An Introduction into Exploring the Vital Connection between Water and Food in Africa
Welcome readers! I am Shanjana, a 3rd-year UCL BSc Geography student studying GEOG0036: Water and Development in Africa.
My personal interest in studying water and food was fuelled by ‘Hunger of the Plenty by O Yemi Tubi, which serves as a compelling gateway to a multifaceted exploration of water and food in Africa. In this post, I will briefly explain my personal interpretation of O Yemi Tubi’s work (Figure 1), and what it suggests about water and food security.
The first thing that caught my eye was the mother nourishing her child through breastfeeding, but ironically has nothing to eat for herself as shown by the two empty bowls (Fig 1.1). For me, this hints at the fact that food is prevalent in various forms, but that there is unequal distribution, particularly in terms of the rural-urban divide.
The painting poignantly depicts the dry-cracked earth as a stark reminder of the water scarcity that plagues parts of Africa (Fig 1.2), but contrasts that with the water-fed land in the background growing lush vegetation. ‘Water scarcity’ is a complex term as it is not solely about the lack of water availability but that it is likely more to do with the resourcefulness of available water, particularly in terms of quality and accessibility.
The man carrying and loading bags of African food into the cargo ship ready to be exported (Fig 1.3) should not be ignored, and further supports my point from Fig. 1.1 about uneven distribution of food. Globalisation has become a major force which has led to multinational companies resorting to land-grabbing (Carmody and Taylor, 2016) and consequently impacting Africa’s natural resources.
Conclusion:
"Hunger in the Land of Plenty" encapsulates the paradoxical nature of water and food in Africa – the vast potential, the abundant resources, and the persistent challenges. It is also worth mentioning the satirical article ‘How to Write About Africa’ by Binyavanga Wainaina (Wainaina, 2019), in which he criticises western media representations that generalise and form stereotypes of Africa being a homogenous continent facing scarcity, famines, and droughts. Africa contains 54 different countries with a combined total population of approximately over 1 billion people, and is also diverse in regards to climate, landscapes, language, and culture. Published research that has been peer-reviewed largely by the Global North tends to underrepresent the African Perspective (Musila, 2011) Therefore, I will aim to use published research from African scholars to represent Africa in an accurate and positive light.
I encourage you to comment underneath sensitively with your own interpretations of the work of O Yemi Tubi and Wainaina, or recommend other pieces of media that encapsulate a wealth of information on Africa’s representations in terms of water and food.
In my next post, I will be exploring in further detail on the relationship between water scarcity and food insecurity.
Hello! This is a great introduction to the water and food debate. I enjoyed reading your interpretations of the painting. Its a very unique way of highlighting the ongoing issues in Africa.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to reading more of your posts!
Hi Paulina, thank you so much for your feedback! I’m glad that you enjoyed my post! Do you have any recommendations of other types of media that tells the story of water and food? Would be interesting to hear your thoughts about the painting!
DeleteHi Shanjana, wow what a powerful way to start your blog. I really like the unique approach you have taken with your own annotations and exploration of the picture from O Yemi Tuni's work. I love the way you capture the 'paradoxical nature' of water and food in africa (i hope this is something to be explored further in your blog!) You talk about globalisation and land grabbing in relation to this image. I do wonder, since theres such contrasting media between this narrative of globalisation and land-grabbing VS. western aid and white saviorism in Africa, both sides of the 'story' have a contradicting message, one of 'giving' and one of 'taking', what is your opinion on the way water and food is presented through both these narratives. Which one holds more weight in your opinion? looking forward to your next posts!
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, thank you for your thoughtful comments! You raise an important point about the contrasting narratives surrounding water and food in Africa, especially in the context of globalisation and aid efforts.
DeleteIn my opinion, both narratives have their place and importance, but they must be approached with nuance. Globalization, which can sometimes be associated with "taking," often involves complex economic and trade dynamics. While it can lead to challenges like land grabbing and resource exploitation, it also provides opportunities for economic growth and technological advancements that can benefit African nations.
On the other hand, Western aid and the concept of "giving" can play a crucial role in addressing immediate humanitarian needs and providing relief in times of crisis. However, it's essential that aid efforts are conducted with a deep understanding of local contexts and a commitment to empowering communities rather than perpetuating dependency or saviorism. This is often why grassroots strategies are favourable because it gives the power to the people (I will be talking about strategies in my future posts).
The weight of each narrative varies depending on the specific context and the intent behind the actions. It's not a matter of one being more important than the other but rather finding a balance that respects the agency of African nations while addressing both immediate challenges and long-term development, such as achieving water and food security. Power dynamics is definitely a key factor playing a role in the effectiveness of different strategies to support growth in parts of Africa.
This article is a good read as it talks about land-grabbing from a political economic perspective (https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315670584-10/land-grabbing-harnessing-development-potential-agriculture-east-asia-land-based-investments-africa-franklyn-lisk ), and has points that I would have never thought about being a Geographer. Do let me know if you have any further questions!
This was a great read Shanjana - I particularly love the addition of your annotated thoughts! I'd be curious to know to what extent you attribute globalisation to water and food insecurity in Africa over other factors such as inadequate governance or climate change? Or is it more complicated than this?
ReplyDeleteHey Ajoa, thank you so much for the feedback! The issue of water and food insecurity in Africa is indeed multifaceted, and while globalization is a significant factor, it definitely interacts with inadequate governance and climate change in complex ways.
DeleteGlobalisation has influenced the African agricultural landscape largely by increasing trade and market access. However, it's crucial to consider that factors like inadequate governance can undermine the potential benefits. For instance, corruption and mismanagement can impede the equitable distribution of resources and hinder agricultural development.
Climate change is another pivotal factor in water and food insecurity in Africa. The continent is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, such as droughts and extreme weather events, which directly impact agricultural productivity and water resources.
Moreover, these factors are interconnected. For example, globalisation can contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change, and creating a feedback loop. In turn, climate change-related challenges can worsen food and water insecurity.
Addressing these complex issues requires a comprehensive approach that acknowledges the interplay of these factors. Evidence suggests that sustainable solutions must encompass governance reforms, climate resilience strategies, and measures to mitigate the adverse consequences of globalization, such as market access imbalances.
In a nutshell, attributing water and food insecurity in Africa to a single factor oversimplifies a highly intricate issue, like you have mentioned. Instead, a holistic approach that considers the interdependence of globalisation, governance, and climate change is essential for effective solutions and sustainable development.
I particularly like your use of quotes throughout this blog, it gives the post a very personal and 'real' element - for lack of a better word. A powerful start!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the positive feedback Samuel! :)
DeleteHey Shanjana, thought I'd check out your blog after your kind feedback! Using African scholars I think was a really good move, it's interesting to see how their perspectives differ from the more Westernised ideas.
ReplyDeleteHello Shanjana, this is a very engaging blog entry! I really like your the way you interpret this image, this annotation work is amazing! I hope to learn more from the rest of the blogs.
ReplyDeleteThank you Yiyi for the compliments!
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