Browsing by Author "Zharima, Campion"

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    Is Hip Hop culture the trauma story for youth in black communities? An ethnographic study of the youth of Zola community in Soweto
    (2017) Zharima, Campion
    Soweto is one of the post-apartheid urban settlements that are still haunted by historical injustices and as such, these areas have endured a lot of suffering through high levels of poverty, violence and substance abuse. These unresolved problems have escalated in a continuous cycle of trauma which has shaped the community members` identities and their way of life. As a result, the community adopts various ways of ‘retelling’ their lived experiences through performative arts and culture. One of the most interesting movements is the culture of hip hop which is an urban street youth culture that uses music, graffiti and fashion to portray a form of identity that represents these dispossessed communities. The communities have endured transgenerational trauma since apartheid and continue to live with its effects. The culture of hip hop can be examined as a collective identity of the cultural expression of traumatized communities. There is a need to study and understand these narratives as a cathartic way of expression and storytelling. This study therefore aimed to explore the connection between the narratives of hip hop culture and its expression of trauma in black communities. The study was a qualitative ethnographic study on the community of Zola in Soweto which was conducted using a semi structured interview schedule with five participants who were Hip Hop artists through face to face interviews. Secondary data analysis of the lyrics of the artists that were interviewed was also utilised. The selection of these participants was done through purposive sampling because the research focused on a specific subgroup with similar characteristics. The nature of the study involved the observation of events and participants in their environment as well. This study will hopefully contribute to understanding communities as groups comprising of one or many cultures that are brought together by a shared history or experience. Moreover, the understanding of the many ways trauma can be expressed by communities in a post-apartheid South Africa. The study will also be a useful reference for social work intervention in disadvantaged and marginalised communities. Keywords: Hip Hop, Trauma, Community, Zola, Soweto, Apartheid
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    Life became harder with COVID19 exploring the experiences of the COVID19 pandemic among youth living in eThekwini district South Africa
    (Biomed Central , 2024- 07) Closson, K.; Dong, E.; Zulu, Bongiwe; Dietrich, Janan; Zharima, Campion; Jesson, J.; Pakhomova, T.; Beksinska, Malgorzata; Kaida, A.
    Background: In South Africa, pervasive age and gender inequities have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and public health response. We aimed to explore experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic among youth in eThekwini district, South Africa. Methods: Between December 2021-May 2022 we explored experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth aged 16–24 residing in eThekwini, South Africa. We collated responses to the open-ended question “Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you in any other way you want to tell us about?” in an online survey focused on understanding the pandemic’s multi-levelled health and social effects. We used a thematic analysis to summarise the responses. Results: Of 2,068 respondents, 256 (12.4%, median age = 22, 60.9% women) completed the open-ended survey question (11% in isiZulu). Results were organized into three main themes encompassing (1) COVID-19-related loss, fear, grief, and exacerbated mental and physical health concerns; (2) COVID-19-related intensified hardships, which contributed to financial, employment, food, education, and relationship insecurities for individuals and households; and (3) positive effects of the pandemic response, including the benefits of government policies and silver linings to government restrictions. Conclusions: We found that South African youth experienced significant grief and multiple losses (e.g., death, income, job, and educational) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trauma-aware interventions that provide economic and educational opportunities must be included in post-COVID recovery efforts.