Africa and China have been establishing closer links to promote mutually beneficial socioeconomic and sociopolitical relations, with these ties comes heavy criticism from scholars and politicians. Many believe that China’s intentions are suspicious and the only reason the Chinese are reaching out is to exploit African resources to fuel their rapidly growing economy.
Although China does indeed look to Africa for trade of raw materials, Africans have taken advantage of the cheap goods for wholesale available for purchase in China and ship them home to their families or for their businesses. The city of Guangzhou, near Hong King, is home to almost 20,000 Africans were many have established their own businesses to bring a little piece of home to the East. As the numbers continue to grow, with more Africans migrating to China, they begin to face growing racial discrimination, as many are scrutinized by the local officials. Professor Adams Bodomo, an African professor at Hong Kong University stated that, “Africans on the streets of Guangzhou are stopped more than any other group in the world”, non-Chinese residents are already seen to face discrimination but it becomes worse for those who are of a darker tone.
If discrimination is prominent in China against Africans then ignorance is also quite rampant, the Chinese formulate their ideas about Africans based on what they view in the media. Professor Barry Sautman, a professor of Social Science at Hong Kong University mentions that in the media, Africa is portrayed as a “house of horrors” with so many perishing to diseases and the constant images of war and crime. Due to this negative perception of Africans, despite the growing numbers in the cities, most Chinese have little to no contact with Africans. CNN reported an article last year on what they referred to as “The Tinted Prejudice in China”, there seems to be a cultural bias against those with darker skin, even Indians report facets of discrimination, a native of Mumbai living in China was quoted saying “If you are brown here, you are not equal.”
The color complex is an issue in many societies where we see those of darker complexions being treated more harshly than their lighter counterparts; China is no exception to the issue of colorism. Dark skinned people in China are equated to peasants and trouble makers while paler skin has been historically prized in the East. There is hope that the racism will be eradicated in the future in China due to the fact that it isn’t as pronounced as it is in the West due to historical reasons.
While we wade through the literature on the toiling of African citizens, there is a new publication called: The Fastest Billion: The Story Behind Africa’s Economic Revolution that argues that the African continent is poised to become the next major market. The idea is that the world’s super powers are currently struggling: the US with political gridlock and a fiscal cliff, Europe with slow growth and even China shows signs of slowing.
According to the publication, the African continent is growing at a very fast pace. The kind of economic growth that is occurring in Africa is the kind that happened in Asia where infant mortality rate was high, GDP was low and this was expected to be Asia’s future. So why is it that the global community is taking note of the continent’s growth now?
The publication cites the surge in commodity prices, improved governance, and the potential in the population. The surprise is that the global community, as well as African nations themselves, see the children of the continent as the luxuries, part of the richness of the African continent. It is interesting mainly because the greatest potential for economic growth generally lies in the human capital. As African nations continue to grow they must draw from the abilities of their citizens.
While growth is happening, a number of nations where economic growth is substantial, governments are authoritarian. There is the belief that economic growth is generally coupled by democracy, however that may not be the case in many African nations. As nations grow, it will be interesting to see whether democracy will in fact follow, or will revolution rock tight control and settle freedoms for African citizens.
As we move into a new age, not marked by industry but by innovation, it is interesting that the African continent is moving into the spotlight.
Do you think that African nations would curry interest if it weren’t a hot bed of natural resources?
How do you think African nations will use the sudden interest in the continent?
Will the work being done in the continent be collaborative?
Why the sudden interest in the potential growth in the African continent?
How long will the interest last?
What is the benefit of the global community’s interest?
Africa is well known for its sad, tragic, and unfortunate news. What we don’t often see, or hear about is the kind of unified religious front on display in Nairobi where elephants and rhinos are being poached at alarming rates.
With the increased demand for ivory in the East, 2011 brought one of the most deadly poaching seasons for elephants and rhinos. 448 rhinos were poached last year compared to the 13 in 2007. As an illicit industry, poaching is third following drug, and human trafficking. As a result, poachers have established a $10 billion industry.
In Nairobi National safari park, 50 religious leaders stood in a circle around a pit filled with the charred remains of 13 tons of elephant ivory burned to keep it from poachers. Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu spiritual leaders offered prayers of forgiveness for the harm we humans are doing to the wildlife and environment.
Why this is particularly moving, is that there are no children being killed, no extremists religious leader, nor are there any allegations of corruption. What we have is a destruction of nature, the animals with whom we share this complex Earth with are under attack and these religious leaders felt that something needed to be done. So, they got together and prayed.
Now we see a conservationist issue shift from a political issue and become a moral one. If we, as members of various congregations, see that it is our job to be, not only our brother’s and sister’s keeper, but our Earth’s keeper, many more people might be moved to do something. Maybe our small efforts to make an impact, will turn into a larger effort to preserve our Earth.
As our leaders pray, how can we act?
Is it our job to protect our environment?
How is this an especially relevant call to African nations?
What can African nations do to safeguard their environment?
Are there things African nations are doing already that are making a positive impact on the environment?
Are our ties with outside nations like China, potential obstacles to a healthy and sustainable environment?
Launching early in January of this year, Battabox has quickly become a household name in Nigeria. Bringing a new and different approach to News and Entertainment, Battabox aims to give Nigerians a chance to have an input in how their news and stories are being shared. Their tagline is ‘Nigeria like you’ve never seen before’ and that is exactly what they show you. From important news features to silly everyday activities, Battabox covers it all; giving the viewers, as well as those involved, a different perspective on things going on in Nigeria. We had the opportunity of speaking with the founder, who happens to be the ex-CNN correspondent to West Africa, Christian Purefoy, who gave us insight to what Battabox is about.
Rise Africa: I see you studied International politics and International History in University, was there anything in particular that attracted you to Journalism?
Christian Purefoy: I got into Journalism because I enjoy writing. That was the main thing; studying international politics obviously helped. I enjoy it because for me, it’s a big part of what makes the world go round. I had an opportunity to go to Nigeria so I followed that through. Funnily enough I got into it because of the writing but I ended up in video and enjoyed that even more.
RA: How did you end up going to work in Nigeria?
CP: I had absolutely no idea about Nigeria; I went there completely blind to the country itself. I really didn’t know much but I had the opportunity of accommodation out there and I wanted to be a journalist, well try my hand at journalism. It was really tying together various opportunities and since then I never really looked back. My time in Nigeria has changed my life.
RA: Are you permanently based there, or do you commute between Nigeria and the UK?
CP: I travel back and forth because my family is in the UK and my business is in Nigeria, so I move back and forth between them.
RA: Is it hard?
No, thankfully not because everyone who works at Battabox is based in Nigeria, because everyone who works for Battabox is Nigerian. It is a really great team, they really pull together and they get everything rolling. And because it is an internet based company, I can help run it from the UK, so I can spend time with family and friends. It also helps being in the UK, there are all sorts of resources I can draw on when I’m here.
RA: Why did you decide to stay in Nigeria after leaving CNN?
CP: There are several levels to that question. First is that I saw what I hope, is a big opportunity with Battabox, and also through that I would like to think I’m keeping my ties there. Nigeria gave so much to me; maybe I could give something back. I enjoy Nigeria. I didn’t just want to pack up and leave. I’m very passionate about Nigeria so I didn’t just want to say “ok, that’s it, I’ve done my time and never go back.”
RA: How long were you there for? CP: 8 years
RA: Is there a meaning behind the name Battabox?
CP: Yes there is. The Batta is the big talking drum in Nigeria. It’s a way of communication, a traditional way of communication and the box is the television angle of it. You know watching a box. So yeah, it’s a play on those two words
RA: What is the concept of Battabox?
CP: Battabox is essentially a video channel for Nigerian news and entertainment, that is what we would like it to be. It’s all online. We concentrate predominantly on video and we’d like to think that we will be THE video channel for news and entertainment in Nigeria. What we’re finding is that there is a market and a massive demand for it.
RA: The first time I heard of Battabox was during the OccupyNigeria protests earlier this year. Could you tell me a little bit about how you got started?
CP: We actually launched earlier than expected when that happened. We saw the opportunity and we realized that this was an extremely big moment for Battabox and Nigeria. We basically just went out onto the street and streamed live; there was nothing else we really could do. Obviously you need massive logistics for that, with just getting the internet out on the street and then the issue of security and all that. But the reception we got from the people on the street, the audience was enormous, and again it just showed that there is a massive demand and appetite for people on the ground to get their voices heard and for people watching to know what’s going on.
RA: What impact do you think Battabox has made in Nigeria?
CP: Well I’d hope other people might be able to tell you that. First of all, it’s a business so the difference it has made in some people’s lives including mine, is that it’s work. That is important for everyone especially in Nigeria with so many unemployed. We do employ students and give them opportunities. We have a partnership going with one of the local universities; we have a training program for some of the mass communication students. Hopefully we can train them and make a difference as well as give them more experience. The main thing for all of this is to give people a voice and the real thing with Battabox is to allow people to say what they want, within reason of course. We’re not going to have anything outrageous said, but it gives people that voice that the internet can afford, that’s a big thing and I hope it makes a difference.
RA:People are encouraged to upload their content to the website. Are there certain guidelines that need to be followed in terms of what kind of content is posted?
CP: People can upload anything; we really want to encourage that. It does go through a screening process and we will let people know if their video is suitable or not. We don’t put anything that’s outrageous. The real guideline we have is that first of all it fits into the Battabox theme of news and entertainment and secondly we don’t want to release anything that is offensive.
RA: How many people are involved and what are their various roles?
CP: Well there are two directors; myself and my Nigerian partner, there are then two main producers and a lot of camera people. There are probably 10-15 of us. The numbers sort of go up and down but it’s a good solid team and everyone pulls together. Everyone works really hard.
RA: Are you guys funded?
CP: No. I fund it all myself. Currently Battabox does not make any profit because we haven’t rolled out our advertising platform yet. We want to give it a little bit of time, gain a little bit of traction and not bombard people with advertising just yet. That is coming, we’re just giving it a little time, getting the word out on Battabox and allowing people to enjoy the experience. We also want to see how people use it and what they want from it.
RA: Is Battabox open to suggestions?
CP: Yes definitely. We get suggestions all the time, we love to get more. We really want people to get involved with Battabox. The concept of Battabox is for the community to get involved; we don’t want it to be a sort of top down approach but more of a bottom up approach to news. We want people to be uploading their own stories; whether you’re in Obalende or Oshodi or in a village somewhere, we really want you to upload more local stories. That’s what we think people are interested in. People speak to me on Google Plus, Facebook and Twitter and we do have a contact form on the site, so people can get in touch.
RA: What has the response been like since you started?
CP: We’re extremely happy, we’re overwhelmed actually by the response. The viewers continue to climb which is the most important thing. People are getting involved and making comments. The feedback is appreciation as well as criticism and we welcome both because we are just starting and we want to know what people think. We’re very happy with the response; the figures are going in the right direction.
RA: What challenges have been faced with making the concept work?
CP: We are an internet company and the biggest challenge has been the internet in Nigeria; that is just simply the infrastructure. We obviously overcome those challenges but cost and reliability are still major issues. The costs are still too high and the reliability too low. That is changing though and it will change even more, as more fibre optic cabling come into Nigeria. The challenge is also an opportunity for us, if the internet was amazing then there would be a lot more competition for us.
RA: What are your hopes for Battabox?
CP: My first hope is for our audience to continue to increase and that we would be able to get people’s voices heard and give them a platform to be seen, to be heard and that it would make a difference for them. The only way I feel like that can be done is as a business, so that will obviously go hand in hand with growing Battabox as a business and employing more people, as well as improving the state of video and journalism and the internet in Nigeria. Once all that comes together, we would like to have Battabox as the premier news and video site in Nigeria. Obviously there are all the other domestic news stations like NTA, Channels news and the rest. There are, from what we’ve seen, problems with the old model and we hope that Battabox will create a more transparent, more open and more equal news and video site. The other big opportunity we see is that the internet and mobile has just come to Nigeria and unlike the rest of the world which are stuck with the old, sort of big ways of doing things, like the big television stations and broadcasting stations, Battabox is not anchored with any of these problems, all that infrastructure, all that money. People are watching it all on their mobiles these days and they’re watching it on the internet. Battabox could be a leading light for other companies. Teach them how to manage the internet, video, news and all of these things. We would like to see Battabox help lead the way for all of this.
RA: What advice would you give to people who are trying to get into the field of journalism?
CP: In general, you’ve got to find a story you’re passionate about and you’ve got to keep working at it. It does take time. It took me many years but I enjoyed it from the beginning and so I stayed and followed through with it. It’s tough and it is getting tougher; more people want to be journalists and there are fewer jobs out there. You’ve got to be passionate and keep working at it and opportunities will present themselves. You can also make opportunities for yourself. For example with Battabox, we have people coming to us saying “this is a really great concept, we really like it, is there anything we can do?” They send us videos for free because at the moment we can’t keep paying everybody, but once this takes off we will be able to pay them all and we will bring them onboard. They’ve created these opportunities for themselves and the reason they are doing it is because they are passionate about it. That’s what Battabox is there for; to be their publisher, give them advice and help them to get experience.
For those in Nigeria, I would give them the same advice but I would warn that there are big challenges; and it’s the same all over with corruption, transparency and accountability. Journalists have to keep the politicians accountable and force transparency; the only way to do that is to stop corruption in the journalist house themselves. At Battabox we do hope to roll out a transparency section, and we think that the internet provides that opportunity where you can get away from this old system and start afresh.
RA: If you had to pick something as being your favourite about Nigeria, what would it be?
CP: The people. They are optimistic beyond expectation. Whatever happens, whatever is thrown at them, they would always have a smile on their faces. Suya would be the second.
RA: What does the phrase Africa is done suffering mean to you?
CP:-Make no mistake- mobile phones and the internet is a revolution for Nigeria and the continent. There is an unprecedented opportunity for change- for the better- to give people the opportunity like never before to take their politics, business, their future and lives into their own hands. Battabox wants to give the opportunity for Nigerians to make their story, their narrative- their own. If seized with both hands, this profound change can only make things better.
The Ambassador, or The Diplomat, depending on whose article you are reading is Mads Brugger’s response to the NGO heavy market of African documentaries. In a morally complicated film, Brugger buys a diplomat position in the Central Republic of Africa, and also buys a case full of diamonds, all to show just how corruption works. When interviewed by the Washington Post, Brugger says that his targets were not only other foreign diplomats but also NGOs for some interesting reasons. After watching the trailer, I wondered if Central Republic ended up as an unintended target as well.
In the trailer, we see Brugger apply, and pay for a diplomat position in the Central Republic. There doesn’t seem to be an interview, or a weighing of his qualifications. From the very beginning it seems very clear that scruples may not be an important qualification for this position. Throughout the next few frames, another man is heard telling Brugger that there are real benefits of diplomacy but that a consequence of doing the job wrong is death.
Brugger is seen talking with various people, sitting in rooms with large rolls of money, shaking hands when a deal has been reached. Meetings are held in what looks like hotel rooms, and money is carried in bags and cases, all signs of illegitimacy. Finally, towards the end of the trailer the audience sees a silver briefcase, the sort relegated to James Bond movies, in Brugger’s hands, and another shot of diamonds glittering from a crisp white cloth.
We know from the beginning he gets the diamonds so we know that is not the point of the movie. So, what is the point? This is what I gathered from the trailer and the interview. Brugger is a Dutch journalist who believes that it is important to show audiences the kind of chaos a foreign diplomat can cause in a fragile nation, especially where this kind of corruption is commonplace. So what we see as a developing nation, someone else sees as an opportunity.
That same kind of opportunity seems to be extended to NGOs. Brugger believes that NGOs come into African nations and film documentaries about devastation and plight as a way to do good by showing the blackest of the black; a concept many Africans are tired of. Here on Africa is done Suffering, we gnash our teeth at the one sided representation of African nations as poverty stricken, diseased and dying, and in need of international intervention. Brugger implies that these representations are necessary if NGOs and their ‘work’ is to continue. If you present a problem as having no solution but relief aid, then the money will keep coming.
While I agree with Brugger about diplomats and their dangerous impact on fragile nations and the representation wars African nations fight with NGOs, I wonder if Brugger is any different. After all, the diplomats are not all Europeans, some of the men Brugger did ‘business’ with were African men who did not look troubled by the exchanges. Are we to believe that these men are part of the few Africans willing to exploit their broken homes to make money, or will the lasting impression be that African nations are still poor and corrupt, and diplomats are bad because they come in and take advantage like an adult with a child? For Brugger to be a different kind of filmmaker, would his films have to communicate the distinction between a bad few and their impact on the whole? I don’t know if he was able to do that, at least not without seeing the film.
I’m not sure whether to be annoyed, offended, or ambivalent, so I ask you,
Who do you think will bear the brunt of the audience’s disapproval?
Can a European properly critic a system that benefits people like him?
If he does, can he do so without casting some of that critic on the Central Republic and by extension other African nations?
Do you think Brugger is the appropriate counterpoint to the documentaries he critics created by NGOs?
Why should we encourage people to see a film like this?
How much of the film do you think is about sensationalizing something that is commonplace, and how much do you suppose is necessary docu-journalism?
Since Apartheid, South Africa has been making steady strides. Outside of the continent, many know it as the only post-development nation, a tourist destination spot with a stable government, and low rates of violence. A civilized veneer has swept over the nation and people just didn’t expect the massacre at Marikana where 34 miners were killed during a miners workers wage protest.
Many believed that once a nation strips itself of racist laws and moves forward towards a more just government, that the turmoil that accompanies a broken nation simply goes away. Instead what we see with South Africa is much like what we saw in Anaheim California, or St. Paul, or Israel. We are witnessing a global shift and tension between institutional powers behind corporations, and the working class and the poor. South Africa demonstrates where we could go if we don’t start to address the brutalities of living in a world that only cares about the bottom line.
The bloodbath began because a group of miners were tired of working for the equivalent of $500 a month. That is how much their lives are worth to Lonmin and this is why things became desperate. I was not there, I did not talk to these miners, I don’t live their lives, but I can appreciate the feeling of being economically starved, working a job that could kill you but making next to nothing because your job is replaceable, not high-skilled and undervalued within the capitalist model. No one cares how many children you have, or that you want them to be fed, let alone educated. There is no consideration what kind of life you want for the people who depend on you, so you strike hoping you can change that. The sad reality for the miners is that if some miners chose to work, Lonmin could simply fire strikers and replace them with other South Africans too poor to worry about better conditions, reasonable pay, or justice. Without solidarity, there is no power.
Unfortunately, the democracy established in South Africa doesn’t automatically cure the ills of discrimination, it doesn’t ensure that the poor are heard or safe. Instead, democracy can be the very vehicle that ushers in tense situations like the one in Marikana. In a capitalistic society, people are seen less and less as people and more as cogs in a wheel of profit. This simple fact makes it easy for a London based company to fire striking miners instead of consider their demand of roughly $1,500 a month. It becomes easy to allow miners to live in squalid iron shacks. It becomes easy to ignore the powerlessness of the men in the mine and how that led to the protest, the demands, and the violence. When I look at what happened in South Africa, yes I see the residuals of apartheid but those residuals have turned deadly in the wake of an economic system that beats the powerless into submission in exchange for a profit; this should be a serious concern for African nations, yes, but also for the world.
To read a few different perspectives on the deaths in South Africa check these out:
As we move forward:
How can African nations work to truly empower their citizens?
What role does Lonmin really play here?
Can we begrudge them their bottom line?
Does it matter who is right in this situation?
What else has this massacre taught us?
What is the value of the laborer in modern economies?
Is it appropriate that the miners have been portrayed in main media as violent and somewhat responsible for the violence?
One week ago today, a plane crashed into a two-story building in Lagos, Nigeria needlessly ending more than 150 lives in the plane and on the ground. A number of questions come to mind in light of this catastrophe, but there is one that persists – “What are African lives worth?”
One should never have to question the value of any human being; however, this apparent callous neglect and tragic sequence of events is yet another example of people ignoring the value of African lives. It is true that negligence is a common contributing factor in plane crashes around the world; however, in recent history there have been none as blatant and egregious as the one that occurred in Nigeria one week ago. I said to myself “what are African lives worth” when I learned that Dana Airlines had had many problems with the fallen aircraft, and were therefore warned several times against flying the plane. I also asked this of the Nigerian government, whose job it is to protect its people from the dangers of unchecked business interests, especially when said people lack the position or power to protect themselves. It is clear that the regulating system did not function as it was supposed to in this case, and this gross negligence has ended in great tragedy.
For the regulating authorities that were bribed to look the other way while unsafe carriers took to the skies (this is pure speculation on my part), how many dollars went into their pockets for each life that was lost on Sunday? For the non-Nigerian owners of the airline that insisted that the carrier make the journey to Abuja and then on to Lagos in order to maximize profit, how many extra dollar bills now line their fat coffers? Was the profit from those two extra flights a worthy return? It is common for airlines that operate within Africa to purchase older aircraft from Western nations or Russia. These carriers require proper maintenance and operation as well as regulatory oversight for safe travel. African airlines don’t often invest in the kind of training
that is necessary, and civil aviation authorities are often deficient. Every time those unsuitable carriers are allowed to take off and land, owners, regulators, and government officials make a risky wager with African lives as collateral. They do this because they feel that they can get away with it. Would an airline venture to make the same brazen wager in France, Australia or the United States? Would they display the same careless disregard in their own home country? Just how much are African lives worth?
To both my African and non-African brothers and sisters that we lost on June 3, 2012, I am sorry that your lives were so severely undervalued. May your souls rest in perfect peace.
I met her during one of my visits to the local library in Lartebiokorshie. I was a young lad of 11 years and she was of an age unknown. She was the strangest woman I had ever met. She was young yet old, beautiful yet her skin had deep scars marking it. I sat beside her and took a book to read. She slapped it out of my hands and said “My son you have no respect for the elderly? Can’t you greet me?” I was taken aback by her abrupt actions. I still could not tell her age. “Follow me” she demanded and led me to the big nim tree in the middle of the compound.
“Let me tell you about myself, I can see that I attract and repel you at the same time. Yet you are my son. Why the look of surprise? I am your mother! I am an old woman yet a young lass trying to make it. I used to be richest woman among my siblings. I am still rich but most of my riches are hidden. Some have been stolen by my siblings and others are yet undiscovered.
You see these scars? They were caused by the infighting of my kids and the countless rape by my siblings.
You can say I became a woman in the lush valleys around the Nile (the longest river in the world). I birthed Egypt and Kush (Nubians): two great kingdoms. There was the usual squabble among siblings. ‘The relationship between Egypt and Kush was a complex one, which changed depending on the political and economic climate of the time.’ Oh and I forgot to tell you that those I refer to as siblings are actually my children. I birthed them in the East (Eastern Africa) far before I gave birth to Egypt. People populated other continents by moving either through the Sahara or the Nile Valley. My children were successful and became great because they learnt how to take advantage of the annual flooding of the Nile. The Nile was my breast milk, I feed them with it. They got their nourishment and transportation from me. I was the plentiful source of their well-being.
I taught them how to use papyrus, how to use them in recording events. They built lovely pyramids. I had other great children (Kingdoms) such as Ghana, Mali, Yoruba, Benin, Kingdom of Kongo. One of my sons that I take great pride in is Mansa Musa.
But then the raping began and my kids were stolen from me. The children of my siblings came in long boats to ruin me. They came with religion, fire, and deceit. My children were taken to work in their industries as labour, as animals, as property. They worked the sugar plantations in the Americas. Some of them sold their brothers to the invaders but I am not here under this tree to tell you everything about my past. I want to tell you about my present, my future. I want to tell you about why you see me the way you do.
I fought off the shackles that my sisters placed on me. I made education a priority in order to compete in this modern era. I remembered the days of old, how when the floods of the Nile receded we used the silt on our farms and how we irrigated our land using the waters that we harvested from the floods. I improved my agricultural ways, I borrowed from my sisters who I have long forgiven, I won’t say I am there yet but hunger has reduced significantly. My children have started returning home. They return back to me with their knowledge and expertise to further my development, to make me more beautiful. They look at the scars and remember my hardships, in remembering the past they work harder. Their efforts are honorable attempts to somehow make up for all the hurt I have been through. They feel my pain. They love and appreciate me. My children are coming back home.
My children are learning about democracy, the people are learning to rule themselves. There have been recent uprisings in some of the states where the citizens fought the military so that they will be governed by the officials that the people elected into office.
My sisters divided my children. Created countries as disadvantageous fragmentation. The Organization of African Unity and Regional groups such as EAC, East African Cooperation, and Ecowas have been formed to unite dispersed offspring. Trade has increased among them and has gradually grown relatively easier. Most of the nations are landlocked and therefore trade with their siblings on the coast is necessary. The regional integration is a step in the right direction; this promotes trade among siblings with more just trade conditions.
I used to be desired, well-rounded, the dream of every man. I used to be healthy. I lost all of that at the hands of greed and envy from my sisters. But for the past few years, I’ve been working my way back up to glory. Past plagues are diminishing, infant mortality and maternal deaths have seen a decrease. But now a new menace has my children in its grips; the tragedy of HIV and AIDS. AIDS is taking the lives of the young generations that I birthed, so I weep for my children. I cry for them. I feel their pain, for their struggles and hurt are my pain.
Did I tell you about the Library of Alexandria? Or the University of Sankore? Those were places that people came from all over to learn in ages gone. I was the fountain of knowledge, and it was stripped from me. But I am slowly regaining that commitment to knowledge. Greater emphasis is being placed on teaching and educating the ones to whom the future belongs.
The same applies to trade, external trade used to make me rich. I now suffer because of external trade, the terms and conditions are not good and set up for my failure but what can a defenseless woman do? What is there left for me to do? They have exhausted me. I lack energy. They have attempted to deplete me completely but then I remember that my sons are working hard. Daughters are reaping the benefits of their dedication. Industries are being built and privatization is on the rise…”
This is what she said to me as I sit and listening in awe and utter amazement. I was a kid then. 18 years down the line and most of the dictators have been overthrown. Remember Libya? Egypt? Sierra Leone? The first successful handover of power in Ghana? A common currency is being planned for the West African countries; the common currency will be initially introduced in the member countries of the West African Monetary Zone. This is to replace the CFA and make trade among ECOWAS countries easier. Her history has been troubled by pain is on the horizon for our mother.
Agriculture has been on the ascendancy. Education is the top most priority in every nation. Africa has made great strides to catch up with the other continents, the sisters who stole, exploited, and raped her. We might not be there yet but we will be. We will reclaim her glory. We will help her restore her beauty, she will radiate once again. No matter where we go we will always remember our roots. Our heart is with the motherland. Our passion lies in the depths of her soil. Her children are coming back home. Mama, we’re coming back home.
“After we’re done weeping for Africa and calling for her to rise up, we know that the fate of the continent is in our hands. We’re the ones who hold the reins to her future” These words seared my conscience after reading an article by Malaka Gyekye; an article about the true state of the African intellectual. We have scores of brainy individuals, yet very few inventions, very few life-changing, life improving, dependent initiatives. And the very few that we have are not in the limelight to be pushed further. We may not have built a large enough fire to keep us warm in the cold, but we certainly are gathering wood.
Two organizations that are on this path are Guerilla Growl and Love Rocks.
Love Rocks Organization is a Non-Governmental Organization set up by young Ghanaian women in Ghana and the diaspora to get involved in developing Africa’s most important resource; its youth. Their upcoming project is mentoring program for junior high students. The objective of the mentoring program is to help students learn and retain more by providing a less rigid way of teaching. Students are accustomed to memorizing lessons only to reproduce it in an exam and forget. The aim is to help them understand their lessons and consequently retain what they learn. They want to enable them to be creative in their learning and thinking process such that they acquire knowledge that is essential not only for the classroom but also outside the classroom and for solving real life situations. The purpose of the program at the end of the day is to inject creativity in to their learning process and eliminate the CPPF method: (Chew Pass Pour Forget) For more information on Love Rock’s mentoring project visit www.loverocksonline.org or send an email to loverocs@gmail.com
Guerilla Growl is an initiative by Ama van Dantzig and Lynn Zebeda (collectively called ‘Dr Monk’) harnessing the power of young conscious artists, entrepreneurs and thinkers (from Accra to Amsterdam) to raise awareness and generate discussion on world hunger. In November, they joined forces with the Open Air Stock Exchange and poets from Ehalakasa to host a Flashmob on Osu Oxford Street. Besides performing to music fashioned (by the multitalented Jahwi) from the sounds of an empty growling stomach, the group hosted a quiz on world hunger as well as a ‘world meal’ based on a calculation of how much of a particular crop each person should be able to consume per day. To find out more about Guerilla Growl’s January event, visit www.dustaccra.com
I’m pretty sure a video like this won’t go viral though it deserves to, but please watch it. 20 minutes of Ugandans rebuilding. Addressing the same issues as the Kony 2012 campaign but in a proactive and non-demeaning manner. Africans helping Africans. Watch and be touched.
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