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ATLAS AFRICA REFUGEE – PAGE 1 SUSTAINABILITY – PAGE 5 HEALTH – PAGE 7 ART ACTIVISM – PAGE 9 SPRING 2019 Orange By Jana Lang

Olivia Hansen Will Land Conflicts Close Uganda’s Open Door? Olivia Hansen Will Land Conflicts Close Uganda’s Open Door? ATLAS AFRICA Editorial Board 2019 SPRING 2019 Refugee Introduction: IDP’s in Nigeria By: Breonna Osuegbu Photography Local: Will Land Conflicts Close Uganda’s Open Door? By: Olivia Hansen Olga Bronshteyn Grace Stanley Partnership: The Ripple Effect Quality Education Has On The Refugee Kay Dilworth Ravyn Granados Art & Design Community By: Zoe Reinecke Olivia Hansen Raven Maier Bell Jana Lang Sustainability Breonna Osuegbu Ronni Ravid 2 Introduction: Finding Sustainable Roots – Understanding the Utility and Zoe Reinecke Necessity of African Tradition By: Raven Maier Bell Sofia Sheldon Allison Spindler Local: Desertification in the Sahel: Local Knowledge and Collaborative Opportunities for Sustainable Land Use By: Olga Bronshteyn Partnership: United Nations and Africa By: Kay Dilworth Health 3 Introduction: Reimagining the African Health Rhetoric By: Ronni Ravid Local: Female Entrepreneurs Creating Solutions to African Health Problems By: Grace Stanley Partnership: Transnational Connections via Midwifery By: Ravyn Granados Creative Activism 4 Introduction: Arts Intro By: Allison Spindler Spring 2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 2

Introduction: With approximately 3.3 million IDPs day5. Of course, this happens because jobs within the country, Nigeria currently 1 Africa’s Refugee Crisis, IDP’s in holds the 3rd highest number of IDPs on can be hard to come by in Lagos, the Nigeria the African continent as of February 2019. Breonna Osuegbu 74% of these displaced households are largest city in Africa and Nigeria’s uprooted by violence and destruction from the 2009 Boko Haram insurgency. This economic hub. Here, IDPs and others insurgency is still destroying villages, murdering civilians, and fighting Nigerian among the urban poor typically make (and neighboring countries’) armed forces to this day. Boko Haram, a militant group money through small-scale founded in 2002, commits routine attacks against towns and villages across the entrepreneurial ventures like driving Lake Chad Basin in the fight to establish an Islamic state in the region, which motorcycle taxis (called okadas), selling Northeast Nigeria is a part of. As a result, hundreds of thousands of people are killed food and household goods, and sometimes or forced to leave the community and land they’ve always known in search of refuge prostitution6,7. Public education, although in IDP camps and informal settlements on vacant lands across the country. While it free in Lagos State, becomes inaccessible is a major concern on the topic of IDPs, Boko Haram is not the only cause of when uniforms and school lunches are too displacement—environmental factors, such as flooding, and pastoral conflicts big of a burden on the household budget, also drive people out of their communities3. and children are needed at home to work When families and individuals find and help their parents make money7. themselves far away from home, they are vulnerable to all kinds of deprivation. Moreover, eviction and further Malnutrition is rampant among IDPs Under construction in the city of Fourteen kilometers west of the when there is simply not enough money to displacement from informal settlements is Lekki in Lagos State, Nigeria is the Lekki Free Zone is Debojo, a beach feed a family three balanced meals per new Lekki Free Zone, a development town on Lagos Island that is home to a looming threat in big cities like Lagos, project between the Lagos State thousands of people who have been government, the Lagos Free Zone forced out of their homes and where the “war of space and land between Development Company, and various communities for reasons out of their private Chinese entities. The project control. These individuals and families the rich and the poor is tough and will include real estate development, a are known as Internally Displaced school, industrial facilities for the Persons (IDPs) under international law brutish”6. production and exportation of crude oil and are subject to protection and and other logistics and more. Expected provisions by the Nigerian state, On a morning jog with my dad in to be completed in 2022, the Lekki according to the 2009 Kampala Lekki, a relatively affluent city in Lagos, I Free Zone is aimed at “developing, Convention3. The proximity of this IDP was confronted with a clear view of wealth operating, and managing a modern community to the Lekki Free Zone inequality, much like the juxtaposition Free Zone”, fostering economic prompts the question: how are these between the Lekki Free Zone and the cooperation between Nigeria and development and investment projects Debojo IDP camps. Jogging out of the China, and improving the living going to be accessible and beneficial to confines of the gated estate and toward standard in Nigeria. the most vulnerable citizens—the the ocean, we found ourselves lost in maze displaced? of shanties right on Elegushi Beach. This informal settlement is home to hundreds of men, women, and children who left their hometowns in search of safety and opportunity. 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 3

As a body of institutions that have relief materials for personal benefit, area the responsibility of intervening when an unfortunately serious challenge in things go awry, what is the state currently supporting IDPs9. doing to alleviate the hardships of IDPs in the country? Ask someone living in an IDP Regarding IDP enfranchisement, the camp or informal settlement, like 48-year- old Hasfat Mustapha who travelled to Independent National Electoral Lagos from Borno State after a Boko Haram insurgency attacked her hometown, Commission (INEC) has made special and they might just laugh at such a question6. Government IDP management provisions for IDPs to vote in national agencies, such as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the elections since they are unable to get to Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), work to provide relief in their polling units where they are originally IDP camps alongside various non-profit agencies. However, corrupt practices, like registered3. This has the potential to the mismanagement of funds and selling of empower IDPs to contribute their voice in government practices regarding spending and the fight against Boko Haram violence. Orange By Jana Lang While one may imagine these high returns on land investment areas as idle and stagnant, what I saw thanks to development projects like the was actually a group alive with Lekki Free Zone8. But what happens to commerce, construction, and activity. IDP settlements on the land that This is to say that IDPs in Nigeria are developers and investors so desire? It not just sitting in their poverty and is essential for IDPs to be integrated waiting for handouts. They are into the formal economy, perhaps by building, trading, selling, and granting land titles for their informal producing with what is available given settlements, putting capital into their their circumstances. They cannot be entrepreneurial ventures, and using ignored nor hidden; they are present development projects to employ IDPs and active, right alongside affluence. rather than further displacing them to make “better” use of the land. What would it look like if local Investment in their infrastructure and and state governments integrated the human capital is necessary so that economic activities of the urban poor, IDPs, and the urban poor at large, are and of IDPs specifically, into the not left behind in economic formal local economy? Investors are development efforts. pouring into Lagos Island due to the 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 4

It seems as though a primary focus places. Further, many issues of Africa’s 1Lagos Free Zone Development Retrieved from for the government’s management of governments, such as financial Company. (n.d.). Lekki Free Zone https://www.premiumtimesng.com/ IDPs is to help them resettle back in mismanagement and rigged elections14, Investment Brochure [Brochure]. their towns of origin or just anywhere are only recontextualized with IDPs and Retrieved from health/health-interviews/277340- outside of the camps. The Youth refugees—what’s the use of empowering https://www.eiseverywhere.com/file_upl special-report-lagos-forgotten- Employment and Social Support the IDP vote if Nigeria’s elections are oads/4c89fc4ccf7b9b01305474f571ba12b communities-how-idps-suffer-in- Operation (YESSO), established by the typically rigged and manipulated 3_LFZ_InvestmentGuide.pdf nigerias-wealthiest-state-1.html federal government in 2013 and anyhow?—which makes one wonder if supported by the World Bank, works to the solution will come from the people 2Lagos Free Zone Development 6 Living under terror of ‘Omo- create a social safety net, jobs, and themselves, NGOs, or even corporations, Company. (n.d.). Company Background. Onile’: Lagos’ female IDPs braving workforce training for impoverished rather than the state. This does not Retrieved from http://lfzdc.org/about-us/ uncertainty to make a living. (2017, youth10. For IDPs, YESSO has mean that we shouldn’t hold the April 22). Retrieved from developed a plan to provide money for government accountable to its 3IDPs and the 2019 Elections https://punchng.com/living-under-terror- IDPs to relocate out of their camps and responsibilities to the people, but that we (Publication). (2019, February 11). of-omo-onile-lagos-female-idps-braving- into safe communities11.While should empower and shed light upon the Retrieved uncertainty-to-make-a-living/ resettlement is an important solution to voices and efforts of refugees. There are http://www.placng.org/situation_room/sr the IDP crisis, as many do want to ways that African refugees and IDPs /wp-content/uploads/2019/02/IDPs-and- 7 Chimezie, A. (2018, May 21). This return home to their normal lives, themselves are addressing the issues the-2019-Elections.pdf is where Chibok IDPs in Lagos sleep: several towns have been flooded, burnt that come from their particular See How Boko Haram victims are down by insurgents, or are even still circumstances, and we need not always 4Nigeria. (n.d.). Retrieved from struggling to survive Chased from prone to attack12 and are thus impose foreign solutions onto these http://www.internal- Chibok to Lagos. Retrieved from unsuitable to be resettled. Other IDPs problems. Often, more resources may be displacement.org/countries/nigeria http://naijalifemagazine.com/blog/2018/0 have left their homes with the intention needed that can come from partnerships 5/21/chibok-idps-lagos-sleep-see-boko- to start a new life and find new economic and, more sustainably, increased 5 Busari, K. (2018, July 22). This is haram-victims-struggling-survive- opportunities in places like Lagos5. economic independence and quality of where Chibok IDPs in Lagos sleep: See chased-chibok-lagos/ Thus, resettlement is not quite ideal for governance across the African continent. How Boko Haram victims are struggling some IDPs. This reality emphasizes the to survive Chased from Chibok to Lagos. need to help IDPs integrate into the local formal economy. Pulling back, the IDP crisis in Nigeria looks much like Africa’s refugee crisis at large. People are fleeing violence and natural disaster on a massive scale, seeking safety and economic opportunities for a better life in foreign 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 5

8 Ukwuoma, I. (2016, June 25). 13 International Committee of the Local: Will Land Conflicts All You Need To Know About Lekki Red Cross. (2012, December 5). ICRC Free Zone and Why You Should Invest welcomes entry into force of Kampala 1 Close Uganda’s Open Door? in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. Convention for displaced persons By: Olivia Hansen Retrieved from [Press release]. Retrieved from https://medium.com/@IgnatiusUkwuom https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/resources/d The Pearl of Africa stands apart. ability to integrate into the economy a/all-you-need-to-know-about-lekki- ocuments/news-release/2012/12-05- Serving as a host to 1.2 million beyond refugee settlements.2 Uganda's free-zone-and-why-you-should-invest- kampala-convention-entry-into- refugees,1 the world’s third largest Self-Reliance Strategy (SRS) has been in-ibeju-lekki-lagos-nigeria- force.htm refugee population, Uganda has viewed as an exemplary model of a d04ce3b871e diverged from the refugee policies of its long-term, sustainable solution to 14 Warf, B. (2017). Geographies of East African neighbors. Rather than refugee crises around the world. The 9 Eweka, O., & Olusegun, T. O. African corruption. PSU Research following the encampment model of SRS caught the attention of the (2016). Management of Internally Review,1(1), 20-38. Retrieved from many other host nations and international community and was Displaced Persons in Africa: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pd restricting refugees’ right to work, chosen as a pilot program for the Comparing Nigeria and Cameroon. An fplus/10.1108/PRR-12-2016-0012. Uganda has adopted a progressive UNHCR’s Comprehensive Refugee International Multidisciplinary 'open-door’ policy: freedom of Response Framework.3 Journal, Ethiopia, 10(1), 40th ser. movement, land to cultivate, and the Retrieved from https://www.ajol.info/index.php/afrrev/ article/view/12984 10 Okunmadewa, F. (2013). Nigeria Youth Employment & Social Support Operation [Abstract]. Retrieved from http://projects.worldbank.org/P126964/ youth-employment-social-support- operation?lang=en&tab=overview 11 Usim, U. (2019, January 1). FG introduces empowerment scheme to help IDPs. Retrieved from https://www.sunnewsonline.com/f g-introduces-empowerment-scheme-to- help-idps/ 12 Ezea, S. (2018, November 24). ‘We’re are being forced out of IDP camps with nowhere to go’. Retrieved from https://guardian.ng/saturday- magazine/were-are-being-forced-out-of- idp-camps-with-nowhere-to-go/ 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 6

However, tension from long-standing allowing access to the same public services Due to its core component of urgency in solving land conflicts land conflicts are causing cracks to appear and education as nationals. This land allocation, the most subvert these efforts and threaten the in the surface of the program’s success and distinctive approach was further enforced fundamental threat to the viability and replicability of the SRS threatening the foundation of Uganda’s by the Refugee Act of 2006 and the sustainability of Uganda’s refugee program.10 The findings from this refugee framework. If these conflicts are implementation a decade later of the policy lies within land conflicts study conclude that ambiguous not addressed, the willingness to replicate UNHCR’s Refugee and Host Population between refugee and host boundaries, unresolved land rights, its model will wane, and Uganda may be Empowerment (ReHoPE) initiative to communities. Although these poor management of land allocation, forced to close its doors, receding to the integrate refugees into Uganda’s conflicts emerged at the same time as and land scarcity each contribute to restrictive encampment policies countries development agenda while supporting host the settlements’ formation, a confrontation over land use. Not only of first asylum most often adopt. Uganda’s communities.6 These efforts have led to simultaneous increase in land do these confrontations hinder efforts SRS program developed from a general assumptions that refugees are scarcity and refugee movements have at integration and increase partnership between the Government of achieving high degrees of self-sufficiency caused land competition and insecurity, they undermine the Uganda (GoU) and the UNHCR in 1999, and are poised to contribute to Uganda’s confrontation to intensify. Dr. Frank foundational objective of self-reliance. and has succeeded in providing higher overall economic growth. Indeed, a study Ahimbisibwe, Head of the These findings are significant degrees of refugee autonomy and social in 2016 by USAID discovered that the SRS Department of Planning and because tensions over land threaten integration than most host nations.4 The provision of land to refugees led to an Governance at Uganda’s Mbarara to push the GoU to shift from its SRS adopted three noteworthy objectives: annual contribution to the local economy University, emphatically believes admirable strategy of self-sufficiency permitting freedom of movement and of up to $205.7 Yet, African scholars are that integration efforts like ReHope to a model of encampment, stripping economic integration, allocating plots of skeptical of these assumptions. are essential to addressing the source refugees of their autonomy and land offered by host communities, and of ongoing refugee crises, yet he does ability to contribute to Uganda’s not believe the SRS economic economy. integration agenda will succeed if land conflicts are not addressed.8 Dr. Ambiguous boundaries and a Ahimbisibwe has focused his research lack of formal demarcation of lands on regional security and disaster allocated for refugee settlement have management in relation to refugees, been the major cause of land and he asserts that the proliferation conflicts.11 Refugees frequently of protracted refugee crises in Africa become bitter when Ugandan are due to a lack of prioritization of nationals claim land within a local integration.9 Yet, despite the settlement, yet the land plotted for laudable integration efforts of the refugees is rarely demarcated, GoU, Dr. Ahimbisibwe’s research leading to confusion over settlement conducted at the Nikavale boundaries and inevitable conflict. Settlementproves that a lack of 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 7

“It is therefore not surprising,” Dr. spatialcompetition for fertile and pasture These tensions are further influence refugees’ economic choices in Ahimbisibwe determines, “that some lands has consistently sparked exacerbated by land scarcity and detrimental ways. Due to increasing people… don’t know that they are actually confrontation and violence. By contrast, increasing envy of the agricultural violence from land competition, Dr. living in the settlement and seeing careful planning during implementation of resources granted to refugees. Ahimbisibwe finds that refugees are refugees brought to the land they believe is the policy of land allocation would include Particularly due to the fact that hesitant to interact with markets outside theirs will certainly fuel conflict.”12 Due to the consideration of households’ refugees’ plots of land have been gifted of the settlements, or to send their poor planning and negligent governance, occupations and organize the settlement by local communities, a mounting children to better schools beyond Nakivale’s 84 square miles of settlement plots accordingly. Just as the gift of a plot perception that resources are settlement borders.16 Both of these land was never clearly delineated as such, of land is crucial for refugees’ self- disproportionately allocated to the choices are a response to growing leading to an immense amount of sufficiency and food security, arable land settlements has led to bitterness and a hostility towards refugee settlements frustrated confrontation. represents a vital source of income for reduction in productive integration. This and have a negative impact on livelihood Ugandan nationals. Agriculture employs disposition is not exclusive to Nakivale. development. Refugees’ aversion towards Although many of these land nearly 72 percent of the labor force,14 and Communities in Northern Uganda have social integration thus prevents refugee conflicts are born of ambiguity, from the refugee settlements are located in the been heavily burdened by a massive labor from contributing to the Ugandan time Nakivale opened, opportunists within most impoverished regions of the country influx of South Sudanese refugees, and economy. local government offices took advantage of where households rely on subsistence resentment is rising towards the GoU the unclear boundaries, secured illegal farming. Just as the mismanagement of policies which assist refugees more than land titles, and leased or sold land land rights presents a massive challenge the locals who have given up their reserved for refugees. These murky land to refugees’ economic integration, land.15 This envy has been shown to holdings, enabled by the lack of Uganda’s agricultural sector growth is demarcation, are one example of chronically challenged by the same mismanagement. Another example is the convoluted land rights process. Poor government’s methods of land allocation; implementation of the land allocation supervisors’ organization of refugees strategy, lack of administrative planning, within the settlements ranges from and land title fraud places refugees and ignorant at best to sinister at worst. At host communities in direct confrontation Nakivale, refugees are often directed to and threatens cultural and economic settle on land being cultivated by Ugandan integration. nationals, which ruins the relationship between households.13 This mismanagement and its insensitivities has resulted in pastoralists and cultivators being placed unnecessarily in close proximity, leading to conflict between the two groups and presenting economic challenges for both. This 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 8

Despite Uganda’s commendable and retroactive land demarcation,18 land 1\"Operational Portal,\" (Uganda 10Ibid., 22. allowances for economic integration, management reform to end direct Comprehensive Refugee Response 11Ibid., 22. refugees live in a state of uncertainty confrontation,19, 20 livelihood programs and Portal, 2019). 12Ibid., 23. because the SRS does not permit land investments in diversification for both 13Ibid., 23. ownership. This barrier to long-term refugees and host communities,21 2Alexander Betts et al., Refugee 14\"Uganda - Agriculture,\" (U.S. stability discourages refugees from future mechanisms for managing conflict,22 and Economies in Uganda: What planning, or taking entrepreneurial risks, cohesive multilateral partnerships to Difference Does the Self-Reliance Department of Commerce, 2019). due to the fear of forced removal or reduce the fragmentation of the GoU and Model Make? (University of Oxford, 15Halima Athumani, \"Uganda reallocation. This fear is not unfounded. A UNHCR programs.23 As developing Refugee Studies Centre, 2019), 6. 2010 report found that land allocated to nations around the world struggle with Pressed for Land Amid Refugee and cultivated for decades by Rwandese the burden of major refugee crises, 3Tessa Coggio, \"Can Uganda's refugees was reclaimed by the GoU, and Uganda has been held up as a beacon of Breakthrough Refugee-Hosting Influx - Uganda,\" (ReliefWeb, 2018). 1,700 Rwandese were forcibly returned to hope for progressive refugee policies which Model Be Sustained?\" (Migration 16Ahimbisibwe, \"The Effect of Rwanda.17 This uncertainty prevents pursue a dignified, developmental Policy Institute, 2018). refugees from their full capacity to approach. Yet, the issue of land conflicts Land Conflicts,” 24. integrate as assets to Uganda’s economic poses a threat to Uganda’s refugee 4Betts, Refugee Economies in 17Gardner, \"Beneath the development. framework. Research conducted by Uganda, 6. African scholars such as Dr. Ahimbisibwe Surface…” Land conflicts due to poor exposes this weakness in Uganda’s refugee 5Ibid., 6. 18Betts, Refugee Economies in governance and planning, mismanaged policy and suggest that the GoU and its 6Ibid., 4. land allocation, and envy from nationals implementing partners cohesively address 7Coggio, \"Can Uganda's Uganda, 35. are threatening the economic these conflicts before refugees’ economic Breakthrough…” 19Ibid. sustainability of the SRS program and the integration is negated, the SRS crumbles, 8Frank Ahimbisibwe, PhD, 20Ahimbisibwe, \"The Effect of integration of refugees into Uganda’s and Uganda is forced to close its doors. \"The Effect of Land Conflicts on the development framework. The GoU’s stated Livelihoods of Refugees: Land Conflicts,” 27. goal of self-reliance for refugees is further Implications for Refugee Protection 21Ibid. undermined by laws against land in Uganda,\" (International Journal of 22Ibid. ownership, and therefore fails to provide a Research In Social Sciences, 2013), 23Ibid., 28. long-term solution which benefits both 19Ibid., 19-28. refugees and their host communities. These land conflicts must be addressed to In my own By Jana Lang prevent the GoU from the all-too-common model of protracted, inhumane UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER encampment. Urgently suggested reforms to the SRS framework include: proactive 10/4/2019 9

Partnership: The Ripple Effect These challenges manifest a testament to the ingenuity of refugees 1 Quality Education Has On The themselves in teaching environments that through the successes of a play-based Refugee Community Zoe Reinecke often threaten the safety of refugee early education program for children students, inconsistent teachers, and a lack between the ages of three to five years. of necessary resources. Many times, Examining the ways Little Ripples students opt to look for ways to contribute sustainably mobilizes community to the financial survival of their family resources highlights potential unit rather than participate in education, opportunities for future financial and which puts them at risk for exploitation resource partnerships with universities. and other negative ramifications. Surrounded by conflict-ridden necessary to “rebuild their lives and Quality education means something The refugee community in Chad countries, Chad is a haven to 461,716 communities.”2 different when dealing with refugees. does not allow their challenging refugees.1 There is no question that the Coming from countries contaminated by circumstances to prevent them from influx of refugees has introduced a Support for refugee education conflict, refugee children have very providing education to their children. myriad of challenges for Chad; does not always translate directly into specific psychological needs and Little Ripples mobilizes refugee women to including providing access to quality access to quality education. For host educational gaps that must inform the be teachers and leverages the available education for refugees. The benefits of governments “the additional task of curriculum and the training of teachers resources to educate future generations. education for refugees has been finding school places, trained teachers delivering it. If these experiences are not By empowering “refugee women to acknowledged by both the and learning materials for tens or even specifically addressed in the educational improve the social-emotional, cognitive, international and refugee community. hundreds of thousands of newcomers, setting, violence and other catastrophic and physical development of refugee UNHCR articulates that education is a who often do not speak the language of consequences will plague these children, ages three to five, in their human right: protecting refugee instruction and have missed out on an communities. community. In partnership with families, children from forced recruitment into average of three to four years of refugee homes are selected across a exploitative work, increasing their schooling”3 is an overwhelming One excellent example of how the refugee camp and adapted into safe and wellbeing, and giving them the skills challenge. refugee community in Chad has combated appropriate learning spaces called Little these obstacles is through community-led Ripples Ponds (Ponds).”4 Little Ripples initiatives such as Little Ripples. This benefits the entire community by initiative launched by iACT in 2013 empowering women and teaching provides the refugee community student’s life skills, ways to navigate autonomy over tailoring education to best traumatic experiences, improving their meet their unique needs. Little Ripples is overall psychosocial wellbeing in the present and the future. 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 10

When women are equipped and involvement has on the lives of the empowered, economies are stimulated, gender discrimination is combatted, and children, motivating them to increase the overall wellbeing of families is improved.5 “Empowering refugees to their influence. Little Ripples is informed adapt and lead an education programme fosters ownership from the outset, and ran by the refugee community; thus, ensures the solution is culturally relevant, and enables the programme to every outcome is dictated by the be sustainable beyond the support of international aid agencies.”.6 community it serves. Converting available spaces A recent article published by provided by refugees into “Ponds” not only has financial benefits but also Stanford Social Innovation Review stimulates ownership within the community. Sara-Christine Dallain, the discusses the impending gap in education Director of International Programs at iACT, explains the logic behind this in developing countries. Mark J. Epstein approach. “We put the money into teacher training and employing teachers and Kristi Yuthas argue that “what and create spaces in the community where more children can attend and be in students need are not more academic safe spaces.”7 Investing in developing people has a much greater return than skills, but rather life skills that enable investing in infrastructure because more adults are trained to be teachers, them to improve their financial prospects allowing for more students to receive quality education. This requires the and well-being.”8 Little Ripples The universal training curriculum Orange By Jana Lang community to step up to close the gap in allows for versatility and ease when infrastructure. Engaging the community successfully provides students with the scaling the program. The teachers are integrate into schools that serve the in this way allows them to witness the given freedom within the curriculum to public. The play-based interactive model positive impact their training and skills that they need to meet the integrate personal stories that pertain to that guides Little Ripples engages the the culture and the context in which their students and reinforces invaluable skills demands of their life. The emphasis on students come from, making the such as hand washing, hygiene practices, education more relatable for the children. and navigating violent inclinations. intentionally and strategically training The curriculum empowers both the students and the teachers. An integral part of Little Ripples is teachers contributes to the success of the unique curriculum the community The one-year evaluation suggests curates to meet the needs of the students. Little Ripples. Teachers are trained in “a that students are becoming more The curriculum that has been confident with life skills without implemented by Little Ripples “aims to pre-established, evidence-based outline compromising their academic skills. War increase empathetic behavior, decrease and displacement significantly impact violent behavior, improve cognitive skills, that trains and guides refugee teachers the overall mental, emotional, and and improve the physical health of physical wellbeing making it even more students.”10 Within a year of attending in mindfulness, play-based literacy and complicated for them to successfully Little Ripples, caregivers of the children reported noticeable improvements in numeracy, empathy and social-emotional each objective. development, positive behavior management and protection, peacebuilding, and hygiene practices for young children.”9 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 11

Individuals who grow up in crisis ensure that the curriculum is current has 1 \"Operational Portal.\" Country Programme Has a Big Effect on zones are more prone to perpetuate long-lasting benefits. The unique - Chad. Accessed June 23, 2019. Young Refugee Children in Chad - violence in the future; therefore, teaching proposition that universities such as https://data2.unhcr.org/en/country/tcd. Chad,\" ReliefWeb, October 17, 2018, students tangible skills to navigate their UCLA have is that students and faculty accessed June 23, 2019, experiences and take care of themselves can work together to do on the ground 2 United Nations. \"Education.\" https://reliefweb.int/report/chad/little- not only benefits them but also the evaluations with community members to UNHCR. Accessed June 23, 2019. ripples-programme-has-big-effect- community and nation. Basic hygiene guarantee that what is being done is truly https://www.unhcr.org/en- young-refugee-children-chad. skills can have massive impacts on the capitalizing on the available resources. us/education.html. health and well-being of the entire Developing a partnership to invest in 8 Mark J. Epstein and Kristi community by aiding in the prevention of individuals allows for more teachers to be 3 United Nations. \"Missing Out: Yuthas, \"Redefining Education in the the spread of sickness. Focusing on the trained and more children to receive a life- Refugee Education in Crisis.\" Developing World,\" Stanford Social health of the children increases their changing education. Teachers are the ones UNHCR. September 2016. Accessed Innovation Review, 2012, accessed ability to consistently attend school and who are creating the safe learning June 23, 2019. June 23, 2019. concentrate. These factors ultimately environments, thus partnerships must https://www.unhcr.org/missing-out- contribute to decreasing sickness and focus on teacher training. Adults and state-of-education-for-the-worlds- 9 \"Center For Education vulnerability to exploitative employment. children are being empowered by Little refugees.html. Innovations.\" Little Ripples | Center Where other programs fail in addressing Ripples. The demand for education within for Education Innovations. January the emotional and mental consequences the larger refugee community will always 4 Jwthacher. \"Little Ripples.\" 01, 1970. Accessed June 23, 2019. that result from trauma, Little Ripples is be present, but Little Ripples offers a IACT. Accessed June 23, 2019. https://educationinnovations.org/prog meeting that need. practical, realistic, and result based model https://www.iact.ngo/impact/little- ram/little-ripples. to address this ever-growing need. ripples/. This is an effective model to 10 \"LR One Year Public PDF potentially copy, and partnerships with 5 Kabeer, Naila. \"Gender Final - Educationinnovations.org,\" universities and institutions such as Equality and Womens September 14, 2014, accessed June UCLA can lead to even richer programs Empowerment: A Critical Analysis of 23, 2019, down the road. The genius behind Little the Third Millennium Development https://educationinnovations.org/sites Ripples is that there is a streamlined Goal 1.\" Gender & Development 13, /default/files/LR-One-Year- curriculum used to train the teachers, but no. 1 (July 1, 2010): 13-24. Public_Sept-14.pdf. there is flexibility for the teachers to add doi:10.1080/13552070512331332273. personal stories at their discretion. This allows for Little Ripples to transcend 6 Billy Briggs, \"Little Ripples borders and cultures. Partnerships Programme Has a Big Effect on focused on exploring ways to train more Young Refugee Children in Chad - teachers, engage other refugee Chad,\" ReliefWeb, October 17, 2018, communities, and providing resources to accessed June 23, 2019, https://reliefweb.int/report/chad/little- ripples-programme-has-big-effect- young-refugee-children-chad. 7 Billy Briggs, \"Little Ripples 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 12

Introduction: Finding These non-sustainable efforts, stem the 80s and 90s and into today, as well as a from maintained colonial regimes of shift in priorities that have caused 2 Sustainable Roots, extraction, threatening sustainability governments to cater to the needs of Understanding the Utility and efforts of African states, facilitated by the international donors, rather than the needs Necessity of African Tradition process of Neoliberalization. By focusing on of their own peoples.3 In turn, while Africa Morocco, a place that has faced extreme has some of the most liberalized Raven Maier Bell neoliberal threat, as well as, Malawi as a agricultural and manufacturing sectors of site of transformative sustainability efforts, the world,(which according to neoliberal Often times in popular media and encompass not just environmental or I hope to show a holistic view of Africa’s pedagogy should hail African states as academia, “sustainability” seems to ecological reform, but social, political, issues with and efforts for sustainability frontrunners of the neoliberal capitalist only bring to mind issues surrounding and economic as well. Therefore, the across its diverse communities. economy), Africa faces a failure of environmental degradation, our type of sustainability that will be liberalized returns, thereby creating depleting ozone, and global warming. adopted within this journal, is one that Neoliberalism is an ideology of environments of exploitation, merciless Although this aspect of sustainability is both holistic and intersectional, and marketization, that extends globally and quotas, child labor, dangerous work is vital, it is only a small part of the which focuses on sustainability within into every aspect of quotidian life. George practices, and overall economic, political, “sustainable” effort. Sustainability is Africa which encompasses these Monbiot defines Neoliberalism best as the and social inequality, leaving 1/3 of its more than the environment, it is about perspectives. Africa, due to the Berlin process of making “competition as the population in poverty and low Human development that creates a better conference, has been developed by defining characteristic of human relations, Development Indexes in the world.1,4 On- world not only for ourselves, but our colonial institutions that have fostered [which] redefines citizens as consumers the-ground, neoliberalism translates into kids, friends, relatives, and our anti-sustainability policies within whose democratic choices are best exercised environmental degradation, extractionist communities at large.4 With this Africa. by buying and selling,”.6 However, the issue export-orientated economies, a lack of definition, “sustainability,” begins to with creating a society defined by governance and infrastructure, conflict, and competition is that it will inherently a lack of urgency for health care services. produce winners and losers - which All of which, restrict African states from complicates democratic values of equality, developing and reaching the UN’s by producing greater inequality within Sustainable Development Goals main states, as well as, internationally interest of peace and prosperity. 1.4.8 I turn deepening the divide between the Global to Morocco as a case study on the toxic North and the Global South.6 In Africa, this relationship between neoliberalism and is seen most starkly in conditional aid sustainability. policies set forth by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Banks, Structural Adjustment Programs (SAPs). These policies led to a trend of decreasing per capita incomes across Africa throughout 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 13

The French colonial rule of land in the hands of rural and urban Alongside increased Accompanying these scare tactics, notables, who also benefit from has also been the increasing Morocco began in 1912 and neoliberal policies and practices, unemployment, the privatization of disenfranchisement of renters, as their therefore making sustainable land needs have been ignored and many are supposedly ended in 1956 with reform difficult for the people that these sectors caused staple products to forced into displacement, as even their actually live and work on the land.7 “illegal” homes are taken and destroyed Moroccan independence. However, become more expensive, creating a by the government.7 Another aspect of Not only has neoliberalism neoliberal hegemony in Morocco has the same colonial justifications for the caused environmental hardship in disaster for an economy already marked been the lessening of funds to deal with Morocco, but also political and social the effects of pollution induced climate subjugation and oppression of native hardship as well. In many ways, by high levels of unemployment and change.7 Although Morocco is one of the neoliberalism is seen as a champion of least polluting countries in the world, it Moroccans in 1912, are the same ones economic development, however, economic inequality.7 This served as fuel still suffers greatly from its affects, although it opened Moroccan ports to resulting in environmental instability being used today. Since 1912, French foreign goods and services, (which for the “Moroccan fire” to be a part of the characterized by increasing according to the IMF and World Bank temperatures, heavy rains, droughts, colonial powers - continued by the should grow Morocco’s economy), Arab Springs in 2011 and of the political and floods, that destroy infrastructure instead it caused economic and agricultural products and create Moroccan kings, like Mohammad VI dependency, which in turn caused protests since. hardship for Moroccan people.7 social and political upheaval.1,7 Since today - have blamed land degradation the implementation of Structural Adjustment Programs, Morocco’s and environmental deterioration on government, in order to import more Unfortunately, this also sparked a foreign goods, has decreased subsidies political war between activists and the natives over grazing of public lands.7 of basic products like petrol, wheat, Moroccan government, as shown by the oil, and sugar.7 In consequence, this Mohammad VI condoning of activist This “blame the victim” mentality, brought a loss of jobs for both suppression, mass firings, false agricultural and petrol workers, and accusation of people that spoke out stems from an even larger history of caused the displacement of many against him, and ultimately families and communities.7 imprisonment and mass disappearing’s.7 European ideology that asserts that native Africans threaten the same environment they come from.5 However, this is incorrect, as the majority of land degradation and environmental threats come from the ploughing of marginal lands and over irrigation, sanctioned by neoliberal policies of privatization, which limits regulation and allows multi-national corporation to create manufacturing plants that require intense production on that land, regardless of the ecological effects.7 Although, Moroccans are against this, there is little they are able to do, as the long- held, French placed client system put 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 14

However, instead of focusing on the with corruption, disregards land One of the main reasons this services leave out locals as needs of its people, the Moroccan degradation, displacement, and the has occurred is due to the lack of stakeholders altogether.5 Although government following-the-money so to exploitation it causes, in turn creating a NGO cooperation with local peoples, Slocum and Kline detail that NGOs speak, provides funds for profit producing Morocco unsustainable for not only future as well as NGO’s adoption of do realize that local people need to be projects, (in line with neoliberal ideology), generations, but of those living in it today. neoliberal aid practices.5 A defining included in the process, the creation such as the “Green Morocco plan,” an ironic characteristic of neoliberalism is less and implementation of these projects title, when considering that this projects Morocco, like the rest of Africa, relies government regulation. However, due are done by outsiders.5 Therefore calls for the agricultural shift to citrus, heavily on foreign aid to help fund and to NGOs demanding less government Africa, in order to reach a new level of fruits, and vegetables – products that water carry out sustainability efforts. Although, intervention, in order to “help” not only economic, social, and political require a lot of water, in a country that is the billions of dollars Africa receives in developing communities in Africa, sustainable development, but cultural predicted to reach water scarcity by 2025.7 foreign aid has resulted in helping the NGOs have essentially become mini sustainability as well, must move As a result of a lack of funds, failures of issues of sustainability, such as health, corporations that “commodify natural away from conditional aid put forth basic services like trash collection and education, and the environment, progress resources as a revenue stream,” and by the IMF, World Bank, and NGOs, disposal are blamed on the poor, while has been inept compared to the projected reduces the impact of development and look to indigenous solutions, like Moroccan elites and its private amounts of development foreign aid should funding.5 Kline and Slocum note that that of Malawi. partnerships with France, Spain, and Saudi have created. the NGO projects, like ecotourism in Arabia, are allowed to accumulate capital.7 Morocco’s “Azur Plan,” as well as in In Malawi we see several types Neoliberalism in Morocco, in association many Africa states, creates an image of sustainability reached of locals as “poverty victims” that simultaneously: cultural, economic, turns projects into neo-colonial and environmental, and all done extractionist institutions that leave through the traditional use of the little for the people the project is Msungu tree and dried vegetables. In supposed to serve.5 Malawi, Bhabha’s “third space theory” is practiced unknowingly, A part of the issue is that locals, however, it serves as an important because they are seen as “poverty- example of what a sustainable Africa victims,” are seen as inept to make could be.2 decisions about their own community, therefore NGOs and other foreign aid 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 15

Bhabha’s third space theory asserts Malawian culture, however, corn that is that we must “move away from privileged, now a staple in Malawi,(as well as other authoritative discourse by providing fruits and vegetables that are an indigenous cultures with improved access important part to their diet), come from to Eurocentric science, while at the same colonial powers, but by incorporating the time validating the local communities own two practices together – creating the third ways of understanding nature,” and that space - they help the people, their culture, by doing so sustainability efforts of Africa and their environment not only survive but will be far more impactful than what has thrive. Therefore, traditional techniques resulted from Foreign Direct Investment, such as these, which are found in every thus far.2 Take for example the Msungu African state and culture, must be focused tree. The Msungu tree is used in Malawi on as a starting point for sustainable where it only grows by rivers, but in doing African development, which complimented so provides a natural, fertile fertilizer that by western sciences can create lasting allows farmers to plant a variety of crops, sustainability and development, as well as like corn, (depending on the season), that promoting a sense of owed dignity, produce high yields.2 The Msungu tree humanity, community, and reciprocity.2 provides a plentiful food source and helps to combat land degradation by the shedding of and decomposition of its leaves; it is ingenious and a sustainable alternative to chemical fertilizers which have led to land degradation by depleting the soil of its natural resources.2 . 2 Another example is the use of a traditional technique of drying fruits and vegetables, which allows families to store up both local and exotic food for 6 months, thereby serving as a safety net in case of bad harvests, or crop disease.2 These traditional techniques are a part of 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 16

1Davis, Diana K. \"Neoliberalism, Moroccan Catastrophic Local: Desertification in the Environmentalism, and Agricultural Convergence.\" Against the Current 33, no. 1 Restructuring in Morocco.\" The (Mar, 2018): 16-18. 2 Sahel: Local Knowledge and Geographical Journal 172, no. 2 (2006): 88- https://search.proquest.com/docview/201494 Collaborative Opportunities for 105. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4959.2006.00204.x. 1879?accountid=14512. Sustainable Land Use Olga Bronshteyn 2Glasson, George E., Ndalapa 8\"Sustainable Development Goals .:. Mhango, Absalom Phiri, and Marilyn Sustainable Development Knowledge The Sahel, a biogeographic zone recently, the Sahel suffered severe Lanier. \"Sustainability Science Education Platform.\" United Nations. Accessed June stretching across 10 countries from drought between 1970 and 1993; by in Africa: Negotiating Indigenous Ways of 24, 2019. Senegal to Eritrea and marking the 2050, climate change is predicted to Living with Nature in the Third Space.\" https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?me transition between the Sahara and the exacerbate such extreme weather International Journal of Science Education nu=1300. Sudanian Savanna, has historically events, along with overall 32, no. 1 (2009): 125-41. been characterized by strong climatic desertification-- the transition of fertile doi:10.1080/09500690902981269. Primaries By Jana Lang variations and irregular rainfall, but land into desert.1 the situation has worsened 3Hilary, John. \"Africa: Dead Aid and dramatically in recent decades. Most the Return of Neoliberalism - John Hilary, 2010.\" SAGE Journals. Accessed June 24, 2019. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/03 06396810377010. 4Kameri-Mbote, Patricia. \"Challenges to Sustainability in Africa.\" SpringerLink. June 15, 2011. Accessed June 24, 2019. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1057/de v.2011.8#enumeration. 5Kline, Carol S., and Susan L. Slocum. \"Neoliberalism in Ecotourism? The New Development Paradigm of Multinational Projects in Africa.\" Taylor & Francis. Accessed June 24, 2019. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.108 0/14724049.2015.1023731. 6Monbiot, George. \"Neoliberalism – the Ideology at the Root of All Our Problems.\" The Guardian. April 15, 2016. Accessed June 24, 2019. https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/a pr/15/neoliberalism-ideology-problem- george-monbiot. 7Moustakbal, Jawad. \"Despotism, Neoliberalism & Climate Change in Morocco: 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 17

As millions in the region, a challenges of the past three decades, One highly successful example has and substantial land restoration in the long majority of them farmers and livestock the Sahel has also witnessed an been that of zaï agriculture, introduced as term. Local leaders like Burkina Faso-born owners, are critically affected by food inspiring mobilization of local farming an independent, indigenously sourced Yacouba Sawadogo have been at the and livelihood insecurity in the region, populations in experimenting with methodology originating in Mali.4 This forefront of efforts to promote the desertification has spurred a rise in sustainable practices for land use and technique relies on grids of planting pits technique, including founding a “zaï staple food prices, migration and agriculture. Many of the technical dug across farming plots to restore the school,” individually educating farmers in displacement, violent local and innovations which have proven fertility of severely degraded farmland villages, and organizing semi-annual regional conflicts, and a host of effective in the sphere of soil and water otherwise impermeable to water. The pits, market days focused on training.6 consequences on overall development conservation are strongly rooted in to which manure and fertilizers can be of the countries affected.2 traditional regional practices and have added, concentrate organic nutrients and In contrast to the history of the zaï owed their success in large part to a moisture, allowing improved water method, stone bund technology introduced UNEP attributes changes over “bottom-up” approach to their retention; in turn enabling plants to adapt on farms in Burkina Faso initially failed to the last half-century to a range of implementation. I turn to several case to and survive long dry spells and yield results in soil and water conservation complex factors, including rapid studies throughout the region to temperamental climate.5 Farmers in prior to 1980.7 Projects which experimented population growth, land degradation, examine these techniques, and why the Burkina Faso began experimentation with with the technique in the 1960s and 70s cyclical over-depletion of resources, implications they hold for both zaï in the 1980s; these systems have proven were implemented by outside NGOs, and a lack of coherent development adapting to and mitigating particularly well adapted to smallholder without consultation of farmers in the policies by governments and desertification-- as well as for African farming, allowing both increased region. international development groups sustainability as a whole-- are so agricultural production in the short term alike.3 Yet in response to the growing significant. Orange By Jana Lang 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 18

As a result, farmers did not soil fertility and moisture for adjacently planted crops, creating symbiotic maintain, and sometimes intentionally relationships while restoring arid land.11 The development of FMNR, in contrast to destroyed, the earthen bunds (intended to the zaï and stone bund techniques, was headed in the 1980s by Australian trap water) precisely because they were development agent Tony Rinaudo, who developed techniques for tree constructed without their involvement, or regeneration and soil management with close collaboration and guidance of local else strategically due to the bunds’ poor farmers.12 design, which actually endangered crop Together, the three methodologies described above have produced success in years of low rainfall.8 Not until remarkable results. Numerous studies have presented optimistic evidence of NGOs began experimenting with improvements to crop productivity, relief of food insecurity, land and soil conservation techniques and accepted regeneration, and even creation of various forms of capital, particularly (and input from farmers was the creation of crucially) for rural women. For instance, zaï and bund technologies, which have more effective contour stone bunds been implemented on 200-300,000 hectares of farmland in the Sahel, have facilitated. A traditional technique of been shown to boost cereal crop yields between 40 and over 100 percent.13 In the building stone bund lines, which has case of FMNR, which has become common practice on over 5 million today gained popularity around the West hectares in Niger and other nations, the U.N. acknowledges its contribution to African Sahel, was reintroduced along improved food security for an estimated 2.5 million people, as farms with well- “contours,” allowing water runoff to managed FMNR have seen doubled What can these cases tell us about the willingness of such agents, including productivity of vital crops.14 combating desertification in the Sahel, national governments, international spread evenly through crop fields and and its relation to African sustainability institutions such as the U.N. Food and as a whole? First and foremost, I believe Agriculture Organization, and NGOs, to improve the soil by trapping sediments them to reaffirm the significance of a navigate the intricacies of the unique “bottom-up” approach, which prioritizes challenges and circumstances of Sahelian and organic matter.9 the agency and mobilization of local farmers in nurturing innovative, stakeholders and encourages inclusive dynamics between land and A third example of a system which international actors to build on a livelihoods, and those dependent on them. foundation of locally contextualized has proven efficient in combating indigenous knowledge. Furthermore, the In the case of sustainable land use cases of FMNR and contour bunds practices, the seeds are already being desertification is the farmer-managed exemplify that successful sustainability sown by local populations on the ground; initiatives can benefit from, and in fact financial and environmental natural regeneration (FMNR) may at times crucially depend on, sustainability must now be enabled to collaboration between informed, locally coexist. methodology implemented in Niger. situated domestic actors and non-local agents. This is, naturally, conditional on FMNR is an innovative agroforestry initiative, drawing on a combination of local forest management methods and historical European practices to produce sustainable, highly multi-functional tree harvests.10 Under the practice, farmers encourage restoration and management of trees and shrubs sprouting from stumps, roots, and seeds found in degraded soil; such woody plants improve 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 19

1Essoungou, Andre-Michel. \"The 12Ibid. Sahel: One Region, Many Crises.\" Africa 13Ibid. Renewal Online. 2013. Accessed May 02, 14Ibid. 2019. 15Kpadonou, Rivaldo A. Baba, Tom https://www.un.org/africarenewal/magazine Owiyo, Bruno Barbier, Fatima Denton, /december-2013/sahel-one-region-many- Franck Rutabingwa, and Andre Kiema. crises. \"Advancing Climate-smart-agriculture in Developing Drylands: Joint Analysis of the 2Sahel Early Action and Scale-up of Adoption of Multiple On-farm Soil and Emergency Response. Report. 2018. Water Conservation Technologies in West Accessed May 02, 2019. African Sahel.\" Land Use Policy 61 https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/ (February 2017): 196-207. Accessed May 12, resources/I8940EN.pdf. 2019. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2016.10.050. While higher-up stakeholders strengthening capital in various forms, 3Ibid. play a role in creating favorable reducing food insecurity and incentives 4Reij, Chris, Gray Tappan, and conditions through factors like land for migration, creating novel economic Melinda Smale. Agroenvironmental tenure and access to financial opportunities, and advancing towards Transformation in the Sahel: Another Kind resources, the primary role of local a future of sustainable land use in the of Green Revolution. Technical paper. actors must be oriented around face of a changing climate. International Food Policy Research promoting both formal and semi-formal Institute, 2007. Accessed May 08, 2019. education and inter-generational CORE. knowledge transfer, with particular https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/6257709.pdf. focus on vulnerable farmers in remote 5Danjuma, Muhammad, and Salisu areas, women, and even young Mohammed. Zai Pits System: A Catalyst for children.15 When these conditions are Restoration in the Drylands. Report. met, there is significant potential for Bayero University. 2015. Accessed May 12, 2019. ResearchGate. Doi: 10.9790/2380- 08210104. 6Ibid. 7Reij, Tappan, and Smale, 2007. 8Ibid. 9Ibid. 10Lahmar, Rabah, Babou André Bationo, Nomaou Dan Lamso, Yadji Guéro, and Pablo Tittonell. \"Tailoring Conservation Agriculture Technologies to West Africa Semi-arid Zones: Building on Traditional Local Practices for Soil Restoration.\" Field Crops Research 132 (June 14, 2012): 158-67. Accessed May 10, 2019. doi:10.1016/j.fcr.2011.09.013. 11Reij, Tappan, and Smale, 2007. 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 20

Partnership: United Nations The ability to develop sustainably is Various expectations are imposed on undoubtedly a privilege since sustainable developing regions by the Global North 2 and Africa development is achieved at a cost. When without consideration for their needs that Kay Dilworth finances are at the forefront, it can easily may differ from the Eurocentric assume a racial character since financial expectations. Sustainability is interpreted and while at the same time sustaining the accessibility comes into play rather perceived differently by many pointedly. With that in mind, sustainability I feel that sustainable development is academics, policymakers, etc. The ability of natural systems to provide is an issue that plagues economically significant for economically developing the perception of sustainability primarily deprived regions such as parts of Africa, region correctly and more safely, but it can affects the way it is implemented in the natural resources and ecosystem India, and Latin America. Development be challenging to achieve when African real-world cases. A working definition very quickly becomes a difficult task for the regions lack the same resources and of sustainable development can be services upon which the economy and Global South1 or for developing countries support that their European counterparts described as economic development that typically lack the funds domestically to can obtain more quickly and implement that is conducted without the depletion society depend. Sustainable build up infrastructure, cities, etc. When more efficiently. Instead of subsequently of natural resources. A more in-depth pairing in efforts not to deplete natural helping those regions that they explanation is as follows, sustainable development is development, “that resources, it can rather quickly become an disproportionately exploited throughout development is the organizing principle even more difficult task as financially history, the Global North opted to leave for meeting human development goals meets the needs of the present without stable countries attempt to dictate how, them behind to the point where the Global when, the means, and the appropriate route South is forced to figure it out in terms of compromising the ability of future to take to achieve development for others. governing their country all the while still These conversations tend not to include being heavily policed by the Global North generations to meet their own needs” those who are the topic of discussion. on how and when they could achieve Therefore, these conversations do not take various development initiatives. Moreover, into consideration what is happening on the if the Global South disregarded the Global ground, and they do not look from the North's bullying tactics, then they would appropriate context, more often than not, only further be ostracized, further these conversations are conducted from a negatively affecting their access to financial Eurocentric viewpoint. The Global North2 and intellectual support. do not consider the state of the regions Brundtland Commission coined this presently and furthermore, they lack the maintenance of cost’s importance at the definition of sustainable development. forefront of each development discussion. 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 21

Power By Jana Lang They have galvanized unprecedented that, the child mortality rate in Sub- Saharan efforts to meet the needs of the world’s Africa declined five times faster during 2005- poorest”.4 Statements toward Africa were 2013 than it was 1990-1995, the region still outlined as such in the MDG Report 2015, retains the highest rate. Furthermore, 70% of “Africa made great strides towards the eight its population still suffers from lack of access Millennium Development Goals. In many to improved sanitation facilities, 41% of its areas, especially related to health and inhabitants still live, in 2015, with less than education, the advance registered by Sub- $1.25 a day and out of the 57 million global Saharan Africa was the fastest among all out-of-school children of primary school age in developing regions. At the same time, the 2015, 33 million are in Sub-Saharan Africa. Northern part of the continent met many of the Furthermore, in the past two decades, targets, including those on poverty and hunger Northern Africa has not registered any reduction, universal primary education, improvements in women's access to paid children and mothers’ health, as well as employment, with women still holding less sanitation”.5 However, many goals and targets than one out of five paid jobs in the non- have yet to be achieved. In spite of the fact agricultural sector.6 Personally, I can understand Development Goals (MDG) was independence, but when they were set launched under the United Nation in a back by other regions, it only seems captivating effort to address the goals right that those regions should be of sustainable development. \"The eight looking out and providing assistance on Millennium Development Goals a government level (not only through (MDGs) – which range from halving private entities) to help and assist extreme poverty rates to halting the those areas. Therefore, partnerships spread of HIV/AIDS and providing should be of immense importance. universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015 – form a blueprint Africa needs considerable agreed to by all the world’s countries financing and debt relief from and all the world’s leading international partners to realize this development institutions. United shared vision of sustainable Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press development3 and the United Nations Releases. has consistently acknowledged this necessity. The Millennium 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 22

With Africa's fiscal position achieve, particularly in reaching the most vulnerable\".9 The revitalized more well known, partnerships are global partnership aims to \"facilitate sustainable and resilient advantageous and beneficial for the infrastructure development in developing countries through financially-deprived region; they aid enhanced financial, technological, and technical support to African in providing the transfer of knowledge countries\";10 in another target, it encourages official development necessary in developing the territory. assistance and financial flows, including foreign direct investment, to The United Nations has put forth a States where the need is greatest, in particular, least developed countries, 2030 Agenda for Sustainable African countries, small island developing States and landlocked Development, recognizing that developing countries, in accordance with their national plans and \"eradicating poverty in all its forms programmes\".11 If even just one country is suffering, we all are and dimensions, including extreme suffering. We all have a responsibility to aid in developing the African poverty, is the greatest global regions and partnerships and through 1Odeh, Lemuel Ekedegwa. \"A Platform. Accessed June 1, 2019. a large entity such as the United Comparative Analysis of Global North challenge and an indispensable Nations, this effectively aids in doing and Global South Economies.\" Journal https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/t so. Now, you have to ask yourself, are of Sustainable Development in Africa 12, opics/africa.112030 Agenda for requirement for sustainable you doing enough, or could you be no. 3 (2010): 338-48. Accessed June 1, doing more to make a change in our 2019. Sustainable Development PDF. development\".7 The agenda states Motherland? https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/3629/a2 10Ibid. 898d4dc51902de3b8bd6b1c3b553fe7fff.p 11Ibid. that all involved countries and df. stakeholders will act in a 2Ibid 3\"Africa Needs More Financing, collaborative partnership to Debt Relief from International Partners to Realize Shared Vision of Sustainable implement this plan. This agenda will Development, Speakers Tell General Assembly.\" United Nations: Meetings furthermore be mobilized through a Coverage and Press Releases. Accessed June 1, 2019. \"revitalized Global Partnership for https://www.un.org/press/en/2018/ga120 81.doc.htm.United Nations: Meetings Sustainable Development, based on a Coverage and Press Releases. 4Ibid. spirit of strengthened global 5Ibid. 6Ibid. solidarity, focused in particular on the 7Ibid. 8Ibid. needs of the poorest and most 9\"Africa.\" Sustainable Development Goals: Knowledge vulnerable and with the participation of all countries, all stakeholders and all people”.8 The new agenda builds on the Millennium Development Goals [previously mentioned] and seeks to complete what these did not 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 23

Introduction: Reimagining the The rhetoric attached to discussions symptoms that led to an over-diagnosis of about the African continent create a the disease. Thus, Africa came to be known 3 African Health Rhetoric fictitious image of perpetual ruin, disease as the origin and contagion of the AIDS Ronni Ravid and violence in the western imaginary. epidemic. From television advertisements to academic From the Ebola outbreak to the underdevelopment by painting the journals the western mind is flooded with We have seen western institutions AIDS epidemic it seems that all we continent as primal and archaic, a statistics and images of widespread, like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, ever hear about African health is its piece of history lost in time and meant seemingly insatiable, suffering. Take the Red Cross and UNICEF among many hopeless insolvability. We often hear of to be preserved. But the negative AIDS epidemic, for example. Though the others attempt to “solve” Africa’s various the ways western institutions have discourse also encourages the disease was a worldwide public health health problems through western means. managed to abate the issues, but continuation of colonial dynamics issue, it somehow still came to be These attempts to help, though perhaps rarely do we encounter a story about between Africa and the western world. associated with the primitivity of the well-intended, carry with them numerous African innovations for African By painting Africa as a place always in African continent. Early researchers of the ethical issues that crystalize the colonial problems. The constant negative need of saving, the West relegates the epidemic were focused on proving that relations between the West and the African rhetoric used to describe the problems continent as the locale for the “white AIDS was African in origin rather than continent. This relationship is clearly that plague Africa perpetuates the savior” to take action. finding solutions to contain the illness. demonstrated in public health promotion content’s stigma of underdevelopment. Through this process, the stigma attached strategies. Though the promotion of good This stigma is problematic on many to the AIDS epidemic became attached to public health practices is meant to improve ends. For starters, it facilitates Africa’s the African continent as well. Numerous the overall wellbeing of a nation, it countries felt the impact of falsely ascribed reinforces the authoritative role of the West AIDS stigma, especially in regard to their as the voice of reason and holder of all tourism-centered economies. Some African knowledges.2 Many public health leaders even claimed that the epidemic was campaigns in the developing world rely on being blown out of proportion by the Western ideals that create a paternal western media.1 During the World Health dynamic between western NGOs and their Organization’s meeting in 1985, African target communities. These uneven health practitioners complained that the dynamics ultimately undermine the clinical symptoms given to AIDS were far autonomy of individuals the initiative too general. Without the proper tools to test attempts to help. for the antibody abnormalities associated with AIDS, many African health practitioners relied on a list of general 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 24

While the technological innovations disease, many countries were generally and access to resources that western NGOs unable to help their citizens. Uganda, can provide is unparalleled; local however, demonstrated that a bottom-up, individuals and grassroots partnerships locally-led solution is possible. Beginning in have demonstrated that successful impact 1985, the Ugandan government created the relies upon a deeper understanding of the first African AIDS Control Program. This local cultural context. program aimed to destigmatize the disease by instigating meaningful, educational The AIDS epidemic in Uganda serves discussions led by local stakeholders like as a good example for ethical and local religious and political community leaders.4 health solutions. Throughout the 1980s a Uganda recognized that the western number of African countries struggled to stigmatization of the disease ultimately mitigate the AIDS issue due to a general obstructed any open discussion of the topic. stigmatization of AIDS positive individuals. The Ugandan effort to shift the local This stigmatization was largely rooted in conversation using local players proved western, Christian beliefs that demonized successful in reducing HIV prevalence in extra-marital sex and homosexuality.3 the country.5 Without the ability to publicly discuss the Orange By Jana Lang issues that lead to the spread of the Conditional Cash Transfers communities. Many of these programs (CCTs) are a clear example of this do not account for the local context paternal relationship in action. CCTs they function within and can aim to encourage good health behavior inadvertently burden the community by providing cash incentives to they try to help by assigning its compliant households. While these members extra obligations. may be rooted in good intentions, these programs police and subordinate the What is missing from the individuals they intend to help. These discourse on African health is the programs establish an authoritative African voice itself. This section aims relationship between the giver and to highlight African individuals and receiver of aid and stifle local institutions that are attempting to innovation by assigning a fixed, one solve health-related issues through a size fits all, solution to numerous local framework. 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 25

On a grander scale, the ability aims to shift the conversation away of African countries to set their own from the disaster-oriented rhetoric health policy and protocols is typically used to discuss prevailing imperative to the continued health issues in Africa. Ultimately, development of the continent as a we hope to demonstrate that the whole. African countries must be paternal relationship between the given the autonomy to identify and West and the African Union is not solve their own issues without only unnecessary, but obstructive to paternal, western oversight. The the creation of uniquely African African Women’s Protocol is another solutions. African countries have demonstration of African solutions demonstrated their competence in for African problems. The protocol regard to mitigating their health targets key issues related to issues and it is time they are given women’s health like maternal the power to solve their own mortality and access to problems. contraception in order to improve the livelihoods of households 1Kagaayi, J. & Serwadda, D. Curr 4Kagaayi, J., & Serwadda, D. throughout the African Union.6 The HIV/AIDS Rep (2016) 13: 187. (1904). The History of the HIV/AIDS call for this protocol was led by local https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-016- Epidemic in Africa. African feminist movements that 0318-8 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11904-016- deeply understood the issues of 0318-8 their own communities. The 2Gardner, J. (2014). Ethical widespread acceptance of the issues in public health promotion. 5Ibid. protocol (ratified by two-thirds of South African Journal of Bioethics and 6Klugman, J. (2014). Women’s the African Union) not only Law, 7(1), 30–33. Health and Human Rights: Public demonstrates the effectivity of https://doi.org/10.7196/SAJBL.268 Spending on Health and the Military locally generated solutions, but also One Decade after the African Women’s negates the accepted notion that 3Nicolson, R. (1994). AIDS: The Protocol. African Human Rights Law Africa is unable to govern itself. Ethical Issues. Missionalia: Southern Journal, 1. African Journal of Mission Studies, This section aims to debunk 22(3), 227244. Retrieved from pre-held assumptions that Africa is https://journals.co.za/docserver/fulltext/ unable to autonomously solve its mission/22/3/60.pdf?expires=15589857 own health related issues. It also 99&id=id&accname=guest&checksum= 101299EE469BDB348C5D55A2E54DC 719 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 26

Local: Female Entrepreneurs There are endless opportunities when By women pushing against these considering African women’s innovative norms and forming entrepreneurial 3 Creating Solutions to African and entrepreneurial solutions to the ventures they are able to better assess and Health Problems problems they face. These opportunities are alleviate the health problems they face. Grace Stanley hindered by a lack of a hospitable environment for entrepreneurial innovation While women face multiple barriers to in the medical field, especially for women. enter business markets, they also In a general sense, we see women in Africa encounter additional gender-specific health face barriers to entering the free market, issues regarding menstruation and such as a lack of education and health care, maternity. In Africa many women and girls as well as the inability to access business are forced to miss multiple days of school or credit services. 2 To minimize these work every month due to a lack of adequate barriers, the World Health Organization menstrual products, as they are forced to suggests there needs to be improvements in use scrap fabrics, and other products the accessibility of property rights, insufficient for menstrual management. legislative change, and enforcement of However, this issue can be easily fixed, existing laws. if reusable and non-reusable menstrual pads and products were made available. Improvements for women’s standing Although it is important to note, that due to lack of funds, reusable menstrual pads are in these fields, would not only assist them the most plausible solution for many women. These reusable menstrual pads can socioeconomically, but foster greater civic be produced by individuals with basic sewing skills and have the capability to Women’s health is entrepreneurship and health, by engagement, leading to the overall create a profitable business venture for comparing it with the status of the women. disproportionately affected by a lack of development of Africa with this quote empowerment of African women. Brenda by researchers Morris and Lewis; funding and infrastructural failings “entrepreneurial societies produce high Katwesigye, the founder of Ugandan app rates of innovation in medical within health care systems in various processes, products and services”.1 InstaHealth, explains, Highlighting this connection between African countries. Simultaneously, entrepreneurial drive and health field innovations in Africa, we see an area African women are known to be where women in Africa can create thriving businesses that have the innovative and effectively respond to ability to solve the health problems “earning respect as a woman in a they face. male-dominated field can be a challenge. the problems they face. Within various There have been many times I have been called a ‘young girl’ or inexperienced, for no medical fields in Africa we see the valid reason at all. I feel that sometimes women are taken a little less seriously than opportunity for women-led their male counterparts in the same positions, especially in business”.3 entrepreneurial endeavors to improve women's lives economically, as well as their overall well-being. We can contextualize this crossroad of 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 27

We can look at the study, the gender specific medical concerns One example of a tech solution is website Jamii Africa is now found in “Women Empowering Women they face. However, the difficulty is over 5 countries and has over 20,000 Through Reusable Sanitary Pads” by that in many cases, they simply lack Temie Giwa-Tubosun’s system, active users. Lumetega et al which analyzed a the capital, quality resources, or project that trained rural women in financial training that would make LifeBanks. LifeBanks obtains blood The difficulty of both of these Uganda on “entrepreneurial skills such entrepreneurial endeavors solutions, however, is that they are and production of affordable reusable successful. donations and then utilizes an online band aid solutions for problems that sanitary pads.”4 This study found that formal medical care systems should be the women producing these pads had An effective form of African, platform to connect hospitals with blood addressing. While there is great all of the technical skills to produce women-led entrepreneurship in the potential for entrepreneurial efforts to market quality reusable pads, medical field has been spearheaded banks and medical supplies on an as- create solutions for medical issues in however, lacked the financial know- by female tech gurus. According to any part of the world, it is also vital to how to carry these projects out. Dr. Hempel, we are witnessing a need basis.7 This venture is necessary have strong formal medical institutions Therefore, with some simple financial phenomenon where the number of that can provide much needed research management training and micro- African women “who are launching due to hospitals receiving the correct quality and access. Lack of formal financing, the women were able to and building successful, innovative medical systems addressing these create reusable pads that were more digital health companies, setting new blood and medical products at the right problems may be due to lack of effective than solutions they had standards and transforming the governmental or infrastructural previously been using. By the end of digital health landscape” is increasing time in good condition. LifeBanks runs bandwidth. Or these issues may be due the study, the researchers found that rapidly.6 These innovative women-led to structural adjustment programs that the group of women owning the pad - tech solutions to health problems are blood drives to fill their many blood demand money be taken away from making enterprise could not meet the made possible by increased access to health and social services. demand of the 8,000 orders they information technology and mobile banks, it has also provided over 14,000 received from schools in the area. phones. They could not meet this demand due medical products to over 700 hospitals.8 to lack of funding for materials and lack of sewing machines.5 The need The platform uses mobile technology for these pads was apparent, but the capacity for producing these pads was and artificial intelligence to preserve not yet available. blood in a cold chain system and sort There are a multitude of gender- specific medical concerns that directly orders based on urgency and location. affect women. African women have the innovative ingenuity to create Another female entrepreneur that solutions that would best deal with is working to counter medical hardships is Lilian Makoi. Makoi founded Jamii Africa, in order to help alleviate the issue of lack of health insurance, in which over 50 million Tanzanians lack.9 This platform provides the administrative functions of an insurer and makes cheap insurance available for users, starting at $1.10 This is a market based solution to low-income Tanzanians who do not have access to cheap health care. According to their 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 28

The potential in these responses 1Morris, Michael H., and is two fold in that they are both creating solutions for dire problems Pamela S. Lewis. \"Entrepreneurship while simultaneously making a profit, while there is still room for as a Significant Factor in Societal improvement in creating African-led solutions to African health problems. Quality of Life.\" Journal of Business Some African solutions to health were addressed, but this still very much Research 23, no. 1 (1991): 21-36. takes from Western capitalistic viewpoints and that by getting doi:10.1016/0148-2963(91)90056-4. African countries to participate in that arena, things will improve. In 2Addressing the Challenge of this regard we must look at the power relations Africa faces with Western Womens Health in Africa: Report of countries, in regard to development. There is a need to move away from the Commission on Womens Health in Western-led health solutions and male centered business and health the African Region. Brazzaville, fields in order to give women, and Africans in general the means to solve Republic of Congo: World Health the problems they face. Organization, Regional Office for Africa, 2012, p. Xix. 3Pedroncelli, Peter. \"African Female Entrepreneurs Making A Difference With Tech.\" Moguldom. May 09, 2018. Accessed June 23, 2019. https://moguldom.com/146302/10- african-female-entrepreneurs-using- tech-to-make-a-difference/. 4Lumutenga, Naomi, Margaret Khaitsa, Ruth Muwazi, Florence Wakoko-Studstill, Irene Naigaga, Leslie Hossfeld, and Margaret Ralston. \"Women Empowering This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA Women Through Reusable Sanitary Pads.\" Journal of Community Engagement and Scholarship 10, no. 1, 141-51, p.141. 7Unah, Linus. \"Low Blood 9Hassan, Yossi. \"Meet Jamii Pressure: Tackling the Donation Africa: Microhealth Insurance Startup.\" 5Lumutenga, Women Shortfall in Nigeria.\" The Guardian. Techstars. February 01, 2017. Accessed September 15, 2017. Accessed June 23, June 23, 2019. Empowering Women Through 2019. https://www.techstars.com/content/accel https://www.theguardian.com/global- erators/meet-jamii-africa-microhealth- Reusable Sanitary Pads, p. 150. development-professionals- insurance-startup/. network/2017/sep/15/low-blood-pressure- 6\"10 Successful Women Digital tackling-the-donation-shortfall-in- 10Yossi, Meet Jamii Africa: nigeria. Microhealth Insurance Startup. Health Entrepreneurs in Africa.\" Dr. 8LifeBank Nigeria. Accessed June Hempel Digital Health Network. May 23, 2019. https://lifebank.ng/. 17, 2018. Accessed June 23, 2019. https://www.dr-hempel- network.com/digital_health_contact_li sts/10-successful-women-digital- health-entrepreneurs-in-africa/. 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 29

Partnership: Transnational “ “ 3 Connections via Midwifery: How Maternal Health Practices Can be Improved through Collaboration in America and Africa Ravyn Granados The narrative surrounding traditional birthing attendants that have been subject to western medicine African wellness is generally focused mediation and reform. At the same time, midwifery has become a recent on health and medical disparities. This medical revival among black American women birthing choices. This becomes problematic representation of a compelling point of intersection and communication between traditional healthcare in Africa contributes to a African health practices and black American empowerment through colonial project of setting African transnational reclamation of the female body. nations in the past and labeling them Stigmas surrounding the validity as primitive. In contrast, the general of African traditional medicine and healthcare subject cultural decisions abundance of holistic medical practices and practices as inferior to western in articles focused on the disparity and flaws; westernized practices forced the medicine (often deemed “modern” detriments of midwifery1, rooted in lack of removal of herbal teas and bibles, and resources of the land in African medicine). Looking specifically at the quality of care, stemming from low funds removing necessary spiritual components practice of midwifery in African and restricted access to medical of traditional birth attendant practice, nations should be emphasized. There is women’s health care, there are many technology. and continued to demonize midwifery examples of this stigmatization practices as primitive. These programs a wealth of knowledge that present As a result, the major reform of took ancestral conventions like placenta these practices has been rooted in burial traditions and regulated them into within African community health, developing new study programs in a system that removed the holistic aspect midwife education.2 These interventions of the practice. finding cures and treatments for are extremely important because they take into consideration a medical practice Western medicinal practices can ailments like malaria symptoms, already present within the tradition learn a lot from traditional African practice and work to improve upon it. In medicine like utilizing holistic and herbal dental and oral care, and various execution, however, the intervention has fertility or women’s health care. This focus should be the launching point for any and all western medical interventions that occur within Africa. One such traditional practice in African nations is midwifery or 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 30

interventions. Midwives are often Looking at the practice of A big component of midwifery midwives and herself. And invested in the mother and child as midwifery itself, there is a culture of people, humanizing and communicating decolonization of the body and mind, as in Ghana is spiritual revelations consistent communication between with them with empathy and advocating it is a tradition dating back to for their needs. Looking specifically at precolonial periods in Africa. Midwives that guide and direct them the needs of the mother and the midwifery, there has been a revival of are viewed as more than birth givers, sorts in the midwife practice among they are also revered spiritual healers throughout the pregnancy and birth giver are constant. Now, black Americans. This cross cultural that act as counselors, doulas, communication through ancient medical nutritionists, and advocates for birth.4 A large part of the midwife western interventions that maintain practices provides ancestral linkages for expecting and new mothers. There is an black Americans and health intense spirituality associated with practice here is rooted in prayer and these cultural and spiritual nuances advancements for African nations where traditional birth attendants (or midwifery is common. These midwives) as most midwives receive a communication, blessing water, while reducing the risk for infection connections become very important vocational call to the practice through considering the silencing and dismissive spiritual directions like dreams or milk, and malt as well as asking for or birthing complications are the nature of western doctors to black visions. The practices of midwifery are women. The lack of investment in the often passed down through families and honesty and forgiveness to remove ideal improvements to maternal person as a whole can cause detrimental within communities, again emphasizing effects in women and their children. the personal investment that midwives any evil spirits or taboos that may health care. Similarly, midwifery in African nations have to the mothers as part of a holistic have limitations in terms of access to medicine practice.3 prevent an easy childbirth. Midwives medical technology and professionals, however there is an increased utilize physical examinations to investment and empathy for the mothers. Marrying these two customs estimate dilation and positioning of would decrease the mortality of both mother and child. the baby, using their hands and fingers as their main source of measurement. Herbs and drinks are used to pass a retained placenta, and placenta burial practices also determine the livelihood of the child and contribute to the community’s investment in the child. Throughout the entire process of childbirth, the mothers comfort and needs are put first, she is given plants to chew and drinks with herbs that ease pain. She is prayed over and surrounded by spiritual energy that allows for attunement of her body with the Orange By Jana Lang UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 31

In a similar vein, there has been a black women and other people of color While America may have the leading 1Rominski SD, et al. “When the baby recent rival in home birthing practices have opted to reclaim childbirth practices medical technology and professionals, there remains there for a long time, it is going to among African-American women and other at home, using doulas and midwives as is a lack of communal investment and die so you have to hit her small for the baby women of color in America. Black women their primary caregiver because of the empathy. Providing a practice that to come out\": justification of disrespectful in America are at a higher risk of death emphasis on advocacy. This is where an incorporates the medical advancement of and abusive care during childbirth among during pregnancy and childbirth. This has intersection between medical practices western health with the communal midwifery students in Ghana.” Health been linked not only to a public health present in African nations can inform responsiveness of African nations will Policy Plan. 2017 Mar 1;32(2):215-224. doi: issue but also human rights and social medical practices in America. Medicine provide a more holistic, quality birth care. 10.1093/heapol/czw114. justice issue as well. Black women are involves communication and thorough monitored less within hospitals and investment in the patient. The American In addition to these collaborative 2Edwards, Grace RM, PhD, et al. dismissed when not demonstrating blatant medical system would better accommodate opportunities in America, there are ways to Developing a work/study programme for symptoms of illness. This demonstrates an black women by provide care that was utilize trainings that enforce a standard of midwifery education in East Africa. intersection of racism and sexism within more patient centered and receptive to career and expertise among midwifing https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2018.01.007. the medical field that do not prioritize the their needs. practices in Africa. Some appropriate ways health of black women.5 As a result, many to continue to grow and move forward with 3Aziato, Lydia, et al. Initiation of the establishment of the culture of traditional birth attendants and their midwifery in African countries is to traditional and spiritual practices during recognize that midwifery is a distinct pregnancy and childbirth in Ghana. BMC profession and promote it as a valid career. Pregnancy and Childbirth. This can be done by generating education https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1691-7. programs that align with local cultural practices, are informed by midwives, and 4Ibid. incorporate national health and safety 5“Black Women’s Maternal Health: A regulations. By establishing midwifery as a multifaceted Approach to addressing valid career that grants upward mobility Persistent and Dire Health Disparities.” and engagement in policy, programming, National Partnership. April 2018. implementation, and monitoring of new http://www.nationalpartnership.org/our- midwifery programs, it is easier to grow work/health/reports/black-womens- school and training institutions. With this maternal-health.html mindset, midwifery regulations established by training institutions will not only raise their economic status, but also protect their careers, working conditions, and communities. 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 32

Introduction: Arts Intro “The danger of art is also its greatest strength: its ability to reach the 4 Allison Spindler masses and create a shared experience. Art can be empowering and The danger of art is also its “ inclusive or disenfranchising and greatest strength: its ability to reach discriminatory. The use of art to make the masses and create a shared Having lost family members in entrepreneurship initiatives today, the a statement and form a sense of experience. The same art that can be the concentration camps of Germany people have been able to defy the solidarity for collective action is framed used to stereotype and dehumanize an during World War II, I have felt the confinement of how others define them, around the existence and threat of an entire race or an entire religious consequences of propagandas’ strong and instead use art to realize the opponent, a target, an enemy, an community, can also be the platform power to keep civilians complacent power of a collective, to form agency, oppressor, that must be challenged. that those without a clear and strong with what was happening, and have and voice their grievances. Instead of Since the 1800s, the colonial narrative voice use to demand for change. This seen the impact it held on the being passive victims, they are active of Europe has used the arts in the form form of activism, artistic—or more generations to follow. On the other and ready to make changes to better of films and poster boards to portray broadly, creative—activism utilizes a hand, my experience living in Morocco their own futures, and the futures of Africans under a derogatory lens, as wide range of visual and performing and taking courses for my Arabic major the following generations. sub-species to man, needing a strong arts with the purpose of raising critical at UCLA has taught me the power of authoritative presence to become consciousness, building community, media when it is taken up by the civilized. For a more recent attack on and/or motivating individuals to people. From artistic activism used Africa, specifically post-9/11 North promote social change. Through a work during the Arab Spring to social Africa, America has used art, of art, the power is in the hands of the particularly screens in the form of creator to interrupt social norms, media and films, to push forward a traditions, and oppressive systematic negative and narrow definition of patterns. At the same time, those Muslims, categorizing them as a engaging with the art become agents of violent collective that is oppressive to change through understanding the call many, including women and to challenge social injustices or Christians. deliberately alter from the normative. 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 33

Education is not constrained to the and this is more powerful when combined At the same time, artistic 2010. Despite the strict censorship institutions of academia. The music we with art. From Morocco, to Kenya, to activism used to raise awareness and from the autocratic regime under listen to, the advertisements that we see, Uganda, it has been paired with artistic break taboos connect education with Tunisian President Zine El Abidine the streets with art that we visit, these activism to bring positive changes in the advocacy for topics including health Ben Ali, his song became the anthem spaces are all capable of teaching us community. BETA- Better Education and women rights. From Malawi to of the Tunisian Revolution, and his something. The informal space can be Through Arts, is a Moroccan Social South Africa, to Senegal, initiatives persistence motivated countless used to empower and create solidarity, Enterprise that aims to empower have been made to bring up issues Tunisians to come together and and within this space, artistic activism Moroccan youth through transforming that have been silenced. MASA, Make protest6. Fela Kuta, a Nigerian starts with planting the seed of schools and universities into hubs of Art for Sustainable Actions, uses Afrobeat pioneer, wrote a song “Coffin awareness, and what follows is the spread creativity and innovation1. Indego Africa, participatory film, theatre and for Head to State” describing how of ideas for change. Whether it is via a lifestyle brand company in Uganda, performing arts in Malawi to inspire military thugs raided his house and social entrepreneurship, in the form of works with women artisans through local bold conversations and actions for threw his mother out of the second breaking taboos, or for the purpose of cooperatives to generate income to HIV, gender-based violence, and story window. Together with his protest against authority, artistic activism support women and their families, nutrition3. Dirty Laundry, an supporters, he marched his mother’s as a whole has grown to be a powerful tool provide them with training to build initiative started by South African coffin to the Presidential compound to used by the people for the people. Social profitable and sustainable businesses for artists Nondumiso Msimanga and make a statement of the corruption entrepreneurship has always been the future, and gain access to Jenny Nijenhuis, uses the hanging of and violence of those in power7. The promoted in its ability to find solutions to international export markets2. 3,600 pairs of used underwear on a same type of outrage can be seen social, cultural, or environmental issues, 1.2km-long washing line above the recently, with the iconic Alaa Salah, a streets of Johannesburg to represent Sudanese woman dressed in a white the 3,600 rapes that are estimated to thobe, leading protest songs against take place in South Africa every day4. President Omar al-Bashir in the Dieynaba, Senegal’s first female capital of Sudan. Her outfit provoked graffiti artist, uses her art to show the mass to remember their mothers solidarity and highlight the issues and grandmothers who had been women face including health and demonstrating against previous access to education5. military dictatorships in the mid-20th century, and contributing to Lastly, protest via artistic President Omar al-Bashir being activism has been transformative successfully ousted on April 11, 20198. across Africa. From Tunisia, to Nigeria, to Sudan, voices have risen to challenge the regime in power. Rais Lebled, sung by Tunisian rapper El General, was released in December 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 34

The future of art in Africa has many However, I believe that this is a unique potentials, and these are to be discovered time where Western institutions are by the voices, hands, and feet of local artists looking for ways to give away its dominant and those who partake in artistic activism. narrative, and instead allow more access to Together, the artists and the audience form the perspectives that it has historically a powerful source of popular education via silenced. In publishing this article in art production and active participation. Not UCLA’s first undergraduate African only can this raise awareness for issues Studies Center Journal, it is my attempt on that have been ignored as a whole by behalf of the University to emphasize the society, it can cause transformational shifts importance of transitioning from a Western in power and institutional dynamics. At the perspective of Africa created through the same time, it offers those without access to arts and media to an understanding of self- invited or formal spaces to be empowered defined art evolving within Africa that through the process of producing art. By provides agency. In addition, my vision is challenging the art forms created by those that the work published in this Journal will who see Africa as a singular unit of also expand the awareness of the artistic problems, artistic activists can take control activism movements currently taking place on the issues that matter the most to in Africa and its future potentialities. themselves, and redefine who they are in relation to their surroundings. In writing this article, I recognize my background of being half German Jewish and half Chinese American, and am cautious of my voice when writing about artistic activism within Africa- this is a moment to be self-critical. I do not hold all the knowledge on artistic activism, nor have I lived or interacted with the many works within artistic activism in all the countries that I mentioned in this article. 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 35

1 Svirsky, Meria. “Hind 9Fela Kuti. Coffin for Head of Touissate: Changemaking in Morocco State. Lagos: Universal Records, Through Art.” The Clarion Project. 25 1980. “I Was Raised to Love Our February 2016. Home: Sudan’s Singing Protester”. https://clarionproject.org/hind- The Guardian. 10, April, 2019. touissate-changemaking-morocco- https://www.theguardian.com/global- through-art/. development/2019/apr/10/alaa-salah- sudanese-woman-talks-about-protest- 2 Mitro, Tom. Indego Africa. photo-that-went-viral. Indego Africa. 2019. http://www.indegoafrica.org. 10LeVine, M. “When Art Is the Weapon: Culture and Resistance 3 “Make Art/Stop AIDS”. Art Confronting Violence in the Post- and Global Health Centre Africa. 21 Uprisings Arab World.” Religions 6, August, 2018. (2015): 1277-1313. https://www.artgloafrica.org/masa. 11Lind, Peter Lykke, “Dirty 4 Lind, Peter Lykke, “Dirty Laundry: Washing Line Art Laundry: Washing Line Art Highlights South Africa’s Rape Highlights South Africa’s Rape Epidemic”. The Guardian. 2 Epidemic”. The Guardian. 2 December, 2016. December, 2016. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2 016/dec/02/dirty-laundry-washing- 016/dec/02/dirty-laundry-washing- line-art-highlights-south-africas- line-art-highlights-south-africas- epidemic. epidemic. 12Mitro, Tom. Indego Africa. 5 Shryock, Ricci. “Meet Indego Africa. 2019. Dieynaba: Senegal’s First Female http://www.indegoafrica.org. “Make Graffiti Artist.” One Campaign. 6 Art/Stop AIDS”. Art and Global November 2018. Health Centre Africa. 21 August, https://www.one.org/africa/blog/meet- 2018. dieynaba-senegals-first-female- https://www.artgloafrica.org/masa. graffiti-artist/. 13Shryock, Ricci. “Meet 6 Rashed, Waleed. “Egypt’s Dieynaba: Senegal’s First Female Murals Are More than Just Art, They Graffiti Artist.” One Campaign. 6 Are a Form of Revolution.” November 2018. Smithsonian Magazine. (2013). https://www.one.org/africa/blog/meet- dieynaba-senegals-first-female- 7 Fela Kuti. Coffin for Head of graffiti-artist/. State. Lagos: Universal Records, 1980.“I Was Raised to Love Our 14Svirsky, Meria. “Hind Home: Sudan’s Singing Protester”. Touissate: Changemaking in Morocco The Guardian. 10, April, 2019. Through Art.” The Clarion Prokect. https://www.theguardian.com/globald 25 February 2016. evelopment/2019/apr/10/alaa-salah- https://clarionproject.org/hind- sudanese-woman-talks-about-protest- touissate-changemaking-morocco- photo-that-went-viral. through-art/. 10/4/2019 UCLA AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER 36