1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,960 Hello listeners, and welcome to the Culture and Climate Nexus. 2 00:00:05,960 --> 00:00:09,840 I am Misumi Owolavi and it's podcast host. 3 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:13,320 Before we dive into the content, I want to share a thought that has been the guiding 4 00:00:13,320 --> 00:00:15,640 star of this podcast. 5 00:00:15,640 --> 00:00:22,160 Just as a bird's beak can adapt to its environment, humans can transform in response to a changing 6 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:23,160 climate. 7 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:28,560 This thought of mine was inspired by Charles Darwin's book, The Origin of Species, which 8 00:00:28,560 --> 00:00:33,280 discusses how species have evolved over time due to changes in their environment and I 9 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,320 pondered that maybe human cultures can function the same way. 10 00:00:37,320 --> 00:00:42,160 This episode introduces the complexity of climate change's effects on southern and 11 00:00:42,160 --> 00:00:47,600 northern Africa and will later and more explicitly explore two small communities within. 12 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:52,320 These stories demonstrate adaptation, resilience and the intersection between human cultures 13 00:00:52,320 --> 00:00:53,320 and their environments. 14 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,120 But first, here's a little about me. 15 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,880 I'm a current student at Germantown Academy and a part of my school's unique Academy 16 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:00,280 Scholars Program. 17 00:01:00,280 --> 00:01:05,960 According to the course description, the Academy Scholars Program, or ASP, is an opportunity 18 00:01:05,960 --> 00:01:11,560 for students to research a subject that interests them and apply their knowledge to an original 19 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:12,560 final project. 20 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:15,720 It begins their sophomore year and ends their senior year. 21 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:20,760 I have chosen to research climate change's effects on culture mainly by conducting a 22 00:01:20,760 --> 00:01:26,800 deep dive into the southern people of Africa and the Egyptian Nubians of northern Africa. 23 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:33,120 From the bustling streets of Cairo to the vast expanse of the Kalahari Desert, the effects 24 00:01:33,120 --> 00:01:38,680 of climate change have left nowhere untouched and amidst these challenges lie resilience, 25 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:43,360 adaptability and the endurance spirit of humanity. 26 00:01:43,360 --> 00:01:49,280 I aim to explore how climate change has altered these communities' cultures, for example, 27 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:54,520 inherited through traditions' customs and investigate how it has affected their social 28 00:01:54,520 --> 00:01:58,920 dynamics as well, such as gender, occupation and class. 29 00:01:58,920 --> 00:02:04,880 This podcast is my final project and it will feature in-depth conversations with experts 30 00:02:04,880 --> 00:02:08,400 in these communities and explore their relationship to climate change. 31 00:02:08,400 --> 00:02:14,760 Through this podcast, I hope to engage listeners in these conversations and shed light on overlooked 32 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:19,480 aspects of climate change's effects to better understand and address the challenges being 33 00:02:19,480 --> 00:02:20,480 posed. 34 00:02:20,480 --> 00:02:25,120 My motivation behind this project is that climate change continues to be a multifaceted 35 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:26,760 challenge for the world. 36 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:32,960 This podcast aims to explore three main talking points, culture, social dynamics and adaptation. 37 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:38,920 I use a variety of sources including journals, articles, knowledge of experts and individuals 38 00:02:38,920 --> 00:02:45,280 directly affected to comprehensively understand how human cultures continue to evolve as a 39 00:02:45,280 --> 00:02:48,080 response to climate change. 40 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:51,200 Examining different aspects of climate change and how they interact with human beings' 41 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:56,280 social-cultural lives teaches how climate change will affect the human way of life, 42 00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:00,840 and how humans specify the challenge and evolve and how particular countries have already 43 00:03:00,840 --> 00:03:02,000 started to do so. 44 00:03:02,000 --> 00:03:06,200 For culture, a book I want to highlight was Camila Tolman's Climate Change in Africa. 45 00:03:06,200 --> 00:03:12,480 Tolman's is an economist with expertise in Africa, agriculture and climate change. 46 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:17,600 She wrote a chapter called Water, where she argues for water significance in the culture 47 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:22,200 of Africa and how it is essential to the continent's success. 48 00:03:22,200 --> 00:03:28,960 I found it interesting how the source utilizes numerical data, graphs and charts to effectively 49 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:34,320 provide evidence for water's impacts on multiple aspects of people's livelihoods. 50 00:03:34,320 --> 00:03:38,880 The author considers water relevant in researching climate change, and I feel it ties back to 51 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:44,480 the influence on culture and social dynamics as water is a fundamental component of many 52 00:03:44,480 --> 00:03:46,120 African cultures. 53 00:03:46,120 --> 00:03:50,680 Many problems affecting the continent involve water quality and quantity. 54 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,840 This research further led me to acknowledge how water affects Egypt, specifically the 55 00:03:54,840 --> 00:04:00,760 Nile, which becomes a primary talk point when discussing climate change effects on Egypt. 56 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:05,320 I'm specifically referring to the article by Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Egypt 57 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:10,120 and the Nile, which discusses how annual floods provide water and silt. 58 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:14,720 The Nile has been a pivotal point for Egypt since ancient history and has continued to 59 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:21,440 provide food, resources, land and for agriculture and means for transportation of material and 60 00:04:21,440 --> 00:04:22,440 travel. 61 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:27,520 Something that intrigued me was how it holds religious significance with its association 62 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:29,160 with deities like happy. 63 00:04:29,160 --> 00:04:35,280 This article proved relevant when exploring how the Nile and therefore water shaped Egyptian 64 00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:36,280 society. 65 00:04:36,280 --> 00:04:41,480 I also felt it helpful because climate change can challenge traditional practices in groups 66 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:43,600 surrounding the Nile. 67 00:04:43,600 --> 00:04:49,360 Moving on to discuss a bit about Southern Africa, I used climate change epistemologies 68 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:56,120 in Southern Africa, social and cultural dimensions, which features Michael Sheridan's When Brain 69 00:04:56,120 --> 00:05:01,640 is a Person, which examines the significance of African rainmaking practices in climate 70 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,360 change, adaptation in Africa. 71 00:05:04,360 --> 00:05:08,760 The author discusses rainmaking practices and how rain is viewed with some reverence 72 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:10,360 in Southern Africa. 73 00:05:10,360 --> 00:05:16,720 Although contemporary Sahn people don't typically engage in these rituals, other groups such 74 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:22,480 as the Koi Koi often call upon them to participate in rainmaking ceremonies. 75 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:27,560 This opened my eyes to how rainmaking can provide insights into how Africans view rain and how 76 00:05:27,560 --> 00:05:29,520 their practices are impacted. 77 00:05:29,520 --> 00:05:34,040 Since rain can be considered a blessing from the divine or ancestral spirits in many African 78 00:05:34,040 --> 00:05:38,640 cultures, it is seen as a life-giving force that can sustain livelihoods. 79 00:05:38,640 --> 00:05:42,920 However with climate change, changing weather patterns such as erratic rainfall and prolonged 80 00:05:42,920 --> 00:05:49,720 droughts can disrupt some of these practices as they alter the timing intensity of rainfall. 81 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:55,440 Seeing though these factors influence how Africans view climate change is clear, how 82 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:59,960 important water remains to their environment, and how climate change impacts that. 83 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:07,080 My next section is a discussion of social dynamics with a focus on gender dynamics and 84 00:06:07,080 --> 00:06:09,520 occupational dynamics. 85 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:15,600 My research on gender dynamics began with a group called the Minority Rights Groups 86 00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:18,240 and they wrote an article titled Kenya. 87 00:06:18,240 --> 00:06:22,880 The impact of climate change is worsening child marriage situation among the messiah. 88 00:06:22,880 --> 00:06:27,440 This source is relevant because it discusses the influence of climate change on Kenyan 89 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:30,400 culture, focusing on droughts and rainfall. 90 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:35,640 It adds a layer of the disproportionate impacts climate change impacts on women and girls 91 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:40,400 due to drying rivers exposing them to sexual abuse and unwanted practices. 92 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:47,200 The article also discusses how droughts compelled families to offer their daughters as brides 93 00:06:47,200 --> 00:06:53,480 in exchange for cattle and leading to increased female genital mutilation, FGF, and child 94 00:06:53,480 --> 00:06:54,480 marriages. 95 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:59,440 Although this article centers on Kenya and that's not the group I want to focus on, 96 00:06:59,440 --> 00:07:04,040 it does advance my research to include not only gender dynamics but also the concept 97 00:07:04,040 --> 00:07:10,040 of intersectionality and nuances in how climate change affects different individuals. 98 00:07:10,040 --> 00:07:14,760 This source led me to another book titled Gender and Climate Change, South Africa Case 99 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:15,760 Study. 100 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:20,600 This book gives me a crucial perspective on the gendered impacts of climate change asserting 101 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:24,240 that climate change is not gender neutral. 102 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:30,040 The source acknowledges that it cannot generalize a particular experience among other gender 103 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:35,680 however still provides specific insights into how some people feel from their experience. 104 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:40,800 For example, climate change has had an impact on agriculture in southern Africa. 105 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:46,240 Currently women in these communities are responsible for tasks such as tilling the land and harvesting 106 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:47,240 crops. 107 00:07:47,240 --> 00:07:52,320 However, as weather patterns change and the frequency of droughts increases, farming becomes 108 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:53,680 much more difficult. 109 00:07:53,680 --> 00:08:00,040 For instance, let's say a woman living in rural area in southern Africa relies on agriculture 110 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:01,520 to feed her family. 111 00:08:01,520 --> 00:08:06,160 However, prolonged droughts make it difficult for crops to grow. 112 00:08:06,160 --> 00:08:12,840 This woman therefore struggles to reduce enough crops to sustain her and her family's 113 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:14,000 livelihood. 114 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:19,240 This places additional pressure on her as she may have to travel farther distances to 115 00:08:19,240 --> 00:08:23,240 find water or seek alternative sources of income. 116 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:27,520 Since women are often excluded from decision making processes related to climate change 117 00:08:27,520 --> 00:08:32,240 adaptation, despite being disproportionately affected, their voices are frequently marginalized 118 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:34,800 in discussions about environmental policy. 119 00:08:34,800 --> 00:08:39,160 This discussion on gender made me wonder what other social dynamics are being affected by 120 00:08:39,160 --> 00:08:40,560 climate change. 121 00:08:40,560 --> 00:08:46,440 This made me interested in occupational dynamics which led me to a source by Greenpeace. 122 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:50,480 This nonprofit organization highlighted how productivity and earnings are affected by 123 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:55,240 this environmental shift which gave me a stepping stone into providing context. 124 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:57,800 Lastly, I want to look at adaptation. 125 00:08:57,800 --> 00:09:02,200 This appealed to me because it showed me the numerous ways in which African countries 126 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,360 have already resisted climate change. 127 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:11,760 I looked at Africa, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, also known as IPCC. 128 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:16,880 This was authored by different climate scientists and experts from various African cultures 129 00:09:16,880 --> 00:09:22,120 and countries to discuss Africa and its response to the climate crisis. 130 00:09:22,120 --> 00:09:27,440 This source touches on multiple aspects including food security, water resources, and cultural 131 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:28,440 heritage. 132 00:09:28,440 --> 00:09:34,560 The author also emphasizes the importance of cultural heritage and provides examples 133 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:40,880 of affected traditions and cultural sites such as rock art sites under water heritage 134 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:45,600 sites and rituals and indigenous engineering systems. 135 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:50,760 Through analyzing many sources, my research identified key themes and trends such as the 136 00:09:50,760 --> 00:09:55,880 importance of water and African cultures and their lives, rituals, practices, and social 137 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,320 dynamics including gender and occupation. 138 00:09:59,320 --> 00:10:04,680 These patterns inform how African communities approach resilience and adaptation. 139 00:10:04,680 --> 00:10:10,320 Overall, my research has seriously evolved since its beginning and I can now dive deeper 140 00:10:10,320 --> 00:10:16,720 into the intricacies of how these communities navigate environmental challenges and how 141 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:21,520 cultural identities are maintained or altered in the face of shifting climates. 142 00:10:21,520 --> 00:10:26,640 I am very excited to engage with experts, community members, and listeners through foster 143 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:32,800 dialogue and awareness about intersecting dynamics of climate change and African cultures. 144 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:37,280 Through these collaborative efforts and knowledge sharing, building more resilient and sustainable 145 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:40,600 communities in the face of climate change is possible. 146 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:44,240 Before we begin, I would like to thank the Academy Scholars Program for allowing me 147 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:46,680 to conduct research under their guidance and support. 148 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:51,680 I also want to thank my IT School mentor, Dr. Rosemann, for guiding me during this research 149 00:10:51,680 --> 00:10:55,600 project and helping me understand where I like to take this project. 150 00:10:55,600 --> 00:10:59,880 Finally, I am grateful to the experts and scholars who shared their knowledge and experiences 151 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,480 to enrich my research and this podcast. 152 00:11:02,480 --> 00:11:06,960 Thank you for taking the time to join me in exploring climate change's effects. 153 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:11,880 I hope you tune in as we dive deeper into the stories of the southern people and the 154 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:17,080 Egyptian Nubians, featuring Professor Robert Hitchcock and Professor James McCann.