
situates mass culture in selected general or global phenomena
(African and Western in particular) and within the confines of
specific indigenous populations.
Joseph Ndeffo Fongue examines the economic values of Africa's
cultural heritage, and conceptualizes the need for a dialectical
collaboration between mass culture (as defined by Western
parameters) and cultural heritage. Within the context of
exploring the overwhelming definitive culture of mass consumption
in Europe and America, Kristin Loftsdottir depicts how the
culture of the Wodaabe of Niger has provided avenues of commerce
for the people in their relationship with the West. Felicia Yieke
discusses sexist language a |