Comprehensive Area Studies on Coexistence and Conflict Resolution Realizing the African Potentials | Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research(S)

(Kyoto International Conference Center, August 5, 2013)
Program Date: August 5, 2013 Venue: Kyoto International Conference Center 1) The conflict over land resource and local resolution between cultivators and pastoral people in Sahel region of West Africa Shuichi Oyama (Kyoto University) 2) A situational analysis of the urban housing sector in Zambia Richard Zulu (University of Zambia) 3) New land policy in Ethiopia and subsequent events in a village: a case from the forest area of southwestern Ethiopia Yoshimasa Ito (Kyoto University) 4) Socio-economic transformation and dynamics of social conflict among the Dorze of southwestern Ethiopia Mamo Hebo Wabe (Addis Ababa University)
Report Beginning from August 5 to 9, 2013, IGU 2013 Kyoto Regional Conference was held at Kyoto International Conference Center. In the session titled “Conflict in Africa and ‘African potential’ for achieving coexistence based on indigenous knowledge and institution,” which is organized by Dr. Oyama, a project member, four researchers presented a paper. First Dr. Oyama briefly explained the purpose of the session and presented his paper titled “The conflict over land resource and local resolution between cultivators and pastoral people in Sahel region of West Africa.” Dr. Oyama explained disputes among pastoralists Furbe, Tuareg and Hausa, the cultivators and how disputes are settled by showing detailed cases. The point he emphasized was that disputes may be effectively settled by utilizing interethnic social networks than leave disputes settlement to local chiefs, government officials, police officers or courts. Second, Mr. Richard Zulu of the Zambian university performed a report titled as “A situational analysis of the urban housing sector in Zambia.” After having mentioned that 80% of houses were built unplanned and informally in urban area of Zambia, Mr. Zulu spoke needs of improvement in the informally built houses and technique of constructors, and attention to increase income of citizens. Third, I presented a paper titled as “New land policy in Ethiopia and subsequent events in a village; a case from the forest area of southwestern Ethiopia.” I showed several cases of disputes among farmers over the land holding and explained that new land policy implemented in 2005 had pulled trigger of disputes. I also discussed that experiencing disputes over the land made farmers to recognize the importance of the land registration and farmers started to use the land registration as a tool to protect their land holding rights. At last, Dr. Mamo from Addis Ababa University presented a presentation titled as “Socio-economic transformation and dynamics of social conflict among the Dorze of southwestern Ethiopia.” He described how the modern judiciary and a traditional trial coexisted in Dorze society. He reported that although the local residents perform the traditional investigation and judgment and police officers only stood by and watched the process, police officers delivered the accused to the station as soon as he was locally found guilty to make him go through modern judiciary system and serve a sentence. Since we had many audiences from Africa, active discussion was carried out during open floor discussion.

(Kyoto International Conference Center, August 5, 2013)

Program

Date: August 5, 2013
Venue: Kyoto International Conference Center

1) The conflict over land resource and local resolution between cultivators and pastoral people in Sahel region of West Africa
Shuichi Oyama (Kyoto University)

2) A situational analysis of the urban housing sector in Zambia
Richard Zulu (University of Zambia)

3) New land policy in Ethiopia and subsequent events in a village: a case from the forest area of southwestern Ethiopia
Yoshimasa Ito (Kyoto University)

4) Socio-economic transformation and dynamics of social conflict among the Dorze of southwestern Ethiopia
Mamo Hebo Wabe (Addis Ababa University)

Report

Beginning from August 5 to 9, 2013, IGU 2013 Kyoto Regional Conference was held at Kyoto International Conference Center. In the session titled “Conflict in Africa and ‘African potential’ for achieving coexistence based on indigenous knowledge and institution,” which is organized by Dr. Oyama, a project member, four researchers presented a paper.

First Dr. Oyama briefly explained the purpose of the session and presented his paper titled “The conflict over land resource and local resolution between cultivators and pastoral people in Sahel region of West Africa.” Dr. Oyama explained disputes among pastoralists Furbe, Tuareg and Hausa, the cultivators and how disputes are settled by showing detailed cases. The point he emphasized was that disputes may be effectively settled by utilizing interethnic social networks than leave disputes settlement to local chiefs, government officials, police officers or courts.

Second, Mr. Richard Zulu of the Zambian university performed a report titled as “A situational analysis of the urban housing sector in Zambia.” After having mentioned that 80% of houses were built unplanned and informally in urban area of Zambia, Mr. Zulu spoke needs of improvement in the informally built houses and technique of constructors, and attention to increase income of citizens.

Third, I presented a paper titled as “New land policy in Ethiopia and subsequent events in a village; a case from the forest area of southwestern Ethiopia.” I showed several cases of disputes among farmers over the land holding and explained that new land policy implemented in 2005 had pulled trigger of disputes. I also discussed that experiencing disputes over the land made farmers to recognize the importance of the land registration and farmers started to use the land registration as a tool to protect their land holding rights.

At last, Dr. Mamo from Addis Ababa University presented a presentation titled as “Socio-economic transformation and dynamics of social conflict among the Dorze of southwestern Ethiopia.” He described how the modern judiciary and a traditional trial coexisted in Dorze society. He reported that although the local residents perform the traditional investigation and judgment and police officers only stood by and watched the process, police officers delivered the accused to the station as soon as he was locally found guilty to make him go through modern judiciary system and serve a sentence. Since we had many audiences from Africa, active discussion was carried out during open floor discussion.

[Organized Session at International Conferences] “Conflict in Africa and ‘African potential’ for achieving coexistence based on indigenous knowledge and institutions” (Kyoto International Conference Center, August 5, 2013)

Program

Report