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Hello listeners, welcome to the Culture and Climate Nexus.

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This episode will summarize the key points of each episode and examine the similarities

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and differences between the southern people of South Africa and the Egyptian Nubians of

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Northern Africa, hoping to discuss the significance of these insights and their overall implications.

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My name is Misimi Owolabi and I'm this podcast's host.

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In this podcast, we have delved into experiences of two distinct communities, the San

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people and the Egyptian Nubians.

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Both communities have faced the challenges posed by climate change.

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Yet, their unique cultural context and historical trajectories have influenced their responses.

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In episode 1, I reviewed important sources and insights before interviewing two experts.

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Insights were divided into three categories, culture, social dynamics, and adaptations.

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In episode 2, we focus on the San people with Professor Hitchcock, emphasizing their

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historical and cultural significance as hunter-gatherers deeply connected to their environments, painting

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a vivid picture of the San people's lifestyle.

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However, due to climate change, exacerbated by their past experiences with Western colonialism,

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their livelihoods and cultural practices have been disrupted.

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Examples of this include their healing dances and nutritional health, which are a decline.

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They've also lost land and were forced to relocate.

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The San also noticed shifts in their gender dynamics, with women often bearing the

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brunt of these environmental impacts because of their limited access to resources and their

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societal roles.

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The response to climate change, the San have changed their occupational dynamics as well,

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particularly in industries such as mining and tourism.

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Books and sources highlighted to dive more in depth include "Culture under Threat -- Special

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Report on the San Bushmen," "Gender and Climate Change: South Africa Case Study", and "Climate

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Change and Occupational Health: A South Africa perspective." 

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Additionally, we discussed how the San people perceive climate change as consequences based

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on their observations of environmental shifts, as well as how resilient they are and contribute

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to global efforts to imitate climate change impacts on their communities.

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In episode 3, we discussed the Egyptian Nubians and their cultural life and social life with

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Professor McCann.

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We focused mainly on the Nile as it seems to be a large part of the Egyptian Nubian lifestyle.

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It holds immense cultural significance beyond its practicality as a source of water and

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livelihood is also deeply intertwined with history, tradition, and spirituality.

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Climate change has disrupted the Egyptian Nubian lifestyle and environment by shifting rainfall

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patterns, rising sea levels, and water scarcity, leading to significant challenges like displacement,

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loss of land, and extreme weather events.

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Colonialism also plays a part in their climate crisis because colonial powers exploit natural

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resources like denial for their own interests and dams like the Aswan Dam have further exacerbated

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the vulnerabilities to climate change.

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We also looked into intersectionality of gender dynamics because gender disparities and access

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to resources and decision making worsen women's vulnerability to climate change.

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To adapt to these changes, the Egyptian Nubians embraced agricultural technology, blending

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traditional knowledge with modern practices to preserve cultural heritage to adapt to

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a changing environment.

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Sources that were highlighted were the Carnegie Museum of Natural History's "Angels of Nile

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are Dying," and "How Egypt's Aswan Dam Washed Away Nubian Culture."

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When learning about these two communities, I noticed similarities and differences.

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Some similarities I observed was how they have a deep cultural connection to their environment,

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such as the Kalahari being central for the San people while the Egyptian Nubians considered

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Nile to be fundamental to their cultural identity.

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Both communities struggle with displacement and loss of land for themselves, and the San

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have been forced to settle and restrict their traditional, nomadic lifestyle due to climate-related

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changes, while dams on the Nile displace Nubian communities.

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Both communities have also implemented adaptation methods to cope with impacts of climate change.

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The San have diversified their livelihoods incorporating new practices, like small-scale

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agriculture and tourism to supplement hunting and gathering.

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Similarly, the Egyptian Nubians have embraced modern agricultural techniques to mitigate

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the effects of climate change on their own traditions.

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However, I recognize some differences, including the geographical context.

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I chose to compare these two communities because they are on opposite sides of the same continent,

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so I wanted to see how this impacts their experiences with climate change differently.

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The San inhabit a semi-arid region of the Kalahari, where drought and water scarcity

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are a primary concern.

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In contrast, the Egyptian Nubians reside along the Nile River, where changes in water flow

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and flooding patterns impact agricultural practices.

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This also shows the difference in their occupational dynamics, as the San traditionally practice

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hunter and gathering, while the Egyptian Nubians historically relied on agriculture along the

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Nile River, meaning they had to alter their practices differently.

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Professor McCann can also speak to this because he studied Nile-reliant communities in southern

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Africa.

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If you're contrasting it with Aswan, there are no river systems, water comes from small sources,

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water for the Aswan, who are hunting and gathering people, and who have existed in the presence

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of a major economic power of South Africa, which is the economy is based on mining and

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the connection to the world economy.

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The Sun are released by the systems of control, so their life is not based on a river.

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Of course, it's water, but it's hunting and gathering as neck and neck livelihood, rather

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than living next to a river where you can, in fact, draw the water for agriculture and

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transport it.

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So it was a very, very trans-economic source.

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For Nile versus a hunting and gathering society, as to contrast, I think, about what it looks

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for.

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Yeah, so these communities rely on different resources.

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Another difference I have observed is the challenges the Sun have faced with colonialism

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in southern Africa, including large land dispossession, while Egyptians grappled with British colonialism

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and large-scale infrastructure projects altering Nile River and displacing communities in that

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sense.

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Professor Hitchcock also discusses how these two communities compare and how this is very

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interesting.

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First, I'm interested that you're looking at Egyptian Nubians.

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I've done some work with Ismailia, but also with populations in Ibrahim with populations

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in Sudan, but rather than the Nubians.

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It's interesting you've chosen a population in Egypt that affected very much not just

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by climate change, but also by the establishment of the dams on the Nile in the 1912 and then

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later in the 1960s.

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So the Nubians are a really fascinating population, and they've had to diversify their livelihoods,

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move up into less productive areas, get access to irrigation and that kind of thing.

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So they're a fantastic comparison to the San.

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They've had a very different experience, although some of the aun have been displaced

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by dams, nothing like what's happened in Nubia.

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So in conclusion, I feel that two communities share more similarities than differences in

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their relationship to climate change.

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I say this because they both have cultural ties to their environment as they provide

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resources for survival and influence their way of life.

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They also experience displacement and land loss and implement adaptation strategies,

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however, they do differ in their geographical context and colonial legacies.

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The findings presented in this podcast have significant implications for broader discussions

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of climate change.

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For example, this podcast recognizes the San people and the Egyptian Nubians' cultural

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resilience, valuing their indigenous knowledge in the face of climate change.

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This demonstrates the need for incorporating diverse perspectives.

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This journey also shows how lingering impacts of colonialism, gender disparities, and occupational

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issues can make certain communities more vulnerable to climate change.

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Addressing these historical injustices such as land dispossession and exploitation are

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crucial steps towards promoting environmental justice and empowering marginalized communities.

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Regional context also significantly influence communities, experiences with climate change,

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and their ability to adapt.

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Whether it's water, scarcity in arid regions, or the increased frequency of extreme weather

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events, understanding these localized challenges is essential for crafting effective solutions.

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This is why organizations like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC, exists.

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The IPCC provides policy makers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate

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change and its impact on the environment, society, and economies, and potential strategies

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for adaptation and mitigation.

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Since it's international, it reflects a diverse range of perspectives to ensure that these

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reports are balanced and relevant to all countries and regions.

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It also helps to coordinate action at international level and address climate change effectively.

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By recognizing the interconnectedness of culture, climate, and society, we can work towards

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a more inclusive and equitable solution to prompt sustainability for all communities.

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Thank you for joining us on the Cultural and Climate Nexus.

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This concludes our series, and please remember to keep exploring the intersections of culture

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and climate in your lives and communities.