Material Culture of Water in Niger Sara Beth Keough Page 1

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1 Application for the Ruth and Ted Braun Fellowship Applicant: Dr. Sara Beth Keough Position Held: Associate Professor of Geography SVSU Address: EN 148 Address: Phone Number: Project Title: The Material Culture of Water in Niger Field of Study: Geography Project Abstract: This application seeks funding to support one project over three years and will result in several articlelength manuscripts submitted to peer-reviewed, scholarly journals, and at least three conference presentations. This project explores the material culture (physical objects) associated with water consumption, storage, and transportation in the West African country of Niger. While water quality and access to water resources in Saharan countries is a popular research topic for social scientists, little attention has been paid to the tangible nature of water, the materials that allow water to be transported and stored, and the landscapes created by these materials (such as the impact of discarded plastic water bags). Furthermore, the people involved in water delivery play an important part in the water economy in Saharan cities, and the material culture they employ in this activity has implications for gender roles, socio-economic status, and water quality. This project, in short, explores the essential connection between culture and natural resources. It is grounded in key cultural geographical concepts: ideas about place, human-environment interactions, and material culture analysis. Submission to the Internal Review Board (if applicable): X Yes No [Project approved by IRB in December 2013.] Start date of project: January 01, 2015 End date of project: December 31, 2017 Material Culture of Water in Niger Sara Beth Keough Page 1

2 1. Description of Proposed Project and Activities This project explores the material culture (physical objects) associated with water consumption, storage, and transportation in the West African country of Niger. While water quality and access to water resources in Saharan countries is a popular research topic for social scientists, little attention has been paid to the tangible nature of water, the materials that allow water to be transported and stored, the socioeconomic status implied by or attached to the means by which water is transported and stored, and the landscapes created by these materials (such as the impact of plastic water bags). This project will compare these themes between rural and urban Niger, specifically the village of Togone and the capital city of Niamey. In-depth interviews with water sellers and village residents will constitute the data for this project, in addition to my own observations of water use and consumption in Niger. This project is timely in that Niger is currently experiencing a drought, so issues relating to the transportation and storage of water are of particular concern. The bulk of previous research on water in drought-prone regions by social scientists and development workers centers on access to water and development (Adams 1993; Page 2005; Gruber et al. 2009), conflict over water resources (Thébaud and Batterbury 2001; Giordano et al. 2002; Leach et al. 2011), and links between water quality and health (Halvorson et al. 2011). Very little research focuses on the connections between water and culture. This study of the material culture of water and its implications for political economy, gender, and society helps to fill this gap in geographical literature. The study will also assess the ways by which these elements of the life cycle of water are structured by socioeconomic class, gender, and region. Water transportation and storage are important components of Niger s social and political economy. Water transportation is a gendered activity that varies in form between urban and rural areas. I will compare the material culture of water in the village of Togone (pop. 2,000) with that in the capital city of Niamey (pop. 1.4 million). In urban Niamey, water can be obtained from central water spigots, or, if distance from the spigot is significant, one can pay a water deliverer (who is usually male) to bring water to the family compound in large buckets. In rural Togone, women gather water from one of the four wells in the village. Women gather water in groups, as the act of hauling water in rubber sacks up from deep wells requires strength and cooperation. Women in Togone are not paid for this work. Water sales and transportation exist in both the formal and informal economy in Niger. Bottled water is sold in the formal economy to foreigners and wealthier Nigeriens, but small sandwich-size bags of water are sold in the informal economy by street and roadside vendors to those with less money. The impact of the sale of individual bags or bottles of water is evident in the landscape, as unoccupied areas at the edge of Niamey and Togone are littered with the remains of this disposable form of water consumption. In western Niger, water is stored in the home in clay pots submerged in the sandy floor of a building in the family compound to keep it cool. Woven covers are placed over the pot to keep out insects. There are time and distance factors that affect water availability, as well as seasonal ones. Niger s underground water supply is renewed seasonally during the rainy season, but the past few rainy seasons have been short and Niger faces the threat of drought and famine if rains do not improve. Research questions This project is grounded in the field of cultural geography because it explores links between people and their environment. Through interviews and participant observation, this project seeks answers to the following questions: What forms of material culture are used to transport and store water, and how do these forms impact storage and accessibility? How is the wealth gap in Niger reflected in the material culture of transportation and storage of water? Material Culture of Water in Niger Sara Beth Keough Page 2

3 Are water sellers working in the formal economy challenged by drought in different ways from sellers working in the informal economy? How so? What cultural norms and assumptions about gender explain why women transport water in rural areas and men do so in urban areas? What are the environmental impacts of contemporary consumption habits? What is the symbolic value of water to people living in a drought-prone region on the edge of the Sahara Desert? This project builds on three previous visits to Niger. During previous trips, the highly gendered nature of water transportation and usage became evident: men deliver water in urban areas for pay, while women obtain water in rural areas for no compensation. Due to strict cultural norms regarding the interaction between men and women in Niger, it is necessary for me to work with a male research assistant on this project. Dr. Scott Youngstedt, Professor of Anthropology at SVSU and 25-year veteran of field research in Africa, will fill this role. My expertise in material culture and human/environment interactions, and my intermediate language skills in French (the official language of Niger) and Hausa (the most common indigenous language spoken in Niger) are nicely complemented by Dr. Youngstedt s fluency in Hausa, competency in French, and his extensive experience and research in Niger. As a research team, we will be able to consider gender differences in the transportation and usage of water, without which my research on water would be incomplete. I received the American Geographical Society s McColl Fellowship 2013, which allowed me (assisted by Dr. Youngstedt) to complete stage 1 of field research for this project during Winter Break 2013/2014. I also received a Faculty Research Grant for the same field period. One article from this preliminary field work has been accepted for publication in a peer reviewed journal, and another article is in progress. Two more field sessions are necessary to complete the interviews for this project. These field sessions are scheduled for Summer 2015 and Winter Break Funding from the Braun Fellowship will offset my travel expenses to and in Niger. Results of this research (at least 3 scholarly journal articles) will be submitted to journals, such as People and Environment, African Studies Review, and City and Society, and presented at the Association of American Geographers annual conference, as well as the meeting of the African Studies Association. The Ruth and Ted Braun Fellowship will provide me with both time and financial support to 1) conduct fieldwork that will result in at least three new articles submitted to peer-reviewed journals; and 2) to present this research at least three conferences over the next 3-4 years. References Cited: Adams, W Indigenous use of wetlands and sustainable development in West Africa. The Geographical Journal 159 (2): Giordano, M., Giordano, M. and Wolf, A The geography of water conflict and cooperation: Internal pressures and international manifestations. The Geographical Journal 168 (4): Gruber, I., Kloos, J., Schopp, M Seasonal water demand in Benin s agriculture. Journal of Environmental Management 90 (1): Halvorson, S., Williams, A., Ba, S., and Dunkel, F Water quality and water-born diseases in the Niger River Inland Delta, Mali: A study of local knowledge and response. Health and Place 17 (2): Leach, S. Stege, C. and Vogl, C Management Strategies in the Midst of Conflict and Change: A Dogon Case Study from Mali. Human Ecology 39 (5): Page, B Paying for water and the geography of commodities. Transactions of the Institute for British Geographers 30 (3): Thébaud, B. and Batterbury, S Sahel pastoralists: opportunism, struggle, conflict and negotiation. A case study from eastern Niger. Global Environmental Change 11 (1): Description of Benefits to Faculty, Community, and the University This work will further my understanding of both material culture and human-environment interactions. It will enhance my reputation as a scholar of cultural geography, which has already been established through previous research, publications, and my involvement in professional organizations. My role as Editor of the scholarly journal Material Culture speaks to my expertise in that subject area. The project funding that I have received for our preliminary fieldwork, and the publications and presentations that Material Culture of Water in Niger Sara Beth Keough Page 3

4 have resulted/will result from the December 2013 fieldwork, provide a solid foundation from which the proposed project can build. The project proposed here will build on existing research, but also contribute new information to the little-addressed topic of the material culture of water. This project will benefit Saginaw Valley State University because knowledge and experienced gained will be incorporated directly into my teaching. For example, in my World Regional Geography classes (a general education course that I teach every semester) I spend two weeks discussing historical and contemporary issues on the African continent. I use my work in West Africa (Senegal and Niger) to exemplify course themes such as modernization, colonial legacies, rural-urban interactions, population growth trends, and human-environment interaction. Furthermore, the issue of water use/accessibility is a consistent theme that runs through all regions of the world that I cover in the course. The field site for my proposed project is an urban area, the capital city of Niger. The time I spend in this city helps me explain urban phenomena in developing regions (such as seasonal migration, downtown development, economic activities) to students in my Urban Geography classes. Finally, work from this project directly applies to my Cultural Geography classes where the main theme is the interaction between humans and their physical environment. The cultural practices surrounding water acquisition, use, and consumption are used in my class as key examples of how a phenomenon cannot be understood without considering both the cultural and environmental conditions in which it occurs. This project will allow me to remain current in my fields of research and the disciplines of Geography and African Studies, which means added benefits to my students as they receive current and up-to-date information in these areas. In addition, I plan to employ students as research assistants to help with data entry and analysis, organization, and publication/presentation of results. In this capacity, students will gain valuable insight into the research process, ethnographic field techniques, and experience working with primary data. Finally, my continued record of research and publication will allow me to represent SVSU in national and international contexts as I present and publish material from this project. I remain actively involved in international-level professional organizations, such as the Association of American Geographers, and have co-led two study abroad trips for SVSU students to West Africa with Dr. Youngstedt. 3. Description of Professional or Academic Work for Publication or Presentation Planned Activities by Year Year 1 (2014) Complete Field Session in Niger during Summer 2015 Continue Hausa language training in Niger Submit an article-length manuscript to the scholarly journal, African Studies Review Submit a Fulbright Fellowship application for continued research in Niger during 2017 Present the results from Field Session at the African Studies Association annual conference (Nov) Year 2 (2016) Continue Hausa language training Submit at least 1 article-length manuscript from Summer 2016 fieldwork to a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal Present results from Field Session at (at least) 1 national-level conference Year 3 (2017) Complete Field Session (or spend 6-9 months in Niger if Fulbright application is successful) Write at least 1 article-length manuscript for a peer-reviewed, scholarly journal Present results from Field Session 3 at (at least) 1 national-level conference Material Culture of Water in Niger Sara Beth Keough Page 4

5 4. Description of Last 5 Years of Teaching, Research, and Service: Past Performance and Contributions Teaching The importance of geographic education cannot be overstated, and in my capacity as a faculty member, I take teaching geography seriously. I feel that a current understanding of trends in the discipline and an active research agenda are essential components to good class content. The incorporation of my research and field experiences has created interest in Geography among my students. Comments made in my course evaluations support this claim. This project will continue to enhance both my General Education courses and my more specialized, upper division courses (Research Methods, Urban Geography, Cultural Geography, Geographies of Consumption) where I address the issue of water as a resource, material culture studies, migration, and the social and economic implications of these processes. Furthermore, these topics are key components of the Study Abroad course I co-led (and will continue to co-lead) to Senegal, West Africa. Research Despite teaching SVSU s 4/4 teaching load, and often additional courses in the Spring semesters, I have maintained an active research agenda including the acquisition of external grant funding, field work, publications, and presentations at regional, national, and international conferences. My publication and grant record indicate that I am capable of completing the project I propose. I have also secured funding from external agencies including the American Geographical Society, the Canadian Government, the Society for Women Geographers, and the McClure Foundation. I am the recipient of five SVSU Faculty Research Grants and the 2014 recipient of the Faculty Association Research Award. Service Since arriving at SVSU in Fall 2007, I have served my department, the SVSU community, and my discipline. At SVSU I have brought two outside speakers to campus for public lectures, been active in the FYRE program, and acted as the advisor of the Geography Club. In addition, I have taken students on two non-credit urban geography field trips (Chicago and Toronto), and co-instructed two 6 credit hour Study Abroad courses in Senegal, West Africa. I have served on faculty evaluation teams, offered an annual workshop for students on applying to graduate school in the social sciences, served on the Roberts Fellows Committee, been a reviewer for the Braun Writing Award and the Tyner Award, and been invited to speak at the Honor s Program workshop and the First Year Writing workshop for instructors. I have supported students in their research, including two who have applied for Student Research and Creativity Grants. I have also served my primary disciplines of Geography and Canadian Studies. Since 2008 I have served as the chief Editor for the scholarly, peer-reviewed journal Material Culture. I was elected to the Executive Council for the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States in 2009 and I serve on the review board for the American Review of Canadian Studies. My expertise is sought by several scholarly journals who ask me to review manuscripts as part of the peer-review process. I am Chair of the Geography and Environment division of the Association of Canadian Studies. In addition, I have been on the Executive Board of the Cultural Geography Specialty Group of the AAG since I organize paper sessions at the annual conference on material culture and serve as a reviewer for the Group s student paper and grant competitions. Material Culture of Water in Niger Sara Beth Keough Page 5

6 5. Budget Year 1: 2015 Spring 2015 Salary $3,343 salary (5% ) plus and = $4, $657 for a total of $4,000 Fieldwork Summer 2015 (4 weeks) $6, Airfare: $ Visa Application: $ Lodging: ($50/day x 30 days) =$ Per diem: ($35/day x 30 days)=$ Immunizations: $ Hausa Language Training: $ African Studies Conference (Travel) $2, Registration: $350 Airfare: $500 Lodging ($200/nt x 5 nights): $1000 Per diem (5 $35/day): $ Total for Year 1 $12, Year 2: 2016 African Studies Conference (Travel) $2, Registration: $350 Airfare: $500 Lodging ($200/nt x 5 nights): $1000 Per diem (5 $35/day): $ Course Release Fall 2016 one 3 cr. course ($700 x 3 = $2,100 plus FICA $161) $2, Course Release Winter 2016 one 3 cr. course ($700 x 3 = $2,100 plus FICA $161) $2, Spring 2016 Salary $4,975 salary (7.5% ) plus and $5, = $978 for a total of $5,953 Total for Year 2 $12, Year 3: 2017 African Studies Conference (Travel) $2, Registration: $350 Airfare: $500 Lodging ($200/nt x 5 nights): $1000 Per diem (5 $35/day): $ Fieldwork Summer 2017 (4 weeks) $6, Airfare: $ Visa Application: $ Lodging: ($50/day x 30 days) =$ Per diem: ($35/day x 30 days)=$ Immunizations: $ Hausa Language Training: $ Spring 2017 Salary $3,343 salary (5% ) plus and = $4,000 $657 for a total of $4,000 Total for Year 3 $12, Material Culture of Water in Niger Sara Beth Keough Page 6

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