Re-Imagining Healing in Time of Crisis: A Closer Look at Patriarchy and Masculinity in Africa

Law and Society Association Annual Meeting

Date: Sunday, 30 May 2021 at 11:12:45 PM (Central Daylight Time)

Venue: Roundtable (Virtual Conference Session)

Chair: J. Jarpa Dawuni

Participants: Venkatanarayanan S., Christ University; Manase Kudzai Chiweshe, University of Zimbabwe; Veronica Fynn Bruey, Seattle University; Charles Amone, Kyambogo University

Description: This roundtable is part of an edited book, Patriarchy, and Gender in Africa, which assesses the state, institution, community, and individual role and impact of male-dominance, masculinity, and discrimination against girls and women across the continent of Africa. Informed by empirical research data, case studies, and personal experiences, the section examines the professional, practical, and theoretical discourses of patriarchy and gender inequality in diverse settings in Africa while acknowledging women’s persistence, resistance, and contribution to growth and development.

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To receive a 30% discount and purchase a copy of the book, visit Rowman and Littlefield.

DEADLY VOYAGES: Migrant Journeys Across the Globe- Book Launch

Date: Wednesday, 12 May 2021, 4.00 PM - 5.00 PM (GMT)

Host: International Institute of Social Studies, Erasmus

Venue: Online- via Zoom 

Editors: Veronica Fynn Bruey and Steven Bender

Book Description: Deadly Voyages: Migrant Journeys across the Globe explores the burdens and impact of perilous migration, while considering which laws, policies, practices, and venues might establish empathy and protection for migrants. This interdisciplinary volume envisions and calls for a transformation in migration policy, motivated by the common goal of drastically reducing the peril migrants face when compelled to make their treacherous journeys. All contributors to this volume agree on the inadequacy of current approaches and the dire need for change in global migration law and policy. Therefore, the book seeks to inform, educate, persuade, and facilitate newer or less-heard perspectives, toward wider participation and influence within the forced migration policy debate. Guided by the famous advice of Karl Marx that the point should be changing the world rather than merely analyzing or interpreting it, the contributors suggest practical measures to fix the current gap in responses to migrant peril, along with strategies for diagnosing, countering, and promoting human dignity and social justice, with the aim of preventing future deaths and injuries in migrant journeys across the globe.

RSVP NOW

To receive a 30% discount and purchase a copy, visit Rowman and Littlefield.

DEADLY VOYAGES: Migrant Journeys Across the Globe- Book Launch

 Date
21 April 2021, 4.00pm - 5.30pm 

Institute
Human Rights Consortium 

Venue
Online- via Zoom 

Description

Deadly Voyages: Migrant Journeys Across the Globe 
Editors: Veronica Fynn Bruey and Steven W. Bender

It explores the burdens and impact of perilous migration, while considering which laws, policies, practices, and venues might establish empathy and protection for migrants. This interdisciplinary volume envisions and calls for a transformation in migration policy, motivated by the common goal of drastically reducing the peril migrants face when compelled to make their treacherous journeys. All contributors to this volume agree on the inadequacy of current approaches and the dire need for change in global migration law and policy. Therefore, the book seeks to inform, educate, persuade, and facilitate newer or less-heard perspectives, toward wider participation and influence within the forced migration policy debate. Guided by the famous advice of Karl Marx that the point should be changing the world rather than merely analysing or interpreting it, the contributors suggest practical measures to fix the current gap in responses to migrant peril, along with strategies for diagnosing, countering, and promoting human dignity and social justice, with the aim of preventing future deaths and injuries in migrant journeys across the globe.

All welcome
This event is free to attend, but booking is required. It will be held online with details about how to join the virtual event being circulated via email to registered attendees 24 hours in advance.

RSVP NOW | VIDEO PRESENTATION

Call For Chapter Proposals: Book Project on Patriarchy and Gender in Africa

Globally, males disproportionately predominate leadership roles and exert power in diverse forms of social systems and institutions. Patriarchy, the supremacy of fatherhood whereby women and children rely totally on male line, is entrenched in many societies around the world. Differential enjoyment of rights and dignity predetermined for women and men, based on their social, cultural and legal disposition, typify gender inequality. Patriarchy and gender inequality are two important but complex and debatable issues facing the African continent today. Argued to be the main cause of gender inequality, patriarchy plagues Africa in spite of immense progress made in the last two decades to address the prolonged impacts of gender injustice and male dominance. On the occasion of the 15^thanniversary of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, we announce a call for chapter proposals to critically analyze the situation of girls and women in Africa. To assess the state, role and impact of patriarchy and gender inequality on African girls and women, we seek broad themes of Patriarchy and Gender. We welcome papers from all disciplines that address the following, but not limited to: 

• the roots and foundations of patriarchy and gender in different societies and cultures in Africa;
• the expressions of femininities and masculinities in religion (e.g., African Traditional Religion, Christian, Islam and others);
• power relations among, between and within the sexes;
• traditional and non-traditional roles of gender;
• issues of domestic, family and personal violence;
• various social factors affecting patriarchal and gender institutions;
• issues of gender identities, gender expressions, gender relations, and gender roles;
• inter-connections between patriarchy, gender inequality, and violent extremism in Africa;
• existing gaps and opportunities for policy, law and social reform in gender justice; and
• empirical research and case studies on regional and sub-regional best practices and solutions to addressing patriarchy and gender inequality. 

Other issues related to patriarchy and gender are most welcome with particular regard to an examination of major issues relevant to the above themes for the purpose of contributing to deeper understanding of patriarchy and gender inequality, as well as, developing long-term solutions to the problem at stake.

Guided by the core objectives of the African Studies Research Forum (ASRF), we aim for a comprehensive coverage of the African continent in our search for well-researched papers to generate knowledge on reforming discriminatory laws, benefitting human-centered public policies, promoting best practices, harnessing research rigor, and expanding academic scholarship beyond the African continent. Selected papers will be published under “The ASRF’s Book Series.”

Submission Guidelines

Chapter Proposal: All chapter proposal must contain the following: i) topic (12 words maximum), ii) name, iii) institutional affiliation, iv) a brief description of the chapter (300-500 words maximum), and v) keywords (a maximum of five). 

Submission Deadline: 30 September 2018

First Chapter Draft: 31 December 2018

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Submit chapter proposal to egodi.uchendu@unn.edu.ng and fynnbruv@seattleu.edu

(REPRINTED): A CALL TO NATIONAL CONSCIOUSNESS - AS WE COMMEMORATE OUR 166TH INDEPENDENCE

This Message is reprinted with permission from the author: Moses P. Saygbe Jr.

In celebration of our 166th independence as the first free Republic on the continent of Africa, I am provoked by a national concern that impacts all Liberians both at home and in the diaspora. For 50 years the Executive Mansion has stood as a symbol of the Presidency, the Liberian government and the Liberian people. As we observe our Country’s independence, we will likewise be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the construction and seven years since the unfortunate occurrence of a fire that damaged one of our nation’s most symbolic landmarks. When it was constructed, the Executive Mansion was the most contemporary structure on the continent and boosted pride for the people of Liberia. Upon the completion of the structure, President William V. S. Tubman visited the United States in September of 1963 to extend a special invitation to President John F. Kennedy. The invitation included the inauguration of another term of office for President Tubman and the ribbon cutting and dedication of the newly completed Executive Mansion scheduled for January of 1964. Regrettably, President Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963, shortly after the visit of President Tubman. It was also in 1963 when President Kennedy launched his first Peace Corps volunteer program in Liberia; signifying the United States commitment to funding programs and support for Liberia.    

The Executive Mansion of the Republic of Liberia, like the White House in the United States of America and presidential palaces in many African Nations,  isn’t simply a home to presidents or meeting space for running the affairs of the country, it’s also known as ‘The People’s House,’ a place that should be open to everyone. It is where foreign heads of State and other guests are received, and where many official ceremonies are conducted. The Mansion serves as one of the most important architectural symbols including the Seal, Flag, and National Anthem of our republic. Like the Executive Mansion, the White House in the United States has a unique and fascinating story; it was also destroyed by fire on three occasions, causing President Harry S. Truman to seek temporary residence elsewhere in the Capital. Nevertheless, the people recognize the important significance this place held; thus it was reconstructed to national prominence, preserving the historical detail of its architecture. Hence, this situation is not unique to Liberia, similarly to US, we too as Liberians can work to rebuild our beloved Executive Mansion.

 I can vividly remember as a child living in the following areas in Monrovia (Buzzy Quarter, Capital Bypass, Behind City Hall, and Bishop Brooks/Perry Street) which were all less than a mile from the Executive Mansion. Some of those personal experiences included; attending the annual Garden Party hosted by President & Mrs. William R. Tolbert, watching fireworks, seeing cars stopped and people saluting while the flag was being raised, and watching guards (soldiers and Secret Service Officers) in boots protecting the President and the people’s house. One evening after school at about 5:30 PM while walking home (from Demonstration Elementary School to City Hall), a soldier instructed me to walk across the street. I suddenly heard a voice say “NO! Come here young man”. It was the voice of President Tolbert. While walking towards this most famous person in my life at the time (with excitement and amazement) he engaged me in a conversation. He asked me, “what is your name and who is your father?”  What school are you attending? I responded with childlike confidence. After our brief talk, he shoke my hand and left me with these parting and inspiring words, “school is very important so do your best.” Say hello to your father and your principal Ms. Wilson”. He also mentioned knowing that my father worked at the Temple of Justice. I was very excited about that moment and shared it with my entire neighborhood and most importantly, I refused to wash my hand.

This narrative is not intended to reflect negatively on any government (past or present) but rather to build a sense of national concern and a call for national pride during our 166th independence celebration. Knowing the tragedy of events at the mansion over the last three decades, I am convinced that the renovation/re-construction of this symbolic landmark of our sovereignty would represent a new day, new pride, and optimistically an accomplished sense of nationalism. I also believe it will take extraordinary Liberians to accomplish this noble initiative.

It is my hope that this piece has raised a sense of national consciousness regarding the monumental undertaking of rebuilding/reconstructing the Executive Mansion. My question to you my fellow Liberians reading this is, what do you see our role as Liberians to be in this process and what would you recommend as the best approach to completing this reconstruction/renovation, aside from the government contribution?

M. P. Saygbe Jr.

"Things do not happen. Things are made to happen".   J. F Kennedy

(REPRINTED) LIBERIA: AN ASYLUM FROM OPPRESSION -- HAPPY 166TH

This Message is reprinted with permission from the author: A. Teage Jalloh, Esq.

"We've been suffering in this nation for so long, cause we couldn't find a better leader. We want someone who can lead this nation, so that all Liberians can be happy....Give us hope, Ma Ellen, hope for a better Liberia." ~~Sundaygar Dearboy

It’s been 166 years since Liberia declared its independence. And while progress has been made in some areas, we have somehow failed to acknowledge that our nation, at all levels of government, has work to do with respect to education, performance, fairness, accountability, and development. 

So yes indeed, President Sirleaf, with her awesome powers, is expected to give us hope. But let's expand the expectation and ask the Legislature, with its awesome powers, to give us hope as well. Let's expand the expectation and ask the Supreme Court, with its awesome powers, to give us hope as well. Let's expand the expectation and ask the autonomous public commissions, with their unique roles, to give us hope as well. And let us, as Liberians in the Diaspora and at Home, increase our efforts to make Liberia a more accountable, progressive nation.  

At the dawn of generations to come, may we be remembered as nation-builders who upheld the founding vision of Liberia by rejecting any attempts to use geographical location or other means to pit one group of Liberians against another. May we realize that there is strength and perseverance in constructive, collective efforts. And, may we continue to work to have Africa’s oldest republic as an “asylum from the most grinding oppression,” where no one wins a total victory or loses a total defeat.

Happy 166th.

Respectfully,

Teage

(REBLOGGED) AFRICAN WOMEN RESILENCE: ANTIDOTE FOR WHITE SUPREMACY COMPLEX IN DEVELOPMENT DELUSIONS

On 5 April 2013, I attended a postgraduate event at my university here in Australia. It was a UN Women presentation on a “white women” empowerment scheme for poor, dirty, inferior women from the “developing world” (whatever that means). As usual, there is nothing new, albeit my initial impression when I walked into the room. I thought to myself, “this lady is so young, how did she get this position?” As a matter of fact, I am enamoured with this question because I am always confused by the fact that, regardless of our/my unique lived experiences and extremely successful backgrounds, white women (and/or man) with a “deep passion” (or guilt) to “help poor Africa” is preferred for scholarship, research, empowerment and development projects. It’s so pervasive that it seems stupid and fruitless (to me) most of the time. But I guess, as William Easterly said in the White Man’s Burden, “[t]he West spent $2.3 trillion and still had not managed to get $3 to each new mother to prevent five million child deaths.” Why is it that even uppity Dambisa Moyo can see this squander but not the so-called makers of difference (who would do well to read this)? There is certainly an undercurrent at play, an introspection each “development zombie” should mull over before taking that two-week volunteer trip to "help Africa"...continue

SILENCE? IGNORANCE? - INDEED A KILLER: PERSPECTIVES OF KONY 2012

When a video goes viral it becomes the talk of the "Internet town". Critical minds and ignorant people alike flood in to watch, comment and "spread the disease". I had the opportunity to watch the video two days ago. My initial instincts were very different. Before you start "hating", put on your thinking cap, reflect for a bit and allow yourself to be rational just for the moment and space in time. OK, here we go...

I would like to start off with a comment I scooped from Yahoo News: "Kony 2012 backlash begins with Acadia student's blog" in response to Grant Oyston's critique of Kony 2012. I first must acknowledge Grant's bravery and insight - we actually need more 19 year olds of this sort gracing our planets. The comment reads: 

So what he is saying basically is there are more problems in Uganda than just Kony? Go figure. Argue, Debate, Discredit but get Kony's name out there

Well, I'm sorry, unless we accept that our minds are robotic (vis-a-vis controlled by others), gone are the days when we (especially Africans) can only passively ingest Western media garbage. This is high time the world wakes up to the dawn of critical self-learning at no cost by virtue of the so-called Internet technology revolution.

Regarding the above comments, it baffles me how, despite access to rich knowledge and information in this part of the world, we can still somehow manage to allow ourselves to be ignorant. Or we are just good at being selective in deciding which and who rights should be advocated for. The last time I checked, Article 3 (1) and (2) of the Optional Protocol to the Conventions on the Rights of the Child (CRC) states:

States Parties shall raise the minimum age for the voluntary recruitment of persons into their national armed forces from that set out article 38, paragraph 3, of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, taking account of the principles contained in the article and recognizing that under the Convention persona under the age of 18 years are entitled to special protection.

Each State Party shall deposit a binding declaration upon ratification of or accession to the present Protocol that sets forth the minimum age at which it will permit voluntary recruitment into its national armed forces and a description of the safeguards it has adopted to ensure that such recruitment is not forced or coerced

Evidently, the United States is conveniently not a State Party (including not being State Party to Conventions on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) a great advocacy that could go VIRAL) but certainly Canada is. Where am I going with this argument? Well, I'm thinking about double standards and hypocrisy. Take a look at these three examples: Kony 2012; Omar Khadr and Ishmeal Beah - do you see what I see? How can we claim to be in a civilized era of human rights yet we can still manage to peck rights in order of what lies the media tell us? How is justice and equality for Omar Khadr any different from justice for Ishmeal Beah and Jacob in Kony 2012? It is obvious to me that a child's right as enshrined in the CRC (and any other legal instruments) means a child's right - irrespective of whether he or she was born in Africa or raised by parents who support terrorism. The fact here remains, they are all at-risk children needing the same amount of "VIRAL" advocacy such as seen in Kony 2012.

OR

When it comes to Africa, it has to be romanticized, sympathetic and sensationalized by those who claim privilege to power, control and authority? How about if we changed the so-called International Criminal Court (yet again, the US is not a signed member to the Rome Statute - another excellent advocacy strategy for American world changers) list filled with "African monsters" (the irony) to something more realistic as in those complicit of war crimes (George Bush, Tony Blair, Stephen Harper, Benjamin Netanyahu and their cronies)? At this juncture, my only frustration is not only with the complete lack of positive leadership amongst African leaders, it is also with the positive correlation between continuous and selective ignorance and increase in information technology which leads to over dominance of one group yet persistent human rights violations of another group. 

All the best with Kony 2012, but I refused to allow my person including my brains to be manipulated when I can think critically to foster my ability to be a better advocate for children's rights.

SHALOM

GOING BACK TO MY ROOTS

Ask me what it feels like going back home where there is no electricity or tap born water after living in the West for over 10 years? I'd say it is very difficult. But ask me, how do I feel about going back to my roots, I'd say GREAT! You want to know why? Because Liberia/Ghana/Africa is my home. No amount of challenge, frustration and struggle can ever deter me from fulfilling my moral obligation. That is, contributing my quota to engineer social change on the continent. Thus, the story is about picking to my heels to Liberia and Ghana for 4 consecutive weeks to teach, research and do business

My joy knew no bounds as I stood before fellow Liberians at Cuttington University's Graduate School of Public Health and Buduburam Refugee Camp's Christian Center for Leadership Development and Counseling to impart knowledge and skills for sustainable development. Who knew that after all these years, I will be returning to the refugee camp I once received ration at - but now in the capacity of the Director of Flowers School of Public Health Sciences and Science to deliver the keynote address to 141 graduants of CCLDC? Well, I'm still trying to be the change I want to see in the world. See Ghana Daily Graphics of November 17, 2011.

Daily Graphic Newspaper, November 17, 2011

60 MILLION GIRLS - I WAS PART OF THAT NUMBER

Yes, it's only 18 years ago that I was being counted as one of several million refugee girls around the world who had no access to education. Then one day my luck shine only because my Mama - as poor as she was -  forbid me to follow boys (OH YES SHE DID) and put my "head in my books". See Mama is the toughest disciplinarian I have ever known in my life. My siblings and I often reflect on her "no-nonsense" disciplinarian style - most times we crack up with endless laughter. BUT back then it was no joke - I'm not kidding you. Many days, like any normal teenager, I bickered with her wondering why she was so tough on me. One day, I had the audacity to say to Mama that she's not my real mother because if she were, she won't treat me with such ironed fisk. Mama just laughed and said - "go find your real mother." Of course, she is my biological mother - it's taken me some three decades plus to really appreciate her fully! I bless every day in my life to have her - all that I am and have become, I owe it 100 per cent to Mama.

I am very much aware that I'm veering off but you see, you must realize that my story is never mine but rather seamlessly interwoven with that of my Mama's. So, if you are in Montreal, Quebec area come listen to my mother's story lived through me. Visit 60 Million Girls for more details.