African Anthropologist

Decolonizing cultural names: A driving force behind the choice of certain African wax-printed fabrics as uniforms for Igbo women’s groups in south-eastern Nigeria

Chika Chinyeogwa Chudi-Duru, PhD — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In West Africa, Nigeria to be precise, African wax prints are seen as one of the Indigenous
garbs characterized by bold and colourful designs. The Igbo(found in the Eastern part of
Nigeria) women folk make use of these fabrics for various occasions such as uniforms for
various groups or associations worn during weddings, chieftaincy title taking, christening of
new born, women monthly meetings, burial ceremonies, church activities, home and abroad
women meetings (August meeting) and also as casual wear. One of the major places they are
imported into in Nigeria by some textile merchants is Onitsha (a commercial nerve centre)
situated in the Eastern part of the country where the Igbo reside. They are given some unique
numbers which could be found printed on the selvedge during their production in Holland
for proper identification and registration such as 14/0927, A2161, 14/D954, S4118 and others.
The number refers to the print design. They have created and produced around
20.000 designs in the last 168 years and this helps with registration. However, these numbers
are mostly for official records in the factory in that the merchants rename some of them once
they land on Eastern Nigeria soil. This study argues that though the fabrics are designed and
made in Holland, the indigenous names they are baptized with decolonize them, making
them possess an Igbo identity to the indigenes that make use of them. Some of these names
are in the Igbo, pidgin, and English languages. This action in return makes them popular in
demand and usage among the Igbo. It also argues that the de-colonial approach utilized by
these merchants (they import large quantity of these printed fabrics into country by sea or
air) to rename these fabrics has not been sufficiently documented by scholars. The objectives
of this paper are to find out why these indigenous names are given, why the women prefer
the fabrics with names and also document some of those fabrics and the names given. This
paper employs the use of participant observation method, interviews and photography as
research instruments. It employed the trickle theory in fashion and the theory of adaptation
(natural selection). It found out that the indigenous names given to these “Igbo hollandaise”
are one of the major reasons behind their usage as uniforms for different women groups. It
concludes that the decolonization of these names played a huge role in the world of African
textiles and its economic growth in Igbo communities.

Akan cosmovision, knowledge, worldview and beliefs about livelihood resources: A case of two coastal communities in the Central Region, Ghana

Anokye, Francis Aning, PhD, Abane, Henrietta, PhD, Antwi, Kwabena Barima, PhD — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

For some time, the use of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) to sustain coastal resources has been a major concern, as governments and other stakeholders have tried to offer various solutions without much success. This paper examines the worldview, beliefs, and practices of the people in the Apam and Moree communities in the Central Region of Ghana regarding the coastal livelihood resources at their disposal. Theoretically, Herbert Blumer's strand of symbolic interactionism, which emphasised that human-environmental interaction is influenced by the meanings attached to it, served as a guide. The implication was that individuals in coastal communities assigned varied meanings to the resources, such as the sea, lagoons, rocks, sandy beaches, and trees they carve canoes from), which influenced how they interacted with them. The study focused on the Akan Cosmovision of the people of Apam and Moree about the natural environment and how it shapes their interactions with it. The people of Apam and Moree are part of the Akan ethnic group, which considers the universe to be made up of three worlds, which include the human (social), the natural, and the spiritual, with interactive relationships. The study was conducted using a total of 36 participants were selected from Apam and Moree, through convenience and purposive sampling techniques. The instruments used to collect the data included interviews, focused group discussions (FGDs), and non-participant observation guides, for qualitative analysis. The findings of the study showed how livelihood resources are viewed and valued based on the communities’ worldviews and belief systems. Also, the study revealed that the people of Moree and Apam saw coastal resources as homes for deities, who could be destructive or helpful depending on how the people interacted with them. It further revealed the channels and processes through which such worldviews are transferred from one generation to another, as well as the changes in belief systems that have affected the participant’s interactions with the resources in contemporary times. It recommended that Ghana’s Fisheries Commission should engage the chiefs in the coastal communities and chief fishermen in planning and implementation of the closed-fishing policy to enhance compliance.

Troubling trousers: A study of socio-cultural perceptions surrounding women's trousers and bodily agency

Chukwuemeka Nwigwe, PhD — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Tanzanians, like other East African people, have long-standing gendered dress traditions where attempts at cross-dressing have historically been met with disdain and resistance, reflecting deeply ingrained gender norms. However, the increasing influence of Western values and practices, combined with local agency and diverse cultural interactions, is shifting boundaries around gendered dress codes. As people navigate these global and local dynamics, traditional norms are being reevaluated and redefined, leading to a more complex and evolving cultural landscape. This ethnographic inquiry explores how women's trousers are perceived by both genders, particularly among youth, incorporating life stories and examining how spatial constraints influence trouser fashion. Surveys among University of Dar es Salaam students reveal challenges to sartorial changes in everyday life. Through a feminist lens, the analysis highlights how individuals express perceptions of women's trousers. Critics argue trouser design alters how women's bodies are shaped and perceived, helping us understand how clothing defines a woman in moral terms. The argument is that despite a seemingly higher number of female trouser critics, women wearing trousers are gradually gaining acceptance, largely driven by normalization through habituation—the process of repeated exposure making the unconventional feel ordinary.

Homophobia in Africa and the Culture of Secrecy

Dr. Alfred Babo, PhD — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The argument that tends to make homophobic some Africans’ resistance to same-sex practices is debatable. The paper aims to engage a discussion on same-sex practices and the cultural framework of secrecy with a critique of the Western organizations, governments, and activists' tendency to present the fight for LGBTQ+ from their only social and political views. While literature, research, laws, and instances of violence suggest that some Africans hold homophobic attitudes, this paper argues that not all Africans share these views. On one hand, there are individuals and cultural groups that inflict harm out of hatred, which contributes to the stereotype that Africans as a whole are homophobic. On the other hand, many individuals may hide their true feelings about homosexuality. This concealment can occur either because they want to mask their own homophobia—often justified in the name of culture—or not because same-sex practices have historically been regulated through traditions and rituals shrouded in secrecy. This literature-based research affirms that in some African communities and cultures, same-sex relationships did not constitute an ordinary and public sexuality within marriage. The displayed and known practice of sexuality has been traditionally and publicly binary while bonding gender and sex. Despite this conservative approach to sexuality, Western people, governments, and civil society organizations advocate for Africans to follow their lead in homosexuality their colonial and religious ideologies had dismissed. The anthropological perspective presented in this paper suggests that framing cultural resistance to homosexuality within the context of secrecy may help explain cultural evolution regarding sexuality in certain African communities.

Exploring the perception of teen mothers on re-dropping from secondary school: A case of Matai Open School at Kalambo District, Tanzania

Dr. Johnas Amon Buhori, PhD — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Globally, teenage pregnancies continued to halt the efforts of numerous states in achieving equal accessibility to primary education among girls and boys. The current study, entitled "Exploring the Perception of Teen Mothers on Re-Dropping from Secondary School: A Case of Matai Open School at Kalambo District , Tanzania", intends to interrogate the lived experiences among teen mothers who have rejoined Matai Open Secondary School. Employing a case study design, the study utilised interviews to collect qualitative data from teen mothers, using the lens of the Mama Mkubwa Model. Using Atlas.ti, the qualitative findings were analysed. The findings reveal interconnected and interrelated factors leading teen mothers to re-drop after re-entry. Compounded with single parenthood, the teen mothers indicated financial and emotional support as the key factors, which increased their vulnerability. Further, social stigma, rejection and the community's negative attitude were noted to demean their self-esteem. The study concludes that the identified causes of re-dropping can be addressed using holistic interventions, which leave no one behind. The Mama Mkubwa Model is seen as an ideal to combat the ongoing threat of challenges facing teen mothers and effectively promote their retention and ensure they succeed in their education.

Perception of the national health insurance scheme among artisans in Ibadan, Nigeria

Jane Opeyemi, ADENIJI, MSc — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Artisans in the informal economic sector are least enrolled in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria despite their exposure to numerous health hazards. This study investigated artisan’s perception and utilization of the NHIS in Ido local government area, Ibadan, Oyo State. The study utilized a sequential mixed method approach. Data collection involved 15 in-depth interviews (IDI), and administration of survey questionnaires to 123 artisans. Data were evaluated using thematic analysis and the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. The data revealed that 70.7% had knowledge about NHIS among artisans, albeit accompanied with low utilization (11.4%) of the scheme in the study area. Thus, revealing that artisans’ awareness of the NHIS did not translate into its utilization due to reasons such as affordability, implicit cultural and religious restraints among others. However, given the right intervention, artisans may be willing to be enroll and utilize the scheme effectively.

Kobie, kinship beyond borders: A socio-philosophical ideal for peaceful coexistence in Ogoni, Nigeria

Burabari Sunday Deezia, PhD — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper examines Kobie, an indigenous Ogoni socio-philosophical ideal, as a viable framework for fostering peaceful coexistence and rebuilding fractured communal relations in the eastern Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Historically, the Ogoni people have embodied a cultural identity rooted in hospitality, mutual respect, and peaceful intercommunal living. However, contemporary Ogoni society faces severe challenges including environmental degradation, political fragmentation, intercommunal violence, youth cultism, and social disintegration. In this context of escalating crisis, Kobie—a traditional concept that views all human beings as kin beyond biological and ethnic boundaries—emerges as a critical resource for communal healing and sustainable peacebuilding. Employing a qualitative research methodology grounded in ethnophilosophical and interpretive analysis, this study draws from oral traditions, proverbs, rituals, and communal ethics to examine the philosophical foundations and practical implications of Kobie. It highlights Kobie’s emphasis on relational interconnectedness, mutual obligation, and the transcendence of exclusivist identities. This paper argues that Kobie is not a nostalgic ideal but a living ethical tradition with urgent contemporary relevance. By reclaiming and institutionalizing Kobie, Ogoni society can cultivate inclusive communities, address disillusionment among youth, and resist the divisive forces threatening its social fabric. The study concludes that revitalizing Kobie offers a profound indigenous response to the pressing need for harmony, belonging, and human dignity in a fractured world.

Gelede Ketu revisited: Performance, gender, and the politics of identity in contemporary Yoruba culture

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Gelede is a vibrant Yoruba masquerade tradition with deep roots in the Ketu region, now in southwestern Nigeria and the Republic of Benin. Although frequently examined for its artistic and ritualistic qualities, its role as a political and gendered discourse in modern African cultural contexts remains underexplored. This paper revisits Gelede as a performative, living tradition that facilitates negotiation of identity, power, and femininity across changing sociopolitical conditions. It draws on ethnographic fieldwork and oral histories collected in Ketu communities, underpinned by insights from postcolonial theory, African feminist scholarship, and performance studies. Gelede is positioned as a dynamic cultural archive that fosters community reflection and critique while resisting binary thinking around gender, spirituality, and tradition. This research expands existing discourse on indigenous performance as resistance and cultural preservation in postcolonial Africa.

Naming things in the sea and muddy bottoms of the mangroves: Indigenous taxonomy of marine resources among the Mijikenda of coastal Kenya

Khamati Shilabukha, PhD — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper presents findings of a study on the indigenous knowledge and management systems of marine resources among the Mijikenda people of Coastal Kenya. The objective of the study was to investigate how Mijikenda indigenous system of practices and beliefs provides an understanding of indigenous ecological knowledge for classifying and managing marine resources. Undertaken in villages stretching from Vanga on the border between Kenya and Tanzania in the south coast, to Matsangoni in Kilifi County in the north coast, the study was guided by the theory of neo-structuralism. It was undertaken between 2013 and 2022. The study employed an exploratory descriptive design. Data, which was collected using in-depth interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews, informal interviews and transect walks, was analysed using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The study found that the community has developed an elaborate taxonomy of mangroves, fisheries and corals through systematic observations over the years. Criteria used to create the taxonomies include physical features such as size, colour and shape. For fisheries, taxonomical characteristics also include behavior related to feeding, breeding and style of movement in the sea, as well as seasonal appearance in certain locations of the ocean. This study snugly places anthropology in the emerging praxis of knowledge production, practically identified and translated not only from the Western scientific sense, but also from a wide spectrum of indigenous knowledge from diverse cultures like the Mijikenda.

Correlational study of hand and auricular dimensions in an adult Igbo population in Imo State, Nigeria

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study was carried out to correlate the external ear dimensions and hand dimensions and to establish predictive regression formulae within an adult Igbo population in Imo State, Nigeria. 100 male and 100 female subjects between the ages of 18 and 65 years were randomly selected. A digital vernier caliper was used to take measurement of the ear length (EL), ear width (EW), lobular length (LL), and the lobular width (LW) using standard procedures, while a metre rule was used to take measurement of the hand length (HL) and hand width (HW) of both male and female subjects. Data obtained was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The mean values obtained for males for right (R) and left (L) sides were as follows: EL (R – 59.78 mm, L – 59.15 mm), EW (R – 32.48 mm, L – 32.32 mm), LL (R – 16.98 mm, L – 16.51 mm, LW (R – 16.11 mm, L – 16.47 mm, HL (R – 19.50 cm, L – 19.15 cm, HW (R – 9.83 cm, L – 9.21 cm. The mean values obtained for the females was EL (R – 56.18 mm, L – 55.69 mm, EW (R – 30.74 mm, L – 31.05 mm, LL (R – 17.25 mm, L – 17.09 mm, LW (R – 16.03 mm, L – 17.09 mm, HL (R – 21.90 cm, L – 18.11 cm, HW (R – 8.08 cm, L – 7.93 cm). Significant gender differences(P<0.05) were observed in the right ear length, right ear width, left ear length, left ear width and left lobular index with males showing higher values in all, while the females showed higher values in the right lobular length, right ear index, left lobular width and the left ear index. Significant differences (P< 0.05) were observed in the right-hand length, right hand width, left hand length and left-hand width with males showing higher values. Pearson correlation analyses between hand and ear measurements for both sexes showed that for both ears in males, hand length and ear length significantly correlated. However, in females, hand width significantly correlated with both ear width and lobular width for both ears and these correlations were statistically significant at p< 0.05. Linear regression equations were derived to estimate hand dimensions using ear measurements in both male and female subjects or indigenes of Imo state.

Substitution and social valuation: Exploring intersectional disability and identity in Zimbabwe’s cultural landscape

Robert Chirima, PhD — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This study explores the intersectionality of disability, identity, and cultural meaning-making in Zimbabwe, where socio-religious and cultural valuations often render disabled persons as objects of "substitution" rather than inclusion. Despite policy advancements, deep-seated cultural perceptions continue to frame disability as a curse, leading to stigma, exclusion, and a pervasive logic of replacement—where disabled individuals are deemed unfit and substituted in familial and social roles. Guided by Crenshaw’s intersectionality framework and African philosophical concepts of ubuntu and personhood, this research addresses a critical gap in anthropological scholarship concerning how disability is interpreted within Zimbabwe's cultural landscape. Utilizing a qualitative methodology, the study employed purposive sampling to select 22 participants, comprising persons with disabilities and caregivers. Data were analyzed thematically to draw out patterns of social valuation, spiritual interpretations, and identity negotiation. Findings reveal the widespread misinterpretation of the phrase “disability does not mean inability,” which, rather than empowering, is often used to justify non-support or even exclusion. The research contributes to decolonizing disability discourse by centering African voices and experiences, while also advocating for inclusive frameworks rooted in cultural reform. It invites Africanist anthropologists to critically rethink how identity and ability are culturally constructed across diverse social fabrics.

Ritual aesthetics in Osun Osogbo Festival in southwest Nigeria

Emmanuel Ebere Uzoji, PhD, Abass Sodiq, MA — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Rituals have always been at the behest of the advent and growth of African festivals they serve as spiritual, cultural, and communal anchors that give these celebrations their depth and meaning. This study takes a cursory look at one of the most famous cultural festivals in Southwestern Nigeria - the Osun Osogbo festival and brings to the front burner of discourse the place and relevance of rituals in appreciating the dynamics and cultural matrix of traditional African festivals. The study adopts the ethnographic research method with the objective of exploring the forms, features, nature and theatrical elements of this festival vis-a-vis the connections between theatre and religious festivals. Through field observations, interviews, and analysis of the festival activities, this paper reveals how the festival sustains its traditional essence by reinterpreting ancient practices to appeal to contemporary audiences. Findings highlight that while certain ritual elements are transformed to align with modern tastes, the foundational values and spiritual messages of the festival remain intact. The findings from this work reveal a rich and robust presence of theatrical elements in Osun Osogbo that find their root in Yoruba cultural heritage, religion and historical narratives. The study thus concludes that the intricate interplay of ritual aesthetics in Osun Osogbo festival sheds light on the profound connections between aesthetics, spirituality and cultural identity. Hence, African festivals serve as a dynamic expression of African heritage, encapsulating the essence of communal values and aspirations.

Born with a different skin colour: Killings of persons with albinism among the Sukuma of Mwanza and limitations of Tanzanian Witchcraft Law, 1980-2015

Hamisi Mathias Machangu, PhD — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This paper is a historical investigation into the discrimination of Persons with Albinism (PWA), a major problem in sub-Sahara Africa. The discriminated PWA have been subjected to extreme violence including killings, which have caused physical and psychological problems for many years. Killings of PWA done by energetic men have been associated with witchcraft beliefs instigated by witchdoctors that albino organs are useful ingredients in the manufacture of medicine, which necessitate gains of material wealth and prosperity. In Tanzania, these killings of PWA are widespread and recognized as a significant barrier to socio-economic development. Despite being an important aspect of humanistic scholarship, killings of PWA have not been adequately explored by historians. The paper utilized a qualitative research approach drawing from primary and secondary sources to examine the underlying factors for killings of PWA and the limitations of witchcraft law in controlling such killings among the Sukuma ethnic group, which inhabits the Mwanza region in northwestern Tanzania. An analysis of these sources revealed that the desire for material wealth and prosperity was a key factor in killings of PWA among the Sukuma from 1980 to 2015. The data also showed that the colonial witchcraft law inherited by the Tanzanian government has limitations in controlling killings because it does not reflect local people’s culture. The Sukuma culture is associated with witchdoctors’ use of charms for the treatment or protection of individuals against diseases caused by witches or to influence wealth and prosperity. The paper concludes that the government should address the root causes of poverty, ignorance, myth, and superstition that push people to participate in killings of PWA.

The beliefs associated with days: The case of Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday among the Dagbamba of Northern Ghana

Mohammed Osman Nindow, Mphil, Iddrisu Abdallah, Mphil, Issahaku Sulemana, Mphil — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The study focuses on how the Dagbamba linguistically encode the culturally embedded beliefs crucially associated with Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday to determine the vitality and morale values of these beliefs at the instance of Islamisation, formal education and modernity in general. The Dagbamba (PL) or Dagbana (SG) speak the language called Dagbani and they constitute the largest ethnic group in the Northern Region of Ghana. Data for this paper was gathered through interviews, our intuition as insider linguists, and digital ethnography. Even though most of the native speakers believe in foreign religions such as Islam and Chrisitianity, they still ascribe to some of these beliefs imposed on them by the African Traditional Religion ( ATR). One such belief is based on the enigmatic nature of Wednesdays and Saturdays, and Thursday prohibition of some events among the Dagbamba people. It was shown that Dagbamba prefer pleasant events such as marriages and childbirth to be observed on Wednesdays or Saturdays. However, they do not wish for any calamity or death to occur on days like Wednesdays and Saturdays. Planned events such as funeral rites that would have fallen on these days are either shifted a day forward or earlier to avoid a repeat of a similar unfortunate circumstance. It is also revealed that Thursday is regarded as a day banned from performing any form of thatch work. This is because thatch work done on that day has a tendency to catch fire, thus it is prohibited to do any form of thatch work on that day.

Book review: Isabel Bredenbröker. Rest in Plastic Death, Time and Synthetic Materials in a Ghanaian Ewe Community. New York-Oxford: Berghahn Books. 2024, 322 pp. Hard back ISBN 978-1-80539-503-4

Martial Fanga Agbor, PhD — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Isabel Bredenbröker's exploration of funerary practices in Peki, a town in Ghana's Volta Region, offers a profound and nuanced dissection of the interplay between death, community, and the material world. Her book is structured into three distinct parts, each unraveling the intricate dynamics of funerals as socially significant events that are not merely about mourning but are deeply intertwined with local politics, history, and materiality. This review will examine the strengths and weaknesses of the book, underscore significant chapters, and identify areas deserving further exploration.