AfricaWorld Newspaper - May 2012

www.africaworldnewspaper.com

...Created to serve and inform

MAY 2012

VOL 001 Nº013

eu €1.00

police abuse and harrasment of africans in athens heighten

NG - 100 US $1.00

when football substitutes religion More on page1 7 sos for mission hospital ngugo More on page 3

family under siege by racists More on page18

my mission in ireland:

nigeria ambassador More on page 19

BROTHERS AT WAR OVER WIFE More on page 13

We distribute in Nigeria - Lagos, Abuja & Owerri South Africa - Johannesburg Somali migrants break out and flee their community centre after a police raid arrested 45 of their colleagues and locked the remaining occupants inside

Words and photography by Stephen Boyle

Athens police are using brute force to arrest and harass undocumented Africans and other migrants in recent weeks with the launch of an initiative to arrest and detain all undocumented migrants as the Greek government intensifies efforts to entice votes away from emerging far right political groups.

The drive, which the government long promised but believed by many to be political bluster, began in late March with city wide street sweeps carried out day and night. They consist of both organised and targeted raids of known migrant hangouts and random stop and search operations on suspected undocumented individuals walking the streets.

Belgium - Brussels

The exact numbers of undocumented in the city are unknown but are believed to be in the hundreds of thousands, with some estimates putting the figure at up to a million.

By day the police invite Greek news cameras to film stop and search operations in underprivileged areas such as the Omonia region of the city, along 3rd of September

United Kingdom - London

(Continued on Page 5)

Caught Between Poverty, Racism and Politics

By Stephen Boyle

Undocumented migrants find it difficult in Athens at best, having to contend with poverty, marginalisation, homelessness, racist attacks, fear of arrest, police brutality and the threat of deportation.

Now additionally they have inadvertently found themselves as pawns in the machinations of politics.

Fearing a strong performance by extremist political groups in the upcoming general election the Government has been trying to turn the huge problem of illegal immigration to their advantage and have begun arresting and detaining undocumented migrants. In been seen to be getting tough on immigration, a problem they have previously being accused of ignoring,

they are attempting to channel the votes that otherwise might go to the right.

The rise of far right groups such as Golden Dawn, an extremist anti-Semitic antiimmigration group responsible for many violent attacks on immigrants, is directly attributed to both the current economic and political situation in Greece and the loss of entire neighbourhoods (Continued on Page 4)

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May 2012

opinion

The return of the native

Editorial LET’S CELEBRATE THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY IN STYLE Exactly twelve months ago, at the Irish Writers Centre, we gathered to launch the maiden edition of AfricaWorld. Against all odds, it was a successful occasion of important people that matter in our chosen field.

As written in the last edition, we spelt out our policy and kind of media content we intend to pursue. Most importantly, we wanted to breathe new life into our community.

Like our condensed message says, our people have an uphill task on the issue of media coverage by most western news houses especially our host country. To some, Africa seem to be a country, while others paint a gory picture of starvation, war and cruelty, hopelessness and strife. Most are like students given a syllabus to read on or recipe to prepare a meal. Many know the truth while the biased but strong minority of opinion leader would love the chronicle of lies to continue.

Notwithstanding, facts are stubborn, they cannot be wiped out. And what is the truth here?

That it is incumbent on us to tell our story. Africa, a continent of 54 countries with the highest concentration of natural resources is our life, hope, joy and pride. AfricaWorld, being the only independent African newspaper in the Republic of Ireland, is effectively on the driver seat, in the journey of informing what makes our continent, the future destination on planet earth.

This anniversary edition brings back our exclusive story on the crisis in Greece. Our photographer, Stephen Boyle went back to Athens and more stories as you flip through.

As we strive to position AfricaWorld perfectly well, i enjoin our people to connect as the broom. We must complement each other, be it sociopolitical, economically, faith and otherwise. Africans in Ireland must support one another for our community to buzz progressively. Without any purposeful unity, neither can we jump institutional huddles nor survive the current austerity in this beautiful island.

As we celebrate our first anniversary, we promise to add bite in defence of our continent.

Come inside Uka

“African society must be treated as enjoying its own integrity; its history must be a mirror of that society, and the European contact must find its place in this history only as an African experience, even if as a crucial one.”

By Ukachukwu Okorie

OSAGYEFO KWAME NKRUMAH

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President

Kwame Nkrumah was born on September 21, 1909, in Nkroful, Ghana to Madam Nyaniba and Francis Nwia Kofi Ngonloma. Simply known as the father of modern Africa, the Ghanaian nationalist leader who led the former Gold Coast struggle for self-rule from Britain remains the most important and popular Pan-Africanist in the 20th century.

He actually set the ball rolling on the fierce agitation for the decolonisation of Africa through actualising the new nation of Ghana.

He led the country from independence in 1957 until he was overthrown by a coup in 1966.

Kwame, an ex-seminarian, graduated from Achimota School in Accra in 1930 and taught at a Roman Catholic education centre in Axim. Nkrumah left for the United States in 1935, receiving a BA from the Lincoln University, Pennsylvania in 1939. He also earned a Master of Science in education and MA in philosophy in 1942 and 1943 respectively, from University of Pennsylvania.

After pledging the Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity in 1942, he received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology. Nkrumah became a graduate assistant and started teaching in the university.

While lecturing in political science at

AfricaWorld & Millenium Development Goals Editor Ukachukwu Okorie

Photography Stephen Boyle

Managing Editor Jekaterina Saveljeva

Online Ciaran O’Reilly

Graphic Design Celine Fang

Techinical Support Tony Agoruo

Lincoln he was elected president of the African Students Organization of America and Canada. As an undergraduate at Lincoln he wrote about Africa in the student newspaper,The Lincolnian.

During his stay in the United States, Nkrumah toured and evangelised in black Presbyterian Churches in Philadelphia and New York City, as well as tutoring fellow students in philosophy and theology.

It was at this period of his sojourn abroad that he mingled with peolple of different backgrounds and nurtured the ideas of pioneering pan-Africanism and black revolution.

Kwame Nkrumah left the US for England in May 1945. Though he had came to study at the London School of Economics, however, he decided to help organize the Fifth PanAfrican Congress in Manchester after meeting with George Padmore, another influential Afro-Trinidadian. Kwame later founded the West African National Secretariat to work for the decolonization of Africa. He was also the Vice-President of the West African Students’ Union.

Nkrumah came back and became the General Secretary to the United Gold Coast Convention in 1947 under Joseph B. Danquah

The Editorial team at AfricaWorld would like to point out that it is aware of the Millennium Development Goals

after brief stops in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory Coast. This convention (UGCC) took off on exploring paths to independence for the then British Colony of the Gold Coast (now Ghana). He soon emerged as the primary leader of the Ghanaian independence youth movement in 1948 after spending time in a colonial gulag due to the protest of Ex-African servicemen.

After his release from the British colonial imprisonment, Nkrumah decided to embark on a nationwide tour to mobilise support.

In his speeches, he would proclaim that the Gold Coast needed self-government.

Although Kwame Nkrumah was inspired deeply by the ideas and association in the field of people like Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. DuBois, George Padmore and C.L.R. James, Nkrumah would himself go on to spur and encourage his peers at home in Africa to rise in kicking out colonisation of the continent. One of his greatest success was perhaps, his significant influence in the founding of the Organization of African Unity which is the predecessor of African Union (AU) today.

In 1966, February to be precise, while he was away on a state visit to Vietnam, his government was overthrown in a military coup engineered by the United States CIA. As a matter of fact, Nkrumah would never again return to Ghana, however, he continued to push for his vision of African unity from elsewhere. He spent much of his exile in Guinea - Conakry, where he was the guest of Ahmed Sékou Touré, who made him honorary co-president of Guinea. At 62, in August, 1971, with deteriorating health, Kwame Nkrumah died in Bucharest, Romania. Though Osagyefo is no more, his legacies spurred his generation, it still inspire ours in these trying times to reassert the vitality of being African.

President John F. Kennedy and Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah the President of the Republic of Ghana

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.

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May 2012

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NEWs

SOS FOR MISSION HOSPITAL NGUGO

Doctors and nurses examine a patient after surgery

Ngugo is a town in Ikeduru near Owerri at the heart of east central state of Nigeria. A peaceful and devoted people striving to live well and provide amenities for themselves. However, the mission hospital in the community, which serves the entire people deserve a ‘Save A Soul” response hence AfricaWorld decision to take it on.

The first of what is today known and called Mission Hospital Ngugo started quite early at the local people’s instance about the year 1952 to help bring health delivery closer to Ngugo people and neighbouring communities in Ikeduru and environs. It is not clear to me what the initial structure looked like but something which survived of the past is a short meter hall which served as both maternity and clinic.

The structure standing today was later constructed from the sweat and sacrifice of Ngugo people. It houses a maternity and labour unit, a male ward, a female ward, private wards, a theatre, dressing rooms, Doctor’s consulting rooms, a medical laboratory unit, pharmacy, Doctor’s and staff quarters and offices. The hospital has a canteen and a small mortuary space

By Folashade Abifarin

which are in very poor condition, and an engine house with no generator on it as the one they earlier had was sold sometime ago when the town was engulfed in some crisis of sort.

The hospital building having also suffered the tear and wear of time is in bad condition with leaking roof points, broken ceiling boards, absence of window mosquito-nets to control the influx of flies, rodents and reptiles.

It also has poor electricity services as it does not usually have supply from the national grid and when it does, cannot boast of serviceable current.

This has made it difficult to pump water into the water-tanks and also preserve certain drugs that would have required refrigeration.

A summary of the current state of the hospital can therefore be summed up by the attitude of some former landowners who have converted every free space of land for farm use. Even as I make this report, fresh clearings are going on and burning of shrubs taking place around the hospital premises.

GENERAL SERVICE CHALLENGES AND REQUIREMENTS 1.Provision of, at least, a 25\30 KVA

Generator 2.Provision of Handy X-Ray Machine and Scanners 3.Completion of the three-phase Electric wiring from the high tension pole 4.Purchase of hospital foams, mattresses\furniture 5.Netting of wards\rooms and offices 6.Patching of leaking roof points and replacement of ceiling boards 7.Repair of elevation stair-cases and rail tracks 8.Equipping the theatre 9.Completion of necessary Laboratory materials 10.Provision of ceiling and standing fans, air conditioner in the theatre 11.Repainting of hospital buildings 12.Repair of plumbing channels.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE SO FAR When I took charge of the hospital’s affairs on the 15th of February, 2011, we convened a meeting of necessary and close stakeholders to deliberate on some core issues. Those invited included the priests working in Ngugo-Obaire Parish with the Reverend Sisters and other staff of the Mission Hospital. The reason was to know who is who and who is keeping what and where whatever is.

With over six months arrears of salary as outstanding, I had to stop all secondment staff from coming to work and resolved in a plea to all for ONLY key staff and head of sections to keep the place running within the short time. Out of 23 member staff of the hospital that I inherited, I started with 12 member-staff but the number has swollen again to 16 because I recalled four others whose services were considered crucial to our work in the hospital.

CONFLICT IN FAMILY AND MARRIAGES

Why do marriages break up?

Families that starts well suddenly disintegrate, leaving all disillusioned and struggling with issues. As they usually say, “The centre cannot hold when things fall apart.” The reasons why certain marriages fail and others stay strong is no longer the secret it once was. Although marriages have good and bad times, satisfaction is usually affected by how often partners get into conflicts.

Marriages differ extensively in terms of how much conflict partners put up with. Sometimes small issues spiral out of control.

This column will deal exclusively in family and marriage issues, dwelling more on women suffering silently. We will be sharing issues and offering tips on how to maximize options of tranquility in families while minimizing tendencies for

friction. My name is Folashade.

I am a wife and a mother of three lovely children. As a wife for fifteen years, i have seen lots and thus gained experience through the years in motherhood and as bedrock of my family.

All through my years of service to my family and now a graduate of Humanities from Dublin City University (DCU), i have come to learn more especially in sharing ideas about issues that matter to mankind, of which the family, is top on the priority scale.

Women need to do their best as it has been in many cases, then leave the rest as affection need to be reciprocated. Most marriages end not necessary in a bang but die a slow agonizing death from factors.

It’s very vital to identify and be in love with one who deeply care about how you feel. What

causes the hurt in relationships?

Maybe the impression that your partner doesn’t care how you feel or not compassionate enough. And it usually feels like abuse from the woman. In this column, advice and ideas is on the way to save your marriage If you have problems arising f ro m j e a l o u s y, c h e a t i n g , resentment, betrayal, bullying and others. As i enjoin you to watch out for this column, couples must learn how to fight fairly and how to deal with conflicts in a healthy way.

H o we ve r, u n d e r s t a n d i n g , forgiveness, changes, rebuilding trust and seeking help will always be of great assistance to save your marriage. Is sex the gate way to love?

See next edition.

We also commenced the process of looking into how the arrears would be cleared. Because the hospital is still experiencing serious difficulties, I had to arrange to see the Archdiocesan Health Commission and in fact, the Archbishop, Most Rev. Anthony J.V. Obinna who is our Proprietor since the hospital was formally handed over to him in 2008. My aim for these visits was to hit at what could be done next.

Before meeting with the Archbishop, I had gone to see my senior colleague and brother-priest, Rev Fr. Dr. Eunan Asomugha, Director, Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku. I was briefed by him on some necessary precautions, decisions and actions that must be taken to set ourselves [management and staff] back on course. In this meeting, he allowed that I borrow and print some of their hospital account documents and other hospital cards, aiming to replicate their process in our own hospital at Ngugo.

I also arranged for drug supply to us through the same local arrangement of Holy Rosary Hospital Emekuku. I have consulted him again since the first experience on some other matters.

From Holy Rosary Hospital

Emekuku, I met with the Health Team of the Archdiocese with some other close stakeholders comprising the Provincial and Diocesan Health Coordinator, Lady Mrs Stella Achunine, the Archdiocesan JDPC Coordinator, Rev. Fr. Dr. Casimir Nzeh, the Archdiocesan Project Coordinator, Rev. Fr. Bonaventure C. Opara and Rev. Fr. Dr. Lawrence Iwuamadi who could not make it to the meeting but arranged for a latter date where we met and discussed. Key issues were handled at these meetings.

Back home at the Mission Hospital Ngugo, I started some infrastructural repairs, funding same with some little money I could raise on my own.These included repair of light points, purchase of some electrical equipments and replacements, plumbing repairs, repair of the sumo pump put in place by the Rotary Club of Owerri Metropolitan and the printing of some hospital cards.

For assistance, please contact the Catholic Archdiocese of Owerri or write to Rev. Fr. Chima Ofurum frchimaoffurum@yahoo.com To be continued in next edition.

Hospital Moque under construction

Two Students to Travel to Developing Countries under Simon Cumbers Media Fund Two student journalists will travel to Tanzania and Uganda to produce a radio documentary and newspaper article after being named overall winners of the first Simon Cumbers Media Fund Student Competition, which is supported by Irish Aid. Jekaterina Saveljeva, who studies Print Journalism at Ballyfermot College of Education and Sarah Moyles a student of Journalism and New Media at the University of Limerick won the 2012 competition.

Jekaterina Saveljeva won the print award for her proposal to travel to Tanzania to write about the care of vulnerable orphans. She will be mentored by the Irish Times over the course of her project. The broadcast award was won by Sarah Moyles, who will travel to Uganda to explore the use of comedy in raising awareness of development issues. She will be mentored by Newstalk.

Minister for Trade and Development Joe Costello congratulated the two students: “I would like to congratulate Jekaterina and Sarah for their winning entries, which combined creativity and originality with a good understanding of development issues . They now have the opportunity to travel to a developing country and report on the progress being achieved, but also the challenges which continue to face communities in some of the world’s poorest countries.

I believe that it is crucial that we seek to understand the global challenges that affect so many of our fellow human beings, but also have implications for our future.

The media has a key role in this. I would like to thank our media partners, the Irish Times and Newstalk for giving their time and expertise to mentoring the winning students.”

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May 2012

NEWS

The Rise of the Far Right in Greece

(Continued from page 1 )

of the city to thousands of undocumented migrants.

Rightly or wrongly, the majority of Greeks blame spiralling crime rates to the presence of the migrants, and certainly it is not difficult to find the ravages of heroin in the back streets and even on the main thoroughfares of the city. And petty crime such as pick-pocketing, shoplifting, and the selling of contraband merchandise is rife. More serious offenses such as violent mugging and bank robberies are also on the rise. Whether or not they are all carried out by migrants is uncertain, but the Greeks believe so. Groups such as Golden Dawn whose party’s 2012 election programme is for “A clean Greece, only for Greeks, and a safe Greece”, have been making illegal immigration their main agenda capitalising on fears that illegal immigration is out of control and a threat to Greece in general.

To an outsider it all seems very 1930’s Weimer period Berlin, but worryingly the policy seems to be working. Local elections in 2010 have given the Golden Dawn party a seat on the city council with an overall electoral performance of 5.3%. In some regions of the city their vote was as high as 20%. They are also adept at exploiting opportunities

inadvertently handed to them by the Greek Government. For instance, during this the current election campaign they are the only party actively canvassing in the streets, the main political parties avoiding open campaigning for fear of attack and abuse from the public. This is giving Golden Dawn a dominant profile sure to be noticed in their city strongholds where they receive most support.

The development of societal racism leading to the growth of groups such as Golden Dawn is unsettling. A conversation with any migrant leader will bring up stories of vicious racially inspired attacks on migrants. Talking to one Afghan youth, an aspiring filmmaker who was badly beaten the day before with along with a friend, he told of being set upon by a gang of Greek youths

United Youth of Ireland lauds FGM ban On the 28th March, a bill banning the practice female genital mutilation was passed by the Seanad (Irish Senate) having already gone through all processes of debate in the Dáil (assembly).

Members of the United Youth of Ireland expressed sheer joy as they paid a courtesy call to AfricaWorld office. The leader, Ifrah Ahmed who highlighted the pioneering role of her organisation thanked Senator Ivana Bacik and the government for hearkening to the yearnings of women. Ifrah, who was a victim in her home country of Somalia, traced the ups and down of the struggle by her group, the UYI. The leader recounted the threat and racial abuse from different quarters in the course of pursuing the FGM ban agenda. Even her immediate Somali community had mixed reactions for her massive campaigns on the island.

In the course of FGM campaign, Ifrah has worked with Unicef, Amnesty International, Irish

Refugee Council, Cairde, The Africa Centre, Spirasi, Somali Community in Ireland, Integration of African Children in Ireland and AkiDwA. Members of the United Youth of Ireland on the trip include Tolulope Adekoya, Damilola Oshin, Kam Angulska, Vanessa Manunga, Marcin, Brinhanna and Ifrah Ahmed.

According to Tolulope, “We are greatful after our hard work paid

Ifrah Ahmed

off.” Kam Angulska was full of praises for the group and Ifrah. “ I commend Ifrah for all the fashion shows and seminars she organised over the years,” Kam said. Ifrah Ahmed, a former AfricaWorld Girl of the Month spoke in detail about the aims and objectives of the United Youth of Ireland. See more on UYI in the next edition.

as they walked along a street running behind the notorious 3rd of September Street at night. His friend was still in hospital when we spoke.

When speaking to a number of homeless Sudanese and Somali migrants who had taken over a disused and dilapidated house in the north of the city they told stories of regular attacks by gangs of hooded youths wielding swords and

machetes. When the attacks occur they flee their house, too terrified to defend it. A year previously, they claimed, a friend was set alight with petrol and murdered by racist thugs.

Despite the seriousness of such attacks they claim the police do nothing for them.

The growth of racism and xenophobia in Greek society seems to be trans-institutional. Many shopkeepers and restaurant staff won’t serve migrants. Migrants themselves tell of stories of indifferent, and even abusive, asylum officials and administrators. The police certainly display racist tendencies such as the brutality meted out to the Somalis which I witnessed first hand. But there are also persistent accusations that the police have links to Golden Dawn.

This was sensationally supported in a television interview given last year

by Greek Public Order minister overseeing the migrant detention policy, Mr Michalis Chrisochoidis, in which he accused elements of Greek police of actively aiding Golden Dawn.

Under these conditions it is very difficult to maintain optimistic for the future of all parties in Greece; for the Governments, for the migrants, and for the ordinary Greeks.

LABOUR PARTY’S INTERCULTURAL GROUP URGES NEW CITIZENS TO REGISTER TO VOTE “Labour Intercultural supports the referendum to enable the ratification of the Stability Treaty as part of the solution to getting the Irish and European economies back on track”, JM Singh and Karen Mc-Cormack , Co-Chairs of the Labour Intercultural group have said.

“While we will be advocating a ‘Yes’ vote, we also believe that it is of the utmost importance that all citizens of this country have the opportunity to exercise their right to vote regardless of their opinion on the referendum itself. We therefore urge all the new Irish citizens to register and vote in the forthcoming referendum.

“To ensure that you can vote in the referendum, you can go online and check the draft register on www. checktheregister.ie, or drop into your local library, Garda

station or offices of the local authority.

“The deadline for application to be included on the Supplementary Register for the Stability Treaty is Monday 14 May. It is especially important for anyone who recently became a citizen to check that their correct details are on the register.

“If you are not already registered to vote the form to complete is the RFA or if you have changed address since first registering you must fill out the RFA3 form. The first two contain a certificate of identity that must be completed by a member of the Gardaí.”

May 2012

5

news

Faiaz, a Sudanese migrant, who lives in a derelict house occupied by homeless migrants in Athens. The occupants of this house are subjected to regular racist attacked by gangs wielding swords and machetes.

March 2012

(Continued from page 1 )

Street, and around the Metaxourghio district, although by night things are different.

Somali and Sudanese migrants have been subjected to brutal raids conducted at night where individuals who cannot produce permits are rounded up and marched onto the police buses and driven away. Beatings during these operations are common. A Somali born Dutch citizen was among those beaten during one such raid, despite the fact he immediately produced his EU passport as the police charged into the building he was in. Other migrants bearing documents proving their legal status, or at least rendering them exempt from arrest, suffered the same treatment.

One of the principle Somali community centres in the Achernon region of the city, was destroyed and closed over two nights of brutal police raids.

A Somali migrant points to damage caused by a police during a raid as part of initiatives to arrest and detain undocumented migrants in Athens. March 2012

Situation Deteriorates for Undocumented in the City During the first raid, those who were not arrested, or those who could eventually provide valid documentation, were bizarrely locked inside as the police left in a convoy of wailing sirens and with a full police bus. The trapped occupants eventually broke out through a downstairs window, many limping and nursing cuts and bruises from contact with police truncheons, and fled.

Although the Somalis quickly restored the centre the next morning, the following night the police returned and destroyed it.

The Somalis now avoid the building fearing arrest should they be seen near it. The Somali leaders who ran the centre claimed over €4000 worth of equipment was smashed, including computers, TV’S and furniture.

To the Athens locals these developments are not before their time. It is difficult to find people

in Athens with sympathy for the migrants. One young man who works in a hotel by night and is a student by day, and who declined to be named, said: “There are too many of them. They should not be here. They are involved in crime and drugs. It’s a good thing”. Many others approached in café’s in the regions where the police actions are taking place decline to even talk about it.

It is unclear what the Athens authorities intend to do with the thousands of migrants detained.

Reports state that they are to be provisionally held in renovated or converted army barracks, or “closed hospitality centres” throughout the country. The first such facility is expected to be opened before the upcoming elections. What to do with them next is the real issue for the authorities. The cost to a government hampered by a

shattered economy of long term detention of large numbers of detainees would be immense. The numbers detained are estimated to far exceed Greece’s prison population which currently stands at 12,500. The possibility exists that after the general election, since announced to be held on 6th May, many will be released once again to fend for themselves in the streets. On the other hand, recent reminders by the European Commission that Greece has received over €400 million, including €3.75 million from the UN Refugee Fund in order to deal with the crisis, has also forced the government to act, and may allow the government access to funds for mass repatriations to the migrants countries of origin.

Some Greeks though are taking a stand against the initiative. Two days before the street sweeps began, an anti-racism

demonstration took place in the city. It was organised by left-wing affiliated student groups with the general remit to renounce xenophobia and racism in Greek society and to allow the legalisation of all undocumented migrants. About 200 students, activists, asylum seekers, migrant leaders and organisations, and a disparate collection of Athens locals marched through the city to Syntagma Square, the site of Government buildings. It was a peaceful event with the presence of children, though there were chilling tones reverberating from some of the organisers. One event leader, an accountant, when asked what would happen when the police began arresting the undocumented, said there would be war. Thankfully so far his prediction has not been realised.

Sudanese migrant in a derelict house occupied by homeless migrants in Athens. The occupants of this house Somali migrant cleaning up after a police raid on the Somali community centre in Athens. are subjected to regular racist attacked by gangs wielding swords and machetes. March 2012 March 2012

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May 2012

news/COLUMN

JOE MOORE COLUMN

Birthday Pictures Celine Fang 20, May

Nokuthokoza Yolandah Mdluli 6, June

Folashade Santos Abifarin 16, May

DJ Spaqz 27, April

By Joe Moore

Let me introduce myself. I am Irish. I am white. So how come I am writing in Africaworld.

Let me explain. I am a founder member of Cork Anti Racism Network (CARN). CARN is a campaigning organisation, fighting for civil rights for asylum seekers. Our membership comprises of asylum seekers, former asylum seekers, with a small number of Irish people.CARN was set up in August 2006, as a direct consequence of action taken by the residents of the Kinsale Road Accommodation Centre against the appalling conditions under which they were expected to live.

CARN has four basic demands.

1. An immediate end to all deportations. CARN has an open borders position. In other words, we oppose immigration controls, which are always racist. There is, in theory, freedom to travel within the EU. However when African people attempt to enter Fortress Europe, they face lifethreatening obstacles. Over the past decade, many thousands of men, women and children, have lost their lives in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, attempting to enter the EU. Deporting people, who manage to reach

their destination, is the most extreme form of state racism.

2. We demand the closure of the direct provision system. 44 accommodation centres, holding 6107 people, (Reception and Integration Agency annual report 2010) are located right around the country. Some are in cities and large towns, others are in rural areas, for example Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo and Millstreet, Co. Cork. Whatever their location, these centres are no better than prisons.

Residents are constantly monitored, given inadequate food, (as was recently highlighted by the residents in Eyre Powell hostel in Newbridge) and treated as sub-human by management teams. There is no privacy, with management having the right to carry out room searches at will.

These searches often result in personal property being confiscated. Items taken include kettles, microwaves, rice cookers etc. Appliances that help make life bearable.

3. Asylum seekers should have the right to work. This is a basic human right. Yet all Irish governments since 1999 deny this right to those seeking asylum. They are not covered by equality legislation i.e. Equal

Mali Divided

Conflicts Continue

Status Act and the services of the Garda Ombudsman are not open to them. Asylum seekers do not even have second class citizen status.

4. Asylum seekers should have the same access to third level education as Irish citizens.

Children in the asylum system are treated as all other children, with regard to primary and secondary education. However, regardless of how well they do in their Leaving Cert., no matter how many points they get, they are not allowed to enter third level colleges or institutions.

So that explains who I am and what I stand for. However I will not confine my column exclusively to issues affecting asylum seekers in Ireland. I hope to deal with a broad range of issues of interest to African people. My definition of African covers people in Africa, in the Diaspora including AfroAmerican and Afro-Caribbean, as well as Africans in Europe.

I will deal with the past as well as the present. In the process I hope to cover the lives of long forgotten heroes such as Equiano and Harriet Tubman. As well as politics, I will also touch on music, culture and literature.

40 Years Solitary “I can make about four steps before I touch the door,” comments Herman Wallace as he describes the space within which he has lived for the past forty years (since 16 April, 1972).

Wallace and Albert Woodfox have spent the last 14,600 days thus locked up in Louisiana’s notorious penitentiary known as Angola prison.

Please also use the below link to access the Amnesty International page and follow the link therein to petition for their release. www.amnestyusa.org/our-work/ cases/usa-the-angola-3

Captain Amadou Sanogo has relinquished control in Mali following closure of the country’s borders and sanctions from ECOWAS. Diouncounda Traore, the country’s national assembly leader is to serve as president following March’s coup.

He will serve a maximum of forty days (as of 10 April) to organise new elections.

Conflicts continue as the country remains divided with the Tuareg led

National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad in control of a France sized portion of territory to the north and troops loyal to former president Amadou Toure seeking to retake the capital Bamako.

These events in the country are seriously detracting from the impending hunger crisis across the Sahel and from the 150,000 who are internally displaced within Mali.

Jailed at the height of the Civil Rights movement, their solitary incarceration remains a travesty of justice – their endured persecution, a crime against humanity.

Black African Americans constitute 50% of the US prison population where they make up just 15% of the population at large.

God Bless Herman Wallace and Albert Woodfox !

playing at skylux club in Nairobi where SHUGA drama series are performed

Sahel Food Crisis Worsens

By Max Uspensky

The food crisis across the Sahel now threatens 6 million in the region. Food aid agencies report a serious shortfall in funding and are desperately campaigning to reach targets.

Action Against Hunger, Oxfam, Save the Children and World Vision seek to raise $250 million to provide emergency assistance across the region, but have only collected $52 million to date.

The relative low profile of the crisis has delayed response –

according to Oxfam’s Ian Bray, “The problem in this situation is that it’s a looming crisis that hasn’t yet developed into a full-blown humanitarian disaster.” He adds, “The crisis is worsening, and so the money needed is only going to increase. We need to rally the international community to give to this emergency before it gets out of control.”

Readers are asked to maintain awareness of the issue and to do what they can to help.

May 2012

opinion COLUMN

7

By Mazi Uche Azukaoma Osakwe

OUR HEROES PAST

Achebe once said it is better the water is spilled than the pot broken. The idea being that a sound pot can always return to the stream. The history of colonial legacy in Africa has resulted in a peculiar psychological dependency which has made the reassertion of African culture and identity an important part of African nation-building.

But the nation-building in Africa has stunted.

The colonial economic legacies tied to western business interests and social ideologies which sometimes supported by western military and intelligence units when their interests and ideologies come under threat. Africa nation-states lost their post colonial independent eminence and became new conquered countries ruled more by neoimperial ideologies and supra-international organisations.

Also, post-colonial African states were dominated much more by a situation in which Eurocentric concepts of development that singled out the western experience of development as universal and imposed on the southern hemisphere, whether they like it or not.

The revival of African voices was led by nationalists and patriots, among them Kwame Nkrumah, a pan-Africanist who through the movement wants to essentialise the message of hope, economic and political emancipation.

It was in the minds of newly independent African states to reverse the colonial legacies and chart African developmental projects that would move African states forward. It is in the best interest of Africans to speak for themselves and also to speak with one voice in United States of Africa. In his speech at the

fifteenth session of the United Nations General Assembly on 23rd September, 1960, Kwame rejected the Franco-BelgianPortuguese claims on Africa and he equivocally stated that Africa is not and can never be an extension of Europe. Another notable figure, Julius Nyerere postulated that colonialism created in the African continent a sense that they believe they are one.

The era of European colonialism in Africa from late 1800s to 1900s was marked by contradictions and transformations in African states. The colonial epoch marked by systematic subjugation and exploitation of the people for the benefit of the imperial powers, first an attempt was made to wipe out African traditional values and culture and denial the peoples voices. The crisis in Africa today was as a result of colonial legacies that had continued to cause confusion and fragmentised African nation-states. The Belgian, British, French and Portuguese colonial legacies differed in a number of approaches; their approaches are based on their own conviction, philosophical and historical exigencies. The Belgian and French want Africa to behave like them and few political and economic elites in Africa embraced it. The British created a privileged elite and indoctrinated these in Anglo-Saxon values, education, religion and language.

These guys were not interested in the welfare of Africans but more interested in economic exploitation of African states.

Colonial legacies contributed to the state of confusion, decay, and poor records of human rights in the continent. Human rights were not part of so-called western civilisation brought to Africa. The colonial leadership in Africa were authoritarian and out-of-touch

DIMKPA

governance that was not people-friendly. It was governance based on selection. Their policies subjected Africans as inferior people, primitive, heathens, dog-eat-dog and scavengers that need salvaging. All these created a damaging impact on the psyche, economy and culture of the people.

It was a long way to Uhuru (independence), Western imperial powers formed new states along defined ethno-linguistic lines, carving African nation-states along arbitrary lines made possible by cartographers who both literally and metaphorically mapped out states to their own imagination, economic convenience and exploitation. African states were created by imperial powers and pushed together to become dysfunctional states whilst European ethno-linguistic entities became seamless nation-states. The damage created by European will take centuries to solve.

Africa in 21 century is still dependent on western economies. African nation-states are still beggar nations and dependent on handouts from western countries. Africans have been conquered culturally, politically, economically and socially. Unlike our nationalists who laboured hard to restore the identity and pride of Africa, a new generation of Africa are busy destroying those legacies.

Like Franz Fanon who deplored the manner a black man is treated in a second-hand manner based on the colour of his skin, implored Africans not to shy away from their identity but use it as proof of who we are and hold our heads high - that we at the same par with Europeans. Alas! Fanon, Nyerere, Nkrumah, Aime Cesaire, Senghor, Azikiwe, Awolowo and hosts of others will be weeping in their graves that the baton they passed to

Africans has been hijacked by power-seekers and looters. That economic and political instability have forced many Africans to seek refuge in western countries as asylum seekers and refugees living in detention centres in 21st century self-imposed slavery. Because the land that flows with milk and honey have been milked dry by prop-western-Africantrained-elites and their multinational paymasters. The changing of batons from imperial powers to selected Africans is still going on.

These groups of elite run governments as if they are family possessions. They run repressive post-colonial states, intimidation and abuse more common than governance with mission designed to revolutionise the social formation; they do not protect the people from IMF and WTO; they do not protect people from multinational companies as their activities in countries like Nigeria, Congo, Angola, and South Africa are deplorable and questionable. African people need a united front and one voice to fight imperialism and neo-colonialism in 21st century. It also needs an enabling environment that is peaceful and friendly where people can thrive and actualise their dreams. But the present state structures designed in colonial imagery is an enemy of the people and with the structures that are biased and anathema to democratic and cultural aspiration of Africans. It is hard to imagine when alluta will end. Unless we deconstruct the colonial legacies and create a stable economic and political structures and governments that are accountable and acceptable to the people who will take charge of our national territory, overseeing our national resources, maintain law and order, respect for human rights and rule of law, the dream of our hero past will be a vain glory.

ICT to Enhance Transparency and Good Governance through Cashless Policy in Nigeria

By Anthony Ekpechue Anthony is a Senior Systems Analyst for Microsoft Ireland.

The recent monetary policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) aimed at easing pressures on cash transactions in the banks has been under trial in Lagos since January 2012, although hampered by poor e-channel services by the Deposit Money Banks. Under the policy, with effect from June 1, 2012, daily cumulative withdrawals and lodgements in banks by individuals would be limited to a maximum of N150,000, while daily cumulative withdrawals and lodgements by corporate customers is pegged at N1 million.

Lagos undoubtedly was chosen as the preferred location to pilot the scheme due to its huge business presence, money flow and cash transactions amounting to over 50% of the cumulative cash transactions in the country.

In many countries of the west and parts of Africa, ICT played a major role in transitioning their economies from cash dependent to cashless and digital economies utilizing various transaction gateways, e-channels and applications like Automated Teller Machines (ATM), Point of Sales Terminals (POS) and Mobile Banking Platforms to facilitate electronic transactions and e-banking. In year 2009 the Federal Government of Nigeria during the presentation of the 2009 Budget to the National Assembly introduced a number of measures for ensuring transparency and accountability.

Arguably those measures were meant to lend credence to the then President’s ambition of delivering tolerable and good governance or perhaps to force down another ill

planned and proposed agenda under the infamous Vision 2020. One of the measures was the unveiling of e-payment regime directing that, all financial transactions of the Federal Government be made electronically effective from 1st January 2009. I’m sure anyone can guess how far we got with this; if still in doubt you may ask the EFCC to publish a full report of the number of our so called “Your Excellency” under investigation for fraud and money laundering since 2009.

AfricitWorld’s focus in this article is mainly to highlight the role of ICT in delivering transparency and good governance through cashless payment system in Nigeria and not political. Unofficially only about 20% the entire population of over 140 million people are said to be active bank users, and to encourage a higher percentage of its populace to

embrace the new cashless policy, the Federal Government, Central Bank and banking sectors must address the following prevalent issues.

Lack of Technological Infrastructure – To implement a Cashless Policy or e-payment System ICT infrastructure must be in place, affordable and available to the rural population. Most rural areas where majority of small and medium scale industries are concentrated have no access to computers or internet facilities. \ ICT Equipment Costs – where available, the cost of ICT is a critical factor relative to per capital income.

This makes the cost of entry higher compared to developed countries.

Lowering the cost of ICT equipment like mobile phones, computers, internet broadband, POS machines, ATM systems, and ICT services will help level out the divide between

the rich and poor and as such make the policy affordable to everyone.

Security – where disclosure of private information, counterfeiting and illegal alteration of payment data may be rampant. To ensure that this policy is successful, security policies and systems should be put in place to prevent hacking and illicit disclosure of confidential customer’s data either by the bank, online or other retail outlets.

Lack of Training and Awareness - Training of the private and business customers on the need and how to use the Cashless systems should be an on-going process. The banks must also launch awareness campaigns to educate the masses.

Please note that all information on this page is an independent view or culled from online sources in some cases and does not represent that of any third party or employer.

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May 2012

Column

Heart of the Matter:

Congo and MDGs

By Max Uspensky

The world rotated into the new millennium with new hope. Such a turn in numbers signified the end of one era and the start of a new one. The world of humans, proscribed through the UN, its vision for a fairer more integrated world. (One, all the easier for the freest of free traders – and pirate nations - to take a can opener to?)

Of the 191 member governments, 157 heads of state and government congregated in New York. They conveyed the hope that extreme poverty, disease, and environmental degradation could be alleviated with the wealth, the new technologies, and the global awareness with which we had entered the twenty-first century.

The purpose was laid out in a document, “We the Peoples: The Role of the United Nations in the 21 Century,” which proclaimed, “…the peoples of the world as individuals, who are endowed with rights and responsibilities that have a global reach”. The economist Jeffrey Sachs explained, “we the Peoples laid out a discerning view of the great challenges facing global society: extreme poverty, pandemic disease, environmental harm, war and civil conflict”.

It is precisely these five highlighted areas which effect the Congo the most since 1997, where close to five million lives have been lost, some 100,000 child soldiers recruited and 400,000 rapes committed. In fact all the horror of an apocalypse. As the Congo passaged through the millennium it continued to suffer with no end in site.

The following table lists the Millennium Development Goals and their aims: - Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty - Achieve universal primary education - Promote gender equality and empower women

- Reduce child mortality - Improve maternal health - Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases - Ensure environmental sustainability - Develop a global partnership for development The Congo has the lowest HDI (Human Development Index) of any country in the world (181 are listed). People are actually becoming poorer, with most living on less than a dollar per day and with hunger on the increase. Conflict plays a chief role.

In the east of the country where armed conflict and warlords fiefdoms exist, education is almost non existent. To this we must figure the many traumatised by rape, disease, hunger, child soldiering and thus distracted from the educational process – for this reason too, the conflict must stop.

In the east of the country where rape has become a culture, gender equality and the empowerment of women is clearly a serious issue. The region is in need of rape counselling services and an understanding by the populace as to not leave these individuals stigmatised.

Again only a cessation to the conflict will assuage this horror.

Child mortality rates are also impacted.

Where armed conflict has broken down social infrastructures it has meant that one in five children below the age of five will die. Maternal mortality rates are similarly affected, by stigmatisation following rape, by disease and malnutrition. Again conflict related issues.

Due to a culture of rape, unprotected sex and the transmission of HIV/AIDS is another serious problem to tackle. Malaria, cholera, tuberculosis and bilharzia continue to be serious threats. It is claimed that since 2009, due to the increase in armed conflict 250% more people are being treated, as they find

themselves displaced and thus unwittingly threatened by the deadly insect. The same is also true with schistosomiasis or bilharzias. A stop to the conflicts would stabilise infection rates and make them easier to treat.

Environmental sustainability is questionable where many live on mine sites which are little better than labour camps (again many raped and thus stigmatised women find themselves here). Recently the UK company and mining giant Glencore was found guilty of acid poisoning of a river adjacent to one of its mines altering the acidity of the water to a pH value of 1.9 where 1 is pure acid and 7 is neutral.

Open cast mining denudes the landscape destroying flora and fauna. Controls and environmental fines need to be imposed.

Positive global development partnerships are required to overcome the aforementioned problems, currently being addressed by NGOs. A means of retaining a fair-share of profits from mining activities is essential in order to more fairly distribute wealth and opportunities.

One thinks particularly of the coltan industry, without which our digital age would not exist.

Rwanda made $250 million from coltan shipped back to Rwanda over an 18 month

period at the start of the millennium – pure piracy. Uganda shows a similar thirst for cassiterite and gold, which it simply plunders.

Both countries are supported by the US. By comparison, the Congo exported a total of $200 million worth of minerals in 2005, raising a tax revenue of just $86,000 (that’s just 0.00043%!). There are clear anomalies in the comparison of these figures. One set shows the enormous amount of wealth taken out of the country by warlords, without paying taxes.

The other shows the total for the whole country, with only a tiny proportion held back for the state. The lack of viable and honest commercial global partners is why Joseph Banga recently wrote in the Guardian (30 April, 2012) calling for transparency among concerns in the Congo, as a means to delivering a fair proportionate amount of revenue to the state.

Overwhelmingly, the Congo’s woes are conflict related – a culture of conflict resolution policy together with environmentally sustainable programs and fair trade policies must be introduced to confront the myriad of related problems. Problems which continue to produce an illiquation of horror.

South African Alumni Celebrate ‘Reunion for Charity’

The second in a string of events organised by the 2002 Old Boys of Roosevelt High School to uplift community was held on Saturday, 5 May. This time, instead of planting trees, they organised the hands-on experimental Science presenter, Barry Myers, to mystify as well as to educate the approximately 120 pupils who regularly attend the RoseAct Saturday School.

Held in the Alexandra campus of the Johannesburg Central College facility – it limits its numbers to 330 pupils, only from schools within Alexandra, ranging from grade 6 to 12, making use of 90 tutors.

These were done over four one-hour sessions which were seamlessly woven into the school timetable by the ever-amazing Louise Cameron who runs the school (purely with by means of volunteers and donations).

Priya Desai, former pupil of Roosevelt High School, and set to qualify as a chartered accountant in the next two years, was very impressed by how the school ran and approached Louise to become a Mathematics tutor for the school.

Once again, Barry Bryant came to the

rescue with transport for the well-chosen five current pupils from Roosevelt High, Maxine Cannell, Shannon Morais, Cathrine Mahlaba, Masego Thusi and Darrion Kemp, to take part in the first session at 8:30. They were given a question paper to see how much they remembered from the session, and Shannon Morais won two Experilab kit prizes for the superb quality of his answers.

Mario Shonga, former pupil from Roosevelt High and soon to qualify as a medical doctor (at the end of this year) was able to share his insights into the importance of science and electricity in keeping the moisture content of the body’s cells just right. A big thanks once again to Mareza Rudman for organising the pupils to come, and for the enthusiasm with which they came.

As an unexpected surprise, animators Les Ramabula and Alistair Johnson and physicist Celeste Johnson designed and produced a DVD with fantastic conceptual simplification of some of the chief topics that are covered in Classical Physics (the type that is taught at school).

These were produced to help RoseAct in

the future – rather than to simply provide reach fruition, and to God our Father who a once-off Science/Mathematics booster – by is so rich in blessing us so that we in turn captivating science/maths classes whose may richly bless others. Two projects down, tutors might have had to call in absent that four to go! day, and showing them how Science relates to everyday life and is, in fact, very intuitive.

Incidentally, eight tutors were absent on the day, and Louise Cameron was needed to teach at each lesson of the day, so this might come in very handy.

These DVDs were presented, not only to Louise Cameron, but also to Mrs Rudman, Mr Bryant, Barry Myers and the 5 school pupils present, as well as to old boys Priya Desai and Mario Shonga.

Many thanks to all who were involved in seeing this second goal Barry Myers with RoseAct student

May 2012

entertainment

THE PRIDE OF AFRICA in association with Comfort salon

Ontebetse Krista Mokgosi was born in Botswana. She came over to Ireland for further studies. Currently, she is studying for a certificate in nursing at Eden college. ”I hope to become a nurse in future because i enjoy helping people”, she said. Beautiful Krista loves to give a lot to the society. Krista’s hobbies include reading, traveling and music.

ROAST CHICKEN DRUMSTICK WITH MASH (Serves 4-5 people)

By Chinwe Ihegbu This is an easy recipe for busy mums because you have the option to buy mash or roast potato and roast chicken from the supermarket that could be cooked in the microwave.

Secondly if the family are not fans of gravy granules you could use ketchup or mayonnaise Ingredients: 1kg Chicken drumstick 1kg Potato 1 Tsp of Butter Milk Chicken gravy 1 medium size Onions 2 medium size Carrots 1 Stock cube Spices (garlic, cumin, salt and pepper) Method: Spice the chicken with cumin, garlic, salt and peppers, live it for at least 30minutes then put in the oven or grill and cook according to

the instruction on the pack.

While the chicken is cooking, Peel the potatoes and cut it into big chunks, put in a pan of boiling water, add salt to taste and boil till its tender. Drain the water, add butter and milk then mash till it’s soft and creamy.

Add 2 table spoon of the chicken gravy granules into a cup, pour boiling water into it, turning it with a spoon same time the hot water is added. Do not make it too thick. Dice your carrot and onion, heat one tablespoon of oil in a pan fry your onions and carrot until its tender then pour your gravy mix into the pot heat for 2 minutes.

Serve by dishing the mashed potato with the roasted chicken and the gravy sauce.

HAVILAH

AFRICAN KITCHEN

house of african dishes in Dublin

DINNING MENU egusi with either: native Jollof rice, yam beans, okro Garri, fried rice, goat, mear, fresh eforirio Pounded yam, fish pepper soup, nkwobi, ila wheat flour ugba, snail, isi ewu, assorted ewedu semovita meat, Jollof rice, yam pottage ogbono ukwa and gizzard.

OUR SPECIALS ofe owerri, ofe oha, Rosted fish & plantain, Afang-& nsala, vegetable and ofe ugba, ofe onugbu, ofe okazi ADDRESS: 130 Parnell Street, Dublin 1 - (01)8736008 / 0871645676 Spot the Spotless Cheetah

By Max Uspensky

A ‘spotless’ cheetah has apparently been sighted at Athi Kapiti Conservancy in Kenya.

Deemed extremely rare, this is the first such sighting in almost one hundred years.

One is reminded of the Swahili joke – How does a cheetah change its spots? It moves from one spot to another!

Haina doa kutoka moja hadi nyingine!

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10

May 2012

Agony Corner things lovers should practise With Abdul Yusuf

A - Appreciation: This does not only make the other party feel good, but there is a deep sense of fulfilment, self worth and relevance that go with it. The more you appreciate your spouse, the more he/she will long to please you.

B - Build: Your contribution towards the growth of your partner remains a pride in the relationship.

Can you confidently look back and count the few or many ways you have contributed to your lover’s success?

In what way/ways have you added to the value you met in him/her?

C - Complement: When two people come together in love, their purpose should not be competition.

If you want to compete, check out your mates at work and see who can beat who in performance. But when you come to your relationship, simply be there for each other by filling the gaps. Your spouse does not need to be a perfect person, but if you are open-hearted, a lot can be achieved. Do what you are good at and allow the other person to function where he/she has strength.

D - Dignity: I was engrossed in a conversation with my friend during a birthday party, when a rude masculine voice interrupted us. As I turned, I could not believe my eyes, it was a man I knew and respected so much that was actually barking at his wife. The woman just walked away in shame. We owe our spouses that little respect, especially when we are outside or with a third party.

It does feel good to be treated with respect.

E - Expression: We often make the

mistake of thinking our partners are mind readers. If your lover should always know what is on your mind, be careful, you are with a ‘spiritualist.’

The bottom line is that we learn to say the things that bother us just as they are, so we could be understood and helped.

F - Faithfulness: Once people hear the word faithfulness, their minds go to the emotional commitment of the relationship, but let me shock you a bit that it is not what I am talking about here. Faithfulness is a virtue needed in every union; it involves your ability to identify and run with the vision of the union, striving to achieve your common goal and above all, standing with your spouse against all odds.

G - Giving: When I hear people complain that one of the problems they have in their relationship is the other person’s unwillingness to part with gifts, I wonder what they are still doing there in the first place. One natural sign of love is G-I-V-I-N-G. If someone cannot part with material things, how can he/she truly give love which involves the whole being?

H - Hugging: This is one secret of love most people have missed out.

Hugging your spouse can be such a refreshing experience after a hard day’s job. Psychologists have agreed that even children feel loved when hugged and cuddled often. So, make it a daily thing.

I - Ignore: Learn to ignore little faults on the side of your partner. This does not mean you should not say what you don’t like, but let it be done with respect. No need to nag.

J - Joke: Jokes are healthy exercises

Column for the mind and facial muscles.

There could be no better person to joke with than the one you love as it really brings you closer. Some jokes could be customised for just both of you. It makes you giggle and beam, doesn’t it?

K - Kinsmen: You cannot enjoy a relationship without loving the members of your spouse’s family. Let the love you have for him/her show in the way you relate to his siblings.

If you truly love, you will accommodate others.

L - Learning: A man cannot stop learning until he dies. Learn more about love and life generally and discover new ways to please your partner in everything you do. Also learn to improve your knowledge and add value to your everyday life.

M - Maturity: Are you still the mummy’s boy/girl that walked down the aisle on your wedding day? Too bad. For you to have a stable and blissful relationship, you must attain maturity. How do you know if you are mature? When the things that used to upset you so madly no longer matter and you think of the consequences of your action/reaction before you act. Also seek to please others first, etc.

N - Nurturing: What nurturing does to a relationship is like fuel in a car. You simply look for those subtle salient aspects of your spouse and pour praises on them, hoping to make them more pronounced and evident. Why should outsiders discover the good part in your lover for you? Look for it and fan it to great flames.

O - Obey: I know men love to hear this, but funny enough, both men and women need to obey each other for love to thrive. You need to listen to the contributions of your partner if a great union is your priority.

why women cheat in relationships Years ago, a woman cheating on her spouse was unheard of but in modern times the number of woman who cheat on their spouse is growing exponentially. The difference in men and women cheating is that men often cheat for physical reasons while women often have emotional reasons for cheating on their partners.

The reasons why women cheat include loneliness, revenge, boredom and lack of self-esteem.

These factors may be inexcusable but they do exist in the minds of cheating women. Nowadays, more and more women are becoming guilty of cheating on their partners and it is often emotional reasons rather than lust that drive them to these affairs.

Loneliness is one of the primary reasons that women seek out affairs and cheat on their partners.

Although it sounds contradictory that they should feel lonely because they are currently in a relationship, it is often a relationship that is not emotionally fulfilling. Women

involved in these unsatisfactory relationship may feel as lonely if not more so than women who are not in a relationship. If a woman is not receiving the attention she feels she deserves in a relationship, she may be tempted to seek that attention elsewhere and become involved in an affair. A partner who becomes overly involved with his work or a hobby may not make time to spend with his partner and this often results in the woman feeling as if they are all alone.

In one of my recent interview with Mrs Bakare who resides in Dublin, she lamented... “One of the most prevalent reasons why women cheat is that they feel as though their current partner is not lavishing much attention on them and they feel lonely even in his presence. This feeling of loneliness can drive a women to cheat on her husband,” confirms Mrs. Bakare.

Revenge has also become an increasing factor in why women cheat. The modern woman is no

longer willing to sit back and accept the fact that their partner may be cheating on them. The theory of ‘’An eye for an eye’’ has unfortunately trickled down into the real romantic relationships and many women see a cheating partner as justification to have an affair of their own.

Furthermore they may be extremely hurt by their partner’s actions and seek a way to hurt them in the same way. While it is not a justifiable reason, many women see revenge as an appropriate reason for cheating on their spouse. If a woman confirms or even just holds a suspicion that her partner is cheating on her, she may be driven to engage in an affair of her own as an act of revenge just like Mrs. Ikechukwu residing in Tralee, did to get even with her husband.

Boredom may also cause women to cheat. Their current relationship may have fallen into a rut and lost the excitement that it possessed in the early stages of

its existence. They may feel that their relationship has become dull and predictable and rather than trying to bring excitement into their current relationship they may pursue affairs in the hopes of achieving the excitement they felt when they first become involved with their partner.

While an affair may bring about a temporary solution of making the women feel excited about love again, it may ultimately destroy both their current relationship as well as their cheating relationship.

An affair is exciting not only because it involves sneaking around but ultimately getting away with doing something wrong. To many women, this is very exciting and they are willing to risk losing their relationship over their affair.

Another reason why women cheat is a lack of self esteem.

Women may feel they are not getting an adequate amount of admiration from their partner and they may be tempted to cheat, to affirm that they are still attractive

and desirable. When a relationship meets a stagnant point where the partners are no longer making a conscious effort to reassure each other that they are still desirable, many women begin to feel insecure. This insecurity leads women to seek affirmation of their desirability outside of the relationship in the form of an affair.

While women with healthy selfesteem are more apt to remain happy in a relationship; those that lack self esteem are often driving to cheat on their partners. Being found desirable by another compensates for the lack of longing they feel from their partner and helps to boost their self-esteem.

Men are not the only ones who cheat on their partners. It is becoming more and more common for women to be guilty of cheating. While women are beginning to cheat as often as men, the reasons why women cheat are much different from the reasons why men cheat.

May 2012

family CORNER

MAY 7

Poems

Like a dream in a tempest sea The eyes hallucinates The ears bubbled The air smelt ignorance It was a journey Born on dairy premier Nurtured with dry milk A rainforest survival To serve and inform To whom it may concern And to delete the debris For the dignity of man

SATURDAY MARKET

11

SMILING DUN LOAGHAIRE Strewn on the habours of the wharf Clean amidst the massage of sea breeze Blowing the unguarded hair through the roots to fluff around Standing lonely yet buzy Meditating as well as looking Counting the movement of sky on the bay of the sea town I smile for there’s nothing Not even the waters can offer me Even with the Wharf town looking I smile like a handbags owner.

Amidst sobbing and wailing

A smile at the odd ones out Hope that restores confidence From household to all You answer the multi purpose call When the cock crows To the tune of the second grub Quenching the lure of Henry and Grafton Giving hope to the hopeless Soul and gong of Cumberland You are a true raft To the place for all nations

Wisdom Bits

THE GPO Stood the test of time In the struggle for freedom You are a living withness Blood and flesh splattered Tears and anguish chorused You saw the courage of men You’re a harbinger of thoughts Faiths converge on thy corridor Men walk past in reverence History rever you Cos you counted the cost When the city of Dublin Fought a sprawling empire.

Connect with

AfricaWorld

The deaf is not reminded about the begining of a war Meaning: Whe danger lurks around, human spirit heeds to caution.

Meaning: A young thief who is usually supported by parents is not afraid

The sound of kolanut in the mouth is not how sweet it is Meaning: The smoothness of a process does not mean it cannot throw up hassles

A chick that will grow into a cock can be spotted the very day it hatches Meaning: Good attitude is always noticed

A man is not afraid in sleeping with a widow because he know’s her husband’s whereabout.

However long the night, the dawn will break.”

Meaning: The only permanent thing is change

on

#africaworldnews

Sam and Sophie conquer them all Chapter 4 - the big game

By Roland Idowu

St. Kevin Boys football club is playing Monster Terror Football club today. Sam plays for St. Kevin’s boys FC, he was excited because the coach had asked him to be the captain and he was proud. Sophie went to watch her brother play and she told Sam to make sure he gets some goals.

Soon the match began, Sam’s team try to pass the ball to each other but a mean looking, big headed boy in the Monster Terror team called “Hacker” kept getting the ball away from Sam and his team, he wouldn’t let them get pass him.

The referee blows the half time whistle. Sam thought of a plan

during the half time, he said to his team mates that they should come with him when the hacker is trying to get the ball, he told his team mates to get in the box and he will pass the ball and his team mate Nathan would have a shot.They did that and scored a brilliant goal; Sam’s team was leading with one nil and were proud of their performances.

Sophie was in the crowd shouting, “Common Sam,well done Sam”. She kept encouraging her brother and his team mates to carried on winning.

Sam’s team scored nine goals in ten minutes. Monster Terror FC started copying Sam’s team and scored a goal but Sam’s team wouldn’t let them have their way.

St. Kevin’s scored two more goals.

When Monster Terror FC realise that the match will soon be over, they suddenly turned into monsters and started to multiply.

One of the monsters hit Sam on his leg and Sam couldn’t play again.

Sophie was worried about her brother; she ran onto the pitch and started to hit the monsters with the wand they got from the wizard shop.

The monster were too many, so Sophie commanded the wand to multiply, she gave one to Sam and one each to Sam’s team mates.They hit all the monsters with wands badly and they all died.

One tiny troll was left behind and suddenly transported to horrible land.

“You haven’t seen the last of us,” said the troll.

“Yeah right,” said Sophie.

12

May 2012

cartoon/ column

Cartoon by Dimitri

LET'S CELEBRATE THE AFRICAN COMMUNITY

WITH STYLE Come & celebrate with AfricaWorld, support our desire to broadcast our community and the resolve to serve and inform. Events include: - DINNER (Buffet) at 8pm.

- CULTURAL DANCE TROUPES: Afro - Irish Kidios Cenafrique Dance Group Ikhuoesan Women - LIVE BAND Ojemba Band International - COMEDY GALORE Fabu D - SOLO PERFORMANCE

This is a RED CARPET event.

- 5 minutes for organizations/businesses to sell themselves.

- Dress Code is strictly EVENING WEAR or AFRICAN ATTIRE. - On the Menu...3 course meal.

- On deck is DJs SPAQZ & REDWOOD. - 10 tantalizing pictures 4 each guest - Free 1yr subscription (usually €10.50).

- MORE...PRIZES...TO...BE...WON

Presence, Presents & Rewards “Your children need your presence more than your presents” Jesse Jackson

impossible to symbolize our love for our children with toys and gadgets.

Toys play essential roles in the lives of children but it shouldn’t be used to quantify the love we have for our children. I believe that the simplest things, which are free and priceless, would do a far better job to Founder of Adorable Mum - ADM prove our love for our adorable ones than Gbeminiyi ‘Gee Bee’ Shogunle even the most expensive toys. In any The presence of those we love is the best relationship, Presence will always gift ever and we must value every moment supersede Presents. we spend with them. This is as true for Even when we have to be away for long children as it is for adults. hours, the reassuring words that we say to A recent post on the Adorable Mum forum them when we are with them, the hugs on Facebook asked if it was possible to we give them every now and then, the symbolize the love we have for our children goodnight kiss, the good morning smile, with toys and gadgets and I responded the respect we show them, the way we stating that - it would be absolutely treat them, how we talk to them, the 10

mins we spend playing games together, the 5 mins we spend reading a book or the 30 mins we spend watching their favourite television show with them would go a long way. The best things in life are free and the most beautiful and important presents we can give to our children is OUR PRESENCE. And Presence like presents can be a great reward too for children. Children, like adults are motivated to do things if they know they’ll be rewarded for it.

Dr James Dubson explains it this way.

“As adults, we go to work each day and receive a pay check every other Friday.

Getting out of bed each morning and meeting the requirements of a job are thereby rewarded. Medals are given to brave soldiers, plaques are awarded to

successful business people, and watches are presented to retiring employees.

Rewards make responsible effort worthwhile” Children need to learn how to behave appropriately, and a positive reward system can be a great tool for parenting; and one good thing about rewards, is that they don’t always have to be toys, gadgets etc. The best rewards are time spent with family and friends. So an extra play time with mummy or extra television time with dad or a bug beary hug or more outside play time with their friends could all make great rewards for good behaviour.

May 2012

13

news/entertainment

CHIT CHAT BROTHERS AT WAR OVER WIFE THREATEN TO KILL EACH OTHER Dubliners may be in for a worrying news as two blood brothers declare war on each other.

The issue has spiral out of control that the family cannot fix it as the elder brother has sworn to kill the younger one. AfricaWorld has been following the story for a couple of months and we shall spill the beans at the right time.

It all started with the senior brother who is a Dublin elite as AfricaWorld Columnist at DIMKPA will argue. Before he was asked to leave Ireland due to his litany of misdemeanor, extramarital affair

was the name of his game. He had many kids from a pretty southern Africa woman. Sources informed AfricaWorld that he had a field day sleeping around with women, whether married or single. It was believed that, at some point, men avoided introducing their wives and girlfriends to him.

The issue between these brother started when the younger one came to Dublin and decided to put up with the sister -in - law as recession bit hard on pockets.

Though the pretty ex-wife had six kids, the last from a different man

News in Brief - MALAWI: Former vice president of Malawi, Madam Joyce Banda takes over government after the death of President Bingu wa Mutharika.

- President Joyce Banda of Malawi bars President Al Bashir of Sudan from attending conference slated for Lilongwe in July, citing economic consequences that may fall out due to ICC warrant of arrest on the later.

- New president sacks allies of her late predecessor and forms a Government of National unity.

- madonna has been criticised by Malawi’s new president Joyce Banda for “changing her mind” over plans to build schools there.

- President Bingu wa Mutharica, a pan - Africanist, died of heart attack on 5 April.

-NIGERIA: Boko Haram (western education) terrorist group step bombings in northern Nigeria.

- Acting Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Muhammed Abubakar, has offered N10 million reward to anyone with information that will lead to the arrest of the killers of Mr. Olaitan Oyerinde, Principal Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State.

- Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) General Muhammadu Buhari has met with the leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in Lagos on 2015 elections.

- English Premier League club Arsenal will travel to Nigeria for a preseason match in Abuja on August 5.

- Nigeria looks at computer software to track criminals.

- Zain Nigeria introduces new prepaid tariff plan.

- According to Minister for Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, Nigeria has the highest malaria cases in the world.

- According to the Gen. Ihejirika,

after breaking up with her husband, she still looked radiant.

As the ex - husband was in West Africa, she offered to assist the brother -in - law, advising him to move in and save the pinching rent from Dublin shylock landlords.

Although hesitant at the onset, the well - built younger brother took advantage of the opportunity and started laying his head at night in his sister - in - law’s flat.

AfricaWorld exclusively learnt that, soon rather than later, it was raunchy sex sessions every night.

Nigerian Army said it has taken steps to checkmate the activities of terrorist group and other criminal element in the country.

- Nigerian telecom operator Globacom, has taken fixed line services on its Broadaccess network to the nation’s third largest city Ibadan.

- Atleast six people have died in two bomb attacks on newspaper offices in Nigeria.

- Boko Haram raided a market in northern Nigeria, killing at least 60 people - President Goodluck Jonathan cautions politicians on 2015 general eletion - LIBERIA: Members of the House of Representatives up in arms against the pro bono status of Mr. Robert Sirleaf as board chair of the lucrative National Oil Company (NOCAL) - The pioneer ECOWAS Volunteers made of young specialists in various fields of human endeavour are to receive a weeklong induction training in Monrovia.

- Liberia’s Cellcom will be launching High Speed GSM technology in the country in an effort to improve the internet browsing experience for mobile internet users.

- AN international court has delivered its verdict on Liberian ex-president Charles Taylor, finding him guilty of arming Sierra Leone’s rebels who paid him in “blood diamonds”.

-MALI: Attack on World Heritage site in Timbuktu may spark revolt.

-CONGO - KINSHASA: Rwanda and DRC military chiefs meet over clashes.

- President Kabila who finally announced publicly on 11 April 2012 his intention to have Ntaganda arrested is diversionary.

- Tough EU Transparency Laws Could Change Lives in Resource-Rich Country.

-Uganda: American officials have said that they think LRA leader Joseph Kony, forced out of Uganda in 2006, is operating in the Central African Republic.

- Many Ugandans are losing money to unending promotions by their preferred telecom companies.

- Western Union and the MTN Group today announced the launch of a mobile

LABOUR WOMEN URGE WOMEN VOTERS TO ENGAGE EARLY WITH STABILITY TREATY Ahead of a Labour Women Stability Treaty information session, Labour Women Chair, Katherine Dunne today urged women to familiarise themselves with the text of the Stability Treaty ahead of polling day on May 31st.

“Past referenda show that knowledge of a treaty is a crucial factor in voter turnout, for this reason Labour Women are encouraging women to engage early on in the Stability Treaty debate.

“Historically women, if not fully informed have been more likely to lean towards a 'no' vote on the grounds that they did not know enough. Research also shows that women are also much more likely to engage with the issues during a referendum campaign as their

money transfer service in Uganda enabling MTN customers to send and receive money via their mobile phones.

- Ugandan telecommunications operators are outsourcing large portions of their management of infrastructure and assets to UK-based Eaton Towers.

- India’s Spanco revealed on Monday that they aim to move into Uganda’s electricity distribution sector.

-SOUTH AFRICA: President Jacob Zuma has expressed his country’s willingness to enhance cooperation with India in a number of areas, like infrastructure development, training, trade relations and tourism.

- South African mobile operator Vodacom has started the implementation of new measures that will prevent users from abusing BlackBerry’s fixed-fee unlimited internet browsing.

- FW de Klerk, South Africa’s last white president, called Nelson Mandela yesterday a “brutal and unfair” opponent and said he was no “holy man”, angering the African National Congress.

- British tourist mauled by a tame cheetah.

- Sierra Leone: is the latest African country to scoop the Guinness World Record. Sierra Leone won the award following a synchronized traditional ‘Sampa dance’ which had 1002 performers dressed in national colours of green, white and blue.

- Zimbabwe: Resettled farmers are failing to utilize land due to inadequate farming inputs and lack of resources.

- Europe: Oxfam calls for legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty - Ghana - Mobile operator MTN Ghana has deactivated over 21 000 of its subscribers as part of a drive to clean up the mobile network.

- Findings have revealed that 1,500 years ago, major gold fields had existed in West Africa.

- Kenya: Kenya is part of the Africa ICT Alliance (AfICTA) whose main aim is to bring together key ICT players from five Africa countries to form a union that will result in the achievement of mutual social and economic goals. Others include South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia and Gambia.

knowledge of a treaty increases. For this reason, we are calling on women to get involved in the early stages of the Stability Treaty campaign, so they can be well informed by polling day.

“The Stability Treaty is about securing the stability of our currency and providing a valuable economic safety net should we need it. Labour Women believe a YES vote is the best option for women, and will be working hard on the ground over the next three weeks to communicate the essence of the Stability Treaty to our members, and we urge all other organisations who can reach out to women to do the same.”

- Bharti Airtel, a global telecom services provider with operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa, has announced the appointment of Shivan Bhargava as Managing Director for its Kenyan operation.

- Odinga party supporters clash.

- Africa’s top ten countries with fastest internet speed include - Ghana, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda and Mozambique.

- Under the leadership of the African Union Commission, UniForum SA, trading as the ZA Central Registry (ZACR), has applied for a new Internet extension, (or dotAfrica).

- Vodacom customers can expect huge roaming savings when travelling to six African countries where Vodacom and Vodafone operate.

- A new survey published on Tuesday reveals that as telecom jobs in Africa booms, the continent still lacks skilled workers, calling on universities and governments to do more to boost the output of telecom and IT. technology provider Airspan Networks to rollout their 4G network in Gambia.

- The World Bank partner devoted to developing the private sector and The MasterCard Foundation will spend millions of dollars so more impoverished Africans can get loans and other financial services, officials said.

- Augere, a UK based and emerging market broadband provider is expanding in East Africa with the launch of Rwanda’s broadband network and the acquisition of Tanzania’s spectrum license.

- BRICS pledge healthcare support for Afria.

- Egyptian: authorities are reportedly taking the first steps towards banning internet pornography.

- Gambian: internet service provider Netpage has selected American communications.

- South Sudan’s economy is on the brink of collapse, World Bank.

- New map of South Sudan includes Heglig, which is the bone of contention.

14

May 2012

cartoon

by orla price

May 2012

15

Column

Wole Soyinka or Seamus Heaney

By Bisi Adigun Bisi Adigun is a playwright and theatre director.

He is the founder and Artistic Director of Arambe Productions.

See: www.arambeproductions.com

I recall a car sticker that I saw page as regards what I mean by a on the back of a Volkswagen Beetle true artist, let me explain with due car a long time ago in Nigeria. It reference to a particular article my read: ‘When I grow up, I would love wife drew my attention to in the to be a Rolls Royce’. If someone asks Sunday Independent edition of the me to name a living Nigerian whom 30th November 2008.

Entitled, ‘The True Artist is I would love to be like when I grow up, the first name that will tumble Almost Always Persecuted in Some out of my gob is: Oluwole Akinwande Way or Other’, the article features Soyinka. And if it were to be a living an interview Irish journalist Aengus Irish person, it would have to be Fanning (Fanning sadly passed Seamus Heaney. In case you are away last January at the age of 69) wondering what these two did with Ulick O’Connor. Although personalities have in common, read I had lived in Ireland for 12 years I did not – to my eternal shame - have on.

First, Soyinka and Heaney -- born, a clue who O’Connor was until I respectively, in 1934 and 1939 -- both read that article. But after reading have gorgeous and very distinctive his insightful interview, I took it white hair. But more importantly upon myself to write to him they are both writers, not ordinary specifically to thank him for being writers. They are what I call the forthright in shedding light on the “Rolls Royce” of the wordsmith conundrum: who is a true artist? industry, bearing in mind that they In fact, I requested the honour of are both Nobel laureates in meeting O’Connor and I eventually literature. Soyinka is an essayist, had the privilege of being in his theorist, poet, novelist, and a esteemed company one day in dramatist. He made history, in 1986, March 2010 in his house in Rathgar. by becoming the first African writer That is one meeting that will to win the most coveted award in remain indelible in my mind. literature for his dramaturgy.

Born in 1928, O’Connor is indeed Heaney is a playwright, poet, a “living piece of history,” as lecturer and translator; in 1995 that Fanning’s article described him. His father was Dean of he won the same ‘The artist has Pathology in the prestigious literary award for benefit for society at College of Surgeons his poetry, making large because if he’s and his mother was him the fourth any function, it’s to a graduate of Celtic Irish N o b e l show society what’s Studies from UCD. It laureate i n actually going on, was probably this literature. (My what we’re all about, upper-middle class dream project is to and what the human background that have both of these molecule actually propelled O’Connor to consider law as a extraordinarily amounts to’ befitting profession. gifted men of words on stage in conversation to But after working as a barrister for be moderated by Nigerian/Irish a few years, O’Connor, as Fanning London-based writer and academic puts it, “Turned his back on middleGabriel Gbadamosi! So, watch this class security and instead chose the precarious, painful, Bohemian and space.)

While I have had the privilege of lonely life of the artist.” By the time being in the company of Wole I had that memorable meeting with Soyinka -- our very own WS -- a O’Connor in 2010, he was number of times, I am yet to meet approaching his 82nd birthday. He Seamus Heaney. But from reading lives in the house he was born in an extract of the Irish Human -- all on his own -- as he has never Rights Commission lecture he been married and neither does he delivered on Wednesday, December have any children.

In my view, there is one very 9, 2009, in which he likens human rights activists to poets, I have no important tool that barristers and doubt in my mind that Heaney is a artists employ in their trade – ‘lies’. humanist, who is passionately Barristers tell lies strategically to committed to justice, equality and conceal the truth their clients fundamental human rights - just would not want uncovered while like Soyinka. As far as I am artists tell lies creatively to reveal concerned, these are the the truth society would want fundamental issues that should covered up. As already mentioned, concern a true artist bearing in O’Connor worked for a few years as mind Brecht’s dictum: “Art is not a a barrister before becoming a writer. mirror to be held up to the society One can only guess why O’Connor but a hammer with which to shape decided to turn his back on the it.” Soyinka and Heaney are world- lucrative and prestigious legal class exemplars of a true artist. And profession to become an artist. just in case we are not on the same Whatever the reason, he is the

better for it because he has become a sage at whose feet one should regularly sit to listen to the words of the wise. In my view, O’Connor is a true artist; hence his unique ability to proffer, in his interview with Fanning, a candid insight into what makes a true artist. After all, it does take one to know one. It is for this simple logical reason that I would like to take the liberty to quote, at length and verbatim, an extract from the interview: “AENGUS FANNING: “Ulick, the artist’s life is at times very difficult in a way that people in the settled community, if I might call them that, don’t understand.”

ULICK O’CONNOR: “Yeah, he’s living his own life, he has to do that his own way and if he doesn’t do that his own way, he’s not fulfilling whatever talent he has.”

AENGUS FANNING: “Is it a purely selfish mission or has it got some benefit for society at large?”

ULICK O’CONNOR: “The artist has benefit for society at large because if he’s any function, it’s to show society what’s actually going on, what we’re all about, and what the human molecule actually amounts to.”

It’s very hard to do. I mean, a man might only write one poem in his life or paint one painting, but if he’s done it, he has scaled that height and that’s the difference between an artist and somebody who just works in books, somebody who works in music.”

AENGUS FANNING: “But is it not impossible to define what an artist is?”

ULICK O’CONNOR: “Take Yeats and O’Casey. [What] they were able to do is to see into society, to see what the human condition is about and then to construct word castles that, if you entered into them, you got a view of society that was the truth -- so they provided the truth in the form of artistic structures.”

“Now they could have gone in for something else, for money and fame, and neither of them did that, they were all living on nothing till they were recognised and even

then, money was irrelevant to both of them.”

AENGUS FANNING: “And what if the truth is unpalatable to society, what happens then?”

ULICK O’CONNOR: “Well then, it’s very hard for an artist to survive in that sense because Goethe said about the Irish, the Irish will always down a noble stag. It’s the same with the artist, he will be attacked because he’s seen the truth and he’s revealing something which a lot of people would have liked kept quiet.

Then there’s the question of envy.

Very often the artist breaks down under that and becomes a drunkard, or a drug addict.”

AENGUS FANNING: “And who would he be envied by?”

ULICK O’CONNOR: “He’d be envied by those who are living false lives, which is 90 per cent of the community. He’d be envied because he has something precious that other people haven’t got and it’s natural to envy what you haven’t got, it’s natural for society to do it.

The true artist is almost always persecuted for the most part of his life in some way or other and the trouble is that there’s so few that are the ‘true’. I mean the others are very successful and there are really good performers, writers, artists, film makers but there’s only a few Felinis and Antonions and Carol Reeds and the gap between them makes the Great Canyon look like it’s homemade.”

There you have it. Though we all envy the true artist, it is clear from the extract from Ulick O’Connor’s interview as cited above that the life of a true artist is indeed an unenviable one. It is lonesome, scary, burdensome and dreary. On the fragile shoulders of a true artist lies the enormous responsibility to be courageous in a situation where cowardice will be perfectly excusable, tell the truth when bull**** will suffice and consistently remain good when every Tom, Dick and Harry is persistently behaving badly. There are many who regard themselves as artists, as O’Connor has rightly pointed out, but there

are a very few true artists. And what would we do without them? We are doomed, to put it baldly. They are the salt of life, if I may borrow that Biblical term. I mean, imagine Nigeria without our WS or Ireland without Heaney.

Soyinka spent almost two years in prison from 1967 to 1969, simply because he took it upon himself to travel to the Eastern part of Nigeria, shortly before the now infamous Nigerian/Biafran war broke out, on a mission to convince the late Biafran leader, Gen Odumegwu Ojukwu, to reconsider the Igbo’s decisions to secede from the then nascent Nigeria independent state.

Soyinka spent 18 months in solitary confinement on the charge of treason, without trial, under the orders of General Yakubu Gowon, the then military head of state of Nigeria. But instead of being broken by the experience, Soyinka emerged more defiant, with more fire in his belly and a better visionary as evident in his compelling prison memoir, The Man Died, which contains Soyinka’s most important philosophy: “The man dies in in him who keeps quite in the face of injustice.”

And from the little I have read about Seamus Heaney, I am sure if he was in Soyinka’s shoes, he would have stood steadfast against injustice and tyranny despite all odds. I am placing my reliance here on the Irish Times’ report of the paper Heaney delivered in December 2009 at the Irish Human Rights Commission lecture which I referred to earlier. According to the report by Kitty Holland and entitled ‘Activists are Like Poets, Heaney Says in Rights Lecture’, Heaney, in reference to the English poet Keats, likened human rights advocates to poets who, in his words, “are to be distinguished from mere dreamers because they are ‘Those whom the miseries of the world/Are misery and will not let them rest’.”

Heaney’s concluding remark, according to Holland, was that a great artist has the capability to enter, “That place of ultimate suffering and [the] decision in his or her own being will bring readers to a realisation of that same stratum of humanity themselves”. In Heaney’s words, “The experience, will involve a sense of common human belonging. And at that moment,” concluded Heaney, “The art and the artist become allies in the great work of ‘saving nations and people’”. These are indeed the words of the wise and undoubtedly from the pen of a true artist. And that is why, when I grow up, I would love to be like either Soyinka or Seamus Heaney. They are both the epitome of a true artist.

16

May 2012

photo of the month

Beyond bounds: GNIB resident card of Mr Henry Igboanusi perforated by immigration official at the Dublin airport on his way from Poland

Editor confers with Ambassador Felix Pwol on AfricaWorld visit to Nigeria Embassy

Oke Oghene Akpotor on her communion day at St Nicolas of Myra, Francis Street, Dublin 8.

Ifeyinwa Anuche made her first communion at St joseph’s Cath Church East Wall, Dublin 3.

Quick Digest : South African Ambassador - N.A.J. Ndou reads through our paper on AfricaWorld courtesy call at the Embassy.

Dunlaoghaire seaside picture from AfricaWorld photographor Liu Zhi Nan.

May 2012

17

COLUMN

WHEN FOOTBALL SUBSTITUTES RELIGION By the Rev. Fr. Vincent Ezeoma Arisukwu

The fact that football is almost commanding the greatest followership in the globe today cannot be contested. Call it soccer or even an ordinary game, the mentality is the same so also the followership. Fill the pages of any newspaper or magazine with church news nowadays and only a few persons will buy it, but use a little space to talk about a football encounter in Europe or elsewhere and the patronage will indeed be phenomenological. Many churches have closed up in Europe and America, some still are at the threshold of extinction for lack of patronage while spaces are sought for and sometimes stampedes result in football stadia in the bid to watch matches at all cost. In the African scene, many pastors draw their analogies from football while preaching and even use the various European club sides to generate money since the supporters of these clubs would donate anything they have to make sure their club wins whatever competition in the church. The commitment or passion for football in the modern society is not limited to gender or age as the same madness is noticed in male and female, young and old, strong and weak alike. It becomes indeed pertinent at this time, especially as AfricaWorld celebrates her first anniversary to x-ray the growing devotion to football vis-avis the idea of religious worship in today’s world.

‘Cult,’ according to dictionary definition is a particular system of religious worship, especially with reference to its rites and ceremonies. It is an instance of great veneration of a person, ideal or thing, especially as manifested by a body of admirers. It is also the object of such veneration. It can further be defined as a group or sect bound together by veneration of the same thing, person or ideal. In philosophy of religion, we talk of the objects of worship namely the deities or gods. The gods are usually worshipped or venerated as the case may be. And to point out the

various roles assigned to them, different religions categorize the deities into major and minor gods which are also reverenced according to their degree of awesomeness. The gods are worshipped, obeyed and venerated by human beings who believe in their power to answer them especially in times of need.

They pray to them, sacrifice to them and invoke them. They also appreciate them in thankfulness for prayers answered. This explains why a major element of every religion is faith; an act of belief.

Faith has to do with that which is reliable, that which gives security, that which can be trusted. It presupposes a correspondence between that which is promised and that which is realized.

Something is worthy of faith which does not disappoint.

With regard to football, we are aware of the existence of the various leagues as organized in the different countries and continents.

These leagues are contested by club sides that play numerous games from the beginning of each league season to determine the winners at the end of the particular season.

For instance, there is the English Premiership known as Barclay’s Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, German Bundesliga, French League, Scottish League, etc.

Within these different leagues we have clubs or teams such as Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, and about other fifteen more clubs that contest the English premiership.

There are Barcelona, Real Madrid, Athletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, Valencia, etc, in Spanish La Liga. In Italian Serie A we have AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Roma, Palermo, etc. The German Bundesliga has teams like Bayern Munich, Bayern Leverkussen, Borussia Dortmund, Shalke, Hamburg, etc. Teams like Olympique Marseille, Lyon, Lille, PSG, etc come from French League and the same applies to Scottish as well as Portuguese Leagues and so on. From these different teams too, players emerge and command spectacular followership. The likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, Wayne Rooney, Kaka, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandes, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Van Persie, Sergio Aguero, Yaya Toure, Arjen Robben, Mario Gomez, Frank Ribery, etc have almost become demi-gods and revered among their fans. Just as

there are minor and major gods in religious cult, teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal, Man City, Bayern Munich, AC Milan, Inter Milan, and some others can be classified among the major gods in the world of football.

This can be gleaned from several factors such as quality of coaches, player quality and transfer policies and in our case here the number of fans or what is now called “faithfuls” that not only follow their matches but also commit their lives to their chosen clubs. It is this word “faithful” that has helped to define the level of commitment of individuals to teams they chose to support and be associated with.

Obviously, many people the world over have put their faith more in football nowadays than in their God. To choose to support a team is not bad in itself since that derives from one’s innermost admiration of either the team’s history or manager or individual players or pattern of play or transfer policies or even a particular season’s record. The implication is that no person is forced to like a particular team or be devoted to a club just as no one may be forced to choose a particular religion against his own wish. And just as people have a special penchant for music or drama or even books as hobbies, so also the case of football should be.

That means that football as a game is nothing other than a hobby. The irony of football nowadays is that people especially the youth are misplacing their priority with regard to football. Just very recently in one of the Nigerian cities, a young man committed suicide because his preferred team, Manchester United of England lost to a lowly rated Wigan Athletic side in the premiership. Equally during the EUFA semi-final match between Chelsea and Barcelona, some persons threw in bombing at a viewing centre in Jos, one of the Nigerian cities. It was alleged that the reason was that Chelsea was winning and the Barcelona fans were extremely aggrieved and needed revenge. It might be recalled also that on February 1, 2012, a violent demonstration by fans in a match between two Egyptian club sides, Ahl-Ahly and Ahl-Masry led to the death of about 74 people at the Port Said stadium in Egypt.

Similar cases of violence abound in various places in the world today simply because of extreme passion for the game of football. Many

families have been torn apart because they belong to different clubs in Europe, clubs whose address they don’t even know but are affectionately attached to. Some persons today hate to hear any criticism against their player-gods like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, etc.Some die-hard faithful go into betting for their club’s success with the last of their resources and are ready to starve their dependants because they have put their faith and resources in such clubs. These forms of attitude can rather be described as fanaticism which only indicates extremities in life.

On these bases therefore, the idea of being a fan in football becomes vitiated and also abused. Football in itself is good and inspiring. It conglomerates races, gender and talents but cannot be substituted for religion. It is a mere hobby and offers only momentary happiness unlike the happiness that derives from the worship of God which is eternal. To commit violence because of defeat or dissatisfaction with a particular game can only be described as sheer act of stupidity or foolhardiness. We therefore use this occasion of AfricaWorld’s anniversary to advise youths and

all football-loving fans to learn to place their priorities rightly. The Bible says, “Put no trust in princes, in mortal men in whom there is no help.” This is what happens when football is substituted for religion, when all hopes are built on the ephemeral. This is why some players of great repute fail to deliver at the expected time. This is why teams fail to deliver when the ovation is so loud. This is why disappointments come when least expected. This is why it should be understood that absolute faith belongs to the divine, to God who never fails. This is why we need to appreciate God in all things and commit all to him regularly including preferred teams and players. When football becomes religion, often times disappointments follow. When football becomes religion, failure may result. When football becomes religion love turns to hate, joy to strife. When football becomes religion defeat is seen as failure and violence replaces embrace. Always give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what ultimately belongs to Him. Faith belongs to the divine domain.

18

May 2012

news

Family Under Siege by Racists The Traore family of Sierra Leone have been in Ireland for about a decade. Ask them about the Island of Ireland, they will recount a story of love for the country. They have integrated well that their daughter found love in the arms of Derek McCabe, a native of Limerick. As Nima and his son-in-law walked in from Ballyfermot, they talked about their desperation to survive at the hands racists and their attacks. For the sixth time, his family have been molested with injuries that sends them to hospital beds yet the basic service of protection eludes like rain does in the desert.

The latest attack started from an attempt to snatch the family car by a group of people

numbering over ten. According to Mr. Traore, teenager between 15 - 17, men and a lady of about 30 yrs were in the gang. Around 4am on 28 April, i ignited the ignition and left my car to warm while going into the house to use the toilet. When i came back to the car, i saw my son shouting out, informing me that some boys wanted to steal the car. My son narrated how the hooligans tried to steal the car and taking the keys after an unsuccessful attempt. “I tried to stop them when they ran away but they showed me a knife”, his son told him. Immediately, i called the Garda and informed them of the incident, of which they promised to show up. “So i went in to get the spare key to take the car to the police for safety as they had

key and access. Before i could come out, they were back in great numbers”, Mr. Traore recounted.

The victim recounted how his family members were subjected to a hail of pebbles and stones, inflicting damaging cuts and wounds to all parts of his body.

Despite the attack, constant threat has followed on, scaring his wife Batouli, his son and daughter to run away from their home. They are afraid to die in the hands of racists in Ballyfermot after merciless beatings and harassment. Dere McCabe, son -in - law to the family corroborate the story as he informed AfricaWorld how his eight months pregnant wife was harassed and nearly got knived, on the way to the Ballyfermot home in Cherryorchard Parade.

Dr. Peter O’Sullivan of 150 Rathgar Road, Dublin 6, gave him a report describing the heinous attack and injuries sustained by Mr. Nima Traore, his wife Batouli Cisse and children, Katiotou and Dioulaba. In the report, the surgeon described the degree of i n j u r y s u s t a i n e d , h av i n g acknowledged being the family doctor since 2002, “He has cuts with bad bruising on his right thigh, right forearm and his skull, he is badly traumatised both physically and mentally.”

Dr. O’Sullivan mentioned how Mr. Traore’s wife got injured in

Head injury

Nima and son-in-law Derek McCabe

Arm injury

Scene of assult: Car smash

Leg injury

April while trying to flee from these assailants.

What borders the Traore’s is how their lives will be safe as the Garda (police) are treating their issue with kid glove. A Garda letter to them states, “..but you should be aware that delays might be experienced during the course of this investigation.” Is it when we are found dead that the police will save us? Mr. Traore queried.

May 2012

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news

MY MISSION IN IRELAND - Amb. Felix Yusufu Pwol Diplomat said. He informed AfricaWorld that he is proposing an umbrella organisation to accommodate all. “How can three or four organisations with the the same direction be inviting a minister from Nigeria or Ireland?”, he queried The new Ambassador believes in the reforming consular services rendered to Nigerians in Ireland.

He promised to enhance the prompt procurement of passport and travel documents. However, he called for the assistance and support of Nigerians to ensure service delivery.

How can they assist? The Diplomat advised all Nigerians to always visit the portal page of the embassy website for procedure and latest information. On the issue of deportations of Africans particularly Nigerians, Amb. Pwol said he does

On 13 September, 2011, H.E. Mr. Felix Yusufu Pwol, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and their Excellencies, the Ambassadors of Malaysia, Germany, Spain, the People’s Republic of China, the Arab Republic of Egypt, Cyprus and the Kingdom of Norway, presented their Letters of Credence to the President of Ireland at Áras an Uachtaráin.

Accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Angela Hwonghei Pwol, their sons Yusufu Jacob Felix and Daniel Danyi and Mr. Georges Omokhag Oludare Alabi, Minister and Deputy Head of Mission, he received authority to represent Nigeria and Nigerians in Ireland.

Giving him eight months to settle in, AfricaWorld sought to meet and be informed, on his initiatives to the teeming Nigerians in this beautiful Ireland. Among the 7

Resident Head of Missions in the Irish Republic, the no 1 Nigerian in this country have always had a hectic schedule handling the nail biting issues of Africa’s largest group. Issues that mostly make or mar Nigerian Ambassadors tenure include, passport brouhaha, deportation palaver, meddling in politics of local organisations, arbitrary charges and negligence of the welfare of Nigerians.

No sooner that we were ushered into the office of Amb. Felix Pwol, he reeled out his tight schedule especially in attending the Anniversary celebrations of AfricaWorld which clashed with a programme he had promised to be present. However, he delivered on our reason for coming to his office, which is the priorities of his tenure.

The Diplomat spoke greatly about

continuing the programs of his predecessor in this regard. Nigeria, being a hub for investment in infrastructure and services require input from experts and companies with pedigree. He sighted example of Nigeria’s long time friendship with Ireland which has spanned over the years. He bemoaned the fact that there has not been strong trade and economic relations between Nigeria and Ireland. And this, he intend to accelerate in a speedy and robust way as the National Gateway Economic Partnership demands.

The Ambassador kicked against proliferation of organisations in Ireland especially those with same aims and objectives. “Do not get me wrong, infact i share the enthusiasm of these organisations but I feel they are dissipating their energy”, the

not support it but the laws of Ireland must be obeyed. On cases of victimisation and institutional racism, the Diplomat promised that his tenure intends to take it up to the right governmental chanel especially, the department of foreign affairs. “Since I arrived here, I have not changed what my predecessor started, the Nigerian embassy is not here to undermine but to expand the friendship between the two countries”, he told AfricaWorld.

Finally, Amb. Felix Pwol reminded us that the job of the embassy is more of advocacy and even preached about the golden rule. “Nigerians should know more about the community, learn the laws of the land and avoid unnecessary antagonism to avoid friction”, he said.

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May 2012

sport

Legends of African Sport Benedict McCarthy

By Oscar Sibanda

On the 12 of November 1977, a legend of African football was born in the city of Cape Town, South of the African Continent. Benedict Saul ‘’Benni’’ McCarthy, raised in the streets of Hanover at the Cape flats, found himself talented and went on to be one of the best soccer players in the African continent. Growing up in a rough area well known for its violence and high unemployment rates, he played football in the streets and worked very hard to be who he is today.

Following his brother’s footsteps , Benni started playing for a local team called Young Pirates managed by his uncle and showing much quality he then joined the youth structures of a local club called Crusaders and later on signing for a first division team

called Seven Stars. All these kicked off when he was just 17 year old. Like any other young footballer, he always dreamt of playing for top teams in the world of football.

At Seven stars, he improved a lot as a player and 18 year old boy growing to be a man both physically and in the game, he was then spotted

by Cape Town Spurs where he improved even more. It was not long when he show cased himself in the African Youth Championship and the World Youth Championship in Malaysia and this led to him moving to Ajax Amsterdam in Holland. In Holland too, he got there in his first season and won himself a great name for the fans scoring 9 goals and winning the league with them. For an upcoming soccer star, this was a great achievement for him and it therefore earned him a great move to Celta Vigo in the Spanish league.

This 6 million move never seemed to work for Benni as he found himself struggling to get into the starting 11,

he was then loaned to the struggling Portuguese side Porto at that time.

He played under the newly promoted manager Jose Mourinho ‘’the special one’’. McCarthy then rediscovered his form and after representing the Bafana Bafana, South African national team in the Africa cup of nations, he went back to Porto and was the main man in the Portuguese side and helped them come third in the league clinching an automatic place in the Uefa league by scoring 12 goals.

In 2002-2003 season he returned to Celta Vigo where he spent most of his time on the bench while Porto won the uefa cup and the league cup.

When team mate Helda Postiga was sold to the premier league side Tottenham hotspur, Porto then bought Benni for the sum on around 7million. At Porto Benni McCarthy established himself and was one of the top players for years. He is also known for the two goals he scored against Manchester United in the Uefa Champions league which they went on to win with their well organized tactician Jose Mourinho.

He played for Porto until 2006 when

he moved to the English side Blackburn Rovers, at Rovers he also won himself as the fans favourate by netting the goals for fun and finished as a second top goal scorer with with 20 goals. He then fell out of favour with manager Paul Ince , with the arrival of Robbie Fowler and the already established Roque Santa Cruz and Jason Roberts, this did not stop him from scoring though as he scored an equalizer vs middlesbrough.

The Bafana Bafana had one of the greatest captains of all time, and it

was encouraging for young stars watching such a great Warrior representing their continent and getting so much achievements which many will just wish for. He is also well known for some great goals scored in the world cup in France where he found himself in the song by a South Africa trip TKZee. When McCarthy got older he was losing his form and he moved to West Ham united where he never made any big difference and thefore left for his local league in South Africa.

The Champions League The Airtricity League

The UEFA Champions League is one of the best tournaments ever in world of football, and consists of about 76 teams in total and 32 advancing to group stages, making it a very lovely long season of football. Having some top class teams like Barcelona, AC Milan, Manchester United,Chelsea,Arsenal and so on,make the matches a must-see at all times.

Barcelona is one of the teams that has been dominating the whole of Europe in recent years. Their squad has such players like Lionel Messi,Xavi and Iniesta making them the top team ever. The semi-final of 2012 was one of the mouth watering matches, with Barcelona taking on the great Londoners giants Chelsea and the German predators Bayern Munich taking on the great Real Madrid led by the Portuguese tactician Jose Mourinho - ‘’The Special One.’’

Looking at the 2012 final, it seems like the Blues have a chance of representing the London teams who are yet to win the Champions League since the competition begun 58 years ago. The two finalists worked very hard to earn themselves a place in the finals. In Germany, Bayern knocked out Real Madrid in a dramatic fashion as they came from behind at the Estadio Bernabeu to knock the Spanish giants out of the Cup. In the other game, it was a clash of the titans, with Chelsea having been robbed a few penalties against Barca a fewyears back.

This was their time for revenge at last, and they made sure this became true by beating the Spanish team at the Bridge and outclassing them again in Spain.

Chelsea’s great players like the admirable Ramires,scored a cheeky goal just a few minutes to half-time and Fernando Torres sealing the victory in the last minutes of the game.

It’s such a great pleasure to seeAfrican players go on to the top and representing their continent in games like these.The likes of Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, John Obi Mikel and the great Michael Essien have shown great character and also helped Chelsea to be where they

are. Didier Drogba has been the main force in the Chelsea team and has also scored the famous goal against Barcelona at the Bridge while Messi awaits to score his first goal against Chelsea.competition for schools. “It was a big step up for everyone. We were playing very good teams with strong traditions of winning”.Malindi Secondary managed to draw twice but were knocked out after losing the last game of the group stage.

As we near full time,the referee gives a penalty to Malindi.Aaron shouts across the pitch for Konoko to take it. Konoko is Malindi’s captain this year after he was noticed byTanzanian football scouts last season as an exceptional player at the Same Games. “He is our best player.

I was delighted that he was asked for trails” Aaron says confidently. Konoko calmly drives the ball past the goalkeeper to the left corner and the crowd invade the pitch in delight.

As the game ends in a win for Malindi, I ask Aaron his thoughts for this season.

“We are training twice a week,and now we are winning.But our main objective is to go to the Same Games this June and get out of the group. If we can achieve that, we will have made progress and who knows where we can go from there”.

To find out more about Aaron’s journey, watch “Hands on Tanzania”, a one hour long documentary about Suji and the Irish volunteers.

The Airtricity Premier League of Ireland consists of 12 teams while the 1st Division has only 8 teams competing in it. The League of Ireland seems to be in the same spot as many players leave for England and teams don’t have enough money to tie their players down. This is one of the reasons why the League will not grow to be a famous one in the near future though they have some teams like Shamrock Rovers who have broken records by becoming the first Irish team to make it to the group stages.

The League of Ireland has only few African players. There is Joseph N’do who represented The Indomitable Lions or Cameroon in France 1998 and currently plays for Sligo Rovers

and has also played for a few teams in Ireland. Romuald Boco from Benin is also playing for Sligo Rovers. Oscar Sibanda the Zimbabwean who broke into the League last season with the struggling Galway United side, scoring goals against Sligo Rovers and UCD AFC respectively and currently plays for SD Galway FC. And lastly William Enubele from Nigeria playing for SD Galway.

It seems the number of African players playing in the League of Ireland is increasing as there are young stars ready to break into the Airtricity League of Ireland and this can be therefore a stepping stone for them to play for the top teams in the world.