Cultural Representations of Albinism in Africa

Cultural Representations of Albinism in Africa PDF Author: Charlotte Baker
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781800791404
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
«The authors in this inspiring volume focus on the socially transformative potential narrative has to shape understandings of albinism in Africa. Scholars and activists, they reflect on how traditional beliefs, literary fiction, radio, music, photography, film and the arts can bring about social change, and also educate publics about albinism.» (Carli Coetzee, Editor,Journal of African Cultural Studies) «Highly intriguing and skillfully nuanced, this book evaluates several methods of advocacy on behalf of people with albinism from Africa, who often face stigma and physical attacks. The result is a rich commentary on what has worked, what didn't and why. This is recommended reading for anyone engaging in advocacy for any marginalized group in parts of Africa and elsewhere.» (Ikponwosa Ero, Former UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism) The challenges currently faced by people with albinism in many African countries are increasingly becoming a focus of African writers, storytellers, artists and filmmakers across the continent. At the same time, a growing number of advocates and activists are taking account of the power of cultural representation and turning to the arts to convey important messages about albinism - and disability more broadly - to audiences locally and internationally. This volume focuses on the power of cultural representations of albinism, taking into account their real-world effects and implications. Contributions from academics and albinism advocates range across traditional beliefs, literature, radio, newsprint, the media, film and the arts for public engagement, contending that all forms of representation have an important role to play in building sensitivity to the issues related to albinism amongst national and international audiences. Contributors draw attention to the implications of different forms of cultural representation, the potential of these different forms to open up new discursive spaces for the expression of identities and the articulation or critique of particularly difficult issues, and their potential to evoke far-reaching social change.

Cultural Representations of Albinism in Africa

Cultural Representations of Albinism in Africa PDF Author: Charlotte Baker
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781800791404
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Get Book

Book Description
«The authors in this inspiring volume focus on the socially transformative potential narrative has to shape understandings of albinism in Africa. Scholars and activists, they reflect on how traditional beliefs, literary fiction, radio, music, photography, film and the arts can bring about social change, and also educate publics about albinism.» (Carli Coetzee, Editor,Journal of African Cultural Studies) «Highly intriguing and skillfully nuanced, this book evaluates several methods of advocacy on behalf of people with albinism from Africa, who often face stigma and physical attacks. The result is a rich commentary on what has worked, what didn't and why. This is recommended reading for anyone engaging in advocacy for any marginalized group in parts of Africa and elsewhere.» (Ikponwosa Ero, Former UN Independent Expert on the enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism) The challenges currently faced by people with albinism in many African countries are increasingly becoming a focus of African writers, storytellers, artists and filmmakers across the continent. At the same time, a growing number of advocates and activists are taking account of the power of cultural representation and turning to the arts to convey important messages about albinism - and disability more broadly - to audiences locally and internationally. This volume focuses on the power of cultural representations of albinism, taking into account their real-world effects and implications. Contributions from academics and albinism advocates range across traditional beliefs, literature, radio, newsprint, the media, film and the arts for public engagement, contending that all forms of representation have an important role to play in building sensitivity to the issues related to albinism amongst national and international audiences. Contributors draw attention to the implications of different forms of cultural representation, the potential of these different forms to open up new discursive spaces for the expression of identities and the articulation or critique of particularly difficult issues, and their potential to evoke far-reaching social change.

African Philosophy and the Otherness of Albinism

African Philosophy and the Otherness of Albinism PDF Author: Elvis Imafidon
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 0429813112
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 146

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Book Description
Albinism is one of the foremost disability and public health issues in Africa today. It often makes headlines in local, national and international medias and forms the basis for intense advocacy at all levels. This is primarily due to the harmful representations of persons with albinism deeply entrenched in African traditions. These deeply rooted ideologies about albinism in African thought have largely promoted the continuous discrimination, stigmatization, harming, killing, commodification and violation of the human rights of persons with albinism in African places. How has albinism emerged as a thick concept in African traditions? What are these deeply entrenched ideas about the ontology of albinism in African thought? What epistemic injustice has been done to persons with albinism in Africa places? Why do harmful beliefs about albinism still persist in modern African societies? How does the African communalistic ethic justify the harm done against persons with albinism? What is the duty to, and burden of, care for persons with albinism? What peculiar existential challenges do persons with albinism in general and females with albinism in particular face in African societies and how can they be overcome? What can be learnt from the education philosophy of reconstructionism and genetic engineering in improving the wellbeing of persons with albinism? African Philosophy and the Otherness of Albinism: White Skin, Black Race digs deep into these philosophical questions revealing fascinating but latent aspects of how albinism is understood in African places as a necessary step to take in improving the wellbeing and integrity of persons with albinism in Africa today. This book will be of interest to scholars and students of African philosophy, sociology, African studies and disability studies.

African Somaesthetics: Cultures, Feminisms, Politics

African Somaesthetics: Cultures, Feminisms, Politics PDF Author:
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004442960
Category : Philosophy
Languages : en
Pages : 243

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Book Description
In African Somaesthetics: Cultures, Feminisms, Politics, Catherine F. Botha brings together original research on the body in African cultures, interrogating the possible contribution of a somaesthetic approach in the context of colonization, decolonization, and globalization in Africa.

Disability and Media - An African Perspective

Disability and Media - An African Perspective PDF Author: Tafadzwa Rugoho
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031408853
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 276

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Book Description
This book seeks to expand some of the existing, often western and Global North facing, scholarship in the area of Disability and Media Studies to include African perspectives. ​Featuring predominantly Africa-based contributors, it studies an array of topics on disability and media in Africa, including issues of social media, media ethics, including marginalised voices in the media, and disability representation in the media.

Insidious Trauma in Eastern African Literatures and Cultures

Insidious Trauma in Eastern African Literatures and Cultures PDF Author: Norman Saadi Nikro
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 104008673X
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 182

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Book Description
This book investigates the thematic and conceptual dimensions of insidious trauma in contemporary eastern African literatures and cultural productions. The book extends our understanding of trauma beyond people’s immediate and conventional experiences of disastrous events and incidents, instead considering how trauma is sustained in the aftermaths, continuing to impact livelihoods, and familial, social, and gender relationships. Drawing on different circumstances and experiences across and between the eastern African region, the book explores how emerging cultural practices involve varying modes of narrating, representing, and thematising insidious trauma. In doing so, the book considers different forms and practices of cultural production, including fashion, social media, film, and literature, in order to uncover how human subjects and cultural artefacts circulate through modalities of social, cultural and political ecologies. Transdisciplinary in scope and showcasing the work of experts from across the region, this book will be an important guide for researchers across literature, media studies, sociology, and trauma studies.

The Routledge Handbook of Postcolonial Disability Studies

The Routledge Handbook of Postcolonial Disability Studies PDF Author: Tsitsi Chataika
Publisher: Taylor & Francis
ISBN: 1003854710
Category : Social Science
Languages : en
Pages : 448

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Book Description
This book centres and explores postcolonial theory, which looks at issues of power, economics, politics, religion and culture and how these elements work in relation to colonial supremacy. It argues that disability is a constitutive material presence in many postcolonial societies and that progressive disability politics arise from postcolonial concerns. By drawing these two subjects together, this handbook challenges oppression, voicelessness, stereotyping, undermining, neo-colonisation and postcolonisation and bridges binary debate between global North and the global South. The book is divided into eight sections i Setting the Scene ii Decolonising Disability Studies iii Postcolonial Theory, Inclusive Development iv Postcolonial Disability Studies and Disability Activism v Postcolonial Disability and Childhood Studies vi Postcolonial Disability Studies and Education vii Postcolonial Disability Studies, Gender, Race and Religion viii Conclusion And comprised of 27 newly written chapters, this book leads with postcolonial perspectives – closely followed by an engagement with critical disability studies – with the explicit aim of foregrounding these contributions; pulling them in from the edges of empirical and theoretical work where they often reside in mainstream academic literature. The book will be of interest to all scholars and students of disability studies and postcolonial studies as well as those working in sociology, literature and development studies.

Documentary and Stereotypes

Documentary and Stereotypes PDF Author: Catalin Brylla
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3031263723
Category : Performing Arts
Languages : en
Pages : 331

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Book Description
This book studies how documentaries, and factual media in general, can contribute to the reduction of social stigma and prejudice. It adopts models from social psychology, media studies and cultural studies and is intended for scholars and media makers who aim to increase social inclusion and diversity by deconstructing harmful boundaries between social groups. Such boundaries may be based on the stereotyping of ethnicity, culture, age, dis/ability, gender and sexual orientation, for example. The first part of the book outlines the functionality of stereotypes as essential processes for social cognition both in real life and during documentary viewing. The second part establishes a classification system for stigmatising media stereotypes and formulates a methodology based on critical discourse analysis to analyse them in narrative and audio-visual representations. The third and final part of the book conceptualises a set of methodologies to reduce stigmatising stereotypes. These methodologies are based on 1) representations that prompt perspectival alignment with screen characters, and 2) the perceived salience of multiple, intersecting social identities.

Disability Rights and Inclusiveness in Africa

Disability Rights and Inclusiveness in Africa PDF Author: Jeff D. Grischow
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer
ISBN: 1847012914
Category : People with disabilities
Languages : en
Pages : 296

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Book Description
Grassroots researchers examine the barriers and ways of implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in Africa.

Africa's Culture & Customs

Africa's Culture & Customs PDF Author: Therlee Gipson
Publisher: CreateSpace
ISBN: 9781503224612
Category : Africa
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Introduction I was motivated to compile this book "Africa's Culture & Customs (Tanzania Albinos)" because of racism and myths some humans still experience today as I compile this book. It would be impossible to write about every Tribe in Africa. Therefore, I fine the Mangbetu People Head Binding of babies very intriguing and unique. My assumption was in order for them not to be enslaved by other races they had to come up with an idea to shape their children head by binding their head at an early age to deter kidnapping. This practice would keep their families together. When Slave Traders came upon them, they would consider their Tribe as a bad Omen and was undesirable to become civilized in the White man's World because of their elongated heads. What a clever idea for them to start to keep their people free from the harsh treatment they would otherwise suffer in captivity. There is always a reason man come up with something to preserve his offspring's and survive his identity. What an ingenious way to deter Slave Traders from taking their family away from them into Slavery to some far away place and never be seen again. It is estimated that there are more than 3,000 Tribes in Africa. An exact number is not known, however, because it is believed that there still may be some undocumented Tribes in Central Africa. There are more than 2,000 languages collectively used by the Tribes of Africa. It sadden me the way Albino people are looked upon today as I compile this book. I remind me of feeling like an outcast or lower than the White dominating Society in the United States. I felt ashamed of my race because of the color of my skin. It's the opposite for the albinos, they feel inferior because of their white skin. Seem like what ever your fate deem you to become, you are ostracized in one way or the other. One day in the future mankind will not judge a person by the color of their skin. Judge him/her by their character. We are driven by the belied that all persons have intrinsic value and since they are created in the image of God. Therefore, they are acting upon the moral and Human Rights values to support victims to end the discrimination and persecution of innocent albinos. According toUnder The Same Sun, To eradicate attacks against Albino's, "it is necessary to focus on eliminating reliance on witchcraft beliefs by strengthening the provision of infrastructure such as schools and hospitals while enhancing the sense of fairness by improving on the system of justice." Therefore, regaining albinos their Rights to being treated as human, fairly as functioning members of Society who may look different and suffer severe vulnerabilities due to their physical condition, but do not deserve to be murdered or hurt in any way because of ancient myths claiming sacrifice of these people will create future benefit for another person. Therlee Gipson"

Cultures of Colour

Cultures of Colour PDF Author: Chris Horrocks
Publisher: Berghahn Books
ISBN: 085745465X
Category : Art
Languages : en
Pages : 196

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Book Description
Colour permeates contemporary visual and material culture and affects our senses beyond the superficial encounter by infiltrating our perceptions and memories and becoming deeply rooted in thought processes that categorise and divide along culturally constructed lines. Colour exists as a cultural as well as psycho-physical phenomenon and acquires a multitude of meanings within differing historical and cultural contexts. The contributors examine how colour becomes imbued with specific symbolic and material meanings that tint our constructions of race, gender, ideal bodies, the relationship of the self to others and of the self to technology and the built environment. By highlighting the relationship of colour across media and material culture, this volume reveals the complex interplay of cultural connotations, discursive practices and socio-psychological dynamics of colour in an international context.