Journal of African Studies
Online ISSN : 1884-5533
Print ISSN : 0065-4140
ISSN-L : 0065-4140
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Volume 2014, Issue 85
Displaying 1-8 of 8 articles from this issue
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Articles
  • Settlement and Transnational Movement among African Migrants in Japan:
    Through the Case Study on Economic Activities among the Igbos from Nigeria
    Hisashi MATSUMOTO
    Article type: Articles
    2014 Volume 2014 Issue 85 Pages 1-12
    Published: December 31, 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: February 06, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11619/africa.2014.85_1
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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    In this article, the author explores economic activities among African migrants living in Japan. Through the life stories of five Igbo migrants who came from Nigeria and stayed in Japan more than fifteen years, the author will show the tendency of diversification and transnationalization of their economic activities, and analyzes the relationship between settlement and transnational movement among them.  According to the Immigration Bureau, about twelve thousands Africans are now living in Japan. This number constitutes only 0.6 percent of total population of foreign residents with legal permission. Among African migrants, Nigerian has biggest population and their majority are the Igbos who are one of major ethnic groups in Nigeria.  Many Igbo migrants start their careers as non-permanent workers. However, these are only one aspect of their economic lives. Rather than concentrate on a single activity, they tend to found various businesses and diversify their economic activities. Moreover the diversification of their economic activities occurs not only in Japan, but also in home country and elsewhere. They diversify their economic activities and expand it transnationally.  These tendencies are related to a growing population of long term residents and elderly people among them. The phenomena like the marriage with Japanese, and the application for the permanent residency, can be seen as the tokens of settlement. However, the author will show these phenomena are rather the moments for Igbo migrants to promote transnational movement.
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Note
  • Current Status of Pico Hydro Power Systems based on the Spontaneous Initiatives in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania
    Ryugo KUROSAKI, Teppei OKAMURA, Juichi ITANI
    Article type: Note
    2014 Volume 2014 Issue 85 Pages 13-21
    Published: December 31, 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: February 06, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11619/africa.2014.85_13
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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    It is indispensable to learn from people's proactive approach for supporting endogenous development. The purpose of this article is to clarify the people's effort to develop pico hydro power (PHP) in the southern highlands, Tanzania. In Tanzania, about 80% of total population reside in non-electrified area and most of them are in rural areas. Even in rural areas, people need electricity for electric lighting, radios, education, government service management, medical service, charging mobile phones and etc. This study investigates PHP systems with installed capacities between tens of watts and some kilo watts. Although the generating capacities of PHP system are small, they contribute to creating economic opportunities and vitalization of rural life in several aspects. Owners of PHP systems are not expert of PHP development but such people as smallholders, teacher and part-time carpenters. Their works are based on information gained from neighboring Christian missions or artisans who have experience in PHP. They started with their small fund gained from farming or carpenter's job. Their successes have come from years of trial and error. Their PHP systems are often composed of used materials and constructed with cheap expenditures. This means these PHP systems are fully guaranteed with sustainability and possible replication in rural areas. It is important to point out that PHP can meet the contemporary socioeconomic needs by applying the technology available in rural areas. It is also worth noting that PHP may induce endogenous rural development by promoting the collaboration among residents especially for protection of fluvial environments.
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  • Why isn't Decentralization Substantially Promoted in Tanzania?
    Yoshio AIZAWA
    Article type: Note
    2014 Volume 2014 Issue 85 Pages 23-31
    Published: December 31, 2014
    Released on J-STAGE: February 06, 2015
    DOIhttps://doi.org/10.11619/africa.2014.85_23
    JOURNAL FREE ACCESS
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    This article discusses administrative and political factors hindering promotion of decentralization in Tanzania. Decentralization in Tanzania has not been promoted substantially to date although it has initiated the local government reform in the late 90's. The central administration still has a great influence over financial and human resource managements in Local Government Authorities (LGAs). Due to the situation, LGAs cannot be fully supportive to local autonomy.  To promote decentralization, legal harmonization is inevitable. However, it has not yet made significant progress over years. Moreover, a political initiative of the predominant-party down to village level in Tanzania is not necessarily in conformity with the current decentralization initiative. LGAs have no choice but to comply with the current situation to some extent although they are supposed to be the central actors of promoting local autonomy. To promote local autonomy, LGAs are thus expected to be innovative in its discretion so as to strengthen a basis of forthcoming decentralization.
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