Economy
PARTICIPANTS at an online event have called on African researchers to undertake studies that can have positive influence on policies and practices.
In a statement issued by the Communications Section of the Economic Commission for Africa, participants made the call at the inauguration of an Anthology and a Journal on Tuesday.
The inauguration of an anthology of short stories on land governance in Africa was done by the African Land Policy Centre (ALPC).
The anthology carries 17 stories from authors drawn from across the continent.
The authors include: Thakhani RayofAfrica (South Africa), Temitayo Olofinlua (Nigeria), Taffi Nyawanza (Zimbabwe) Gloria Mwaniga Odary (Kenya), and David Akelumbona Ayariga (Ghana), among others.
The anthology titled “Finding Ground and Other Stories’’ shows the complexity of land issues in Africa and the opportunities that land provides to communities for food, identity, spirituality, culture, and heritage.
The virtual event also saw the inauguration of a special issue of Jahazi Journal on Land Governance, Culture and Heritage.
The journal carries articles on land governance, spirituality, culture, heritage, and community life.
Also speaking, Caroline Mose, Editor of the Journal called on African researchers to undertake studies that could have a positive influence on policies and practices.
“We have a responsibility to contribute to finding solutions for our people,” Mose said.
In her remarks, Janet Edeme, Head of Rural Economy Division in the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, AUC in Addis Ababa, congratulated the writers.
Edeme also thanked them for advancing the African Union agenda on land.
She further urged writers to take an interest in land policy issues.
“To thrive, the arts, culture and heritage also depend on the decisions made about land.
“With bad land governance decisions, the cultural and creative sectors would suffer,” she said.
According to the statement, the inauguration is the culmination of a process of integrating the arts, culture and heritage in the continental agenda on land policies.
The stories were selected from more than 70 stories submitted as part of the Nov. 2021 Conference on Land Policy in Africa.
The conference was jointly organised by the African Union Commission (AUC), the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), and the African Development Bank (AfDB).
It was also done with support of the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development through GIZ.
Leading the compendium is the story “Boyi” by Gloria Mwaniga Odary, closely followed by “Everything Along the Line of Dolly” by Tshepo S. Molebatsi, and “Finding Ground Beneath False Simulations” by Thakhani RayofAfrica.
The ALPC is a a joint initiative of the AUC, UNECA, and the AfDB.
Its purpose is to enable the use of land to drive the process of African development.
The ALPC is now moving toward assisting AU member states in developing or reviewing their land policies, as well as in implementing and evaluating the policies. (NAN)
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Tags: African Land Policy Centre Caroline Mose David Akelumbona Ayariga Janet Edeme Taffi Nyawanza Temitayo Olofinlua Thakhani RayofAfrica
