African Journals Online
The African Anthropologist

JOURNAL OF THE PAN AFRICAN ANTHROPOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION

Volume 9 Number 2 September 2002
Abstracts

Indigenous Healers of Ethiopia: Victims of a Healing Profession

Wondwosen Teshome-Bahiru

Institute for Anthropology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1091 Wien, Austria

E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The aim of this article is to identify the negative stereotypes against healers in Ethiopia, which hindered cooperation between practitioners of traditional medicine and those of cosmopolitan medicine. The article also analyses the reasons why these stereotypes led to the condemnation and persecution of healers in the past and in the present. The article suggests possible ways of clearing the misunderstandings between the practitioners of both medical systems (indigenous and cosmopolitan).

The primary data were collected by using anthropological techniques of data collection, observation and interview.

It was observed that these age-old stereotypes have economic, social, psychological and legal impacts on healers.

Socio-Cultural Factors and Ethnic Group Relationships in Contemporary Nigerian Society

Mbakogu Ifeyinwa

Department of Social Work, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

Abstract

Much has been discussed and written about ethnicity. This paper is therefore intended as a contribution to the management of interethnic/intercultural conflicts in Nigeria, with a focus on new ways of handling the basic socio-cultural institutions shaping ethnic consciousness. Furthermore, this paper highlights the basic social cultural institutions in the country, addresses their contribution to the present ethnic conflicts and suggests ways of harnessing their potential to stimulate tolerance in an inevitably ethnically diverse nation.

La cacaoculture hybride à l’ère du retour des employés deflatés au village dans la zone cacaoyère du Cameroun

Mebenga Tamba Luc

Département de Sociologie et Anthropologie

Université de Yaoundé I

Résume

Le regard anthropologique qui se pose ici sur la cacaoculture marquera son originalité d’abord par la reconstitution du tissu de considérations socio-culturelles multiples avec lequel les populations avaient reçu et intégré cette culture dès son apparition en terre africaine. Il sera ensuite question de présenter à grands traits les problèmes pratiques qui, s’ils sont spécifiques à chaque milieu géo-culturel et soutenus par la perception et les représentations issues de l’imaginaire des populations elles-mêmes, permettent d’apprécier et de comprendre à la limite le sens de la productivité de cette culture en Afrique.

Toute cette analyse s’inscrit dans la problématique du retour au village des anciens citadins salariés. Car, obligés de développer de petites activités agricoles pour survivre dans leur nouvel univers social qu’est la campagne, ils se concentrent naturellement sur la cacaoculture en souvenir de l’unique et ancienne source de revenus du monde rural. Mais, parallèlement, d’autres nouvelles cultures se développent et tentent même de concurrencer celle de la cacaoculture dans l’ordre des activités actuelles de survie du paysan. Le déflaté actuel maîtrise-t-il réellement cette situation?

The Culture of Male Supremacy and Emergency Obstetric Care: The Nigerian Experience

Dr. O. I. Aina¹; Prof. A.A. Adewuyi²;

Prof. Yinka Adesina³ & Dr.. A. Adeyemi⁴

¹Dr. O, I. Aina is an Associate Professor in the Department of sociology and Anthropology. Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife (OAU Ife), Nigeria

²Prof. AA Adewuyi is a Professor of Demography and Social Statistics at OAU Ife, Nigeria

³Professor Yinka Adesina is a Professor of Geography at OAU Ife, Nigeria.

⁴Dr. A. Adeyemi is a Lecturer, and a Consultant in the Dept  of Obstetrics and Gynaecology  OAU Ife.

Abstract

The maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria remains one of the highest in the world (WHO, 1990). Many intervention programs in this area have failed to achieve the desired purpose because efforts have been mainly in the area of hospital care or service delivery, without due cognisance being given to the androcentric behaviour which affects maternal roles, especially the dynamics of decision-making when emergency obstetric care service becomes necessary,

Using findings from a recently concluded study, the paper looks at the impact of the culture of male gender supremacy on women’s reproductive rights and their total well-being. It explores the gender myths about pregnancy, and pregnancy outcomes, and the central role played by men in emergency obstetric conditions.

The study. which is an action-oriented study, was carried out in South-western Nigeria, by a multi-disciplinary research group, using a variety of data collection techniques – questionnaire survey, in-depth interview, Focus Group Discussions, direct observation, and exposure to educative materials – posters, talks/discussions, films, drama etc, Study findings showed that androcentric behaviour is a major determinant of pregnancy outcome, since men have almost absolute control over the choice of health care facilities used during pregnancy, the condition under which delivery takes place, diet during pregnancy, and the types of action taken in emergency obstetric conditions. Yet, the study found that most men lacked knowledge of what constitutes emergency obstetric conditions, appropriate actions to be taken, and a shallow knowledge of pregnancy, fertility and family planning. The study instituted an intervention program which was aimed at improving the knowledge of men in what constitutes emergency obstetric care. and also counselling on androcentric behaviours which may be detrimental to pregnancy outcomes, and the social dynamics of what constitutes a healthy family.