Masters Dissertations

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Browsing Masters Dissertations by Subject "Africa"

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    Disease and state patronage in Africa: the case of cholera epidemics in Zanzibar 1800-1970
    (Unversity of Dar es Salaam, 2007) Kawishe, Joachim Sebastian
    This work examines the role of political power in influencing the introduction, emergence and spread of infections diseases in society. The state patronage system approach employed in this work entails power relations which are responsible in organization, control and utilization of various resources in society. In the course of time, this process produces changes, which in turn lead to new levels of health. It underscores that disease environment is the function of social dynamics in time and space. However, aftermaths of epidemic diseases have also put new demands to those in power and the general public. The study of cholera in the island of Zanzibar during the 19th century demonstrates that factors for a particular disease are both biological and social. They intertwine in an inseparable manner. Such combination constitutes the context in which disease is produced, defined, experienced, spread and controlled. It acknowledges the fact that the importance of Africa on the international scene grew sharply during the 19th century. But Seyyid Said made Zanzibar experience more intense integration into the international mercantile and capitalist economic order. The intermediary position played by this island allowed convergence and divergence of people and trade as well as the rise of alien diseases like cholera
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    An interrogation of radical feminist elements in ama ata aidoo’s changes: a love story
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2014) John, Innocent
    The main objective of this study was to examine the extent to which Ama Ata Aidoo’s Changes: A Love Story constitutes a departure from traditional African feminism, which Buchi Emecheta calls feminism with a small ‘f’ to embrace more radical forms of western derived feminism. This main objective was achieved through three specific objectives which were to: examine how the novel presents traditional African gender images, determine the radical elements portrayed in the novel that hint at radical feminism; and establish the extent to which Changes constitutes a radical form of feminist writing. The study used largely feminism in general, and specifically radical feminism and African feminism in its literary interpretation. As a text based study, close reading and critical analysis of the novel was the main source of information. This was supplemented by documentary reviews through scrutiny of literary articles in both hard and the electronic format. The main findings indicate that Changes employs radical forms of feminism to interrogate the place of a working modern African woman in an African society still trapped in patriarchy-engendered tradition and conservatism. Although the novel cannot parse be described as a radical piece of feminist writing, it uses radical feminist elements embodied by the protagonist Esi, while counterbalancing her extremism with the more accommodative and rational behaviour of her friend and confidant, Opokuya. Finally, the study concludes that African feminist writings need to be subjected to both traditional African and radial forms of feminist analysis to fully appreciate their gender representation. Also, the study recommends that Changes be subjected to a comparative study involving some radical feminist piece of writing to determine how it compares to archetypical radical feminist writing.
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    Male and female images in ogbu’s the moon also Sets
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2014) Swila, Joyce
    The world is changing and the portrayal of male and female characters in literature should go with changes in the society. Literature is an important part of this experience because it mirrors and interprets the experience from the point of view of those who write about it. This study, therefore, attempts to examine ‘male and female images in The Moon Also Sets,’ to investigate whether or not and in what ways Osi Ogbu challenges stereotypical images of male and female characters in the text. The study also interrogates with the main assumption based on women writers’ claims that male authors tend to create stereotypical female characters differently from their male counterparts. The study was guided by the feminist approach with the view that women resist violence, unfair economic system and all the oppressive customs which leave women at the bottom of the society. On the other hand are male characters that are portrayed in relation to their roles. Sometimes male characters are also negatively portrayedas inferior and as subordinates. The study concludes that male writers depict women and men stereotypically where Women resist gender stereotyping.