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The African Import SEP 16-30 2013
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harvest and THANKSGIVING BAZAAR HELD IN DUBLIN
Ebubechi Onwumereh - 3 years At the African Catholic Chaplaincy Thanksgiving and Bazaar Service
Cont. pp 4, 14 & 15
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AFRICAWORLD SEP 16 -30 2013
NEWS
Editorial
Irish Youth Unemployment a“Tragedy”, While Gilmore Refuses to Give Details of Youth Guarantee By Paul Kelly
WE ARE AFRICAN AS WELL AS IRISH As the Gathering Ireland 2013 gathers momentum with various activities in all corner of the Irish State, we wish to enjoin the African Community to key in. The idea for The Gathering Ireland 2013 was muted at the 2009 Global Irish Economic Forum held in Farmleigh, Dublin. Then at the midst of a torrential recession, the economic parley had a purpose: to liaise with its diaspora and a practical blueprint for economic recovery. The core objective of the Gathering Ireland 2013 is to harness the tourism revenue which is likely a friendly factor in stimulating job creation. “You can never beat the Irish”, so say a popular adage in this Celtic land. One of the aircraft that flew above the Liffey had it written on its belly too, just to buttress the strength of the Irish mentality. Communities throughout Ireland are showcasing and sharing the very best of Irish culture, tradition, business, sport, fighting spirit and the uniquely Irish sense of fun. Over 70 million people worldwide who claim Irish ancestry are expected to partake in the Gathering Ireland 2013. It also create the opportunity to reach out especially to those in the diaspora and their offspring.
“ I r e l a n d ’s youth unemployment rate stands at 28.6%. It is wholly unacceptable and a tragedy,” MEP Emer Costello announced as she launched a conference on the European Youth Guarantee last Friday. The Guarantee is due to come into effect next year and will ensure that all young people will be offered a job, an internship, an apprenticeship or training within four months of becoming unemployed. Currently, over a quarter of Irish young people are unemployed, with black Africans facing the highest rates. €8 billion of EU money is to be spent on the project, with Ireland also helping to finance it. The event was aimed at discussing how that money would be spent. It was attended by the Tánaiste, Eamon Gilmore, as well as many County Councillors and included a panel of experts on youth unemployment. The Tánaiste provided the key note address. Speaking at length about the banking crisis and the coalition government’s role in ending it, Mr Gilmore was keen to stress that we should not “forget about the depth of the crisis that we inherited
two and a half years ago”. Despite this, however, many attendees at the event were not impressed by the Tánaiste’s words. Tomás, a former bricklayer, told AfricaWorld that he was tired of hearing excuses from the government: “You can turn around and say Fianna Fáil, Fianna Fáil, Fianna Fáil, that’s no use to me”, he said. “I’ve been unemployed since this whole thing started. I was a bricklayer and then I retrained and I’ve still failed to find employment. The best thing I can say to any young person here is ‘get the hell out of this country’.” Indeed, when AfricaWorld approached Mr Gilmore to ask if he had any specific plans for the money, he remained elusive: “Well that’s what the meeting is about, to look at how it can be used at a practical level.” He replied cagily. “The guarantee is agreed, the money is provided and what we now need to do is design the specific programmes which will meet the needs of young people and provide the pathway back to work for young people.” When questioned as to whether he had thought up any specific ideas for these ‘programmes’ during the three months he spent negotiating the deal in Europe, Mr Gilmore refused to commit to anything, saying only that he hoped the Guarantee would ensure more jobs for young people. The Tánaiste’s evasiveness came only minutes after Emer Costello declared that the crisis could only be weathered through “strong and effective leadership”. During the
event, Mrs Costello also argued that the Youth Guarantee should not be formed as just a reaction to the European crisis, but “should form part of a long term and continuous emphasis on quality jobs, education and quality training for young people.” Mrs Costello also stressed the need for consultation at the local level, inviting local experts in the field such as James Doorly, Deputy Director of the National Youth Council of Ireland, to speak on the matter. Here, Mr Doorly stressed the need for the Guarantee to be implemented correctly. “The next six months are crucial,” he said to the packed room. “A guarantee is meant to be that. It’s meant to be a guarantee. We have a duty to get this right.” He also argued that there was a need for more workers in FÁS, describing one case worker for 800 job seekers as “way too many” and worried that those who have been unemployed for over a year may be left behind by the Guarantee: “even if there is a training course in the morning, or even 60,000 jobs, many of these young people would not be in a position to take them up, because they left school early and they might have literacy issues or they maybe have family or personal issues,” he said. Others at the event disagreed with the very basis of the Guarantee. Margaret McCluskey, a Labour Party member and former Home Economics teacher told AfricaWorld that the government’s priorities were disheartening:
“I’m in the Labour Party because I thought it was the Party that actually deals with these kids. Unfortunately, they just don’t,” she said. Ms McCluskey argued that the Youth Guarantee would mean that money would simply get to young people too late for it to be useful to them: “If you’ve a boy who can’t read or write by the time he’s 8 or 9, you can forget it,” she said, describing how she would often go into schools and teachers would be able to point out to her children they knew would be in Mount Joy prison within just a few years. Instead, Ms McCluskey told AfricaWorld that she would “completely reverse the system”. “I would have most of the money go into national schools so we could get everybody able to read and write. It’s not a big demand that everyone should be able to read and write and that’s where the money should go,” she said. “All this money? As far as I’m concerned it’s a waste of time because I’ve sat on many committees and many educational things and they’ve all said that for the first few years the children should be in classes of 20. If you’ve a boy who can’t read or write by the time he’s 8 or 9, you can forget it… After all the tax I’ve paid, my grandson is in a class of 30 and I really think it’s the pits, because my second son was in a class of 40 and never, ever got over it. “ Cont. Next page... 3
The Gathering being a people’s party creates another opportunity for all. The Igbo Union Ireland has set the pace with its inaugural Convention for the African community and it must continue for Eireann to recover. Come in. Uka.
Left to Right, Dr. Paula Gilligan, Marie Carroll and Massimiliano Mascherini, part of the Panal of Experts on Youth Unemployment
AfricaWorld & Millenium Development Goals Editor Ukachukwu Okorie Deputy Editor Martin Ekeocha
Graphic Design Mirco Mascarin Leandro Tonetto Oliveira Welbert Silva de Andrade
Chief Reporter Paul Kelly
Photography Alex Cavalcante da Silva
Sub-Editor Roisin Morris
The Editorial team at AfricaWorld would like to point out that it is aware of the Millennium Development Goals
Marie Carroll and Massimiliano Mascherini, part of the Panal of Experts on Youth Unemployment
and seeks to synergise its work in accordance with those aims wherever possible. Those goals are to improve
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SEP 16 -30 2013 AFRICAWORLD
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NEWS
Conference room
Left to Right, Dr. Paula Gilligan, Marie Carroll and Massimiliano Mascherini, part of the Panal of Experts on Youth Unemployment
Left to Right, Chair James Doorley, Dr Joephine Browne, Dr. Paula Gilligan, Marie Carroll and Massimiliano Mascherini, the Panal of Experts on Youth Unemployment
Eamon Gilmore
Left to Right, Emer Costello, Chair James Doorley, Dr Joephine Browne, Dr. Paula Gilligan, Marie Carroll and Massimiliano Mascherini
Eamon Gilmore
Eamon Gilmore
Dr. Paula Gilligan
Emer Costello
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AFRICAWORLD SEP 16 -30 2013
news by Paul Kelly ALGERIA conservative Muslim citizens in the country’s capital are delivering petitions to pub owners in a bid to force them to close down. Roads blocks have also been threatened.
IMO INDIGENES CHAIRMAN AID MENTALLY DERANGED IMMIGRANT
ANGOLA the government have announced plans to build four new police stations by 2014. Two of the stations will be built in Lubango, with the remaining being built in Chipindo and Cacula
BENIN President Yayi has met with Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathon in Abuja. The meeting focused on economic cooperation.
BOTSWANA police in the Kgatleng District have said that 95% of “ritual kidnapping” claims are hoaxes. Addressing a meeting of students and parents, Senior Superintendent Seabe Maboka said that false claims will be punished.
BURKINA FASO lost 4-1 to the Nigerian Eagles in an international football friendly last week.
BURUNDI Archbishop Bernard Ntahoturi has said African countries need to embrace a holistic approach to development if they are to achieve real growth. Women’s empowerment and environmental protection were highlighted by the Archbishop.
comoros the World Bank has approved a $5 million grant to Comoros’ public electricity company. The grant is expected to help with improving the reliability and cost of electricity.
IMO INDIGENES CHAIRMAN
Over the past few months, a black African man has roamed the public park in Phibsboro and even made it a make-shift home. Emmanuel Ugwueke is a Nigerian citizen, from Agbaja Mbano in Imo State who is married to an Irish lady now resident in Australia. He has been reported to be someone of gentle disposition, who neither drinks nor smokes. However, a few years into his marriage, he started behaving abnormally and was more of a recluse. His wife abandoned the husband and father of her child and went back to Australia, in October 2011, where she claims to have started a new life, and wishes to have nothing to do with the husband anymore. When the proprietor of Decency African Restaurant, Mazi Kalu got wind of his malady, since Mr. Emmanuel usually patronizes his restaurant, he immediately contacted the Chairman of Imo Indigenes Ireland, Mr. Chinedum Ohaekelehem, a caring and responsible man, about the sudden mental state of Mr. Emmanuel. Decency himself,
had in the past called several Nigerians to come to the aid of this fellow Nigerian, but none came to his aid or gave him a favourable response, until he contacted Mr. Chinedum Ohaekelehem. Immediately, Mr. Chinedum took action and went along with Mazi Kalu to see Mr. Emmanuel, who has taken up a post at a public park, opposite the Filling Station at Broadstone, Bus depot in Dublin North inner city. Having seen him in that state, Mr. Chinedum went to the Nigerian embassy in March, 2012 to inform them of the deplorable situation of Mr. Emmanuel, who lives out in the harsh weather conditions of Ireland in an open park. The embassy, thanked him for being patriotic and caring. He took an embassy official to see the Mr. Emmanuel, who was sad at the sight. Mr. Chinedum afterwards took Mr. Emmanuel to Mater Hospital where he stayed for three weeks and then discharged. The consultant after the three weeks told Mr. Chinedum that he found nothing wrong with Mr. Emmanuel, and he cannot hold him without his consent and hence will be discharged. Standing in as his next of Kin, Mr.Chinedum enquired as to where Mr. Emmanuel will stay when discharged and insisted that the man was not well enough to be left on his own. This was however ignored, and Mr. Emmanuel was discharged before Mr. Chinedum could arrive, and he went back to the park where he had remained until he was picked up by the Governmental officials two weeks ago, when Mr. Emmanuel became
more violent and threatened to burn up several properties. Having been left unattended for quite some time, he had grown violent and despises black people. Owing to the condition of Mr. Emmanuel Ugwueke, Mr. Chinedum travelled back home to Nigeria where he met and informed the family members and traditional ruler of Mr. Emmanuel Ugwueke of his deplorable state of health. After speaking with the family, it was decided that the younger brother, Mr. Kingsley Ifeanyi Ugwueke will be sent to Ireland to find out how to handle his brother, since they are very close. When however the brother applied for Visa to Ireland, he was turned down. Even after much persuasion from both Mr. Chinedum and the Nigerian embassy, he was still denied visa. Still undaunted, Mr. Chinedum tried other efforts to ameliorate the situation, even though on one occasion when he went to see him along with an official from Nigerian embassy and the Director of Success College located in Phibsboro he was attacked by Mr. Emmanuel. Today, Mr. Emmanuel is back under medical care and all efforts are being made to get the brother to come over and assist him. Mr. Chinedum is pleading with the Irish Government and fellow Nigerians resident in Ireland along with the medical officials of Mater Hospital to leave no stone unturned in assisting Mr. Emmanuel regain his sanity.
AFRICAN CHAPLAINCY CONCLUDES HARVEST OF LOVE FOR CHRIST The African Chaplaincy of Dublin Archdiocese held their 2013 Bumper Harvest and Thanksgiving Service. The event which was held at the National Show Centre in Swords on the 8th of September, 2013, witnessed Catholic faithful who turned out en masse to celebrate and thank God for his faithfulness during the year. The theme of the year’s harvest was “Harvest of Love for Christ”. The event was organized by the Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Cornelius Nwaogwugwu and the pastoral team. In his homily, Fr. Stephen
Ezenwaegwu reiterated the unity and love shared within the sacred institution of marriage and family life, and urged all to endeavour to build a strong foundation based on the Love of Christ which never fails. The event featured a con-celebration of the Holy Mass, harvest and bazaar sales, children funfair and lots of praises from the Chaplaincy choir, DebSandy and Sis. Grace Amah. The event was well attended by many priests and religious of African descent.
By Martin ekeocha Pilgrims gathered from the seven centres comprising the African Chaplaincy in Dublin; St. Peter’s Church, Phibsboro; Chapel-Of-Ease, Balscadden, Balbriggan; Immaculate Conception Church, Clondalkin; Church Of Divine Mercy, Lucan South; St Brigid’s Church, Blanchardstown; St Finian’s Church, River Valley, Swords; St Aidan’s Church, Brookfield, Tallaght. The next event coming up is the spirit-filled New Year service which will come up on the 31st of December, 2013.
SEP 16 -30 2013 AFRICAWORLD
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news/IT by Paul Kelly
Morocco’s last July’s EU-Morocco fishing agreement has been condemned by Western Saharan leaders as it includes Western Sahara’s territorial waters. The Committee of Support to the Saharawi People in Belgium have described it as a “blatant breach” of international law.
Mozambique’s the prosecution have called for “exemplary sentences” to be handed down to the kidnappers of businessman Ibrahim Gani. Four men have been accused of the crime.
Namibia’s the Shilimela Security Company have unveiled two new fighter planes. The planes will be operational in both Namibia and CongoKinshasa and will be used to fight crime and military threats, as well as providing support during natural disasters.
Niger massive flooding across the countryhaskilled20peopleand has wiped out entire villages, affecting 50,000 people.
Nigeria Gold and Co has retracted its claim that a government official ordered 53 gold plated iPhones to celebrate the country’s 53rd anniversary since independence. The company now insists they were purchased by a private individual. The phones are engraved with Nigeria’s coat of arms.
X-RAY
with Fr. Vin
WHY INFIDELITY DOES NOT WORK IN MARRIAGE Infidelity can also be referred to as cheating in marriage or adultery. It is equally described as having affairs. Wikipedia defines it as the subjective feeling that one’s partner has violated a set of rules or relationship norms and this violation results in feelings of sexual jealousy and rivalry. The violation can be sexual in nature, for example involving kissing, sexual fondling or sex with another individual outside of the marriage relationship. Statistics reveal that the rate of infidelity in marriage is higher in men than in women. In their book, Close Encounters: Communication in Relationships, Guerrero, Anderson and Afifi maintained that men are more likely than women to have a sexual affair, regardless of whether or not they are in a married or unmarried relationship. According to The New York Times, data from the University of Chicago’s General Social Survey (GSS) interviews conducted since 1972 revealed that the number of men admitting to extra marital affairs is 12 per cent and for women, 7 per cent. The Kinsey report that came out in America in the early 1950s asserted that about half of men and a quarter of women had committed adultery, while the Janus Report on Sexual Behavior in America also reported that one third of married men and a quarter of women have had an extra-marital affair. Infidelity puts a snag in marriage. It can make a sweet matrimonial bond turn sour. The reasons why infidelity doesn’t work in a marriage relationship include: Infidelity Causes Distraction: Christ was very blunt when he warned in the scripture, “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other” (Mtt. 6:24). The principle of NonContradiction also holds that something cannot be and not be at the same time. These go to point out the danger of infidelity in marriage. When a man engages himself in another love relationship in marriage, he becomes distracted. Such a person loses concentration, becomes divided in his approach to his marriage partner. He begins to give little attention to his immediate family. He becomes unsettled whenever he is at home. He clings so tenaciously to his mobile phone, even becomes aggressive to anyone who dares touch it without his authorisation. The unfaithful person battles between satisfying the legitimate partner and his/her sex companion. He simply becomes internally distracted. Infidelity Breeds Mistrust/Suspicion: An unfaithful partner is always unsure of himself/ herself. For the mere fact that he lacks the basic trust for himself, he projects what he does towards the wife/husband. He loses faith in the partner. He imagines that the partner is also cheating on him. Infidelity leads to mistrust in marriage. Infidelity Leads to Anxiety: The unfaithful marriage partner makes himself a victim of constant fear and tension in the home. He is afraid of having his secrets revealed should he fall out with his sex partner. He is afraid of leaving his mobile phone
Tunisia’s Interim Prime Minister Ali Larayedh has branded the Islamist Ansar AlSharia movement as a “terrorist organisation”. He claimed it was behind terrorist attacks in Tunisia, as well as the assassination of political leaders.
carelessly since it may ring and be attended to by his partner. He is afraid of having his text messages read by his partner. He is afraid of offending the external relationships so that they don’t implicate him in his marriage as well as afraid of the legitimate partner discovering his illicit affairs. He is simply restless. Infidelity Nurtures Lies: Infidelity is characterised by lies. The unfaithful spouse must tell lies in order to manage the different relationships. This is because the various interests in the relationships clash and for him to satisfy those varying but pressing interests, he must play smart. He must tell lies to assuage the suspicions of his partners and also to play safe in his commitments. He lies to the spouse about his activities, movements, income and expenditure, and commitments; and lies to his sex-mate on the reasons why he cannot meet certain demands. Infidelity gives rise to an unsettled lifestyle. Infidelity Manifests in Loss of Affection: When a person begins to have an affair with another person outside of their marriage, they begin to develop an affection for the new relationship. Although some individuals can pretend about the whole thing, psychologists have shown that it affects the previous relationship because the new “love” preoccupies the person’s mind. It leads to loss of affection for one’s spouse in marriage. Here there is a conflict in feelings or even a total shift. Apathy sets in. Infidelity Causes Frustration: One major way to know when a man enters into another relationship is his approach to his legitimate home. Such a man often becomes unnecessarily aggressive. He appears frustrated and worried. Sometimes, as a result of the pressure in maintaining the relationships, he adopts the avoidance approach as a defence mechanism. Perhaps he begins to spend wastefully and vents his anger on the wife each time she makes demands for the upkeep of the house. This aggression could also lead to violence. He snaps at the slightest demand. Infidelity Causes Wastefulness: The task of maintaining multiple relationships is costly. It is costly because of financial commitments which the man must necessarily fulfil. It is also costly because of the conditions for meeting those demands. It is easier and more reasonable for a man to tell the wife that he has no money (as both could put their heads together and seek for a solution) than to satisfy the needs of a concubine. This is because some unfortunate men fall prey to shameless women who are ready to milk them dry. They live under constant threats in their estranged relationships. Such shameless ladies feel they have nothing to lose and are ready to deal with men especially when they notice that their ego and family image have been compromised. They threaten to have their illicit affair exposed each time the man fails to meet their financial demands. Such a man has no option other than to keep paying salaries and unwarranted bills to silence
the mistress. Since he cannot withstand the shame of exposure and public ridicule, he prefers to remain indebted and committed to spending his hardearned resources in regrets. Infidelity Causes Unhappiness: The unfaithful partner is always unhappy. He is unhappy with himself internally due to his actions though he may lack the willpower to disengage. He is unhappy remembering how he is unable to save. He is unhappy with his cheating attitude. He is unhappy with his marriage partner who sometimes constitutes an obstacle to his stupidity and tells him hard truths he doesn’t want to hear in his passion. He may look happy but is unhappy within. Infidelity Makes A Couple Vulnerable: Any unfaithful partner in a marriage makes themselves vulnerable. They face the danger of contracting sexually-transmitted diseases as well as the danger of infecting their marriage partner. They are also vulnerable with regard to what they eat. A man who eats out is highly insecure. He can’t say with certainty where his problem comes from should he fall sick. He equally lacks the boldness to open up to the cause of his problem when it does not arise from his legitimate home. He is vulnerable because external factors can easily harm him and through him, can gain access to his home. Infidelity Leads to Spiritual Blindness: Most married couples in the game of infidelity have become blindfolded spiritually. They sell their souls to their sex partner and are completely taken over by them. Infidelity in marriage is characterised by lack of spiritual strength to do battle, and erosion of conscience to acknowledge the truth of one’s crime. Once passion is at work, the spirit is suppressed. This is why a person indulging in infidelity is ready to even fight his wife once he’s subsumed in the concupiscence of the flesh. He shies away from his family especially from things that have to do with God. One of the reasons is that such a person would not want to listen to the scripture condemning his unreasonable behaviour. Rather, he prefers social gatherings where his peers share and glory in their idiocy. He sometimes gets easily irritated with those who confront him on his anomalies. He simply avoids occasions that expose his ills. Infidelity Results in Separation: Infidelity has torn apart many marriages in society today. Because it carries with it lies, fear, mistrust, loss of affection, frustration and all negative elements that jeopardise the marriage relationship, it brings about apathy towards the other. Oftentimes, the guilty fellow no longer tolerates his marriage partner. He lives a life of antagonism lacking the humility to acknowledge guilt and make amends. Since the unfaithful partner has become spiritually blindfolded, he lacks the capacity of recognising the harm being done to his marriage. He overlooks the fact that the home is gradually corroding. It often gets to the unbearable point of separation.
TECH_PILOt >>>>>>>> with Uchenna Onyenagubo
Attention Trainers... DigiMemo Vs Boogie Board
Rwanda has requested permission to address the court during the trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy. It is understood that the delegates wish to complain about the scheduling of the trial, as both men are required to deal with diplomatic matters in Kenya.
By Fr. Vincent Ezeoma Arisukwu
Let me use this edition to quickly announce another device that is similar to our last publication that featured DigiMemo, a device with paper and electronic pad that is capable of transforming your handwritten job on to a PC with a USB connector. It enables you to edit and can share completed project or document via email. The Boogie Board is an electric board that can allow writing and drawing with a stylus. It is paperless therefore making it environmentally friendly. Teachers and professional
with a white chalk on a black small board and able to wipe off when needed, the original version of the Boogie Board is exact same. The Boogie Board allows writing, drawing and deleting (wiping off) but has been improved upon over time, now it is possible to save in only PDF format hence, disallowing editing function. Unlike DigiMemo, Trainers might need to consider this technology editing is possible. considering the tendency of virtual whiteboard By December 2013, mode introduced in their Boogie Board Sync 9.7 latest version due to be will be introduced, launched at the end of perfect for business professionals and this year 2013. students, provides a 9.7Remember the good inch, pressure-sensitive old SLATES-BOARD used writing surface with in primary/kindergarten plenty of space for stage of school, writing writing, drawing and
creating. Save hundreds of pages to internal memory and then transfer files directly to a computer, tablet, smar tphone via Bluetooth. The Paperless writing and illustration on a whole new level. It can: • Save 1,000’s of vector PDFs onboard • Transfer files via Bluetooth to computers, tablets and smartphones • Store and share files with free mobile apps, computer software and Evernote • Edit files using
popular applications such as Adobe® Illustrator and Adobe® Photoshop • Free desktop and mobile applications include Evernote integration, virtual whiteboard mode and social media sharing • Virtual Whiteboard mode great for meetings, presentations and classrooms • Desktop application Windows and MAC OS compatible • Mobile application Android and iOS compatible
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AFRICAWORLD SEP 16 -30 2013
people
PRIDE OF AFRICA
C M A Y I MA LE G NA O M
Our Pride of Africa is 10 years old little designer Maiya who is the rave of the moment, making a name with her first collection. Just in class 5, Maiya won little kingdom show in June and chosen as the Face of Fashion in August. She designs MAIYA DESIGNSBY. Our Pride of Africa is the Face of Afro Fashion 2014, going to Italy to showcase fashion with AZ Fashion. She is also a world finalist representing Ireland at Face of the Globe in Paris. Maiya is currently tight in itinerary as invitations have filled her post box. See more and listen to her interview with model Sadhbh Carson on AfricaWorld TV
SEP 16 -30 2013 AFRICAWORLD
column by Paul Kelly
libyan Moad al-Hnesh has been charged with crimes against the state for protesting against the UK’s military intervention in Libya in 2011. The charge could carry a life sentence.
dd’s cubicle
SOUTH AFRICA DEVELOPS A ROAD MAP FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES. design with capacity for a passenger is often considered the first real and practical electrical vehicle. In 1897, the first commercial electrical vehicle application was established as a fleet of New York City taxis built by the Electric Carriage and Wagon Company of Philadelphia.
Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina, has confirmed that he will respect the decision of an electoral court and will not stand for re-election this October.
By Dunstan Ukaga
Malawi journalist Raphael M l ozo a h a s b e e n assaulted by bodyguards belonging to the Minister of Economic Planning and Development, Ralph Jooma. Mlozoa was assaulted after writing a storyclaiming that the Minister had been attacked at Mangochi’s main Mosque.
Mali new prime minister, technocrat Oumar Tatam Ly, has announced his new 34-member Cabinet. The Cabinet includes a new ministry tasked with promoting reconciliation in the country’s war-ravaged north.
Mauritania on August 31st, seven terrorists trying to enter the country from Algeria were killed by Algerian forces. They were gunned down using attack helicopters as they made their way to a terrorist training camp.
Zambia two High Court judges have been suspended by President Sata for alleged “professional misconduct”. The judges are now under investigation by a judicial tribunal.
Cape Verde have beaten Tunisia 2-0 in a shocking World Cup Qualifier match. The first goal was scored in the first 28 minutes, with the second scored just minutes before the halftime break.
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South Africa has really organised herself for greater prosperity for the good of her people. Nowadays when everyone is talking about electric vehicles. By definition, an electric car or electric vehicle is one that uses an electric motor for propulsion and not powered by a gasolinepowered motor. South Africa has become the first African country setting a new road map and greater incentives for the local manufacturing of electric vehicles. The road map was developed with input from the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and the Department of Science and Technology. Down the Line of History According to Mary Bellis and confirmed by credible sources like Wikipedia, the man who invented the very first electric vehicle is uncertain and several inventors have been given credit. In 1828, Hungarian, Ányos Jedlik, invented a small-scale model car powered by an electric motor that he designed. Between 1832 and 1839 (the exact year is uncertain), Robert Anderson of Scotland invented a crude electric-powered carriage. In 1835, another small-scale electric car was designed by Professor Stratingh of Groningen, Holland, and built by his assistant Christopher Becker. In 1835, Thomas Davenport, a blacksmith from Brandon, Vermont built a small-scale electric car. Davenport was also the inventor of the first American-built DC electric motor. More practical and more successful electric road vehicles were invented by both Thomas Davenport and Scotsman Robert Davidson around 1842. Both inventors were the first to use the newly invented but non-rechargeable electric cells. Frenchman Gaston Plante invented a better storage battery in 1865 and his fellow countryman Camille Faure further improved the storage battery in 1881. Better capacity storage batteries were needed for electric vehicles to become practical. In the late 1800s, France and Great Britain were the first nations to support the widespread development of electric vehicles. In 1899, a Belgian-built electric racing car called “La Jamais Contente” designed by Camille Jénatzy set a world record for land speed at 68 mph. It was not until 1895 that the Americans began to devote attention to electric vehicles after an electric tricycle was built by A. L. Ryker and William Morrison built a sixpassenger wagon both in 1891. Many innovations followed and interest in motor vehicles increased greatly in the late 1890s and early 1900s. In fact, William Morrison’s
Elon Musk and his Tesla Jump Elon Musk is a South African-born American business magnate, investor and inventor. He is the founder and CEO of SpaceX. After studying commerce at the Queen’s School for Business for two years, Musk obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in business and a Bachelor of Science degree in physics from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the founder of SpaceX, Tesla Motors and co-founded Pay Pal. Without Elon Musk and his Tesla Jump, the good vibes and hype around electric vehicles would not be appreciated. With his S model electric sedan, car owners could hop in their cars and enjoy a cool ride without hurting the climate. According to Jason Fell, Tesla released the Model S electric sedan in June 2012 after three years in development. For those who are unfamiliar with the car, it has two battery options: an 85-kilowatt-hour version and a 60-kilowatt-hour version. The larger battery gets 300 miles of range at an average of 55 mph, Tesla says. It estimates that the total annual fuel cost for a Model S is about $930 compared to almost $5,200 for other premium sedans, for drivers who average about 30,000 miles per year. When it comes
to safety, Tesla says some of the key features of the Model S include: a longer “crumple zone” in the front created by the absence of a large gasoline engine block (the motor is only about a foot in diameter and is mounted near the rear axle), multiple aluminium extrusions in the side rail of the car that help absorb crash impact and a double rear bumper if a third row children’s seat is ordered. Maybe major car makers like Ford and Toyota could learn a thing or two from tech entrepreneur Elon Musk. His electric car company, Tesla, is racking up recognition in the auto industry for the level of quality of its vehicles. The latest, Tesla’s Model S, was awarded the highest safety rating of any car ever tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Not only did the Model S receive a 5-star rating overall but also in every subcategory. While the NHTSA doesn’t award more than 5 stars overall, it does in overall Vehicle Safety, where Tesla says the Model S achieved a combined record of 5.4 stars. Tesla says that the score takes into account the probability of injury
from front, side, rear and rollover accidents. South African Initiatives The road map proposes an incentive package, to be incorporated within the Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP), for manufacturers that produce electric vehicles. The APDP aims to raise the volume of cars manufactured in South Africa to 1.2 million annually by 2020 as well as to diversify the automotive components chain. “The proposal is that we will incentivise the automotive sector to manufacture electric vehicles in South Africa by introducing a very generous quota for manufacturing under the APDP to benefit from the overall incentive scheme,” said Trade and Industry Minister, Rob Davies. Under the plan, manufacturers who produce 5,000 electric vehicles annually would qualify for the incentive, with the government reimbursing them for 35% of their production costs over three years. The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said it was also looking at various possible tax incentives to encourage South Africans to buy electric vehicles. In February 2013, Nissan South Africa and the Department of Environmental Affairs launched a pilot project to test the feasibility of electric vehicles in South African conditions, using the Nissan Leaf, the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle. The DTI has announced plans, including incentives for manufacturers and possible tax incentives for consumers, aimed at establishing an electric vehicle industry in South Africa. Speaking at the launch of the Electric Vehicle Industry Road Map in Johannesburg in May, Minister Davies said that South Africa should not be “left behind” in green technologies and initiatives, adding that there was an overwhelming case for the transport industry to reduce its carbon footprint: “We are well aware that as development takes place, transportation demand will grow. What is absolutely evident is that vehicle manufacturing must adopt new technology for lesser emissions,” Davies said. South Africa an Emitter of Carbon Dioxide. South Africa is the 13th largest global emitter of carbon dioxide. The automotive sector is one of SA’s most carbon-intensive, accounting for approximately 20% of emissions; it is also the third-largest contributor to air pollution in the country. The DTI believes a local electric vehicle industry would help mitigate the impact of harmful gases on the environment while promoting investment and job creation in the automotive industry. Conclusively, South Africa has become the first African nation to take a giant leap forward for the safety of her citizens. As South Africa develops this road map for greener environment, what are other African economies like Nigeria, Egypt, Angola etc. doing? A drive through Nigeria shows no such plan exists. As Alex Epstein notes: “with the Tesla Model S, Elon Musk has created a nice fossil fuel car’’.
8
AFRICAWORLD SEP 16 -30 2013
news
OJ PLANS TO TACKLE FOR IRELAND
- Can you tell us a bit of your background?
Before Oj started playing rugby, he use to play football for a local club, however, it didn’t really work out that well in football . So when he moved into kings hospital, OJ started playing rugby. OJ, can you tell us a bit of your background? I only started developing to a better player at the end of 2nd year. From the start of 3rd year I was one of the best for my team, not the most consistent though but I scored a lot of tries for a forward during that 2012/2013 season and as well as the 2011/2012 season. Last October, I wanted to enhance my rugby experience, thereby joining a rugby team outside school in the season of 2011/2012 which was named as my best season ever for Barnhall RFC. In the season of 2012/2013 I couldn’t play for Barnhall RFC because I was officially cup tied meaning I was playing in the Junior Leinster Cup for my school KH. After the Junior Cup ended, I moved onto Senior Level, my senior rugby coach picked a total of 9/10 Transition Students to join the Senior Team this season and on the day of 22 August 2013, we travelled to France Biarritz as a squad for pre season. - What is the name of your school? The Kings Hospital - When did you start playing Rugby and what position? In 2010 and TightHead Prop,Second Row or Number 8 - Which club do you play for? Barnhall - Which Rugby player inspires you? Rugby players that inspires me are Sonny Bill Williams and Jonah Lomu - Where do you want to take your career to? I want to become a professional rugby player - Have you won anything in Rugby? Yes I’ve won a Player of the season award, 1 Best Player of the Month and 3 Man of the Match - What does your parents think about your Rugby talent? They both support me and see I’ve a bright future - Are you planning to play for Ireland? I would like to play for Ireland but it’ll take hard work and commitment
SEP 16 -30 2013 AFRICAWORLD
news/column by Paul Kelly
9
PICTURES
Gambia National Youth Parliament have launched a new tree planting initiative in Sutukonding in the Upper River Region and in Chamen in the North Bank Region. The planting is a pilot project for a nationwide effort. Two hundred trees will be planted in the two villages.
6 0 S E CO N D S W I T H T H E D U C H E S S D. What would you call your style of
Ill bliss
music? I. I’m a rap artist. Hip hop D. As one of Africa’s pioneers of modern hip hop, what challenges did you face establishing yourself? I. Rap wasn’t a big and thriving genre in Nigeria. It’s a cerebral art form so it took some real work to break in
Ghana Ken Kuranchie, editor-inchief of the Daily Searchlight, has been jailed for ten days for criticising the Ghanaian Supreme Court. The journalist was convicted of “criminal contempt”.
Guinea journalist David Tchopn Bangoura was attacked and imprisoned by government soldiers after covering a rally held by the governing party. It is suspected that the government did not want the failure of the rally, which was booed by the crowd, to be made public.
Guinea Bissau transition back to democracy is on-track, a UN envoy has told the Security Council. Fears for the country’s stability heightened after a 2012 coup, however the country is now peaceful.
D. You have been responsible for many young artists careers. What advice would you give any upcoming artist aspiring to follow your footsteps? I. Umm....you need to be ready to die for
Illbliss, whose real name is Tobechukwu Melvin Ejiofor, was born and raised in Enugu State of Nigerian. He is a graduate of Political science and International Relations from the University Of Nigeria. His diverse approach to hiphop ranges from social issues to love/relationships, peer pressure and topics the average head can relate to, while retaining elements of hiphop and ethnic content, a virture which sets him apart from the crowd. Illbliss has won several awards and has worked with Nigerian hiphop heavyweights like eLDee, Mode 9, Cashino , Thoroughbreeds, Obiwon, Phyno, Timaya, Rooftop MCs and many
more. Illbliss is currently the Co-owner of Capital dream in partnership with Da suspekt and Clarence Peters.
Our Columnist Nena (left) with Nneka
your dreams. Belief, persistence and most importantly, prayers. You must strive to stand out and be different from the crowd. D. I know you have done a lot of collabos. What would be your ultimate collaboration? I. Nas would be my ultimate collabo. His music has inspired me over the years. D. What are you currently working on? I. I’m recording a new album. Been composing new joints and I got the first single dropping next week. It’s called #Powerful featuring Chidinma
M o b o s aw a r d winner Nneka drops in for Tea With The Duchess
Kenya a government survey has found that there has been a huge decrease in HIV in the country, whilst testing continues to increase. 200,000 less people are now living with HIV in Kenya, compared with data from 2007.
Liberia has passed a controversial minimum wage bill. The bill sets $0.75 per hour or $6 per day as the minimum wage for unskilled labourers.
Western Sahara a report has found that Morocco intends to build 1,000 MW worth of solar and wind plants in the territory it is illegally occupying in Western Sahara. The plants will be built in the ‘Green March’land that the Saharawi people were forced to flee from in 1975 after the Moroccan invasion.
RAFAEL NADAL WINS THE U.S OPEN AND POCKETS 3.6 MILLION NAIRA
By Mordi.I.Michael
hard court matches this year,his 10th title in thirteenth tournaments this year since he came back from a seven month injury lay off in February. The Spaniard kept up with the strings of volleys by Djokovic and remained steadfast and resolute in his replies to Novak Djokovic’s serves which resulted to his eventual victory.
World number two seed Rafael Nadal produced some sensational tennis as he beat World number one Novak Djokovic 6-2,3-6,6at this pace,if 4,6-1 and lift the U.S open heHopefully keeps it up,he might just title in New york. make it to the number one in no time. This string The victory gave Nadal spot of successes from Nadal is a who is now unbeaten in 22 clear indication of his
renewed strength and vigour and it sends a warning signal to other competitors at the top of the table telling them that he has returned to claim his number one spot and he is not in a hurry to give up that dream. One very vital ingredient that has been working for him is consistency and hardwork;which of course pays. The spaniard, also the champion at Flushing Meadows in 2010 fell to the court in flood of tears after securing the title at the first attempt after Djokovic netted a forehand after 3
hours 19 minutes. Meanwhile, the women’s number one seed Serena Williams beat number two seed Victoria Azarenka for the lady’s crown.
10 AFRICAWORLD SEP 16 -30 2013
beauty & fashion Sierra Leone has announced it will send more troops to Somalia early next year. The battalion will replace those troops currently serving in the country.
Somalia rebel group Al Shabaab has executed one of its own soldiers for allegedly spying for the Somali government. Another has also had his hand cut off fo r ro b b e r y. Th e punishments occurred in the city of Buloburte, in front of large crowds.
South Africa company Gold Fields Ltd is under investigation by the US Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly stealing funds aimed at empowering black South Africans in its South Deep mine.
South Sudan over 100,000 people have been displaced by flooding which is only continuing to worsen. The flooding is affecting six of the country’s ten states.
Sudan two people died and fifteen were injured in a truck crash just 3km from Nimule town. The truck was traveling to Uganda with a cargo of hides and skins when its brakes failed.
Swaziland on the 5th of September, the General Secretary of the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland, Vincent Ncongwane, was arrested. He was not charged, but later released and put under house arrest. Government sources claim he attempted to start an illegal protest.
Uganda the government has rejected the use of new HIV drug Truvada. The preventative drug reduces the likelihood of contracting HIV when taken before sex. The government say they are worried it could encourage “reckless sex”.
love/news
AGONY CORNER
With Abdul Yusuf
Can a Female Commit Rape?
In recent times, cases of rape and sundry sexual molestations seem to be on the increase. There is hardly any day without one report of rape or the other. An accomplice, for instance, is an on-looker when the act is being committed, may we say at this point that the accomplice is as guilty as the actual rapist? “Any person who has unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, without her consent, or with her consent, if the consent is obtained by force or by means of threats or intimidation of any kind, or by fear of harm, or by means of false and fraudulent representation as to the act, or, in the case of a married woman, by personating her husband is guilty of an offence which is called rape.” Similarly,“A man is said to commit rape if he has intercourse with a woman in any of the following circumstances against her will, without her consent, with her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her in fear of death or of hurt, with her consent, when the man knows that he is not her husband and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married; with or without her consent, when she is underage or of unsound mind.” However, any man who has unlawful sexual intercourse with a woman or girl, without her consent, is guilty of the offense of rape and liable to imprisonment. According to a documentary on the issue of rape by women, a woman who raped a twelve year old boy, held him down and forced him to have sex and then pushed him off a bridge so he wouldn’t talk, but couldn’t be charged with rape because women can’t be charged with raping men. A U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics said that less than 1% of all incarcerated rape and sexual assault offenders were female. By 1997, however, 6,292 females had been arrested for forcible rape or other sex offenses, constituting approximately 8% of all rape and sexual assault arrests for that year. Additionally, studies indicate that females commit approximately 20% of sex offenses against children. Males commit the majority of sex offenses but females commit some, particularly against children. In 1978 in the UK, Joyce McKinney was sentenced to 12 months in prison for forcing a man to have sex with her while chained up, but she did not serve it because she jumped bail. Several widely publicized cases of female-on-male statutory rape in the United States involved school teachers raping their underage students. Lar said:“My only concern is that in our laws today, the punishment for rape is very light and that is why you find people committing rape against children. It’s unfortunate. It is because of issues like this that it has come to the attention of the National Assembly that we have the Violence Against Persons Bill. “It is a bill that seeks to eliminate violence in private and public life, to prohibit all forms of violence including physical, sexual, psychological, domestic, harmful traditional practices, discrimination against persons and
provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment for offenders. “It would no longer be business as usual with the passage of the law. Why we have an increase in this violence is because we have a culture of silence. Most of the people that commit acts of violence against women are people that are known to women.” Against this backdrop, a pertinent question then begs answer. What happens if a female sexually assaults a male since the law does not contemplate that a female has capacity to rape? Put more succinctly, can a female rape? A recent incident that happened somewhere in Congo probably illustrates the question. Two young ladies stopped a commercial motorcycle operator and asked to be taken to a destination. Midway into the journey, at a lonely place, they stopped the motorcyclist at gun point and ordered him to pull his trouser and lay on the ground. The two ladies took turn to have sexual intercourse with him at gun point. When they were done, they told him that they were HIV positive and intended to spread it because they were also infected by men. The question again is: In the eye of the law can the two ladies be deemed to have committed rape? Some lawyers spoke on the issue. I have doubts whether a woman can commit rape; the reason is that a man has to be aroused sexually to be able to have sex with a woman. If a woman tells a man that he must have sex with her, it won’t work because the man will be so frightened and disorientated that he won’t really be able to do it. Under that circumstance, the man won’t be able to be in the proper physical mood to be able to have sex with the woman. So I have my doubts and I really need to be convinced that a woman can rape a man because of the anatomical difference between the two sexes. A woman can easily be raped because her anatomy is such that it is the one that is penetrated. That is why I find it difficult to say that a man can be raped because he does the penetration, if he is not inclined noting will happen. Infact the law may be neutralized, since most African laws are neutralized these days. For example, in most African countries or the world as a whole, there is no distinction between man and woman, like in the family law and others. No offense if victim is a male. In the Nigeria criminal jurisdictions, the offense of rape is similarly created and defined by both the Criminal Code Laws and the Penal Code. Since the cardinal and operative language and expression in the law creating and defining the offense of rape talks about having unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, and not of a man, there is clearly no offense when the person whose carnal knowledge is a man. Thus, express mention by the extant laws that the person whose unlawful carnal knowledge should be had to constitute rape must be a woman or girl, and not a man, means implied exclusion by the said laws of women and girls as capable committing rape under Nigeria criminal law. This is sad and most unfortunate, though this is of the very nature of justice according to law, and not law according to justice, which law Honorable Justice Nnaemeka-Agu of the Supreme Court (as
he then was) aptly described as an unruly ads, which keeps galloping only along the paths of law. If the law does not specifically require that for rape to take place it must involve unlawful carnal knowledge of a woman or girl, and not such knowledge of a man, the conducts of the ladies in forcing a male into sexual relationship would have clearly constituted rape. In many jurisdictions, particularly in Europe and America, where elastic, flexible and liberal creation and definition is given to the offense of rape as among others, “sexual intercourse, or other form of sexual penetration, of one person by another person without the consent of the victim…” In those jurisdictions, since creation and definition of the offense of rape is of unlawful sexual intercourse of person by another person, which creation and definition do not specify, as is the case in Nigeria, the sex of either the offender or the victim, anybody, whether a man, lady or girl, can be prosecuted and convicted for rape. It is due to the jurisdictional differences in the creation and definition of the offense of rape, and not due to lack of organ of penetration in ladies and girls, that no trials and or convictions of ladies and girls, for rape, have been, or can be premised in Nigeria. Whereas, ladies and girls have been tried and convicted in other jurisdictions where the offense of rape has elastic, liberal and flexible creation and interpretation. On the whole, it is sad and most unfortunate that ladies and girls cannot be tried and convicted in most African countries for rape, even with the highly aggravating circumstances. No doubt, This brings to the front-burner the urgency of legislative intervention in this regard, which appears imperative. It is indeed about time to amend all Africa’s Criminal Code Laws and its Penal Code counterparts with a view to bringing Africa at par with other advanced jurisdictions where ladies and girls, and not only men, can be tried and convicted for rape. The idea of women committing rape in Africa is yet to be criminalized. Over the years, so many arguments have cropped up in respect of this same issue, as to whether a woman can commit rape as Africa legal system is. Categorically, there has been no law in most African countries criminally to that effect. According to Nigerian law as it defines rape, rape exists when there is a penetration of a male organ into the female organ. By this definition, one will understand that it is only the male that can commit rape, and not a woman. But we find in our modern day life the way women lure men into committing rape. In the eyes of Nigerian law, women can only lure men to commit rape but they cannot on their own commit rape. Morally, from what we have seen, women do commit rape but Nigeria just have to work by their law. Whatever Nigeria does in their legal system, is a copyright of what is obtainable in the western world. In the US, what is obtainable there is that any person can commit rape. But in Nigeria, as the legal system is, only the male can commit rape. In terms of Nigerian laws, I think they should begin to work in line with what is obtainable in the US and Europe that rape is being committed by both sex.
SEP 16 -30 2013 AFRICAWORLD 11
COLUMN/NEWS
news
CAMEROON Mohamadou Boubakar has been appointed to the country’s Electoral Board. The final appointment means the Board is ready to oversee parliamentary elections due to take place at the end of the month.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC community-based militias have gained control of several villages near the western town of Bossangoa, in an attempt to protect themselves. Rebel Seleka forces clashed with the militias on Saturday and Sunday, killing 60 people.
CHAD Foreign Minister Moussa Faki has stated that his government was “not looking for recognition or credit” for its role in the military intervention in Mali. The Minister said that his primary concern when intervening was to prevent violence in Mali from spreading across west Africa.
CONGO-BRAZZAVILLE former Inspector General of the Army, Norbert Dabira, has been charged for crimes against humanity by a French judge in Paris.
CONGO-KINSHASA the government has resumed talks with M23 rebels in the Ugandan capital of Kampala. The peace talks come less than a week after regional leaders of the Great Lakes Region ordered negotiations to resume by Monday.
WHISPERS FROM THE REEDS FEMI SHEKET
FEMI SHEKET is a graduate of Estate Management. He credits his Mother for discovering his passion, turning a childhood hobby into a career. Jack of all trade, Actor, Drummer and a disk jockey. Femi shares his manual to the journey that has seen him become a notable personality in the entertainment industry, being the creative director of an entertainment outfit that has it’s perks.
man? Growing up I had always been fascinated by the end product of the pageants: Miss world, Miss Nigeria etc. I usually wonder what goes on behind the scenes and this captures me more than the end results. Putting together all the little details is fun, the music, make-up, fashion show and bringing the end result to life. It is absolutely amazing.
Why Entertainment? I would say it’s an inborn thing and my mother was a wedding planner. I think i got that from her. Even when I was in secondary school, I use to pull off some pretty tight moves making everyone laugh. I remember one of my teachers telling me to consider the entertainment industry. I like making people happy.
How many have you organized? In Ireland one so far, I have a few under my belt in Nigeria.
How long have you been in the Industry? Well Shoemuzik has been around since 1994, it is a concept that was born in Nigeria by a group of friends, myself included.
Why do we feel guilty about being African in Europe ( not being who you are and not standing up for yourself) I would say it’s inferiority complex. It is underestimating what you are capable of, you have to dream big and not be afraid to take up the challenge. Unity also plays a big role, knowing that ‘a tree cannot make a forest’ because together we can achieve that which some might see as impossible. We need to have each other’s backs at all times. Be comfortable with the path you have chosen so you will be able to appreciate your brother’s efforts and be supportive. How did you get into beauty pageants being a
3 Ivorian wrestlers have disappeared at the Francophone Games in France. 21 athletes in total have disappeared during the games. It is suspected that they may have used the games to illegally enter the country.
Tanzanian Police cleared an area surrounding a Lutheran church in Dar Es Salaam after hearing of a suspected bomb. On investigation, however, the ‘bomb’ turned out to be a device used to record the weather for the local airport.
Integration, define the word. People of different cultures, background, different nationals , different mindsets coming together as one, respecting each others cultures and way of life.
Femi Ologbojo SHEKET CEO - Shoemuzik Pageants are synonymous with beauty, what’s your definition of a ‘Beautiful’ girl? Not to step on anyone’s toes. I would say a natural woman, intelligent, conscience of what she wants to be, kind at heart, a woman that has all the features of a natural African woman. I have nothing against anyone indulging themselves, but personally all the borrowed stuff that women adorn themselves with these days is the complete opposite of what i would define as beauty. One might ask what does a man know about Beauty and pageants? True. You have to take the time to educate yourself on whatever subject or project you are venturing into as to understand it’s ground work, challenges and benefits. I think everything has to do with creativity, the knowledge you have in your head must be transformed into creativity. I have taken the time to educate myself on my chosen field and aspire to give nothing but the best to the public. What are the challenges you find yourself faced with? Visa’s are a huge issue, i find dealing with the Embassies the most difficult thing to do. Visa’s can be denied last minute without any tangible reason,
Are you a ladies man, considering that you spend most of your time in the company of women/ ladies? I believe every man is a ladies man and every woman should interest every man. I was married for 11 years, unfortunately got divorced 2 years ago, like you said I am always around women, in order not to lose focus, I must restart my family life. I am glad that i have found a woman of my choice to ground me. Can you define Africa in the past and future. My own definition of Africa in the past is of a people who have been intimidated, suppressed, oppressed and have been denied, a people that are scared to express themselves in anyway. These are people that their values and culture has been taken away from them, and forced into another way of life‘Civilization’ which has affected our mindsets, woman and children. Our children find it backwards and uncool to speak their own native dialect and believe every propaganda that is being projected by the western media. But the tide has changed as we have realized that we have to take our destiny into our own hands and we are at it. We are now bringing our own way of life to them without any apologies. Economically, we are gradually catching up with the world, educationally, we have arrived. Professionally, we have built ourselves up from dust to stardom. WE ARE SET TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO RENDER ANY APOLOGY FOR IT. UNITY, LOVE AND SUPORT!!!! TOGETHER WE CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS.
CULTISTS ARRAIGNED FOR KILLING MAN WHO REJECTED INVITATION
By Mordi Michael
COTE D’IVOIRE
What has been your peak professionally and personally? I have had a few highs but I haven’t gotten there yet so the struggle still continues.
How do you balance work with your family life? I would say i am very fortunate, my ex-wife was very understanding and she is a musician so it all just fell into place and my son grew up around this lifestyle and adapted to it. Work became spending time with the family as well, my wife singing in the choir so you would have her on vocals and me on the drums. My ex-wife released a gospel album and I was very influential on that. I was lucky to have been married to someone that shared my dream and supportive of it as well. Is it only African artist you work with (why) ? Yes, I have nothing against anyone, I just believe in my people and culture. I believe we have to propagate where we are coming from, expose our ideas and culture. Europeans have this misconception about Africa and they also believe that nothing good can come out of Africa. It is up to us to prove them wrong that we have so many things they can appreciate. They came to us and brought their own way of life, called it‘civilization’and we had little choice but to adapt to it. The only way I can contribute to that is by promoting our culture, music, language and artists. It is difficult but it is part of the integration that everyone is talking about, but i must say they are slowly getting there.
By Lihle and of course no one considers the fact that we have made plans and money was spent. Do not fail to remember that the money you are spending is your own personal money. I find it very disrespectful and arrogant. The African Embassies, well thats a different story all together, you would think that they would be the one office that will back you up at any time. Instead they are the ones that will break you down, uncooperative and discouraging. If your own officials don’t respect and believe in you and your ideas, how then do you expect a foreigner to?. “ The Embassy does nothing to assist, i have done my projects without them”. We are no longer begging and no successful artists in Africa would want to come here and not go back, because 1. They are respected at home. 2. They make a very good living in Africa so none of them would want to abscond and seek Asylum when they are masters of their destinies back home. RESPECT.
Two alleged cultists, Nicodemus Jeremiah and Abideen Nuru have been taken before an EbuteMeta Magistrate court for allegedly killing one Dike Onyeani, 24 by shooting him “on his head”. The incident was said to have occured at Amosu Igboro,in the Ijanikinarea of Lagos. It was learnt that the two accused,who were members of the Eiye confraternity had allegedly been putting the deceased under pressure to join the group. He was however said to have rejected the invitation. On august 14 2013, it was alleged that some members of the group abducted Onyeani. He was said to have been later shot in the head with a locally made pistol. People living around the scene of the incident were said to have alerted the police leading to the arrest of the
accused. They were arraigned on two counts of murder. The charges read in part “that you Nicodemus, Jeremiah,Abideen Muniru and others now at large on the 14th day of august 2013 at about 8.50pm at Amosu Igboro area Ijanikin Lagos,in the Lagos magisterial District did conspire together to commit felony to wit murder. The prosecutor,Seargent Cousin Adam said the offences were punishable by sections 231,221 of the criminal law of Lagos state, Nigeria 2011. The defendants’ pleas were not taken. Adam applied that the defendants be remanded in prison custody pending the advice from the Directorate of public prosecution (DPP). The defence counsel,O.O.Sanu however said there was no ground to remand the defendants. He said “the law provides that there must be probable cause for remand.
The charge against the defendants is murder,whereas the police in Form K attached to the charge,said they did not find any exhibit,no fingerprint evidence and no confessional statements”. He said the police were only relying on eye witnesses’ account which was not enough to sustain the murder. Sanu said the court should strike out the matter as the ground for murder was non-existent. The prosecutor,however said one of the accused confessed to the crime,adding that the error in the form was caused by the investigating police offer. The magistrate Mrs M.O.Tanimola,howe ver said there was probable cause of remand. She remanded the defendants in prison pending the DPP’s legal advice. The matter was adjourned till October 14.
12 AFRICAWORLD SEP 16 -30 2013
NEWS/gossip
family CORNER
PDP MINI-CONVENTION: TWO SERVANTS OF ONE MASTER
Djibouti The prime minister of Somalia, Abdi Farah Shirdon, has attended the construction of two new seaports in Djibouti’s capital. Mr Shirdon said he hopes the ports’ success will help Somalia’s own development, as it has Africa’s largest coastline.
Egypt an army conscript was killed and seven others were wounded following a car bombing at a checkpoint in Northern Sinai. Militancy has risen sharply in Egypt since the ousting of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi.
Malagasy judo fighters Asaramanitra Ratiarison and Chang Ling Janeiro have been eliminated from the second round of the 2013 WorldJudo Championships. Norbert Elias is the only remaining Malagasy to continue.
Eritrea two Ethiopia-based Eritrean rebel groups have agreed to join forces to carry out military attacks against E r i t r e a ’s harsh dictatorship. The groups hope to topple the regime and install a democratic government.
A political party has been defined as a system of interdependent activities characterised by a high degree of rational direction of behaviour towards ends that are objects of common acknowledgment and expectation. It is different from other social groups, such as labour unions and other associations, because of the unique functions a political party performs for the system, such as a platform for the generation of public opinion and sharing of national cake. The major political parties in Nigeria are the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the infant All Progressive Congress (APC). The PDP had a crack in its leadership echelon immediately after their national election in 2012. So many allegations have been levelled against the party chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur. The allegations range from a large spirit of despotism to undemocratic tendencies, the side-lining of core leaders of the party and unexplained, unresolved crisis of the party. One would expect that the allegations would be investigated but the reverse is the case. The hypocritical apology to some governors was not enough as his arrogance suggests. Although Tukur has set the bar far lower than the most incompetent of his predecessors, those asking for his resignation are asking more than is appropriate for their own good. This is because there has been a rumour making the rounds that some members of the renegade group known as the ‘new PDP’ are in the process of registering a new political party called the ‘Voice of People’ and some others have registered a party called the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM). The walk-out of the miniconvention by six serving governors and a former Vice President put paid to the speculation. The promoters of the PDM and VOP have merged to create a fragile and inchoate clique inside the largest party in Africa. It is obvious that they are on their way out but not without leaving the house built on an umbrella tattered for future disuse. No doubt these tenants have gotten the prerequisite registration jingo that every
budding political party needs. There is no future in any political party; the future lies in the man who runs the party. The renegade group is composed of men of complex public figures brimming with contradictory history, men who can raise up their head anywhere in the world and answer questions on party formation and their roles on governance, men with an expansive world view that fits the new orbit. One could not have expected a smooth merger of canonical politicians like Sule Lamido and Atiku Abubakar but for the spoiler’s task. They are not where they ought to be but where they want to be. The union of this handsome and smart thinking duo may not experience a cock crow if you are familiar with the history of the patrimonial network of lobbyists and desperate front chair seekers. It is a clear case of monkeys asking to be sent out to rescue a deer from the mouth of a tiger. The PDP is run as factions and caucuses with many big men posing as members of the Board of Trustees and others posing as Elders and Leaders of the party on the one hand and the President’s men on the other. The collision between the arms of the party and the official leaders of the party is inevitable from time to time. Factional form of rebellion is responsible for the crass irresponsibility of the ruling class. All those belching fire today are those that have recognised factions in one way or the other. The faction baton passed to the Nigeria Governor’s Forum and the National Youth Council of Nigeria has returned to the ruling People’s Democratic Party of Nigeria. With the mischievous factional intention of stirring the country’s political hornet’s nest, it is indeed action-packed but unexemplary. The new PDP has murder in its eyes. The members desire to strangle anybody on their way. The precedent that informed the factional rebellion is fast becoming sturdy. The servants are supposed to be in the service of the people under the guardianship of the chief servant, which is the commander in chief. The problem starts when the chief servant wants to assume the position of master of the rolls.
He will end up controlling many and loosing grip of all. The new PDP will not achieve anything of value in terms of addressing the real weakness of Tukur’s leadership because the stakes rose for reasons related to the 2015 s u cce s s i o n . Th e factionalisation of Nigeria’s political structure will denigrate to a point where there will be more than one Governor in a state in Nigeria soon. Two government houses or perhaps more than one police force. Principle is stronger than any principality. An opportunist that changes his toga overnight to “principle man” will undoubtedly ruffle the feathers of those who held the ladder at the receiving end. In this case they are at the top of their voice shouting to the beneficiary to climb down. My bother is that his iron apparel is likely to be ruffled. Between Governor Rotimi Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan, the former is smarter and his actions are legalistic. The latter rode on the tiger of opportunism for too long and he is now a meal for that voracious lion. The events tally but the spin differs, the times and national mood are different but the job is the same. The way out is not to bow out but stand up to the expectations and needs of poorer members of the holders of the nation’s sovereignty. The people who hold sovereignty jealously are aware that guns and barracks are not essential to a coup d’état. The confusion trailing the ruling elites with no end in sight is an opportunity to pull out the chaff from the benefits of oil rich resources. It was a rude awakening and not political insomnia to many. The pseudo cure in the name of harmonisation swill lead the country to more perdition. Regional apostasy is the lexicon of opportunists which the electorate can now muster for the first time in a difficult history. The people are suspicious of a system that tolerates d i s h o n e s t y, harbours incompetence, admires inaction and promotes factional leadership, which in other climes are crimes with varying degrees of punishment. Socio-economic vagaries and injustice have shaped our democratic space into a casino
By AIGBOKHAN PRESIDENT, ESQ.
where many hands are participating in the spinning. Repeating victory may be elusive without ambitious collaboration and the supporting participation of the teeming masses. It is worth noting that party alliance and opposition has never captured the essence of party formation. The desire is cast in doubt and subterfuge where many of the emerging politicians or party leaders are manifestly and conspicuously under-serving us. Human investment mobilises the people effortlessly. If a man empties his purse on the masses no one can take them from him. An investment in the people pays the best of interest. The result is that it enthrones the real servants of the master. The people remain the master and not president as they are deceived into believing. What is worrisome if not perplexing is that the party leaders and the commander-in- chief assume the position of master with intractable challenges in the quandaries of role playing. It is foolhardy for the opposition to be shameful of what is gainfully going on. They are all the same. Rolling stones don’t gather moss. In a highly leveraged political environment, either you live or you die. Either you lead the pack or fight those leading the pack. It is a game of hope against hope; it is a free-forall fight, a game of victims or villains. The people must spy to see who do the job better. The masses must work their fringes to the core in order to promote and enhance the development of the country. As a conscious and critical follower of democracy, my prayer is that the PDP come back soon, fit as a fiddle, not because I may vote for them but because the political process need to be more competitive. It is important to interrogate this seminal event in our history. The new political turnaround is equivalent to a midnight child, a monster infant. As we have seen, it is a strategy imbued with mystical portents. Perhaps it is a toolbox for opposition or alternative emulation. How we handle it will certainly determine Nigeria’s survival. The leaders of the party must deploy a combination of foolishness and wisdom to harmonise the warring groups. Deploy stern resistance and untiring compromise; it is only then that the labour of our heroes past will not be in vain.
Ethiopia religious leaders from various Christian and Muslim backgrounds have come together to call on Ethiopians to strengthen the country’s unity, whilst working towards Ethiopia’s development goals.
Gabon have started giving away its .ga internet domain names for free. Anyone can now register any .ga domain name within or outside Gabon for free. The move is hoped to increase e-commerce in the state.
Zimbabwe’S Jonathan Moyo has been reappointed as the country’s Information Minister. The Minister is notorious for attacking media groups. Having arrested dozens of journalists during his previous term in office, he became known as the ‘media hangman’.
A Hypnotized and Separated Father of Three Caught in a Hot and Wild Romance Lets continue to open the fowl’s nyansh. The story of the perennial bachelor will soon become a case study of sorts amongst the movers and shakers of Dublin because of the volumes of lies, concoction, brags and hideousness with which he always con his estranged female lovers. Many of his closed friends had seen him struggle in his previous relationship and even without being told, they had seen the glow of happiness that he basked in when the hypnotized lover met his single mother and off course, this glow of happiness always comes with a price. At the moment his close friends could see the pain and bitterness the hypnotized lover was in as he relayed his tale to them after a knife was put to the string that held them together that led to them fallen apart. Most of his friends couldn’t help but wonder how unpredictable love really is. We sometimes really have no way of choosing who we fall in love with. Most people do argue that loving with your head is the only way to avoid the pitfalls of love. I disagree with this. Barely few months into the relationship, the hypnotized and separated father spends most of his quality time with his sweetheart or ‘mama’/’mummy’as he fondly called her. It was
believed that the single mother had once served term in one of the European member state for drug related issue. The hypnotized dude had once setup €700 direct debit monthly payment for a year just to cater for some of the needs of the single mother whenever her lover is beyond reach for any financial assistance. The hypnotized father had just recently cancelled the direct debit payment with immediate effect after he caught his sweetheart redhanded cheating on him with another young male lover whom he believed has been sharing his honey-pot secretly. For the estranged single mother, making love to her is never a bore and when it comes to sex, she is insatiable and could go to any length whenever and wherever she could find some sort of avenue to release sexual tension. As a result of her unemployment status, she always use what she has to get what she wants. It was also strongly believed that the single mother has been on a list male lovers’ payroll. To be continued on next edition. Stay tuned!
LOVER BOY CAUGHT BETWEEN MOTHER AND DAUGHTER
A new hot romance is brewing hotly and almost full to the brim as a man sets his sight on a daughter and her mother. It all started around June 2012 when the pretty girl met the guy in a University northside of Dublin. Initially, it look like a school mate as they always talk academics especially assignments. However, the girl who recently turned 19, began texting her mate more often, even going to cinemas with him. In his thirties, the guy fell for her charm and craved for all the girl has to offer: brilliance, beauty, well shaped buttocks and voluptuous pair of breasts. No sooner than later, he was invited by the girl to their home as the latter’s single mum needed to know the daughter’s mates. Although the relationship was about to kick start when he came to the girl’s but mum got the better part of the young man emotional instinct. Unknown to the girl, the visit of the guy was the foreplay that would trigger a web of romance, involving wild sex, lies, heartbreak and loss of confidence. CONT NEXT EDITION
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family corner
P
s m e o
WHAT IF TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT US What if tomorrow starts without us? All the struggles wroth, And the strength gone thus, When zeal burst forth, And desire drove us, Ailments came thus, And the end results..........? When money filled up, And none owed us, When whips cracked forth,
On rich and poor, No mercy thus, Or pity sure, And the end results.......? What if tomorrow starts without us? All the wheelings thus, And the dealings from all, As deceit sailed forth, And none in fear could touch, Then pride puffed up, And the end result.........? When we all rejoiced, At the success thus,
Wisdom Bits
And no one we thought, Evil we doubt not, Stop all these thoughts......!!!!!!!! Before the door close thus.
Through evil wroth, And good not in thought, Mercy destroyed, And love not in thought, And the end result........? What if tomorrow starts without us? When battles we fought, And wars we won, When tears flowed on, And blood burst forth, When in joy we rejoiced, And the end result......? When for fame we worked, And fortune we touched, Without mercy we fought,
MICHAEL MORDI
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- The lips that cajoled soup seasoning will later taste it Meaning Do not rush to conclusion
- An indigent does not take the title of a wealthy man Meaning Do not make false claim
- No matter how big a neck is, on top must always sit a head Meaning No one is beyond authority
- Emergency situation determines a great man Meaning Discipline is a trait of greatness
- When a woman decide to make the soup watery, her man will learn to dent the foofoo before reaching the soup. Meaning One should learn to change tactics to suit a situation.
- All that glitters are not gold Meaning The eyes can be deceptive
F O L K TA L E The Wise Ant
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recipe column
NKWOBI
by Genevieve Agorua
Ingredient
-crayfish -goat Legs -maggi -palm oil -grounded potash -utazi leaf [akanwu] -grounded pepper -onion -salt
Cooking
In the land of insects, there lived two friends, Locust and Soldier Ant, who shared one nest. They were fortunate in that they had abundant harvest because of heavy rainfall that blessed their land and made their farm crops to blossom. As a result, there was much to eat, drink, merry and enough to store for many months. Just after the season’s superfluous harvest, the Village Clairvoyant predicted that a great famine was going to strike and that it would last for two years because the gods of rain were directing the course of the rain to another planet for a more beneficial course. When the Village Town-Crier heard this prediction, he went throughout the community, for many days, and warned everyone that there was a prophecy of a horrible famine to come. He advised everyone to “Store yams and food crops in their barns because teeth would be gnashed if people failed to do so.” The Soldier Ant called all his friends and asked them to assist him to store as much food as they could while they were waiting for the great famine. Whilst the Soldier Ant and his friends were loading their barns and houses, the Locust was occupied with merrymaking and eating and drinking and not stocking any excesses. The Soldier Ant saw this with great sadness and advised the Locust that to cut back in his choice of lifestyle. He warned him about the impending famine and told him to “save for the future because the strength of one’s tomorrow lies in their actions today”, he said. For the time being, the Soldier Ant continued stocking much food. He even dug underground holes and built mud-like hill houses at the top to store food. As predicted, the wave of famine struck with rancour and before too long, some of the insects, especially, the Locust, began to starve. The vengeance of the famine persisted and the Soldier Ant started to face the risk of losing all his food reserves to other lazy insects. He fled from the village and went to live in his new underground home that was fortified, and also filled with food reserves. After he abandoned the village, the Locust was afraid that he was going to starve to death and started looting and stealing from other animals. The stock that the Locust stole, however, did not last long and he starved to death like a pauper, because of his laziness.
Cut the goat legs into pieces and wash thoroughly with sponge & warm water. Put the meat in a large pot, season with onion, little of salt, a cube of maggi, then allow it to boil for 40 mins. When the meat is done, pour out into a bowl with some of the stock. Put a clean pot on fire & put 2 cooking spoons of palm oil, warm it slightly, add a piece of grounded potash not upto quarter of tea spoon, depending on the quantity of the goat meat. Then cover it for like 1 minute. Then stir it vigorously until a thick mash is formed. Stir in the mixture of 1 table spoon of pepper, 2 or 3 tablespoon of crayfish, 1 medium size of onion,1 cube of maggi, little salt to taste, then cover and let it steam for 3 to 5 minutes. Pour it into a Mortar or traditional earthenware bowls. Then garnish with fresh Utazi leaves & sliced onions & serve with chilled palm wine or any other drink.
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HARVEST & BAZAAR @ AFRICAN CATHOLIC CHAPLAINCY The Annual Harvest and Thanksgiving Bazaar of the Dublin African Catholic Chaplaincy was held in National Show Centre Sword.
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16 AFRICAWORLD SEP 16 -30 2013
lecture series