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- ItemOpen AccessHistorical Narratives of Encyclopedia on Africa: The Chinese Chronicles(LASU Journal of African Studies (OPANBATA), A Publication of African Languages, Literature & Communication Arts, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, 2023-12-25) Banwo, Adetoro Olaniyi & Obasa, Joshua IfeoluwaChinese race and identity construction among Africans have been greatly influenced and shaped by government records since the dynastic era. The central aim of this research work is to examine how the encyclopaedias of the dynastic court of China have documented, influenced, and remained a primary source of data about Africa. Data for this research work were obtained through the historical descriptive method, and content analysis was used in the investigation of this work. Certain factors, such as Sino-African relations, encyclopaedias, gazettes, historical narratives, personal diaries, and perceptions, were adopted in this research work. It adopts Robert Darnton’s Communication Circuit of the book as its theoretical framework. He argues that encyclopaedias were widely influenced by a lot of external factors and created to enlighten, educate, and shape public opinion. This research work identifies that encyclopaedias serve as powerful primary sources of history that can influence the decisions of modern scholars without any form of prejudice. Primary sources in research hold reliable data; however, modern scholars often fall prey to the dogmatism of over-relying on such data from history. This overreliance reinforces existing data, especially with respect to a particular race or group, which might lack objectivity and clarity. Likewise, the verification of historical documents weakens the ability to authenticate the sources of information transferred on a national level. Nevertheless, this research concludes that these documents offer greater insights into the records and details of Chinese-African contacts and their perceptions of Africans.
- ItemOpen AccessThe Challenges of Africa’s Coronavirus Pandemic and China’s Soft Power Dynamics: An Overview(LASU Journal of History & International Studies (LAJOHIS), A publication of the Department of History & International Studies, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University, 2024-04-30) Banwo, A. O.; Osiki, O. MThis study examines Chinese soft power dynamics in Africa with respect to how the continent approached the challenges posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. It should be stressed that China’s soft power politics stems from its ability to champion globalization and economic integration from Asia to the rest of the world. China has used its soft power elements such as culture, ideology, legitimacy, and ability to attract others to project its power on the African continent and this came into play during the COVID-19 pandemic. Data for this research work were obtained through critical case sampling and the content analysis style was used for the interpretation of data in the study. Certain factors such as diplomacy, aid, medical assistance, international relations, and status were selected for the study. This study adopts Todd Hall’s theory of institutional power, reputation power, and presentational power to underscore the relevance of China’s soft power intervention in Africa. Hall ascertains that certain States use their power to influence and advance state interests while pushing for public diplomacy and information control. Therefore, this work argues that China’s intervention in Africa’s COVID-19 pandemic effort was a way to enhance the Sino-African relationship while exhibiting and improving its international image and status. It concludes on the note that China’s positive attraction and agenda for Africa has a lot of benefits and consequences which will affect Africa’s foreign policy and approach in the nearest future.
- ItemOpen AccessENTREPRENEURSHIP CHALLENGES IN COVID-19 ERA: A CASE-STUDY OF NIGERIAN AND CHINESE ENTREPRENEURS(Eureka-Unilag, A Journal of the Department of European Languages and Integration Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Lagos, Akoka, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria. A Special Edition in Honour of Unionmwan Edebiri, 2023-08-06) Banwo, A. O.This study examines the influence of the Coronavirus pandemic on the entrepreneurial nature of two countries, Nigeria and China. The outbreak of the pandemic has sent rippling effects on the economic activities of most nations like Nigeria and China. This work argues that entrepreneurs can flourish when the environment is conducive for business to thrive. Government response to COVID-19 resulted in the formulation of certain policies such as lockdowns, containment, isolation, and travel bans to further prevent the spread of the disease. These policies have a catastrophic effect on entrepreneurs who are seen as the drivers and innovators of the economy. Data for this work were obtained through homogenous purpose sampling and analyzed through content analysis. Resource materials related to coronavirus, entrepreneurship, methods, and style were downloaded from the internet and were selected for the study. This work adopts the Psychological and Integrated Models as its theoretical framework. It recognizes entrepreneurship skills to include strategic thinking, risk-taking, motivation, and efficiency. Others include resilience, concise communication, networking skills, and finance management. This study agrees with social scientists who have asserted that the government has a responsibility to provide a conducive, safe, and healthy environment for people to engage in any form of economic activity. It suggests that a favorable economic or political climate would ensure that the means of production are adopted by entrepreneurs. This study concludes that coronavirus shocks and effects on entrepreneurs are calamitous and disastrous and as such business procedures and innovation of goods and services have been hindered greatly.
- ItemOpen AccessContextualizing the Supreme Being in Yoruba and Chinese Cultures(LASU Journal of African Studies (OPANBATA), A Publication of African Languages, Literature & Communication Arts, Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos State, 2022-08-01) Banwo, A. O.This paper intends to examine the Yorùbá and the Chinese context of a Supreme Being within framework of their cultures. In Yorùbá culture, the Supreme Being is connoted as Olódùmarè, Oló-dú-ma- ré, Olú-ọ̀run or Elédùmarè. He signifies one thing, the owner of the universe and the Supreme God. In Chinese culture, the highest deity is called Shangdi or Di. He is the high god or clan ancestor as postulated in the earliest-known religious system of the Han Chinese people. The term has different connotations, while some can perceive or translate him as the “emperor” or “sovereign above,” others see him as “lord on high,” “highest lord,” “the supreme god,” or the “celestial lord.” Data for this research were obtained through homogeneous purpose sampling and analyzed through content analysis. Supreme power, myths, uniqueness, cultural trait and cultural identity were all factors selected for this study. The theory of religion serves as the framework for this study. This research work identifies theory of evolution, belief, supreme power, tradition, myths and divinities as core factors that has created the Supreme Being in both cultures. Supreme Being in both cultures serve a purpose, they control the universe, they create man and they are in absolute control of the affairs of man. Man looks up to them for prosperity, health and decision-making processes. This work suggests that the physical world is guided and controlled by the spiritual realm and concludes that for the harmony of humanity, man must work in accordance and tenets of the spiritual realm.
- ItemOpen AccessCovid-19 Impacts on China-Nigeria Education and Cultural Exchanges(Africa & Diaspora Discourse, A Journal of the Institute of African and Diaspora Studies, University of Lagos., 2022-09-27) Banwo, A. O.The rapid development and modernization of China today have pushed it into the realm of an economic global power that is facilitating investment in many countries of the world including Nigeria. Nigeria, a resource-endowed country has become the largest trading partner for China, making them bedfellows with their different agendas and programs. China’s investment in Nigeria goes beyond resources, it is well exhibited by inviting Nigerian students to learn and imbibe Chinese education and knowledge first-hand. The outbreak of Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China posed a threat to the cultural and educational exchange programs that exist between China and Nigeria. The aim of this paper, therefore, is to identify how the Coronavirus epidemic has affected or influenced the cultural and educational exchange programs between China and Nigeria. Data for this paper were obtained using the historical descriptive method and content analysis was used to study this work. Certain factors such as diplomacy, aid, soft power, skill transfer, acquisition, and development were selected for study in this work. This research work adopts the Social Exchange Theory as the framework to comprehend this study and ascertains that certain states make calculations to gain more benefits from their actions. It argues that Chinese investment in the Nigerian educational sector goes beyond any form of sympathy or empathy but it hinges on the platform of certain rewards, values, gains, benefits, human learning, social progress, and international cooperation. It discerns that a good educational background can help Nigerians create wealth and employment opportunities while eliminating poverty and crime rates. Thus, China-Nigerian educational exchanges have the full prospects of a positive policy aimed at alleviating the challenges of Nigeria. This work concludes that Chinese investment in Nigerian education aims to bolster bilateral cooperation between the two countries while aiding China’s show of its soft power in the continent. Keywords: Diplomacy, soft power, Skill transfer, Acquisition, and Development.