Photo-elicitation interviews (PEIs) have been used in
landscape studies with the aim of eliciting participant
opinions through memories and feelings associated
with images. PEI was used in this study to identify
and discuss the main aspects that constitute
the formation of the urban landscape identity of
Kisumu City, Kenya. A total of 12 participants were
purposively selected based on professions, sex and
age, availability, and willingness to participate. The
aim of this study was to elicit resident opinions about
ongoing and completed urban renewal projects
within Kisumu City, Kenya. First, the participants
were asked which photos represented the city
identity and contributed to its image. The responses
were categorised under physical, sociocultural,
and economic aspects. They were also expected
to comment on the outcome of the ongoing and
completed upgrading within the central business
district of the city. The researcher took 28 photos
of the various features within Kisumu City for
discussion. PEI was used as a method to collect data
in addition to other methods such as surveys whose findings have been presented in other papers. The findings revealed that Lake Victoria
and its scenery were important both as a natural feature of the physical environment
and for sociocultural contribution to the image of Kisumu City. Other features identified
for both of these aspects were parks and public buildings within the city. The meaning
aspect was also associated with these features with varying strengths. The vast majority
of the participants were satisfied with the new look of Kisumu City, especially the
revamped streets after the renewal projects.
Foto-ontlokkingsonderhoude (PEI) is in landskapstudies gebruik met die doel
om deelnemermenings te ontlok deur herinneringe en gevoelens wat met beelde
geassosieer word. PEI is in hierdie studie gebruik om die hoofaspekte wat die vorming
van die stedelike landskapidentiteit van Kisumu City, Kenia uitmaak, te identifiseer en
te bespreek. Altesaam 12 deelnemers is doelbewus gekies op grond van beroepe,
geslag en ouderdom, beskikbaarheid en bereidwilligheid om deel te neem. Die doel
van hierdie studie was om inwoners se menings oor lopende en voltooide stedelike
hernuwingsprojekte binne Kisumu City, Kenia, te ontlok. Eerstens is die deelnemers
gevra watter foto’s die stadsidentiteit verteenwoordig en tot sy beeld bygedra het. Die
response is gekategoriseer onder fisiese, sosio-kulturele en ekonomiese aspekte. Daar
is ook van hulle verwag om kommentaar te lewer oor die uitkoms van die deurlopende
en voltooide opgradering binne die sentrale sakekern van die stad. Die navorser het 28
foto’s van die verskillende kenmerke binne Kisumu City geneem vir bespreking. PEI is
gebruik as ’n metode om data in te samel bykomend tot ander metodes soos opnames
waarvan die bevindinge in ander artikels gepubliseer is. Die bevindinge het aan die lig
gebring dat die Victoria-meer en sy natuurskoon belangrik was as ’n natuurlike kenmerk
van die fisiese omgewing en vir sosio-kulturele bydrae tot die beeld van Kisumu City.
Ander kenmerke wat vir beide hierdie aspekte geïdentifiseer is, was parke en openbare
geboue binne die stad. Die betekenisaspek is ook met verskillende sterktes met hierdie
kenmerke geassosieer. Meeste van die deelnemers tevrede met die nuwe voorkoms
van Kisumu City, veral die opgeknapte strate na die hernuwingsprojekte.
