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february 2012
VOL 001 Nº010
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NEW ACTIVISTS SAME OLD CRITICS By Kate Jones
Egyptian Bloodbath More on page 3
MURDERED GIRL STUFFED IN SUITCASE More on page 4 BOKO HARAM’S THREAT TO NIGERIA
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hese days there is a fighting group for every injustice our society is capable of producing. People committed to change the world have been taking action since recorded history began. But a new type of global activism is sweeping the world. It’s roots started growing through activities of groups like Amnesty International and Greenpeace, which stood for the fundamentals of human rights and protection of our planet. These groups, though fighting for the rights of those that don’t have a voice or a platform to vent their anger, are often perceived by the very people they are fighting for in the worst possible light. A most recent example of this is the Occupy movement. Here in Dublin, and in other large cities around the world, Occupiers who come from all walks of life are being harshly criticised. “The critics say that the Occupiers have no organised ideas of what they are opposing, and are becoming a nuisance to the
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More on page 7
I WANT MY HUSBAND TO BE A SLAVE! More on page 13
analysis from africa cup of nations More on page 15 We distribute in Nigeria - Lagos, Abuja & Owerri South Africa - Johannesburg Belgium - Brussels United Kingdom - London public space” says Rosa O’Laoghaire of Occupy Dame Street. What these critics are never heard considering is that unlike the big financial and government institutions which have been around for centuries and have vast amounts of money to keep them in place and power, the Occupy movement is still in its infancy.
But it is clear to many in the movement that they don’t have the luxury of enjoying childhood, and they are maturing rapidly, every one in their own way depending on the political culture of the given society. In Dublin, a business owner Frank McQuade in Temple Bar has been hanging Continued on Page 3
SOPA and PIPA Threaten African Countries’ Ability to Modernise By Paul Kelly
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he Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) received worldwide attention after the Wikipedia blackout which protested against
them on January 18th. They represent a further step in the expansion of restrictive intellectual property legislation and are currently being negotiated within the US House of Representatives and
the US Senate. The two bills aim to protect intellectual property rights (IPR) and remain the largest development for IPR since the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement
negotiated in 1994 in the World Trade Organisation’s Uruguay Round. These two bills build on the inequality and injustice brought forth by the Uruguay Round’s Continued on Page 5
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February 2012
opinion
The return of the native
Editorial RIDE ON ALLAN SHATTER! “ This is a rare day; one you will remember, and one you will cherish,” said Irish Prime Minister, Enda Kenny last week, as 2,200 immigrants received their official documents as new citizens of the Republic of Ireland, in a ground breaking initiation ceremony held at Dublin’s Cathal Brugha barracks. The Irish Justice Minister, Allan Shatter, must be congratulated for his innovative work in speeding up the citizenship and naturalisation process. Until Allan Shatter came in, it could take years for the wheels of bureaucracy to grind through the process, but now it can be achieved in six months He has also, as head of the defence department introduced Ireland’s first formal visa waiver programme, saying, “This programme, which forms an integral part of the government’s job initiative, is a major change in public policy in the immigration area. It is designed to assist in the promotion of Ireland as a quality tourist destination for markets which hitherto would not have been regarded as traditional source countries for tourism to Ireland.” The new immigration initiative aimed at non-EEA migrant entrepreneurs and investors is yet another laudable policy that AfricaWorld commends. These policies are what the Irish Republic needs in this era of economic stagnation. We congratulate him, and pray that more such productive and wise initiatives will follow - for the sake of Ireland and all who call this island home. In the words of Retired judge Bryan McMahon, who presided over the initiation of the new Irish, “ I hope that, in the future, one of your children or grandchildren will be leading out a team on All-Ireland final day.” This is a new dawn, for all of us. As you turn the pages of this wonderful edition, AfricaWorld congratulates 10 year-old Roland Idowu for writing this edition’s folktale. And, I wish you all a Happy Valentine’s Day particularly our columnist @ DIMKPA - Mazi Uche Osakwe, who celebrates his birthday, too, on 14th February. Come inside. Uka
By Ukachukwu Okorie
Mwalimo
Julius Nyerere
Julius Nyerere - on the top right with Kwame Nkrumah 1º president of Ghana, on the bottom right Julius Nyerere greets Cuban President Fidel Castro
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hat wise president, Julius Nyerere, said, “Capitalism means that the masses will work, and a few people - who may not labour at all - will benefit from that work. The few will sit down to a banquet, and the masses will eat whatever is left over.” In the light of today’s world-wide economic mess, no sane person could help but agree with him, and this evidence of his world view - despite the failure of some of his socialist economic policies - defines his deeply-held humanitarian philosophy. Julius Kambarage Nyerere was born on 13 April 1922 in Tanganyika, to a local Zanaki chief called Nyerere Burito. As an adult, he was always known by the Swahili name Mwalimu, or teacher, the profession he was in before he became active in politics. . As a schoolboy, by the age of twelve, he had completed a four-year programme in only three years, and went on to Tabora Boys Government Secondary School, where he gained a scholarship to attend Makerere University, obtaining his teaching diploma.
AfricaWorld & Millenium Development Goals Editor Ukachukwu Okorie
Managing Editor Jekaterina Saveljeva
Sub-Editor Jacqueline Dale
Sport Editor Colum Maher
Techinical Support Tony Agoruo
Online/Marketing Mirella Santos Gaelle Robert
In 1949, he won another scholarship, to attend the University of Edinburgh, achieving, in 1952, his MA in economics and history. While still in Edinburgh, having discovered Fabian thinking, Nyerere began to develop his unique vision of connecting socialism with African community life. On his return to Tanganyika, Julius Nyerere took a position teaching History, English, and Kiswahili at St. Francis’ College, near Dar es Salaam. It was here that he founded TANU. Nyerere’s special qualities as a public speaker helped to make real TANU’s goal for an independent Tanganyika, without war or bloodshed. In 1958, he joined the Colonial Legislative Council, and was elected chief minister in 1960. Tanganyika was subsequently granted self-rule and Nyerere became its first Prime Minister on December 9, 1961, becoming, twelve months later, elected President of the new Republic of Tanganyika. Following the 1964 coup in Zanzibar, which toppled Jamshid bin Abdullah,the Sultan of
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he Editorial team at AfricaWorld would like to point out that it is aware of the Millennium Development Goals Photography Stephen Boyle Tiberio Oirebit Natália Bresciani Rocha Graphic Design Marco Rodrigues
Zanzibar, Nyerere was instrumental in the creating the union between the islands of Zanzibar and the mainland Tanganyika, to form the new state of Tanzania. In the annals of global history, Julius Nyerere stands out as a tireless champion of African and Third World unity. Through out his reign, Nyerere famously encouraged leaders in the South to work together and pursue more autonomous policies, vis-à-vis the global economy. This he detailed in his socio-political and economic strategy called, “The Arusha Declaration of 1967”. Troubled with mounting foreign debt, lack of aid, and low income from the agri-exports Tanzania relied upon to secure foreign exchange, Nyerere launched his Arusha strategy on Tanzania, calling for mass literacy campaigns, the collectivisation of agriculture and the nationalisation of industry, in line with his socialist development ideals. In doing this, his name will continue to be revered as an African icon and great pan-African. He constantly lamented the ways in which colonialism had altered Tanzania’s way of life, and believed that a return to ujamaa - traditional village life - and family ties, would bring a brighter future. His agricultural policy, however, uprooted millions from their homes, and placed them in planned villages. According to Nyerere. “The survival of our wildlife is a matter of grave concern to all of us in Africa. These wild creatures, amid the wild places they inhabit, are not only important as a source of wonder and inspiration, but are an integral part of our natural resources and our future livelihood and well-being.” His ideas in Arusha project, particularly ujamaa, are still a cornerstone of the work of environmentalists around the world, as a consequence of which, the Tanzanian government has made wildlife a prime national heritage focus. At independence, Tanzania had only one national Park, the Serengeti. Today, this number has increased to twelve, about 4.5 % of the country’s area, nearly a quarter of which are under protection as game and forest reserves. We should always cherish Pesident Julius Nyerere’s contribution to the world, and, in particular, for Africa - a contribution which still lives on.
and seeks to synergise its work in accordance with those aims wherever possible. Those goals are to improve issues of Education,
Health, HIV/AIDS, Gender Equality, Environmental Sustainability and Global Partnerships. God Bless Africa – God Bless One and All.
Published by Uyokanjo Media Services Ltd. 46 Parnel Square West Tel: +353 (01) 873 4391 3rd Floor +353 87637 3210 E-mail: africaworldnews@gmail.com Dublin 1, Dublin City Skype: africaworld1 Republic of Ireland
February 2012
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NEWs Continued from Page 1
banners in his shop windows reading “Occupy a Job”. “They’re no more than a bunch of scruffy people sitting on crates,” Mr McQuade claimed. Arrogant ignorance is not going to do anyone any favours. History begs to repeat itself.A Lutheran pastor Martin Niemoller wrote a poem about his fate in Nazi Germany. “First they came for the Jews and I did not speak outbecause I was not a Jew. Then they came for the communists and I did not speak outbecause I was not a communist. Then they came for meand there was no one left to speak out for me”. Yet even with all this pressure from the 99%, the Occupiers are
determined to stick to their form of protest. Last Saturday they set up camp at the Swiss resort town of Davos where the World Economic Forum takes place every year. The invitation-only gathering of international CEOs and political leaders which is organised to call attention to the needs of the world’s poor, was also visited by a curious group of Ukrainian activists FEMEN. At the latest in a row of topless protests, three female activists had “Poor because of you!” and “Crisis! Made in Davos” written on their bared torsos and banners. The activists were detained as happens at every demonstration but they had enough time to be photographed by the press. These girls are notorious even in Ireland, even if only to football fans. A few months back
Ocuppy lagos protest
they staged a protest outside the Olympic Stadium in Kiev which is going to host the Euro 2012. “UEFA is trying to influence the Ukrainian government to legalize prostitution”, spokesperson of FEMEN Inna Schevchenko said. Five Femen activists carried posters which read - “Euro 2012 without prostitution” and “UEFA attacked out gate”. Within Ukraine and other ex-Soviet countries, FEMEN is highly criticised, and often scolded if not beaten by the idle citizens. Elena Gapova, specialist in gender problematics and professor of sociology at the Western Mitchigan University say that compassion and protection in the patriarchal consciousness is only deserved by the “good girl” and FEMEN are “bad girls”. “In fact, their very activities are based on the fact that they are not what society is used to thinking of as young girls, and they deliberately choose scandal as their form of protest. The number one goal of FEMEN is not to please everyone, but to stir everyone.” On the African fronts, there have been mixed news particularly in Nigeria and South Africa. Occupy Lagos as a protest movement began on Monday, 2 January 2012 in response to the fuel subsidy removal by the Government. Although Occupy Nigeria
Niger Famine – 300,000 Children at Risk Urgent Relief Required
protests have taken place across the country, the most biting sit-in was staged at the Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota which has become a rallying ground for activists. Protests in Occupy Lagos have been characterized by civil resistance, disobedience, online activism and street demonstrations. The use of social media websites such as Twitter and Facebook has been a prominent feature due to dangers of street demonstrations at times. The greatest critics, like in most of the developing world, come from government agencies particularly the security networks that often show intolerance to dissent. Celebrities and top professionals like Wole Soyinka, Femi Falana, Pasto Tunde Bakare, Banky W, Funmi Iyanda, Seun Kuti, Raskimono, 9ice, Dede Mabiaku and others have given bite to the Occupy Lagos movement despite continuous clampdown by the intolerant police force. “Until the soldiers are removed, Nigerians as a whole should understand that the present civic action is not over and prepare to mobilize and defend their liberty”, Wole Soyinka said in response to the deployment of soldiers sent into Lagos to stop further actions of Occupy Lagos demonstrators. In South Africa, protesters in the Occupy Capetown, JSE and
other places seem to be divided on the message to present to the world. According to Sipho Hlongwane, a columnist with DailyMaverick, “there were a few people holding up signs that vaguely disparaged “the capitalist system”, the so-called 1% and so on. These were clearly the Occupy South Africa people. Then there were people wearing a lot of red, and holding up signs that identified them as being a part of the Democratic Left Front (DLF). Other signs called for a socialist South Africa.” Although all message managed to be aired, initially there were disagreement on the kind of information to be shown. The critics queried the seriousness of some Cape Town residents in voicing out the economic imbalance in the rainbow nation. The Occupiers in the south and west, FEMEN, the Pirate Party, the Anonymous group and many others are mostly organised by normal people, not activists. “Globally the Occupy Movement is a success in that it has gotten people talking about the issues concerned” adds Rosa, and the same stands for other global movements. The forms of expression might vary, but in the multi-cultural, globalised 21 Century world every voice should be offered a chance to be heard.
Egyptian Bloodbath
By Max Uspensky
I
t is tragic that so often, as one tragedy inflicts itself upon the continent, another follows in its wake. Whilst the Somalian tragedy continues to unfold another emerges across the Sahel. The Sahel, stretching from Mauritania in the west to Somalia in the east is perennially at risk from famine. 300,000 children annually find themselves in such peril across the region. This year’s harvest is so bad that the same number of children find themselves at risk in Niger alone. Chief EU humanitarian
officer, Kristalina Georgieva visited worst effected areas in Niger and Chad mid January. As a consequence, humanitarian aid has been doubled to €105 million this year and to the credit of the minister, €250 million is being sought for long-term food security given the bleak outlook for future years. Niger ’s population currently standing at 14.5 million is set to hit 22 million by 2025, due to a phenomenal birth rate of 3.3%. Aside from a fast rising population across the region, climate change seriously effects cultivable land as
the Sahara desert moves further south each year. It is to the shame of European media focus that this crucial issue among many others, brought up in the Durban climate change conference recently, has been buried among thousands of pages regarding concerns for a faltering European currency and its economy. More so when it is demonstrably proven that Europe’s industrial economy profoundly effects weather patterns over many of African famine effected regions.
By Colum Maher
73 people died and countless were left injured when rioting broke out after a game between league rivals Al-Ahly and Al Masry in the north Egyptian city of Port Said. Both teams needed to be locked into their dressing rooms for over an hour as fighting in and around the stadium escalated between both sets of supporters who ran pitch battles against each other using knives, stones and fireworks as their weapons of choice. Although there was a heavy police presence during the game, local law enforcement have been heavily criticised for standing idly by as people were beaten and killed in front of them. The fact that it took over an hour for either the police or the military to intervene in the massacre has also raised many questions within footballs
governing bodies. Speaking afterwards AlAhly head coach Manuel Jose said, “I saw our fans die before us and we were unable to do anything”. He went on to say, “Nothing happened to any of the players but we feel overwhelming sadness and full of respect for the lives of our fans who died”. There were further outbreaks of violence later that evening when a referee called off a game in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, as a mark of respect for those who had died in the clashes. Although there were no reports of injuries, supporters did attempt to set fire to the Cairo International Stadium when Al-Ahly’s local rivals Zamalek were due to take on Haras El Hodood. Al-Ahly frontman Mohamed Abo Teika said, “This is not football. This is war”.
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February 2012
Desert Song
By Dolores Martyn
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n early February this year, over thirty intrepid souls will be camping in Berber tents in the Sahara desert - in this, the second year of an event hosted by the online travel guide www.roadjunky.com After last year’s success, Tom Thumb, who set up the website in 2004, says he wants to make this a regular fixture, creating an opportunity for independent travellers to meet and celebrate travel culture. There are also plans to repeat the experience on a beach in Turkey this coming Sepember. Participants come from all walks of life and from all over the world, with this year’s group comprising people from Finland, the USA and Turkey. After making their own way to Morocco to join the rest of the group in Erfoud, the party travels together into the desert.
They can join in dancing or yoga, or just spend time alone whatever they wish to do. It’s simply a retreat for people to embark on their own personal voyages of self-discovery - and enjoy a new travel experience at same time. “It’s a chance to take stock of where your life is going and to ask yourself some of the big questions. It’s so silent in the Sahara at times that you can hear your own blood flowing inside you. Then when you’re done reflecting there’s always music and tea around the fire at night under the full moon,” says Tom Thumb. He has been travelling the world for fifteen years and hasn’t settled anywhere for more than half a year. He is also a storyteller, who gives performances of the Arabic classic, 1001 Nights, in parks all over
Europe. He regularly performs for the ‘road junkies’, too, as they relax around a camp fire, enjoying the traditional Berber cuisine of tajine, dates, oranges, soup and sweet tea. If you’re interested, you can follow their journey on the Road Junky Sahara Retreat facebook page.
Mali Festival Goes Ahead
By Dolores Martyn
M
ali showcased its unique culture and talents during the annual Festival au Desert from Jan 12-14 last. Created in 2001, the festival celebrates Tuareg art, music and dance, while also hosting international acts from Europe and West Africa In 2010, its permanent home was moved to the outskirts of Timbuktu for safety reasons - although, sadly, there were some doubts as to whether or not this year’s festival
could go ahead due to recent terrorist attacks. The organisers, however, fiercely determined that the show should go on, said, “Since its creation, the Festival in the Desert has represented the values of peace and reconciliation ... To not hold this festival when the same area is threatened by violence and terrorism is somehow to forget these values - and to let fear gain a durable foothold.” The glaring irony here is that the
festival is also held to celebrate, “La Flamme de la Paix” - The Flame of Peace - when, in 1996, 3000 firearms were publicly melted down, and transformed into a monument in Timbuktu, symbolising the end of the rebellion in Mali. “This festival must continue to support more than ever the values of sharing, p eace and multiculturalism.” And so, last month, it did undeterred by those who tried to prevent it.
NEWs
Hard Won Gifts on Valentine’s Day By Dolores Martyn
W
hether your loved one surprises you with chocolates, flowers or diamonds, give a thought to the fact that these gifts probably began their journey to you from somewhere in Africa. More than seventy per cent of all cocoa beans, from which we get that lovely chocolate, are grown on African soil - but the Department of State in the USA estimates that over 109,000 children who are working in the cocoa industry in Cote d’Ivoire are, as they describe it, enduring,“the worst forms of child labour.” The International Labour Rights Forum has committed itself to ending forced child labour in the cocoa industry, with a campaign currently focussing on improving the Hershey corporation’s cocoa sourcing policies There is, however, some degree of optimism in that at least some of the cocoa producers in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana and Cameroon are certified, ‘free trade,’ and are doing something to protect the children. And as for flowers, 800 million are flown in to Europe from Kenya’s Lake Naivasha region each year for Valentine’s Day. They are Kenya’s biggest export earner, and provide work for over 70,000 people. Other African countries, too, are major players in the flower industry - including Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe and South Africa. N.B. If they’re not, this section doesn’t belong in this piece. It’s out of step with the rest. Diamonds, they say, are girl’s best
friend, and over half of the diamonds sold on the world market are mined in Africa. The ‘conflict diamond’ crisis, however, drew the world’s attention to the cruel and inhuman practices used by diamond companies to ensure their profits, so the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme was implemented in 2003, setting out acceptable practice controlling rough diamond production and trade. The De Beer family, dominant players in the diamond industry have always said that they comply with this, insisting that their diamonds are 100 per cent conflict free. So it created huge controversy when they were found to be forcing the indigenous Bushmen of Botswana off their land. This population were persecuted by the government, in collusion with De Beers, not only by having their water cut off, along with extra taxes and fines, but also by being subjected to beatings and torture - all because De beers wanted the land cleared. This raised world-wide concern, and a campaign was launched to put an end to these injustices - supported by models Iman, Lily Cole and Erin O’Connor, who had previously promoted De Beers diamonds. The Bushmen took a case against the government, won, and later returned to their land. So, think about it - could your gift have been tarnished by violence, mistreatment, or, even, death?
MURDERED GIRL STUFFED IN SUITCASE The police (Gardai) in Dublin are appealing for information after the discovery of the body of Rudo Mawere at St. David’s Terrace on Blackhorse Avenue early on Sunday the 26th of January. The 26 year old Malawi National’s remains had been packed into a suitcase and left propped up against a car which had been parked on the road. AfricaWorld learnt Ms. Mawere, who lives in Rathmines came to Ireland two years ago. A student of human resources in the BCT College in Mountjoy Sq, she partly worked as a cleaner in St. Luke’s Hospital in order to pay her tuition fees. Initially Gardai had thought there was a link between Ms. Mawere’s murder and an alleged abduction the previous day at 3pm in Skerries, Co. Dublin. Witness’s said they had seen a
woman pulled by the wrists into the back of a white van with blacked out windows outside Bob’s Casino in the town. However after reviewing CCTV footage Gardai were unable to find a link between the two incidents. AfricaWorld sources who knew Rudo said she was fluent in several languages and had left her teaching job in Malawi in order to pursue her interests in child care in Ireland. It is also believed that Rudo had been in a relationship with a Zimbabwean man, who is also living in Dublin. Unfortunately, the boyfriend - Jasper Jason Dube Taruvinga, who happens to be the main suspect was found hanged in Higham, North Kent in the UK. When found Ms. Mawere was dressed in jeans, boots and a fleece top. She still had a plastic
bag wrapped around her head, press office in Phoenix Park. information should contact the which is believed to have been Friends and well wishers have Bridgewell Garda Station on (+353) used to asphyxiate the 26 year old. organized a requiem service for 1 6668400, Garda Press office According to reports monitored by her at Solid Rock Church where 016662034 or Garda Confidential AfricaWorld, Investigating Gardai she worships. on 1800 666 111. believe that the suitcase Anyone with any containing the women’s remains may have been left undiscovered for many hours before it was discovered by a passer by in the early morning on Sunday, just 100 meters from McKee Army Barracks close to the Phoenix Park. In quest to unravel more, AfricaWorld went to the streets to search for more clues. There were talks of Rudo being a Zimbabwean Shona who went to live with an elder sister called Mary. Mary who works for a catholic outfit in Lilongwe is married to a Malawian. At the Store Street Garda station, we were referred to Bridgewell and On the left - Rudo Mawere, on the top right police emblem, on the bottom the latter asked us to go to the right is prime suspect - Jasper Taruvinga
February 2012
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news Continued from Page 1
negotiations by hurting African economies’ ability to modernise and utilise new, advanced technology. Even more worryingly, they provide a platform to prevent these injustices ever being discussed and have been described by Google’s Vice-President and internet co-
SOPA: A South African Perspective
founder Vint Cerf as beginning “a worldwide arms race of unprecedented ‘censorship’ of the Web”. SOPA and PIPA’s predecessor, the TRIPS agreement, has prevented many African countries from utilising the modern technology needed to advance their economies for over a decade. This has left many countries, such as Malawi, locked in the Malthusian Trap where population rates rise at the same speed as economic growth, resulting in stagnant living standards. As a result of TRIPS, for many countries economics remains the “dismal science” as even in such basic areas as agricultural production TRIPS prevents the use of new, genetically modified crops. A further example of the devastation the expansion of IPR is causing can be seen clearly in the light of the Millennium Development Goals regarding Child Health, Maternal Health and the struggle to combat HIV/AIDS. This is due to the patent protection TRIPS provides on not just new medicines
necessary to provide child and maternal healthcare but also on the living organisms and biological materials essential for the research to eradicate AIDS. This leaves the research agenda entirely in the hands of multinational corporations and is part of a broader pattern which has seen the privatisation and monopolisation of science, strictly enforced by international law. This privatisation harks back to the socalled Scramble for Africa between 1870 and 1890 which, as shown by J.A Hobson’s landmark Imperialism: A Study, was led by the multinationals of the day - most especially investors in mining and other extractive industries. The SOPA and PIPA bills further this, allowing an unprecedented increase in the
power of multinational corporations at the expense of many emerging economies. The WTO’s use of reciprocal retaliation through trade barriers to enforce the TRIPS agreement enshrined inequality due to the fact different countries have different capacities to retaliate. For example, Kenya cannot retaliate against the EU’s disregard for IPR without crippling its own economy. Despite these unjust methods, SOPA and PIPA go one step further. They ensure unilateral steps can be taken against emerging economies use of new technology and give richer governments the right to bring down any website which assists them. SOPA and PIPA claim to “protect US businesses from foreign
SOPA and PIPA drawing.
and economic espionage” however the broad definitions of these terms allow entire websites dedicated to sharing scholarly and scientific information to be shut down, if they are considered damaging to, for example, US recording or pharmaceutical companies. This does not just include websites based within the US as the act also allows for the US government, or even individuals, to hack and bring down foreign owned websites. More direct methods are also acceptable as seen in the recent shut down of MegaUpload.com and the arrest of its founders in New Zealand by authorities collaborating with the US government. Most fundamentally, however, SOPA and PIPA damage free speech. They do not allow “the
hunted to give his account” and, as a result, forever ensure that “the story of the hunt will always favour the hunter.” The two bills mark not only another stage in the gradually tightening noose of IPR but set a dangerous precedent for the restriction of free speech, as any site which has so much as one copyrighted photograph can be completely shut down. This contributes further to what political scientist Thomas Pegram has described as the USA’s “ideological hegemony”. This is dangerous not just for US citizens with disparate political views, but most especially for small, open, postcolonial economies like that of Ireland’s and many African states. With multinational corporations accounting for over 18% of Irish GDP it is unlikely that Ireland will be able to resist US pressure to apply its own legislation similar to SOPA and PIPA. Many African countries which have grown rapidly from foreign direct investment, such as South Africa, face similar problems. The barrel of IPR is being pointed at Africa and Ireland and it is only a matter of time before the trigger is pulled again.
SOPA and PIPA graffiti.
Women Being Strong
Press Release on Mr Dotun Osunsanya, Performing Arts Director, NCAC
February 14th is not only Valentine’s Day - it also marks V-Day, a special day created to raise awareness-levels, with a mission to end violence against women. Since 1998, V-Day has been highlighting ill-treatment towards women and raising money to fund shelters, rape crisis centres and other facilities to help women feel safe. It was launched by Eve Ensler, writer of The Vagina Monologues, and every year for the months of February, March and April she allows groups all around the world to produce performances of, ‘The Vagina Monologues,’ as well as other works created by V-Day, and to use the proceeds for local individual projects and programmes. Every two years the spotlight focuses on a different country and its women. In 2009 and 2010, the focus was on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in particular, the prevalence of horrific rapes
he National Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP) Congratulates Mr Dotun Osunsanya who was recently promoted Director, Performing Arts, NCAC (National Council for Arts and Culture). Mr Osunsanya was the pioneer Secretary of NANTAP, @ various times was: Director of Business, Research and Documentation, Copyright and Screening (all @ the National level) Chairman Lagos Chapter, chairman/ member of Constitution Review Committees and other critical committees set up to guard NANTAP advocacy positions on national and international Arts / Cultural issues. Mr Osunsanya remains one of the very few critically trained Thespians with critical and patriotic training in the role of the civil service as a catalyst for a meaningful agent of National development with Arts and Culture as the authentic platform to drive the process. An author and philosopher, Mr
By Dolores Martyn
of young girls. In 2011, V-Day and the Foundation, Panzi, with UNICEF, opened the City of Joy, a new community for women survivors of gender violence, in Bukavu, DRC. The community takes in 180 women a year and offers them group t h e r a py, s e l f - d e f e n c e t r a i n i n g , comprehensive sexual education, economic empowerment, dance, theatre, storytelling, ecology and horticulture. This year the focus is on Haiti, and events are being organised all over the world including in Tanzania, Congo, Kenya and South Africa. Two performances of the Vagina Monologues are planned for Dublin in the coming weeks, in Trinity College Dublin and the Sugar Club, 8 Lower Leeson St. If you’re interested in discovering more, log onto www.vday.org
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Osusanya directed Akinwunmi Ishola’s “Aye Ye Won Tan” in the early 90’s. A play NANTAP produced to disapprove claims that NANTAP was only elite university trained English speaking/ performing practitioners. So successful was the performance at the National Theatre that it stole audiences from the Yoruba video Films showing in the other cinema and exhibition Halls through out the weekends the play ran! And this was in the hey days of video films patronage at the National Theatre! Mr Osunsanya served for many years as the NCAC, Liaison Zonal Officer, Uyo before being recalled to the head office in Abuja as Head , Performing Arts. He is married with children and a graduate of the pioneer University of Ibadan and a post graduate in Puppetry from a Bulgarian University. Ozi Okoli National Director of Publicity National Association of Nigeria Theatre Arts Practitioners (NANTAP)
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February 2012
Column
DIMKPA By Mazi Uche Azukaoma Osakwe
F
THE DIVIDED HOUSE: THE LOGIC OF RECIPROCITY
or forty years, the Nigerian state has repeatedly evoked images of a nation in grief; deeply troubled, on a path to self-destruction. At a time when many countries are counting their achievements, Nigeria is counting losses - going backwards in nearly all measurable statistics of national progress. Many believe that that its people today are poorer now than they were in the era of colonialism. Most Nigerians are living on less than two dollars per day, and the country is being suffocated under the storm-clouds of continuous religious and tribal differences. The ambitious development plans embarked upon by the founding fathers folllowing independence in 1960 have effectively been poisoned, to be replaced by complete socio-economic and political failure. The blame has been laid at the door of poor post-colonial governance, and the influence of residual imperialism and neo-colonialism. In 1966, successive military coups wrecked any hope of a successful transition, followed by the three-year civil war that claimed the lives of thousands of Ndi-Igbo. As a post-colonial society, Nigeria is influenced by two main religions: Christianity
and Islam, both aggressively competing - using violence as their only means of persuasion - to control and direct the political and economic direction of the state. Achebe’s work, ‘Things Fall Apart,’ questions the colonial assumption that Nigeria was feral and unmanageable before colonisation. Achebe paints a picture of a functional society, torn apart by the introduction of the coloniser’s tools of religion, education and language. The wanton distortion of indigenous cultures and religion is entirely responsible for the chaos in modern Nigeria, particularl in the case of the Ndi-Igbo. As Yeats remarked: “The falcon cannot hear the falconer; things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; mere anarchy is loosed upon the world…” The Ndi-Igbo are an endangered race not only in Nigeria, but in the wider world too. Everywhere Ndi-Igbo go they are hunted and hated. They are treated as a second-class citizens, simply for their ingenuity and entrepreneurship. The reasons behind this treatment may hinge on unfounded claims of an Igbo arrogance, dominance, get-rich-at-all cost mentality. They are also tarnished by an alleged lack of leadership, along with allegations of backstabbing and “Umunnadi”. Others claim that Igbo “ewe-eze” imposed by our colonisers, through the introduction of, ‘Warrant,’ Chiefs is responsible. The empire has ended, yet the damage created by the British remains.
If we don’t learn from history, we are condemned to eternally repeat the same mistakes. So, we have to ask the question: Have theNdi-Igbo learned from history? W continue to behave as if nothing has changed. As a nation, we continue to spread hatred among ourselves. We place individualism above collective will, a concept alien to all Nigerian people. We have to diminish our desire for wealth, and live instead by principles that bring hope and happiness to everyone. During the infamous war of survival, the Ndi-Igbo became pawns in the hands of other regions, who slaughtered them and buried them in mass graves, just as happened recently again in the Northern region, instigated by the Boko Haram. At the slightest hint of national disagreement or upheaval, the Ndi-Igbo become the sacrificial lamb. Fifty years after Independence, the Ndi-Igbo are still being slaughtered in their thousands. The Boko Haram want all Northern Muslims living in the south to return home. At the same time, they want all southerners living in the north to leave - in othe words, the Ndi-Igbo - who own most of the shops, industries and mansions, so that the Boko Haram can enrich themselves by taking them over, by force if necessary. It is reminiscent of what happened in the 1970s, when properties abandoned in the heat of the pogrom against the Ndi-
Igbo were confiscated as, ‘abandoned property.’ So, have any lessons been learned by either side? It very much appears not. Like a curse, the same ingrained behaviours are being played out even in Ireland, when a small group of Ndi-Igbo, otherwise called, ‘the Dublin elite,’ assumed the role of sole representatives of the Ndi-Igbo living in Ireland. They claimed they were the mainstream of Ndiigbo, and had an absolute right to place themselves in undemocratic positions of leadership. But they failed. The Ndi-Igbo are not fools. They dismissed the pretensions of this self-styled ‘elite’. The death of Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Eze-Igbo Gburugburu has thrown up sycophants and opportunists, whose stock in trade is confusion and distortion. Ojukwu’s death should have being a rallying point for Igbo unity in Ireland. We must not forget that there is still time to create a united front against a common enemy. It is not yet late too prepare for the intellectual, economic and political future of Ndi-Igbo in a postOjukwu era. The Ndi-Igbo cannot afford to entrust their destiny to the hands of the undeserving, self-important, self-styled ‘elite. We need to entrust our fate, instead, to men and women whose watchwords are honesty, sincerity, and integrity. And, together, we will.
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February 2012
7
opinion COLUMN
BOKO HARAM’S THREAT TO NATIONAL IDENTITY IN NIGERIA
B
oko Haram are proving themselves to be the greatest threat to peace and unity in the history of Nigeria. Not even the dreaded By the Rev. Fr. Vincent Movement for the Emancipation of the Ezeoma Arisukwu Niger Delta (MEND) gave Nigeria as many sleepless nights as she is experiencing now - because, unlike MEND, the Boko Haram’s demands, approach and modus operandi are frighteningly unpredictable and consistently deadly. Everything about the Boko Haram is coded, amorphous and anonymous, defying logic - apart from their apparent desire to annihilate the Christians in the north and impose Sharia Law. The Jama’atu Ahlus Sunnati Lida’awati Wal Jihad, popularly known as ‘Boko Haram’, meaning, “western education is sacrilege”, has threatened national peace and security since its inception in 2002. Founded in Maiduguri by Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf, the group’s origins lay in opposing democracy and the secular education system - promising violent retribution if changes weren’t made. Now, they are fulfilling their threats, with Nigerian Christians suffering horrific persecution and widespread massacre. Nigeria’s national anthem ends with the words, “One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity,” an enduring hope - but the Boko Haram are turning peace and unity into an impossibilty by causing irreparable harm to the sovereign state of Nigeria, and violating the personal and civil rights of innocent citizens. Statistics from Associated Press since 2011 have put the number of killings of innocent Nigerians by Boko Haram at over 500, with churches their primary targets. According to Abiodun Ladepo, a renowned social crusader in Nigeria, “They have
essentially made Borno and Yobe states ungovernable. They have kept the presidency on its heels, sweating and fretting; they have the security agencies hobbled and in shambles; they have all Nigerians restive and pensive, and they have the international community paying rapt attention.” The Boko Haram have never failed to carry out their threats even though the timing might be sporadic. - Jan. 2010, Boko Haram struck in Borno state killing about four persons - Sept. 7, 2010, the group freed about 700 prison inmates in Bauchi - Feb. 8, 2011, the group gave an ultimatum to the Borno State Governor, Ali Modu’s, sheriff to step down as the condition for peace in the state - June 17, 2011, they attacked the police headquarters in Abuja shortly after the bomb explosion at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) office in Suleja, Niger State on April 8, killing scores of innocent people, especially youth corps members deployed to assist in the conduct of the general elections. - The group also claimed responsibility for an August suicide car bombing that targeted the United Nations headquarters in Abuja, killing about 25 people and leaving more than 100 injured. - Jan. 2012 they attacked a church in Maiduguriwhich left 13 persons dead. - A similar attack was carried out in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State, with gunmen shooting at the Apostolic Church which left six worshippers dead. - In Potiskum, Yobe State, gunmen set two banks ablaze and engaged the police in an exchange of gun fire which lasted three hours and left two people dead and numerous injured. - On Jan. 20, Boko Haram claimed responsibility for the bomb explosions that took place in Kano with at least 162 dead. This is the latest in the series of attacks on innocent Nigerians recently. - However, the most ferocious attack was the bombing of the St. Theresa’s Catholic Church
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Madalla, Niger State on Christmas Day 2011, which killed 45 people, and left many innocent worshippers severely injured. The truth is that no one can pin down the number of Nigerian casualties at the hands of Boko Haram because their attacks are so random. So, who are the Boko Haram sect? - And, what exactly do they want? Why have the security agencies been unable to counter this Islamist group? We can only speculate as to the answers. They have, however, been described by some as terrorist group with an Al-Qaeda connection from Somalia and Afghanistan. Some even speculate that they have been furnished with arms from Libya, especially during Ghaddafi’s regime. Others maintain that they are sponsored by highly connected and influential Nigerian politicians. Mr. President Goodluck Jonathan himself has even told the Nigerian people that members of this Islamic sect have infiltrated his government. Up to today, no Hausa or Fulani of significant political profile, like the Sarduana of Sokoto, the Emirs of Zaria or Gwandu or Maiduguri, or political stalwarts like Ibrahim Babangida, Muhammadu Buhari, Atiku Abubakar have openly condemned the sect. Public figures are hiding, and no one wants to attract the wrath of Boko Haram. What exactly Boko Haram want is a mystery, given their methods of attacks and their chosen targets. Initially, they gave the impression that they wanted to fight western education, which they claimed helped to breed corruption among the political class. But the major facts to be deduced from their recent attacks are that they want to eradicate Christianity completely in Nigeria. Even worse, they seem to be working towards the total disintegration of the nation, by making it ungovernable. On January 2, 2012, Boko Haram ordered every southerner resident in the north to return to the South or risk untimely death. And it’s working. People are already uprooting themselves, and fleeing with their families, scared for their lives by the daily bomb blasts
and killings. The security agencies in Nigeria have so far been powerless to contain the onslaught, or, maybe their hands are tied - since, in the words of Balarabe Musa, former governor of Kaduna State, “The security agencies can’t do anything because if Boko Haram members have protection from government sources, it becomes complicated.”. So, we continue to question the efficacy of the state of emergency, declared by President Jonathan on December 31, in parts of Borno, Niger, Plateau and Yobe states - because, since that announcement the tension in these and other areas of Nigeria has not diminished in any way. Clearly the government, from the president down, and the security forces, are facing an almost insuperable problem regarding the monster that Boko Haram has become. The peace, freedom and unity of Nigeria are at risk. Its citizens can no longer co-exist freely, move freely, worship freely. The indivisibility and indissolubility enshrined in Nigeria’s constitution have become undermined, and civil war is becoming an ever-present threat. One way to combat the Boko Haram madness is for the Federal Government to mobilise both local and foreign security intelligence to dig up the source of the sect; a superior force just like the one successful in locating Osama bin Laden for the Obama government. A second and more urgent measure would be for the Hausa/Fulani political leaders to speak to their fellow Islamic members in the way they will understand. Finally, in a state like Nigeria where religious, cultural and ethnic differences daily expose the incompatibility of its citizens, the urgency for a Sovereign National Conference becomes undeniable. Rather than the people stay together under a nation that has become a slaughterhouse, it were better a means of peaceful separation be devised; Sudan, our African brother is a typical example. At the moment, the Boko Haram has become a threat to Nigeria’s national identity.
8
February 2012
Column
Heart of the Matter:
Bloody Bastards and Blood Products - Mobutu – Kabila regime change. By Max Uspensky
T
he Congo – 70 million population, huge territory, unbounded agricultural potential, Africa’s largest mineral and precious metals resources, including 70% of global coltan production, and diamonds by the truckload. Why does it continue to rank among the poorest countries in the world? Heart of the Matter has provided a historical provenance over previous issues in AfricaWorld as to why this might be. The Mobutu – Kabila regime change further highlights the Congo’s current predicament. The end of the Cold War pulled the rug from underneath Mobutu’s feet. Seeking new areas to reassert himself in the scheme of visible power, Mobutu cast his eyes upon the east of his domain. The Rwandan tragedy of 1990 - 1994 had left this part of Zaire swelled with refugees, Tutsis and Hutus, where genocidaires mingled among their victims and old ethnic faultlines and grievances were ripe once more for
Mobutu
exploitation. This was Mobutu’s aim. But he found himself in an embroglio which would dramatically shift power and socio – economic life to new horizons within this part of the world. Mobutu had survived until that time by a process he himself described as ‘Yibana mayele – Steal cleverly, little by little.’ Over time he denuded the country of its potential, such that in respect to ‘Gecamines’, the state controlled mining company, the U.S. ambassador of the day, Daniel Simpson stated, “Mobutu had not only killed the goose that laid the golden eggs, he’d eaten the carcass and made fat from the feathers.” Thus, as so often the choice of tyrants and despots, Mobutu sought conflict to both bolster his own public esteem and to distract while he continued to plunder the state coffers. However, he did not bet on other regional players being so successful in providing support to the rebels in the north east who emerged following Mobutu’s intentions. Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Museveni of Uganda both chose to involve themselves. Their motives were two fold; to stabilise their own borders from rebel activity and to claim their own share of the resource carcass. In Laurent – Desire Kabila they found their perfect ‘front man’; a portly alcohol swilling, greedy and brutal revolutionary who habitually kidnapped westerners. Kabila with homes in Kampala and Dar Es Salaam had established his own fiefdom among the Babembe of South Kivu and made his fortune as a trader and smuggler in gold, ivory and leopard skins. This tripartite opposition successfully beat Mobutu forces into full retreat with Kabila’s Alliance des Forces Democratiques de Liberation du Congo-Zaire (AFDL) as its vanguard.
Infamously, Kabila employed child soldiers, Kadogo, some 30 000, most of whom would remain scarred for life. The Economist exhorted entirely correctly at the time, “Catastrophe! Disaster! Apocalypse!” The First Congo War had shunted one million refugees into crisis of starvation and disease. The UN’s Boutros – Boutros Ghali cried, “genocide by starvation!” Meanwhile the Mobutu household consumed some 30 bottles of champagne per day. Perhaps with the vision of glowing grapes he remarked, “If I could do it all again, I’d be a farmer.” With Angola also drawn into the conflict the end was inevitable for Mobutu. Angolan rebel leader Jonas Savimbi’s Ilyushin lifted Mobutu under fire from the tarmac at Gbadolite, never to return again. Four months later Mobutu died of prostrate cancer in Morocco. Meanwhile the spoils of the country had been claimed by Kabila and his foreign allies. Burundi and Zimbabwe in turn came to feed too, when Kabila turned upon his former Ugandan and Rwandan allies. In Europe, the Balkan region is held up as a region of complex political, social and ethnic phenomena. But it is insignificant compared to the stage upon which the Congo and its surrounding neighbours and indeed the whole world play out their manoeuvres. It remains all the more complicated given that the affected region within the Congo currently produces 70% of the world’s coltan. Just as the coffee industry turned the world’s attention to issues of fair-trade, then so should it towards coltan. No mobile phone, computer, tablet or satellite would operate without coltan, yet awareness is less so than what kind of washing powder should be used on whites. We
Laurent Kabila
all engage in the promotion of these blood products until we ourselves come clean of their provenance. The arrogant and empire endorsing words of one young Winston Spencer Churchill traveling in Africa some 105 years ago might shed some clarity. Consider carefully: “Here white men can live and thrive; there they cannot. Here is a task for one, there the opportunity of another.The world is big enough. There is plenty of room for all. Why cannot we settle it fairly?” The point to be drawn is specifically regarding the claim, participation and exploitation by an outsider to another’s resources and claiming it to be fair. Four million people in the Congo died of starvation and disease between 1998 and 2002 and 400,000 women were raped. Those that claimed victory, control the very essence of our digital age. The words of a Kiswahili proverb, often spoken in Kivu accurately relate the global digital consumer passion as it stands, ‘Nyama tembo kula hawezi kumaliza’ – ‘You never finish eating the meat of an elephant’. Perhaps to this should be added the saying often quoted in the west, ‘An elephant never forgets’. No more blood products! Fairtrade for the Congo! God Bless the Congo!
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February 2012
THE PRIDE OF AFRICA in association with Comfort salon
Vanessa Manunga is from Kinshasa in DR Congo. She is 22 year old and a graduate of theater and performance. Currently pursueing a degree in Journalism, she is a professional Jazz and R&B dancer. Multitalented Venessa is a singer, actress and has modelled in numerous fashion shows. She was in Miss Ethnic and the Gocc Fashion shows in 2011. A member of Friends of Jesus Church Choir, she appears in the TV Series Fair City and Vexed. Ms Venessa was the 2nd runner in Miss Congo Ireland 2010 and Miss Africa Ireland 1st Runner up 2012. She has starred in many acts and performances too and would love to continue modeling.
Making chicken stir-fry noodles By Chinwe Ihegbu
I like stir-fry because its one meal that is nice and easy to make particularly for busy mums. It takes just about 10 minutes to make, especially if you are not making it from the scratch. You can save yourself energy by buying already prepared stir-fry vegetables packs and dice chicken from the big supermarkets. In that case you don’t need to worry about making sure you get the entire ingredient on this recipe because it would all be in the stir-fry pack. But it you decide the do-it-yourself way then the ingredient in this recipe will be just fine. Ingredient ½ tsp salt 2 magi stock cube Olive oil 2 skinless boneless chicken breast fillets 3 medium size carrots ½ pack baby corn 3 size sweet pepper ½ tsp black pepper 1 large onion or bunch of spring onions ½ tsp curry powder 1 clove of garlic peeled and crushed 250g Egg noodles
Method Cut the chicken, carrots, sweet pepper, baby corn into thin strips, cut your onions set aside. Spice the chicken by mixing it with the crushed garlic, salt and pepper. Boil water in a pan, add your noodles and cook for 2 minutes or according to the instruction on the pack, Drain and set aside. Heat oil in the pan and stir-fry the chicken for 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken is all white and no pink area exist. Add all the vegetables, magi stock cube, curry powder and 1 tablespoon of water into the pan that contains the chicken, stir, cover and let it steam-fry together for 4-5minutes then pour in the noodles and stir so the ingredient mixes up well. Cook for 1 minute then serve.
9
10
February 2012
Column/entertainment
Agony Corner
R
ecent studies have revealed that most African men do not enjoy sex with their wives. One out of every three marriages struggles with the problem of unequal sex drives, frequently leading to marital breakup. Loss of sexual pleasure and intimacy results in depression, suspicion, anger, resentment, infidelity and, ultimately, divorce. Surprisingly, it is commonly the man who puts the brakes on sexual contact, although the finger often gets pointed at the woman. In his report, Abdul Yusuf presents some of the reasons why most African men don’t enjoy sex with their wives. SEXUAL INCOMPATIBILITY Sexual incompatibility, leading to sexual disharmony and dissatisfaction, is the major reason for break-up in most marriages. Partners bring with them differing attitudes to sex, depending on upbringing and religion. If a girl has been taught that sex is something dirty and shameful, then she is very unlikely to feel free and open with her partner. Most women refuse oral sex and consider it to be dirty while most men have quite the opposite view, so both partners feel unhappy and sooner or later start to experience more serious problems. If this remains unresolved, then there may be cheating and/or break up. Other factors might include: the tightness of the wife’s vagina, differences in the frequency and timing of sexual desire and different sexual appetites.
LET’S TALK ABOUT IT
By Adaku Ezeudo
W
ouldn’t it be nice to be a super-hero or heroine? All dressed up in skintight outfit of bright colours, with a prominent symbol on your chest, wearing a cape and mask, flying around the world, combating threats posed by super villains? That’s exactly the picture I had of myself in my teenage years, imagining that I flew around the world, attending to the needs of the poor and disabled, taking away their pain and suffering and making sure that I put a smile on their faces. I soon realised, though, that it was impossible to save the world all by myself - and - rather than just dreaming big, I could take small steps that would make a difference. While I also believed
DIFFERENCES IN SEXUAL DRIVE For some couples struggling with their relationship, a man may want more sex, while a woman feels their relationship is perfectly fine. It is hard to expect sexual harmony if the husband wants sex five times a week, while the wife thinks that once a week is enough. They simply have different sex drives. A woman’s sex drive differs from a man’s. A man’s sex drive is not so easily turned off. He has been hardwired to think about sex and want sex and, very rarely will a man find himself too tired or too stressed out to have sex. On the other hand, many things can reduce a woman’s libido - pregnancy, a hard day at work, the responsibilities of taking care of a home and family, hormonal fluctuation, depression, stress, less help and attention from her husband, unlike the early days of marital bliss.
LACK OF ADVENTURE One of the reasons some men give for not enjoying sex with their wives is the fact that she is not sexually adventurous enough. For most couples, the early days of extreme passion and desire quickly subside. During those first few months of lovemaking, it’s all exciting, and it’s all new. But after a couple of years, the passion begins to wane and the thrill is gone. Some women become uptight and all the efforts by the husband to re-ignite the fire become seem unproductive. BOREDOM Another reason why some men don’t enjoy sex with their wives is
boredom. Their sexual life becomes monotonous. Men like variety, and when a couple get stuck in a routine, the man is the first one to get dissatisfied with it. What was exciting once upon a time now seems dull. Some men may not be having sex with their wives because sex simply isn’t worth the effort. They’d rather watch television.
ANGER Anger and resentment, too, are reasons why some men don’t enjoy having sex with their wives. Often, the anger remains unexpressed, and this silent seething has the same effect as Novocaine in numbing many of the senses, including sexual desire. Many husbands get fed up with a nagging wife at home, and if the wife has turned into an annoying bully; he shuts down completely, and withholds the only thing he thinks might hurt her.
DEPRESSION Depression is another reason why some men don’t enjoy sex with their wives. Men, particularly, are frequently unaware that they are suffering from depression, caused by many factors, including economic stress, career stress - not achieving things he wants - feeling unappreciated. He is not aware that he has responded to the stress with anger, and the anger has moved into depression. He is not enthusiastic about having sex at all. Compounding the problem,
some of the more common antidepressants can cause loss of libido or inability to perform sexually. Antidepressants, in fact, can have negative effects on a relationship in other ways, too, by diminishing interest in connecting emotionally with a partner. SHE GAINS A LOT OF WEIGHT AND BECOMES LESS ATTRACTIVE Another reason men stop desiring their wives is because they no longer find them physically attractive.
Many women do not take care of themselves; they go out of shape and lose their figure by gaining weight. At home, they don’t bother with their appearance, so, naturally, a man becomes fed up with his wife and no longer finds her attractive. Men are visual beings, so excessive weight gain may indeed pose a problem for them. And since obesity also diminishes libido, an over-weight wife may not be as responsive to her partner as she was previously. EXTRA- MARITAL AFFAIR Variety is the spice of life, so the adage goes. Trying out something new is often a reason given by the husband for indulging in an extra-marital affair. He often feels the need for a change of scene and would like to spend time with someone who is different and more exciting. He might simply be responding to the fact that he feels his wife is paying too much attention to the children and the household chores. He feels neglected. He wants more attention and since he is not getting it at home he finds it with someone else, even though he doesn’t have any desire to leave his wife. Sometimes, he may feel guilty for betraying his wife, but while he is getting so much fun and variety elsewhere, it is difficult to return to the monotony, and lack of arousal, which has driven him away.
Every Little Step Counts
that this dream could only be accomplished in adulthood, when I was employed and independent, a horrific incident I experienced while shopping in a busy market in Lagos city proved me wrong. The holidays were coming to an end and I needed to shop for items I needed for my third year in secondary school. I had barely started shopping when it suddenly started raining. Being an open street-market, everyone hurriedly tried to take cover under any shelter they could find. I had to push and shove my way through the crowd to secure one for myself. In trying to manoeuvre my way through the hordes of people, I tripped over what felt like a large rock and I found myself falling over and knocking down some display merchandise. I felt very embarrassed and upset, but that was nothing compared to
what, or rather who, actually caused me to trip over. Lo and behold, I was staring at a seriously disabled man with only the top half of his body. He had no legs. He had been trying to make his way to a wooden board with wheels attached which was obviously his means of transportation. I began to cry and hurriedly got back on my feet to see how I could help him get back onto his makeshift transport. Before I could get to him, though, he had already used his arms to propel himself forward and had made his way back on the board, and wheeled himself away. None of the onlookers had cared about our ordeal; they just created enough space for both of us to recover. In fact the owner of merchandise I had knocked down rained curses on me, yelling that I must replace any damaged
items. I walked towards the disabled man who had now positioned himself on the side of the road, begging for alms. I was so moved by this pitiful sight that I wept again, and apologised over and over again for the mishap. Wondering what I could do, I fumbled in my purse and gave him the highest currency I had with me. He was filled with gratitude, and said a few words of prayer for me. I decided not to bother shopping any more because I had endured enough drama for one day. I went home with the picture of this man constantly in my mind. I told my parents about my ordeal and they were glad that I decided to discontinue the shopping and return home. They were exhilarated by my story, and were very proud of me for exhibiting such courage and benevolence.
This experience taught me that I didn’t need to have a million to give out a hundred, and neither did I need to wait until I was an adult to learn to give, or to care about others. After all, in the words of Mother Theresa, “It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in the doing. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put in the giving.” I still dream about flying around the world, touching lives, making a difference, not in any colourful costume, mask or cape but just as myself. While I wait for that dream to materialise, I have decided to do something every day, no matter how small, rather than do nothing at all. We can all do something in our own small way, as long as we keep open our hearts and our eyes. Will you join me?
February 2012
11
family CORNER
Poems
LOVE ON THE FRONTS
It’s a fight to finish unlike the kiss of rose he says i love you she says me too love very truly untrue whatz love? twisting the arm spilling blood as you can in the name of him he that offers it man is love incanate man is also animal even on the fronts with love
MOVING STATUE
Stands at the entrance of shops at times receives fake smiles but real laugh are many he is officially the bullyman kicking asses is his job in a land where pilfering is a craic across the city they love him as a bullyman spat at by would be and would have been he scorns at his job necessity is his job’s stepmum endures while provocation last and smiles while his heart bleeds
I AM COLOURLESS I am the myth of the feeble Chorus of the ignorant See a particular angle of humanity Draw a line on the sands of time Caress the ego of a people I am the wind that kindles fire A symbol of love and equality Piercing my sword through the hearts Commanders lead through me Generals and troops fall in battle Defending my myth Nations rise to worship me And my love manifest in life.
ON BALLYMUM HILLS
I DO I do or I do not before a couple of eyes and one that seek impromptu battle I did but it was to rise The cat eyes pierced mine Both were like virgins about to It happened like a lightening Without any destruction on its wake Just for our good A promise in Carlow Same across Berty Ahern’s place For all that trembles to rise
Wisdom Bits
Connect with
He who is beaten by the rain did not obey the mood of the cloud. Meaning: The recalcitrant calls for the consequences of his actions
However long the night, the dawn will break Meaning: Change is inevitable in life
You can only go round a pepper tree, you cannot climb it. Meaning: You can’t change man’s conventional behaviour, you can only complain.
A tree not taller than an ant cannot shade you Meaning: The blind never leads a war party
When quarrels end, bad words spoken never die. Meaning: Scars show after wounds hial
Chapter 1
School tour
T
AfricaWorld on
No one has a medicine against old age Meaning: Natural phenomenon cannot be changed
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Sam and Sophie conquer them all
By Roland Idowu
Trekking to fulfill a dream Fermented by the grays on Annesley A knock that got a nod In the time of the reign Cycling from the premier place Through the usual apiam way after it started from the grattan you calmed my brains from the madness of boredom in a continent i nearly got lost a pour in the cup of wisdom and feather to man’s cap a mighty citadel on the hill
he school will go on holiday in three weeks time, Sam and Sophie cannot wait to go on holidays. Their parents have promised to take them to Lego land in Windsor, England. Sam and Sophie are brother
and sister, they go to the same school but they are in different classes. They have always enjoyed going on school tours together. But it was different this time, the bus is driving too slowly, the children were bored and tired, they have been sitting far too long in the bus. The bus is driving even slower now and then stopped. Something is wrong and it has to be fixed. The children wanted to take fresh air but Miss Sunshine won’t let them. Sam and Sophie sneaked out of the bus without Miss Sunshine knowing. Both of them were walking in a bush and fell in a hole and soon found themselves in a strange, creepy looking place. They saw a cottage, Sophie was scared, and Sam asked her to follow him. They
walked slowly towards the cottage; Sam knocked on the door and the door opened few seconds later. An ugly witch stood in front of them, Sam wanted to run but everywhere looks creepy – so they thought it was safer to stay. Sophie asked the witch if they could come in and stay. The witch invited the children into the cottage and soon Sam and Sophie fell asleep. While the children were sleeping the wicked witch trapped them in a metal cage, she will come back to deal with them later. She wanted to go and tell her Wizard friends about the children first. She took her flying broom from a corner in the cottage; she wanted to get back before the children woke up. She put the broom in between her legs and flew away. The children woke, they were flustered, wondering why they were locked in a huge cage and were struggling to get out. Sam remembered the sign he saw in the front door when he knocked on the door, it says “witches cottage”. Sam did not tell Sophie because she was too scared and cold at the time and wanted to be warm. Sam told Sophie what he saw on the door earlier and Sophie became worried and agitated. Sam remembered he had a knife in his pocket; he saw the knife on the floor earlier and picked it up. He checked if it was still there. He brought out a thick, sharp looking object and began to cut the cage into pieces. Sam and Sophie got out of the cage, Sophie ran for the door, she tried to open it but it was locked. Sam went for the window, Sophie followed him, Sam lifted his sister up, he climbed after her and they both jumped out of the cottage and ran away.
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February 2012
entertainment
Cartoon by Dimitri
TGIF! – ‘Thank God/ Goodness It’s Friday!’
W
Leader of Adorable Mum - ADM Gbeminiyi ‘Gee Bee’ Shogunle
orkers in many parts of the world always look forward to the weekend breaks and many anticipate Friday with a sense of relief & celebration. In many countries, Friday is the last day of a five-day working week and it is always viewed as a cause for celebration/relief. Amongst these millions and billions of workers are several millions of adorable mums; who though will be relieved at the thought of not being at work the next day, are saddled with the huge workload (i.e. tasks and responsibilities) that awaits them at home. The family will need her attention, the chores have to be
done, she must do the shopping, the house must be put in order in readiness for the next week, and the list is endless. I would, therefore, like to dedicate this poem to every adorable mum for the great work they do both in and outside their homes. Oh! The worth of an adorable mum who can tell? For there is no value that can be placed on a mother’s worth; for she is an inestimable jewel! So, Dear Adorable Mum,
I bring you these flowers to brighten up your moments and cheer you up, when it all gets heavy and too much to bear. For you sure are doing a great job! And need to be told. Enjoy your weekends! Lots of Love, Adorable Mum Gee Bee
Helping one another be ‘better’ adorable mums!
February 2012
13
news/entertainment
Beauty tips by TINA
CHIT CHAT
I WANT MY HUSBAND TO BE A SLAVE!
Part 1
“
I want my husband to be my slave and do whatever I want. That’s my heart’s desire. Men should be slaves to their wives. I’m sure my husband is dating another woman. I can’t share my husband with anyone.” Let’s call this lady Mrs Ade for this chitchat. “He must do my wish and dance to my tune any day and any time. I’ll go and see Baba Ifagbemi (the shrine priest) when I travel back to Africa this weekend for a charm that’ll make Ade become my slave, so that I can toss him around and use him anyhow I like.”. As far as money was concerned, you could never underrate Mr Ade. He was a very rich man. He was the manager of a couple of shops in his hometown, and one in Ireland. He was a good man, as attested by many people. He was love and simplicity itself. He took special care both of his family and the needy. He touched the lives of many people who were not even related to him. He was a rich man who, unusually, didn’t believe in garnering titles in his
country. He had been offered chieftaincy titles, but he had always turned them down. He was a philanthropist who doled out hundreds of euros, if not thousands, in the service of humanity and wouldn’t want his name mentioned like some egoistic rich men. Mrs Ade was the only wife of this tall, handsome and ebullient businessman. They had been married for ten years, and, so far, it had been a sweet, wonderful and lovely married life. Mrs Ade had everything she wished. Their beautifully furnished mansion in her own country, was simply breath taking. It was paradise on earth! She had everything at the tips of her fingers. There were cooks that took care of the family meal whenever they were holidaying in their hometown. Drivers and housemaids made sure the Ades did not labour at all. They had five exotic cars in their garage; and Mr Ade showed unlimited love and passion to his beautiful wife, the way kings treat their queens. He would travel to America and other European countries to shop for his family, particularly his wife. She wore the most expensive
Get physical this Valentine’s Day! Sensual massage for lovers By Tina Mutombo
clothes, and jewellery befitting a queen. Her skin was smooth and velvety, like the softest flower. The fact was that the Ades were living in super-abundance. But, early in the morning during the planned holiday their hometown, Mrs. Ade made her way to the shrine of Baba Ifagbemi, the old geomancer, who was skilled in the occult art of divination. Her mission was to get a potent love potion that would make her loving husband become her slave totally. In the whole of Idugan, a town near the border of her country, no one could compete with the bald old man in the uncommon art of geomancy. He was feared by all and sundry simply because of his spiritual and metaphysical powers. “Now Baba Ifagbemi,” she said, “I need the most powerful love potion that will turn my husband into my slave, to act like my houseboy and do whatever I order him. Just name your price, I’ll pay it. I have to be at home before 3:00 this afternoon, because he will be arriving back then.” She adjusted her headgear and knelt in front of the diviner.
Continued next month
News in Brief By Paul Kelly
- Madagascar has closed its airspace to block the return of deposed president Marc Ravalomanana, who has spent three years in exile in South Africa. - One UN/African Union peacekeeper has been killed and three wounded in Sudan after an ambush in Darfur. No one has yet claimed responsibility for the attack. - Ethiopia has threatened retaliation against Eritrea after accusing the Eritrean government of sponsoring the killing of five European tourists in Afar, Ethiopia. - Former Guantanamo Bay detainee Nadji Abdelaziz has been sentenced to three years in jail in Algeria for membership of an “extremist group active overseas”. - A new report published in Dakar has found that thousands of children are being trafficked illegally within the Economic Community of West African States and has called on the union to provide better measures to protect vulnerable children. - The Nigerian government has called on its Economic, Finance and Crime Commission to investigate financial transactions within the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency’s payment of subsidies. - Operation Smile South Africa is conducting free health assessments on all adults and children with correctable facial deformities in Namibia. - Namibia is preparing for an oil rush following the discovery of oil reserves which
may total 11 billion barrels. - The trial of former Congo vicepresident, Jean-Pierre Bemba Gombo, has resumed within the International Criminal Court. - Algerian human rights activist, Mourad Dhina, has been arrested in Paris at the request of the Algerian ministry of foreign affairs. - Bilateral relations between the Gambia and Algeria have been strengthened after a visit from the Algerian Senate President to the Gambia’s President Jammeh. - NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres has called for increased health aid in the Central African Republic claiming a “chronic medical emergency”. - Angola, the DRC and Congo Brazzaville representatives have met to discuss plans for a cross border Mayombe forestry area. - Angola’s government has denied an IMF assertion that $32 billion dollars have been taken from public funds. - The Angolan Social Welfare minister has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the repatriation of refugees in the state. - South Africa have announced plans to invest $2 billion into a rail link through Swaziland in order to access Indian Ocean Ports. The move is expected to boost economic growth in both states. - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has expressed concern over the “worrying deterioration” in relations between Sudan and
Happy Valentine’s in advance. So, what’s your pleasure? Love’s temperature is high. Body to body, we want chemical reactions to happen. This month’s special beauty treatment is ... massage. Massage is a great way to relieve tension, improve blood circulation, move energy around the body, and sexually arouse your lover. Massage is also a mutually satisfying way for couples to exhibit intimacy for one another. - And you don’t need to be a certified massage therapist to give a great massage. The most important thing is the desire to please your lover. For starters, set the mood for a romantic environment by dimming the lights, burning some scented candles and incense, playing your partner’s favorite relaxing music, and warming the room so that both of you will be comfortable. And, naturally, you’ll have picked up some scented mineral oil, massage oil, or essential oils. Powder or cream work well too. Begin with your partner lying on their tummy, and pour some oil into the cupped palm of one
South Sudan, following their separation just six months ago. - South Africa has announced plans to increase prevention measures against rhino poaching. 24 rhinos have been killed in South Africa in January alone. - The lawyer for ousted Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak has claimed that he cannot be tried in the Cairo Criminal Court as he technically remains Egypt’s President, having never signed a formal resignation letter. - The Nigerian BBC office in Lagos have claimed to have been stormed by Nigerian security personal. - NGO ActionAid International have reported a fall in the number of people with insecure access to food from 34% to 8% in Ghana in the last 15 years alone. - Al Shabab has abducted 200 teenage boys in Southern Somalia, just 30km away from Mogadishu, the Somalia capital. - Kenyan police have arrested 29 Ugandans who are suspected of travelling to Somalia to aid Islamic militants. - A massive cyber-attack from an Indonesian hacker known as Direxer has defaced over 100 Kenyan governmental websites. - Kenya has been urged to act as a mediator in the current diplomatic conflict over oil pipelines between Sudan and South Sudan. - Al Shababb has forced out 16 NGO’s from Somalia, threatening the lives of 1.4 million people who face starvation. -Kenyan judge issues arrest warrant for Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur. - Sudan expels Kenyan ambassador. - Benin, Ghana and Togo are meeting to discuss cooperative solutions to the surge in piracy along their coasts.
hand. Rub your hands together to warm up the oil, then place your hands on your lover’s lower back and let your hands glide all the way up to the neck, around the shoulders, and all the way down again and over the buttocks. Then develop your rhythm, and don’t forget to ask if it feels ok.. If you’re single you can still enjoy the benefit of massage. Just check out your nearby massage centre, book an appointment and get treated by professional hands There are many type of massage. Deep tissue massage is designed to relieve severe tension in the muscles and connective tissue. Swedish massage is great for relaxation, the choice is yours To all my ladies: be in red, shine it’s your year. Mr Gorgeous, we’re waiting for you! Happy Valentine’s Day
- UK has threatened to cut aid to African states that criminalise homosexuality. - Nigerian senate has criminalised same-sex marriage. - 12 days of climate talks between 194 countries begun in South Africa to try and counter global warming.African delegates have demanded immediate action to deal with the threat. - East African Community have announced that they will move to a single currency by June, 2012. - China lends billions to Kenya for the southern by-pass road project, amounting to 85% of the projects funding. - The UN World Food Program has appealed for $42m to assist poor farmers in Zimbabwe. It is estimated 1 million need assistance. - Three female rape suspects in Zimbabwe have had their trial delayed to the 26 January. The controversial trial has been described as “a matter of national importance.” - Democratic Republic of Congo elections cited as successful by African observers, despite opposition allegations of foul-play. - ICC arrests former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo on 4 separate charges of crimes against humanity. - Representatives of the Nuba Diaspora call for an end to violence in South Sudan, following the November 10 bombing of Yida by the Sudanese government. - Ethiopia condemned by human rights groups for its continued use of anti-terrorism legislation to crush peaceful dissent. - Kenyan Sam Agutu and Nigerian Aminu Gamawa have won $250,000 grants to develop technology to tackle maternal deaths.
14
February 2012
photo of the month
Afro Irish Kidios Dance Troupe perform at Ojukwu Interdenominational service at the Gresham hotel, Dublin
AfricaWorld team at Akwaaba restaurant celebrating managing editor’s birthday.
Protest at UN Climate talk in South Africa
Igbo committee for Ojukwu Interdenominational service in Ireland pose for the press
10 years old AfricaWorld columnist Roland Idowu signing autograph on his new book
Occupy Dame street protestors
February 2012
15
sport
2012 African Cup of Nations Gabon and Equatorial Guinea will be the center of focus for all football lovers over the months of January and February, as the 2012 installment of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) got under way. Following a stunning opening ceremony at the Estadio De Bata in Equatorial Guinea which culminated in a breathtaking fireworks display, it was down to business for the 16 nations competing for glory at this years tournament. Although there was some initial issues with crowd control with police having
GROUP A: Equatorial Guinea managed to secure their first ever AFCON Tournament final victory, beating Libya 1 - 0 when Javier Bilboa sprung the offside trap before firing the ball into the top corner in the 87th minute. Later that evening Zambia would stun Senegal at the Estadio De Bata with a 2 - 1 victory over The Lions of Teranga. Two first half goals in the space of eight minute from Mayuka and Kalaba was enough to see the Zambians on their way. Senegal managed to pull one goal back in the 74th minute through Dame N’Doye after he managed to get on
GROUP B: Tournament favourites, Cote D’Ivoire got their tournament off to a winning start with a narrow win over Sudan at the Nuevo Estadio Malabo. The Dessert Hawks showed great defensive organisation to limit their star studded opponents to just a single goal, which came when Chelsea teammates Salomon Kalou and Didier Drogba combined to head the ball over the line in the 39th minute. Later that evening Angola would down Burkina Faso 2 -1 following a scrappy opening 45 minutes in Equatorial Guinea capital. Palancas Negras went ahead just before the half time whistle when the Burkina Fasa defence
GROUP C: Gabon managed to ease past Niger in their opening game with a 2 - 0 win in front of their own fans at the Stade d’Angondjé just outside the countries capital Libreville. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang managed to head home at the far post on the half hour mark, after a superb Ngueme cross. The co-host’s doubled their lead just 15 minutes later when Niger keeper, Kasally Daouda produced a fine save to keep Aubameyang’s shot out but the rebound fell to Ngueme who was left with a simple tap in. North African rivals Morocco and Tunisia’s match would prove to be some what of a more
to use tear gas against fans who had attempted to storm the gates before the opening game between Equatorial Guinea and Libya, the focus would inevitably turn to the activity on the pitch. Thus far this years installment has not failed to disappoint and football fanatics have had plenty to talk about now that the group stages are over and the the fight for a semi-final place has begun.
the end of a long range Ndaw free kick, however this would prove little more than a consolation for the West Africans. Match day 2 in group A, would see Libya and Zambia play out an entertaining 2 - 2 draw, with Chipolopolo coming from behind twice during the match. Ahmed Sa’ad put The Mediterranean Knights into the lead after just five minutes following a great through ball from Elkhatroush. Zambia hit back in the 29th minute through Mayuka’s well-placed volley, leaving the sides level going into the half time break. Sa’ad would add his second goal of the game just after the restart on 48 minutes as he fired
a shot from inside the penalty area that was helped in by the frame of the post. Zambia continued to press and under constant pressure the North Africans buckled when Issac Chansa played a superb over head volley for Chris Katongo to head home at the far post. Meanwhile Senegal’s woes would be confounded as they slumped to a 2 - 1 defeat against Equatorial Guinea. Though The Lions of Teranga created the better of the opening chances, it would be the co-host nation who finally took the lead in the 62nd minute when Randy met Killy’s cross to leave the Senegal defence stranded. Moussa Sow equalised with a minute of normal time remaining, however
David Alvez’s stunning 30 yard pile driver deep into injury time sent the home fans into raptures. The final match day would see a meeting between first placed Equatorial Guinea and second placed Zambia in a battle for top spot of Group A. The game itself proved to be a cagey affair with neither team offering much in the attacking option, the deadlock would be broken by Chipolopolo when Katongo cut in from the left flank and finished with a low strike after he was given far too much time by the Equatorial Guinea defence to place his shot in the 67th minute. Senegal’s poor showing at the tournament continued in Bata when they were beaten 2 -1 by Libya
in the battle to secure 3rd place in the group. Ihab Albousaifi scored the North Africans first goal with just 5 minutes gone as he latched on to the end of Osman’s through ball to provide a neat finish. Senegal equalized through N’diaye’s headed goal. The Mediterranean Knights were not to be denied though and Albousaifi would score what proved to be the winner in the 84th following an error by M’Bengue. The result proved to be of little value as both nations exited the competition due to the earlier result between Zambia and Equatorial Guinea which had secured both teams first and second spot in the group.
failed to clear the ball from the danger area following a goal mouth scramble allowing Mateaus. Alain Traore then equalised for The Stallions with a left footed free kick which beat the wall and left Fernandes glued to the spot. Manucho scored what proved to be the winner in the 69th minute with a thunderous strike which squeezed in off the post. Manucho would carry his goal scoring form into match day 2 during the 2 - 2 draw with Sudan, the Angolan’s though will be wondering how they did not manage to win the game having led twice. Things got off to a good start for Palancas Negras when Manucho capitlized on a mistake by the defence to drive a low shot past the Sudanese keeper with 5 minutes
played. However Bashir’s header in the 33rd minute drew the sides level and promised an entertaining second half. Angola would regain the lead from the penalty spot when Manucho confidently stepped 5 minutes after the interval following Djalma’s foul inside the area. The Dessert Hawks we not to be denied a share of the spoils though when Bashir equalised in the 73rd minute after he pounced on a loose ball inside the Angolan six yard box. Cote D’Ivorie continued their winning ways, sealing their place in the quarter finals with a 2 - 0 win over Burkina Faso. Drogba and Kalou combined for the second time in two games to put The Elephants 1 - 0 ahead, the goal would be overshadowed by Kalou’s later
substitution with what was thought to be a torn calf muscle. The points were secured in the 82nd minute for the Ivorians when Bakary Kone managed to put the ball past his own keeper. Sudan went into match day three knowing that victory against win-less Burkina Faso and a win for Cote D’Ivoire over Angola would book them a place in the quarter final for the first time in 42 years. The Dessert Hawks up held their end of the bargain beating The Stalions 2 -1 with two goals from Mudather Tayeb either side of the half time break. Tayeb’s first came when he seized on Tall’s mistake 40 yards from goal and brought the ball forward to score a relatively easy effort past Diakite with 33 minutes played.
His second came in the 80th minute with the sluggish Burkina Faso defence being the cause of their own downfall yet again. Daouda Diakite wasted time collecting a loose ball which was pounced upon by Tayeb, who promptly rounded the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net. the Stallions did pull a goal back deep into injury time when Ouedraogo managed to head home a free kick. Later that evening Cote D’Ivoire would win 2 - 0 against Angola, a bundled effort from Emmanuel Eboue in the 33rd minute and a disputed own goal 19 minutes into the second half were enough to see The Elephants through to the next round top of group B followed by Sudan.
opened ended affair. The Lions of the Atlas took the lead when some sloppy Tunisian defending allowed Khaled Korbi to score a free kick with 33 minutes on the clock. The Eagles of Carthage would find themselves chasing a two goal deficit in the in the 76th minute when Msanki danced around the defence before slotting home via a deflection. Morocco managed to wake from their slumber with 4 minutes to go although Housanne Kharja was clearly in an offside position when his acrobatic shot was lashed into the net, leaving the score at full time 2 - 1. A much improved Niger side would take on Tunisia in match day 2 and but for a late Jemaa strike,
Nema were so close to taking a share of the points from the game. Msanki again dazzled the defence with some nice footwork before slotting the ball in to the back of the net much the same as he did against Morocco a few days earlier with 4 minutes gone. Niger would hit back almost immediately in the 11th minute with a with a towering header from William N’Gounou. Tunisia huffed and puffed for the rest of the game and Jemaa was on hand to score in the 90th minute to deny Nema their first point at this stage of the tournament. Gabon sealed their place in the quarter finals with a 98th minute winner to dump 1976 champions Morocco out of this
years competition. The North Africans dominated the opening 45 minutes, with Kharja giving the Lions of the Atlas the lead with a composed finish in the 24th minute. There was little of note after that until the game suddenly sprang to life with 13 minutes of normal time remaining. Aubameyang firstly scored a fantastic volleyed shot and then just 2 minutes later Daniel Cousin fired home to put the home side in front. The drama did not end there however as Kharji would score from the penalty spot on 90 minutes before Mbanangoye’s excellent free kick 8 minutes in injury time sealed all three points for The Panthers. Gabon were able to make
it three wins from games as they overcame Tunisia 1 - 0 in the final game of Group C with Pierre Aubameyang’s third goal of the tournament. The Panthers striker scored a low shot which Jridi should have got to in the 62nd minute. Meanwhile Morocco we able to restore some amount of pride with 11 minutes remaining against Niger when Belhanda fired his first time shot into the roof of the net after Chamakh had fed the ball to him. Despite their loss Tunisia finished runner’s up in the group behind Gabon, with Morocco and Niger both going home early.
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February 2012
sport GROUP D: Ghana captain John Mensah, scored midway through the first half to give The Black Stars an opening day victory over Botswana at the Stade De Franceville. Although the Zebra’s did not disgrace themselves during the game their minnow status proved to be the stumbling block on 24 minutes when Mensah powered home an effort from a corner. Later that evening Bakaye Traore would see his 30 minute, long range effort deflect off a Guinea defender and into the back of the net to earn his Mali side a 1 - 0 victory against the National Elephents. Although Botswana could take a lot of positives from their opening game against Ghana, they were utterly humiliated by Guinea on match day 2 in a 6 - 1 drubbing. Diallo got the West Africans off to a flier with 15 minutes played as he latched onto a left side cross to shot the ball past the keeper. The Zebra’s attempted a fight back and equalised just 8 minutes later through Dipsy Selolwane.The flood gates would open for the National Elephants though
with Diallo adding his second of the game in the 27th minute, Camara in the 42nd minute and Traore 4 minutes into first half injury time compounding Botswana’s misery. A goal from Bah with 4 minutes of normal time remaining and Soumah 2 minutes later was enough to complete the rout. The other group D fixture that day saw Ghana take on Mali, with the Black Stars looking to re-affirm their status as potential winners of the competition.After a tight opening 45 minutes Ghana would finally break the deadlock in the 63rd minute when Asamoah Gyan’s superb curling free kick found it’s mark in the top left hand corner of Diakites goal. Andre Ayew doubled the Black Stars lead 13 minutes later when he received Gyan’s clever back heel before turning defender Cedric Kante with two quick changes of direction before driving a low shot in at the near post. Mali would continue their march into the the last right of the competition on match day 3 with a 2 - 1 win over Botswana. The Zebra’s, who had all ready been eliminated
from the competition, were determined to go down fighting though and following a tentative opening 45 minutes they would take the lead five minutes into the second after the restart. Moatlhaping played a beautiful low cross into the area for Ngele who was able to finish with a good side footed shot. The south Africans lead would last just 6 minutes however, when Modibo Maiga’s head met Abdou Traore’s cross, Marumo in the Botswana goal did manage to palm to shot away but the ball would fall to Dembele who stuck the ball into the back of the empty net. Barcelona playmaker Seydou Keita would make it 2 -1 in the 74th minute when he swept home a beautiful shot from just outside the penalty area. Guinea went into the final match of group D knowing a win would see them through to the final 8 of the competition, but try as they might the National Elephants could only muster a draw against Ghana. Udinese midfielder Emmannuel Agyemang-Badu put the Black Stars ahead in the 28th minute with the goal of the tournament so far, as he
flicked the ball up in the air and unleashed a powerful effort from 30 yards out which left the Guinea keeper helpless. The National Elephants would hit back in the 2 minutes into first half injury time with an equally stunning strike from Abdoul Camara when he raced down the left flank and attempted a cross come shot which went over the head of Kwarasey and into the back of the net to draw the sides level. Guinea went in search of a winner in the second half and despite having to withstand heavy pressure the Black Stars managed to hold out for a 1-1 draw and a quarter final place alongside Mali.
Soccer crazy fans having fun