ABSTRACT
Objective: The objective of this article is to analyze cultural perceptions, care, and treatment of prostate diseases in the Bapa cultural universe. Methodology: Qualitative methods were used to collect data through individual interviews, focus groups, and photographs taken in the village of Bapa, located in the Bangou district of the Hauts-Plateaux department in western Cameroon. Results: The data collected was analyzed using content analysis techniques, yielding several findings, namely that traditional Bapa therapists specialize in treating prostate diseases and that, among the Bapa people, prostate diseases have traditional, mystical, or natural causes. These causes determine the different treatment paths for patients and their families. Traditional therapies for prostatitis depend on the cause and are based on divination diagnoses and specific rituals. Conclusion: Prostate diseases are known and understood by traditional healers in the Bapa sociocultural group. Their knowledge can be used to reduce the prevalence of these diseases as a public health issue.

ABSTRACT
The research on Community Participation in Village Development in Ngegedhawe Village is motivated by the declining level of community participation. The researcher wants to analyze the factors causing the level of community participation in Ngegedhawe Village in development based on Law Number 6 of 2014 concerning villages. The strong dominance of community leaders in the village, which often hinders development, is greatly influenced by political, economic, social, and cultural factors that often cannot distinguish between space and time in their implementation. As in the decision-making process through deliberation for development, which can affect economic levels and the lives of village communities, representatives of community leaders who are present sometimes do not accommodate the aspirations of the village community. The purpose of this study is to evaluate community participation based on Law No. 6 of 2014 in the development of Ngegedhawe Village. Describe and analyze factors that influence community participation in development in Ngegedhawe Village. This study uses William Dunn's theory with indicators of effectiveness, efficiency, responsiveness, accuracy, adequacy, and equity. This study uses a qualitative descriptive research method with 50 selected informants. The results of this study indicate that community participation policies have been proven to increase citizen involvement in development planning and implementation. Community participation contributes to more optimal resource utilization. However, efficiency is sometimes hampered by lengthy coordination processes and complex bureaucracy. Involved communities can directly express their aspirations, making policies more responsive to local needs. However, there are differences in responsiveness across community groups, particularly among those who are less informed or less active in participation forums. Community participation helps distribute resources and development roles more equitably. Howe

ABSTRACT
Western scholarship and media have often emphasized the negative aspects of African culture, frequently employing terms such as “barbaric” or “outdated.” These portrayals, whether deliberate or uninformed, neglect the imperfections of Western societies and perpetuate a biased understanding of global cultural realities. This review article challenges such imbalances by examining the symbolic meanings and cultural significance of pottery in African traditions through the lens of hegemonic theory. Focusing on selected regions in Western, Northern and Eastern Nigeria, the study explores the types of clay pots used by worshippers, the processes of molding and design, and the individual and communal taboos that govern their creation and use. It further highlights emerging trends in pottery that mirror traditional religious clay pots, situating them within the dynamics of contemporary Nigerian society. By assessing the adaptability of these cultural artifacts in an era of rapid technological advancement, the article underscores the resilience of African traditions and their capacity to evolve while retaining symbolic depth and cultural relevance.

ABSTRACT
This study examines the implementation of the policy on the procurement of Government Employee Teachers with Work Agreements (PPPK) at the elementary and junior high school levels in East Flores Regency, in accordance with PermenPANRB Number 14 of 2023. This policy aims to meet the need for teachers in a sustainable manner through a selection mechanism that is transparent, accountable, and in accordance with national standards. The research uses a descriptive, qualitative approach, drawing on the Van Meter and Van Horn policy implementation model. Data were obtained through interviews, observations, and document analysis. The results show that the policy implementation has followed national procedures, but its effectiveness is not yet optimal. Supporting factors include regulatory clarity, local government support, and increased participation of honorary teachers. The main obstacles identified were limited positions, insufficient digital infrastructure readiness, suboptimal inter-agency coordination, applicants' limited understanding of computer use and assessment mechanisms, and the islands' geographical factors, which hindered access to information and the timely submission of documents. This study concludes that the implementation of the PPPK teacher recruitment policy in East Flores Regency is progressing well. However, improvements are needed, especially in coordination, technical capacity, the provision of positions based on real needs, and the strengthening of policy communication. These recommendations are expected to improve the effectiveness of PPPK recruitment in the next recruitment period.

ABSTRACT
Sexual violence against children is a serious crime that causes long-lasting physical, psychological, and social impacts. Therefore, it requires an effective mechanism for restoring victims' rights, one of which is through Restitution, a modern criminal law instrument designed to restore victims' conditions as close as possible to their original State. However, in law enforcement practice, the implementation of Restitution often encounters obstacles, particularly when perpetrators fail to fulfill their restitution payment obligations as ordered by the court. This is exacerbated by the lack of comprehensive and synchronized regulations between Law Number 35 of 2014 concerning Child Protection and Law Number 12 of 2022 concerning Crimes of Sexual Violence regarding substitute sanctions for Restitution. This study aims to examine the legal regulations regarding substitute sanctions for Restitution for child victims of sexual violence, analyze the gaps in norms and legal dualism in both laws, and assess their implications for the fulfillment of victims' rights and legal certainty. Using normative legal research methods through statutory, conceptual, and case-based approaches, the research results indicate that although Restitution has been recognized as a right of child victims, neither the Child Protection Law nor the Sexual Violence Crime Law explicitly, clearly, and operationally regulates substitute sanctions for Restitution if the perpetrator is unable or does not act in good faith to pay. This creates a legal vacuum, resulting in the suboptimal fulfillment of victims' rights and potentially creating legal uncertainty. Therefore, it requires harmonization and regulatory reform to ensure the protection and restoration of the rights of child victims of sexual violence in a just manner.

ABSTRACT
Girish Karnad’s Naga-Mandala creates a dream-reality as a playwright in search of a story comes across the life and dreams of Rani, an adolescent girl who gets wedded off to a man whose has no love for her. Her life gets its fulfilment as a Naga falls in her love and becomes one with her as Karnad explores the tradition of folklore whereby Cobras could take the human form and become humans. Through a powerful set of actions Rani becomes a wife and mother and matures into becoming a complete woman. The paper studies the journey of Rani from a young girl to woman through the participation of three males, her husband, the lover and Kappanna, another young man who plays a functional role in working out her liberty. These three males form one self as they evolve and grow into one image becoming facets of one male visage, the three-tier structure of Freud’s mind or consciousness.

ABSTRACT
This research analyzes the role of Yoruba traditional leaders in Oyo State, Nigeria, in fostering democratic processes. Despite the modern democratic framework, these traditional institutions remain a vital part of the socio-political fabric. The Yoruba system, characterized by a structured hierarchy headed by the Alaafin of Oyo and the Oyomesi council, operates on principles of accountability and communal consultation. Using a qualitative approach based on secondary sources, this study explores how these leaders contribute to democracy. They act as stabilizers by resolving conflicts, providing civic education, and mediating between the state and local communities. Their grassroots legitimacy allows them to bridge a critical gap, fostering social cohesion and enhancing the local acceptance of governmental policies. However, their potential is constrained by significant challenges, including a lack of formal constitutional recognition and the risk of political interference, which can compromise their neutrality. Nonetheless, the research concludes that the functions of traditional rulers promoting participation, accountability, and transparency are inherently complementary to democratic ideals. Effectively integrating these indigenous governance structures into the national democratic framework offers a viable path to strengthening governance, promoting peace, and deepening citizen engagement in Nigeria.