International records / OpenAlex research

Seasonal hunger in tropical Africa as a cultural phenomenon. The Onicha Ibo of Nigeria and Chakaka Poka of Malawi examples.

Miracle argues that if in fact hunger was expected people would work harder and so produce enough to prevent a shortage. Using evidence from two widely separated African communities (on in Eastern Nigeria and the other in Malawi) I propose to show why hunger has to be accepted as a fact of life by people who would avoid it if they could. The supportive data for my position are from the Chakaka Poka of Northern Malawi and the Onicha Ibo (Afikpo Division) of Eastern Nigeria. My field-work in the summer of 1966 among the Poka focused on ecology and economic organization. My data on the Ibo were c…