In recent years, the art world has seen much evolution, chief of this is the advent of the Black ... more In recent years, the art world has seen much evolution, chief of this is the advent of the Black Postmodern Artist. In February 2018, Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald unveiled the official presidential portraits for Barack and Michelle Obama, taking the world by storm because of the painting’s unusual style and the number of ‘firsts’ surrounding it. Kehinde became the first African American Artist to paint the first African American president, the painting itself the first Postmodern work to be introduced to such a formal political scene. This sudden spotlight on black postmodern artists creates an opportunity for discussion and analysis of the ‘postmodern’ art world as a space where contemporary African art - developed within the local (indigenous) and international (Western and European) African context can exist. To do so, the paper highlights two key works, Kehinde Wiley’s, Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps, Oil on canvas, 108” × 108”, and Sanford Biggers’ Laocoön, a conceptual art piece.
The Millennium Development Goal 5.A. advocates for the reduction, by three-quarters of the matern... more The Millennium Development Goal 5.A. advocates for the reduction, by three-quarters of the maternal mortality ratio between 1990 and 2015. Similarly, Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 also stresses the need to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
It is against this backdrop that the Kenyan government in June 2013, introduced a free maternal healthcare service policy accessible in all public hospitals, that saw all women covered for prenatal, delivery (both C-section and normal delivery) and postnatal care(up to 6 months after delivery). This policy dubbed ‘Linda Mama’, has since increased uptake of skilled maternal services by 22% and has had a significant impact in reducing pregnancy-related mortalities particularly in rural areas.
The maternal mortality rate has since seen a decline from 488 per 100,000 live births in 2008-2009 to 362 in 2014, which has been attributed to policy interventions by the Linda Mama program.
However, based on information examined by this report, Linda Mama has not been fully effective with dealing with the scourge of maternal deaths, with mothers - especially from rural areas and urban poor being unable to access the services. There is also stress on the primary healthcare system, which does not have the infrastructure and trained healthcare personnel to adequately serve these mothers. This has contributed to out of pocket payments (OOPs ), deprecated healthcare services, and non-compliance with health regulations throughout the country. The Botton line is that although the Linda Mama program removed cost as a deterrent to healthcare access, it did not focus on creating sustainable infrastructural changes.
This report’s primary objective is to define a new strategy for maternal mortality prevention. Our approach will be based on interventions drawn that have continually proven effective in their potential to save lives. It sets out a 7 step plan that targets key upstream and downstream areas with a specific focus on awareness, capacity building and infrastructure to ensure short and long term solutions for maternal mortalities in Kenya.
Does Caitlyn Jenner abuse beauty as a tool to attain femininity? Formerly Bruce Jenner Jenner - ... more Does Caitlyn Jenner abuse beauty as a tool to attain femininity? Formerly Bruce Jenner Jenner - Caitlyn, has set of waves in social media from her cover of the Vanity Fair, July 2015 edition. Jenner in the shoot by Buzz Bissinger and Annie Leibovitz makes a seemingly bold move to declare her female agency in front of the whole world. Having received criticism mainly from religious groups and a mixed reaction from the general public, she has risen as a popular icon of freedom, and beauty. Her ties with popular icons, the Kardashians, have almost solidified her position as a figure in modern pop culture, and a leading figure for LGBTQ rights world over. However, in her efforts of brevity in publicizing her feminine status, many believe that Caitlyn, has lost a grip on what the true definition of feminine beauty is. And that instead of using it to highlight her identity as a woman, she has used it as the main reason to justify her womanhood, and done so for her own benefit. This discourse seeks to analyze the means Caitlyn has through beauty, deceived the world about who she really is, only to gain fame and recognition.
The trending Bodyform hashtag #livefearless. birthed during a slew of feminist empowering adverts... more The trending Bodyform hashtag #livefearless. birthed during a slew of feminist empowering adverts has sent waves through the beauty industry and consumers for its use of what appears to be blood in a sanitary pad advert. Bodyform's advert features several women playing sports and generally being physically active yet ignoring the fact that they are bleeding. Consequently, the ad has spurred debate concerning use of feminism in advertising to promote products (in this case sanitary towels) and bring consciousness to the fact that such depictions may be watering down the effect of empowerment that they seek to elicit. This problem becomes inherently clear when Bodyform's bold #livefearless ad is contrasted to similar movements – specifically Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty (CFRB) whose main aim was to celebrate natural differences in women's body types and inspire confidence with how they look. The stark contrast between these two movements show that they differ in their portrayal of beauty, focus on issues, and commitment level, all of which play a role in the success of acceptance by society. The assertion for this comparison is that Bodyform's #livefearless was more successful in empowering women (by changing the censorship of issues concerning women's periods to a view that should be understood and discussed) because of their portrayal of the physical and social aspect of beauty, focus on pre-existing issues and overall credibility.
41.312096, -72.927003. Unlisted on Google Maps, and tucked in an almost obscure corner of Cross C... more 41.312096, -72.927003. Unlisted on Google Maps, and tucked in an almost obscure corner of Cross Campus, the Book and Snake Tomb is a hidden fortress that serves as the base for one of the three most prominent secret societies at Yale -the Book and Snake guild. The Tomb mirrors the classic Greek Temple through the prominence of its four Ionic columns at its entrance, use of marble, post and lintel, raised base and reverent symmetry). However, both the function and to some extent the building’s physical markers serve to show that the Tomb does not fully mirror the neoclassical style and is the style’s intended theme.
Yvonne’s exhibition feels like a concerted effort to experiment with the construction of dance as... more Yvonne’s exhibition feels like a concerted effort to experiment with the construction of dance as a performance art. Right of the bat, from the order the pieces follow, there is an effort to take apart and put together the physical aspects of dance, and the expectation f the parties involved (the author, dancer and the audience). For example, ‘We shall Run’ offers an introduction of the conventional dance: the score, the dancer, the meticulous choreography which is later counteracted by the improvisation that occurs in a later piece - ‘Diagonal’. The latter appears to be the antithesis of the former piece. Where ‘We shall Run’ features intentional pre-constructed choreography and a sense of meticulousness, ‘Diagonal’ contrasts with spontaneity, taking the reins out of Rainer’s hand and giving the dancer the agency to improvise and influence the piece itself, together with other dancers involved in the same piece, in this case becoming the ‘author ‘themselves. The overall effect in ‘Diagonal’ is the creation of a piece that feels unique and unrepeatable.
My work is often an attempt to communicate my identity to other people. Sounds complex? Let me ex... more My work is often an attempt to communicate my identity to other people. Sounds complex? Let me explain. I do a lot of work across different media, from paintings to digital animation, intermedia and even the creation of musical scores. Most of my work focuses on the expression of identity: that which is defined by the self and that which is perceived by other people. Like most people on this planet (I hope?) I have a sincere need to have my work validated by an external audience. They might not necessarily need to be art connoisseurs, but there is almost always an expectation that the audience will recognize my theme. Quite often, this results in scenarios where I fail.
The Graphical novel is a literary form that has existed in Africa more prominently in the last 50... more The Graphical novel is a literary form that has existed in Africa more prominently in the last 50 years in predominantly Francophone countries. They were initially widely circulated in countries like Congo, Ivory Coast, DRC, Gabon such as Life of Pahe, Aya of Yop City and Mandrill (Africa Arts, 2007). Since its inception in the 1890’s the graphic novel and comic as a literally form has evolved, both with the help of scientific treatment and a rise in intellectual readership. Although still looked down on as an inferior literary form, studies in graphic novels and comics have seen an increase both in their quality and the source material being studied. In Comparison to its Western counterparts, the comic and Graphic novel industry is somewhat young and can be termed as ‘negligible’. However, this paper, pooling source material from select countries throughout Africa (to create large enough source material) seeks to investigate the nature of this literary form (African contemporary graphic novels and comics) and analyze it comparatively to the conventional contemporary fictional, African literary novel.
Embrace Innovations seems to still be a functioning entity (they have a running website -).Furthe... more Embrace Innovations seems to still be a functioning entity (they have a running website -).Further investigation, especially from information on Wikipedia and the Skoll foundation statesthat the impact of Embrace can be quantified as having assisted 300,000 babies in 22 countries todate 1 . According to their website, Embrace are retailing their Embrace Nest product which is 1 The informaton was obained from heEmbrace Innovatons websie -hps://www.embraceinnovatons.com/#producs however, I was hard pressed o nd oher daa sources havalidae his informaton
currently on sale through a third-party medical provider called Phoenix Medical Systems. Their base model – the Embrace Infant Warmer Starter Pack currently retails at $406 2 .Embrace also seemed to have reached into the development of another consumer product calledLittle Lotus, a swaddling product that aims to keep babies at an ideal temperature. This productseems geared mostly towards the US market. 3 The product seems geared to increase sales aswell as create support and awareness for the Embrace Warmer, with Embrace mentioning thatsales of the Little Lotus will generate proceeds that go to providing Embrace Warmers tovulnerable mothers all over the world.
Samasource is a Business Processing Outsourcing company (BPO). The core of its business issubcon... more Samasource is a Business Processing Outsourcing company (BPO). The core of its business issubcontracting specific parts of a business work chain of other companies to other providers.Samasource is a special interest BPO in this case as it practices impact sourcing. Essentially, as itseeks to identify key elements of partner companies that can be outsourced at an entry level toAfrican individuals in needy situations with access to a digital interface (Computers).Its business model functions to empower by giving work in exchange for capital effectively reducing poverty (social impact) as well as reliance of handouts. Samasource also aims to alongthis process, equip their work force with skills that allow them to be placed from more skilled jobs (impact sourcing)
In the early 2000’s the government of Kenya set up many public policy reform initiatives aimed at... more In the early 2000’s the government of Kenya set up many public policy reform initiatives aimed at boosting the country’s growth. In 2004, the country set out to implement public policy changes in agriculture under the Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture (SRA). This public policy change was in line with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) that Kenya had committed to with several other African countries to ensure the growth of the agricultural industry. However, almost a decade later, this initiative saw very little actualization in contrast to several other countries in the agreement: Rwanda, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia. This was primarily due to the effects of a switch from reformation politics to clientelistic ones following the unraveling of the incumbent political coalition, NARC after the 2002 elections. Finally, this paper argues that the success/failure of policies lies in their ability to adapt and align themselves with the clientelistic democratic system that exists in Kenya.
This paper seeks to disprove the claim that elections enable voters to hold governments to accoun... more This paper seeks to disprove the claim that elections enable voters to hold governments to account in Africa. Firstly, it seeks to analyse how and why the election process has failed to hold African governments accountable as well as its democratic functions have been hindered. It investigates what is currently being done to jeopardize or negatively influence the electoral process and the effects of these activities on the democracy levels of a country with its focus being on clientelism and neopatrimonialism. The paper will also explore the role of the voter in terms of their mindset and approach to the electoral process. In the last part the paper touches on existing and forward thinking solutions that would solve the issues affecting elections and refine it as a means of producing accountable leaders.
Zambia is often acknowledged as the rubric of a successful African democracy, evidenced by the co... more Zambia is often acknowledged as the rubric of a successful African democracy, evidenced by the consistent yet peaceful handing over of power between alternating opposition and ruling parties and free and fair elections. Politics are usually centered around strong political figures in parties, who enjoy almost unconditional support from their members. This discourse will explore this trait of person-centric politics in regard to the handing over of power, and how the death of these political figures i.e. the president affects party loyalty and strength. The paper seeks to answer the following questions: what is the nature of party politics in Zambia? What is the effect of this kind of politics on the party itself? How does it affect the democratic process on a national level?
This paper will focus on analyzing two case studies: the growth of Bt Cotton in Burkina Faso and ... more This paper will focus on analyzing two case studies: the growth of Bt Cotton in Burkina Faso and MON810 Bt maize to see whether or not GMOs are a plausible solution to African agricultural crises. The paper’s aim is to establish that the use of GMOs is not effective as far as improving crop yields and ensuring food security is concerned. The paper also analyses the risks that these GMOs pose to both the environment and consumers of these products, and seeks to establish alternative/better ways of addressing the African agricultural crises.
Sullivan's Elevator ornament - The most fundamental element and the key identification marker of... more Sullivan's Elevator ornament - The most fundamental element and the key identification marker of the ornament as ‘Sullivanesque’ is the seed germ configuration that forms its datum. The original form of the ornament – the triangle- is awakened via combining with the ‘seed’ until at last the ornament itself appears plastic and foliated.
Le Corbusier & Charlotte Perriand’s Petit Modele Armchair (LC2) is the most relaxing chair in the... more Le Corbusier & Charlotte Perriand’s Petit Modele Armchair (LC2) is the most relaxing chair in the world to sit on. The furniture design featured Le Corbusier’s signature elevation of the base, expressing his adherence to his first point of architecture by lifting the base of the chair on the piloti-like support which in this case is the expressive metal frame that wraps around this piece. Unlike traditional chairs, the frame of the sofa was located outside the chair itself and was incorporated into its visible design rather than within it. This simple constructed design ensures that the user does not feel the effect of the rigid frame pushing back at them whilst sitting on the chair, thus maximizing the ability of the cushions to relax the user.
The Yale Center for British Art (BAC) is a distinctly Modernist building. However, as Professor E... more The Yale Center for British Art (BAC) is a distinctly Modernist building. However, as Professor Eeva-Lisa Pilkomen pointed out during her lectures (Pelkonen, 2017) that Kahn’s basic design was inspired by earlier architectural works. Take the similarities between Kahn’s original sketches for the interior of the British Art Center (Fig 1.1) and the interior of Duomo of Casale Monferrato (Fig 1.1). The artwork at the BAC's Library Court is mounted at an angle that increases the closer each piece is mounted to the ceiling, simulating the arches that exist in the Duomo. Another case that is presented by Professor Eeva-Lisa is the similarities between the Library Court of the BAC in the second and third floors (Fig 1.2) to that and that of Palazzo Rucelai (Fig 1.3) The courtyard space is surrounded by walls that are twice the height of the adjacent rooms creating a large open public space for viewing art. This paper, however, seeks to establish that a much more accurate and suitable source of inspiration for Kahn’s design was the Hellenized Domus plan of Pompeiian origin (Fig 1.4). The paper also seeks to answer the question of why these similarities exist and seek to list possible explanations as to why Kahn looked to the Hellenized Domus for inspiration in the design of the BAC.
In recent years, the art world has seen much evolution, chief of this is the advent of the Black ... more In recent years, the art world has seen much evolution, chief of this is the advent of the Black Postmodern Artist. In February 2018, Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald unveiled the official presidential portraits for Barack and Michelle Obama, taking the world by storm because of the painting’s unusual style and the number of ‘firsts’ surrounding it. Kehinde became the first African American Artist to paint the first African American president, the painting itself the first Postmodern work to be introduced to such a formal political scene. This sudden spotlight on black postmodern artists creates an opportunity for discussion and analysis of the ‘postmodern’ art world as a space where contemporary African art - developed within the local (indigenous) and international (Western and European) African context can exist. To do so, the paper highlights two key works, Kehinde Wiley’s, Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps, Oil on canvas, 108” × 108”, and Sanford Biggers’ Laocoön, a conceptual art piece.
The Millennium Development Goal 5.A. advocates for the reduction, by three-quarters of the matern... more The Millennium Development Goal 5.A. advocates for the reduction, by three-quarters of the maternal mortality ratio between 1990 and 2015. Similarly, Sustainable Development Goal 3.1 also stresses the need to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births by 2030.
It is against this backdrop that the Kenyan government in June 2013, introduced a free maternal healthcare service policy accessible in all public hospitals, that saw all women covered for prenatal, delivery (both C-section and normal delivery) and postnatal care(up to 6 months after delivery). This policy dubbed ‘Linda Mama’, has since increased uptake of skilled maternal services by 22% and has had a significant impact in reducing pregnancy-related mortalities particularly in rural areas.
The maternal mortality rate has since seen a decline from 488 per 100,000 live births in 2008-2009 to 362 in 2014, which has been attributed to policy interventions by the Linda Mama program.
However, based on information examined by this report, Linda Mama has not been fully effective with dealing with the scourge of maternal deaths, with mothers - especially from rural areas and urban poor being unable to access the services. There is also stress on the primary healthcare system, which does not have the infrastructure and trained healthcare personnel to adequately serve these mothers. This has contributed to out of pocket payments (OOPs ), deprecated healthcare services, and non-compliance with health regulations throughout the country. The Botton line is that although the Linda Mama program removed cost as a deterrent to healthcare access, it did not focus on creating sustainable infrastructural changes.
This report’s primary objective is to define a new strategy for maternal mortality prevention. Our approach will be based on interventions drawn that have continually proven effective in their potential to save lives. It sets out a 7 step plan that targets key upstream and downstream areas with a specific focus on awareness, capacity building and infrastructure to ensure short and long term solutions for maternal mortalities in Kenya.
Does Caitlyn Jenner abuse beauty as a tool to attain femininity? Formerly Bruce Jenner Jenner - ... more Does Caitlyn Jenner abuse beauty as a tool to attain femininity? Formerly Bruce Jenner Jenner - Caitlyn, has set of waves in social media from her cover of the Vanity Fair, July 2015 edition. Jenner in the shoot by Buzz Bissinger and Annie Leibovitz makes a seemingly bold move to declare her female agency in front of the whole world. Having received criticism mainly from religious groups and a mixed reaction from the general public, she has risen as a popular icon of freedom, and beauty. Her ties with popular icons, the Kardashians, have almost solidified her position as a figure in modern pop culture, and a leading figure for LGBTQ rights world over. However, in her efforts of brevity in publicizing her feminine status, many believe that Caitlyn, has lost a grip on what the true definition of feminine beauty is. And that instead of using it to highlight her identity as a woman, she has used it as the main reason to justify her womanhood, and done so for her own benefit. This discourse seeks to analyze the means Caitlyn has through beauty, deceived the world about who she really is, only to gain fame and recognition.
The trending Bodyform hashtag #livefearless. birthed during a slew of feminist empowering adverts... more The trending Bodyform hashtag #livefearless. birthed during a slew of feminist empowering adverts has sent waves through the beauty industry and consumers for its use of what appears to be blood in a sanitary pad advert. Bodyform's advert features several women playing sports and generally being physically active yet ignoring the fact that they are bleeding. Consequently, the ad has spurred debate concerning use of feminism in advertising to promote products (in this case sanitary towels) and bring consciousness to the fact that such depictions may be watering down the effect of empowerment that they seek to elicit. This problem becomes inherently clear when Bodyform's bold #livefearless ad is contrasted to similar movements – specifically Dove's Campaign for Real Beauty (CFRB) whose main aim was to celebrate natural differences in women's body types and inspire confidence with how they look. The stark contrast between these two movements show that they differ in their portrayal of beauty, focus on issues, and commitment level, all of which play a role in the success of acceptance by society. The assertion for this comparison is that Bodyform's #livefearless was more successful in empowering women (by changing the censorship of issues concerning women's periods to a view that should be understood and discussed) because of their portrayal of the physical and social aspect of beauty, focus on pre-existing issues and overall credibility.
41.312096, -72.927003. Unlisted on Google Maps, and tucked in an almost obscure corner of Cross C... more 41.312096, -72.927003. Unlisted on Google Maps, and tucked in an almost obscure corner of Cross Campus, the Book and Snake Tomb is a hidden fortress that serves as the base for one of the three most prominent secret societies at Yale -the Book and Snake guild. The Tomb mirrors the classic Greek Temple through the prominence of its four Ionic columns at its entrance, use of marble, post and lintel, raised base and reverent symmetry). However, both the function and to some extent the building’s physical markers serve to show that the Tomb does not fully mirror the neoclassical style and is the style’s intended theme.
Yvonne’s exhibition feels like a concerted effort to experiment with the construction of dance as... more Yvonne’s exhibition feels like a concerted effort to experiment with the construction of dance as a performance art. Right of the bat, from the order the pieces follow, there is an effort to take apart and put together the physical aspects of dance, and the expectation f the parties involved (the author, dancer and the audience). For example, ‘We shall Run’ offers an introduction of the conventional dance: the score, the dancer, the meticulous choreography which is later counteracted by the improvisation that occurs in a later piece - ‘Diagonal’. The latter appears to be the antithesis of the former piece. Where ‘We shall Run’ features intentional pre-constructed choreography and a sense of meticulousness, ‘Diagonal’ contrasts with spontaneity, taking the reins out of Rainer’s hand and giving the dancer the agency to improvise and influence the piece itself, together with other dancers involved in the same piece, in this case becoming the ‘author ‘themselves. The overall effect in ‘Diagonal’ is the creation of a piece that feels unique and unrepeatable.
My work is often an attempt to communicate my identity to other people. Sounds complex? Let me ex... more My work is often an attempt to communicate my identity to other people. Sounds complex? Let me explain. I do a lot of work across different media, from paintings to digital animation, intermedia and even the creation of musical scores. Most of my work focuses on the expression of identity: that which is defined by the self and that which is perceived by other people. Like most people on this planet (I hope?) I have a sincere need to have my work validated by an external audience. They might not necessarily need to be art connoisseurs, but there is almost always an expectation that the audience will recognize my theme. Quite often, this results in scenarios where I fail.
The Graphical novel is a literary form that has existed in Africa more prominently in the last 50... more The Graphical novel is a literary form that has existed in Africa more prominently in the last 50 years in predominantly Francophone countries. They were initially widely circulated in countries like Congo, Ivory Coast, DRC, Gabon such as Life of Pahe, Aya of Yop City and Mandrill (Africa Arts, 2007). Since its inception in the 1890’s the graphic novel and comic as a literally form has evolved, both with the help of scientific treatment and a rise in intellectual readership. Although still looked down on as an inferior literary form, studies in graphic novels and comics have seen an increase both in their quality and the source material being studied. In Comparison to its Western counterparts, the comic and Graphic novel industry is somewhat young and can be termed as ‘negligible’. However, this paper, pooling source material from select countries throughout Africa (to create large enough source material) seeks to investigate the nature of this literary form (African contemporary graphic novels and comics) and analyze it comparatively to the conventional contemporary fictional, African literary novel.
Embrace Innovations seems to still be a functioning entity (they have a running website -).Furthe... more Embrace Innovations seems to still be a functioning entity (they have a running website -).Further investigation, especially from information on Wikipedia and the Skoll foundation statesthat the impact of Embrace can be quantified as having assisted 300,000 babies in 22 countries todate 1 . According to their website, Embrace are retailing their Embrace Nest product which is 1 The informaton was obained from heEmbrace Innovatons websie -hps://www.embraceinnovatons.com/#producs however, I was hard pressed o nd oher daa sources havalidae his informaton
currently on sale through a third-party medical provider called Phoenix Medical Systems. Their base model – the Embrace Infant Warmer Starter Pack currently retails at $406 2 .Embrace also seemed to have reached into the development of another consumer product calledLittle Lotus, a swaddling product that aims to keep babies at an ideal temperature. This productseems geared mostly towards the US market. 3 The product seems geared to increase sales aswell as create support and awareness for the Embrace Warmer, with Embrace mentioning thatsales of the Little Lotus will generate proceeds that go to providing Embrace Warmers tovulnerable mothers all over the world.
Samasource is a Business Processing Outsourcing company (BPO). The core of its business issubcon... more Samasource is a Business Processing Outsourcing company (BPO). The core of its business issubcontracting specific parts of a business work chain of other companies to other providers.Samasource is a special interest BPO in this case as it practices impact sourcing. Essentially, as itseeks to identify key elements of partner companies that can be outsourced at an entry level toAfrican individuals in needy situations with access to a digital interface (Computers).Its business model functions to empower by giving work in exchange for capital effectively reducing poverty (social impact) as well as reliance of handouts. Samasource also aims to alongthis process, equip their work force with skills that allow them to be placed from more skilled jobs (impact sourcing)
In the early 2000’s the government of Kenya set up many public policy reform initiatives aimed at... more In the early 2000’s the government of Kenya set up many public policy reform initiatives aimed at boosting the country’s growth. In 2004, the country set out to implement public policy changes in agriculture under the Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture (SRA). This public policy change was in line with the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) that Kenya had committed to with several other African countries to ensure the growth of the agricultural industry. However, almost a decade later, this initiative saw very little actualization in contrast to several other countries in the agreement: Rwanda, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia. This was primarily due to the effects of a switch from reformation politics to clientelistic ones following the unraveling of the incumbent political coalition, NARC after the 2002 elections. Finally, this paper argues that the success/failure of policies lies in their ability to adapt and align themselves with the clientelistic democratic system that exists in Kenya.
This paper seeks to disprove the claim that elections enable voters to hold governments to accoun... more This paper seeks to disprove the claim that elections enable voters to hold governments to account in Africa. Firstly, it seeks to analyse how and why the election process has failed to hold African governments accountable as well as its democratic functions have been hindered. It investigates what is currently being done to jeopardize or negatively influence the electoral process and the effects of these activities on the democracy levels of a country with its focus being on clientelism and neopatrimonialism. The paper will also explore the role of the voter in terms of their mindset and approach to the electoral process. In the last part the paper touches on existing and forward thinking solutions that would solve the issues affecting elections and refine it as a means of producing accountable leaders.
Zambia is often acknowledged as the rubric of a successful African democracy, evidenced by the co... more Zambia is often acknowledged as the rubric of a successful African democracy, evidenced by the consistent yet peaceful handing over of power between alternating opposition and ruling parties and free and fair elections. Politics are usually centered around strong political figures in parties, who enjoy almost unconditional support from their members. This discourse will explore this trait of person-centric politics in regard to the handing over of power, and how the death of these political figures i.e. the president affects party loyalty and strength. The paper seeks to answer the following questions: what is the nature of party politics in Zambia? What is the effect of this kind of politics on the party itself? How does it affect the democratic process on a national level?
This paper will focus on analyzing two case studies: the growth of Bt Cotton in Burkina Faso and ... more This paper will focus on analyzing two case studies: the growth of Bt Cotton in Burkina Faso and MON810 Bt maize to see whether or not GMOs are a plausible solution to African agricultural crises. The paper’s aim is to establish that the use of GMOs is not effective as far as improving crop yields and ensuring food security is concerned. The paper also analyses the risks that these GMOs pose to both the environment and consumers of these products, and seeks to establish alternative/better ways of addressing the African agricultural crises.
Sullivan's Elevator ornament - The most fundamental element and the key identification marker of... more Sullivan's Elevator ornament - The most fundamental element and the key identification marker of the ornament as ‘Sullivanesque’ is the seed germ configuration that forms its datum. The original form of the ornament – the triangle- is awakened via combining with the ‘seed’ until at last the ornament itself appears plastic and foliated.
Le Corbusier & Charlotte Perriand’s Petit Modele Armchair (LC2) is the most relaxing chair in the... more Le Corbusier & Charlotte Perriand’s Petit Modele Armchair (LC2) is the most relaxing chair in the world to sit on. The furniture design featured Le Corbusier’s signature elevation of the base, expressing his adherence to his first point of architecture by lifting the base of the chair on the piloti-like support which in this case is the expressive metal frame that wraps around this piece. Unlike traditional chairs, the frame of the sofa was located outside the chair itself and was incorporated into its visible design rather than within it. This simple constructed design ensures that the user does not feel the effect of the rigid frame pushing back at them whilst sitting on the chair, thus maximizing the ability of the cushions to relax the user.
The Yale Center for British Art (BAC) is a distinctly Modernist building. However, as Professor E... more The Yale Center for British Art (BAC) is a distinctly Modernist building. However, as Professor Eeva-Lisa Pilkomen pointed out during her lectures (Pelkonen, 2017) that Kahn’s basic design was inspired by earlier architectural works. Take the similarities between Kahn’s original sketches for the interior of the British Art Center (Fig 1.1) and the interior of Duomo of Casale Monferrato (Fig 1.1). The artwork at the BAC's Library Court is mounted at an angle that increases the closer each piece is mounted to the ceiling, simulating the arches that exist in the Duomo. Another case that is presented by Professor Eeva-Lisa is the similarities between the Library Court of the BAC in the second and third floors (Fig 1.2) to that and that of Palazzo Rucelai (Fig 1.3) The courtyard space is surrounded by walls that are twice the height of the adjacent rooms creating a large open public space for viewing art. This paper, however, seeks to establish that a much more accurate and suitable source of inspiration for Kahn’s design was the Hellenized Domus plan of Pompeiian origin (Fig 1.4). The paper also seeks to answer the question of why these similarities exist and seek to list possible explanations as to why Kahn looked to the Hellenized Domus for inspiration in the design of the BAC.
Uploads
Papers by Bella khoo
This sudden spotlight on black postmodern artists creates an opportunity for discussion and analysis of the ‘postmodern’ art world as a space where contemporary African art - developed within the local (indigenous) and international (Western and European) African context can exist. To do so, the paper highlights two key works, Kehinde Wiley’s, Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps, Oil on canvas, 108” × 108”, and Sanford Biggers’ Laocoön, a conceptual art piece.
It is against this backdrop that the Kenyan government in June 2013, introduced a free maternal healthcare service policy accessible in all public hospitals, that saw all women covered for prenatal, delivery (both C-section and normal delivery) and postnatal care(up to 6 months after delivery). This policy dubbed ‘Linda Mama’, has since increased uptake of skilled maternal services by 22% and has had a significant impact in reducing pregnancy-related mortalities particularly in rural areas.
The maternal mortality rate has since seen a decline from 488 per 100,000 live births in 2008-2009 to 362 in 2014, which has been attributed to policy interventions by the Linda Mama program.
However, based on information examined by this report, Linda Mama has not been fully effective with dealing with the scourge of maternal deaths, with mothers - especially from rural areas and urban poor being unable to access the services. There is also stress on the primary healthcare system, which does not have the infrastructure and trained healthcare personnel to adequately serve these mothers. This has contributed to out of pocket payments (OOPs ), deprecated healthcare services, and non-compliance with health regulations throughout the country. The Botton line is that although the Linda Mama program removed cost as a deterrent to healthcare access, it did not focus on creating sustainable infrastructural changes.
This report’s primary objective is to define a new strategy for maternal mortality prevention. Our approach will be based on interventions
drawn that have continually proven effective in their potential to save lives. It sets out a 7 step plan that targets key upstream and downstream areas with a specific focus on awareness, capacity building and infrastructure to ensure short and long term solutions for maternal mortalities in Kenya.
Arts, 2007). Since its inception in the 1890’s the graphic novel and comic as a literally form has evolved, both with the help of scientific treatment and a rise in intellectual readership. Although still looked down on as an inferior literary form, studies in graphic novels and comics have seen an increase both in their quality and the source material being studied. In Comparison to its Western counterparts, the comic and Graphic novel industry is somewhat young and can be termed as ‘negligible’. However, this paper, pooling source material from select countries throughout Africa (to create large enough source material) seeks to investigate the nature of this literary form (African contemporary graphic novels and comics) and analyze it comparatively to the conventional contemporary fictional, African literary novel.
1
. According to their website, Embrace are retailing their Embrace Nest product which is
1
The informaton was obained from heEmbrace Innovatons websie -hps://www.embraceinnovatons.com/#producs however, I was hard pressed o nd oher daa sources havalidae his informaton
currently on sale through a third-party medical provider called Phoenix Medical Systems. Their base model – the Embrace Infant Warmer Starter Pack currently retails at $406
2
.Embrace also seemed to have reached into the development of another consumer product calledLittle Lotus, a swaddling product that aims to keep babies at an ideal temperature. This productseems geared mostly towards the US market.
3
The product seems geared to increase sales aswell as create support and awareness for the Embrace Warmer, with Embrace mentioning thatsales of the Little Lotus will generate proceeds that go to providing Embrace Warmers tovulnerable mothers all over the world.
However, almost a decade later, this initiative saw very little actualization in contrast to several other countries in the agreement: Rwanda, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia. This was primarily due to the effects of a switch from reformation politics to clientelistic ones following the unraveling of the incumbent political coalition, NARC after the 2002 elections. Finally, this paper argues that the success/failure of policies lies in their ability to adapt and align themselves with the clientelistic democratic system that exists in Kenya.
This sudden spotlight on black postmodern artists creates an opportunity for discussion and analysis of the ‘postmodern’ art world as a space where contemporary African art - developed within the local (indigenous) and international (Western and European) African context can exist. To do so, the paper highlights two key works, Kehinde Wiley’s, Napoleon Leading the Army over the Alps, Oil on canvas, 108” × 108”, and Sanford Biggers’ Laocoön, a conceptual art piece.
It is against this backdrop that the Kenyan government in June 2013, introduced a free maternal healthcare service policy accessible in all public hospitals, that saw all women covered for prenatal, delivery (both C-section and normal delivery) and postnatal care(up to 6 months after delivery). This policy dubbed ‘Linda Mama’, has since increased uptake of skilled maternal services by 22% and has had a significant impact in reducing pregnancy-related mortalities particularly in rural areas.
The maternal mortality rate has since seen a decline from 488 per 100,000 live births in 2008-2009 to 362 in 2014, which has been attributed to policy interventions by the Linda Mama program.
However, based on information examined by this report, Linda Mama has not been fully effective with dealing with the scourge of maternal deaths, with mothers - especially from rural areas and urban poor being unable to access the services. There is also stress on the primary healthcare system, which does not have the infrastructure and trained healthcare personnel to adequately serve these mothers. This has contributed to out of pocket payments (OOPs ), deprecated healthcare services, and non-compliance with health regulations throughout the country. The Botton line is that although the Linda Mama program removed cost as a deterrent to healthcare access, it did not focus on creating sustainable infrastructural changes.
This report’s primary objective is to define a new strategy for maternal mortality prevention. Our approach will be based on interventions
drawn that have continually proven effective in their potential to save lives. It sets out a 7 step plan that targets key upstream and downstream areas with a specific focus on awareness, capacity building and infrastructure to ensure short and long term solutions for maternal mortalities in Kenya.
Arts, 2007). Since its inception in the 1890’s the graphic novel and comic as a literally form has evolved, both with the help of scientific treatment and a rise in intellectual readership. Although still looked down on as an inferior literary form, studies in graphic novels and comics have seen an increase both in their quality and the source material being studied. In Comparison to its Western counterparts, the comic and Graphic novel industry is somewhat young and can be termed as ‘negligible’. However, this paper, pooling source material from select countries throughout Africa (to create large enough source material) seeks to investigate the nature of this literary form (African contemporary graphic novels and comics) and analyze it comparatively to the conventional contemporary fictional, African literary novel.
1
. According to their website, Embrace are retailing their Embrace Nest product which is
1
The informaton was obained from heEmbrace Innovatons websie -hps://www.embraceinnovatons.com/#producs however, I was hard pressed o nd oher daa sources havalidae his informaton
currently on sale through a third-party medical provider called Phoenix Medical Systems. Their base model – the Embrace Infant Warmer Starter Pack currently retails at $406
2
.Embrace also seemed to have reached into the development of another consumer product calledLittle Lotus, a swaddling product that aims to keep babies at an ideal temperature. This productseems geared mostly towards the US market.
3
The product seems geared to increase sales aswell as create support and awareness for the Embrace Warmer, with Embrace mentioning thatsales of the Little Lotus will generate proceeds that go to providing Embrace Warmers tovulnerable mothers all over the world.
However, almost a decade later, this initiative saw very little actualization in contrast to several other countries in the agreement: Rwanda, Burkina Faso, and Ethiopia. This was primarily due to the effects of a switch from reformation politics to clientelistic ones following the unraveling of the incumbent political coalition, NARC after the 2002 elections. Finally, this paper argues that the success/failure of policies lies in their ability to adapt and align themselves with the clientelistic democratic system that exists in Kenya.