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Volume 4 - Issue 6, June (2026)

All Articles
Original Article25 downloads
Dehydrated Dumpling with Sea Grapes (Caulerpa Lentillifera) Seaweeds
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20623482
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 Innovation in food development by exploring ingredients and product combinations that remain largely untapped yet possess strong potential for consumer acceptance, nutritional value, and marketability.This study explores the development and nutritional evaluation of dehydrated dumplings incorporating sea grapes seaweed (Caulerpa lentillifera), sweet purple potato (Ipomoea batatas L.), blue ternate (Clitoria ternatea), and Indian oil sardines (Sardinella longiceps). The research aims to formulate a nutritious, visually appealing, and sustainable snack by blending traditional ingredients with innovative techniques. Three formulations were tested, varying the proportions of key ingredients to assess their effects on protein, carbohydrate, and fat content. Results showed that the formulation containing 25% all-purpose flour, 50% sweet purple potato, 25% blue ternate, 25% Indian oil sardines, and 75% sea grapes seaweed yielded the lowest carbohydrate and fat levels, making it the most suitable choice for health-conscious consumers. Nutrient analysis revealed no significant differences in protein, carbohydrate, or fat content among the formulations, suggesting that ingredient proportions can be adjusted for taste or texture without compromising nutritional value. The inclusion of sweet purple potato and blue ternate enhanced the dumplings’ color and sensory appeal. At the same time, sea grapes seaweed contributed to a low-fat profile, supporting the product’s marketability as a healthy snack. The study underscores the potential of dehydrated dumplings with seaweed as a functional food, promoting both culinary innovation and sustainable practices. Further research is recommended on shelf life, microbial safety, and wider product promotion to enhance consumer acceptance and commercial viability. Overall, this work contributes to the diversification of food products by utilizing locally sourced, nutrient-rich ingredients that bridge traditional and modern dietary preferences.

Original Article23 downloads
Marginalized Voices: The Result of Power Relation, Donor Agendas and Institutional Incentives in NGOs’ Projects in Africa
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20768893
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The article Marginalized Voices: The Result of Power Relation, Donor Agendas and Institutional Incentives in NGOs’ Projects in Africa (The case of Bamenda in the Ongoing Anglophone Crisis) interrogates the complex interplay between external donor priorities, institutional incentives, and local power relations in shaping the outcomes of NGO interventions in conflict-affected communities. Using Bamenda, Cameroon, as a case study within the broader Anglophone crisis, the article explores how the voices of marginalized populations particularly women, youths, and internally displaced persons are systematically silenced or reshaped to fit donor-driven narratives. The research adopts a qualitative methodology, combining ethnographic fieldwork, semi-structured interviews with community members and NGO staff, and critical discourse analysis of project documents. Findings reveal that donor agendas often prioritize measurable outputs and politically safe interventions over grassroots needs, leading to a disconnect between project design and lived realities. Institutional incentives within NGOs such as competition for funding, reputational concerns, and alignment with state actors further reinforce exclusionary practices. Power relations manifest both vertically (between donors, NGOs, and communities) and horizontally (within communities themselves), producing a layered system of marginalization. The case of Bamenda illustrates how NGOs, despite their stated mission of empowerment, risk perpetuating structural inequalities when they fail to critically interrogate the political economy of aid. The Anglophone crisis intensifies these dynamics as NGOs navigate a fragile environment where neutrality is contested, and survival often depends on appeasing both donors and state authorities. The paper argues that genuine inclusion requires a paradigm shift, moving beyond tokenistic participation toward co-created agendas that prioritize local agency and contextual knowledge. This study contributes to debates on humanitarian governance, postcolonial critiques of development, and the politics of voice in conflict settings. It highlights the urgent need for NGOs to reconfigure accountability mechanisms, ensuring that marginalized voices are not only heard but also shape the trajectory of interventions. By situating Bamenda within the broader African NGO landscape, the article underscores that the silencing of communities is not accidental but structurally embedded in the aid system. Ultimately, the paper calls for a rethinking of NGO practices in Africa, advocating for participatory frameworks that resist donor-imposed homogenization and institutional self-interest. Such reorientation is essential for fostering resilience, justice, and sustainable peace in contexts of protracted crisis.

Original Article26 downloads
Home as an Impossible Return: Trauma and Postcolonial Belonging in NoViolet Bulawayo’s We Need New Names
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20768914
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This study examines NoViolet Bulawayo’s We Need New Names (2013) through the combined perspectives of trauma theory and postcolonial criticism. It investigates how migration reshapes perceptions of home, belonging, and identity, arguing that the novel presents home not as a recoverable destination but as an impossible return. The study employs a qualitative interpretive approach based on close reading and thematic textual analysis. The theoretical framework draws on Cathy Caruth’s and Dominick LaCapra’s trauma theories alongside postcolonial concepts developed by Edward Said and Homi Bhabha. The analysis focuses on four interconnected themes: trauma and displacement, memory and the construction of home, the impossibility of return, and postcolonial belonging. The findings reveal that migration in the novel functions as both a geographical and psychological experience, producing emotional fragmentation, cultural dislocation, and unstable forms of identity. Memory emerges as a crucial mechanism through which migrants maintain attachment to the homeland, yet it simultaneously transforms home into an imagined and idealized space. Consequently, return becomes increasingly unattainable as both the migrant and the homeland undergo transformation. The study concludes that Bulawayo challenges romanticized notions of homecoming by portraying belonging as a continuous process of negotiation rather than a fixed condition. By integrating trauma theory and postcolonial criticism, the study contributes to contemporary discussions of migration, displacement, memory, and identity in African postcolonial literature.

Original Article23 downloads
ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HALOPHILIC ACTINOMYCETES FROM COW DUNG
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21187971
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This study is focused on the collection, isolation and characterization of mesophilic halophilic Actinomycetes from cow dung. Four different strains of the isolates designated 103A, 103B, 104A, and 104B were isolated in which the four isolates stained pink, this indicates the isolates to be gram positive. The isolates were screened and confirmed to be Actinomycetes. The isolates were further characterized based on their carbon utilization ability, Melanin production, coverslip culture technique, Sodium Chloride (NaCl2) tolerant test. The activity of α amylase was determined on solid medium supplemented with starch. The detection was based on the formation of clear zones around the colonies.

Original Article17 downloads
FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO SCHOLARLY HEIGHTS: THE EARLY LIFE AND EDUCATION OF DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21188036
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Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956), revered as Babasaheb and the principal architect of the Indian Constitution, rose from the depths of caste-based oppression to become a towering figure in India's social and political landscape. This research paper delves deeply into his early life, examining his birth in a marginalized community, the pervasive discrimination that defined his childhood, his relentless pursuit of education amidst insurmountable barriers, and his transformative higher studies abroad. Through a detailed analysis of biographical records, historical anecdotes, and scholarly accounts, the paper illustrates how Ambedkar's formative experiences fueled his lifelong crusade for equality and justice. It emphasizes the role of familial support, progressive patrons, and personal resilience in overcoming systemic untouchability, providing insights into the socio-cultural context of colonial India that shaped one of its greatest reformers.

Original Article20 downloads
Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Environmental Conservation: An Anthropological Study of Environmental Practices in Rwanda
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.22139340
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Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) represents an important cultural resource for understanding and conserving the environment. In Rwanda, traditional practices concerning soil, water, forests, biodiversity, agriculture, and natural resources have historically been transmitted across generations. However, modernization, urbanization, climate change, and changing lifestyles may contribute to the erosion of such knowledge among younger generations. This study asked: To what extent do ICT students at the Catholic University of Rwanda understand and value Traditional Ecological Knowledge for environmental conservation? It hypothesized that greater recognition of traditional ecological knowledge would be associated with stronger support for its integration into contemporary conservation. The objective was to assess students’ knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward traditional environmental practices. A descriptive mixed-methods design was employed among 39 ICT students, using structured questionnaires and open-ended questions. Data were analyzed through descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Findings indicated that 89.7% (35/39) considered traditional ecological knowledge important for environmental conservation, while 84.6% (33/39) recognized traditional soil and water conservation practices. Furthermore, 87.2% (34/39) supported integrating TEK into contemporary conservation programmes, and 92.3% (36/39) believed that younger generations should participate in preserving traditional environmental knowledge. The study concludes that TEK remains a valuable cultural resource for sustainable environmental stewardship and should be strengthened through education, community participation, and intergenerational knowledge transmission.