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Review Article
Angola in the Context of Bantu Civilization
Eduardo Ernesto Vicente*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
74-78
Received:
16 January 2026
Accepted:
27 January 2026
Published:
4 March 2026
Abstract: This literature review essay explores Angola's insertion into the cultural plurality of Bantu civilization, analysing how migratory dynamics, language, and complex socio-political structures shaped the identity of the present-day nation. The central objective is to understand Angola not as an isolated entity, but as one of the fundamental pillars of Bantu expansion in Southern Africa, highlighting the cultural continuities and kinship systems that, resisting colonial ruptures, still define the daily life and social praxis of this territory. In terms of methodology, this work is based on a qualitative bibliographic review of a descriptive nature with a reflective focus. Works by historians, anthropologists, and linguists were consulted, cross-referencing data from oral tradition with contemporary written records. The approach prioritizes language that oscillates between scientific rigor and the proximity of a reflective essay, avoiding certain ambiguities and technical dualities to allow for an organic reading. It is concluded that Angolan identity is a living expression of Bantu heritage, manifested both in community organization and spirituality. The study reinforces that looking to the territory's pre-colonial past is not a step backward, but a necessary step to lay the foundations for the future of an Angola that recognizes itself in its own history and its deep connection with the African continent.
Abstract: This literature review essay explores Angola's insertion into the cultural plurality of Bantu civilization, analysing how migratory dynamics, language, and complex socio-political structures shaped the identity of the present-day nation. The central objective is to understand Angola not as an isolated entity, but as one of the fundamental pillars o...
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Methodology Article
People’s Power in Post-Modernism - Constitutional Demarchy
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
79-89
Received:
7 January 2026
Accepted:
27 January 2026
Published:
5 March 2026
Abstract: The fulfilment of the arising expectations amongst the generations of the Twenty-First Century - in terms of social implication and communication - has become the assertion of opinion as a qualitative augmentation of political engagement. This actuality necessitates a methodology of organic networks in a generalized ongoing and permanent access to the decision-making process of a given Society. The task of forming a political superstructure that is a direct reflection of the social collective-consciousness is a challenge that is not met and cannot be met within the obsolete Nation-State paradigm. Initially this paradigm was formulated in 1648 CE, for the purpose of centralizing a unified Germany under the tutelage of the Prussian aristocracy, as the Modern State. The Occidental model of Statecraft is the subject of protestation in terms of the anti-war movements, the Gen Z uprisings seeking policy and political change by way of the street, due to the lack of any other avenue of intervention. Together with the extrapolations made between political life and social issues in terms of individual Identities and minority Identities, there is reason to consider the reformulation of Democracy as Demarchy, to supersede representativity in a direct application, by way of the means and consciousness of current conditions in the here and now. The codification of such principles is feasible through the process of the Constituent Assembly as the initial Council methodology formulating the permanent priorities and conditions which generate a societal consensus for the legitimacy of the Law. In effect the hierarchy of power is put into question as an operational regime. The failure of the modern Nation-State is revealed as non-operational in various dimensions; as lacking the actual collective consciousness in consensus, disregarding the minorities in Civil Society and hoisting a hierarchy of power without the authority of the Public’s will.
Abstract: The fulfilment of the arising expectations amongst the generations of the Twenty-First Century - in terms of social implication and communication - has become the assertion of opinion as a qualitative augmentation of political engagement. This actuality necessitates a methodology of organic networks in a generalized ongoing and permanent access to ...
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Research Article
Islamophobia in Global Media Narratives: A Qur’anic and Prophetic Counter-discourse
Muhammad Saleem Sarwar*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
90-96
Received:
18 January 2026
Accepted:
3 March 2026
Published:
16 March 2026
Abstract: Islamophobia has increasingly influenced the representation of Islam and Muslims through securitized narratives, cultural othering, and selective patterns of visibility, particularly within Anglophone Western mainstream media and political–media discourse. This article presents a qualitative and conceptual examination informed by Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) to explore recurring narrative structures that shape Islamophobic portrayals in contemporary media communication. The study analyzes widely recognized media discourse trends to illustrate how particular framing strategies contribute to epistemic injustice, reinforce suspicion, and attribute collective responsibility to Muslim communities. In response, the article proposes a Qur’anic–Prophetic ethical framework as a normative resource for evaluating media narratives and encouraging responsible communication. The framework highlights key ethical principles—including justice, verification of information, respect for human dignity, and moral witnessing—as evaluative standards for assessing media practices. Building on these principles, the study outlines practical mechanisms through which ethical guidance may be integrated into media environments, such as strengthened verification procedures, editorial review processes that assess stereotyping risks, and language guidelines for responsible reporting. While presenting Islamic ethical teachings as a constructive moral perspective for media critique, the article also recognizes the diversity of interpretive approaches within Islamic thought and engages potential concerns about employing religious ethics in public discourse. It demonstrates that many of the proposed principles align with broadly shared normative values such as truthfulness, fairness, and respect for human dignity. By linking critical media analysis with Islamic normative ethics, the article contributes to contemporary discussions on Islamophobia and offers a practical framework for promoting more balanced and accountable public communication.
Abstract: Islamophobia has increasingly influenced the representation of Islam and Muslims through securitized narratives, cultural othering, and selective patterns of visibility, particularly within Anglophone Western mainstream media and political–media discourse. This article presents a qualitative and conceptual examination informed by Critical Discourse...
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Research Article
Inclusive Pedagogy: Toward a Pedagogy of Belonging and Transformation
Emeka Okoli*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
97-105
Received:
16 January 2026
Accepted:
27 January 2026
Published:
23 March 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.hss.20261402.14
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Abstract: Inclusive pedagogy is increasingly promoted within higher education as a response to inequity and exclusion, yet it is often framed as a technical or policy-driven intervention focused on access and accommodation. Drawing on decolonial and humanising scholarship, this article challenges such framings by conceptualising inclusive pedagogy as an ethical, political, and ontological praxis concerned with epistemological equity. Using qualitative interview data from historically marginalised psychologists, drawn from a doctoral study employing a Decolonial Constructivist Grounded Theory approach, the article examines how inclusive pedagogy is experienced, contested, and reimagined within Westernised higher education contexts. The findings reveal how pedagogy operates simultaneously as a site of epistemic violence and as a space of relational possibility, shaped by racialised standards of legitimacy, embodied reflexivity, ethical discomfort, and institutional constraint. Inclusive pedagogy is shown to function not as a fixed set of strategies but as an ongoing praxis of becoming, sustained through relational care, critical consciousness, and resistance to Eurocentric knowledge hierarchies. The article contributes to scholarship on inclusive and decolonial pedagogy by advancing epistemological equity as a central analytic lens and by foregrounding lived experience as a critical site for understanding the harms and transformative possibilities of pedagogy in higher education.
Abstract: Inclusive pedagogy is increasingly promoted within higher education as a response to inequity and exclusion, yet it is often framed as a technical or policy-driven intervention focused on access and accommodation. Drawing on decolonial and humanising scholarship, this article challenges such framings by conceptualising inclusive pedagogy as an ethi...
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Research Article
A Lived Experience of and an Intersection of Gay Camarero and Pagsasanto in Aklan: A Gendered Perspective
Charimar Icawalo,
Victoria Gepty*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
106-115
Received:
3 February 2026
Accepted:
26 February 2026
Published:
30 March 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.hss.20261402.15
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Abstract: This study explores how gender identity is expressed, negotiated, and formed within the religious role of gay camareros in the Filipino Catholic tradition of pagsasanto— the care and celebration of religious icons. Utilizing a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study examined the lived experiences of five gay camareros who have actively participated in pagsasanto for at least five years. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, where participants shared their insights on their religious devotion, gender identity, and the intersection of both. The findings reveal that pagsasanto is not only a devotional practice but also a space for self-expression, identity formation, and social inclusion. The participants' gender identity was shaped by factors such as family traditions, religious devotion, and community support, while their gender expression within pagsasanto was manifested in religious devotion, artistic expression, and performativity. Despite facing gender discrimination and subtle policing, the participants navigate traditional gender roles by challenging norms and reconfiguring their roles within the religious context. This study affirms that pagsasanto is a space where queer identities are not only tolerated but are actively produced, affirmed, and sanctified. The participants' religious labor serves as a site of queer spirituality and moral authority, illustrating how queer identity can thrive within traditional Catholic practices.
Abstract: This study explores how gender identity is expressed, negotiated, and formed within the religious role of gay camareros in the Filipino Catholic tradition of pagsasanto— the care and celebration of religious icons. Utilizing a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study examined the lived experiences of five gay camareros who have actively par...
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Research Article
Interactive Memory: Pathes to Preserving Architectural Heritage in the Digital Age
Nathalia Lira Vergeti Peixoto,
Walcler de Lima Mendes Junior,
Juliana Michaello Macêdo Dias*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
116-124
Received:
5 February 2026
Accepted:
17 March 2026
Published:
31 March 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.hss.20261402.16
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Abstract: This paper presents how new technologies based on digital recreations can contribute to the preservation of architectural heritage, considering the role of three-dimensional technologies, immersive environments, and AI, proposed as tools for cultural safeguarding and dissemination. Qualitative and exploratory in nature, the study is based on bibliographic and documentary research on preservation, memory and virtuality, emphasizing potential benefits and risks related to each technology and their converging use in the field of built heritage preservation. Results indicate that the virtual does not oppose the real but extends it, functioning as a complementary language of experience and heritage mediation, as well as a tool for preserving the physical buildings themselves. Digital reconstructions and immersive experiences can enhance public access, enable remote engagement, and facilitate participatory memory-making, while AI-driven analysis assists in condition assessment, predictive maintenance, and large-scale archival organization. Thus, the convergence between digital tools and the possibility of expanding the preservation of buildings and the memories linked to them presents a special potential for the future of urban memory. In making this statement, the article understands that digital architecture can re-signify collective memory, broadening access, awareness, and engagement, by treating preservation as a hybrid process between materiality and imagination. The study also highlights ethical and epistemological challenges, such as authenticity, representation biases, data permanence, and the potential for commodification. The article concludes with recommendations for interdisciplinary frameworks, community involvement, and critical design practices to responsibly integrate digital technologies into heritage stewardship.
Abstract: This paper presents how new technologies based on digital recreations can contribute to the preservation of architectural heritage, considering the role of three-dimensional technologies, immersive environments, and AI, proposed as tools for cultural safeguarding and dissemination. Qualitative and exploratory in nature, the study is based on biblio...
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Research Article
Comparative Analysis of Compositions for Virtual Singers and Human Singers
Zeyun Chen*
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
125-130
Received:
17 February 2026
Accepted:
10 March 2026
Published:
31 March 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.hss.20261402.17
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Abstract: This article discusses the similarities and differences between traditional vocal works and virtual singer works. It introduces the vocal characteristics of virtual singers, explores the differences between their performances and those of real singers, and analyzes the considerations that composers have for harmony and texture design when composing for virtual singers and real vocals, such as the way in which traditional functional harmonies and modern twelve-tone sequences are harmonic, and what the differences are, It also discusses the differences in the expression of various harmonic techniques in song composition when applied to the two types of vocal music,and composers' ideas for using different harmonies for different groups when composing. This article focuses on virtual singers Kafu and Hatsune Miku, as well as some representative musical works sounded by the two virtual singers. Several artist songs written for real vocal singers will also be analyzed comparatively, such as the Mass, Rossini's opera, and the vocal parts of Boulez's Ownerless Mallet. The impact of different vocal characteristics on the uniqueness of musical works, along with the technical differences and similarities between compositions for virtual and real singers, will be discussed. At the same time, this article provides theoretical references and compositional inspirations for the composition of virtual voices and the study of contemporary vocal music art.
Abstract: This article discusses the similarities and differences between traditional vocal works and virtual singer works. It introduces the vocal characteristics of virtual singers, explores the differences between their performances and those of real singers, and analyzes the considerations that composers have for harmony and texture design when composing...
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Research Article
The Impact of AI-based Smart Robot Education on the Sociality of Preschool Children Mediated by Creative Problem-solving and Linguistic Expression
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 2, April 2026
Pages:
131-140
Received:
25 February 2026
Accepted:
13 March 2026
Published:
31 March 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.hss.20261402.18
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Abstract: This research investigates the educational effectiveness of a smart robot program integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the sociality of preschool children, particularly focusing on the mediating roles of creative problem-solving and linguistic expression. As the Fourth Industrial Revolution reshapes the educational landscape, AI-driven media have emerged as a ‘Social catalyst’ that significantly accelerates early childhood development. This study employed a quantitative experimental design involving a large-scale sample of 300 preschool children (150 boys and 150 girls) aged 5 to 6 years from various kindergartens in Sejong City. The participants were divided into an experimental group (n=150) that engaged in a 12-week AI-based smart robot program and a control group (n=150) that followed a traditional curriculum. Data were collected through the Social Skills Rating System (SSRS), Torrance Tests of Creative Thinking (TTCT), and standardized linguistic assessments. The results demonstrate that the AI voice-interactive robot program significantly augmented children's sociality scores across all sub-factors. Notably, mediation analysis confirmed that linguistic expression acted as a more potent mediator (b =.45, p <.001) compared to creative problem-solving (b =.38, p <.01), identifying vocal interaction as the primary driver of social development. Statistical analysis further revealed that these variables partially mediated the relationship between AI interaction and sociality. Furthermore, while both genders showed significant improvement, girls demonstrated higher engagement in emotional rapport via voice interaction, whereas boys exhibited greater gains in task-oriented problem-solving. This study concludes that pedagogically sound AI voice-interactive tools are effective for fostering social development in young learners. These findings provide practical implications for educators and media content developers to design immersive and interactive AI educational environments.
Abstract: This research investigates the educational effectiveness of a smart robot program integrated with Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the sociality of preschool children, particularly focusing on the mediating roles of creative problem-solving and linguistic expression. As the Fourth Industrial Revolution reshapes the educational landscape, AI-driven m...
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