6 results
Descriptive epidemiology of coronavirus disease 2019 in Nigeria, 27 February–6 June 2020
- K. O. Elimian, C. L. Ochu, E. Ilori, J. Oladejo, E. Igumbor, L. Steinhardt, J. Wagai, C. Arinze, W. Ukponu, C. Obiekea, O. Aderinola, E. Crawford, A. Olayinka, C. Dan-Nwafor, T. Okwor, Y. Disu, A. Yinka-Ogunleye, N. E. Kanu, O. A. Olawepo, O. Aruna, C. A. Michael, L. Dunkwu, O. Ipadeola, D. Naidoo, C. D. Umeokonkwo, A. Matthias, O. Okunromade, S. Badaru, A. Jinadu, O. Ogunbode, A. Egwuenu, A. Jafiya, M. Dalhat, F. Saleh, G. B. Ebhodaghe, A. Ahumibe, R. U. Yashe, R. Atteh, W. E. Nwachukwu, C. Ezeokafor, D. Olaleye, Z. Habib, I. Abdus-Salam, E. Pembi, D. John, U. J. Okhuarobo, H. Assad, Y. Gandi, B. Muhammad, C. Nwagwogu, I. Nwadiuto, K. Sulaiman, I. Iwuji, A. Okeji, S. Thliza, S. Fagbemi, R. Usman, A. A. Mohammed, O. Adeola-Musa, M. Ishaka, U. Aketemo, K. Kamaldeen, C. E. Obagha, A. O. Akinyode, P. Nguku, N. Mba, C. Ihekweazu
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- Journal:
- Epidemiology & Infection / Volume 148 / 2020
- Published online by Cambridge University Press:
- 11 September 2020, e208
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- Article
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The objective of this study was to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Nigeria with a view of generating evidence to enhance planning and response strategies. A national surveillance dataset between 27 February and 6 June 2020 was retrospectively analysed, with confirmatory testing for COVID-19 done by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The primary outcomes were cumulative incidence (CI) and case fatality (CF). A total of 40 926 persons (67% of total 60 839) had complete records of RT-PCR test across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory, 12 289 (30.0%) of whom were confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of those confirmed cases, 3467 (28.2%) had complete records of clinical outcome (alive or dead), 342 (9.9%) of which died. The overall CI and CF were 5.6 per 100 000 population and 2.8%, respectively. The highest proportion of COVID-19 cases and deaths were recorded in persons aged 31–40 years (25.5%) and 61–70 years (26.6%), respectively; and males accounted for a higher proportion of confirmed cases (65.8%) and deaths (79.0%). Sixty-six per cent of confirmed COVID-19 cases were asymptomatic at diagnosis. In conclusion, this paper has provided an insight into the early epidemiology of COVID-19 in Nigeria, which could be useful for contextualising public health planning.
Atafei Pewissi, Rethinking Womanism: When Difference Maps Chaos
- Edited by Ernest N. Emenyonu
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- Book:
- ALT 37
- Published by:
- Boydell & Brewer
- Published online:
- 02 April 2020
- Print publication:
- 15 November 2019, pp 207-210
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Summary
Atafei Pewissi's text is a critique of the theories of both Western and African Feminism, an agitation for a humanist view of life, and the proposal of Womanism as an alternative to the divisive and conspiratorial theories that impede the proper growth and development of human societies. The text argues that both Western and African Feminism originated as political reactions against the institution of patriarchy and, since all brands of Feminism are basically focused on liberating the female gender, their motivations are one-dimensional and cater just for the needs of one gender to the detriment of the other half of humanity – the male gender. It is equally observed that Feminism does not accommodate all women since the birthing of African Feminism is as a result of the discriminatory racist nature of Western Feminism which does not account for the needs and experiences of women of colour. African feminists, in turn, responded with the same racist attitude by looking to their own needs alone. Thus we have such titles as: ‘African Feminism’, ‘Black Feminisms’, etc.
The radical feminist solution of lesbianism is cited as an attitude that undermines collaboration and in fact breeds hatred for men and sets the stage for the extermination of the human species if greatly embraced. As such, from whichever angle these theories are looked at, it is seen that the divisive, discriminatory element is paramount. It either discriminates against women or men. This discrimination breeds rancour and violence. Pewissi uses ample examples from the fictional creations of African authors to illustrate his view that Feminism is similar to patriarchy. He juxtaposes Achebe's early novels and his poor portrayal of female characters with Nwapa's and Emecheta's novels that portray men as irresponsible and total failures. So if patriarchy is male-dominated rule, Feminism represents female dominance. Pewissi insists that ‘to empower the victim of yesterday to fight back to disarm the powerful is a perpetual way of raising violence’ (71).
Second, Pewissi views Humanism as synonymous with Womanism.
Efe Farinre, Folk Tales are Forever
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- By Nonye C. Ahumibe, Imo State University Owerri, Nigeria
- Ernest N. Emenyonu, John C. Hawley
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- Book:
- ALT 36: Queer Theory in Filmand Fiction
- Published by:
- Boydell & Brewer
- Published online:
- 25 March 2020
- Print publication:
- 16 November 2018, pp 268-271
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Summary
Folktales are timeless and appeal to people of all ages. This timeless quality is found basically in its shunning of any particular historical context and in portraying characters who fit into ancient and modern times. Again, the philosophies of life explored in folktales are relevant for all times, for they give insights into how best to move in a world teeming with human beings from all walks of life. Part of the universal appeal of folktale is the simple nature of its language, which makes it accessible to both young and old people. Most folktales have satire built into their structures such that these stories are spiced with humour, ridicule and exaggeration and, like many double-voiced narratives, entertain as well as teach morals to their consumers.
In this collection by Efe Farinre, we are entertained with 15 freshlytold familiar and not-too-familiar folktales, with such memorable titles as ‘Why Pigs Sniff the Earth’, ‘The Race’, etc. Though these stories are familiar, the story-teller's knack for injecting freshness into them is quite remarkable, and we enjoy them as fresh, delectable inventions with new twists. In ‘Why Pigs Sniff the Earth’, for instance, one might raise the moral question of why the pig should be the loser at the end when actually he is the upright one. However, these stories – like some of the questions that philosophy raises about life – have no answers. Sometimes the just are winners; at other times they are losers. Likewise, in some cases, the unjust clever person ‘wins’ and sometimes he receives his comeuppance. Thus, the lesson here is that tact and cleverness are virtues that must be upheld in the real world, for living is like a game of cards: sometimes one wins, at other times one loses. One's triumph or defeat most times is not determined by uprightness or how virtuous one might be, but by a pragmatic engagement with reality. Idealists may of course question these conclusions, and perhaps that too is the point of the stories: to compel us to reflect and question existential conundrums.
In the story, ‘The Race’, the narrative subscribes to the abiding belief that a successful man needs to be tactful in the way he relates with other people so as not to arouse jealousy in the less successful people.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Dear Ijeawele, or a Feminist Manifesto in Fifteen Suggestions
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- By Nonye C. Ahumibe, Department of English, Imo State University Owerri, Nigeria
- Ernest N. Emenyonu, John C. Hawley
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- Book:
- ALT 36: Queer Theory in Filmand Fiction
- Published by:
- Boydell & Brewer
- Published online:
- 25 March 2020
- Print publication:
- 16 November 2018, pp 259-263
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Summary
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a bold feminist who is not afraid to express her opinions and position on the issues of feminism. Her passion for the liberation of women is evident in her novels: Purple Hibiscus and Americanah. In the latter, she incorporates some of the ideas that she develops in Dear Ijeawele. One such idea is the creation of a female character (Ifemelu) who subverts the notion that it is male prerogative to initiate physical intimacy in a heterosexual relationship:
Aren't we going to kiss? She asked.
He seemed startled. Where did that come from?
I'm just asking. We've been sitting here for so long.
I don't want you to think that is all I want.
What about what I want?
What do you want? (62)
Though the young man at first is shocked at her boldness, he accepts her proposal and they kiss for the first time. A traditional man would see Ifemelu as morally lax, and may not want to continue the relationship with her. Adichie here is saying that women also are human beings with flesh and blood and feel the same things that men feel, so that it should not matter who initiates the move for the expression of physical love. This is a significant paradigm shift in gender matters.
It is still in her bid to create more awareness for gender equality that she wrote Dear Ijeawele which one can see as a sequel to her famous speech entitled: ‘We should all be Feminists’. Indeed, it is a sequel to the foregoing because it reinforces the basic ideas about gender inequality especially as women in Nigeria experience it. Her text therefore develops and discusses in details many of the points made in that speech. This sequel is a continuation of her famous speech because she believes that, though ‘we have evolved … our ideas about gender had not evolved’ (We Should All Be Feminists).
Dear Ijeawele is Adichie's response to some of the critical gender issues in Igbo (Nigerian) culture that the literary feminist movement in Nigeria has not been able to fully address.
Razinat T. Mohammed, The Travails of a First Wife
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- By Nonye C. Ahumibe, Imo State University Owerri, Nigeria
- Ernest N. Emenyonu, John C. Hawley
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- Book:
- ALT 36: Queer Theory in Filmand Fiction
- Published by:
- Boydell & Brewer
- Published online:
- 25 March 2020
- Print publication:
- 16 November 2018, pp 263-268
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Summary
A man was beating his wife and the wife was screaming for help when one of their neighbours rushed in and yelled at the husband: ‘No, no, no, Peter! I am highly disappointed in you; you don't beat a woman! What you do is, ignore her, and marry a new wife.’ The woman immediately stopped crying and turned to her husband and said: ‘Peter, don't mind this stupid man, just continue beating me!!’ (Anonymous joke)
The novel explores the stifling nature of polygamous marriage for women in a Muslim society. Here, marriage is seen as a Freudian prison. Society is highly stratified and conservative, and husbands are seen as lords and masters over their wives who must be subject to them according to Quaranic injunctions. Women aspire to marriage as the ultimate goal in their lives and they expend so much energy to keep it because marriage seems to be the only way by which they can earn respect and affirmation in their societies. Thus, the dream of every young woman is to get married at all costs and their greatest fear is to be divorced by their husbands.
This is a great malady, and it is portrayed in the lives of the wives, especially the first two wives of the central male figure, Ibrahim, in Razinat Mohammed's novel, The Travails of a First Wife. The title of the novel is unpretentious; perhaps in fact, even too literal. But it makes its point directly, unencumbered by needless artifice. Zarah, the first wife, from all indications is long suffering and should long have left her marriage. Her husband treats her badly, and ignores her deepest emotional and sexual needs. To make the situation even direr, Ibrahim marries two new and younger wives and brings them into their home. He has robust sexual relations with them to the dismay and anguish of Zarah. Unfortunately for Zarah she is also a barren and childless woman. The truth however is that she has a son for her husband that both of them for certain reasons refuse to identify with, and her womb has also been destroyed through several abortions that she does to save Ibrahim's name before their marriage such that now they have a marriage in which she is unable to conceive any more children.
NoViolet Bulawayo, We NeedNew Names
- from REVIEWS
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- By Nonye Chinyere Ahumibe, Imo StateUniversity, Owerri, Nigeria
- Edited by Ernest N. Emenyonu
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- Book:
- ALT 35: Focus on Egypt
- Published by:
- Boydell & Brewer
- Published online:
- 24 August 2019
- Print publication:
- 17 November 2017, pp 302-308
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NoVioletBulawayo's debut novel is a deeply and freshly cut storythat excites and startles at the same time. It iscontemporary in temper and like many other African novels iscommitted to drawing attention to the myriad troublesbesetting Africa in contemporary times. It is in two parts:the first part explores Darling's and her friends’ lives ofpoverty and hardship in Paradise (Africa) due to colonialinvasion. The destruction of their former system affectsevery family such that the children become guava hunters ina forbidden area (Budapest, white settlement). Hungeremboldens them and they regularly trespass into the whitearea in search of food (guava). The harsh experiences ofbeing forced to cater for themselves at a tender age andabject poverty push the children to always dream of escapingto other countries. Somebody like Darling does not have theprotection and love of either of her parents. Her Fatherabandons them: ‘Now Father is in South Africa, working, buthe never writes, never sends us money never nothing. Itmakes me angry thinking about him so most of the time I justpretend he doesn't exist; it's better this way’ (22-3). Hermother on the other hand is so busy with trading and herselfthat Darling is left to the care of her not-lovinggrandmother. Darling's only true family is her circle offriends. This explains her always feeling out of place,inadequate and sad whenever circumstances force her to beaway from them. An instance of her frustration is seen whenher sick Father returns from South Africa, and she is forcedto not only stay away from them, but to lie to them in orderto prevent the fact that her Father has HIV from spreadingin the vicinity. ‘It's not the lying itself that makes mefeel bad but the fact that I'm here lying to my friends. Idon't like not playing with them because they are the mostimportant thing to me and when I'm not with them I feel likeI'm not even me’ (94).
In the secondpart of the novel which is set in America, the text exploresthe different world views that will appear strange inDarling's country and culture but are very acceptable inAmerica.