Division of African Area Studies

The Division of African Area Studies offers programs in Livelihoods andEcology, Culture and Society, and Development and Sustainability to allowfor in-depth study of the issues outlined below.

(1) Shaped by its resilient tropical ecosystems, Africa has its own distinct history, and the people have managed to retain much of their traditional cultures and lifestyles. However, their livelihoods and natural resources are now substantially influenced by the global economy and environmental problems. (2) Africa has undergone a number of processes leading to state formation and integration into the global society since the middle of the 20th century. However, the risk of division and fragmentation along ethnic lines has remained a ubiquitous problem because the basis of the socio‒political order has been fragile. (3) Post-colonial Africa faces a variety of issues, including developmental, political, and environmental challenges; in this context, “global standards” have often been imposed without consideration of the intrinsic characteristics of the area. Indeed, questions about how to promote endogenous development based on the specifi c potentials of Africa remain unanswered.

 

Livelihoods and Ecology:

This program of education and research was designed to allow students to explore relationships between humans and nature in Africa. Using ecological approaches in the broad sense, we analyze the structures, functions, historical development, and environmental bases of livelihoods̶farming, pastoralism, hunting, gathering, fishery, commerce, and manufacturing. And, we re-evaluate the particular nature of livelihood strategies and regional economies, focusing particularly on their relationships with the broader political, economic, and social contexts.

Juichi ITANI

E-mail: itani@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

My research involves analyzing various technological developments that have taken place in indigenous farming in Africa from an agro-ecological perspective, as well as the relationship between human perceptions of nature and agriculture. I am also looking into the process by which technology that originated in other countries fuses with aspects of indigenous farming, and goes on to present itself in new forms of cultivation.

[Agricultural Ecology, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies, Research Seminar on Political Ecology I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III]

Shuichi OYAMA

E-mail: oyama@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I conduct research into features of people’s livelihood and use of the environment in the central southern Africa and West Africa, looking at the connections with ecology, climate change, state politics and the economy, rural society, and ethnicity. In the central southern Africa, I am interested in the farmers’ attitudes toward the savannas and dry deciduous woodland, agricultural ecosystems, and the social changes to a market economy and revisions in the land laws. In the Sahel region of West Africa, I have looked into anti-desertification methods that make use of indigenous knowledge. I am currently engaged in an on-site experiment aimed at implementing a “land rehabilaitation” project. I am also studying the possibilities of preventing ethnic conflicts between farmers and herders in the region over the use of resources.

[Environmental Studies in Africa, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies, Research Seminar on African Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III]

Hirokazu YASUOKA

E-mail: yasuoka@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

Hirokazu Yasuoka has studied about relationships between human and nature based on long-term field research with hunter-gatherers in Central Africa. He is recently developing applied research on collaborative forest resource management between scientists and local people.

[Historical Ecology, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies, Research Seminar on African Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies Onsite Seminar I-III]

Hiroki SATO

E-mail: sato.hiroki.l50@ [add “kyoto-u.jp”]

I have conducted field research in tropical forests of Madagascar, the island off the coast of Eastern Africa, and studied the mechanisms of forest regeneration via plant-animal interactions with polyhedral approaches from genetics to ecology. Moreover, my research will concern utilization of natural resources by local residents in such tropical forests and try to explore the future of sustainable conservation of ecosystems from the perspective of ethnobiology and conservation biology.

[Ecology for Area Studies, Introduction to Area Studies, Research Seminar on African Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III]

Miho SAITO

E-mail: saito.miho.2w@ [add “kyoto-u.jp”]

have been studying giraffe rearing strategy in Tanzania. During that time, I have discussed the diversity of their offspring rearing and social structure, and have taken an interest in the various issues related to giraffe and other wildlife. My next aim is to expand the scope of my research to understand the circumstances of fortress conservation from the perspectives of both rangers and agropastoralists. Further on, I would like to analyze how to prevent conflicts over natural resources between different actors, and the future relationship of human and wildlife.

[Research Seminar on African Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III]

 

Culture and Society:

This program of education and research was designed to allow students to explore the possibilities inherent in the pluralistic and convivial society of Africa. To this end, we investigate the characteristics of the cultural practices of diff erent ethnic groups and explore their historical backgrounds based on intensive fieldwork using verbal and nonverbal approaches. We also analyze the mechanisms, historical development, and environmental bases of culturally complex and multi-ethic societies in contemporary Africa.

Misa HIRANO (NOMOTO)

E-mail: hiranom@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

My research has involved anthropological studies of the Bamileke ethnic group who live in urban areas, specifically those that live in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, looking primarily at their economic activities. Currently I am researching the systems that have been developed by Bamileke society for conflict avoidance both internally (with others in the same ethnic group) and externally (with people in other ethnic group). I am also interested in the role of money in community development and I am conducting research investigation into the “mo-ai” (“ROSCA”) of Okinawa.

[African Urban Society, Introduction to Area Studies, Research Seminar on African Area Study I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III]

Akira TAKADA

E-mail: takada@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have studied on the San (or Bushmen) of Southern Africa with respect to the following topics: (1) Caregiver-child interaction, (2) The system of caregiverchild interaction, subsistence activity, and the natural environment, (3) Perception of the environment, and (4) The transformation of ethnicity among the San and their neighbors. By integrating these topics of study, moreover, I aim to clarify the cultural structure which organizes social interaction of San.

[Interaction Studies, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies, Research Seminar on African Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies Onsite Seminar I-III]

Morie KANEKO

E-mail: kaneko@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have been conducting anthropological research on the cultural transmission of techniques of body and technological innovation among women potters in Ethiopia. In this work, I examine the formation of African local knowledge in a global context by focusing on the process of creating objects, such as producing craftworks, processing agricultural products, creating souvenirs, and even generating waste, as the outcome of person–environment transactions. I also engage with local people in ethnographic exhibitions, in a community museum, that are related to endogenous development in local communities.

[Livelihoods and Creativities in Africa, Seminar on Asian and African Area Studies,Training on Research Presentation I-II, International Research-Group Program For Graduate Students,Research Seminar on Africa Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-IIII]

Yukiko KONDO

E-mail: kondo.yukiko@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have examined how people re/configured their social relationships in rural Rwanda, where severe conflicts and genocide occurred during the early 1990s. Currently, I am considering ways in which memories of violence are shared across generations, and possibilities for preventing a recurrence of such conflict. Moreover, taking a larger view of the African Great Lakes region, including Rwanda, I aim to study examples of peace and order in these areas.

[Research Seminar on African Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III]

 

Development and Sustainability:

This program of education and research was designed to allow students to explore the alternative modes of knowing and relating to the world that have originated in Africa, with the dual goals of applying these approaches to diffi culties of the modern world and contributing to the future of humanity. We identify a number of problems faced by African societies in the context of historical processes and social change, and examine ways in which these problems have been addressed. We recognize African Potentials as constituting a dynamic problem-solving capability that has been created, practiced, managed, and synthesized as African societies have engaged and negotiated with the outside world.

Motoki TAKAHASHI

E-mail: takahashi@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

My academic interest is centered on political economy and development in Africa. I am aiming at understanding how the African state and market economy, exogenously introduced in the colonization process, were formulated afterwards, how they have been changing, and how they are related with people’s day-to-day livelihoods. In addition, I have been also concerned about how foreign aid activities, officially with the object of assisting development, affect politics, economy, society, and people’s livelihoods in Africa. I have often visited East African countries, especially Kenya, for researches and other engagements.

[Development in Africa, Introduction to Area Studies, Research Seminar on Africa Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III]

Gen YAMAKOSHI

E-mail: yamakoshi@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

My research has focused on the behavior, ecology and conservation of wildlife in West Africa. I am also interested in the potentials held by traditional engagements with landscape by the slash-and-burn farming communities in West Africa for forest and wildlife conservation. I am currently pursuing a study of historical, ecological, and sociological factors.

[Wildlife Conservation, Introduction to Area Studies, Research Seminar on African Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III]

　

Hidenori HARADA

E-mail: harada@asafas [add “.kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

I have worked on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), one of essential needs of human beings, in Asia and Africa. With focus on health risk, material cycle, and social acceptance of WASH, my recent interests are 1) self-visualization of diarrhea risk with youths’ action research, 2) long-term acceptability of resources-oriented dry toilets, 3) autonomous and decentralized WASH and its digital innovation, 4) water environment management, and 5) urban wastes and wastewater management strategy.

[Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, Introduction to Area Studies, Research Seminar on African Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III]

Seiji NAKAO

E-mail: nakao.seiji.2i@ [add “kyoto-u.ac.jp”]

Across the history of religions, politics, economics, and thoughts in Francophone West Africa, I have attempted to understand what “modernities” mean to Africans and how they have attempted to construct their identities, livelihood, and societies. I have also conducted collaborative research and practice with engineering, architecture, contemporary art, and science communication, exploring what can be the meaningful collaborative research and practice for anthropology and other disciplines.

[Research Seminar on African Area Studies I-IV, Guided Research on African Area Studies I-III, Open Seminar on African Area Studies, African Area Studies On-site Seminar I-III]