Browsing by Author "Setrana, M.B."

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6

Beyond the binary debates in migration: Experiences of Fulani nomads, sedentary Fulani, and autochthone farmers in Agogo, Ghana
(Migration Studies, 2022) Setrana, M.B.; Kyei, J.R.K.O.; Nyarko, D.
The contestations over land and pasture redefine broad, complex boundaries between three groups: autochthone farmers of Agogo, Fulani sedentary herders, and Fulani nomads. The broad boundaries have emerged into sub-categories between the sedentary Fulani and Fulani nomads who belong to the same ethnic group of Fulbe in West Africa. With growing population pressures and shrinking resources, the competition for land and livelihoods has fueled tensions among these groups. feeding a cycle of recurring violence. Extended qualitative fieldwork conducted in six communities in the forest transitional zone of Ghana reveals how these tensions are connected to emerging forms of self-categorisation and othering: developing positive attitudes of in-groups, while viewing others less favourably. This has produced a triadic relationship with varied claims to authority, space, and residential superiority. The indigenous farmers claim ownership of the land and demand the evacuation of both sedentary Fulani and Fulani nomads from the area. The secular Fulani claim they are not the troublemakers but that they are blamed for the encroachment and destruction of farms. The Fulani nomads resist assertions that they are dangerous and unapproachable, but intentionally remain aloof and outside. at the margins of Ghana’s legal authority.
Citizenship, Indigeneity, and the Experiences of 1.5- and Second-Generation Fulani Herders in Ghana
(2021) Setrana, M.B.
Issues of indigeneity and citizenship rights for second-generation pastoralist migrants across the West African States have received little to no attention in migration and pastoralist studies. This article explores this under-researched area in the field of mi gration studies and revisits the highly contested migration–citizenship nexus among Fulani herders in the Shai-Osu-Doku and Agogo traditional areas of Ghana. The article captures the crises of citizenship facing descendants of Fulani herders and families, par ticularly in relation to their integration into local host communities. I argue that second generation migrants remain at the margins, spatially and socio-politically defined, of both development and society. While they do not have any ties with their ancestral “home countries,” they are also considered non-citizens and face growing hostility in the places they call home. Being a citizen is not simply a static legal position, but a status developed through routine practices, building relations, and shared experiences.
Do transnational links matter after return? Labour market participation among Ghanaian return migrants
(Taylor and Francis, 2016) Setrana, M.B.; Tonah, S.
Do transnational links matter after return? The study presents the conditions under which migrants participate in the labour market of their home countries. Though transnationalism describes return migration as a circular movement, there is still evidence of permanent return prompting the question of how returnees utilise their transnational links after return. This paper presents an analysis of pre- and post-return experiences of Ghanaian international migrants, focusing on their strategies, assets and labour market participation. The study finds that return migrants keep ties with host countries for the sake of businesses and other benefits which may not be readily available in the home country. The paper suggests that in order to promote national development and enhance national competitiveness in a globalising world, Ghana needs to encourage collaboration amongst its residents abroad and encourage opportunities for the sharing of knowledge and expertise.
Evidence of Spiritual Capital in the Schooling of Second-Generation Ghanaians in Amsterdam
(African Human Mobility Review, 2021) Kyei, J.R.K.O.; Smoczynski, R.; Setrana, M.B.
This study investigates how spiritual capital accrued from religiosity influences the educational mobility of second-generation migrants in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. We propose that inherently, religiosity possesses resources that have consequences for the socio-economic and cultural life of the adherents. The study adopts ethnographic research methods including in-depth interviews, participant observation, and informal interviews in the religious field of African Initiated Christian Churches (AICCs) in Amsterdam. Fifty second-generation migrants participated in the research out of which thirty-five were women and fifteen were men. Nine representatives of AICCs were interviewed. All the research participants were purposively selected. The study found that although educational attainment is not a driving force for the creation of AICCs, religiosity has consequential effects on the schooling of second-generation Ghanaians. The study also found that spiritual capital accumulated through prayers, reading of Holy Scriptures, participation in religious services, and church commitment may facilitate or deter progress in the schooling of second-generation Ghanaians. The paper concludes that religiosity and schooling are not incompatible; rather, they are complementary in the integration of second-generation migrants into Dutch society.
Promoting Peace and Managing Farmer-Herder Conflict: The Role of Civil Society Organizations in Agogo, Ghana
(African Studies Review, 2021) Setrana, M.B.
Continued clashes between nomadic pastoralists and farmers generate concerns about the capacity of community-based civil society organizations to effectively navigate conflict resolution in Agogo Traditional Area (ATA), Ghana. The Agogo and Fulani associations ostensibly manage farmer-herder conflict but with mixed results. Setrana argues that, unlike foreign or international civil society organizations, community-based associations play important roles in managing conflict because they often have better cultural understanding. The success of such organizations, however, depends on whether they are perceived as indigenous or non-indigenous. This binary framework often leads to a winner-takes-all attitude and rarely results in sustainable conflict resolution.
Transnational Economic Engagements: The Africa-Australia Nexus
(Springer International Publishing, 2022) Setrana, M.B.; Fozdar, F.; Mickler, D.; et al.
Abstract This chapter reports data from an innovative modified Delphi study of the African-Australian diaspora’s ongoing transnational connections to countries of origin. After considering the meaning and value of the term ‘diaspora’ and its relationship to transnationalism, we outline existing research focussing on the economic engagements of diasporas while acknowledging their interrelationships with social, cultural, and political dimensions. The chapter then describes the Delphi technique as employed and presents the key forms of economic transnational interaction identified by the Delphi participants. Some of the material has a focus on the Ghanaian and, to a lesser extent, Kenyan diasporas in Australia, offering some specificity to the general points participants made. We also consider participants’ recommendations for leveraging the rich and grounded resources that the diaspora offers.