Women, Music, and Environmental Justice in an African Borderland: A Chicago Studies Perspective

Song Walking: Women, Music, and Environmental Justice in an African Borderland (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology)

by Amy Lewis Bear

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3863 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	288 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

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The interplay of women, music, and environmental justice unfolds in complex and dynamic ways within the African borderland region. By drawing upon the theoretical and methodological frameworks of Chicago Studies, this article unveils the nuanced experiences and contributions of women in the struggle for environmental justice and integrates them into a broader understanding of urban life, social inequality, and cultural resistance.

Women as Environmental Stewards

In many African borderland communities, women play a vital role in safeguarding the natural environment. They are often responsible for collecting water, firewood, and other resources for their households. As a result, they have a deep understanding of the local ecosystem and its vulnerabilities. They are also often the first to notice environmental changes, such as pollution or deforestation, and they are often the ones who sound the alarm.

Music as a Tool for Empowerment

Music is a powerful tool for empowerment, and women in African borderland communities have used it to raise awareness about environmental issues, mobilize resistance, and create a sense of community. For example, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, women have used traditional drumming and singing to protest against the destruction of their forests. In Nigeria, women have used music to raise awareness about the dangers of oil pollution.

Resistance and Social Change

Women in African borderland communities have also played a key role in resisting environmental injustice and promoting social change. They have organized protests, boycotts, and other forms of direct action to protect their communities from environmental degradation. They have also worked to raise awareness about the disproportionate impact that environmental injustice has on women and children.

The experiences of women in African borderland communities provide a unique lens through which to understand the multifaceted intersections of women, music, and environmental justice. By drawing upon the theoretical and methodological frameworks of Chicago Studies, this article has shed light on the important role that women play in safeguarding the environment, raising awareness about environmental issues, and mobilizing resistance against environmental injustice. It has also shown how music can be a powerful tool for empowerment and social change.

References

• Agyeman, J., Bullard, R. D., & Evans, B. (2012). Just sustainabilities: Development in an unequal world. MIT Press.
• Andersen, T. (2017). Women and the environment in West Africa. Springer.
• Bhattacharyya, P. (2009). Music and environmental justice. Routledge.
• Cole, J. (2007). Sidewalk city: The Chicago street singers movement of the 1960s. Chicago Review Press.
• Diouf, M. (2003). Dreams of democracy: Pan-Africanism and the African diaspora. Indiana University Press.
• Mollett, S. (2011). Urban ecologies: Detroit and the search for environmental justice. University of Georgia Press.
• Ogunseye, J. (2019). African women and environmental justice: The case of the Niger Delta. Springer.
• Pellow, D. N. (2016). Environmental justice. MIT Press.
• Sefa Dei, G. J., & Agyapong, A. A. (2015). Women in African history: Gender, class, and ethnicity. Routledge.

Song Walking: Women, Music, and Environmental Justice in an African Borderland (Chicago Studies in Ethnomusicology)

by Amy Lewis Bear

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	3863 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	288 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
X-Ray for textbooks	:	Enabled

FREE