Patrolling Epistemic Borders in a World of Borderless Pandemics: Epistemological Policemen in Covid-19 Afflicted 21st Century

Description

The global epistemological gendarmerie do not only police epistemologies but they also infect the world with infectious epidemics of laughter targeted at those people whose epistemologies are offhandedly condemned as sterile and useless in controlling and containing pandemics. Patrolling epistemic borders in ways that demobilise indigenous epistemologies, the global epistemological policemen have ironically managed to prevent "transgressive" epistemologies from crossing borders but they have fatally failed to prevent the transgressive COVID-19 from recurrently crossing borders, be they bodily, national or continental. Brandishing fetishised degree and diploma certificates, African comprador academics, who are more interested in fetishised ranks and titles than in creativity and innovation, have also fatally failed to help African communities by producing vaccines for Africans by Africans. Arguing that Eurocentric epistemologies have become sterile fetishes, the book contends that such epistemologies have disabled African scholars from actively producing vaccines on a continent where there are paradoxically more epidemics of mimetic laughter than there are efforts at creativity and innovation. The book is useful for scholars in sociology, anthropology, development studies, languages and communication, natural sciences, historical studies and social work. Cover Title page Copyright page About the Contributors Contents Preface: COVID-19 Letter to the President Preface Chapter 1 - Kupembedza N’anga Inobata Amai? Conceptualising Global Epistemological Policemen - A Decolonial Introduction Introduction Policing epistemologies in the world of conspiracies Dual-use research, technology and questions of knowledge and ignorance Chapter outlines References Chapter 2 - COVID-19 Vaccine Invention and Ignorant Experts in African Universities: A Critique of Epistemic Hegemony and Intellectual Begging Introduction Universities in Africa for Africans Intellectual begging as an intellectual meningitis Epistemic hegemony: Production of ignorant experts as progenies of intellectual begging An Afrocentric critique and corrective Epistemic freedom: The necessity for medical inventions in universities for Africa Conclusion References Chapter 3 - Cultural Imperialism, Indigenous Health Delivery Systems and COVID-19 Vaccination Scepticism in Zimbabwe Introduction Cultural imperialism corrupts African societies Methodology Rhodesians, disinformation, misinformation and distortions Vaccine is politically motivated Traditional medicines under the couch Appraisal of traditional medicines Conclusion References Chapter 4 - Mediating Indigenous and Western Knowledge Systems in the COVID-19 Response: Lessons from Selected African Countries Introduction Unpacking the concept of IKS Indigenous knowledge as a science The nexus between African IKS and western epistemologies Indigenous people navigating the COVID-19 terrain Decolonising knowledge systems: using IKS in the management of COVID-19 Towards a holistic IKS health model for COVID-19 Conclusion References Chapter 5 - The Efficacy and Effectiveness of New COVID-19 Vaccines to the Old, New and Yet Unknown Variants: A Tale of Too Many Unknowns Introduction Vaccines as a potential solution to COVID-19 Side effects of vaccines The everchanging face of the virus The cost of the new COVID-19 variants Final thoughts References Chapter 6 - Beshamupengo or Dzihwamupengo (COVID-19) and the Rebirth of African Medicine Introduction History of medicine in Africa Colonisation, diseases and medicine Vaccines, curing difficult diseases in Africa Researching diseases in Africa Taking a tough stance against medical capitalism Way forward? Conclusion References Chapter 7 - “Experts” and the COVID-19 Pandemic: Epistemic Responsibilities in Researching, Manufacturing and Supplying of COVID-19 Vaccines in Africa Introduction Efficacy of African epistemologies: Capacity to research, manufacture and supply COVID-19 vaccines Capacity to manufacture and supply COVID-19 vaccines Conclusion References Chapter 8 - Why There Have Not Been Any COVID-19 Vaccines Produced in African Universities Introduction The impact of colonisation on African education systems Conclusion References Chapter 9 - The “New Normal” Learning and Teaching Modes in Educational Institutions in the COVID(ized) Era: An Appraisal of Zimbabwe and Botswana Introduction The new normal in Botswana The new normal in Zimbabwe’s education system COVID(ized) spaces: Stand-offs between state and teaching staff Marginalisation, exclusion and dropouts COVID-19 nanovaccines and the remote control of human beings Conclusion References Chapter 10 - African Epistemologies: Fears and Contestations Around the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe Introduction Theoretical framework The concept of African epistemologies Fears and contestations COVID-19 and African epistemology Conclusion Recommendations References Chapter 11 - A Political and Economic Endgame? COVID-19 and Politics in Zimbabwe Introduction The Movement for Democratic Change and political polarisation in Zimbabwe: An overview ZANU-PF, the MDC-Alliance & the weaponisation of COVID-19 Conclusion References Chapter 12 - Foreign Vaccines, Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Decoloniality in Zimbabwe: The Case of the 1918 Spanish Influenza and COVID-19 Pandemic Introduction Theoretical framework The historiography of pandemics Zimbabwean beliefs and pandemic management system: from Spanish influenza to COVID-19 African traditional religion (ATR), Christian churches and pandemics Vaccine diplomacy and epistemologies around the pandemic Conclusion Reference Chapter 13 - Culture, Physical/Social Distancing and Social Work Interventions in COVID-19 Afflicted Kenya Introduction COVID-19 prevention and management The sociology of Ferdinand Tonnies Cultural practices and social/ physical distancing Social work obligation in managing COVID-19 Concluding remarks References Chapter 14 - African Languages and Cultures in the Production of COVID-19 Vaccines Introduction The effects of African languages and cultural erosion Conclusion References Chapter 15 - Relegation of Indigenous Languages in the Fight Against the COVID-19 Pandemic Introduction Defining language policy and planning Theoretical framework Language policy aiding First World countries’ fight against COVID-19 Language policies hampering Third World countries’ fight against COVID-19 Conclusion Recommendations References Chapter 16 - COVID-19 Pandemic and the Epistemological Policemen: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Selected African Presidential Speeches Introduction Background Pandemic and epistemological policemen by proxy African leaders as surrogates in epistemological policing The texts’ structure Fallout of the speeches Conclusion References Chapter 17 - Tiers of Pandemics: Discoursing Language, Knowledge and Culture for Pandemics’ Resolutions in Africa Introduction Theoretical Framework. Indigenous knowledge discursive – anti-colonial and transformative learning theoretical framework Epistemic beliefs and the choice of anti-COVID-19 vaccines The case of Madagascar African IKS and the treatment of the COVID-19 pandemic African Epistemologies, environmental protection and healthcare Conclusion References Chapter 18 - Galvanising the Arts, Music and the Media in Mediating COVID-19 Vaccinations in Zimbabwe’s Post-February 2021 Era Introduction Situating the present discussion closer ‘home’ Why a song? Conclusion Recommendation References Notes Chapter 19 - The Impacts of COVID-19 on Music Performances in Zimbabwe: Implications for Knowledge Dissemination Introduction Music and pandemics Zimbabwean indigenous and contemporary popular music performance background Methodological matters Targeted population and sample size Data collection Music and dissemination of epistemologies: A review COVID-19 and its effects on knowledge dissemination The demand for social distance Music teaching and learning Masking policy Conclusion References Chapter 20 - Evil Eyes, Technological Implants, Witchcraft Substances and Epidemics of Laughter in 21st Century Africa Introduction Evil eyes, “civilizing eyes” and witchcraft substances Cannibalism, epidemics of dancing and epidemics of laughter Conclusion References Back cover