The University of Basel has informed today that the Centre of Competence, African Studies is about to be started next month. The centre will form a nucleus for knowledge and research on Africa.
For more information (in german) click the titel of this text.
Für Informationen klicken Sie den Titel dieser Nachricht.
Freitag, 30. Januar 2009
Document of the day
The document of the day is from a dossier that has been consulted by a an interesting list of researchers, Denise Roth Allen, Walter Bruchhausen, Stacey Langwick or Matthew Bender amongst them. The dossier adresses the training of African women as midwives. The discussions in colonial health services testify to the idea, that intervening in birth practices shall serve as a 'modernizing' instrument . This is what an official wrote in 1950: "Such girls [25 year olds] may not in fact be of much value as midwives, but they will form a nucleaus and a base from which the old tribal conservatism may gradually vanish, giving way to a future service of young midwives."
Global Histories of Development
This is still warm from the oven: a report on the Conference "Global Histories of Development" organised by Daniel Speich and Hubertus Büschel in Zürich last October has been published minutes ago. Click title of this message to be redirected.
Donnerstag, 29. Januar 2009
Sofi and Mahenge
The two most interesting stories I retrieved in the archives yesterday and today are these. You can be sure to find me do more research on these:
Sofi: This place was in the 1940's the subject of a resettlement programme of the colonial government. To secure the health of the population, and to allow for access to health services, and other social services, the local colonial administration resettled 2/3 of the population. The mission objected and it seems, not without support from the Sofi poele. Reading the sources, there is an echo of villagization programmes in independent Tanzania (Operation Vijiji).
Mahenge: This government hospital has in 1939 been handed over to the Swiss Capuchin Mission. The Tanzanian National Archives have the documents that tell the government side of this story. The Archive of the Swiss Province of the Capuchins, in Luzern, tells part of the story from that side, and at least partially from the side of the Gabathulers, the two mission doctors who were to be working in Mahenge . Now, I still lack the story from the side of the Diocese of Dar es Salaam. It is certainly a nice example for the interest of both government and mission for co-operation.
Sofi: This place was in the 1940's the subject of a resettlement programme of the colonial government. To secure the health of the population, and to allow for access to health services, and other social services, the local colonial administration resettled 2/3 of the population. The mission objected and it seems, not without support from the Sofi poele. Reading the sources, there is an echo of villagization programmes in independent Tanzania (Operation Vijiji).
Mahenge: This government hospital has in 1939 been handed over to the Swiss Capuchin Mission. The Tanzanian National Archives have the documents that tell the government side of this story. The Archive of the Swiss Province of the Capuchins, in Luzern, tells part of the story from that side, and at least partially from the side of the Gabathulers, the two mission doctors who were to be working in Mahenge . Now, I still lack the story from the side of the Diocese of Dar es Salaam. It is certainly a nice example for the interest of both government and mission for co-operation.
schönes und stinkendes
Als alter Luftreinhalter vom Dienst geht mir das hier leider voll auf den Sack: die Menge an Abgasen pro Müllverbrennungsaktion und pro Autofahrt hier, ist wirklich fast nicht zu ertragen. Mein Mitgefühl gilt allen, die täglich nicht nur eine Stunden im Stau stecken - sondern am Strassenrand noch gar etwas an die StausteherInnen verkaufen wollen.
Damit aber genug der Reklamationen. Meine Recherchen hier gehen nämlich prächtig voran. Tolle Unterlagen aus dem Archiv der Kapuzinerprovinz wechseln sich mit Funden im Nationalarchiv ab.
zu den inhalten mehr im nächsten Artikel.
Und wenn man mal die Strasse ein wenig hinter sich gelassen hat - und wie ich - ein Bier am Strand sich leisten kann, dem könnte es nicht wirklich besser gehen.
Damit aber genug der Reklamationen. Meine Recherchen hier gehen nämlich prächtig voran. Tolle Unterlagen aus dem Archiv der Kapuzinerprovinz wechseln sich mit Funden im Nationalarchiv ab.
zu den inhalten mehr im nächsten Artikel.
Und wenn man mal die Strasse ein wenig hinter sich gelassen hat - und wie ich - ein Bier am Strand sich leisten kann, dem könnte es nicht wirklich besser gehen.
Montag, 26. Januar 2009
Samstag, 24. Januar 2009
Freitag, 23. Januar 2009
cleared by COSTECH
I do support the COSTECH research clearance idea: As a researcher you have to submit a research proposal for scrutiny by the Tanzanian scientific community and COSTECH. In my case, and I suppose this is general practice, a quarterly progress report to COSTECH shall make sure that I do not just run away with my research data/results, turning the Tanzanian field into a pure research laboratory.
Now, I am glad to see that my research project is cleared by COSTECH. Thanks to those who supported this process, Yusufu Lawi of UDSM's Department of History and Mr. Mashuhuri at COSTECH.
Now, I am glad to see that my research project is cleared by COSTECH. Thanks to those who supported this process, Yusufu Lawi of UDSM's Department of History and Mr. Mashuhuri at COSTECH.
really
So, as a matter fo fact, I was interrupted yesterday night by the end of generator's working hours. Otherwise I would have reported yesterday on what the day had wielded. I have witnessed the beefed-up security at UDSM. As I understood, students seem to be divided over the question whether they want to return to the University courses, despite their protests against the fee-scheme not having resulted in the abolishment of fees. Yesterday's Citizen reported of one staff member who seems to be in support of the student bodies who oppose the current fee(subsidizing) structure. Staff, I hear, is also on principle opposed to security forces on the campus. But many students have now reported back to the university to resume teaching. Needless tho say, that universities are important institutions and I would wish that also poor countries, like Tanzania, can have a strong environment for university teaching.
Myself I have not yet contributed much to that. I hope, to do some of this as from today, when - hopefully in posession of my research clearance papers - can do research.
Ah, yes, the evening I spent speaking to doctor Leena Pasanen, from Ilembula Lutheran hospital. Very interesting to see a comparative experience to St. Francis in Ifakara. Very interesting also to see this very dedicated church/mission doctor of today. Her publications, seem to be quite well known (I have not checked this yet).
p.s.: Leena Pasanen on who page:
http://www.who.int/world-health-day/previous/2006/doctors/fin/en/index.html
Greetings from Dar es Salaam, m
Myself I have not yet contributed much to that. I hope, to do some of this as from today, when - hopefully in posession of my research clearance papers - can do research.
Ah, yes, the evening I spent speaking to doctor Leena Pasanen, from Ilembula Lutheran hospital. Very interesting to see a comparative experience to St. Francis in Ifakara. Very interesting also to see this very dedicated church/mission doctor of today. Her publications, seem to be quite well known (I have not checked this yet).
p.s.: Leena Pasanen on who page:
http://www.who.int/world-health-day/previous/2006/doctors/fin/en/index.html
Greetings from Dar es Salaam, m
Donnerstag, 22. Januar 2009
Dar es Salaam I
This is the time to be more active in the blog. Here it comes:
I write while there is no electricity, only to those, like me, happy enough to be at a place where the power generator, driven by dieselpower, produces noise and electricity in abundance. So things run smoothly, if you are lucky, and can afford.
This research stay will hopefully lead me to a lot of knowledge on the history of health and healthservices in Tanzania. However, I want to write about other things as well. As the power can go off any minute - i suspect the generator does not run for my blogging but to assure cools sleeping conditions for other guests (their aircon struggling with the generator for the noisiest machine in the block), please be not surprised if this message suddenly ...
I write while there is no electricity, only to those, like me, happy enough to be at a place where the power generator, driven by dieselpower, produces noise and electricity in abundance. So things run smoothly, if you are lucky, and can afford.
This research stay will hopefully lead me to a lot of knowledge on the history of health and healthservices in Tanzania. However, I want to write about other things as well. As the power can go off any minute - i suspect the generator does not run for my blogging but to assure cools sleeping conditions for other guests (their aircon struggling with the generator for the noisiest machine in the block), please be not surprised if this message suddenly ...
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