Page 108 - IJPS-10-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Climate change-induced human mobility

phenomenon, El Niño, which develops later in the climate would be inconsistent and a lack of ingenuity to use
cycle and brings significant precipitation to the same Afrocentricity as a theoretical perspective and then select
regions severely impacted by El Niño. Flooding is a typical a non-Afrocentric research methodology. In selecting
consequence (United Nations Office for the Coordination the methodology for this study, the researchers focused
of Humanitarian Affairs, 2016). Mozambique, Namibia, on congruence, ensuring that the theoretical perspective,
and Zimbabwe experienced severe flooding in 2017 as a epistemology, and methodological tools were fully aligned.
result of El Niño-induced drought in Southern Africa as This study adopted an Afrocentric methodology to answer
well as tropical cyclones Dineo and Idai (Tirivangasi et al., the research question on climate-induced mobility in
2021b). This has resulted in the displacement of thousands Chimanimani, Zimbabwe. Asante (1990) identifies three
of individuals. main positive aspects of an Afrocentric methodology.
First, it recognizes cultural pluralism without pursuing
In addition, significant portions of Southern Africa’s
arid and semi-arid regions are prone to and have recently any hegemony over other methods. Instead, it emphasizes
grounding the study of African phenomena and events in
experienced severe droughts (Tirivangasi, 2018). This has the cultural voice of the African people. It advocates for
significant effects on both food and water security. The
severe drought in Southern Africa has resulted in millions cultural immersion, the indigenization of investigative
of people experiencing extreme starvation (Sengupta tools and methods, and the interpretation of research data
& Andreoni, 2024). The El Niño-induced calamity is from an indigenous African perspective. While it does not
claim supremacy nor reject other methods, it advocates
causing severe devastation in communities across multiple for challenging and reassessing these methods. Asante
countries, destroying crops and livestock, and causing notes, “The Afrocentric methodology rejects the notion
a significant increase in food costs. Approximately that a certain discipline has all the tools needed to analyze
20 million individuals in southern Africa are currently
experiencing what the United Nations refer to as acute phenomena. However, it stresses that these methods
hunger, resulting from one of the most severe droughts should be challenged” (Asante, 1990, p. 31).
in over 40 years. The phenomenon causes crops to wither, The second positive facet of an Afrocentric methodology
devastates cattle populations and, following a prolonged is its comprehensive approach, encompassing all aspects
period of elevated food costs due to pandemics and of life. It pays attention to the social, historical, cultural,
conflicts, significantly increases the cost of corn, which political, economic, and psychological spheres of life. In
is the primary agricultural product in the area. In 2024, that, it allows researchers to investigate any field of their
Malawi, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have each officially choice from an Afrocentric perspective. For instance, in our
proclaimed a state of national emergency. The citation is study of climate change, one needs to understand the role
from Sengupta and Andreoni’s work published in 2024. played by communal beliefs in various ways. A researcher
The IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5℃ must demonstrate an understanding of the African beliefs
(Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2018) designated Southern Africa on how to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.
as a region very vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. The final positive aspect addresses epistemological issues,
The region has water stress as a result of natural droughts, including language, myths, dance, music, and art. These
an increasing population, and the industrial aspirations of elements reveal the African experience to the whole world.
an emerging economy. This is compounded by the region’s The researcher must be familiar with the history, language,
warm temperature and distinct wet-dry seasonal patterns philosophy, and myths of the people being researched.
(Rouault et al., 2024). Under low mitigation emission Without cultural immersion, researchers risk losing ethical
scenarios, Southern Africa would probably experience values and may end up conducting research devoid of
significant increases in temperature and a high possibility meaningful context (Asante, 1990).
of decreased rainfall (Hoegh-Guldberg et al., 2018; Lee Given the characteristics of Afrocentric research
et al., 2021). This justifies its classification as a climate methodology, it is the most suitable approach for
change hotspot since the ability to adapt to these changes examining community perceptions of climate change and
will be severely constrained. its impact on human mobility in Zimbabwe. As noted in

2. Methods the following sections, the Ndau people are an indigenous
group in Zimbabwe with distinct cultural practices and
This study is grounded in the theoretical framework of traditions. In this Afrocentric research, importance is
Afrocentricity. The ethos of Afrocentricity means “placing placed on the customs, beliefs, motifs, and values of African
African ideals at the center of any analysis that involves people. This focus on African cultural elements forms the
African culture and behavior” (Asante, 1998, p. 2). It basis for applying an African methodology.

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 102 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2983