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JUL 1-15 2013
VOL 001 Nº38
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SWAZILAND’S SHAM ELECTIONS: A D I C TAT E D D E M O C R A C Y By Mancoba Nxumalo
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KING MSWATHI III KING OF SWAZILAND AGONY CORNER
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NEWS IN BRIEF
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6 0 S E CO N D S
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ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS NEW DEPUTY EDITOR
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AFRICAWORLD JUL 1-15 2013
NEWS
PROFILE OF THE DEPUTY EDITOR
EDITORIAL
Martin Humble Obinna Ekeocha hails from OwerriNorth in Imo State of N i ge r i a . H e i s a n unassuming and amiable person who holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) degree in philosophy from Imo State University as well as a Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Phil) degree from the Pontifical Urban University, Rome. Along with these degrees, he holds a Higher National D i p l o m a ( H ND) in Journalism from the International Institute of Journalism in Maiduguri,
AS AFRICAN BEAUTY PAGEANTS DRAW CLOSE The summer calls for many activities for the African community in Ireland. However, the autumn brings another season of Beauty Competitions. Although there are not many but we have few queens. From the aims and objectives of their organisers, they do it for charity, and such is commendable. Having said that, it is important the organisers spell out rules guarding such high profile competitions to contestants. People and possibly the contestants are getting tired of the process of having two (2) Beauty Queens in a year. The question about the organisation in ‘Miss Nigeria Ireland’cannot be overemphasised. Our girls must know what is at stake in the aftermath of the competition. The past two years in the competition I mentioned has been bad and embarrassing.
“ I N E V E R W O N E U R O M I L L I O N L O T O ” CHRIS Following the announcement that a citizen of Ireland won the Euromillions Lotto of Tuesday 25th of June, 2013, amounting to €94million, the media and citizens went agog in search of the fortunate winner. The rumour went round that the fortunate person was a Nigerian Igbo resident in Dublin. However, the person mentioned in the rumour denied winning
Uka
AFRICAWORLD & MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS Deputy Editor Martin Ekeocha Chief Reporter Paul Kelly Sub-Editor Roisin Morris
(SHIPPING) IKE
the ticket. When our AfricaWorld reporter met with him, Chris Ike had this to say for himself; “I am a thorough Christian who do not play lotto or any other luck game. Since the rumour went wild that I won the ticket, I and my family members have known no peace.” This implies that the lucky winner of the ticket i s s t i l l ye t t o b e mentioned.
ANGLO-IRISH BANK AND ITS CORRUPTION PARADE
Come in.
Editor Ukachukwu Okorie
Nigeria. He is presently a Post-Graduate student of Philosophy and Applied Ethics in the University College Dublin. His works include: The Beauty of Knowledge, a critical exposition of phenomenology; The Impasse of Cybernetics, a re-presentation of human functionality; Information Strangulation with Rights in a Dysfunctional DemoSociety, The Mitigations of Self-Ethics. He speaks English and French fluently. He loves reading, playing volleyball, table tennis and fencing.
Graphic Design Mirco Mascarin Leandro Tonetto Oliveira Welbert Silva de Andrade Photography Darek Gutowski Antoinette Keane
The defunct Anglo-Irish bank is again making the headlines once again, bringing to the fore more sad facts about them. Details of how the bank mismanaged the country’s finances are still being unfolded. In the latest developments, an audio tape was discovered which contained conversation between top managers, John Bowe and Peter Fitzgerald in which they joked on their foreknowledge of the impending doom of the bank and how they still went ahead to defraud taxpayers into remitting money to the failing bank. In an interview with The Editorial team at AfricaWorld would like to point out that it is aware of the Millennium Development Goals
and seeks to synergise its work in accordance with those aims wherever possible. Those goals are to improve
Published by Uyokanjo Media Services Ltd. 46 Parnel Square West 3rd Floor +353 87 637 3210 Dublin 1, Dublin City Republic of Ireland Skype: africaworld1 E-mail: africaworldnews@gmail.com
Central Bank Governor, Patrick Honohan, he expressed that further scrutiny need be made in prosecuting the bank top executive, David Drumm. For him “ that is the indication that Anglo Irish Bank was deliberately misrepresenting the position of the bank with a view to accessing financial support from the Central Bank.” This comes up even as the bank faces allegations of overcharging as specialists reveal wrong interest calculations in most loans given. issues of Education, Health, HIV/AIDS, Gender Equality, Environmental Sustainability and Global Partnerships.
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JUL 1-15 2013
AFRICAWORLD
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NEWS
SWAZILAND’S SHAM ELECTIONS: A DICTATED DEMOCRACY
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By Mancoba Nxumalo
he registration process towards Swaziland’s national elections ended on Sunday June 31, 2013, signalling the official start to the primary elections in the kingdom. The registration deadline had formerly been extended following poor voters turnout in most parts of the country. Struggling to reach the 600 000 target, King Mswati III, sub-Sahara’s last absolute monarchy, was forced to extend the registration to give more time for people to register. Swaziland is a small landlocked kingdom on the southern tip of the African continent, bordered to the north, south and west by South Africa, and to the east by Mozambique. The nation, as well as its people, are named after the 19thcentury king Mswati II. It has a population of only 1.2 Million and the size of America’s New Jersey. The elections in Swaziland are happening amid a growing push for democracy by pro-democracy organisations who have intensified a call for a boycott. King Mswati III rules a kingdom ravaged by poverty and the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world. It also has the lowest life expectancy while the king himself is rated by Forbes Magazine as the 15th richest monarchy in the world with a personal fortune of $100 Million. Swaziland is notoriously known for being one of four countries in Africa without multi-party democracy and the king being the last executive monarchy in Africa’s sub Sahara. He is after all the executive ruler of the kingdom. Political parties will be banned from taking part in the elections, despite promulgating a 2005 constitution that was meant to usher in a new political life in a kingdom ruled by decree for over 30 years. Fifty-five (55) out of the sixty-five (65) members of the House are chosen by the electorate: the other 10 are selected by the king. No member of the Swazi Senate are elected: of 30 seats, 20 are appointed by the king and the other 10 are chosen by members of the House of Assembly.
Swaziland is broken up into 55 inkhundla or administrative districts and each of these makes up one constituency in the House of Assembly. One Member of Parliament is elected from each inkhundla at the secondary election. Authorities expect some 600 000 eligible voters – slightly more than half of the population – to put their names down for the legislative elections but the country’s opposition and unions have rubbished the vote as undemocratic and a mere rubber-stamping of the autocratic rule of King Mswati III.
been mobilising people to boycott the elections, using unorthodox means of communicating as the media is tightly controlled by the government in Swaziland. A simple walk around the city shows most of the graffiti calling for the boycott of the elections while in some areas the government has removed them through spray paints. Most organisations that observed the 2008 elections dismissed the elections as a farce. There was little international interest in observing Swaziland’s elections in the past but the
A report from EISA after the elections stated that “enormous power is concentrated in the hands of the King. The direct and active role that the King plays in the political life of Swaziland has polarised the Swazi people. This is in direct conflict with his higher and more crucial role as the living embodiment of the Swazi nation and of its culture.” It went on to state that the King effectively had the power to veto legislation and Parliament could not override the veto. “The executive authority is vested in the hands of a hereditary
Mario Mazuki - Leader of the opposition PUDEMO The king announced that first poll posted the monarch and not in the the controversial elections promulgation of the hands of a democratically will be held on September constitution in 2005 saw an elected office- bearer who is 20, 2013. The primary improved interest in answerable to the electorate. elections will take place on observing Swazi elections. The Team recommends that August 24, 2013. In the 2003 elections, EISA executive power be vested “We call for our people to deployed a Fact Finding in a Prime Minister who boycott the elections Mission, while the should be answerable to the because they are not Commonwealth deployed House of Assembly as the democratic and they happen two Expert Teams, one to elected representatives of in an environment where obser ve the voter the citizens of Swaziland,” people are denied their basic registration and one to reads the report in part. The right to form political parties observe the elections government has been and contest for state power. themselves. Other teams working very hard to ensure They are a sham and they were deployed by the that the boycotting of the must not be legitimised by governments of Botswana, elections fails. The sole us hence the call for a Zimbabwe and Zambia. In mobile company in boycott,” said Zakhele 2008, however, there were Swasiland, owned by the Mabuza, spokesperson of eight missions in all. These King, MTN Swaziland, has the biggest banned included EISA, the African been incentivising the opposition party, the Union, the Commonwealth, people to vote by giving People’s United Democratic the Electoral Commissioners’ them freebies like caps and movement (PUDEMO). Forum of the Southern T shirts while the government PUDEMO is leading civil African Development has been placing registration society and underground Community, the Japanese centres in all public facilities, political parties calling for Embassy, the Pan African in some instances next to the boycott of the elections. Parliament, the Southern public toilets. Together with the newly African Development The Swaziland Solidarity formed Communist Party of Community and the Embassy Network (SSN), a South Swaziland, PUDEMO has of United States of America. African based pro Swazi
democracy group, reacted with anger at news that the people of Swaziland were now‘coerced’into registering for the vote. “MTN Swaziland has since shamefully joined the fray, sponsoring this sham exercise, knowing well that poor Swazis will not pass the opportunity to have free T-shirts and caps. We ask a simple question to these friends of dictatorship, “Does this mean that the company does not value those amongst its subscribers who wish to live in a democratic country?” Surely if it valued them then it would not plough the profits it makes from their patronage into sustaining their oppression. If this gesture is innocent and has nothing to do with pleasing the king then MTN should also give out its products to those organizations who called for a boycott of the elections, failing which the Mass Democratic Movement is rightly advised to boycott this company, difficult though this may be, since it is a total monopoly thanks to the fact that its “esteemed shareholder” pulls the strings to ensure that there is no competition in the mobile telephone industry,” Lucky Lukhele, SSN spokesperson said in a statement. The Commonwealth expert team who observed the 2008 elections said that “we do not regard the credibility of these National elections as an issue: no elections can be credible when they are for a Parliament which does not have power and when political parties are banned.” PUDEMO’s Zakhele Mabuza said they wanted the world to see the elections as a sham to pile pressure on the regime to conduct free and fair elections where political parties will be allowed. However, the repression has intensified in Swaziland, with the government ensuring that its enemies either do not make it to parliament by piloting highly controversial Bills to arresting some of its advisories with dubious charges to ensure that the next House of Assembly becomes a smooth-sailing government already feeling besieged from within and without.
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AFRICAWORLD JUL 1-15 2013
NEWS
MUGABE PERFECTS RIGGING MACHINERY AHEAD OF ELECTIONS By Andy Mambo
Robert Mugabe President of Zimbabwe
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RESIDENT R O B E R T MUGABE’S Zanu PF has reportedly manipulated its party primary elections result figures to suit its template for predetermined victory in the next critical general elections, with par ty officials telling supporters and voters especially in its strongholds that would translate into a landslide at the polls. Last week the former revolutionar y par ty conducted its internal processes countrywide to select candidates to represent the party in the forthcoming make-orbreak polls scheduled for July 31.
However, high voter turn-out in almost all the country’s ten provinces shocked even the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) whose internal polls were marred by voter apathy. “There is no doubt Zanu PF’s primary results are meant to send shock wave s i n t h e M D C formations and this is clear the next harmonised elections will be rigged and justified by the current voting trends,” opined a senior MDC-T official. Zimbabweans were shocked as Zanu PF’s aspiring candidates were romping to victory with astronomical figures of up to 19 000 when a
constuency has a population of close to 25 000. “Zanu PF is clearly perfecting its rigging machinery ahead of crucial elections by manipulating figures so that during the general elections there will be no room to complain if their candidates win by such margins,” said top MDC-T sources. This is not the first time that elections results are manipulated in order to win elections. I n 2008 disputed presidential polls the Zimbabwe Elec toral Commission (ZEC) held onto the results for close to six weeks and only released them after an outcry by the international community.
The results however showed that there was n o o u t r i g ht w i n n e r although many believe M D C -T ’s Morgan Ts v a n g i r a i t ro u n c e d Mugabe. I n the just ended constitutional referendum figures released by ZEC showed that voting trends showed an increase of voters in Zanu PFdominated areas such as Mashonaland provinces and key regions like Manicaland, Masvingo and Midlands, raising q u e s t i o n s ove r t h e accuracy of the results. Voting trends showing traditional Zanu PF rural strongholds recorded high turnouts to drive the “Yes” vote compared to urban areas, there are fears the party could manipulate the results to register a convincing victory in the imminent make-or-break elections. Zec says 3 259 454 voted on March 16 and is the highest turnout in any poll since independence, beating the previous record of 3 046 891 set in the 2002 presidential election. Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau initially projected a voter turnout of close to two million on March 17 before announcing a turnout of more than three million – a huge increase on its earlier projection. Zanu PF has vowed to go for broke in the forthcoming high-stakes elections and is known for using all sorts of strategies and tactics to win by fair means or foul. Suspicion abounds that the more than three million voter turnout in the referendum may have been manipulated to give Zanu PF leverage in its rigging plot ahead of elections. Those who questioned the referendum figures pointed to the virtual absence of queues at
most polling stations countrywide, contrary to Zec’s claims of a high voter turnout. NCA chairperson Lovemore Madhuku said the results were doctored. “ To claim that there was close to a million more voters in the referendum than in the March 2008 harmonised elections is to take the public for fools,” said Madhuku. “In any event, the claim that more than three million voted is a fraud by Zec.” Sources in the security sector said there was a parallel collation of results carried out by the police during the voting process. “Police sent results ever y hour to an unk nown centre not under the Zec command centres,” said the source. Political analyst Blessing Vava said Zanu PF used the referendum to test its rigging machinery in preparation for the elections. “This referendum was a dress rehearsal for Zanu PF to test its machinery for rigging the next elections,” said Vava. Vava said the NCA had obser vers at ever y polling station and is convinced the figures are nowhere near three million. He said the MDC parties would “suffer the consequences of their folly in joining Zanu PF to endorse what was clearly a fraudulent process”. “While it is understandable for Zanu PF to claim high turnouts, especially in rural areas, it is surprising the MDC par ties endorsed the fraudulent process. Having endorsed this process, the MDC parties will no longer have the moral high ground to complain when rigging is repeated in the elections,” Vava warned.
JUL 1-15 2013
COLUMN
AFRICAWORLD
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DD’S CUBICLE
HAS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REALLY HELPED THE COUNTRIES SHE CO LO N I Z E D? WHY T HI S R AC I S T VI SA BON D P OLIC Y? By Dunstan Ukaga
“In the long run we’re interested in a system of bonds that deters overstaying and recovers costs if a foreign national has used our public services. We’re planning a pilot that focuses on overstayers and examines a couple of different ways of applying bonds. The pilot will apply to visitor visas, but if the scheme is successful we’d like to be able to apply it on an intelligence-led basis on any visa route and any country.” The quote is from British Home Secretary Theresa May and outlines her plans for a £3,000 cash bond to deter “high risk” Asian and African short-term visitors from overstaying in Britain. Has the British government really helped the countries she colonized? From Asia to Africa, what has the British government done for the countries she once lorded over? What legacies did the British colonialist leave in her former colonies? Certainly your guess is as bad as mine. The news was emerging last week of a new British visa bond policy. At first, I did not believe it. But reading through the social media, I could not accept what I saw. An African national from a former French colony would easily walk or fly into France without any hassle. Why has the British government toed a racist line again? This is pure racism. This is indifference at the highest level of government.
As I read through the Guardian newspaper, I saw further that Theresa May’s plans are being hastily rewritten after Nick Clegg declined to sign off the details of a pilot scheme due to start in November. The scheme was floated at the weekend by the Home Secretary and provoked uproar in India and Nigeria, which were among the six countries named as possible targets, with threats that reciprocal action would be taken against British visitors. The other countries were Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Ghana. “The policy has not yet been signed off,” said a Liberal Democrat source. “We are in favour of the principle but the exact details of how it is to be piloted, including the size of the bond, is still being discussed in government.” Clegg has said he favours the introduction of a £1,000 cash bond to deter overstayers. Home Office sources confirmed that the level at which the bond is to be set was among the details yet to be decided, and said the pilot scheme was still in the planning stage. They stressed that the requirement to post a bond would not apply to all visitors from the designated countries but only to individuals regarded as high risk. The scheme might apply to hundreds of visitor visa applicants initially, before being expanded to cover many thousands later. The Home Office wants to pilot the scheme for six-month visitor visas and will extend it to student and work visas if it proves successful. Those who overstay their visa and fail to return home will forfeit the money. The Financial Times reported on Tuesday that the announcement of a
£3,000 bond scheme at the weekend was in danger of provoking a diplomatic backlash in India, months after David Cameron had tried to combat the perception that Britain was closing its doors to students from the subcontinent. This to me does not sound well at all. Anyway, who wants to go to Britain and for what? For an average Nigerian, £3,000 will start a good business in Lagos or Kano. The proposed policy was immediately criticised by the nations identified as likely to be targeted: INDIA Indian business leaders have criticized the plans. The Confederation of Indian Industry said it was “highly discriminatory” but Home Secretary Theresa May defended the “selective” approach to migration. The Confederation of Indian Industry, which represents the country’s largest businesses, said the plan was “very unfortunate” and risked further undermining Anglo-Indian relations already strained by changes to the UK visa regime for students. “We share the UK’s concern on illegal immigration but surely there are other more effective and nondiscriminatory ways to put a check on it,” the Confederation said in a statement. It added that this and other recent changes threatened the “special relationship” that UK politicians often speak of with India. “The industry in India is disappointed by the way the immigration rules in UK have been changing over the last few years. It strongly feels that such blanket rules for visas will negatively affect not only businesses, especially small
businesses, it will also further bring down the number of students going to UK for higher studies and affect the tourism inflow from India to UK.” NIGERIA. Every Nigerian views this visa policy as racist and unfriendly. There were indications early this week that the federal government would opt for a retaliatory measure if the United Kingdom implemented its proposed bond. Nigeria was said to have made this known during a private meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, and British High Commissioner, Andrew Pocock, in Abuja. Nigerian politicians have also criticized the plan as “unacceptable” and pledged to stand up for their country’s interests. “They should realise that it is not in the best interests of the UK,” said Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje, who chairs the foreign affairs committee in the country’s House of Representatives. “It is targeted at the nonwhite Commonwealth. It is contrary to the commitment made to our president by David Cameron during their last meeting. We believe it is for political reasons ahead of a general election. We seek that our long historical relationship should take precedence over political expediency.” The Home Office said the details of the pilot scheme had yet to be finalised and the countries yet to be selected. The Chairperson of the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, has claimed that the United Kingdom will pay dearly if its Conservative government goes ahead with the planned bond. Mrs Dabiri-Erewa, speaking as a
guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, demanded a policy of reciprocity by the federal government on all British travellers to Nigeria, adding that they should “even be made to pay a lot more”. According to the lawmaker, some level of politics is involved in this policy as she claimed the ruling Tory party, which is seeking reelection, might be using the immigration policy to drive up support ahead of the polls. She warned, however, that “it’s probably going to hurt them more”. The Nigerian senate threatened a retaliatory move to introduce the same measures on British nationals travelling to Nigeria. GHANA. The Foreign Affairs Ministry is expected to officially respond to the visa bond policy which the British government is proposing in respect of prospective Ghanaian travellers to the UK. Addressing the media on the matter on Tuesday at Flagstaff House, Felix Kwakye Ofosu said the matter has now come to the attention of government and is being considered. We have not yet seen or heard any official Pakistani, Sri Lankan, and Bangladeshi government statements in this regard. But whichever way, no country will accept this policy and it serves the British government better to kill this idea. However, there is an agency report today that British Prime Minister David Cameron has halted the controversial plan. I ask again, how have the Commonwealth nations really benefited from the British government and peoples?
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PEOPLE
PRIDE OF AFRICA
g n i s s e l B h o m o M
Blessing Momoh our Pride of Africa was born in Ogun State in Nigeria. Pretty Blessing was a pageant at the last Miss Africa Ireland contest. She is a presenter at VICKIE ROBERT HOSPITALITY 4 CELEBRITIES, an hospitality organisation that caters for visiting celebrities to Ireland. She loves dancing and listening to music.
JUL 1-15 2013
NEWS
A
By Paul Kelly
lgeria: Football clubs have begun to directly encourage women and girls to become fans. The move has been condemned by many male fans, who see the stadiums as a “male sanctuary”. -Angola’s Defence Minister has announced that he will begin strict measures to eradicate anti-social behaviour within the country, arguing it leads to political destabilisation. -Benin has hosted the West African Regional AntiCorruption Workshop. The workshop was organised by the US and involves equipping West African leaders in tackling domestic corruption. -Botswana: bushmen have won a landmark legal victory meaning they may stay on their land. They were previously threatened with eviction due to the fact they lived on a proposed “wildlife corridor”. -Burkina Faso have won a significant victory over Congo-Brazzaville in the World Cup qualifiers. The 1-0 win means hope remains strong for Burkina Faso’s first World Cup appearance. -Burundi has adopted a National Agricultural Investment Plan. The plan is to last until 2017 and is aimed at cutting food shortages. -Cameroon: Jean Marc Ndjofang has won second place in the World Draughts Championship in Russia. -Cape Verde have launched a Land Management scheme to clarify land ownership and borders. The scheme is expected to benefit 13,000 citizens and cost $17.3 million. -Central African Republic: a witness for former President Bemba, who is currently being prosecuted in the ICC, has claimed that the blame for the atrocities committed during the civil war there lies with the rebels, rather than the state. -Chad: Reporters Without Borders have been refused entry to N’Djaména, where representatives were to meet three imprisoned journalists, as well as local media personnel.
News -Congo-Brazzaville: together with Angola, the government have launched a joint exploration of Lianzi oil field, which lies between their two borders. $2.5 billion will be invested in the exploration. -DRC: Amnesty International have warned that Chinese mining companies in the country continue to abuse the human rights of their employees as well as of the local population through forced evictions. -Cote d’Ivoire: frustration is building at the failure of the ICC to begin the trial of former President Gbagbo. Protesters claim the uncertainty is hindering reconciliation in the country. -Djibouti: wildfires have destroyed 11 homes in Balbala town. The cause is unknown, but summer winds appear to have worsened the blaze. -Egypt: tens of thousands of Muslims have rallied in Raba’a al-Adaweya Mosque in Cairo as a part of a million man march to renounce violence. -Equatorial Guinea: police have cracked down on protesters who are demanding a free and credible parliamentary election. Tear gas and live bullets were used on the protesters. -Ethiopian and Egyptian officials have met in a bid to ease tensions after Ethiopia began to divert the river Nile in order to power a hydroelectric dam. The move has led to threats of war between the two states. -Gambia: the government has banned the import of frozen chicken legs, citing economic and health reasons. -Ghana: MP Dr. Anthony Akoto-Osei has advised government ministers to shut up about issues that they are ignorant of. The MP was speaking about a report from the Finance Committee on a $3 billion loan being made from the China Development Bank. -Guinea: 15 protestors are dead after security forces cracked down violently on those opposing the delay of Parliamentary elections.
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Brief
-Guinnea Bissau: local leaders have called for increased protection for Muslim children who are reportedly being abused in Islamic schools. -Kenya: government officials have announced that new VAT measures will not affect commodity prices, thereby decreasing the pressure on the country’s poorest. -Lesotho: a major new report has questioned the independence of the Judiciary, claiming it is far too open to political interference. The repor t was commissioned by two independent regional NGO’s. -Liberia attended the G8 summit in Lough Erne, Northern Ireland last week. Representatives were invited by British Prime Minister David Cameron. -Libyan Judicial Officials have begun prosecuting two Libyan National Party Officials over blasphemy charges. The‘crimes’allegedly occurred during last year’s election. Both officials could face the death penalty. -Madagascar: candidates for July’s elections have been forced to resign their current government positions. Madagascar’s electoral laws require presidential candidates serving in government to resign their positions 60 days before Election Day. -Malawi: Justice Anastasia Msosa has been confirmed as Malawi’s first female Chief Justice. She was appointed in a landslide vote, with none voting against her appointment. -Mali: government forces and Tuereg rebels have signed a ceasefire accord. The move is hoped to bring stability to the region. -Mauritania: the IMF has approved a $16.9 million disbursement to the nation after a sixth inspection found macroeconomic planning was sound. -Morocco: Human Rights Watch have condemned trials in Morocco where torture has allegedly been used to get confessions. -Mozambique: former rebels are allegedly behind the murder of two civilians
who were ambushed while travelling along Mozambique’s main northsouth highway. Five others were wounded. -Namibia: a new report by the Institute for Public Policy Research has claimed that Namibia’s mining industries are plagued by middle-men involved in high-level corruption between the mining companies and government officials. -Niger: unidentified gunmen have attacked a prison in the capital using explosives. Two guards died in the attack. -Nigeria: Anambra State drug enforcement agencies have arrested 195 suspected drug dealers. Two have already been tried and imprisoned. -Rwandan Stanislas Mbanenande has been sentenced to life in prison by a Swedish court for his role in the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi people. -Senegal: US President Obama is to begin his three day African tour in Senegal on June 26th. Senegal is a key US ally in its ongoing War on Terror. -Seychelles: the International Fund for Agricultural Development has made a $3 million loan to Seychelles. The loan is hoped to revive commercial agriculture. -Sierra Leone’s President has announced he will visit China at the end of June. The visit is hoped to boost Chinese investment in the country. -Somalia: Hiran police chief Colonel Isaaq Ali Abdullahi has condemned brutal attacks by terrorist group Al Shabaab, saying it shows contempt for Sharia law. -South Africa: former President Nelson Mandela is expected to be discharged from hospital soon. The iconic former President’s ailing health has become a matter of international attention. -South Sudanese Ambassador to Uganda, Samuel Luate Lominsuk, has announced that although Sudan will retaliate if efforts are made to destabilise it, it will not begin any attack on neighbouring Sudan.
-Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir has hinted that he may run for re-election, after previously arguing the necessity of bringing “fresh blood” into the political sphere. -Swaziland: Only 822 passengers per day are expected to use the new Sikhuphe Airport when it eventually opens, official figures have revealed. This is equivalent to only two flights daily. -Sao Tome and Principe: Foreign Ministry officials have announced that Angolans may now enter the country visa free. They may then stay for a maximum of fifteen days. -Tanzania: police have been accused of the rape and torture of sex workers and homosexuals. The actions were condemned in a new report by Human Rights Watch. -Togo has agreed with five other West African states to expand the LagosAbidjan highway into a sixlane road. The move is expected to boost trade between the countries. -Tunisia: a landmine has exploded on Mount Chaambi. None were injured. -Uganda: President Museveni has condemned the recent cuts by aid donors as “high-handed”. The President announced new taxes would have to be introduced to recuperate the short-fall. -Western Sahara: The Association of Saharawi Missing People’s Families has discovered communal graves containing up to 60 Saharawi bodies each. Moroccan authorities have been accused of their murder. -Zambia: ZamBeef Plc have removed all imported beef from shelves amid rumours they contain dangerously high levels of aromatic aldehydes. The chemical is used to embalm dead bodies. -Zimbabwe: Former Mines Minister, Cde Edward Chindori Chininga, has died aged 58 from a car accident after his brakes failed.
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PHOTO NEWS Join the carnival train this summer! The Nigerian Carnival Ireland 2013 Road Show was declared open by Lord Mayor of Dublin, Cllr Oisín Quinn yesterday at the Mansion House. The Nigerian Carnival Ireland 2013 will hold from 12th-18th August.
Lara Royal launched her album ‘Fujispel’ on 30th June at Noboring Junction, Co Meath
We are delighted to congratulate Dr Bisi Adigun upon his PhD at TCD Graduation Ceremony on Friday, June 28th 2013. In the picture, Dr. Bisi Adigun is congratulated by the president of Ireland, Michael D Higgins.
Ghanaians, family, friends and well-wishers graced Christy Fab birthday bash on Saturday, 22/June.
A Service of Songs for Late Mr. Isaiah Okoroigwe, the father of Pamela Kpaduwa at Julianstown Co. Meath.
US First lady Michelle Obama, left, meets Mariame Faye Sall, first lady of Senegal.
Ifrah Foundation, a non-profit organisation based in Ireland led a protest march to the South Africa Embassy. They are asking for justice on the jungle justice meted on Somalians by criminals in the Republic of South Africa.
JUL 1-15 2013
PHOTO NEWS
Family, friends and well-wishers gathered to rejoice with Chief & Lolo Romanus Nwanguma on the Silver Jubilee of their wedding on Saturday 22th of June.
AFRICAWORLD
PICTURES
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BEAUTY & FASHION
AGONY CORNER
LOVE
FACTS AND FALLACIES ABOUT MARRIAGE With Abdul Yusuf
I
ndigenous cultures, Christianity, and Islam recommend marriage for everyone. For instance, Christianity teaches that he who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favour from God (assuming that such a being exists). Because The Holy Bible appears to have been written from a fundamentally masculine perspective, there is no mention of a wife finding a good thing if she gets a husband. Islam also encourages marriage, while according to native customs and traditions, an unmarried state for both men and women is an abomination. Marriage has some advantages over remaining single; but it does not follow that everyone ought to marry. The benefits of matrimony are obtained at a heavy price. Albert Ellis, in his highly entertaining and informative book, Sex and the Single Man, discussed the advantages and disadvantages of marriage. Now, since majority of Africans are convinced that marriage is good and that it is an institution established by God for human benefit there is no need to belabour its advantages here. Instead, we shall highlight its disadvantages to encourage those considering marriage to reflect deeply and dispassionately before crossing the Rubicon, so to speak. One of the most serious disadvantages of marriage, particularly monogamy, is the restriction on sex, companionship, and love. We have already identified the instinct for sexual variety in humans, which make lifelong fidelity to one’s spouse difficult despite the exhortations of religious teachings. Let us consider the issue of companionship and love.
Hypocrisy and selfdeception aside, in majority of cases the intensity of love and desire for companionship with which marriages begin tend to dissipate with passing years due to a number of factors, most especially the deadening effect of excessive familiarity with each other as a result of living under the same roof for a long time. As a result, many married people feel suffocated by the expectation that it is their duty to love their spouses “till death do them part”. However, to feel it is one’s duty to love so-and-so is one of the surest ways to stifle love, since love can only flourish when it is free and spontaneous. Oftentimes close friendships end abruptly because of marriage, and matrimonial restrictions against intensely emotionally satisfying affairs and friendships with others make marriage a prison that nourishes jealousy and deceit. Other drawbacks of matrimony include economic inconvenience (especially for husbands who are usually the breadwinners, although these days an increasing number of women are assuming that role), the extremely challenging burden of raising children, curtailment of extracurricular activities and adventure, legalised bondage, intrusion into one’s privacy and private space, difficulties from inl a w s, and marital unhappiness. This leads us to the second fallacy, which is that the dignity and honour of a woman resides in her husband. Certainly, a successful marriage is one in which the husband and wife (or wives) enrich each
other’s life. Still it is a simplistic hyperbole to assert categorically that h av i n g a husband necessarily dignifies a woman. Although re l e v a n t statistics about the condition of married women from different social strata in Africa is difficult to get, there is no doubt in my mind that a large number of African men do not have the qualities needed to sustain marriage which can override the disadvantages highlighted above. The same thing, mutatis mutandis, is applicable to for example, Nigerian women also. Far from “living happily ever after”, marriage is usually an exceedingly difficult and miserable endeavour for a sizeable number of women because of temperamental inadequacies of their husbands. Many husbands are neurotic, unintelligent, intolerant, stingy, arrogant, untidy, overbearing, dishonest, violent, impecunious, lazy, and immature in love. Some of them see themselves as God’s gift to their wives, and believe the ancient superstition that women are innately inferior to men and, therefore, must be submissive to them at all times. To be candid, some husbands a re just impossible. There are innumerable cases of women either killed or maimed by irascible and drunk husbands; in other instances, some husbands have forced their wives to abandon s u cce s s f u l businesses or careers just because of stupid jealousy and possessiveness. Indeed, some men are so insecure, so afraid of their wives being more successful than themselves that they
compel them to be complete homemakers. Hence, rather than bringing dignity and honour to their wives, a significant number of husbands bring hell to the unfortunate women.A typical example is the recent case of Ireland-based N iger ian, late M rs Omodolapo Yetunde Jagha (Nee Olotu) also known as Dolapo GoodGod who was buried in Ireland few weeks ago. Unfortunately, women have been brainwashed through religion and intimidated by unfair customs and economic dependency to endure bad, boring and unhappy marriages. On the strength of what we have said thus far, it is clear that only a tiny percentage of marriages are genuinely happy or successful. There are just too many pressures connected to living together as husband and wife such that fulfilment is rare in marriage. Fulfilment in life depends on the extent to which an individual is able to unfold his or her productive powers in work and in love without undue interference and oppression. It connects with the ability to meet one’s legitimate goals and aspirations. Thus, it is evident that a single man or woman with the appropriate mental, intellectual, and spiritual dispositions and skills can lead a fulfilled life, whereas it would take much more for a married person, with all the difficulties associated with matrimony, to achieve the same feat. Let us now summarise the essential points of our discourse. Marriage is an important social institution created by human beings at the dawn of civilisation to cater for their biological, economic, and emotional needs – it is
definitely wrong to attribute its origin to a divine being. Religious conceptions of matrimony are inadequate for our time because they stem from antiquated superstitious conceptions of humans and flawed understanding of the need for intimate relatedness between man and woman. Marriage has advantages, especially in the cooperative effort of parents to produce responsible offspring. However, because of its numerous restrictions and the high demands it makes on privacy it leads to frustrations and unhappiness. For men and women with the right mental dispositions, marriage can enhance the quality of their lives, provided they establish strong emotional connection and compatibility as good friends before they decide to tie the knot. Most African women tend to become strongly attached to an unhappy marriage, to desperately want children, to feel that once they have been supported by their husbands for a number of years they cannot stand on their own feet economically if the marriage breaks up, to care too much about their marital status after a certain age – and for other silly reasons – to hang on to a bad marriage. The wrong notion that everyone must marry, that a woman is incomplete or without honour if she is unmarried, and that fulfilment in life requires matrimony has led to many hasty marriages that ended disastrously. Therefore, marriage is not compulsory at all; but if you must marry please look very carefully before you leap or else you might not even live long enough to regret it.
JUL 1-15 2013
COLUMN
X-RAY
with Fr. Vin
AFRICAWORLD 11
NEWS
By Fr. Vincent Ezeoma Arisukwu
LET ’S TALK AB OUT THE AFRICAN YOUTH Having surveyed the condition of Nigerian society today vis-à-vis the youth whose fates are inextricably tied to this society, I consider it pertinent in this column to give some consideration to the youth of our time. Amidst growing tensions, violence, anxieties, etc. arising from various aggressive forces that seem to offer no hope to the Nigerian youth, it becomes very urgent to reappraise the opportunities that young people can still explore to make meaningful existence out of a seemingly hopeless environment. I’ll proceed by exploring who our youth are, the challenges confronting them, the survival strategies and sources for laying a solid foundation, the possible mistakes young people can make and their consequences, then remedial measures for rowing through the rough waters of youthfulness. MEANING OF YOUTH The dictionary defines youth as the time of life when a person is young, especially the time before a child becomes an adult. Youth, denotatively, simply means a quality or state of being young. In his 24th World Youth Day Message in 2009, Pope Benedict XVI portrayed youth within the confines of hope. According to him, “Youth is a special time of hope because it looks to the future with a
whole range of expectations. Youth is the time when decisive choices concerning the rest of our lives come to fruition. Perhaps this is why it is the time of life when fundamental questions assert themselves strongly: Why am I here on earth? What is the meaning of life? What will my life be like? How can I attain happiness? Why is there suffering, illness and death? What lies beyond death? These are questions that become insistent when we are faced with obstacles that sometimes seem insurmountable: difficulties with studies; unemployment; family arguments; crises in friendships or in building good loving relationships; illness or disability; lack of adequate resources as a result of the present widespread economic and social crisis. We then ask ourselves: where can I obtain, and how can I keep alive, the flame of hope burning in my heart? Scripture offers a plethora of definitions of youth and the various ex p e c t at i o n s t h at characterize it: • A period of fruitfulness: Job recounted thus, “Shall I ever see my days of harvest again when God protected my tent; when Shaddai still dwelt with me, and my children were around me; when my feet were bathed in milk, and streams of oil poured from the rocks?” (Job 29:4)
• A period of reverence for God: When Obadiah wanted to exonerate himself from the evils of Ahab, he told the prophet Elijah, “Your servant has revered the Lord from his youth. Has no one told my lord what I did when Jezebel butchered the prophets of Yahweh, how I hid a hundred of them in the cave, fifty at a time, and kept them provided with food and water?” (1Kgs. 18:12-13) • A period of divine instruction and learning, declaring God’s goodness: David exclaimed, “God, you have taught me from my youth, and I am still proclaiming your marvels” (Ps. 71:17). • A period of total reliance on God: King David echoed, “For you are my hope, Lord, my trust, Yahweh, since my youth. On you I have relied since my birth, since my mother’s womb you have been my portion, the constant theme of my praise” (Ps. 71:5-6). “Often as men have attacked me since I was young -let Israel repeat it - often as men have attacked me since I was young, they have never overcome me” (Ps. 129:1-2). • A period of honour: David wrote in the Psalms, “Royal dignity has been yours from the day of your birth, sacred honour from the womb, from the dawn of your youth” (Ps. 110: 3). • A period of rejuvenation, valour and vigour: The King went on to say, “… he contents you with
good things all your life, renews your youth like an eagle’s” (Ps. 103:5). For prophet Isaiah, “Youths grow tired and weary, the young stumble and fall, but those who hope in Yahweh will regain their strength, they will sprout wings like eagles, though they run they will not grow weary, though they walk they will never tire” (Is. 40:29-31). When Zophar’s turn came to speak concerning Job’s situation in relation to the past, he said, “His bones used to be full of youthful vigour: and there it lies, in the dust with him, now!” (Job: 20:11) • A period of joy and gladness, of exuberance and caution: The wise Qoheleth says, “Young man, enjoy yourself while you are young, make the most of the days of your youth, follow the prompting and desire of heart and eye, but remember, God will call you to account for everything” (Eccles. 11: 9). He continued,“Remember your Creator while you are still young, before the bad days come, before the years come which, you will say, give you no pleasure…” (12: 1ff ). • Prone to sin: David was quick to recognize the susceptibility of the youth to sin when he said, “Hold not my youthful sins against me, but remember me as your faithful love dictates” (Ps. 25: 7). And for this reason, he advised
the youth to take refuge in the commandments that help the young person keep the dictates of God: “How can a young man keep his way spotless?” His answer was, “By keeping your words” (i.e. God’s words) (Ps. 119: 9). This became clearer when David tried to adumbrate on the impact of the word of God towards steadfastness: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Ps. 119: 104). These definitions simply give us a global picture of what youth looks like. It is a stage in life characterized by numerous factors: anxiety, curiosity, ambition, consolidation, resourcefulness, vibrancy, optimism, etc. The Nigerian youth, however, is continuously threatened by the environment of apparent hopelessness in which he finds himself. I intend to take a closer look at this environment subsequently to see how the young Nigerian man or woman is constantly harassed by human forces that seem insurmountable, but which if properly a d d re s s e d could b e co m e p o s i t i ve challenges that would contribute to the enhancement of both the individual and society.
12 AFRICAWORLD JUL 1-15 2013
FAMILY CORNER
TECH_PILOt >>>>>>>>
IT/ CELEBRITY
with Uchenna Onyenagubo
THE LOST PHONE
I recently lost my phone and realised it was not updated and didn’t have the “find my phone” app on it...very unlike me but it happened. It was a new phone that was replaced few weeks ago and procrastinated to install the app. Anyway, before it happens to you, be warned. The smart phones are highly sophisticated and expensive too so, you don’t want to loose it. When purchase a new smart phone, ensure the following are performed to protect it when lost and stolen.
Always passcode protect your phone if you can Even before your phone is lost, learn its unique code. To do that press the following buttons on your phone keyboard or panel: *#06# - IMEI number. Keep the information in a secured place for the day when your phone is missing. (Its the first question your provider request when you report a lost phone) If you have an iPhone, always download the app “Find My iPhone”. It shows where your phone is on Google Maps and you will be able to lock your phone, erase your data and send a message to your lockscreen. The Android OS has many apps similar to iphone “Find my Phone” The many features of this app include the following: • Locate your smart device on a map • Display a custom message on the screen • Play a sound for two minutes
at full volume (even if your device is set to silent) • Remotely lock your device • Remotely wipe your device to erase your personal data • Display Lost Mode on the screen
• Provides you with driving directions to device location • Battery charge indicator And for the Android version 2.3: Camera AndroidLost can take pictures with the front facing
camera in case the phone is stolen. Keep your contact details on the homescreen of the phone. This can help when an honest finder gets hold of your phone and just wants to return it to you. Make it clear you’ll do the collec ting/paying for its return, to alleviate any concerns they might have about paying for traveling to you or shipping it back to BACKUP your phone regularly and subscribe to icloud to secure your data, information and pictures. If nothing else backup your contacts. If you find your phone try your best to remember to keep it in a safe place. Lastly, if your search is unsuccessful and on a bill-pay package, report incident to your provider to ensure that your services are discontinued. And if you are wise enough to insure the device then process a replacement as quickly as possible.
WHISPERS FROM THE REEDS
TinyJames(JamesJ.Akpotor)
Taking full advantage of what he calls being“first black Irish generation”, the Nigerian born (Delta State) father of three girls, actor and comedian swears by the advantages of his “first generation” status. “Tiny James” has graced the Irish small screen more than a few times, eg. the popular RTE TV show Raw. He has also featured in a few theatre productions, not to mention his true passion - comedy -
with shows all around a first generation black Irish Ireland in the company person, getting work as an of other great acts. actor or comedian is not that hard because the market is It was never smooth still virgin in Ireland for black sailing though. artists. This is unlike places like America or England which How do you choose have evolved into the fourth your material? generation of black families From life, the things I and competition is very high. experience in my everyday life. It can be a What is your fondest conversation, it can be childhood memory? in a restaurant or with I loved going back to the friends, but then of village way back in the day. I course it must have especially loved going to the structure and be farm even though most of the informative. time it was more fun than work, regardless of the What makes you scorching sun. Then there laugh? were the music festivals every It depends on the September. My father would moment. There are load us on the van to the things that can strike you and festival, it’s a big deal in my make you laugh or make you place. I used to look forward sad. I am a comedy kind of to it - the food, music and the guy. I enjoy comedy. It’s one people. I still do it but its not of the best medicines. It makes nearly as exciting as when I you laugh and in that moment was young. I want my kids to you forget your troubles. experience it too. What are your challenges as an emerging African artist? One of the challenges I take as a blessing in disguise is the fact that as I like to call myself
How do you define “beautiful”? It depends on how you look at things – with your eyes, your mind. It could be the shape or colour of the object,
but I find the simple things guiding them through but still beautiful. letting them make up their own minds to stand on their In your opinion, is Africa own. just a war zone? Every nation, every What are your views on continent every country and education? village goes through a phase, I am not sure if one can really it all depends on how each of rate education, but I have them react to the change. noticed that in western Things change over time, it’s education if ever you fall off just life. It might take a longer the system you get support period of time, but that time to get back on track. That is will come and for it to come what education in Africa lacks. we have to individually Nigeria used to have free contribute to the changes. education. Education is very important but it is also What are your influences? important to follow your Personally, it is my passion. environment, the things that Abuse? happen around me daily. Then Personally, despite the there are a few people that have been there through it all. agenda or race, one cannot I would love to follow suit to disrespect another human some of the people I admire, being. It’s like being bullied. If to leave a legacy imprinted on you can overcome letting words or name-calling affect history books somewhere. you (as the old saying goes, Would you take your sticks and stones can break children through some of my bones but words can never hurt me), if one applies your experiences? Yes, the whole idea of this, whether as a woman or running free outdoors is far boy, as an African in Ireland more favourable than or white person in South watching television. I think Africa, then you will well be one should be like a tour on your way to achieving guide to one’s children, anything.
JUL 1-15 2013
AFRICAWORLD 13
FAMILY CORNER
P
s m e o e
ma Amakez
By Ositadin
THE LORD OF THE SKY
He rode astride on the moon Galloping slowly along the cloud On its rocky meadow and coast With his flock of stars to tend Slashing his stick in the sky He halted the colt to a halt, Alighted unto the moonlit pasture And grazed the stars brightly fed
Swaddled in the fleecy blanket Melodious sound of the sky beaming Like sweet jingles of sleigh bells As the moon sailed over the shore
My fingers like sun’s spray As I strum the bands of heights To all spheres, at my own will As would wind winds and blows
And he ushered in the sun Her young rays tearing the swathe Glistening the silvery grayish dews In the sweet songs of the sky
I’d rove and dive in frolic All day long, till night comes As if it were to be forever In making freedom all mine
IF I WERE A BIRD If I were a big black bird When the dusk got darker I’d swim in the airy ocean And slumber came to the eyelids Of the cloud, and rise and fall The lord then took them gently in And leisurely drew the cloudy drape Like a tide in the starry sky I’d my eyes tightly closed
Wisdom Bits
In springing forth from the sky-board I shall imbibe of the spirit’s breath In no more want of this life Till I rest in an Eternal nest. Dwelling for aye in mirth Bereft of all cosmic strife Dream of Wings If I were with wings I shall soar in height Beyond the Skies! Over life’s waves and storms When I look into your eyes little man In strength and might I see visions of greater days to come There I shall float in peace And my eye lashes stand out in In liberty that knows no bounds ovation Like the birds in sky’s ambience For I see neither imitation nor Sliding and swerving in bliss limitation As in our days when the sky was the Behold my fingers wide spread end To the ends of the blue skies But in you, over these colours of Stealthily caressing the cloud rainbow In soft beams of the sun rays Are set your feet as upon springing I would ride on the rainbow board To the cave of the roaring thunders Beyond the skies of glories of your Till the lightning sets my face aglow being As I strum the rainbow’s strings
Fearless of the storms and tempest Of scudding cloudy ice-berg While I sail like peace
Then I’d in aerobatics swerve O’er the mountains to the valleys Scooping a thing or another aloft And drifting like rafter above With wind thus ‘neath my wings Unbounded, shall my flight be
The wages of sin is death Meaning: Bad deed has repercussion
A good friend is better than a bad brother Meaning: Life saving help can come from anywhere
Emergency situations determine the level of a man’s discretion Meaning: A real man is tested through shouldering responsibilities
The eyes eat first before the mouth Meaning: There’s a process in life
Decayed teeth is better than the gum Meaning: Half bread is better than non
All that glitters aren’t gold Meaning: Character beats beauty in man
F O L K TA L E
HOW THE DOG BECAME A DOMESTIC ANIMAL By Ukachukwu Okorie
My Grandfather asked: „Children, can any of you tell me why dogs live with human beings? „No‟! We replied, and he started: >> Once Upon a Time! In the Animal Kingdom where humans lived peacefully side by side other animals, there was a great famine. The famine was caused by an attack on crops by the Locust‟s family when one of their friends was assaulted by a group of other animals in the jungle. In retaliation, they ate all green leaves and left the rest to dry. This was to serve as a warning to other animals for the injustice meted out to one of them. In response, the Animal Council banished the Locusts from the Kingdom but their expulsion did not resolve the food scarcity. Rather, the dearth continued to ravage the tranquillity that existed in the kingdom and starvation became rife. The food shortage caused pandemonium among all animals and each of them devised means to tackle the impending starvation. Humans, who formed the biggest animal group however, were the first to run out of food supplies. They failed to heed to warnings and lavished the last of their stock in merriments. They were soon left with nothing and began begging for food from one animal to the other. The other animals, scared that “a hungry man is an angry man” and that humans could besiege their terror on them gave them their last food crumbs. Within a short period, most animals also ran out of stock and very little food was left in the Kingdom. As the fang of starvation began settling in, humans resorted to extreme measures and began poaching from other animals‟ barns. On one night, one animal caught a human stealing from his barn of yams. The human became afraid that the animal will report him and so strangled the animal and ate his meat so as to get rid of all traces. It soon became a way of life for humans to kill other animals and use as food if they were caught pilfering. Meanwhile, the disappearances of animals stirred further problems and instilled fear in all candidates of the Kingdom. With the cold case continuing, the dog decided to carry an independent investigation, without the knowledge of other animals with the hope of surprising them of his ingenuity. During one of his investigative trips, he caught a human strangling an antelope but was too frightened by the strength demonstrated by the human to intervene to rescue the antelope or attack the human. The human realised that he had been caught again, this time by the dog and turned to pounce on the dog. Seeing the strength displayed by the human, the dog was so terrified that he hurriedly guaranteed the human of his confidential competence. He assured the human that if he spared his life, he would never disclose what he had witnessed. Upon hearing this, the human requested that they took a vow of “Trust and Perpetual Friendship” where the dog would not tell of what he had just witnessed and the human on the other hand, would never prey on dogs. Back in the Kingdom, the famine became ferocious and more and more animals vanished without a trace. The Leopard too became desperate to get answers on why animals were vanishing and set up his own independent investigation. While out on an investigative trip, he came upon a young human who was roasting the remains of a Grass Cutter by the side of a bush stream. The sheer shock and horror of what he saw incensed him to get revenge on the perpetrator and he chased after the young man biting off his wind pipe. This discovery, by the Leopard, caused mayhem in the animal kingdom and the Animal Council established a Jungle Court from where an inquest was set up to unravel the barbaric acts that were being committed. The Court warned that while the inquest was going on, anyone involved or caught in these acts will be burnt to ashes, alongside their offspring. As the jungle inquest went on, the humans began parking their belongings, in the silence of the night for fear of what will happen to them once the inquest found them guilty. They were moving to an undisclosed destination where they could build and start a new type of life. On their final trip to move their last belongings out of the animal kingdom, the dog and his family, fearing that the wrath of other animals would turn on them if they were caught in aiding and abetting humans, followed the humans into their new land of the living. The rest of the animals woke up one morning to the discovery that the humans and dogs were gone. The inquest passed a resolution that from that moment onward humans and dogs were their enemies because they had unjustly sent souls to the great beyond. In addition to this declaration, the Leopard was assigned to execute the Jungle Judgement that was to kill humans whenever they ventured into their former home. Settling in their new abode, the dog became human‟s best friend so much so they decided to live together. From time to time, they all go back together to their former home to continue from where the humans stopped hunting other animals. “And that, Children, is my story tonight”, my Grandfather ended.
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RECIPE COLUMN OFE NSALA [WHITE SOUP] by Genevieve Agorua
Ingredient Meat fish pepper tomato salt maggi crafish
COOKING
- Steam the meat with onion, add little salt and one cube of maggi. Then allow it 2 steam for 10mins. - Add water in the steamed meat depending on the quantity of the meat & fish. - Put your dry or fresh fish, 4 or 5 table spoon of pepper, 3 table spoon of Tomato, 1/3 of table spoon of salt, 2 or 3 table spoon of crayfish if u like, one cube of Maggi,then allow to boil for 20mins. - You can put Pumpkin leave [ugu] or bitter leave[onugbu] if u like & allow it to boil for 1min, then bring it down from fire. You can serve with Pounded Yam or Semovita.
14 AFRICAWORLD JUL 1-15 2013
NEWS
Dimpka
COLUMN
LEST WE FORGET: WINNERS AND LOSERS
Mazi Uche Osakwe
During the recently concluded 39th Summit of the Group of Eight (G8) in Lough Erne, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, Syria was at the top in the agenda, although the so-called ‘world economy’ was not left out. Syria is engulfed in conflict. It began on 15 March 2011, sparked by demonstrations that grew nationally by April 2011. It was part of the wider Middle Eastern remonstration know as the Arab Spring. The demonstrators demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, whose family has held the office of the presidency since 1971 and called for the end to the Ba’ath Party. According to the Human Rights Data Analysis Group, the conflict has so far claimed 92,901 lives, but it could be more. Furthermore, UNICEF stated that more than 3.7 million children are at risk of starvation and require immediate humanitarian assistance. Yet the crisis in Syria has taken a new dimension with reports that the Syrian army used chemical weapon on her people, a step that President Obama described as crossing a red line. However, world leaders President Obama of the USA and President Putin of Russia have different ideas on how to end the civil war in Syria. Mr Putin has insisted on suppor ting the leadership of Mr Bashar al-
Assad as the legitimate President of Syria. Although we understand the psychology behind Mr Putin’s support to Assad as not only economic but strategic, should Mr Putin set aside the significance of the peoples’ voice and the deaths of thousands at the hands of Mr Bashar al-Assad because of economic and strategic interests? On the other hand, President Obama’s strategy in Syria is pedestrian. His lukewarm attitude may be as a result of past US engagements in Afghanistan and Iraq, which cost American taxpayers billions of dollars and contributed to the adverse economic downturn in America. But America can’t ignore the political and strategic significance of its allies in Arab states and Israel. David Cameron, the UK Prime Minister, promised a “common ground” on Syria but this didn’t materialise. What did materialise were US statements on arming the opposition forces, claiming that America had evidence that the iron-fisted tyrant Mr Bashar al-Assad’s army had used chemical weapons on their own people on a “small scale”. The use of chemical weapons by President Bashar raised the ante in the international community, especially in the European Union and the USA. Mr Bashar al-Assad has been known to be a supporter of the dreaded Shi’a Islamic militant group Hezbollah, literally “Party of God”, based in Lebanon. They are linked to Syria and Iran who finance their activities. The US can’t ignore the impact of Hezbollah in the war against terrorism and the ongoing war in Syria, in which they are heavily involved. During the parley at the G8 meeting, Mr Obama
promised to provide $300m in aid for refugees both inside and outside of Syria. I think this is not enough; the US should do more by pressing for international sanctions against President Bashar and his military, pressing for a non-fly zone in Syria as a way of protecting the vulnerable, especially the women and children. Personally, I am against arming the opposition. Any ammunition provided to opposition forces may end up in the hands of the Islamic jihadists who have infiltrated the opposition army, which will prove catastrophic in the long run. The supply of ammunition to both the Syrian army and opposition fighters does no good to the overall interests of Syrians and the country’s stability. The experiences in Iraq and Libya have shown that the long wounds and destruction outweigh any gains. Rather, what is needed is an arms embargo and intelligence-gathering to forestall any movement, especially the private armies (otherwise called mercenaries) who are recruited and paid to cause confusion in the country and the region. Syrian democracy and the country’s future should be in the hands of the people to decide - not Russia, the US, and the EU. Another issue worth mentioning here is the trade deal agreed between the supra-organisation the EU and the US. The deal centred on free trade between the two super states that will strengthen their economic, political and military ties. The rewards will be a net £100bn ($157bn; 117bn Euros) for the EU, whilst the US economy will net £80bn. Not only will it strengthen the economy, it will also benefit the two zones in areas of diplomatic and
security alliance. To my chagrin, while these deals were cemented, Africa was once again left to lick its own wounds. It was alleged that President Obama said that African leaders should stop whinging about colonialism. I think President Obama misses the point. Colonial legacies in Africa created dysfunctional states, and distorted and dehumanised the people of the continent. That effect continues to date and can’t be wiped away by mere statement. There is a recognition of the Holocaust committed against the Jews, which is good. The same thing should be accorded to Africa in relation to the Atlantic slave trade. These men and women need respect and Africa should be compensated by Europeans and Americans. The post-colonial African states inherited lopsided and unfavourable political and economic dislocation caused by colonialism. Mr Obama is aware of this structural handicap. President Obama’s policy on Africa has not been a cheering one. For the past quarter of a century, as the wind of change blows across Africa after decades of sham, stagnation and unimaginative leadership, the leaders in Africa have for the first time taken up the challenge to rebuild. Consequently, Africans have awaited courageous and ingenious leadership from United States in terms of political and economic direction. But the United States fiddled; Africa had to look elsewhere. The reluctance of the US to commit to Africa’s infrastructural development has opened a gateway to China, which seized the opportunity to open up
trade, investment, construction and infrastructural development in the continent. There is another opportunity for President Obama to show Africans that his policy isolation of Africa was not deliberate and that he has plans to move the continent forward. President Obama’s visit to Ghana in 2006 raised the hopes of the continent but those hopes have been dashed because after Mr Obama’s first term, his report card is nothing to write home about. Africans, both at home and in the diaspora, are waiting patiently to hear from President Obama during his visits to Senegal, South Africa, and Tanzania on his visions for Africa. Africa cannot compromise its independence, however, neither politically nor economically. It is still in the hands of mercenaries and its liberation is still some time off. It is interesting to see one of us who happens to be the President of the most powerful country in the world. It would be nice to see Mr Obama helping to solve the myriad political and economic problems of Africa rather than introducing prescriptions that are anathema to African culture and style. Kwame Nkrumah was categorically apt in his thinking about Africa. He made it categorically clear that the liberation of Africa is meaningless unless the “political and economic liberation and unification of Africa includes Indian Oceans, and the Rea Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea”. It is our glorious ancestors who left us with the allegory that: “You have something of value if you have land. You have something of value if you have water. Water is life and land is essence. When you alienate land a bit of you dies.”
JUL 1-15 2013
ENTERTAINMENT
By Linie
AFRICAWORLD 15
DID YOU KNOW?
OUR AFRICA
- Lake Victoria is the second largest freshwater lake in the world and located in east central Africa along the equator and borders Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania. - Sahara desert in Africa is the most extensive desert in the world, and a larger area than the United States. - The most ancient civilization originated in Africa was the state of the Pharaohs in Egypt. It started in about 3300 BC and ended in 343 BC. - Somalia has one of the most advanced and affordable telecommunications system in the world. - Mauritius is one of the richest as well as the most developed countries in Africa. - Casablanca is the economic city of Morocco while Rabat is the political capital. - Coffee originated from Ethiopia. Presently, the country is one of the the largest manufacturers and exporters of coffee worldwide. - Ethiopia is one of the very few countries in the world that has never been occupied by foreign powers. Italy tried twice but was defeated by the Ethiopians. - Senegal gained independence from France in 1960 and the government is a multiparty democratic republic. - Some culture groups in Ghana like the Asante have a matrilineal family organization where inheritance is passed down through the wife’s family rather than the husband’s, and the wife holds most of the chief responsibilities in the family.
CARTOONS
By Max Chijioke Okafor
16 AFRICAWORLD JUL 1-15 2013
TALENT
6 0 S E CO N D S W I T H T H E D U C H E S S With Nena Duchez Huntaz
Singer, model, TV presenter and fashion icon, Deborah Vanessa Owusu-Bonsu was born in Ghana to an Ashanti father and Romanian mother. Being from two different cultures gave her the ability to see things from more than one perspective and thus made her open to diversity, readily identifying the beauty in things as well as developing a genuine interest in people and cultures. She grew up in Accra, attended Christ the King Int. School, then Wesley Girls High School. She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in publishing studies from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana, followed by a masters degree in book/ journal publishing from the University of the Arts London in the UK. She has shown her professionalism and passion for her chosen field by working successfully for both small enterprises as well as big corporations in Ghana, the United States and United Kingdom. This multi-talented lady recently took the world by storm with her first release as a music artiste after years as a back-up singer. Her single ‘Uncle Obama’ featuring the FOKN Bois broke Ghanaian Youtube and WSHH records with over 150,000 and 70,000 views respectively in its first week. She was interviewed on CNN right before the second U.S. presidential debate as a result of the controversy surrounding her song and also had a full feature on the BBC in January 2013 because of it. Deborah is a talented and passionate professional with an exceptional work ethic. She dropped in for a chat with us on her way to perform at this weekend’s Glastonbury Festival and we believe many big things are on the way for her. Connect with her via twitter: @deborahvanessa7