DeepSummary
The podcast episode features an interview with Stephen Awoyemi, a PhD student studying the cultural factors that influence the illegal trade of vulture parts for traditional medicine in Nigeria. Awoyemi spent time in the field observing and interviewing vulture traders, primarily women, to understand their beliefs, motivations, and the economic incentives driving the trade.
Awoyemi's research revealed that the trade is passed down matrilineally from mothers to daughters, and also through apprenticeships, rapidly spreading the practice. While the trade is illegal, it is highly lucrative, with some successful traders able to build multiple houses from the profits. Awoyemi discusses how cultural transmission theory can provide a framework for promoting sustainable practices by working within the existing belief systems rather than imposing outside ideologies.
Awoyemi proposes collaborating with Muslim leaders to extract conservation principles from Islamic scriptures and co-develop new messaging. He also suggests using storytelling, a culturally significant tradition, to inspire a dialogue about non-killing practices and alternative values around vulture conservation.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The illegal trade of vulture parts for traditional medicine in Nigeria is driven by cultural beliefs and economic incentives, with the practice being passed down matrilineally and through apprenticeships.
- Working within existing cultural frameworks and belief systems, rather than imposing external ideologies, is crucial for promoting sustainable practices.
- Engaging influential community leaders and leveraging cultural transmission theory can introduce new values and practices around vulture conservation.
- Storytelling, a culturally significant tradition, can be utilized to inspire dialogue and promote alternative narratives that interrupt the intergenerational transmission of unsustainable practices.
- Awoyemi's research highlights the importance of empathy, humility, and understanding the local context when addressing conservation challenges.
- Economic factors play a significant role in driving the vulture trade, as it is a highly lucrative business for successful traders.
- Combining cultural and religious principles with conservation goals can lead to holistic and pragmatic solutions that resonate with local communities.
- Resilience, self-education, and a commitment to a greater cause are essential qualities for conservation researchers and practitioners.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “One thing that really got me stuck with conservation is that it is a course is something larger than oneself, something that is so spiritual in my own perspective that you want to save life on earth.“ by Stephen Awoyemi
- “In working with the cultural value system of the people, not imposing your western ideologies on them, that will bring reactivity or resistance. It's best you work within the cultural framework, and within that cultural framework, you inspire new attitudes, values, and then changing behavior.“ by Stephen Awoyemi
- “So there can be an innovation of culture if somebody with prestige, a teacher, a leader or an opinion leader, can transmit the new or innovative cultural value or trait.“ by Stephen Awoyemi
- “No, no, no. I don't think I have any best sort of advice because I wish somebody was here to advise me. I've always been on my own, but books have helped me.“ by Stephen Awoyemi
Entities
Location
Organization
Book
Person
Concept
Episode Information
Breaking Green Ceilings
Sapna Mulki
3/16/21
Stephen Awoyemi is a PhD student at the Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy. For his PhD research, he looks at how sociological theories can help explain and solve the conservation problem of trade in vulture parts for traditional medicine in Nigeria. He holds an MPhil degree in Conservation Leadership (2014) from the University of Cambridge, UK and Bachelors degree from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Before starting this PhD program, Stephen worked with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, the foremost conservation organization in Nigeria as Conservation Policy and Campaign Officer/Head of Abuja Office and has been a longtime volunteer with the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB).
Follow Stephen Awoyemi:
- Publications - https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephen-Awoyemi-2
Follow Breaking Green Ceilings: