AfricaWorld Newspaper - April 2012 by AfricaWorld Newspaper

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april 2012

VOL 001 Nº012

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The Black Male Code

More on page 6

I WANT MY HUSBAND TO BE A SLAVE! Part 3 More on page 13

We distribute in Nigeria - Lagos, Abuja & Owerri South Africa - Johannesburg Belgium - Brussels United Kingdom - London governance and human rights, and gender equality? Irish Aid, an institution of the state through which it participates in global efforts on poverty reduction and humanitarian crises, has been criticised over their modus operandi. Critics, Continued on Page 3

AFRICAWORLD CELEBRATES ITS FIRST BIRTHDAY On 7 May 2011, at the Irish Writers Centre, a new child was born in the media firmament. The medium was overdue like much heralded pregnancy that followed a barren life. Africans and those that wish to be informed about the mindset and true happenings in the continent thirsted and hungered until we came to the

scene. Like the Irish wind, unexpected, raging like the storm and imposing to senses, we stormed the lives of those that matter. From onset, we wanted to provide objective and quality information on the pride and identity of Africa and Africans, and promote diversity and

balance in media reporting. In this part of the world, the African image is battered intermittently with a sledge hammer from the EU government and media. It is based on this background that AfricaWorld Newspaper was created. To report first-hand news and events as they happen among Africans here in Ireland, Africa

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and the wider world. We let our media content reflect the actual state of events and without compromise, including the riches, cultures, values, resources and entertainment that Africa offers to the world. As former Mayor of Dublin, Cllr. Continued on Page 5

April 2012

opinion

The return of the native

Editorial

IS IRELAND’S DEPORTATION POLICY RIGHT? With the issues arising from deportations of Africans, it is imperative to ask once again: Why are politicians creating problems for Ireland? Will the current deportation policy be good for the image of this country? Although but a small nation, Ireland has a big reputation for what it has done in the past. A humorous people, the Irish make their presence known in any environment. Across the world where they have emigrated, people tell tales about the influence of the Irish. They nursed, supported and educated generations and millions of particularly poor people in the most far flung places of the world, and despite the transitional problems of traditional to modern, they did it with very little thanks. In Africa, Irish are very important to people especially those in the rural areas. Like the uninvited sun, they showed up with Bibles wearing cassocks. Take it or leave it, Irish missionaries did a marvelous job for Ireland in Africa and that goodwill must be built on by the current civil leaders. It is good that the Enda Kenny government intends to shore up Irish credentials and has an appetite for overseas involvement. They should not be deceived, Africa is the hub of resources and the most sought after destination for the turnaround of poor economies. Pursuant to these trade objectives, it is worthwhile to ask members of the Irish parliament and champions of deportations - Is this policy progressive or retrogressive? How do you see this? Government forces launch pre-dawn raids where men, women and children are taken from their beds to the airport? In some cases, fathers are separated from their kids and partners. Even those who married according to the laws of the land are forcefully bundled into aircrafts. There are instances where deportees are chained and abused with racist remarks. This is not the true Ireland that wants to be seen as having a good record as a nation that abides by conventions on human rights. This is not a fair immigration system. What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander. What do I mean? The Irish government is praying and lobbying the United States to help Irish illegals gain status while frustrating people’s lives in the Island. Is this truly Ireland where emigration is a culture? I am tempted to think some of the present Irish leaders do not understand the history of Ireland and what makes this beautiful place important to all who call it home. Leaders must chart a positive image for Ireland in these challenging times to correspond to the demands of a nation emerging from economic chaos. Certain aspects of the Irish policy must be charted solely for the survival of this nation. Deportations will do more harm than good especially against future bilateral partnerships. This is home to all who call it one. Forceful deportations against Africans could be classified as official racism. Come inside. Uka

By Ukachukwu Okorie

“International solidarity is not an act of charity, its objective is to aid the development of humanity.”

SAMORA MACHEL

Samora Machel, Mozambique’s first independent president, died in a mysterious plane crash less than a mile away from Mozambique. Here is a portrait painted on a part of the plane wreckage

On the 19th October 1986, a bright star on the firmament of Africa dimmed. It went to sleep on on it’s own but involuntarily, life was snuffed out. One of Africa’s greatest, Samora Machel died when his plane crashed into a hillside in South Africa. Although the complicity of South Africa was denied, instead pointing to pilot error. However, events and investigations have indicated that the Apartheid regime sent its Special Forces to shoot down President Machel’s aircraft. Samora Machel breathed first as a new born on 29th September, 1933, in Gaza province in the south of Mozambique. Like most of his generation, Samora grew up in an agricultural village and attended elementary school run by missionary authorities. He completed the fourth class--the prerequisite certificate for any higher education. Ambitious and hardworking, Samora met a hurdle in lack of funds to pursue higher education in nursing which he aspired. However, to secure the tuition fees to pay for formal training at the Miguel Bombarda Hospital in Lourenco Marques (Maputo), he took a job working as an assistant in the hospital. This afforded him enough money to continue his education at night school. Samora worked at the hospital until he left the country to join the nationalist struggle.

AfricaWorld & Millenium Development Goals Editor Ukachukwu Okorie

Photography Stephen Boyle

Managing Editor Jekaterina Saveljeva

Online/Marketing Gaelle Robert

Graphic Design Marco Rodrigues

Secretary Goodness Sibanda

Samora Machel began his political journey in the hospital of Lourenço Marques where he led protests against the authorities for paying black nurses less than whites. In one of his interviews, he told a reporter how bad medical treatment was for Mozambique’s poor, “The rich man’s dog gets more in the way of vaccination, medicine and medical care than do the workers upon whom the rich man’s wealth is built.” In 1962 Machel joined the Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) which set out to struggle for an independent Mozambique. He received military training in 1963 in Algeria, and returned in 1964 to lead FRELIMO’s first guerilla attack against the Portuguese in northern Mozambique. After the assassination of FRELIMO’s President, Eduardo Mondlane, in February 1969, Samora Machel emerged as the leader and Army commander. Under his leadership, the bloody war of independence against colonial Portugal took a new dimension. Eventually, Portugal was defeated and Samora became independent Mozambique’s first elected president on June 25, 1975. His assumption energized antiminority rule action against Ian Smith’s Rhodesia and Apartheid South Africa, even providing training grounds for them.

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

Samora Machel’s historical march ended on October 19, on his way back from an international meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, in the presidential Tupolev Tu-134 aircraft, when the plane crashed in the Lebombo Mountains, near Mbuzini, SouthAfrica. It is now clear that the international commission of inquiry set up by the South African Apartheid government under the leadership of Judge Cecil Margo lied to the world. Events have disproved the committee’s findings as one of the members of the Special Forces revealed all to the Sowetan journalist, Mpekeleni Duma. In the interview posted on AfricaWorld Facebook page via Youtube, Hans Louw narrated some of the atrocities and killings he committed working in South Africa’s Special Forces. According to Paul Els, author of ‘We Fear Naught But God’, Hans Louw was the only coloured in the Apartheid era Special Forces. Due to Cold War politics, Western nations ignored Russia’s findings, which countered that Samora Machel’s plane was lured with a Mobile Radio Beacon (Model 780 - 175 - 1P pvor) to a different direction. In 2011, Mozambican President Armando Guebuza accused the South African Apartheid regime of killing the country’s first president, Samora Machel. Guebuza was speaking in Maputo’s Independence Square, at a ceremony marking the 25th Anniversary of Machel’s death. Guebua recalled that the plane crash followed “repeated public threats against our head of state made by top members of the Apartheid government” - he was referring to threats against Machel’s life made by the Apartheid Defence Minister, Magnus Malan, in early October 1986. Samora Machel is fondly remembered as an African Hero whose doggedness and resilient attributes remain evergreen and echo in Africa and around the world. According to Thomas G. Karis, he helped lay the foundations for a nonracial society in Mozambique, as well as bring majority rule governments to power in Zimbabwe and Portugal. His widow, Graca Machel is married to Nelson Mandela. Samora Machel, we fondly love and remember you.

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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April 2012

NEWs Continued from Page 1

especially the African-Irish, abreast with the system back have often questioned Irish Aid home, so they have a role to play over hundreds of millions in since their home would be euros allocated to it every year. beneficiaries to Irish Aid,” Nora According to NCP, one of its Owen said. The former Justice funded outlets, Irish Aid have Minister feels positive about the €639m in its funds to spend in new roadmap being designed by 2012. “Our role here is to see the current government and how our contribution can prays for continuity of the enhance or influence the White dialogue with Diasporans for Paper going forward; and how effective results. She further we can achieve the inclusion of enjoined Africans to set up three major themes structures so of - Irish Diaspora as to bring out ‘Ireland actually Engagement; the best in developed as a Empowerment and country through dealing with Capacity assistance and trade the development of government links with the likes recipient countries/ of the US and EU. If for the stakeholders and success of all. they want to help Business/ Nora Owen some African Investment focus,” countries, that will was a Teachta NCP asserted. be a good portunity’ Dála (TD) for On the current Dublin North engagement for a from 1981 to White Paper and why the 1987 and from 1989 to 2002. government is consulting Talking to AfricaWorld, Jabbi Africans in Ireland, Joe Costelo Mbemba of the Africa Centre TD has this to say, “The Irish said that he came to the talkgovernment wants to tap the shop as a taxpayer and practical experience of beneficiary of Irish Aid. Diasporans who come from According to the Gambian, he is countries where we are very interested in how Irish Aid involved.” Probing further, the spends their budget. On the New Labour TD said that his ministry roadmap, he welcomed it as a intends to come out with a positive development , specially renewed policy that will benefit for productivity. “Ireland all stakeholders. actually developed as a country Partnering the Trade and through assistance and trade Development Minister, Joe links with the likes of the US Costelo, at the review parley was and EU. If they want to help Nora Owen. Nora Owen, a former some African countries, that will Irish Fine Gael Justice Minister be a good opportunity.” Mbemba from 1994 to 1997, was very advised that the new roadmap impressed about the outcome of should not be one-way traffic of the discussion. “My impression Irish businesses into Africa but is that this was a highly useful mutual. He called Ireland to meeting. Many of the delegates intervene on behalf of African feel they have a role and they are countries for maximum benefit.

The Black Male Code

By Dolores Martyn

to pay close attention to your Following the tragic killing of surrounding, especially if you are in Trayvon Martin,Al Dotson Jr., a lawyer an affluent neighborhood where in Miami and chairman of the 100 black folks are few.People may assume Black Men of America organization, you are a criminal especially if you told his 14-year-old son that he should are wearing certain clothes. It is also advised to never argue always be aware of his surroundings, with police, but protect your dignity and of the fact that people might view and take pride in humility. It is him differently “because he’s blessed pointed out that not all white people to be an African-American.” The shooting has highlighted the see black people as a threat but as a ongoing issue of racial prejudice as black male the onus is on you to prove the type of person you are. parents across America explained the Black Male Code to their young sons. The code has been passed down through the black community for generations, from the days when an innocent remark could easily cost black people their job, their freedom, or even their life. The code warns MLADEN ANTONOV/AFP/Getty Images

Another area that will boost trade, accoding to Jabbi Mbemba, is the issue of visa restrictions. “If there are restrictions when business is being transacted, it does not let things go well. Mr. Reginald of the NCP was in high spirit about the success of the parley. Earlier in his address, while the function lasted, he had thanked the government for their efforts so far. But he quickly reminded AfricaWorld that the day’s engagement was his initiative and his happiness is that the government are engaging. “This is a stepping stone for Diasporans and we are happy that the Minister bought into the idea easily. It is interesting that the Minister is listening to us about the importance of participation. It is good that the mindset is being changed,” the NCP leader said.

According to Reginald, the door is now open to continue a robust and productive parley, especially in getting Diaspora professionals on board as against the general belief by a minority that all Africans are asylum seekers. “We are talking about involvement and engagement. The issue of remittances has not been touched and it is part of development Aid”, Reginald said. AfricaWorld was able to feel the verbal pulse of participants cutting across the African continent. Ferdinand Mensa from Malawi was upbeat about the new development. “I think it is a brilliant idea, seeing the failures of many charities. With this kind of approach, projects will be result-oriented”, the Malawi businessman said. For Brahanu Hundi, an Ethiopian, the idea to involve

Diasporans is good and more effective. However, he cautioned that the government should put into practice all these ideas to gain the confidence of the people. Talking to AfricaWorld, Ebun Akpoveta, who is both a motivational speaker and guidance counsellor with Epic Support Program, gave kudos to the roadmap initiative. “We can see things they cannot see,” Ebun opined. The motivational speaker told AfricaWorld that it is great that they want to talk to Diasporans. “However,” she quickly warned, “It must not be allowed to die out.” Minister Joe Costelo TD encouraged Africans to make their voices heard and get involved especially as these issues closely affect them. He promised to continue his open door policy throughout his tenure.

Joe Costello TD, Irish Minister of State for Trade and Development

Minister of State Launches Simon Cumbers Media Fund

By Paul Kelly

On March 21st, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, Joe Costello, formally launched this year’s Simon Cumbers Media Fund. The fund has been running for seven years and, supported by Irish Aid, aims to provide increased coverage of development issues. It provides grants for journalists interested in

travelling to Africa, in order to ensure greater media coverage of the continent. Average grants for successful applicants amount to €3000. Launching the fund, Mr Costello declared that “Africa is the continent of the future”, citing five per cent annual growth figures across the region. He declared his belief that Irish Aid was “not a purely charitable endeavour” but was “investing in the well-being of Africa and all its people”. He argued that “it is in all our interest to provide a fairer and more equitable world. Such a world will bring about greater peace and stability and be able to address global challenges.” To this end, the fund will focus for

this year on climate change, as well as “forgotten emergencies” – severe humanitarian crises which have drifted off the news, such as the ongoing crisis in Darfur, Sudan. Mr Costello expressed his excitement at the recent economic growth across the continent and insisted that anyone would “be crazy” not to invest in Africa. Despite this, he asserted that “we will not ignore the challenges that exist” and emphasised that twenty per cent of Irish Aid’s funds go directly to tackle hunger. Mr Costello also emphasised the importance of the work of Irish Aid, especially in the partner countries which it focuses on. These include Mozambique, Ethiopia, Uganda, Lesotho, Tanzania, Timor Leste, Zambia, Vietnam and Malawi. He also highlighted the recent OECD review of the Irish Aid program which found it to be “cutting-edge” and among the best in the world; despite the fact its funding has fallen thirty per cent since the 2008 recession.

April 2012

NEWS

By Paul Kelly

Mayor of Dublin Launches Integration Report

On March 27th the Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague, launched a report on ‘Monitoring Integration in Dublin City’. The report summarises the issue of migrant integration into Dublin city’s political, social, cultural and economic life. The report issued some damning statistics on integration attempts thus far, finding that 27% of SubSaharan Africans have been subject to a “racially motivated assault, threat or serious harassment”. The launch was co-hosted by The Integration Centre whose chairperson, Pat Montague, stressed the importance of integration, as fifteen per cent of the population of Dublin are foreign nationals. “Migration was seen as a temporary phenomenon by policy makers,” he said. “It was thought that the crash would ‘sort out’ migration. But since the crash we’ve had net inward migration.” He argued that migration patterns did not correlate with economic fluctuations due to the fact that “people have embedded families.” The report advocated an increase in the power of local authorities, as they currently lack control over

employment, education or health matters, all of which are central to integration. He also called for the Office of Migrant Integration to be moved from the Department of Justice and Equality to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government, saying that integration was not an issue related to crime but was inextricably connected to the community. At the launch, the Mayor also highlighted the benefits of increased integration, citing Google as a company which came to Dublin because “they knew Dublin can attract foreign workers.” Peter Szlovak, one of the main forces behind the project also stressed that although “immigration is seen as just another problem” that there are also “good, positive things happening.” He said that Ireland had the opportunity to learn from other countries which had integration problems and that foreign pupils did not tend to concentrate in particular schools, which is a very positive development for integration efforts. Despite this, however, problems persist especially in areas such as

employment, where migrant’s existing qualifications are often not recognised by employers, and in education. Problems of racist bullying were cited within schools, as well as problems with learning English which is, according to O’ Connell secondary school teacher Michael Kilbride, “the key to everything. Unless they have the language they’re going nowhere.” The launch also highlighted a number of systemic failures in the education system which allow teachers themselves to be racially abusive towards migrant children. Ecaterina Lungu, a Moldovan migrant, described how her friend’s small child was “humiliated and embarrassed in front of her whole class” when she was forced to tie the shoe laces of an Irish boy there. A further problem with this, stressed Ecaterina, is the difficulty with complaining about such issues. In Moldova, she would have been able to go straight to the teacher or to the principle but in Ireland “there is a lot more bureaucracy.” This can be especially difficult if the parents themselves do not know the language.

IGBO LEADER IN GALWAY RECIEVES KNIGHTHOOD INVESTITURE The Chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Galway Chapter, Sir Promise Fredrick (KSP) has been admitted into the Knighthood Order of the Anglican Communion by the Diocese of Umuahia Anglican Communion in Abia State, Nigeria. The Knighthood investiture which took place on Saturday, the 18th February 2012 at St. Stephen’s Cathedral Umuahia after a week’s Residential Retreat at Trinity Theological College Umuahia was unique and historic. Sir Fredrick along side with his wife Lady Annette Fredrick were both inducted into the Knight of St. Paul (KSP) by the Bishop of Umuahia Diocese and Archbishop of Aba Province, His Grace, The Most Revd. Ikechi Nwachukwu Nwosu. Governor Theodore Orji, the Executive Governor of Abia State, was the special guest of honour, while the Bishop Emeritus of former Diocese of Aba, The Rt. Revd. Augustine Iwuagwu was the investiture preacher. The entire membership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Galway have expressed their profound gratitude for having their leader selected and inducted into the Prestigious

Knighthood Order of the Anglican Communion Nigeria. During an interview with the members of the organisation, the founder of the group, Chief Charles Okeiyi Maduka affirmed that the organisation consists of members who have the fear of God and constantly strive to promote the work of God and humanity. The Secretary General of the organisation Prince Ikenna Chikezie described the investiture as a harvest of gifts and talent which the Almighty God has

graciously bestowed upon their Chairman for the edifying and unity of the body of Christ and mankind. The Woman Leader of the organisation Mrs Florence Ndigwe in her own response prayed God to continue to build people of valour and prominence in Ohanaeze Ndigbo Galway with the grace to continue to promote and maintain good membership and community relations and services both nationally and internationally.

Killian Forde, CEO of The Integration Centre concluded the launch by highlighting the need for the government to pay more attention to the issue of integration. “Politicians and the civil service believe in the absence of race riots that there is no problem.” he said. However, he argued, clearly this is an issue which needs close attention and research. He hoped the report “will serve as a tool for

politicians, service providers and the general public as to what work is being done in the area of integration and also point to gaps in service provision.” He also warned of the negative consequences of ignoring the issue of integration. “If we get this wrong,” he cautioned. “We will have social dislocation for decades to come.”

Mayor of Dublin Andrew Montague

Kite Surf from Africa to Saudi Arabia Fails By Max Uspensky

The wind fell from Polish man Jan Lisewski’s sails in his attempt to kite surf the 124 miles between the Egyptian town of El Gouna and Duba in Saudi Arabia. For forty hours, among other concerns, he fought off sharks, “I was stabbing them in the eyes, the nose and gills.” He survived on energy drinks, some water, two energy bars and of course his knife, before rescuers located him via his SOS beacon.

Polish Press Agency Finds Snakes Between Legs

By Max Uspensky

Polish Press Agency, PAP, finds that drivers in Madasgascar are finding themselves with writhing snakes between their legs at traffic lights. Apparently throwing snakes into cars is a new

Sir Promise Fredrick

technique to frighten drivers out of their cars, which are then, along with their possessions hijacked by the snake charmers, reports regional paper Midi – Madagasikara.

April 2012

news Continued from Page 1

Emma Costelo hoisted the maiden copy, our sights were already set on redrawing the equation of multicultural media in Ireland. Pursuant to our ideals to serve and inform, we marshalled out salient targets and they include: ■ To promote a balance on multicultural media reporting in Ireland through: in- depth reporting on issues affecting Africans and coverage of our readers’ candid opinions ■ To showcase the beauty and creativity of Africans through reports that import diverse African cultures, values and entertainment

■ To bring Africa and its people closer to Ireland and to help promote Irish values to Africans in Ireland, Africa and the rest of the world. ■ To provide objective and quality information about Africans in Ireland, Africa and around the world. An African adage says, “Unless the hunted gives their account, the story of the hunt will always favour the hunter.” AfricaWorld, anchored by young talents in a recession-prone Ireland, began a new era of telling the real story of our beautiful continent. From the first edition in the weeks

Afro Irish Kidios dance group to perform at the birthday celebration

preceding President Obama’s visit to the current one you are reading, the story has been all about improvement and the desire to do more. Our appetite to keep the momentum is like that of a lion. As an African proverb states clearly, “No matter the hardship in the jungle, a lion cannot eat grass.” We keep striving to bring our community to the limelight. Yes! AfricaWorld is the name and the perspective is the progress of the continent of Africa and those that genuinely love it. Our writers span across the terrestrial sphere of the globe, cracking brains from

Africa, South America, North America, Australia and Europe. We are the real United Nations with much love for the continent and wider world, operating in a global village. AfricaWorld plans to widely promote Dublin as a tourist destination and a city where dreams can come to fruition, notwithstanding impediments as we have witnessed since the launch. Dublin in a beautiful Island and a city with hip attitude, hence the mentality of our outfit to stand firmly and tell stories as they are. From time to time, the beautiful city of Dublin

will be showcased to all as one of few cities that fought a sprawling empire. AfricaWorld will be celebrating its first birthday in May with our readers and supporters over cultural dances and speeches from incisive speakers. We intend to, as one of the programs of the day, inaugurate a memorial lecture in honour of an African icon. In our spirit of importing the real African traditions, we intend to launch the maiden DUBLIN C U LT U R A L F E S T I VA L , t o showcase numerous dances from different parts of Africa.

Sphere within sphere by Pomodoro in Trinity College, Dublin

Akidwa International Women’s Day By Barbara Filaih

The Akidwa conference entitled ‘Connecting young migrant women, inspiring futures’ combined with the International Women’s Day celebrations took place in City Hall this year. It started at 5pm but was already a hive of activity from young wannabe models the more exp erienced ones b eing photographed on the steps to a group of teenage girls practising their dance routine. This year’s MC was Dil Wickremasinghe, Newstalk presenter of Global Village. After registration there was time for a leisurely walk around which revealed posters of many migrant women living in Ireland and a list of some of their achievements. The group of young men dressed like US rappers turned out to be traditional dancers and musicians whose aim was not only to showcase their talents but to dispel the negative stereotyping of immigrants portrayed by the media. Special guests included the Nigerian Ambassador Dr Kemafo Chikwe and representatives from the South African, Kenyan and Ethiopian embassies. The event was opened by Tina Akinola Jinad Akidwa Chairperson,

next the audience were entertained by the Moribo Wa Africa music and dance group. The entertainment consisted of traditional African singing and dancing accompanied by African drums. The dancing was spectacular and there was a collective scramble for camera phones by the audience in an attempt to capture the magnificent dancers which in my opinion made Riverdance pale into insignificance. This was followed with a video clip entitled ‘Inspirational stories of young migrant women’ in which several young women spoke about their hopes and dreams for the future. Next there was a presentation by Amaka Okonkwo Akidwa Development officer called ‘Future activities planned for young migrant workers.’ There was more entertainment provided by the Swab Divas a four piece girl group ranging in age from 12 to 15 years old who sang, danced and rapped and could be Ireland’s future X factor hopefuls. Anne Walsh from the National Youth Council of Ireland gave a presentation and this was followed by the Akidwa Strategic Plan 20122015 presented by Salome Mbugua

Akidwa CEO. Salome appealed for their amazing outfits. other women to become members Finally we were served light of Akidwa. refreshments and this was followed We were given a preview of the by a raffle to raise much needed funds fashion show featuring young models for Akidwa. Everyone enjoyed the young who were followed by models from Runway Models Academy; the show consisted of amazing designs in an array of wo n d e r f u l materials. Several models wo re fascinators and beautiful necklaces designed by Helen Moriarty to complement their outfits. Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Counsellor Maria Parodi launched the Akidwa strategic plan this was followed by the Fashion Show. As usual the Runway models we re stunning from their unusual makeup to With Moribo Group at Dublin City Hall

night and looking forward to next year. I would like to thank the ladies of Akidwa, Dublin City Council and the numerous other people who made the event the success it was.

April 2012

news

Tuareg Rebellion Sparks Coup THE RENEGADE WOMAN WHO BECAME PRESIDENT OF MALAWI in Mali – ECOWAS Dilemma

Captain Amadou Sanogo

By Max Uspensky

Mali’s Army at 7,000 personnel is not very large. Apart from being poorly equipped, soldiers sent to confront the Tuareg rebellion apparently have done so on empty stomachs. This logistical failure is blamed for the scores of lives lost by the military and its decision to take over responsibility for, both its own and the country’s affairs. The March 22nd coup has taken place just weeks prior to elections in which the standing president Amadou Toumani Toure said he would no longer stand. The coup leadership has installed itself as the National Committee for the

Restoration of Democracy and State (CNRDR) with Captain Amadou Sanogo at its head. Meanwhile Toure remains free and at large somewhere in the country. The coup has been widely condemned – The African Union suspended Mali’s membership within 24 hours, ECOWAS – the west African regional governance body described it as military adventurism, while the EU, World Bank and African Development Bank have all suspended their aid programs. Amid some rioting and looting in the capital Bamako six heads of state representing

SYRIA - HOW CAN WE STOP THE KILLING OF CIVILIANS?

Deputy Foreign Editor at RTE Anthony Murnane at a seminar on the Syrian crisis

The trouble in Syria was the issue at Griffith College Dublin on 14th of March when politicians, journalists, victims and students engaged in a talk show. From 7 -10pm, speakers and concerned participants engaged Syrians through Skype to know the current situation in Homs, which

is the flash point in the revolution. Public demonstrations in Syria began on 26th January 2011 and developed into a nationwide uprising. Protesters demanded the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad, the overthrow of his government, and an end to nearly five decades of Ba’ath Party

ECOWAS turned their flight around, when demonstrators had converged upon the runway. ECOWAS leader, Alassane Ouattara, president of Ivory Coast along with other regional heads, Nigeria’s Jonathan Go o dluck, Burkina Faso’s Blaise Compaore, Liberia’s Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf, Niger’s Mahamadou Issoufou and Benin’s Yayi Boni were all due to fly into Bamako with the aim of returning constitutional order to the country. Some 130,000 have been displaced by the conflict – moving into neighbouring Niger, Burkina Faso and Mauritania. The food crisis and rising food prices across the whole region no doubt have aggravated an oscillating social equilibrium. One protestor, Khalifa Sogo, extols, “They (the coup leaders) should stay to resolve the problems in the north, corruption and education. That is more important than elections.” Sanogo, meanwhile, in response to sanctions wants to hold elections as soon as possible and return to established order.

rule. In a function featuring fourspeakers including: Dr. Hassan who has been a victim of Assad brutality, Ronan Brady Head of International Federation of Journalists, Deputy Foreign Editor of Irish Television (RTE) and representative of Amnesty international. Narrating his personal story and that of family odeal, Dr. Hassan said that the international community should come to their aid as brutes run President Assad security. In their quest to march down the will of the people, “They kill recklessly, maim people including cutting genitals. 100,000 arrested and most are missing while stadiums and sport centres are turn into jails. Eid Lib (Syrian Journalist in Homs) briefed participants from Skype. Issues like the insecurity of journalists were also discussed at the function. As the Revolution is being televised, issues like the insecurity of independent journalists, citizen journalism, human rights for targeted p opulations and conflict resolution were also discussed at the function.

Prophet TB Joshua of The Synagogue of All Nations in Nigeria is fast becoming the talk of the Internet over his accurate predictions. In an online media outfit monitored by AfricaWorld, the fiery preacher had predicted the death of an ageing African President outside West Africa. Many had waved the predictions aside until President Bingu wa Mutharika submitted to death days later. As a matter of fact, the late President sneaked into Nigeria on 27 February without dropping a hint on his itinerary. It wasn’t until the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) sighted and reported about his visit that Malawians knew that their president was not in Lilongwe. Nyasatimes had reported that the late President Bingu wa Mutharika left Kamuzu international Airport at 6.45am notwitstanding the lack of confirmation from Government Spokesperson Patricia Kaliati and Presidential Spokesman Hetherwick Ntaba. As a matter of fact, rumour was rife that he went to meet with the Nigeria Prophet TB Joshua whose prophecy sent shivers down his spine. AfricaWorld cannot confirm if he ever succeeded seeing the fiery preacher whose church, The Synagogue of All Nations, attracts the high and mighty from all

corners of the earth, in the quest to receive instant miracle. Following the passing on of President Bingu wa Mutharika, the former Vice President, Madam Joyce Banda has been sworn in on Holy Saturday as the new president of Malawi. Although her assumption had not come easy as the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) tried to upstage her through unconstitutional means, including scheming to install Peter Mutharika, Foreign Minister and younger brother to the late leader. Madam Joyce as Vice President did not enjoy a good working relationship with the late leader, after the earlier refused to support the nomination of Peter wa Mutharika, the late leader’s younger brother as DPP presidential candidate. The VP’s refusal earned her political trouble and excommunication, and eventually sack in December 2010 from the presidential clique and ruling party, forcing her to form a new party, Peoples Party (PP). The late President Bingu wa Mutharika will be buried on 23rd April in his sprawling Ndata farm in southern Thyolo, beside his late wife Ethel.

Sahel Crisis Escalates – Urgent Action Required By Max Uspensky

Numbers reported at risk across the Sahel have dramatically increased. A massive 13 million, including one million children are now said to be threatened. Chad, Burkina Faso, Niger, Mauritania and Mali have all declared emergencies and called for international assistance. Senegal also effected, following state elections is yet to respond accordingly. The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has reported that state food production levels are down by an average of 25% on 2010 levels.

The drought situation is exacerbated by conflict across the region and by high food prices, currently 25% above average and set to maybe even double. Mamadou Biteye, Oxfam regional director for west Africa implores, “Millons of people are on the threshold of a major crisis. All signs point to a drought becoming a catastrophe if nothing is done soon. The world cannot allow this to happen. A concerted aid effort is needed to stop tens of thousands dying due to international complacency.”

April 2012

opinion COLUMN

DIMKPA By Mazi Uche Azukaoma Osakwe

Some people view religion as being something outdated, some see it as being something that cannot be explained, but some believe in a supernatural being. The adherents to the Christian faith believe that He is a Messiah called Jesus Christ who came to redeem mankind.The Christians, especially the so-called “born-again”, cite the Book of John in the Holy Bible as saying that unless you are born again, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God. The Christians believe in the second coming of Christ as their hope of fulfilling the promise of the scripture.The Christians hinge their faith on resurrection after death; and argue for the existence of heaven and hell.Those who do well and obey the Ten Commandments will go to heaven, while those who do badly will go hell. The Christians’ faith is about belief and they are strongly fanatical about it. Other denominations have their own different ways of worship and communicating with their God. The Muslims believe in the sanctity of the Prophet Mohammed as their spiritual leader. The Muslims believe that whatever happens in this world, Allah has predestined it to happen. The question is: what is religion? “Religion is a system of beliefs and practices relating to the sacred uniting its adherents in a community and has a powerful hold on the people’s way of

READING BETWEEN THE LINES:

IT IS GOOD FOR THE WIND TO BLOW SO WE CAN SEE THE BACKSIDE OF THE HEN thinking, acting and perception of interests.” This shows that religion is something that its followers believe without questioning it. It directs them and shapes their thinking and reasoning. It is not something you can measure or quantify, but it is a powerful force which is exerted upon those who believe. Hence “religious feelings can mobilize people faster than any other element of their identity. The moral and spiritual forces of religion encourage people to act and change.” Another important aspect for the adherents of religion is the practice of ‘rituals’. Rituals are powerful means of communication, through which followers of a religion connect with their spiritual sources and observe their values and beliefs. When a moral message serves to mobilise mass action, or when the moral messenger backs its words with effective leadership of its own, the religious actor can become a significant catalyst for change. Religion is a very powerful instrument, and like wildfire, it can be very dangerous, though at the same time it can be an agent of change and can also be a source of joy for many. That is to say that religion can also be destructive when it is misapplied by the religious fundamentalist. For instance, the misinterpretation of a Koran verse by Muslim fundamentalists in Kano State, Nigeria, led these fundamentalists to cut off the head of Gideon, a so-called “unbeliever” because

HOW ICT WILL DRIVE KENYAN 2013 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS By Anthony Ekpechue Anthony is a Senior Systems Analyst for Microsoft Ireland.

As the second and final tenure of the incumbent president of Kenyan Mwai Kibaki comes to an end on or before December 31, 2012 and leading to the first presidential election under the new constitution of Kenya that was passed during the 2010 referendum where the candidates face a second round between the first and second if none achieves slightly over 50% majority in the first round or if the winner does not bag 25% of the votes in at least 24 counties.The government and active voting public of Kenya must now turn to ICT and the media to ensure that a free and fair elections are held and the winner celebrated over rounds of “muratina” and “nyama choma” or other local brews and delicacies. Information and Communications technology has enabled new approaches to electoral reforms and governance in the west and parts of Africa in which stakeholders across sectors and jurisdictions are engaged in consensus-building and implementation processes while the populace and media goes viral through social networking and other communication means. This article is focused on how Africa and in this particular instance, Kenya can achieve success in her forth coming 2013 presidential elections using the power of ICT and social networking

in the driving seat. All Kenyans need do is simply give the whole world and the voting public the right information, at the right time, in the right place and in the right context to be complaint, which fundamentally defines the concept of social networking and social enterprise. Social networking not only helps the electorate to record and report metrics and bias of the voting caucuses across regions and boundaries, but may also sway the voting charts to favour early social networking powered campaigns and spin doctors as observed during the 2008 US presidential elections. Social networking sites (SNS) have been growing in popularity over the past five years. However, the 2008 U.S. Presidential election shone a spotlight on their potential for making a realworld impact. Some credit Barack Obama’s success to his commitment to utilising online social networking tools for connecting with the electorate. Early in the campaign, Obama hired one of Facebook’s founders to develop his own campaign SNS as well as a strategy for utilizing other SNS platforms to spread their message and to mobilize supporters to take action. His staff sought to ensure that the Obama social network would mirror the off-line world, because supporters would foster more meaningful connections by attending

he was alleged to have desecrated the Holy Koran by tearing a page and using it to go to the toilet. In this case, the fundamentalists took the law into their own hands by dispensing instant judgment without allowing the law of the land to take its due course.Also, the activities of Boko Haram in Nigeria have cost thousands of lives and in property losses.This group struggles with the concept of secularism, democracy and modernity, calling instead for the declaration of Islamic state. However, religion can be an agent of change, mobilisation, enlightenment, peace-building and communal co-existence. In Latin America, religion was the force that drove dictators out of power; in Mozambique it became an instrument to call for peace-building and in former apartheid South Africa, it was an instrument of mobilisation and change. The religious denomination in the then apartheid South Africa joined hands together, irrespective of creed, colour or race, in condemning the racist government and its policies, and created awareness for its members. As a follow-up to this, the antagonists of religion who have claimed religion as a propellant of “violence” have cited the 2001, 9/11 attacks by Muslim fundamentalists; Bosnia, the black spot of religious war; the sectarian crises in Northern Ireland, India and Pakistan; and the extremist despotic regime of the Taliban in

neighbourhood meetings and calling on people who were part of their daily lives (Stelter, 2008). The Obama campaign’s social network also “married community organizing to the Internet” by applying two-way (perhaps more accurately multi-way) communication processes on a major scale (Feek, 2008). Following the election, people began to discuss more seriously whether social networking sites might be powerful tools for reshaping governance. The key factors to measure the performance of any political or electoral systems are metrics and indicators, ranking highest amongst them are the political performance indicator which addresses the ranking of voter turnouts, competitiveness of the political parties and systems, and the legitimacy of the judiciary to bring a timely and reasonable closure to political and electoral disputes. While these seem to be lacking in most political and electoral systems in quite a number of African countries, ultimately leading to electoral malpractices, rigging and failed elections, ICT and social networking tools can provide solutions to address such issues In the concluding part of this article AfricitWorld will examine available ICT and social networking tools that could help drive successful Kenyan 2013 presidential elections. 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.

Afghanistan and Sub-Saharan Africa as cases of prominence. But the instances of religious conflict in Sub-Saharan Africa have been traced to poverty, greed, grievances and colonial legacy. Due to these factors, various groups tried to assert their own identity and fought over resource control and political power. The politicians employed ethno-religious cleavages to perpetuate hatred and divide the people amongst themselves. The consequences of these actions are conflicts along the religiousethnic line.The problem is religious extremists’ escalation of religious conflict. They see radical measures as being necessary to fulfilling God’s wishes. Fundamentalists of any religion tend to take a Manichean view of the world. If the world is a struggle between good and evil, it is hard to justify compromising with the devil. Any sign of moderation can be decried as selling out, more importantly, of abandoning God’s will. Hence the fundamentalist are driven by a desire to get “back to basics” that was untainted by secularism. They also believe that they exclusively possess the truth, usually a patent interpretation of a sacred text. In the face of competing religious claims in our shrinking world, many turn to dialogue as a hopeful way of fostering understanding, reducing violence and in cooperative religious pluralism as a panacea in understanding other religions.

IKHUOESAN CELEBRATE WOMANHOOD On 25 March, the Ikhuoesan United Club capped the international celebration of women with a workshop on womanhood. Ikhuoesan United Club is an umbrella body of all daughters and women married to Esan men. Ikhuoesan means Esan women. The Esan nation is in today’s Edo state of Nigeria. According to Dr Vivienne Vanni- Igbinomwanhia, a Dental Surgeon, Ph.D candidate and president of Ikhuoesan United Club Ireland “It is made up of Ishan women that live in Ireland and they have come together in one love, to encourage and support themselves as women. We also empower ourselves and seek to create positive impact in our families and community. In the workshop, which had 5 speakers, range of issues was dealt on. Councillor Eithne L o f t u s s p o k e o n Wo m e n andintegration, Nobuhle Ncube of AKIDWA - Domestic violence and mental health, Yemi Ojo Women empowerment, Pastor Banke - God’s requirement of a 21st century woman, and Cllr. Ann David - Women in politics.

The Eshan women group was started on the 24th of September 2011 and meetings held every last sunday of the month. According to the leader, they increase steadily in numbers, wisdom, strength and in unity. They aim to assist in integration issues too.

The president Dr. Vivienne Vanni Igbinomwanhia

April 2012

Column

Heart of the Matter:

Perception (Part I) By Max Uspensky

“Esse es percipi” extolled Dublin’s Trinity College philosopher cleric, The Reverend Bishop Berkeley in 1713. And perception is crucial for understanding Africa as most people outside of Africa have never visited it – therein lies the importance of perception. We may only perceive what is, what the chief problems are and how we might treat them through the constructions of others. Astonishingly even those who have spent time there lend a perception that is at once false and perverse and maybe at best simplistic. (Consider Kony 2012). Loosely, the bishop’s ideas promote an ideal of immaterialism – where the existence of material substance is denied and all familiar objects exist only as ideas in the minds of those who perceive them. In the African context this is clearly a means by which outside interests might seek to manipulate the idea of their presence on the continent – such manipulation might be termed public relations. Writing in an article for the Observer recently the journalist Afua Hirsch commented, “There are many plagues in Africa, but the only one seemingly impossible to treat is the curse of bad PR.” Our minds’ eyes are continually adjusted by an at best an erroneous view of the continent. (Consider again Kony 2012). Or indeed the following perception of the Congo – one tale of the good book informs us of how on the seventh day when the good man called god – good god – became tired, he dropped all that was left in his sack of wealth right there upon the Congo and thus it became rich in mineral resources, lush vegetation and a diversity of humanity. What was he thinking? Europeans, having rewritten the good book

so many times as to lend the perception that God was in fact white and not black decided that in their image, the god who is good bequeathed this all to them. In other words they stole it. Reality has it that the Berlin Conference of 1885 divided the entire continent into pretty much how it stands today – under the perception this was fair – for who would argue with one as illustrious as Winston Spencer Churchill – “Here white men can thrive; there they cannot. Here is a task for one, there the opportunity of another. The world is big enough. There is plenty of room for all. Why cannot we settle it fairly?” Reality was and is a disaster – no Africans were present at the Berlin Conference and the meat grinder of colonialism and resource appropriation began to turn its handle, continuing centuries old exploitation. In the Congo, Leopold II’s corporate demands were so extreme that equally extreme means were employed in order to meet them. The employment of child soldiers, use of rape and bodily mutilation were used to maximum effect here. (Kony 2012 would serve us better addressing this). The Congolese historian, Elikia M’Bokolo claims the Congo’s population stood at 20 million in 1920 where some forty years earlier it stood at 40 million. Conservative estimates put those who died from this forced labour at eleven million, the same as the number of dead in World War I. Yet in Europe the role of the horse, through the Hollywood blockbuster, ‘Warhorse’ is glorified to a greater extent than the cost in lives of the rubber under the wheels of all its vehicles. Today in every village in England a monument stands to those who died in WWI. Would it not serve perspective at least equally,

Coltan Mine in Congo – Source: aboutenvironment.com

if not our own perceptions, if upon every roundabout in Europe we might erect monuments to all those who perished in this mad pursuit of the rubber fetish and corporate greed? A museum stands to Leopold’s ‘achievements’ in the heart of the European project in Brussels, why not one to the Congo’s sacrifice? And let us perceive the Congo for what it is – for without its god given coltan we’d have no phones, laptops, play stations or satellite technology. And what of the perception of independence? A conservative 11 million dead in pursuit of corporate profit, scars which barely could have healed by its (independence) due date. In 1960 the Belgians agreed to independence, which in actuality was just a perception when in reality the Belgians were playing out ‘le pari congolais’ – they bet that without indigenous human resources, outside corporate concerns would remain in charge of the country’s resources. Upon independence just three Congolese existed in a civil service of 1,400, just 169 Congolese children had completed secondary education and only 30 Congolese held university degrees. “This combination of the external brain

South African Alumni Celebrate ‘Reunion for Charity’

By Paul Kelly and Celeste Johnson

On 17th of March, alumni of Roosevelt High School in Johannesburg began the first of a series of events to celebrate their 10th reunion. Describing it as a “Reunion for Charity”, the group planted 40 fruit trees at Rethabiseng community centre just outside Bronkhorstspruit. The centre is in use as a nursery for over a hundred children and the land had long been designated for the fruit trees. Unfortunately, however, the community centre had not had the financial means to plant the trees and it was only with the arrival of the former students that the work began. The planting was very successful and the alumni also included current Roosevelt high school students and the nursery’s children in the process. It is hoped the trees will grow to provide a naturally healthy diet as well as “spark the entrepreneurial spirit in them” as the fruits are highly valued. They include figs, pomegranates, avocados, mangos, citrus and plums and the alumni said the fact that the nursery children were involved was crucial, as they “will no doubt feel some form of personal

Planting trees at Rethabiseng community centre

ownership toward the trees.” The idea of the reunion came together on Facebook when Jekaterina Saveljeva, our current managing editor, highlighted the charity “Door of Hope” which seeks to tackle the issue of infant abandonment.

Three babies are abandoned in Johannesburg every day and the group quickly solidified around the need to allow their reunion to reach out to children in their community. Further projects which the group have planned include renovating the building structure of an orphanage, encouraging science in less advantaged communities, t r a i n i n g u n d e requipp ed nursery school teachers, using art and media to educate children from child-headed households about lifestyle choices, and, finally, to renovate Roosevelt High School.

and the native hand results in a form of government often highly acceptable to the general body of inhabitants …” Thus commented Winston Churchill in 1907 of the colonialist relationship and it was one which corporate colonialism had no desire to change. Thus the Congo’s problems of ownership of its own resources (as with all African countries) continued – and as they have done to this day. The public relations industry appropriates the term, ‘The resource curse’. Crucially, among all African countries the Congolese people suffer exclusively over the mining of Coltan highly in demand and vital to the digital age. (Again what Kony 2012 should be addressing). Were Bishop Berkeley alive today, keen as he was to produce verse of philosophical content, he might have penned the following perception, I find it extremely odd That the phone which I see Continues to be Even though the coltan is soaked in blood. God Bless the Congo.

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April 2012

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Goodness Sibanda is the Secretary of AfricaWorld Newspaper and former Miss Africa Ireland for 2008. A Zimbabwean, Sibanda is a professional dancer and tennis player. The beauty queen speaks five languages and teaches dance to people of all ages. She has appeared in numerous musical videos as a back-up dancer. Ms Sibanda has won laurels in beauty pageants and tennis. She will be studying Travel & Tourism next academic session. Ms Goodness Sibanda loves to teach dancing and help in community works. She is excited at what AfricaWorld is doing and intend to serve the community through the medium.

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size of your choice. Wash neatly in a pan or the sink. With the wash, it is ready to boil in the pot. Sprinkle some salt on it to add to taste. This is one of the easiest meal to cook as the yam is left to boil By Chinwe Ihegbu between 10 - 15 minutes. You can check the yam Ingredient intermittently with a fork or sharp object. As soon as the 1 tuber of yam penetration is smooth, the yam Salt is ready to serve. Chili pepper You can heat oil in the Utazi Leaves microwave or drop a piece of 5 tsp oil hot yam in the oil to melt. Add salt depending on the taste of Preparation the yam. Add chili pepper and Peel the yam scale utazi leaves if available and neatly and slice it to the your meal is ready to eat.

Church revolt against pastor The last has not been heard of AfricaWorld developing story over a Glasnevin church. When we broke the story of a gathering storm in a Pentecostal church over the infidelity of a married Man of God, few readers cared. AfricaWorld can authoritatively reveal that the palava has taken new dimensions. In March, three elders of the church summoned courage to call for all members meeting to sort the mess. AfricaWorld had reported in our March edition how Nigeria Pastors in the Glasnevin industrial area had counselled their brothercolleague who hails from Ghana. Our source had called the Pastor to book an appointment for his side of the story but he feigned ignorance of the crisis in his church. “I am inviting you on Thursday by 5pm for our Holy Ghost service, come and see what the

Lord is doing”, the embattled pastor replied to AfricaWorld. According to our source, the marital brouhaha has been so deep that the Pastor accuses his wife of attempting to bring him down. Another source revealed the growing role of the mistress at the centre of this extra-marital debacle. A Ghanaian named Jennifer and member of the church, she is said to have systematically emerged as the pastor ’s personal assistant. AfricaWorld sources informed that their intimacy is growing like the spread of a wildfire. The pastor who until recently was reputed for spiritual gifts, gets more paranoia as events unfold. “He is gradually becoming a shadow of himself even at sermons”, a church member informed AfricaWorld.

April 2012

Agony Corner Do Men Use Single Ladies as Toys?

With Abdul Yusuf

You have been in a relationship for long and you seem to be enjoying every bit of your relationship with him.He has taken you round the world and made you forget every other guy. To you, this guy is Godsent and the best any lady could ever ask for.He makes you feel wanted and appreciated when you are alone with him, but in the midst of all these, something keeps telling you he is not in for anything deeper or like my friend put it ,”he did not propose for marriage, but for dating”. I was angry, but at the same time couldn’t help laughing the day I was listening to a popular FM radio programme. A guy called in for music to be played for his fiancé of ten years. The presenter asked severally to be sure he said fiancé. What on earth could make a lady stay in a dating relationship with a man for ten good years? You have ignorantly become Mrs XYZ even when you have no place in his future. You even have your picture on the wall of his house (like I saw last week, asked, and was told she did it herself), parade yourself as the owner of the house, but the truth is that he is just keeping you for his sexual satisfaction. The moment he is ready for marriage, you will know that even with your presence all these years, he has been searching for the right person. I was shocked when I asked the guy to go ahead and marry the lady whose picture is on the wall; he laughed and said: “Abdul, na so you hate me reach?” She is just my girlfriend, but certainly not my wife. The earlier you pack your things and leave his house, the better for you. I remember advising one time college student to quit being a live-in-lover of five years. It was very difficult for her the first week until she finally made up her mind to listen to me. I told her that her leaving will cause her to know if truly

LET’S TALK ABOUT IT By Adaku Ezeudo talkaboutit2012@ gmail.com

Have you ever been accused of being stubborn? I have on more than one occasion. Many times it wasn’t a good thing but sometimes it paid off. I remember when I had just graduated from the University and was looking forward to serving my country via the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme. My first choice of organisation to carry out my work placement was Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Abuja. My mother had talked to a childhood friend of hers who worked with the NYSC telling her to ensure that I was placed in Abuja as that was my desire. However when the postings were out, I was placed as a primary school teacher in Lagos state. I was gutted. Here was I, born, bred and buttered in Lagos and now I had to work there too? Noo...not for me. As soon as camp was over we were all instructed to resume in our various organisations on a given date. I ignored the instruction and

the man loves her. Just one month after she left, he proposed and as I write this, they both live in the Uk. Please find below some of the things that will help you determine a man’s level of seriousness. Dont forget there are guys who are too smart that they are not guilty of any of the offences, yet they are not interested in a life relationship with you. •His Ex is still in the picture Nothing makes someone forget a past relationship like the entrance into a new, fulfilling one. But we seem not to understand this in the world of today. How many times has a woman seen her man visits his ex? Are you aware he calls her even in your absence? You probably don’t know this because they still talk while at work or midnight while you are fast asleep. The truth is that when a man is in a relationship with a woman and still enjoys talking with or about his ex, woman, you better shine your eyes my dear. Guys sometimes talk about their ex as a way of telling you she is better. Some husbands or guys even go to the extent of telling their wives or girlfriends to dress like their ex and you find them making references to her kind of underwears, shoes, even cooking. I know there are times we find ourselves talking about our past relationships as a way of letting out, but lady, it is not acceptable if your relationship must move on. Some ladies are naive to the point of their man getting them to speak with their ex. They attended your wedding quite alright and your man has made you believe she is now married (even when she is not). I had an experience when, after my wedding, an ex sent a wedding card with a note inside. They believed I saw just the card, but not the letter. The note inside reads;…you are married and I am happy for you, but the relationship can still go on…Months later,without,my

Column wife knowing she was the one (ex), she came visiting in company of a male friend pretending to be her husband and my wife started entertaining her as a family friend without knowing that the man who pretends to be her husband was actually her younger brother. My dear ladies, things are happening and you’ve got to be wiser. •He prefers texting to calling You cannot tell me you are in love with someone without you having the desire for him.A guy who is just playing games with you does not call on a daily basis. He comes with the excuse that he is not always free to call because of work and makes you believe his text messages are there to prove his love for you. But the truth is that he does not love you. I don’t care where he resides or the demanding nature of his job, when a man is truly in love with you, nothing takes his eyes off you. Hmmmm, you don’t agree with me on this; no problem, time shall tell. •Does not introduce you to friends and family I have seen ladies being deceived by men to the point that they agree to keep the relationship secret. If that relationship is going to be kept secret, there is something wrong about it. A man who is genuinely in love with a lady will flaunt her before friends and family. When next a man tells a lady to avoid talking about it, please lady, use your tongue to count your teeth because there is something wrong somewhere. Because of wickedness of men, some have genuine reasons for keeping their relationships secret, but I can tell you that majority of those good reasons are lies. Why go on with a man who is not bold enough to hang out with you? There are others who will never let you visit their house. They keep coming to your house and taking you out from there, but you don’t know where they live. Be careful because your heart is about being broken into pieces; save yourself the stress of endless night vigils. If he really loves and appreciates you, his secretary, mum,

siblings, friends, colleagues,will all know you are the one. •Avoids Public Display of Affection (PDA) I laugh when I see these things. Men go out with their girlfriends and act very formal with them. Some will even tell you before you leave home that you just have to keep it formal out there because of friends, mum, and pastor. If he is still afraid of giving you a kiss/peck in the presence of mum, then he is not manenough to have you; run away from the mama’s boy. If he is honest with you and there is nothing wrong somewhere, he will always feel like a baby around you. Some use religion to cover up; they tell you not to allow pastor to see you get a peck from him and he shouldn’t also see you holding hands with each other. My question is; is there anything wrong with two people in love giving and receiving pecks or holding hands together in public? It is time you became free from that doctrinal bondage and accept the truth. Holding hands and ordinary peck will not lead you to hell; just be careful not to get carried away. •No mentions of future plans Does he bring you in when it comes to discussions that are to do with his future? If he is really interested in you, he will bring you in when it is time to paint his new apartment to know what you like. He will be interested in your future and vision. Infact, he shows you in everything he does that you are a part of his future. •Lack of Kindness I have continually said it; love gives. Don’t allow them deceive you by their constant complaining of the materialistic nature of most ladies. If he loves you and is genuinely interested in you, he won’t stay away or embark on an emergency trip when it is time for house rent. I have even noticed that men who are in love don’t wait for the woman to ask; they go ahead and give even before she asks, and

they take your burden from off your shoulder. There is nothing like being tight fisted when he is in love. A man who is in love with you will let you have his ATM pin number because he trusts you.The problem is that we have players instead of lovers.We still have them out there, but just a few. Keep praying and asking God for such a man; He will send him your way. •No interest in people you love If he loves you, he loves everything about you. A man will love and wholeheartedly accept your relations and children if any. Something happened recently; after reading one of my articles, a guy called me out of pain when he found out that the woman he wanted to marry has a child. Trust Africans; friends tried to talk him out of it, but thank God he called me. I advised him to overlook the issue of single motherhood and go ahead with her if truly he is in love with her. Just recently, I got a text message from the guy thanking me for the emotional support. To the glory of God, they got married on the 13 May 2011. I pity women who are ready to ignore their children all in the name of love. If a man doen’t love your children, please let the man keep his love to himself. Ladies, I decided to do this because daily I see women being misled by men. Most 21st century women, especially African women are known for loving with conditions. It is time they stopped pretending to be what they are not and turning themselves to celebrity actresses just because they want a man to accept them. Ladies, you don’t need to become what you are not and put yourself under unnecessary pressure for a man to propose. If he loves you, he will stick with you unconditionally. Your size, height, educational qualification, number of children, family status, have nothing to do with it. I have seen it happen and I know you can experience that unconditional love if you will refuse to lower your standards out of desperation for a man.

dare to be Positively Stubborn convinced my mother to allow me go to Abuja because I still believed that I could get absorbed into the CBN as a Youth Corper. When I arrived at Abuja, I stayed with my Aunt and her family. I shared my story with her but she thought I was mad. She told me that Abuja was an expensive city to live in, that I would be wasting my time there. She further reiterated that her sister who had just completed her Youth Service was still out of job and thinking of relocating to Lagos. She painted a negative picture of a city I considered beautiful and often likened to London city. The more she narrated these woeful tales the more I tried to convince her that I needed to experience a new culture and a new city and was also ready for any challenge that came my way. Seeing how adamant I was, she eventually quit making efforts to change my mind. Within two weeks of settling in Abuja, the NYSC transferred my posting to Abuja but I was told that it was up to me to organize my work

placement as it was out of their hands. I decided to make my way to CBN office and asked to speak to the Personnel Manager. My thinking was if he or she had a chance to hear me out and what the organization stands to gain by employing me, I may be successful. On getting to the entrance gate, Security Personnel asked me whom I came to see, I just said the Personnel Manager. They then asked me to provide a name but I had no clue. I just kept repeating that I wanted to speak with the Personnel Manager as well as drop my CV with the person. They asked me to go away and come back when I knew who I was looking for. I went home recounting all to my Aunt had told me so. I quickly shook it off and said I would try again the next day. For two weeks, I went to CBN and all I achieved was getting to the gate. On one occasion, I overheard a visitor asking to see the Assistant Director of Personnel Department. When he mentioned the name of the person, I quickly memorized it and

after waiting a while I went back to the security personnel with the name. This time they asked me if I had any appointment with him and I said no, they sent me away again. I was devastated. Turning back to go home I began to wonder if my stubbornness or maybe risk- taking had proved futile this time. I even imagined my Aunt with a smirk on her face saying “Didn’t I tell you so?” The third week had begun and I was so discouraged and embarrassed to show my face at that gate again. I didn’t go at the start of the week like I usually would; I decided to give some time so that the security personnel, hopefully, would not recognize me as the serial gate-crasher. When I arrived I had lost all confidence, I just stood outside far away from the security gate, looking morose. Little did I know that my prayers were going to be answered within seconds from the most unlikely source. I was lost in my thoughts when someone walked up to me wanting

to confirm my name. I couldn’t believe who I was staring at; my school mother in secondary school whom I hadn’t seen in over ten years was a contract staff of CBN. I was so happy to see her, I was literally grinning from ear to ear. When she mentioned that she had a meeting with the Director of Personnel I nearly fainted. I briefly narrated my whole experience to her and later I not only walked through the gate that same day, I walked through it during the subsequent weeks till I completed the NYSC scheme. Do you have a dream? Do you have something you feel you are destined to do? If so, then get positively stubborn about it. Do not give up. It does not matter how long you have stood at the gate, the number of times you have been rejected or how much odds are against you. That is why Henri Wadsworth Longfellow reminds us that ‘Perseverance is a great element of success, if you only knock long enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.’

April 2012

family CORNER

THE PRETTY VULTURE

Poems

how are the mighty dancing? In tune for burying service they keep singing Because its for keeping Like a vulture walking Meandering and crying Like a pauper starving Praying and genuflecting Like the priest expecting Devours the heart salivating The soul of his originality He lives on opportunity Atop his own perching Carcass he’s munching

THE ECHO SO FAR

CRY OF A BEREAVED WORLD MWANAMKE MZURI Ushers in the greatness Like the vine keeper Thighs herald the dawn Yet tops are yet to none Loving you are to prove Tempests you conquer Flashing your fangs For the eagle that poach For the one that devour Salt of the world Kiss that lures forth Touch that soothe And genesis of it

Journey seem awry Born in birth of the holocaust Frizzy flakes place a cost Son of man in haste Medulla seeking to taste Praying for it to come fast Soon did I just start? He has to show what he’s got Names afar so tight Burning the issues with light The nod that seem like a pact Journey that is beyond might Alas it comes to sight.

ALL I WANT IS YOU What a terrible distance! My cherry shows substance In manners so constant The heart needs assistance ‘cos it is so persistent And also more important And much more committed Without complacency She talks from a distance Emotion seem authoritative Making the ears attentive Pulse race beating automatic

Oh! omo mi, from the cradle you seemed so serene and sweet people lived in harmony peace never melted joy never left............, And love........, A guardian angel. Destiny told a lie, The angel lied...., Like thieves at night, As gan gan would sound, As the closing of a lid, All vanished, Death became impudent, Gone.....Gone was my baby. Oh!! omo mi, How i weep...wee..e..p, At your transformation, Friends at loggerheads, Eyeballs became blackboards, Shame thrown to the wind, Oppression was happy, Greed........smiling, None could hide, Can a house hide? None can tell, The east from the west, The curtains fell........, For how long........? Would deadly sounds torment for this long? How i crave my peace. By Michael Mordi

Wisdom Bits

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When stringed beads cut and fall around, it can never be complete again Meaning: If a great trust is betrayed it cannot be completely regained

Unless you carry the sheep from the salt, it would poison itself. Meaning: Negative addiction is very bad

No matter how thick darkness is, light must overcome it. Meaning: Hard work triumphs over laziness

Live and let live Meaning: Co-existence is a positive quality

A stubborn fly normally follows corpse to the grave Meaning: Lack of advice leads to destruction

The authority of a hawk over a chick exceeds human control Meaning: Nature is beyond is bigger than man

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Sam and Sophie conquer them all Chapter 3 - Sam and Sophie got a magic wand

By Roland Idowu

Sam and Sophie have escaped from the bush, they are now in a small silent village and they couldn’t see anybody around. They finally saw a grocery shop, they were thirsty, and need a drink, so they went inside the shop. There were different kinds of drink in the shop and a lot of the drinks have strange names like evil cola, devil orange and acid water. Sophie didn’t want any of that, she wanted orange juice and she

continues to look around. Sam was talking to the shop keeper, he saw a picture of the witch they saw earlier hanging on the wall behind the shop keeper. Sam asked the shop keeper who was that in the picture and the man said it was a picture of his wife and Sam shouted “your wife is a witch; she locked us in the cage and wanted to kill us earlier. The shop keeper began to change to Wizard saying in scary voice that “yes my wife is a witch

and I am a wizard and this shop is for witches and wizards – how did you get here?” Sophie saw a wand in the shop; she took it and ran to Sam. The Wizard took a bigger wand from the wall and tried to turn Sophie into a frog but Sophie dodged and used her wand to turn the wizard into a butter fly. Sam and Sophie used the wand to get home safely.

April 2012

entertainment/ news

Cartoon by Dimitri

1 year aniversary - Gala Nite in May

Dublin Cultural Fiesta

for sponsorship contact us Adaku + 353 87 964 1229 Dolores + 353 87 799 7996 Nobuhle + 353 87 751 0330 Yoyo + 353 87 683 3666 Gaelle + 353 87 799 7996

New Website to Monitor Racist Incidents in Ireland The resignation of the Mayor of Naas after refusing to deal with black African constituents and the display of a Nazi flag in the garden of a family home in Co. Carlow are amongst the incidents relating to racism, xenophobia and discrimination in Ireland, which are being recorded and monitored on a new European website, www.red-network.eu. The website is an initiative of the RED Network, an independent research network composed of research and civil society organisations in 17 EU member states. The Immigrant Council of Ireland (ICI) is a member of the Network, and will be providing information and updates to the new site on the Irish context. Fidèle Mutwarasibo, Integration Manager with the ICI, said the site will serve as a comprehensive information portal, allowing users to easily access statistics, reports and comparative data about racist incidents across the EU.

“Anyone can log on to this site and assess – at a glance – how migrants and minority communities are treated in various EU states,” said Mr. Mutwarasibo. “In addition to providing up-to-date statistics and reports on incidents of racism, the site also contains information on positive initiatives and policy measures being adopted by governments in order to promote equality. In the Irish section, for example, there are reports on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and the Traveller Pride Awards, as well as articles about individual incidents of racism.” Key features of the new site include a ‘Thesaurus’ section – where words and phrases associated with racism are explained and broken down into plain English – and the ‘RED Atlas’, which gives a country-by-country breakdown of the situation in EU member states. Within the ‘Atlas’ section, information is included on: ·Racist / xenophobic discourse amongst

political parties in each member state. ·Racism and discrimination legislation and policy implementation. ·Anti-racist policies and organisations. · Racist hate-crimes. · Policing, law enforcement and justice. · The demographics and economic situation of migrant and minority communities. ·Employment; housing and segregation; health and social protection; and education. · Migrant / minority participation in public, cultural and sporting life. · Media representation of migrant and minority communities. “In recent years, Ireland – and Europe – has witnessed unprecedented social, political and economic crisis,” said Mr. Mutwarasibo. “Against this backdrop, racist attitudes and hate crimes can constitute a major threat to social cohesion and equality, and there is a risk that intolerance against migrants and minorities could become widespread and commonly accepted.

“In order to combat racism, we must be able to identify and challenge it, and that’s what this new website is about. By documenting incidents of racism – and reporting on effective anti-racism initiatives – we hope to inform and influence the work of national governments, and ensure countries throughout the EU become more tolerant and inclusive. Ireland still has a long way to go before it can boast of being a fully equal society, but – by participating in initiatives like the RED Network – we can share best practice and learn from the experiences of other EU states.” In addition to Ireland, organisations from Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Slovenia and Sweden are involved in the RED Network. The Network is led by the Institute for Rights, Equality and Diversity (i-RED) from Greece.

April 2012

news/entertainment

CHIT CHAT

Motherhood – A Challenging yet Rewarding Job

I WANT MY HUSBAND TO BE A SLAVE!

Part 3

“Your food is on the dining table dear,” she replied. “It’s your favourite! Pounded yam and egusi soup with all the condiments to sweeten your palate.” “Thank you my dear!” he said happily. “You’re my angel, the one that always fills my heart with joy!” Mr Ade settled down and ate the food with relish. He was almost through with the pounded yam when he developed a stomach ache. “Ooh! I’m not feeling well!” he said racked with pain, holding his belly. “God, what’s happening to me?” he screamed. Mrs Ade who had gone into her bedroom came running

towards him when she heard his screams, to find Mr Ade rolling on the floor, clutching his stomach. “What’s the matter darling?” Mrs Ade asked, really terrified and afraid. But Mr Ade couldn’t utter a word. He was sweating profusely and shaking. The next moment he started vomiting blood and gasping for breath. “Yee, my God!” Mrs Ade screamed at the top of her voice. Before she could rush him out of the living room, Mr Ade foamed from his mouth and died. Their two children were already beside him and were wondering what the hell was going on.

News in Brief By Paul Kelly

-Djibouti’s 16th annual International Semi-Marathon was held on March 2, including over 800 runners from across the continent. -France has refused to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Evian accords, which marked the end of Algeria’s war of independence, due to fears of instability during the French presidential and Algerian legislative elections. -Somalia: over 100 Al Shabaab militants have been killed in Somalia after an ill-fated attack on the town of Dhusamareb. -Spain has announced new plans to invest in Angola with Spanish firms Incogas and Yesos Ibéricos S.A intending to invest heavily in natural gas and plaster powder respectively. -Egypt has announced new plans to build a fourth metro line, using a $1.28 billion loan extended by Japan. -Malawi’s Atupele Muluzi has been arrested following riots earlier in the month. Muluzi, deputy leader of the united democratic front, has staged repeated protests against Malawi’s increasingly autocratic government and is charged with “inciting the public to engage in violence”. -South Africa: 3 men have been killed by vigilantes by having tyres placed around them before being set alight. The men were accused of robbing houses. -Benin has been granted $10 million by the World Bank in order to improve malaria treatment as a part of the Health System Performance Project. -Mali’s military have mutinied, thrusting the country into chaos with staterun radio and television broadcasts quickly shut down. -South Sudanese MP’s have announced that if Sudanese President Omer Bashir visits the state to conclude the Comprehensive Peace Agreement he will not be arrested as South Sudan has not recognised the authority of the ICC. -Botswana’s Bushmen have regained access to water after a new well was dug and the legal right to use the water gained. The Bushmen had been denied the water by Botswana’s government in an attempt to force them off land valued for diamond mining. -Ethiopia has mounted a raid into Eritrea, claiming to have destroyed three “mercenary camps”.

Founder of Adorable Mum - ADM Gbeminiyi ‘Gee Bee’ Shogunle

The Journey of Motherhood is a beautiful one and can be described in so many ways. It can be described as joyful, challenging, unique, consuming, wonderful, exhausting, humbling, interesting, rewarding but ‘easy’ isn’t one of them. Yet, we often say that being a mum is still the best job in the world! This is b e c au s e , e ve n though motherhood can be very challenging, it is still one of the most rewarding positions in life.

-Swaziland’s Minister of Justice and Constitutional Affairs has threatened Facebook users with the force of “international law” for showing “disrespect” to king Mswati III. -Burundi has launched a campaign to register its 1.5 million children who lack birth certificates in order to allow them to avail of free medical care. -Gabon’s authorities have begun legal proceedings against six journalists for critical comments on the use of the presidential plane by Chief of Staff Maixent Accrombessi for an unofficial trip to Benin. -Morocco’s legislation on rape was condemned by Human Rights Watch on March 23rd after it resulted in a 16 year old girl committing suicide. The legislation allows rapists to escape prosecution if they marry their victims. -Cameroon has announced plans to send a delegation of high level officials to discuss a resolution to an injunction presented by the ethnic Sawa chiefs over the construction of a $115 million cement factory on their land. -The Gambia: Foday Gassama has been charged with treason after allegedly attempting to solicit a coup d’état. -Mozambique has released a Spanish fishing boat which had been detained following illegal tuna fishing in Mozambican waters. Its owners have been fined $1.2 million. -Tanzanian activists have announced plans to sue doctors after an estimated 300 people died as a result of their strike action. -Angolan has announced a gift of 7,500 hectares of arable land to Cape Verde in order to strengthen bilateral relations and investment opportunities in Angolan agriculture. -Ghana’s top football coach Goran Stevanovic has been dismissed. The Ghana Football Association has announced that the “decision was taken in the best interest of the nation”. -Togo has been called on by the Committee to Protect Journalists to investigate a complaint that a photojournalist was recently assaulted. The incident occurred after the victim took a photograph of police seizing a motorcycle during a protest. - The African Union and the United Nations have announced plans to commit 5,000 troops to hunt down Ugandan terrorist group the LRA and its leader Joseph Kony. -USA Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson has declared that African Democracies

So, What makes this challenging job a rewarding one? For me, ♦ It is the priviledge to bring forth, nurse, raise, nurture, influence, teach, train, instruct and guide the children that I have been blessed with.

children trusted in my care at any given time.

♦ It is the opportunity of being called mummy by these lil angels who love me, adore me, believe in me, trust me and look up to me. ♦ It is the chance to live a life that counts not only thru my own life but also thru my children.

♦ It is the joy of knowing that Children are our future and the great opportunity to influence the society and in turn the world thru my children and other children that I may come in contact with on the path of motherhood and all thru my journey in life.

♦ It is the priviledge to be able to make an impact in the lives of my children, god-children and other

Wishing you all the very best of joy that motherhood can bring to you.

“represent the future”. -Niger is facing a drastic food shortage as over 6 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, according to United Nations Resident Coordinator, Fodé Ndiaye. -Tunisia’s Union for Unemployed Graduates undertook mass protests outside regional employment bureaus and head offices across the country on the 21st of March. -Guinea-Bissau’s opposition party has demanded a cancelation of the presidential election, declaring it a “sham”. -The Ugandan People’s Conference has called on MP’s to clarify the reasons for impeachment of current President Museveni in order to better ensure its success. -The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations of Nigeria has called on the Nigerian government to begin talks with terrorist group Boko Haram to end the conflict. The Federation said that the killings of both Christians and Muslims show that it is not a religious issue. -Kenyan police officers who were arrested for “invading” Comoros waters have announced that their detainment was due to miscommunication. -Rwanda’s trade is expected to be boosted following the arrival of Qatar Airways into the country’s aviation sector. -The Congolese Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross are continuing work to help and save victims of the arms explosion on the 4th of March which killed over 200 people. -Sudanese teachers in Nyala have protested the non-payment of over 6 months wages for over 5,000 employees. Negotiations between teachers and government officials are on-going. -Lesotho’s Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili has abandoned the cross as the symbol of his political party following furious protests by the Christian Council of Lesotho and the Lesotho Catholic Bishops’ Conference. -Zambian President Sata has invited Chinese investors to expand investment in the country, especially in mineral extraction. -The DRC’s human rights record has been stained by a recent UN report which stated that there were numerous killings, disappearances and arbitrary detentions committed by security forces during last year’s presidential and legislative elections. -Liberian Journalist Mae Azango has gone into hiding after receiving death threats for her article condemning female genital mutilation. -Mauritius and Seychelles have signed a

♦ It is the opportunity to witness those moments of pure glee, when the children do things that amuse me and make me laugh.

“ground-breaking” treaty on joint management in the use of 400,000 sq km of seabed. It is the largest offshore joint management area in the world and embraces international best practice in exploration, development and conservation. -Zimbabwe: the lawyer representing the family of deceased general Solomon Mujuru has claimed that the coroner examining the case erred when he found that he had not been murdered. -Egypt’s Foreign minister Mohamed Kamel Amr has offered Cote d’Ivoire four tons of medicine to prop up the country’s struggling health system. -Libya, France and the ICC have called on Mauritania to extradite former Libyan spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi. -Sierra Leone has pledged to almost double classroom hours and increase secondary school education by a year following poor education results earlier this month. -Mozambique’s Education Ministry has declared that there is “no justification” for a strike by 80 Mozambican students living in Algeria. The students are protesting against the low grant paid by the Mozambican government. -Egypt has begun an exhibition in Japan entitled “Tutankhamen the Golden Age of the Pharaohs”. Minister of Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim has said that the exhibition contains a message of peace and amity from Egypt to the Japanese people. -Global leaders have condemned the military coup overthrowing President Amadou Toumani Toure of Mali, with Nigeria refusing to recognise the rebel’s new government and the USA calling for the “immediate restoration” of democracy. -Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Angola have formally launched the Kavango Zambezi Trans-frontier Conservation Area which forms a huge conservation area between the five countries. -Ethiopia and Eritrea have been urged to show restraint by the East African Community in order to deter any increase in the rising conflict between the two states. -Malawi’s President, Bingu wa Mutharika, has rejected calls to step down following protests calling for an end to fuel and foreign currency shortages. -Somali and Ethiopian forces have successfully prevented a landmine blast which was placed by Al-Shabaab militants in a local airport.

April 2012

photo of the month

Madam Joyce Banda - New President of Malawi

Ikhuoesan United-Club

AfricaWorld reporter and Managing Editor at a radio interview in 2011

AfricaWorld launch of the newspaper in May 2011

Sarajevo on the 20th anniversary of the siege of Sarajevo - Photo by AfricaWorld Managing Editor

The Archbishop of Dublin celebrates Mothers Day with African women in Swords

April 2012

COLUMN

Poverty and moral responsibility By the Rev. Fr. Vincent Ezeoma Arisukwu

The argument that morality and poverty are closely related is indeed true. The argument also that many persons in the society have been victims of immorality as a result of poverty cannot be denied. But the fact or even the argument of placing poverty ahead of morality is one that lacks validity. Otherwise, rich persons have no reasons to indulge in immoral and corrupt acts. For instance, we hear of bribery scams committed by very rich personalities in the bid to increase their already gotten wealth. Such persons are not poor but are inherently given to the irresistible tendency of material acquisition. And we remember here that Christ’s warning was for the rich thus, “It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for someone rich to enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19: 2325). We are thus concerned with the relationship between morality and poverty in today’s society given the high rate of poverty and the efforts to escape its hooks. Recently I met one Mrs. Christie, a Nigerian woman with a poor background. The woman in question lives in a village together with the husband Wilfred and three children. Two of these children Nneka and Ijeoma are girls who claimed they don’t receive financial assistance from their relatives. So they took to a life of prostitution and waywardness to the knowledge of the mum. The mother herself does not frown at their behaviour, rather she encourages them since according to her, it is only a means to survive. Mrs. Christie’s reason was that other ladies of her children’s type also do such to succeed. She said the important thing is to play safe and be wise to see if they would end in the hands of straying rich men. This puts us in the dilemma of choosing between what is morally wrong and surviving the quagmire of poverty because there are many people in the same situation like Nneka and Ijeoma in society today. Still in the Nigerian circumstance, the high rate of unemployment has led many girls and ladies searching for greener pasture to assume immoral lifestyles. They sleep around with rich men in top

establishments who promise them employment in so far as they agree to their sexual terms. Ironically, often, these girls succumb and are used and dumped with the promise of employment yet eluding their grasp. But because they lack the necessary connection to secure them job opportunities, they still fall prey to similar traps and compromise the dignity of their womanhood over and over again. Some no longer feel the danger of such compromises as they believe survival is the primary issue. The truth is that poverty is a threat to healthy living. Although material acquisition distracts, poverty itself is a disaster. Imagine that Mr. Andrew is sick but cannot see the doctor basically because he has not the financial capacity to do so. Imagine that his children cannot acquire education not because he doesn’t desire it but because he can’t afford to pay school fees. Imagine that Mr. Andrew’s house rent has expired and he can’t renew it, he faces threats of ejection from the landlord with all its concomitant insult; cannot pay his bills, cannot keep food on the table for his household and so cannot come out in public to talk before his peers. Mr. Andrew cannot even sleep comfortably because he lacks the sense of fulfillment and inner joy to go on living. But a basic question arises as to the cause of abject poverty in some societies. Undoubtedly, it could be caused by a person’s background where somehow the individual is fundamentally incapacitated. He simply inherits it irrespective of his struggles. Poverty can also be caused by the individual due to one’s mistake in life either because of laziness or as a result of wrong career choice. The individual is culpable because he blew his opportunity. That’s not the issue in this write up; rather the dilemmas arising from poverty and moral decisions are our preoccupation. Can one do evil so that good may arise hereafter? Can a person go for robbery in order to alleviate other people’s sufferings? Can a student not read but wait for expo in order to pass exams? St. Paul answers it this way, “You might as well say that if my untruthfulness makes God demonstrate his truthfulness, to his greater glory, then I should not be judged a sinner at all. In this case, the slanderous report some people are spreading would be true, that we teach that one should do evil that good may come out of it” (Rom. 3:7-8). In another place he writes, “What should we say then? Should we remain in sin so that grace may

be given the more fully? Out of the question!” (Rom.6:1-2). So the first response to the problem of morality vis-à-vis poverty is to recognize the ethical principle that evil is evil and that the object of evil is that it is evil. Good cannot be substituted with evil at any time. So in the case of young Ijeoma and Nneka, it must be recognized that prostitution in itself is evil and is morally bad. It cannot be permissible else every other person in such circumstance concocts poverty as an alibi to prostitution. Again, if the act of prostitution is permitted on the grounds of poverty or employment is secured on the grounds of sexual gratification, then the Machiavellian principle that the end justifies the means becomes an acceptable norm. But when the means is wrong, there is already a faulty premise which ab initio deforms the end product. This is typical of the instances in our hands here. A further argument may be posited from the consequences of such immoral acts. The negative effects of prostitution are very glaring and may even affect the individual before she actualizes her dreams. The tendency of falling into wrong hands abounds because of the difficulty of deciphering the men with genuine intention. Since it is business, men who patronize prostitutes also think of their own gain as well. They do not have any other genuine intention than to satisfy their libidinal instinct. There is no help in that case as it is a matter of give and take. Those who give money to prostitutes do not do any charity; rather they merely pay for the services the prostitutes render. They can as well be mean if for any reason the prostitute fails to satisfy their wants. In that case, it becomes a completely risky job. Therefore, the basic solution to the problem of poverty is to confront it headlong through hard work. Those who succumb to poverty under the guise that it was inherited make fundamental mistakes because they fall into the fallacy of fatalism. Many who were born into poor background had overcome poverty because they vowed not to live with it. It is all about hard work and optimism which involves the development of strong will power. To succumb to poverty and use it as a garb to immorality is completely wrong. To become a prostitute using poverty as an excuse is morally wrong. To compromise one’s dignity in order to secure job is also morally evil. To become a criminal because one needed something and could not get it is equally not permissible. Imagine

where all poor ladies in the society take to prostitution or every job seeker gives herself away in order to be offered employment. Imagine also a society where everyone steals to become a philanthropist. Such society will simply sink into moral depravity that cannot be salvaged. To place poverty before morality, therefore, is like placing the cart before the horse. Poverty is a great threat to healthy living. It threatens morality, sound thinking, inner joy, healthy coexistence, etc. It also affects responsibility but it cannot become a justification for immorality. So the best thing a

society could do is to launch a collective battle against poverty in order to avoid the dangers it breeds. For instance, a society that fights poverty by assisting the poor to be reasonably employed saves herself from the menace of prostitution, etc. By so doing, she preserves her moral rectitude. In conclusion, morality cannot trail poverty. It cannot be relegated to the background in order to justify the extremes of poverty. In practical terms, poverty can become a threat to morality but it cannot be placed above morality else it results to moral permissiveness.

ACTA and Africa By Manus Lenihan

A controversial international agreement could see life-saving drugs prevented from reaching African countries. The Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA), which has provoked protests across Europe in recent months, aims to give governments, courts, Internet Service Providers and the entertainment industry greater powers to clamp down on violations of copyright law. Although much of the attention of protestors, which included marches in Dublin and Cork in February, has focused on the implications of this law for internet privacy and freedom of expression, it could also have huge implications for the use of generic drugs. French Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Kader Arif has pointed to this possibility: “The problem with ACTA is that, by focusing on the fight against violation of intellectual property rights in general, it treats a generic drug just as a counterfeited drug.This means the patent holder can stop the shipping of the drugs to a developing country, seize the cargo and even order the destruction of the drugs.” On January 26th Arif resigned as lead negotiator for ACTA, criticizing the secrecy under which talks on the Agreement have operated. “This agreement may have a major impact on the lives of our citizens,” Arif protested, “and yet everything is done so that the European parliament has no say. I will not participate in this charade.” Many African states have a history of using generic drugs to combat epidemics such as HIV and for use in public healthcare. This has led to conflict between governments and pharmaceutical companies. A European Commission “fact sheet” drafted in 2008 stated: “The

proliferation of intellectual property rights (IPR) infringements poses an ever-increasing threat to the sustainable development of the world economy... Today, we face a number of new challenges: the increase of dangerous counterfeit goods (pharmaceuticals, food and drink, cosmetics or toys, car parts)...All these factors have made the problem more pervasive and harder to tackle.” However, critics dispute this use of the term “counterfeit.” There is considerable doubt as to whether a copy of a digital file can be classified alongside knockoff jeans or DVDs. In this case, it is neither stolen nor of inferior quality- it is copied, with the original remaining intact, and may be shared informally between friends. There is still more fear that affordable generic versions of drugs which would otherwise be more expensive could be classified as “counterfeit” or “dangerous” under this law. Some interpret the Agreement as allowing shipments of generic drugs to be seized and destroyed. Slovenia, Poland and Bulgaria, in response to protest movements earlier this year, have suspended ratification of ACTA. In the United States in January, similar legislation received a blow when over seven million US citizens contacted their elected representatives to protest against the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA). This followed a day-long blackout by online encyclopaedia Wikipedia and other websites. The Irish and European parliaments are expected to vote the ratification of ACTA this summer. In the African context, it is hoped that despite the above discussed concerns regarding ‘counterfeit’ items/goods, that lives won’t be lost due to consequent non delivery of effective drugs.

April 2012

sport

Legends of African Sport KALUSHA BWALYA Call him the cat with nine lives,Great Kalu or the Magic left. Kalusha Bwalya is an enigma and talent. Zambia’s greatest sportsman of the century and FIFA World Cup Ambassador in 2010 was born in Mufurila, a Copperbelt mining town, on 16 August 1963. Football runs in the family blood as Kalusha’s siblings are not found wanting in tapping the round leather game. A seasoned footballer and sport administrator, Kalusha’s elder brother Benjamin Bwalya played professional too while his younger brother, Joel Bwalya played for the Zambia national football team. Robert Earnshaw who currently play for Welsh national football team is his cousin. Although Kalusha debuted against Uganda in 1983, he started to make great impact in Cercle Brugge from

1985 - 1989, playing 95 the world, and to have been able to call games and scoring 30 it my home ground.” Kalush devoted goals. A member of the almost eight years of his career to Chipolopolo that Mexico and to him,it is truly cherished. One of the greats in African sport, participated at the 1988 Olympic Games, Kalusha Bwalya contributed making a solid mark immensely in inspiring a generation with a most famous of African footballers. Apart from his hat-trick in a 4-0 championship medals in the Dutch thrashing against Italy. league,he was African Footballer of the In his first season at year - 1988 from France Football. As a Cercle Brugge, he was the club’s top matter of fact,faith was kind to Kalusha that he was not on the disastrous flight scorer and was twice voted fans in April 1993 that killed most of the player of the year. Due to his exploits there, Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven Zambian internationals on their way took him to the Eredivisie, where he to a World Cup qualifier in Senegal. He won the championship twice in would later spearhead and captain the rebuilt Chipolopolo 1990/91 and 1991/92, ‘Kalusha Bwalya is to a berth in the final under Sir Bobby Robson. the founder of the of the 1994 African of Nations, From Holland, Kalusha Bwalya Cup where Nigeria’s Kalusha Bwalya moved to Mexico’s Foundation Trust Super Eagles won Club America in which partners with them to lift the 1994.The legendary the Dutch to promote African Cup of Azteca, is their sports and HIV/AIDS Nations. Kalusha Bwalya is Zambia’s home ground, and awareness’ most capped player, the Zambian icon playing 100 games has fondest memories of it.In one of his interviews and scoring 50. He is all-time top with FIFA.com,he said “I am privileged goalscorer second to Godfrey ‘Ucar’ to have played in the best stadium in Chitalu.He was nominated for the FIFA

Zambia’s captain Christopher Katongo, right, and President of Football Association of Zambia Kalusha Bwalya, second right, hold up the trophy of the African Cup of Nations after their final soccer match against Ivory Coast at Stade de L’Amitie in Libreville, Gabon, Sunday, Feb. 12, 2012. Photo: Francois Mori / AP

World Player of the Year in 1996. He was nominated as a playing coach of the Zambian national side in 2004, but failed to qualify for the World Cup.After a first round exit in the 2006 African Cup of Nations, thus resigning from this post. He is the President of the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) and under his administrative direction, the Chipolopolo has

The Wzungu of the Paree Tribe

By Peadar Mitchell

Aaron Cunningham may come from Donegal in Ireland but he is quite happy living with the Paree Tribe high up in the mountains of Northern Tanzania. They call him Wzungu, which means white man, an honour for the young 22 year old who has been welcomed and accepted warmly by the people of Suji village. Aaron is the mathematics teacher in Malindi Secondary, a government based school, with around 400 pupils. He originally came with five other Irish teachers in November 2010 for a full teaching year, but returned on his own earlier this year. “I went home. It was cold and Ireland was in a recession” he says. “I didn’t have to think about it for too long. I missed being here, so I decided to come back”. Aaron is sponsored by “Tanzanian Village Renewal”, an Irish charity who in the past two years have brought fifteen volunteers in total to Suji. The charity is small and is run by Maureen Mescall, a retired lecturer of Economics from NUIG, who was delighted when Aaron said he was

returning. As I walk through the village with Aaron, I sense that he is popular and he genuinely loves being here. “The people here are great. They are so good to me. If I ever need or want anything, they will help me. Nothing is ever a problem” he says as we walk past the stunning sight of Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance. But Aaron isn’t just a mathematics teacher; he is also the football manager of the school team. “The fact that I was the manager played a big part of my decision to return” he says as we arrive at a football pitch. Football is huge in Tanzania but I did not expect, especially in a rural mountain village of Tanzania, to see atleast two hundred spectators lining the pitch. Today Malindi School are playing their local rivals, the Suji Private School, and the atmosphere is electric. “This fixture was my first game last year, and we lost” Aaron says with a determined expression of revenge on his face. “I had no experience back then, but this year we are better prepared”.

As I watch the game, it suddenly dawns on me that every single Malindi player is wearing football boots and a complete kit unlike the other team. “When I arrived first, I was shocked that the lads were playing with one shoe and most in their bare feet. As the manager I felt it was my responsibility to rectify this. So I made a few phone calls back home”. Aaron’s father organised a fund raising event with his coworkers in Ireland and they raised enough money to buy a full kit and

football boots for the team. “It was great when the kits arrived. It lifted the whole school and it gave an identity to the team. Instead of wearing matching colour t-shirts, now we had our own jersey. It felt like we had become a real football team and we started to play like one”. It’s half time and still no score but as I watch the Aaron’s team talk, there is a sense of confidence within the squad. Last season, Aaron entered the team into the Same Games for the first time, a local football

Back Row (From right to left) Ruben Kessi, Gadi Omari, Said Kinoko (captain) Fadhiti Mshana, Josefu Elihudi, Iameki Elikuda, Aaron Cunningham - Front Row (From left to right) – Thafania Mshana, Nuhu Idi, Kelivini Jackison, Imanuel Timo, Imanuel Timoseo

conquered Africa in football by becoming the current holders of Africa Cup of Nations. He also serves on the CAF and FIFA technical and administration committees. Kalusha Bwalya is the founder of the Kalusha Bwalya Foundation Trust which partners with the Dutch to promote sports, HIV/AIDS awareness and other positive interest. 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 by Tanzanian 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.