Seeing and being the visualised 'other': humanitarian representations and hybridity in African Diaspora identities

This article examines how humanitarianism representations affect British Nigerian identities. It problematises the tendency within development literature to uncritically generalise British audiences of NGO representations as seemingly white. Studies further assume audiences interpret and are impacted by representations in largely undifferentiated ways. This assumption discounts the complexities and particularities of and within audiences and overlooks how humanitarian representations inform how (and why) audiences negotiate their racialised subjectivities. Applying Bhabha’s hybridity theory, this article reveals how Nigerian diaspora negotiate racialised identities vis-à-vis humanitarian representations in distinct and revelatory ways, including along the lines of social class. These Nigerian subject-makings are contingencies against problematic portrayals of Black African poverty and perceived racism mediated by whiteness. While focused on Nigerians, this work has implications for the racialised realities of UK-based Black Africans

An outward sign of an inward grace: how African diaspora religious identities shape their understandings of and engagement in international development

Mainstream development discourse and practice often marginalise the significance of ‘religion’ and ‘faith’ for international development and humanitarianism. However, recent geopolitical events have prompted attitudinal and epistemological developments, with religion and faith considered an almost obligatory agenda for development scholarship. Despite current celebrations, scant attention is paid to the paramount role of religion for faith-based development actors such as African diaspora individuals and communities. Using focus group discussions, this article examines how the religious-faith identities of UK Nigerians specifically, shape their meanings for and engagement in international development. I reveal that Nigerian remittances and non-monetary contributions and services to their heritage country are constituted within moral (and cultural) obligations, justifications and values that are distinctly ‘religious’. So too, that Nigerians largely construe international development as a demonstrable ‘practice’ of their faith-based identities. Consequently, I call for a (re)theorisation of development to subsume transnational Afro-religious diasporic performativity. While focused on Nigerians, these findings are nonetheless relevant for wider UK-based African diaspora

A pictured Africa: drawing as a visual qualitative research methodology for examining British African Diaspora imaginings of their ancestral 'home'

This article examines the usefulness of participant-produced drawings as a participatory and non-mechanical visual research methodology in qualitative research with UK-based African Diaspora communities. Because of its co-construction and mediation of situated knowledgies, adaptability and with linguistic proficiency a non-prerequisite skill for drawing literacy; participatory drawings are considered particularly productive and ethically sound for work with children, young people and in the case of this research, adults, in different social and cultural contexts. Thematic and critical discourse analyses of drawings, supplemented by textual/written information and subsequent discussions about these visual productions, have the powerful potential to unearth complex (and seemingly hidden) subtleties of thought, memories, sentiments and information for (and by) participants, in ways that are illustrative, self-empowering, and individualised. As a review of drawing methodology, as a visual qualitative research method, the author discusses its usefulness and limitations, using his work with African Diaspora communities for/as context

The comparative histological studies of the testis in the wild and cultured African catfish species (Clarias gariepinus)

The comparative study of the structure of testes of both the cultured and wild Male Clarias species was carried out with the aim of highlighting the possible differences in the testicular structure between them. The data were analysed based on the Regression and Correlation Analysis to examine the relationship between and within the data using Microsoft Excel data analysis tool. The Samples of the testes were fixed in Bouin's fluid for 72 hours. The tissue samples were passed through graded concentrations of alcohol at 50%, 70%, 90%, and absolute alcohol (100%) in order to achieve dehydration. The tissues were cleared in two jars of xylene for one hour and then embedded after passing through the four changes of paraffin wax at 60~'C. Paraffin sections of 5. Micron thick were obtained on a microtome. These were mounted on clear albuminized slides after floating on a warm water bath and then dried in an oven and stained with Haematoxylin and Eosin (H & E). At the same time, some of the cut sections of the testes were stained with Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS) reagents. All the slides were examined under the light microscope. On the slides stained with H&E and PAS, the histological features of the testis were evaluated and the histomorphometry of the testes determined. The findings of this work showed that there was no histological difference in the testicular structure of both domestically reared and wild strains of Clarias gariepinus species. At the end of the experiment, this work showed that testicular structure of Clarias gariepinus in the cultured and the wild are histologically similar

Occupy Development: Towards a Caring Environment in Nigerian Urban Cities

ccupy Development (OD) stems from the yearning to explore transition ofsocial and human development as well as transformation strategies at bothconceptual and practical levels in a democratic, inclusive and sustainablemanner. Its main goal is to advance sustainable developmental paradigmentrenched by encouraging cautious utilization of human environment and itsresources in the context of meeting people‟s imageries and visions of a betterlife. Unfortunately, previous research showed that the altitude for a caringenvironment in Nigeria is abysmally low particularly in urban areas and therepercussion is becoming evident in the harsh socio-economic challenges thatthe people now face. Based on this reality, this paper advocates for occupydevelopment towards a caring environment in Nigerian urban cities. PollutionControl Model (PCM) was adopted as theoretical guide. Methodology employedincludes explanatory survey design. Extensive desk work was conducted onsecondary data retrieved from current and relevant academic publications,official bulletins and reports. Findings from the paper provided detailedknowledge on how to promote a free and just environment in Nigerian urbancentres.Keywords: Occupy Development, Environment, Attitude, Pollution, Urba

Effect of stocking density on the growth and haemolymph biochemical value of Archachatina marginata

The growth performance and haemolymph properties of the African giant land snail Archachatina marginata fed ad libitun with pawpaw leaves and reared under different stocking densities were investigated in an eight week experiment. Four different stocking densities of 5, 10, 15 and 20 snailsper cage (0.5 m x 0.5 m x 0.2 m) were used with each group replicated. The cage with 15 snails per cage recorded the best growth performance in relation to weight gain, shell length gain as well shell circumference gain, while the cage stocked with 20 snails recorded the least growth performance. There is a strong relationship between stocking density and the concentration of the haemolymph protein, glucose and lipids. However, there was no difference in the concentration of the mineral elements across the stocking densities

Youth transitions: mobility and the travel intentions of 12–20 year olds, Reading, UK

Whilst Western societies may have reached ‘peak car’, young people are arguably the most significant group whose levels of car ownership, use and driving licence acquisition have declined. Against this backdrop, the paper discusses qualitative research conducted in Reading, UK considering young people’s (aged 12-20) views about bus travel. Whilst current pricing structures (both in Reading and across the UK) often offer under 18s discounted travel, the paper explores young people’s intentions about future travel as young adults. Drawing upon theorisations around youth transitions, we discuss how young people expect their mobility patterns to change as young adults in complex, shifting, fluid ways, and to involve multi-modal travel. Young people construct complex choice-biographies through which they plan pathways to navigate these mobility transitions. Although a small-scale study, this paper also offers some insights into the challenges, complexities and limitations of researching mobility intention

Comparative Haemolymph Biochemical Properties of Giant African Land Snail (Archachatina marginata) from Nigeria

The Giant African Land Snails (GALS) is a very important micro livestock that is consumed widely within several regions in sub-Saharan Africa which differ in their vegetation types and climatic factors. Studies have shown that diet and stocking density influence properties of the snail haemolymph. This study examines the haemolymph biochemical properties of the land snail, (Archachatina marginata) from south-west (Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo). Organic (protein, lipids, glucose) and inorganic (Na, K, Ca, Cl, PO4) composition of snails’ haemolymph were determined by standard methods. Results showed that GALS from Oyo state had the highest lipids and glucose concentrations in the haemolymph while Ondo and Ekiti states recorded the least. Protein was the most abundant (33.83g/l-49.37g) organic substance while lipids were the least (23.93mg/dl-33-93mg/dl). There were significant differences (P<0.05) in the concentrations of inorganic substances in the haemolymph across the six states. Snails from Oyo state recorded significant higher (p<0.05) concentrations of Na+, Ca2+ and Cl- than those of other states. Also, Na+ and Cl- were the most common anions in snails’ haemolymph from the six states. This current study concluded that snails from Oyo state had better haemolymph biochemical properties than other south west states of Nigeria. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/10-12-02 Publication date:June 30th 202

Seeing and being development's 'other': representations of Africa and diaspora audiences

Dr Edward Ademolu outlines how his interest in the politics of visual representation particular in the development/ humanitarian spheres evolved