Space, Identity and Health Risks: a study of domestic waste in Ibadan, Nigeria

Authors

  • Aderemi Suleiman Ajala Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan. Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/hcs.2011.62

Keywords:

Identity, Space, Health risks, Domestic waste, Income level and Ibadan

Abstract


Poor waste management has characterized Ibadan’s modern and historical identity.  As a consequence, residents of Ibadan (indigenes) hold diverse views about the city's image, while non-indigenes label it "filthy" and "dirty".  These perceptions, spatial and cultural, are deep rooted, intertwining with the political and cultural plane of Nigerian society. A distinction between “self” and “others” is seen to mark a discourse and counter discourse in the perception of health risks associated with domestic waste in the Ibadan.  Through survey and descriptive ethnography, our paper examines the nature and extent of domestic waste in Ibadan, as a physical, community and psychological reality, where we seek to explain how generation and poor waste management  impacts on these spaces and the very mechanics of identity. Different perceptions of health risks are observed as well the vulnerability to diseases associated with domestic waste and poor hygiene, bringing into play the socioeconomic variables and residential patterns which constitute the daily reality of this city.  Our study establishes that the increase in urban population, the low economic status, the indiscriminate setting up of artisans’ shops or outlets and the overall inability of government agencies to monitor the menace of domestic waste and its attendant health risks, are central factors to the problem generically deemed one of “waste”.

 

Author Biography

Aderemi Suleiman Ajala, Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Ibadan. Nigeria

Aderemi Suleiman Ajala holds a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.  He joined the academic staff of the same University, soon after becoming a Senior Lecturer in 2008. His research interests include health and culture, nationalism, politics, and ethnography. To these he has made significant contributions in learned peer-reviewed journals both nationally and and internationall.

He has received funding and fellowship appointments with bodies such as the  Council of Development and Social Science Research in Africa -CODESRIA (2003-2005); the Social Science Research Council (2005); the British Academy  (2006); IFRES (2007); Alexander von Humboldt (2008-2009) and the Rockefeller Foundation (2010-2011). He is presently completing his book on Yoruba nationalism, which will be published in 2012.

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Published

2011-10-11

Issue

Vol 1, No 1 (2011): PERSPECTIVES

Section

Articles

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