African Voice Newspaper by African Voice Newspapers UK

Friday, 3 May 2013 – Thursday, 9 May 2013

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ISSUE 480

SINCE 2001

B R I TA I N ’ S N O . 1 A F R I C A N N E W S PA P E R

£1.00

Human rights’ Defence HQ and NEMA conflicting reports on Baga

Rejected Gamu turns the tables on X Factor

SEE PAGE 9

SEE PAGE 15

High-value car burglars jailed

War waged on deportation ‘delay tactics’

SEE PAGE 14

MoJ to curtail Judicial Reviews into immigration rulings By Alan Oakley

Changes to the justice system will come into force this summer which will limit the right to challenge decisions made by the UK immigration authorities.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling announced the measures which will bar some people from bringing ‘judicial review’ against immigration decisions and increase the costs of doing so. Mr Grayling claims that immigration solicitors have been using Judicial Review as ‘a cheap delaying tactic’ and he is therefore determined to limit its use. 77 per cent of Judicial Reviews are brought in immigration cases. Judicial Review is a legal proceeding whereby someone who believes that a public body (such as the Home Office) has made an unlawful or incorrect decision can apply to the UK’s High Court for a ruling that the decision was wrong in law. The court can order the public body to reconsider its

decision and to pay damages. Mr Grayling and officials at the UK’s Ministry of Justice (MoJ) are concerned that the number of Judicial Review applications has been rising in recent years. There were 6,692 applications in 2007 and 11,359 in 2011. Of those made in 2011, 8,734 were against immigration decisions. Mr Grayling says that immigration solicitors have been using Judicial Review to delay deportation of their clients even when they have no realistic chance of success. He points to the low success rate in Judicial Reviews to support his case: Of the 8,734 judicial reviews of immigration decisions brought in 2011, only 31 (0.35 per cent) were ultimately successful. He says that solicitors apply anyway because, even where an application for Judicial Review is ultimately unsuccessful, it can hold up a deportation considerably.

Continued on page 2

Sadiq Khan MP believes only well-resourced, powerful organisations will be able to bring judicial reviews under the new rules

Friday, 3 May 2013 – Thursday, 9 May 2013

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Have You News GotNews UK Aid Cut Decision Upsets SA For Us Newsdesk: 020 7274 3933

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

Change to family visitor visa right of appeal The Home Office is removing the full right of appeal for applicants refused leave to enter the UK as a family visitor. On 25 April 2013 Royal Assent was given to a clause in the Crime and Courts Bill, published on 10 May 2012, which will allow the change to be pushed through. The change is expected to come into force on or soon after 25 June 2013. The new appeal arrangements will apply to anybody who applies to enter the UK to visit a family member on or after the implementation date. By removing the right of appeal, the Home Office is bringing the family visitor visa in line with all other visitor visa categories. Applicants who are refused can re-apply addressing the reasons for refusal instead of appealing. This, the Home Office says, will be quicker and cost less than an appeal. In 2011-12 95% of applications were decided within 15 days, whereas the appeal system can take up to 8 months to deliver a result.

Publisher and Editor-In-Chief Mike Abiola Editorial Board Adviser Dr Ola Ogunyemi News Editor Emmanuel Urhiofe Sub Editor Alan Oakley Sports Editor Abiodun Teriba Assist. Sports Editor Olubunmi Omoogun Arts Editor Golda John Columnists Michael Adekoya Rasheed Ogunlaru Photo Journalist Isaac Adegbite Graphic Designer Alvin Brown Legal Adviser Godwin Okri London Office: Unit 7 Holles House Overton Road London SW9 7AP

Tel: 020 7274 3933

Email: africanvoicenews@gmail.com

African Voice is published by African Voice UK.

The South African government has noted with regret the unilateral announcement by the government of the United Kingdom regarding the termination of the Official Development Aid to South Africa as from the year 2015.

This is such a major decision with far reaching implications on the projects that are currently running and it is tantamount to redefining our relationship. Ordinarily, the UK government should have informed the government of South Africa through official diplomatic channels of their intentions and allowed for proper consultations to take place, and the modalities of the announcement agreed on. We have a SA/UK Bilateral Forum which is scheduled for some time this year and the review of the SA/UK strategy which includes the ODA, would take place there and decisions about how to move forward were expected to be discussed in that forum. This unilateral announcement no doubt will affect how our bilateral relations going forward will be conducted. We are however looking forward to the SA/UK bilateral forum later this year to clear up this matter among others.

International Development Secretary Justine Greening Cutting developmental aid would have far-reaching implications on projects currently running in South Africa, spokesman Clayson Monyela said. “This is tantamount to redefining our relationship. Ordinarily the UK government should have informed the South African

government through official diplomatic channels of their intentions,” he said. Monyela said consultation on the modalities of the aid cut would have led to an agreement between the two countries. “We have a SA-UK bilateral forum which is scheduled this year and the review of the SA-UK strategy, which includes the ODA [official development aid] would take place there. Decisions about how to move forward were expected to be discussed in that forum,” he said. “This unilateral announcement will affect our bilateral relations.” He said the issue would still be discussed at the bilateral forum. International Development Secretary Justine Greening made the announcement to end the aid programme at a conference of African ministers and business leaders in London. She described South Africa as “the region’s economic powerhouse and Britain’s biggest trading partner in Africa”. “I have agreed with my South African counterparts that South Africa is now in a position to fund its own development,” she said. “It is right that our relationship changes to one of mutual co-operation and trade, one that is focused on delivering benefits for the people of Britain and South Africa as well as for Africa as a whole.”

Continued from front page

War waged on deportation ‘delay tactics’ This is because of the way the Judicial Review procedure works. Before a Judicial Review can be brought, the solicitor must first apply for permission to judicially review a decision. A single judge will consider an application for permission by reading the papers presented by the applicant’s solicitor. He will decide whether the papers disclose an arguable case. If they do, then the judge will grant permission to the applicant to apply for Judicial Review. If they do not, he will refuse permission. In 2011, of the 8,734 applications for permission made, only 607 (7 per cent) were granted leave to apply for Judicial Review. It took an average 83 days (nearly three months) for each unsuccessful application for permission to be dealt with. Where the judge granted leave to apply for Judicial Review, it took 275 days (nine months) for the review to be completed. Only 31 (5 per cent) of those 607 decisions were found to have been unlawful. In order to limit the number of applications Mr Grayling has proposed the following changes • A new £215 fee to be paid by applicants who wish to appear before a judge to argue their case after being refused permission to apply for Judicial Review • Barring people from applying for a hearing in person where their case is found

to be ‘totally without merit’ by the judge Mr Grayling said ‘Judicial Review should be used by people who have carefully considered whether they have proper grounds to challenge a decision. We are changing the system so it cannot be used anymore as a cheap delaying tactic’. However, the opposition justice spokesman Sadiq Khan has condemned the changes. He said they would result in more ‘unlawful decisions going unchecked’. Mr Khan said: “The prime minister claims that judicial review is stifling economic growth. This is nonsense. The lack of economic growth is due to the government’s economic policies not due to unlawful decisions being challenged. “No government is above the law. It is essential that where a government or other public body has acted unlawfully a judge can hold them to account. That’s why ministers need to guarantee that these proposals will not insulate government decisions from legal challenge or remove this crucial check and balance on their power. “Recent history has shown the importance of Judicial Reviews in exposing shoddy and unlawful government decision-making – whether it be the disastrous west coast mainline franchising or the botched cancelling of Building Schools

for the Future. Making challenges more difficult will result in an increased number of unlawful decisions going unchecked and local charities, residents associations and communities groups will be squeezed out, leaving only the well-resourced, powerful organisations able to bring Judicial Reviews.” A spokesperson for the Immigration Law Practitioners Association said that there has been insufficient consultation and said that that the figures were misleading as in many cases where a Judicial Review application is made, a settlement is reached before the matter comes to court. This suggested that ‘far from being unmeritorious, or deliberate ‘delaying’ tactics, the claims were properly and responsibly brought and conducted, and that the parties managed to achieve a resolution of the claim without using further court time and resources.’ The Ministry of Justice backed down on two other proposed changes following objections from judges and others. It had wanted to impose time limits for appeals in ongoing cases where it would be difficult to work out when the clock might start running. It also decided not to prevent Judicial Reviews being taken when cases had already been subject to an earlier judicial decision.

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Friday, 3 May 2013 – Thursday, 9 May 2013

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Opinion

Nigeria’s new realities in a changing world By Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru

Nigeria’s President Jonathan

n Guinea Bissau, it was President Jonathan that negotiated a peaceful resolution of the crisis and prevailed on the coup leaders from executing their detained erstwhile Presidents and Prime Ministers and facilitated their safe passages out of the country. Our desire to enthrone democracy in Mali is in our national interest, as the connection between the terrorists in Northern Mali and elements of Boko Haram has been established. The plan of the terrorists and criminal gangs that took over Northern Mali was to take over the whole of Mali, and use the territory as a platform to destabilise the whole of ECOWAS region with Nigeria as the prime target. It is therefore naive of any academician, political scientist or analyst to suggest that Nigeria should not intervene or take a back seat position in Mali. If the French had not intervened at the time they did, the situation in Mali will have been different today. Nigeria and indeed all members of the AU are grateful for the French intervention but Nigeria has risen to the occasion by taking the lead to ensure that the military campaign in Mali is now African led. Nigeria has committed over 1200 troops to the UN-mandated African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) under the command of our own Major General Shehu Abdulkadir. In post Arab spring crisis and civil war in Libya when the leadership in Africa and the African Union were in total disarray, with no clear path to follow, it was Nigeria’s timely intervention in the recognition of the then Transitional National Council (TNC) that showed the way for other African countries to follow. Within a few days of Nigeria’s announcement, majority of Member States of the African Union, hitherto sitting on the fence, followed our lead. 4

The commitment to principle of defending democracy informed Nigeria’s timely decision to support the aspiration of the Libyan people for freedom and democracy. Nigeria’s position was dictated by our national interest and not influenced by any foreign power. The immediate result of Nigeria’s action was the protection of our nationals that remained in the country during the civil war. Today Nigeria and Libya are working together to resolve the challenges in Africa. Strategic Partnerships and Economic Diplomacy In a bid to encourage and promote the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment into the country, Nigeria has signed bilateral agreements and MOUs with several countries in the areas of trade, technological cooperation, ICT, education, culture/tourism, etc. The increased exchange of high level visits between Nigeria and other countries of the world have enhanced Nigeria’s bilateral cooperation with these countries. Such high level meetings have been able to attract considerable investment portfolios to the country. The Bi-National Commission with the United States of America, Germany, Canada and South Africa continue to deepen the gains which the current Administration has made in Trade & Investment, Energy, Security, Agriculture, Good governance, Health and Education sectors. The Bi-National Commission with Germany, signed on 2 December, 2011, covers the areas of Power and Energy, Trade and Investment, Political Consultation and Education, Immigration and Cultural matters. Some of the projects under the German BNC relate to Power Generation, Re-forestation, Emission Control and Capacity Building for Research in Solar Power Energy for Universities. Some of these projects include: £65 Million 30 megawatts Kiri Dam, in partnership with the Adamawa State Government; £50 Million 20 Megawatts Yola Solar Power Station; £1.5 Billion 450 Megawatts Gombe Coal to Power Station; 450 Megawatts National Independent Power Project (NIPP) Geregu Power Station, Phase II in Ajaokuta, the Pilot Solar Power Plants for the Universities of Ibadan, Lagos, Sokoto and Bayelsa.. The Bi-National Commission (BNC) between Nigeria and the US has injected fresh confidence into the Nigerian economy to the extent that, Nigeria has become a new destination for US businesses and entrepreneurs. This has significantly increased Foreign Direct Investment from the US into Nigeria. The Commission operates under five (5) Working Groups, designed to cover literally all aspects of US-Nigeria relations, including assistance in capacity building, technical support, funding, security collaboration and the environment. Several projects and investments are flowing into the country to create jobs for our youths. Proctor and Gamble is constructing a factory to manufacture health materials in Agbara, Ogun

State, while General Electric is investing USD 1billion and has commenced the construction of a factory in Port-Harcourt to manufacture Gas turbines to serve Nigerian and African markets. A foreign direct investment inflow of $US54 million is being executed with Mexico to develop agriculture plantations for cultivation of pineapple and other crops for export to the European Union market. Our relations with other emerging markets and huge economies such as China have also been robust. Apart from the involvement of China in the development of infrastructure and construction, the country has granted a soft loan of $500 million for the construction of a light rail in and around Abuja. A 50-bed capacity hospital, donated by China is currently under construction in Abuja. From the foregoing, it is clear that quite a handful has fallen into the basket in terms of foreign investment inflow into Nigeria. Thus, according to United Nations World Investment report for 2012, the FDI inflows into Nigeria reached about USD8.9bn, far higher than in previous years. The projects generated from these would create jobs for our unemployed youths and wealth for the populace. A component of the country’s economic diplomacy is the involvement of the Organized Private Sector (OPS). More than ever before, the OPS is active in a number of African countries and continue to receive the active support of the Government abroad. From Ethiopia in the Horn of Africa, Kenya in East Africa and to Cameroun, Senegal, Ghana, etc in Central and West Africa, the Ministry and its missions in these countries have been supporting the businesses and operations of Nigerian businessmen, especially financial institutions and factories. Nigeria has continued to earn more respect in the international community despite lingering domestic challenges. While we have experienced some security challenges locally, this has not affected the goodwill, friendship and partnerships that Nigeria continues to enjoy in the comity of nations. Indeed, we have continued to receive official delegations and visitors from all countries seeking to engage with us, to invest in Nigeria’s economy and exchange views on important issues of common interest and concern. Hardly does any week pass without the visit of one high-level delegation or the other; just as we are also received and respected abroad. As a testimony to Nigeria’s strategic importance in the comity of nations, Mr. President has undertaken several trips to many countries abroad, where he was received very warmly by his hosts and the resident Nigerian community in those countries. It is encouraging that, in the past two years, a good number of countries have invited President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, to undertake State, Official or Working visits to their countries. The President has, in turn, played host to Heads of State

and Government and delegations from all over the world, including high-level visits by Prime Minister of Britain, the German Chancellor, the Presidents of Brazil, Indonesia, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, the Presidents of Lebanon and Poland, including the French Foreign Minister, the former US Secretary of State, to mention a few of the Special Envoys and Emissaries from various countries. On 15 April 2013, the South African President Mr Jacob Zuma is expected in Abuja to consult with President Jonathan. This is a clear illustration of the goodwill towards our country and the desire of other countries to engage Nigeria in recognition of her strategic place and role in world affairs. One of the major challenges facing Nigeria’s foreign policy is the plight of Nigerians in prisons abroad. Over 9,000 Nigerians are in various prisons all over the world, the highest number of 752 being recorded in the UK. Most of them are concentrated in the Asia-Pacific with many of them on death row. Given these alarming numbers and the imperative need to find creative solutions to the plight of these Nigerians, we convened Regional Seminars of Nigerian Heads of Missions in six centres. The Seminar for the AsiaPacific region took place from 4 – 5 April 2013. At the end of the Seminar, the Heads of Mission made far-reaching recommendations, including the need to raise awareness in Nigeria on the dangers and perils of irregular migration as well as involvement in transnational crimes, especially drug trafficking. In the immediate term, the Missions have been directed to explore the conclusion of Prisoner Exchange Agreements with the various countries, to ensure that those prisoners in foreign jails are repatriated home in dignity to complete their jail terms. Some commentators on Nigeria’s foreign policy have reacted to the challenge of inadequate funding by suggesting that we close some of Nigeria’s missions abroad. It is argued that that since Government is unable to fund the over 100 Missions, it would be better to close some and use the savings to properly support the remaining ones. This, to me is a desperate solution that fails to address the fundamental problem of inadequate funding and the imperative need to promote and defend Nigeria’s national interests in a changing world. This approach has never worked as we have tended to open and close Missions in a cyclical movement that creates more problems than solutions. First, closure does not necessarily translate to savings. The Government would reduce the overall budget of the Ministry by the same amount that would have been deployed to the closed missions. It will not be spread to the existing ones. Second, the cost of closing and winding down is far greater than re-opening. Third, when we close Missions, we damage relations that have taken years to build.

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Friday, 3 May 2013 – Thursday, 9 May 2013

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News

UK to commence immunisation of children and the elderly

Older people are most at risk if they get shingles

Millions more people will be protected against disease by improvements to the UK’s world class immunisation schedule, including three vaccination programmes to protect against flu, shingles and diarrhoea.

All children aged two around 650,000 in total will be offered a nasal flu vaccine from September 2013 as part of a comprehensive vaccination programme. A small number of pilots to vaccinate primary and pre-school aged children will run in some areas to make sure the NHS is ready to roll out the programme to all pre-school and primary school children next year. Pilots for secondary school children will run in some areas in 2014 in order to roll out the programme nationwide in 2015.

There will also be a shingles vaccination programme for people aged 70, with a catch-up programme for those aged up to, and including, 79. Older people are most at risk if they get shingles and a vaccination programme will prevent nearly 40 per cent of the 30,000 cases seen every year in people over 70. The programme will begin in September 2013 and it is estimated that around 800,000 people will be eligible for the vaccine in the first year. A rotavirus vaccination programme will start in July 2013 when children under four months will be vaccinated against rotavirus. A highly infectious bug that causes around 140,000 diarrhoea cases a year in under fives. It leads to hospital stays for nearly one in ten around 14,000 of those

who get it in the UK. It is estimated that the rotavirus vaccine will halve the number of vomiting and diarrhoea cases caused by rotavirus and there could be 70 per cent fewer hospital stays as a result. Director of Immunisation Professor David Salisbury said: “We already have a world class vaccination programme in place, which saves millions of lives each year, so I’m pleased that we will be able to protect even more people against disease starting later this year. “By offering new vaccines to two groups at the opposite end of the age scale, we can protect our most vulnerable against potentially harmful diseases. And the introduction of a teenage booster for Meningitis C will improve the protection given to young people.” Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at Public Health England said: “The introduction of the oral Rotavirus vaccine in the US and parts of Europe has had a major impact on preventing young children from developing this unpleasant vomiting and diarrhoeal disease. The vaccine is very easy to administer and involves placing a droplet of liquid into the babies’ mouths. In the countries where the vaccine has already been introduced, the uptake has been high and has resulted in rapid and sustained reductions in childhood rotavirus hospitalisations. We are excited to be offering this vaccine as part of the national infant im-

munisation programme in the UK. “As well as the rotavirus vaccine for infants, the upcoming introduction of childhood influenza and adolescent MenC immunisation programmes along with routine vaccination against shingles for older adults will all continue to contribute to our highly successful vaccination programme which we can boast in the UK” The current arrangement for protecting people against meningitis C will also be updated. A new teenage booster jab given at age 12-13 will replace the booster that is currently given at four months old as evidence shows the four-month booster is no longer required. The teenage booster jab will be offered in the 2013/14 academic year. The decisions to introduce the new vaccination programmes and updates to existing programmes were made after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. The Government’s independent vaccine experts studied all the available evidence and advised that these changes are made to protect more people against disease. The changes were announced by the Director General of Public Health in the Department of Health, the Chief Operating Officer in NHS England and the Medical Director / Director of Health Protection in Public Health England.

Friday, 3 May 2013 – Thursday, 9 May 2013

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News Privileges in UK prisons now tied to hard work and good behaviour By Milton Tella

Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright

Prison regimes will change so that convicted prisoners will work a longer day.

Justice Secretary Chris Grayling said: “It is not right that some prisoners appear to be spending hours languishing in their cells and watching daytime television while the rest of the country goes out to work. “For too long, there has been an expectation that privileges are an automatic right, given simply as a reward for staying out of trouble. This cannot continue. Prisoners need to earn privileges, not simply through the avoidance of bad behaviour but also by working, taking part in education or accepting the opportunities to rehabilitate themselves. “We have reviewed the scheme fully,

and I believe it is now something the public can have confidence in. Only by tackling bad behaviour and taking part in education or work programmes as well as addressing any alcohol or drug issues can we cut reoffending.” Prisons Minister Jeremy Wright said: “This is a big change for the prison system. Prisoners will now have to actively contribute to their own rehabilitation, help others and continue to behave well if they are to earn privileges above the basic level. “Convicted prisoners will have a longer working day and will not be allowed to watch television when they should be engaged in work or other purposeful activity. They will have to earn the right to wear their own clothes and spend money brought into the prison for them. “In short, prisoners who refuse to work or engage in their own rehab will not earn privileges until they do. The IEP system should support all this Government is seeking to achieve in improving rehabilitation and reducing reoffending.” The Secretary of State for Justice is announcing significant changes to the Incentives and Earned Privileges (IEP) scheme, which operates in all prisons. This follows a review of the scheme, ordered by Minsters last year, to reassure the public that privileges gained in prison were earned through hard work and good behaviour. Under the new policy, the absence of bad behaviour will not be enough to earn privileges, prisoners must actively work towards their own rehabilitation and help

other prisoners. The major changes are: • Movement up the levels dependent on positive engagement, not the absence of bad behaviour • A new IEP level, Entry, for all prisoners in their first two weeks of sentence where privileges, including access to private cash, will be restricted (current levels are basic, standard and enhanced) • All convicted adult male prisoners required to wear prison uniform whilst on Entry level • Offenders returning to prison for licence breaches automatically will be placed on Entry level for the first two weeks • At the end of the entry level period, prisoners who do not co-operate with the regime or engage in rehabilitation will drop to basic level and stay there until they do. Those who do will move up to standard • Prison regimes will change so that convicted prisoners will work a longer day. • Prisoners should not be allowed to

watch television when they should be working or engaging in purposeful activity • Gym access beyond the statutory entitlement will be dependent on active engagement with rehabilitation • We will change Prison Rules to increase our power to recover money from prisoners to pay for damage to prison property • Subscription channels removed from private prisons • A national standardised list of activities and items available for each level from which governors may choose what is appropriate for their prison • Certificate 18 DVDs banned from prisons • Bad behaviour will lead to a review of IEP status with the presumption of a downgrade The scheme will apply to prisoners in both public and private prisons and will not be retrospective. It will be implemented over the next six months, during which time the finer details will be worked through.

UK and UAE join forces to tackle sexual violence in Somalia £2 million of joint funding to help Somalia tackle the issue of sexual violence in conflict will be announced by Foreign Secretary William Hague and United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Minister His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The new funding, agreed during the first State Visit to the UK by the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, comes ahead of a major London conference on Somalia on 7 May at which tackling sexual violence will be discussed. The Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative (PSVI) remains one of the Foreign Secretary’s top priorities. The Federal Government of Somalia has publicly committed to improving the lives of women in Somalia, addressing the problem of sexual violence and combating the impunity which surrounds these terrible crimes. The £2 million (£1 million each from the UK and UAE) will provide support to the Federal Government, including training and

capacity-building and help for them to deliver PSVI recommendations due to be made by the United Nations Team of Experts when they visit Somalia later this year. Commenting on the announcement, Foreign Secretary William Hague said: “Women and girls in Somalia have suffered acutely from sexual violence as a result of the conflict. I am pleased that through the UK’s close partnership with the United Arab Emirates we can go some way to supporting the Federal Government of Somalia’s efforts to address this issue and improve the lives of women and girls.” His Highness Sheikh Abdullah said: “The UAE applauds the UK’s strong leadership in bringing countries together to tackle the unacceptable prevalence of sexual violence in conflict situations. Through this contribution, the UAE is delighted to be able to support the Somali government in its efforts to protect and empower women.” 7

Friday, 3 May 2013 – Thursday, 9 May 2013

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Twenty Fragile States Make Progress on MDG

espite enduring political and economic challenges, 20 fragile and conflict-affected states have recently met one or more targets under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), and an additional six countries are on track to meet individual targets ahead of the 2015 deadline, according to a new analysis released by the World Bank Group. The figures stand in stark contrast to only two years ago, when the 2011 World Development Report on Conflict, Security and Development reported that no low-income fragile or conflict-affected country had achieved a Millennium Development Goal (MDG). The analysis was released today in a paper prepared for the “Fragility Forum” event held at the World Bank and comes as the Bank embarks on a series of internal reforms to leverage its effectiveness in fragile and conflict-affected states. “This should be a wake- up call to the global community not to dismiss these countries as lost causes,” said World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim. “These signs of progress do signal that

development can and is being achieved, even amid fragility and violence. But the challenges ahead for many countries are extremely tough. While these successes offer hope, the reality is that far too many fragile and conflict-affected countries lag behind the rest of the world. We need to offer timely and critical support to improve the lives of people living in these fragile countries.” The analysis finds eight fragile and conflict affected states – including Guinea, Nepal, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Timor-Leste – have already met the goal to halve extreme poverty - the number of people living on less than $1.25 a day. Among fragile and conflict-affected states, the greatest progress has been on gender parity in education – the ratio of girls’ to boys’ enrollment in school. Countries including Kiribati, Micronesia, Myanmar, and Tuvalu have met the target, and those on track include Burundi, Chad, Republic of Congo, Timor-Leste, Nepal and Yemen. However, with less than 1,000 days to meet the MDGs deadline, and with only about 20 percent of fragile and conflictaffected countries now meeting the pov-

President Sirleaf says education is the key to transformation

erty target, the analysis says the majority of MDG goals in fragile states will not be met. The analysis, based on the Global Monitoring Report’s data, also points out progress can be reversed for countries relapsing into conflict. The signs of progress reflect accelerated development as well as better quality data and monitoring. However the analysis shows lack of data remains a challenge in many countries. “A fragile state does not mean a failed state, and we need to accelerate our efforts to replicate the progress we’ve seen and expand on what works,” said World Bank Managing Director Caroline Anstey. “We know what gets measured, gets done. So it’s vital we all continue our efforts to help countries build up their ability to collect data as they navigate the tough road ahead.” The analysis show six fragile and conflict-affected countries, including Nepal, Tuvalu, Comoros, Myanmar and Afghanistan, have already met the target on improved access to water. Guinea, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone are on track to achieve the target by 2015. Nepal stands out as the only fragile and conflict-affected state to have already reached the target on reducing maternal mortality. For women in Nepal, the chances of dying in childbirth have been

cut in half since 1996. Other fragile and conflict affected states such as Afghanistan, Angola, Eritrea, Timor-Leste and the Republic of Yemen are on track to meet the MDG on maternal health, provided their current rate of progress continues. The 20 fragile and conflict affected countries which have met one or more targets are Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Comoros, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Kiribati, Liberia, Libya, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sudan, Syria, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tuvalu, and West Bank and Gaza. Much of the Bank’s work in fragile and conflict-affected states is supported by IDA, the World Bank’s fund for the poorest, which currently has an active portfolio of 190 projects in fragile and conflict-affected states. Since 2000, IDA has provided more than $22 billion in support for fragile and conflict-affected countries, including projects immunizing about 10 million children and delivering antenatal care to about 1.5 million women. To further the impact of IDA in fragile and conflict-affected states, the Bank’s reform measures include a sharper focus on dealing with the causes of conflict and fragility, and new policies to provide more flexible and faster support.

Friday, 3 May 2013 – Thursday, 9 May 2013

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atellite images reveal massive destruction of civilian property from a military raid on April 16 and 17, 2013, in the northern Nigerian town of Baga, undermining the military’s claim that only 30 houses were destroyed, Human Rights Watch said. The Nigerian government should thoroughly and impartially investigate allegations that soldiers carried out widespread destruction and killing in the town. Baga residents told Human Rights Watch that soldiers ransacked the town after the Boko Haram militant Islamist group attacked a military patrol, killing a soldier. Community leaders said that immediately after the attack they counted 2,000 burned homes and 183 bodies. Satellite images of the town analyzed by Human Rights Watch corroborate these accounts and identify 2,275 destroyed buildings, the vast majority likely residences, with another 125 severely damaged. “The Nigerian military has a duty to protect itself and the population from Boko Haram attacks, but the evidence indicates that it engaged more in destruction than in protection,” said Daniel Bekele, Africa director at Human Rights Watch. “The glaring discrepancies between the facts on the ground and statements by senior military ofﬁcials raise concerns that they tried to cover up military abuses.” Since the attack, the military has restricted journalists’ access to Baga, a remote

fishing community on the shores of Lake Chad, 200 kilometers northeast of the city of Maiduguri. Boko Haram has destroyed mobile telephone towers in the area, claiming that security services used mobile phones to track down its members, making communication particularly difficult for survivors of the attack. Human Rights Watch interviewed seven residents of Baga who fled the town on the night of the devastation. Many survivors spent several nights hiding in the bush and expressed fear in describing what they saw, fearing military retaliation. Military officials publicly said that on the evening of April 16, Boko Haram attacked a military patrol in Baga, killing a soldier and wounding five others. Military reinforcements responded by engaging Boko Haram militants, whom the military said were armed with assault rifles, rocketpropelled grenades, and improvised explosive devices. There were running gun battles through the town, the military said. In a statement released the week following the attack, Brig. Gen. Austin Edokpaye, the commander of the troops in Baga, asserted that “[c]ontrary to media speculation that hundreds of houses were burnt down, instead, it was the explosions from Boko Haram terrorists’” weapons that “triggered fire to about 30 thatched houses.” Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan has commended the Military High Command, the National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development for their swift response to his order for im-

A woman walks past burned houses in the remote town of Baga, northern Nigeria, on April 21, 2013.

mediate action to investigate the incident in Baga, Borno state, assist and rehabilitate the victims, and make all necessary ﬁndings available to the government. President Jonathan gave the commendation after receiving preliminary reports of the investigations carried out by the Military High Command and NEMA into the incident, on Tuesday, April 30. A statement by the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati said President Jonathan also welcomed the plan by the National Human Rights Commission to carry out independent investigations. Thanking the Military High Command and NEMA for the reports, President Jonathan said that investigations must continue, and assured them of his fullest sup-

port. He further reiterated his earlier position that where any kind of misconduct is established, the Federal Government will not hesitate in ensuring that due sanctions are enforced and that justice is done. The President said that what happened in Baga, was most regrettable and unfortunate. He reafﬁrmed his full commitment to doing all within the powers of the Federal Government to speedily end the intolerable threats to national security which have necessitated such confrontations. President Jonathan will continue to work with the Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima whom he conferred with last week, to ensure that the people of Baga receive every possible relief and support to facilitate their speedy rehabilitation.

Nigeria and Canada sign investment promotion pact in Ottawa

Nigeria’s Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo

Nigeria and Canada have signed a Foreign Investment Promotion Agreement (FIPA) in Ottawa on Thursday, May 2. Vice President Mohammed Namadi

Sambo witnessed the signing ceremony, which Trade and Investment minister Dr Olusegun Aganga and his Canadian counterpart Hon Ed Fast signed for both countries. Earlier on arrival at the Canadian Parliamentary building the Vice President had held a closed door meeting with the Canadian Prime Minister Mr Stephen Harper. The meeting centred on the Nigeria-Canada Bi-national Commission and other bilateral issues. At a meeting with Hon. Ed Fast, Canadian Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Paciﬁc Gateway, the Vice President used the opportunity to update the Minister on the Administration’s Transformation Agenda, with emphasis on infrastructural development, power, transportation, and agriculture. He noted the expertise of Canada in hydro power and briefed the Minister of the progress recorded on the 700MW Zungeru power plant with the signing of the 1.3 billion dollar contract on completion; the

3050MW Mambilla power plant estimated at 6.4 billion dollars on completion; the Gurara power plant phase two being built on a PPP arrangement and which on completion will generate 360 megawatts; minerals exploration efforts, implementation of the transportation master plan, dredging of River Niger up to Baro up north and Benue river up to Adamawa. The Vice President noted that in spite of all these efforts the greatest challenge faced by the Nigerian entrepreneur is access to cheap funds. He stated that loans granted by multilateral agencies are channeled through local banks who structure them in their traditional system. He requested Canada to support the Nigerian economy. Earlier Hon. Ed Fast had used the occasion to express Canada’s gratitude over the manner the issues surrounding Manitoba Hydro was resolved. He promised to address the request by Nigeria over fumigation of her wheat imports. As regards provision of proﬁtable loans, he promised

to take a second look at Nigeria’s request noting, however, that they do not interfere with the decision making process of their banks even though they are accountable to the Minister. He solicited Nigeria’s support to stop Qatar from acquiring the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) stating that ICAO has a negotiated agreement for a further 20 years with Canada. Present at the occasion were the Governors of Akwa Ibom and Gombe States Godswill Akpabio and Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, Aganga; Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of State Power Zainab Kuchi, Sen Iyiola Omishore and Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Canada, Amb. Ojo Madueke. Vice President Sambo is in Canada for the Canada-Nigeria Investment Conference, holding in Toronto, from 2ndto 4th May 2013. The Conference is aimed at showcasing Nigeria’s investment potentials, as well as avail the robbing of minds between the Nigerian business community and their Canadian counterparts. 9

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MAY DAY: Workers Endorse Aregbeshola For Second Term

Workers in the state of Osun celebrated the workers day with an endorsement of Governor Rauf Aregbesola for second Term in Ofﬁce. Leaders of the state’s chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC); Comrade Saka Adesiyan and Comrade Oladele Adetunji, while speaking respectively at the celebration of the workers day in Osogbo, the state capital, stated that any government that places the welfare of its citizenry topmost deserves to be supported. According to labour union leaders, Mr Aregbesola’s policies has positively brought relief and succour to the masses with massive road network, dredging exercise and other physical accomplishments hence the massive support he is enjoying by workers in the state.

They also added that government among other things has fulﬁlled the agreement reached between labour and government and approved backlog of promotion arrears which has been long due. Governor Rauf Aregbesola enthusiastically commended the labour union for its patience and use of dialogue to resolve crisis rather than resorting to “strike blackmail.” Mr Aregbesola noted that no government can successfully implement its programmes and policies without workers. He then enjoined workers to cooperate with government to ensure prompt delivery of its programmes for the beneﬁt of all. Three brand new buses were later presented to the NLC, TUC and JNC. Culled from Channels Television.

L-R Mr. Ikenna Moneke, member, Mr. Collins Miller, Director, Mr. Keith Bowker, Director, Executive Governor, State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Mr. Wayney Miller, Chairman and Chief of Staff to the Governor, State of Osun, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola during a courtesy visit by Australian investors to the Governor at Government Secretariat, Abere, Osogbo

Photos: Taofeeq Adejare

From Right – Senior Manager Development Finance, Central Bank of Nigeria, Osogbo, Mrs. Adebayo Oluyemisi, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola , Acting Branch Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria, Osogbo, Mr. Macduff Efetabore and Deputy Manager, Treasuring Operating Central Bank of Nigeria, Osogbo during a courtesy visit to Governor at Government House , Osogbo

From left - Mrs Titilayo Tomori Laoye Osun State of Osun Deputy Governor, Governor Rauf Aregbesola State of Osun Governor, Mrs Funsho Adegbola (Daughter), Arch. Muyiwa Ige (Son) after the unveiling of the plague of a Hall named after Late Justice Atinuke Ige to mark her 10th anniversary at the Vale College Ibadan 10

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Recorded racial slur lands Democrat in hot water

USA

A Michigan councillor is facing a backlash after using an offensive racial slur when asked how she felt about meeting up with a black fellow ofﬁcial.

Buena Vista Township Clerk Gloria Platko is resisting demands that she step down after another local ofﬁcial, Interim Township Manager Dexter Mitchell, a fellow Democrat, taped a phone conversation in which Platko referred to Township Supervisor Dwayne Parker (also a Democrat) as “an arrogant n****r.” The recording was played during a township board meeting in front of 20 to 25 people,, including employees, law enforcement and community members. The 63 year-old Clerk later apologised for the “slip of the tongue,” but shockingly insisted that her use of the slur doesn’t make her racist, because she has “eaten Thanksgiving dinner with black friends at their house.” Mitchell said he recorded the call in

January without Platko’s knowledge because he didn’t want her to twist his words. About six minutes into the recording, Mitchell asks, “Would you be willing to sit down with (Parker)?” Platko told Mitchell that Parker is “just rubbing me the wrong way (..) He is just doing whatever he can. You know what I think of Mr. Parker right now, and I know you’re not even going to like this,” Platko said in the recording. She is subsequently heard to say: “he’s just an arrogant n****r. And I’m sorry to say it that way, but that’s the way I feel.” Gloria Platko then offered an ‘apology’ for her racist remark to an NBC reporter, saying she was “sorry to my ﬁve other board members, and I’m entirely sorry to this entire community,” she added: “I’ve eaten Thanksgiving dinner with black friends at their house, so I’m far from prejudiced. You need to go interview some of the black people who have supported me for the last four or ﬁve years.” Presenter Rush Limbaugh waded

Gloria Platko defending her use of the racial slur

into the controversy in his syndicated talk-show, saying: “If Democrat Gloria Platko thinks the highest elected Black Democrat in Buena Vista is an arrogant N-word, I wonder what she calls Obama?” On hearing of the talk-show segment, Platko responded by saying: “The only time I listen to Rush Limbaugh is for a laugh for the day.” She claims to have

India

Thailand

Nonagenarian alleged sex pest bids to evade justice

Fellow inmates help Kraus down from their prison bus

Lawyers for a 93-year-old Australian accused of sexually assaulting minors are attempting to get the three year-old case dropped due to the accused’s failing health.

Karl Joseph Kraus appeared in court in Thailand this week charged with assaulting four sisters while living in South-East Asia. Kraus had to be carried

voted for Barack Obama in both his victories and wishes he could serve a third term. Last week, the Saginaw branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) asked that Platko resign. According to Platko, she apologises for her choice of words but she will not be stepping down.

from a prison bus into a wheelchair by other inmates in order to be wheeled into the dock in Chiang Mai province, in the north of the country. He is alleged to have attacked the girls, aged between seven and 15, in 2010. After being arrested and bailed on suspicion of sex assault, Kraus attempted to ﬂee to Burma, from where he was deported for not having a valid

visa. Last month he told the Sydney Morning Telegraph, ‘I’ll be dead’ before proceedings conclude, adding ‘I’ve done nothing wrong.’ Kraus, a German-born Australian citizen, is suffering from an array of serious illnesses such as dementia and cancer, according to his lawyers. However, while free on bail he was apparently seen driving around Chiang Mai and did not seem to be in poor health. The former railway worker had been living in Thailand for more than a decade when he ﬁrst met the girls he was alleged to have abused in 2008. Thai police claimed that Kraus offered to teach the children English, and persuaded them to visit his house by offering them chocolate and money. But the girls then told their parents that the OAP had repeatedly attacked him, and the parents reported Kraus to the police. Ofﬁcials allegedly found more than 100 inappropriate child images on his computer, many of which had been emailed to addresses based outside Thailand. However, Kraus later claimed that he was told the case would be dropped if he agreed to bribe police with a sum equivalent to £10,000.

Unwanted headlines blight ancient city

Angry friends and relatives of a woman who gave birth to twins have run amok in the hospital after one of the babies died. Nurses and doctors at the hospital in the ancient city of Burdwan, West Bengal had to be treated for injuries and shock after being beaten up by several of the woman’s family. The rampaging men were caught on CCTV attacking personnel and damaging equipment after the police protection hospital staff had called for failed to arrive on time. Elsewhere in Burdwan, a 37 year-old man accused of raping and killing a 7 year-old schoolgirl is alleged to have set himself alight while in police custody. Sukanta Sarkar was in the court lockup prior to his case being heard when he set himself on ﬁre, sustaining 80% burns, police said. He was taken to the Asansol Sub-divisional Hospital. Sarkar was arrested on August 10, 2012 after the body of the girl, who had gone missing after school on August 7, was found the following day with her throat cut. 11

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Nollywood

The man, Jim Iyke & his many undoing’s

…Speaks on why he’s a rebel!

By Benjamin Njoku

ove him or loathe him, Jim Iyke is one of the very few Nollywood stars who have a knack for gaining attention. From his bad boy/lover boy movie persona to his more than fair share of media outbursts, not to mention the whole AMVCA ﬁasco, Jim Iyke has lived his life in the pages of newspapers. His controversial lifestyle has become a way of life for him, yet he’s the most sought after in the industry. In an attempt to give a new meaning to his life, Jim during the week debuted with his reality TV show on DStv called, Jim Iyke Unscripted, where he decides to unveil himself to the world. In this engaging interview, he talks about the show, the man, Jim Iyke and his many undoings. What’s Jim Iyke Unscripted all about? It’s a chronicle of my everyday life. An unbarred access into my life by cameras which capture the essence of my existence. Mostly my beliefs, my philosophy, my ideology and my everyday life. I wanted a perspective that is entirely mine so that when people choose to make judgments about me, my brand and life, they will have a second thought. For once in my life, I want people to see me in my entirety without bias and to judge me without prejudice. This is the platform for me to tell my story not doctored, unscripted and on a different platform. How long did it take you to conceptualise this idea? They have been chasing me around to actualise this dream since middle of last year. Initially, I refused doing it. But you see, I was bored while sojourning in Nollywood. It’s the same run-of-the mill. I’m not saying that Nollywood is not a great entity because it’s the industry that made me who I am today. I am eternally grateful to Nollywood. But there is need for me to move on and stop travelling in circle. I think it was at this point that the idea was born. I didn’t believe in a reality TV show. I have paid my dues in every respect. I was waiting for the time the right role will come my way. It was at that point, that Greyology Inc started managing me. According to them, I was picked because they thought I was the only person who could propagate the African brand. I felt honoured. However, in the course of our

discussion,I was eager to know the next step to take. OH Africa and AfricaMagic at that point told me that I live a very interesting life that involves travelling around the globe. In fact, I travel to an average of twelve countries every year on my own personal capacity. They were also eager to know what I do in these countries. And when I told them, they were excited, hence they suggested that we capture my travelling life through a reality TV show. Initially, I didn’t buy the idea as I never believed in a reality TV show. But on a second thought, I said to myself whether I like it or not, reality TV is the new TV show. The biggest of the names are doing it, and the ones who are not involved are trying to be part of it. TV content is becoming increasingly boring, you need to hold an audience that cut across every facet of life. And the only thing that brings them together is a reality TV show. I knew it was coming and the question is, who is going to be in the forefront when it arrives. Am I going to keep refusing and be another guy that is experimenting on an idea that has already been experimented. I have never shy away from taking bold decisions or going against the dream. They went further to argue that the entirety of my brand and my person has always been taken from the point of view of others, namely, the press, my family, my friends, people that are

not really my friends and bloggers. There has always been a story to tell about me and people have drawn conclusion based on what they read in the dailies and soft-sell magazines and created their own judgement from it. You travelled to how many countries to shoot the series? We travelled to over eight countries and ten cities to shoot the series. Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, London, Armsterdam, America, Dubai and Nigeria. In every sense of the word, it got a global perspective. Before coming up with this project, there was another project you anchored called, Jewel for Jim. What happened to the show? It was a novel idea at that point in time. But everything in life has time frame. It was about me looking for love in continental America. While I wasn’t given to it, I thought it was fun travelling from city to city. I was in America for two months, and there was this group of nice people who offered to bankroll my stay in America, just for us to have fun. They sold the idea of the project, Jewel for Jim. But at a point, a better part of me cautioned and said, hold on, this is not where you should be heading to. At that point, I pulled out. Did you ﬁnd the love you were looking for thereafter? I didn’t ﬁnd a brass. There were a lot of Latino women, Caribbean women, Af-

ricans in the diaspora. Seeing all kinds of not too delectable women. It was a bit flattery.I retraced my steps the moment I realised it wasn’t the right place for me to be. In your opinion, would you say, you have been misunderstood over the years? I have always been misunderstood. Many times when things happen, I hardly come out to state my own side of the story. This is because I hate to join issues with anybody. Nobody likes to be intensively scrutinised. I have felt that intrusion in the deepest part of my life. I think that’s what made me to rebel to some extent. You know what happens when fingers are pointed at you. I’ve seen people who do not live a normal life, yet they are first to point accusing fingers at others. The press didn’t help matters in my case. Who is paying the price? They forget that I have a family which I’m answerable to. It’s my parents who get hurt whenever wrong things are written about me. People who are dear to me probably do not find what they are doing very funny. So, while these were going on, it degenerated to the point where it became a way of life for me. It became a belief in Nigeria and Africa. And everybody that has been affiliated with my brand over the years readily embraced it. Unscripted has given me an avenue to revisit every issue that has been an issue in my life. It came up during the course of our shooting the series. One way or the other, on the social media, with the print and electronic, personal issues with friends and fans which I’ve taken actions in the wrongest forms. In such little thing as business, people do business and end up in court because of disagreement. And while it’s easy to point accusing fingers at me and call me names because I’m in the limelight and of course, pointing accusing fingers at me will make news. People forget that I’m a normal human being that is going through the normal issues in terms of business transactions. I can’t come out to claim that some people tried to defraud me because nobody knows them. At the end of the day, it takes the strongest of character to survive all the ordeals. And while I’ve survived it, it has made me stronger and wiser. Yes, I don’t shy away from life experiences and I’m not

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Nollywood But isn’t that the problem because you hardly say anything and people put words into your mouth? They don’t put words into my mouth. They put words into their own mouths. That is what informs the essence of my brand. The fact that it’s easy for people to blow things out of proportion and we create the excitement as it seems. I can’t help that course, and why I said this, is that it can’t help my brand. Personally, it caused me a great deal of distress. At the end of the day, somebody suffers for it every time the wrong conclusion is made-either somebody is doing business or about to do business with me.

ashamed of them. They don’t embarrass me because I’ve embraced them. They inform me, they order my steps, they strengthen my conviction and tell me the direction to follow. And that I think more than anything else re-enforces my philosophy. Jim Iyke has virtually achieved everything he set out to achieve, except ﬁnding the love of his life. Is Jim ever thinking of settling down? We are on it, and I’m working even harder in my career too. I don’t know anyone that works harder than I do. But again, I enjoyed my relationships on the pages of newspapers and I know it always ends adversely. So, I’ll rather keep this one very close to my chest and when we are both ready, we’ll announce to the whole world. Are you saying you are in a relationship at the moment? I didn’t say yes or no. Anybody can think whatever he or she likes.

Was it something you wanted to create; the bad boy of Nollywood? It wasn’t what I set out to create. It was forced on me to make a little noise with it. Everybody has a claim to fame and obviously, it was because of the few roles I played when I started acting which happened to be bad boy roles. So, it’s easy when you are dealing with a country where certain things are consciously embraced. Nigerians are stubborn in what they accept and it’s very hard to break it. We are very traditional thinkers. So, if Nigerians label somebody as ‘a bad person’, it becomes a trademark. Importantly, when you weigh your pros and cons, it comes to a point where you throw your hands up and surrender. As long as people that care for me, no matter how small they are, I’ll survive. It is not the best notion, but I’ve always survived. Unscripted is the wisest project for me to embark upon. What are we expecting to see in Jim Iyke Unscripted? Expect everything that’s unplanned, a risk and people with a logical view will not say or do. There are things in Unscripted that will hurt me but I just want to tell my story. I’m tired of being judged for the wrong reason. I want to give people a proper perspective. When you have a proper perspective, then,

you’re being judged in totality and not in a biased way. I just want to tell my story because I’m tired of people telling my story for me whether in good or in bad faith. Will you say it’s a way of re-branding yourself? Re-branding is making it commercial because people’s argument is that I was paid a lot of money to do it. It’s not shady and I have some kind of incentives to do this. It’s not easy to take a large number of people across the globe to shoot the series because that’s what my life is all about. It’s easier to budget myself into my day’s endeavour but to take in all lessons and everybody wants to have the best of things. So, it takes a lot of money. The returns were not shady but the focal point is to tell a story that’s been told for over a decade by people that were not in the know. Whatever anybody wants to say in the simplest form is that it came from the horse’s mouth. How do you relate with women around you? I grew up among women. It’s another thing that people ﬁnd very hard to embrace. I grew up traditionally. I have traditional Igbo parents. No matter

how enlightened you are, your people are domiciled on tradition and culture. A Nigerian is a Nigerian and trust me, I’ve travelled round the globe and I can pick our people out from a crowd of millions without saying a word. I’m a Nigerian. I propagate this gospel anywhere I go to. We are arrogant and rash, we are one in five and we cannot go unnoticed. So, when you are in a place headlining people that are smart, you have to be exceptional. Our women are the same; outgoing, strong, goal-getters even when they are doing the wrong things, they do it with an air of certainty. So, I grew up with open-minded women and if you are a man who is not strong, you may find their ways reprehensible. If you grow up in such a circle, your first friends are women. I’ve dated people who always question my relationship with other women. How can you tell me a woman is your best friend and you are with me? But then, I’ve made men my best friend and they didn’t add any value to my life. But because I grew up in the company of women, I understand how it works. I know how to demarcate the two boundaries. Culled from Vanguard Newspaper, Nigeria. 13

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CRIME

High-value car burglars jailed Eight men who burgled houses in order to steal high-value cars were jailed at Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday 25 April. All eight defendants were jointly charged by ofﬁcers from Kensington and Chelsea police with 20 offences of conspiracy to commit burglary. This followed a series of residential burglaries that were committed across London by the gang during the course of ﬁve months between April and September 2012. The principal, but not sole, aim of the gang was to target homes where high-value motor cars were kept.

In addition to stealing keys for the vehicles and then driving them away, other items - such as electrical goods and jewellery were also taken. Known as Operation Decker, ofﬁcers from the Kensington and Chelsea proactive team managed to arrest all eight after evidence of their crimes were found on their individual social media pages and mobile phones. Messages between the gang members planning burglaries were also uncovered by detectives. Eventually all but one of the defendants pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary, admitting to a total of 41 offences.

Defendant H was later found guilty by a jury at Isleworth Crown Court. Detective Chief Inspector Rhys Willis, head of CID at Kensington and Chelsea Police, said: “Operation Decker was implemented after some excellent enterprise by the local intelligence unit. “The tactics discovered drove into the mindset of this criminal gang and highlighted the attitude of them, often boasting of their criminality on several social networking sites. The eight subjects involved became more arrogant in their offending, often returning to burgle the same victims again. “The victims were usually wealthy local

residents, with high value motor vehicles stolen in a burglary overnight. “The proactive team of the borough took on painstaking work around crime patterning, offender proﬁles and links to other criminal elements. “Since the intervention of the proactive team we have cleared up 41 burglaries and there has been a 48 percent reduction in these types of offences since their incarceration. “Hopefully the sentences illustrate that the MPS and the local authority will vigorously tackle any gang crime in Kensington and Chelsea and pursue criminals using all possible means available.”

Kalan Williamson, 20, of Burleigh House, Beaufort Street, SW3 received four years eight months - Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary

Conor Murphy, 19 of Salters Road, W10 received four years eight months Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary

Niah George, 18, of Tabor Road, W6 received three years 10 months Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary

Jonathan Oriba, 20, of Testerton Walk, W11 received four years - Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary

Akil Ford, 20, of Hedgegate Court, Powis Terrace, W11 received four years - Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary

Daniel Talbot, 23, of North Pole Road, W10 received four years- Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary

Yassin Imlahi, 19, of Ervans Road,W10 received three years - Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit burglary

Rory Mason, 19, of Chesterton Road, W10 received four years - Pleaded not guilty. Later found guilty by Jury.

Nyron Johnson-Cross

Cooper was charged with Robbery, Possession of a firearm whilst committing an offence and Possession of a prohibited weapon on Wednesday 5 September 2012. Johnson-Cross was charged with Robbery, Possession of an imitation firearm and common assault on Sunday 2 September 2012. DI Adam Guttridge of Lambeth Robbery Squad said, “The length of these sentences reflects the extreme gravity of the offences and brings reassurance to the community that we are committed to making Lambeth safe for all. I would like to thank DC Lucy Cox and our colleagues at Trident for all their hard work which culminated in this great result.”

Gunpoint Robbers Sentenced

Two men have been sentenced to 7 and 12years imprisonment after being found guilty of a gunpoint robbery in Worsopp Drive, SW4 on Sunday 19 August 2012.

Jerrell Cooper, aged 21yrs, of Broughton Drive, SW9 was sentenced to 12years imprisonment at the Inner London Crown Court on Thursday 18 April. Nyron Johnson-Cross, aged 19yrs, of Atkins Road SW12 was sentenced to 7years at the same hearing. The court heard that the 17-year-old victim had been chatting with a group of

youths, when the robbery took place at 21.05hrs. She was placed in a headlock by two of this group and then threatened with ﬁrearms. Johnson-Cross and Cooper then took her Iphone and Ipad from her. The following morning Cooper sustained a serious gunshot wound to his heel and subsequently a sawn-off shotgun was recovered from the premises. This was the weapon used in the offence less than 12hours before. The Ipad and Iphone were recovered at Cooper’s address where the shooting occurred. Both men are known to have gang afﬁliations.

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Sounds of Diaspora People of America

and Chris journey takes another turn Rejected Gamu turns the tables on X Factor Rihanna Rihanna brought her ‘Diamonds’ world tour to the Prudential Centre in Newark, New Jersey on Monday where she performed to thousands of fans and, it appears, the oblivious mother of on/off boyfriend, Chris Brown.

Gamu Nhengu’s quirky and emotional X Factor audition endeared her to millions of viewers

It appears Gamu Nhengu, the former X Factor contestant controversially eliminated in 2010 amid speculation that her status in the UK influenced show bosses to manipulate a judge’s decision, has turned down an approach to come back. Viewers were shocked when girls’ mentor Cheryl Cole opted to take the flaky Cher Lloyd, Katie Waissel, Treyc Cohen and Rebecca Ferguson through to the live finals, instead of the delightful and innovative Zimbabwean. But not making the finals proved to be only the start of the story. Gamu then faced deportation back to Zimbabwe along with her mother and siblings after it was revealed that the Home Office had ruled that the family must be sent back. Almost three years on and following a successful appeal, Gamu, 21, is now settled in Scotland and even has her own record deal. “I was asked to audition again, but I turned it down because I felt ready to do my own thing,” she said. Despite the outrage from viewers over her axe and the stress it caused, Gamu insisted she had “no regrets” about auditioning.

“It’s just going to make a great chapter in the biography — the experience has made me a much stronger, compassionate person,” she told the Daily Mail. “I thought I was mature at 18, but what happened taught me to see the world from a whole different perspective. Now there’s nothing I am not ready for. “I’m more happy and centred myself. I’m not aiming to be on the cover of every magazine. I just want to concentrate on my music.” Gamu released her first single in April; the Motown-inspired bounce of Shake the Room. Her debut album, A Love Like This, released on Glasgow label GSound, follows this summer. But talent and exposure do not guarantee success. Matt Cardle, who won X Factor in Gamu’s year might just as well have been an apparition, and runner-up Rebecca Ferguson has become so disillusioned with the music business and its incompatibility with her creativity, that she is considering giving it up after her second album. Gamu is under no illusions. “If the album doesn’t do as amazingly as the team think it will do, it’s back to university for next year,” she says. “I already have the application sitting waiting.”

Brown’s mother, Joyce Hawkins, clearly isn’t paying attention to the claims that he his romance with the Barbadian songstress is over once again, as she praised the ‘Diamonds’ singer for an “incredible” show. After watching the singer rock out on stage, Ms Hawkins proved her close bond with RiRi is still strong, even sending her “love.” Rihanna tweeted after her performance: “#NEWJERSEY that’s what the phuck iz up!!!! #DiamondsWorldTour,” to which Joyce replied: “@rihanna YOUR SHOW WAS INCREDIBLE TONIGHT. THANKS FOR EVERYTHING WE LOVE YOU.” Joyce’s message may come as a surprise considering Rihanna and Chris are said to be on the rocks again after he ‘unfollowed’ the songstress on Twitter over the weekend. As if that wasn’t telling enough of the status of their romance, Chris posted a link to a track titled ‘I Can’t Win,’ which he claims hasn’t made it onto the final cut of his upcoming album, ‘X’ which will be released on July 15. Browns actions appear

Justin Laboy’s Facebook images with an apparently loved up Rihanna seem to have upset Chris Brown

to be in response to photos posted on Facebook of a certain Justin Laboy cuddled up with Rihanna, who he refers to on his page as his “wife”. “S**t is overrated now a days,” Chris tweeted on Monday. “Just remember to keep ya muthaf***in head up.” Beside the link to the track, Chris wrote: “Some s**t I felt like writing that’s not on the album.” Lyrics in the song include: “Tell me what did I do to make you hate me so much? Why you angry all the time? Why you don’t wanna ride for me? It looks like Chris and Rihanna may be back on again!

Jordan jumps the broomstick with Cuban ex-model Basketball legend Michael Jordan married former model Yvette Prieto over the weekend in front of a few hundred of his family and closest friends at an event rumoured to have cost a staggering $10m. The Charlotte Bobcats owner, now 50, and his 35 year-old Cuban fiancée exchanged vows on Saturday in Palm Beach, Florida. The church ceremony was followed by a reception at a luxurious golf club near the former Chicago Bulls Hall of Famer’s home. The six-time NBA champion and Prieto met five years ago and became engaged last December.

Prieto wore a French silk voile corseted sheer sheath gown by J’Aton Couture, in an ecru palette with accents of flesh tones, with handmade silk lace created especially for her, and enhanced with Swarovski crystals. The gown featured French seamed crinoline borders, which cascaded into a dramatic cathedral train finished in the lace, with accents of a peacock-feathered design. Tiger Woods, Patrick Ewing, Spike Lee and Ahmad Rashad were among the guests, who were entertained by DJ MC Lyte, singers K’Jon, Robin Thicke and Grammy Award-winner Usher and The Source, an 18-piece band. 15

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Gospel

By Michael Adekoya

DECREE A THING “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways” Job 22:28.

ear Reader, may l ask you a question? “What is a decree, declaration or proclamation?” A decree is an official order, edict, or decision. A decree is something that seems to be foreordained. This is what makes a decree prophetic. Decree can also mean to order. A decree is linked with setting apart or ordaining something or someone. A declaration is an announcement, a formal state¬ment. ... This statement is what a plaintiff sometimes releases in his complaint, which results in a court action. And a proclamation actually brings something into a more official realm. A procla¬mation can ban, restrict or release. This is linked with the proc¬ess of binding and loosing. However, decree, declaration and proclamation are only effective through words. The power of words is amazing. Job alluded to this power when he said, “How forceful are right words!” Job 6:25. In Hebrew, the word translated “forceful” actually means “to press.” One of its biblical uses describes a king press¬ing his seal of authority onto a decree or legal document with his sig¬net ring, making it legally binding as the law of the land. My friend, listen! Words seal deals. Words decree laws and bring order to things that are without forms. Words are powerful, even influencing life and death Pro. 18:20-21. Jesus says, “By our words we are justified or con¬demned by our words. Matt. 12:37. Words determine destiny. Words are the most powerful conduit of authority and power in the world. In Genesis Chapter One, God’s Word “Let there be …,” created the world and everything in it. The Bible says, “Now the earth was formless and empty,

darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Gen 1:1-3. The Bible says, “The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies” Eccl. 12:11. Nails help us build, construct, assemble and hold things together. My friend, so do words. God, the master craftsman, used words to build the earth and its seas and moun¬tains, and all the other amazing elements and dimensions of creation. Hebrews 11:3 tells us He holds it all together by the power of His Word and decrees! Luke’s Gospel says that even the incarnation—God’s becoming human—was caused by a combination of God’s Words and His Spirit. When Mary asked how she, a virgin, could have a child, the angel informed her that the power of the Holy Spirit would overshadow her and impregnate her with Jesus (Luke 1:35). Then the angel said, “Nothing will be impossible with God” Luke 1:37. This translation doesn’t do justice to the strength of what the angel actually said. The most literal and accurate rendering is: “No word spoken by God is without power.” My friend, what a claim this is, and what ramifications it carries for us! Our all-powerful God infuses transcendent power into His words. They become the carriers of His awesome strength. In the Scriptures, God issues a myriad of decrees or declarations. When God issues a com¬mand or decree, it is earth’s law. To violate His command is rebellion against His authority and invites certain judgment. We cannot ignore or disobey God without consequences. God also calls His Word

Are you looking for a church?

Not settled in any particular congregation? Perhaps now is the time to pray about it If you are not yet saved try one of the following: Jubilee International Churchmeets at 2,30pm on Sundays at Kings Avenue, school, park hill. London SW4. Part of Jubilee International Churches worldwide. For information, you may call (020)8697 3354 New Wine Christian Church- 11am holds meeting at Ringcross Tennants club, Lough Road, Holloway, N7. a member of the Icthus fellowship

worldwide. For more information call 020 7609 959 or 07957 757 663. Praise Tabernacle- 10:30am holds meetings at 620 Western Avenue (A40), park royal Business centre, opposite Warner Bros. Cinema Complex, W3. part of The Redeemed Christian Church of God. For information you may call 020 8993 3010 New Life Christian Centre 10.30am & 6.00pm. meetings at Cairo New Road, Croydon. The church has

a sword with which He rules and judges. His declarations not only create and build but also judge and destroy. They are both constructive and destructive. My friend, consider the follow¬ing verses: (a) “Out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength” Rev. 1:16; (b) “’Repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war . . . with the sword of My mouth” Rev. 2:16; Rev.19:15, 21. Some of God’s decrees are to create or perform something in the present; others are declarations about the future. In Isa. 46:9-10, God says of Himself: “’I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying, “My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (emphasis added). What an amazing God! He stands outside time, looks ahead and declares the future, and eventually time catches up to His decree. The Bible says, “You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways” Job 22:28. My friend, the first part could be more literally rendered “You will decree a decree.” When we pray, God speaks and we discern God’s will and decree—what He has determined about a given situation— and then decree His decree. The verse then says that when we decree the decree, it will be “established.” God’s Word is called a seed 1Pet. 1:23, and when we sow it into a situation, we are sprinkling the seeds through which He causes His will to spring up. God’s “creative, saving and judging action” is in His Word. My

friend, so is in our word. Our decreeing the Lord’s Word releases His creativ¬ity, His salvation, His deliverance, His liberty, His victory, His blessings and of course, His judgments! The power of God’s inspired words in our mouth is extraordinary. God rules through words—and so must we. In fact, you will never truly rule your world until you learn the force of words. God says, “…concerning the work of My hands, you command Me.” Isa 45:11. Thank God for leaders and intercessors who under¬stand this spiritual authority and know how to pray! You too are a part of God’s government on the earth, and He desires to decree His will and purposes through you. You are a member of His church and as such have authority to insist on His will and stop the plans of hell. Don’t let the devil and his agents intimidate you anymore. Change the course of your situation by your words. Decree a thing today concerning that person or situation, concerning your life, family, par-

a bible school, primary, is involved in extensive mission work in Eastern Europe, Italy and India. For information you may call 020 8680 7671 Ruach Ministries - holds meeting at 9am, 11am and 6pm. For information you may call 020 8678 6888 International Central Gospel church - Battersea chapel, holds meetings on Sundays from 2.00pm. . For information you may call 020 8684 4934 Jesus Arena International- Sunday service at 11.00am at Broadwater farm centre, Adams road N17 The Bible Life Church UK- They meet on Sunday mornings at 2.30pm at St Giles Centre, Camberwell

Church Street, London SE5 Christ Apostolic church (Full Gospel & Pentecostal) Surrey Docks District 163 Ilderton Rd South Bermondsey London SE16 2UT. Tel. 020 7252 2086. Time of worship: Sunday English service 9- 11.30am. Yoruba service 11.30 -2.30pm. Prophetic counselling: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 12noon- 5pm, Saturday only 5- 7pm. Holy Cross Church InternationalSunday 10.am- 1 pm at Crown House 71-73 Nathan way London SE28 0BQ Tel: 07904 234 126, 07809 381 886 Times of service:Bible study: Thursdays 8pm. Night Vigil: Friday Forthnightly 12am

Clara Ward Singers

Dorothy Love Coates & The Original Gospel Harmonettes

ent, friends, enemy, church, leader and people who are in authority, business, work, government, community, city and nation. It will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways. Change the course of things by your words – the Word of God in your mouth on your kneels. Encourage others with your words. Stop the invasion of Satan into your life and home with your words. Remain blessed! Sunday Service: Sundays 10am - 1pm Winners Chapel London- part of the Living Faith Church Worldwide, at Unit B1 Galleywall Trading Estate, South Bermondsey, London SE16 3PB meets Sunday 7am & 9am and 11am and Wednesdays at 7pm. For details call 020 7237 7894 CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH GRAVESEND, ST. AIDAIN’S CHURCH, ST. AIDAN’S WAY, GRAVESEND, KENT, DA12 4AG TEL. 01474 355 841, 07956 38 38 70 TIME OF WORSHIP: Wednesday Bible Study: 7:30pm to 9:00pm Friday, Night Vigil: 9pm to 11pm Sunday Worship: 12:30pm to 3:00pm

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Africa

Friday, 3 May 2013 – Thursday, 9 May 2013

Newsround

Kenya

Supreme Court judge bats away corruption claims

Chief Justice Willy Mutunga presided over the biggest test yet of Kenya’s newly reformed judiciary

Kenya’s chief justice has denied accusations that he took bribes to rule in favour of new president

Uhuru Kenyatta in Raila Odinga’s challenge against the result of March’s general election.

Eritrea

Willy Mutunga, who chaired Kenya’s Supreme Court, has been accused along with five fellow judges of corruption following their unanimous decision that Kenyatta had been “validly elected” and that Odinga failed to offer enough evidence of alleged malpractice to overturn the outcome of the vote. Odinga and his officials have made no public allegations but disquiet among the former president’s supporters and online sniping is rife. “For me, the most hurtful allegation was that I had been bribed in the Presidential Petition.” Mutunga said in a statement. “I have never been offered a bribe in my life.” Mutunga, a well-respected lawyer, was appointed in 2011 to reform a judiciary seen as in the pay of the political elite. “I have no doubt in my mind that anybody who dares offer me a bribe, regardless of status, would be the first one I arrest under the constitution and the laws of this land.” Mutunga said the online attacks on him

were “indecent, vulgar, and unacceptable”. The chief justice, who ran his statement on Twitter and Facebook, urged anyone with evidence of bribery to present it to the Judicial Service Commission. Although Odinga, 68, accepted the ruling of the court, he said he did not fully agree with it, having alleged “rampant illegalities” in the vote. Mutunga has complained of harassment before, citing threats to himself and other judges by a criminal gang in a court case where rights groups sought to bar Kenyatta from running for the presidency in view of his imminent case in the International Criminal Court, where he faces charges of crimes against humanity. So far no one has been arrested over Mutunga’s claims. Corruption is a big issue in Kenya and holds back the economy by choking investment. Transparency International ranks Kenya 139th out of the 174 nations in its 2012 global corruption perception index, lagging behind its neighbours.

Zimbabwe

Pilot defects while retrieving defectors’ plane Police probe female gang rape of lone soldier A female military pilot sent by Eritrea to Saudi Arabia to reclaim a presidential jet taken by two fellow officers when they flew to seek asylum has herself defected, according to Saudi news media. The pilot, a captain in Eritrea’s Air Force, told the authorities in Jizan province she did not wish to return to the east African country, a single-party state with no independent media and up to 10,000 political prisoners. The jet has been in Saudi Arabia since October, when it diverted to the kingdom piloted by the two officers who wanted to seek asylum.

Police are investigating a complaint by a Zimbabwean soldier, who was left for dead in a remote mountain range after being kidnapped and repeatedly raped for four days by a gang of women. The missing jet remains at King Abdullah Airport

“She came to the kingdom two weeks ago to retrieve the military plane,” Ali Za’le, a spokesman for Jizan governorate, was quoted as saying. “When she reached Jizan, she expressed her wish to stay here… her request is still being considered by the authorities.”

On April 19 at around midnight, the 25year-old accepted a lift to the city of Mutare from two women and a man in a Mercedes Benz. But, after driving in the right direction for an hour, the driver suddenly changed direction on the pretext of wanting to buy food. When the soldier asked to be dropped off, he was threatened with a knife

and blindfolded by one of the women, according to Manicaland assistant inspector Muzondiwa Clean. Assistant Inspector Clean said the soldier was then taken to a house in an unknown location, where he was stripped naked and robbed of his mobile phone and $35. The solider claims he was sexually abused by the women on numerous occasions at the house, before the group drove him into the remote Dangamvura mountains, where he was repeatedly stoned until he fell unconscious. The soldier eventually made it to Sakubva police station, where he ﬁled a report on his ordeal.

Ethiopia

China funded railway project nears agreement A new railway link between Ethiopia and neighbouring Djibouti is to become reality, following the decision of the government of China to finance the project. High-ranking officials of the Exim Bank of China are expected to arrive in Addis Ababa in the coming days to finalise an agreement between the finance ministers of Ethiopia and China, paving the way for the provision of a US$3.3 billion loan for the enterprise. The Ethiopian Radio and Television Agency (ERTA) has learned that the loan would be used to finance the 753km railway project which is intended to connect

Sebeta town in Ethiopia’s Oromia State with Djibouti’s Negad Port. The project is set to be completed in three phases, two of which would be implemented on the Ethiopian side and the third in Djibouti. The Addis Ababa-Meiso railway line would be constructed by China Railway Engineering Corporation while China Civil Engineering Corporation would build the Meiso-Dawalleh route. Work on the Addis Ababa city railway project has already been set in motion with progress being made in the areas of small bridge design and machinery transport. 17

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African Travelmusic artist

In association with

Miriam Makeba M iriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 10 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Awardwinning South African singer and civil rights activist. In the 1960s she was the first artist from Africa to popularize African music in the U.S. and around the world. She is best known for the song “Pata Pata”, first recorded in 1957 and released in the U.S. in 1967. She recorded and toured with many popular artists, such as Harry Belafonte, Paul Simon, and her former husband Hugh Masekela. She actively campaigned against the South African system of apartheid. As a result, the South African government revoked her citizenship and right of return. After the end of apartheid she returned home. She died on 10 November 2008 after performing in a concert in Italy organized to support writer Roberto Saviano in his stand against the Camorra, a mafia-like organisation local to the region of Campania. Zenzile Miriam Makeba was born in Johannesburg in 1932. Her mother was a Swazi sangoma (traditional healer-herbalist). Her father, who died when she was six years old, was a Xhosa. When she was eighteen days old, her mother was arrested for selling umqombothi, an African homemade beer brewed from malt and cornmeal. Her mother was sentenced to a six-month prison term, so Miriam spent her first six months of life in jail. As a child, she sang in the choir of the Kilmerton Training Institute in Pretoria, a primary school that she attended for eight years. At the age of eighteen, Makeba gave birth to her only child, Bongi Makeba, whose father was Makeba’s first husband, James Kubay. Makeba was then diagnosed with breast cancer, and her husband left her shortly afterwards. Her professional career began in the 1950s when she was featured in the South African jazz group the Manhattan Brothers, and appeared for the first time on a poster. She left the Manhattan Brothers to record with her all-woman group, The Skylarks, singing a blend of jazz and traditional melodies of South Africa. As early as 1956, she released the single “Pata Pata”, which was played on all the radio stations and made her known throughout South Africa. She had a short-lived marriage in 1959 to Sonny Pillay, a South African singer of Indian descent. Her break came in that year when she had a short guest appearance in Come Back, Africa, an anti-apartheid documentary produced and directed by American independent filmmaker Lionel Rogosin. The short cameo made an enormous impression on the viewers and Rogosin managed to organise a visa for her to attend the première of the film at the twentyfourth Venice Film Festival in Italy, where 18

the film won the prestigious Critics’ Award. That year, Makeba sang the lead female role in the Broadway-inspired South African musical King Kong; among those in the cast was musician Hugh Masekela. She made her U.S. debut on 1 November 1959 on The Steve Allen Show. Makeba then travelled to London where she met Harry Belafonte, who assisted her in gaining entry to the United States and achieving fame there.[16] When she tried to return to South Africa in 1960 for her mother’s funeral, she discovered that her South African passport had been cancelled. She signed with RCA Victor and released Miriam Makeba, her first U.S. studio album, in 1960. In 1962, Makeba and Belafonte sang at John F. Kennedy’s birthday party at Madison Square Garden, but Makeba did not go to the aftershow party because she was ill. President Kennedy insisted on meeting her, so Belafonte sent a car to pick her up and she met the President of the United States. In 1963, Makeba released her second studio album for RCA, The World of Miriam Makeba. An early example of world music, the album peaked at number eighty-six on the Billboard 200. Later that year, after testifying against apartheid before the United Nations, her South African citizenship and her right to return to the country were revoked. She was a woman without a country, but the world came to her aid, and Guinea, Belgium and Ghana issued her international passports, and she became, in effect, a citizen of the world. In her life, she held nine passports, and was granted honorary citizenship in ten countries. I always wanted to leave home. I never knew they were going to stop me from coming back. Maybe, if I knew, I never would have left. It is kind of painful to be away from everything that you’ve ever known. Nobody will know the pain of exile until you are in exile. No matter where you go, there are times when people show you kindness and love, and there are times when they make you know that you are with them but not of them. That’s when it hurts. In 1964, Makeba and Hugh Masekela were married, divorcing two years later. In 1966, Makeba received the Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording together with Harry Belafonte for An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba. The album dealt with the political plight of black South Africans under apartheid, and it was one of the first American albums to present traditional Zulu, Sotho and Swahili songs in an authentic setting. From the time of her New York debut at the Village Vanguard, her fame and reputation grew. She released many of her most famous hits in the United States, including “The Click Song” (“Qongqothwane” in Xhosa) and “Malaika”. Time called her the “most exciting new singing talent to appear

Miriam Makeba in Tokyo (1968) in many years,” and Newsweek compared her voice to “the smoky tones and delicate phrasing” of Ella Fitzgerald and the “intimate warmth” of Frank Sinatra. Despite the success that made her a star in the U.S., she wore no makeup and refused to curl her hair for shows, thus establishing a style that would come to be known internationally as the “Afro look”. In 1967, more than ten years after she wrote the song, the single “Pata Pata” was released in the United States and became a worldwide hit. Her marriage to Trinidad-born civil rights activist, Black Panther, and Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee leader Stokely Carmichael in 1968 caused controversy in the United States, and her record deals and tours were cancelled. As a result, the couple moved to Guinea, her home for the next 15 years, where they became close with President Ahmed Sékou Touré and his wife, Andrée. Makeba was appointed Guinea’s official delegate to the United Nations, for which she won the Dag Hammarskjöld Peace Prize in 1986. She also separated from Carmichael in 1973 and continued to perform primarily in Africa, Europe and Asia, but not in the United States, where a de facto boycott was in effect.Makeba was one of the entertainers at the 1974 Rumble in the Jungle match between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman held in Zaïre. She addressed the United Nations General Assembly for the second time in 1975. She divorced Carmichael in 1978 and married an airline executive in 1980. After the death of her daughter Bongi in 1985, she decided to move to Brussels. In the following year, Hugh Masekela introduced Makeba to Paul Simon, and

a few months later she embarked on the very successful Graceland Tour, which was documented on music video. Two concerts held in Harare, Zimbabwe, were filmed in 1987 for release as Graceland. The African Concert. After touring the world with Simon, Warner Bros. Records signed Makeba and she released Sangoma (“Healer”), an a cappella album of healing chants named in honour of her mother who was an “isangoma” (“a healer”). Shortly thereafter, her autobiography Makeba: My Story was published and subsequently translated from English into other languages including German, French, Dutch, Italian and Spanish. She took part in the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute, a popular-music concert staged on 11 June 1988 at Wembley Stadium, London, and broadcast to 67 countries and an audience of 600 million. Also referred to as Freedomfest, Free Nelson Mandela Concert, and Mandela Day, the event called for Mandela’s release. Nelson Mandela’s 70th Birthday Tribute increased pressure on the government of South Africa to release Mandela, and in 1990, State President of South Africa Frederik Willem de Klerk reversed the ban on the African National Congress and other anti-apartheid organisations, and announced that Nelson Mandela would shortly be released from prison. Mandela, who was effectively released from Victor Verster Prison in Paarl on 11 February 1990, persuaded Miriam Makeba to return to South Africa. She returned home on 10 June 1990, on her French passport. In 1991, Makeba, with Dizzy Gillespie, Nina Simone and Masekela, recorded and released her studio album, Eyes on

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African music artist Tomorrow. It combined jazz, R&B, pop, and African music, and was a hit in Africa. Makeba and Gillespie then toured the world together to promote it. In November of the same year, she made a guest appearance in the episode “Olivia Comes Out of the Closet” of The Cosby Show. In 1992, she starred in the film Sarafina!. The film’s plot centers on students involved in the 1976’s Soweto youth uprisings, and Makeba portrayed the title character’s mother, “Angelina”. The following year she released Sing Me a Song. On 16 October 1999, Miriam Makeba was nominated Goodwill Ambassador of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In January 2000, her album, Homeland, produced by Cedric Samson and Michael Levinsohn for the New York City based record label Putumayo World Music, was nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best World Music Album category. She worked closely with Graça Machel-Mandela, who at the time was the South African first lady, for children suffering from HIV/AIDS, child soldiers, and the physically handicapped. In 2001, she was awarded the Otto Hahn Peace Medal in Gold by the United Nations Association of Germany (DGVN) in Berlin, “for outstanding services to peace and international understanding”. She shared the Polar Music Prize with Sofia Gubaidulina. The prize is regarded

as Sweden’s foremost musical honour. [citation needed] They received their Prize from Carl XVI Gustaf King of Sweden during a nationally-televised ceremony at Berwaldhallen, Stockholm, on 27 May 2002. She also took part in the 2002 documentary Amandla!: A Revolution in Four-Part Harmony, where she and others recalled the struggles of black South Africans against the injustices of apartheid through the use of music. In 2004, Makeba was voted 38th in the Top 100 Great South Africans. Makeba started a worldwide farewell tour in 2005, holding concerts in all of those countries that she had visited during her working life. On 9 November 2008, she became ill while taking part in a concert organized to support writer Roberto Saviano in his stand against the Camorra, a mafia-like organisation local to the Region of Campania. The concert was being held in Castel Volturno, near Caserta, Italy. Makeba suffered a heart attack after singing her hit song “Pata Pata”, and was taken to the “Pineta Grande” clinic where doctors were unable to revive her. Her publicist notes that Makeba had suffered “severe arthritis” for some time. She and family members were based in Northriding, Gauteng, at the time of her death. On 25, 26 and 27 September 2009, a tribute show to Makeba entitled “Hommage à Miriam Makeba” and curated by

Grammy Award-winning Beninoise singersongwriter and activist Angélique Kidjo for the Festival d’Ile de France, was held at the Cirque d’hiver in Paris. The same show

head of the South African Communist Party, and at the presidential inauguration Nelson Mandela in 1994. In 1996 Mbuli was invited to London to co-host, with British

poet and activist Benjamin Zephaniah, the Two Nations Concert at the Albert Hall to honor President Nelson Mandela on his visit to London . Later in the year, he returned to the UK to join Peter Gabriel, Youssour N’dour and other prominent African artists to record the fundraising Aids Album. Mbuli was convicted in March 1999 for armed robbery and possession of a hand grenade – crimes he has consistently denied committing; he and his supporters have always insisted he was framed by the government for speaking out against corruption. He was held at the Leeuwkop Maximum Security Prison, until his release in November 2003. His most recent release is Mbulism.

Mzwakhe Mbuli

but with the English title of “Mama Africa: Celebrating Miriam Makeba” was held at the Barbican in London on 21 November 2009.

zwakhe Mbuli, a devout former Deacon at Apostolic Faith Mission Church in Naledi Soweto South Africa, known as “The People’s Poet, Tall man, Mbulism”, is a popular poet and mbaqanga singer in South Africa. He was born in Sophiatown in 1958, but his family was forced to move to Soweto when the government bulldozed his home town. His works include a book of poems, Before Dawn (1989), and albums Change is Pain (1986), Unbroken Spirit (1989), Resistance and Defence (1992), and Africa (1993). His poems are mainly in English but draw on his native Zulu as well as traditional praise poetry and rap. His best-known poem is Change is Pain, a protest piece about oppression and revolution, which was initially banned until growing pressure forced South Africa to allow more freedom of speech. His first performance group was called “Khuvhangano”. Throughout the 1980s Mzwakhe was repeatedly detained by the authorities and denied a passport to travel while playing a leading role in the Cultural activities of the United Democratic Front. His international career began in 1990 in Berlin, Germany when he shared the stage with Youssou N’dour, Miriam Makeba and Thomas Mapfumo. An imposing figure, standing well over 6 feet (1.8 m) tall, he performed at the funeral of Chris Hani, the assassinated

Friday, 3 May 2013 – Thursday, 9 May 2013

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Arts

The Test of Ola Rotimi’s Our Husband Has Gone Mad again la Rotimi’s comedy, Our Husband Has Gone Mad Again, found its way into London albeit not for the first time, and onto stages of the George Wood Theatre, The Broadway in East London and in Edgware for a run. It is, perhaps, a test of the waters that such a tested play set in the period of Nigeria’s early years after independence brought back scenery and issues that would have been thought to be buried in the pages of history but are still relevant today. This is one of the hall marks of Ola Rotimi whose plays have been known to possess strong doses of satire touching on social themes in the Nigerian society. Not that it is only relevant in that society, but that it speaks for almost all developing societies particularly of African extract that have been touched by westernisation in one way or another. Rotimi’s preferred fabric here is to put the daily lives of people on canvas and paint their capacities for aspiration and adaptation in the different colours of challenges that they face. The political role of a man in society is reflected in the cultural expectation of achievements, hopes, wealth, and leadership outside the traditional infrastructure but into the promises of western democracy. Why the hero of the play, Rahman LejokaBrown - an ex-combatant is chosen as the pivot of the satirical comedy is best known to Rotimi but it is certainly a most workable and acceptable choice given the status that military men had at the time and even now.

It is significant that the soldier transforms into a politician and does not stay retired after his de-commissioning neither does he stay within the cultural roots of the farming enterprise which would perhaps be as high yielding in wealth and value to society. Keeping his Islamic religious beliefs on the hand and harvesting wives, he maintains his ancestral home more like a museum of heritage, and hangs his fate on the balance of a charmed snake that must see him through political goals. His wives have defined reasons for coming into his life and they all have added value to his status and political aspirations. But the hero is simply a man. He has an ego to protect, learn the trickery of women some more or stumble through them, operate within the limited specialty of his military training as a tool for his political machinery, and learn that a harem of women is about as resourceful for a coup as a barrack of soldiers. The audience will no doubt be engrossed in the suspense and deliberate tease of the domestic tension in a house where jealousy, rivalry, marital subservience and responsibility, cultural education, western education, and a mash of cultural values brew a drink probably worse than the locally distilled gin, ogogoro or akpeteshie, for Lejoka-Brown to quench his thirsts. While I will not forebode what would happen, one may rest in the assurance that his military experience in Burma and in the Congo would serve him well here.

Though the retailing of the plot is not my mission, it serves very well to show the lengths that Ola Rotimi went to bring seriousness into un-seriousness and yet achieve filling a hall of people with laughter every so often. It is the mark of a master satirist, an icon of his generation. And he is late. With the play going on stage in the different parts of London and enjoying good attendances, it has served to show that African plays indeed have a void to fill to entertain and educate Africans in diaspora and indeed people of other cultures. The impact it would have in appropriately explaining and re-educating people from other cultures cannot be underscored. Yet this gap is unfilled and the yearning a latent one to be tapped into. While reports gathered about the shows stated that there was quite a turnover of actors and actresses in the roles which does prove that there is a rich gathering of talents in the underground, this could pose quite a challenge for the artistic direction and achieving a distinctive, creative rendition of the play to speak for the African theatre in London. Comments received would not compare it to the classics watched several years back neither did it draw gasps of unbelievable ingenuity. But the applause of a play with local flavour selling laughter so cheaply, the appreciated efforts of the cast, crew, producers and promoters endearingly always brought each show to an end.

Africa For The Africans Say! Africa for the Africans, Like America for the Americans: This the rallying cry for a nation, Be it in peace or revolution. Blacks are men, no longer cringing fools; They demand a place, not like weak tools; But among the world of nations great They demand a free self-governing state. Hurrah! Hurrah! Great Africa wakes; She is calling her sons, and none forsakes, But to colors of the nation runs, Even though assailed by enemy guns.

Europe cries to Europeans, ho! Asiatics claim Asia, so Australia for Australians, And Africa for the Africans. Blackmen’s hands have joined now together, They will fight and brave all death’s weather, Motherland to save, and make her free,

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Ijapa and Friends Adefemi Adebajo is at it again with a book Ijapa and Friends. The e-book has fourteen folklore (Ijapa) stories and comes with a CD with nine songs. It is available on Amazon, iTunes, kobo and most major online bookstores. Wonderful stories retold as never before! www. ijapaandfriends.com

Our Husband has gone mad again

Cry it loud, and shout it Ion’ hurrah! Time has changed, so hail! New Africa! We are now awakened, rights to see: We shall fight for dearest liberty. Mighty kingdoms have been truly reared On the bones of blackmen, facts declared; History tells this awful, pungent truth, Africa awakes to her rights forsooth.

Arts beat

Spreading joy for all to live and see. None shall turn us back, in freedom’s name, We go marching like to men of fame Who have given laws and codes to kings, Sending evil flying on crippled wings. Blackmen shall in groups reassemble, Rich and poor and the great and humble: Justice shall be their rallying cry, When millions of soldiers pass us by.

Look for that day, coming, surely soon, When the sons of Ham will show no coon Could the mighty deeds of valor do Which shall bring giants for peace to sue Hurrah! Hurrah! Better times are near; Let us front the conflict and prepare; Greet the world as soldiers, bravely true: ‘Sunder not,’ Africa shouts to you. Marcus Mosiah Garvey

A comedy written by late Prof. Ola Rotimi has just concluded rounds in London courtesy of Heavy Wind Media starting with the George Woods theatre, Goldsmith University to Edgware road and the Broadway in East London. Did you miss it? Let’s hope it will be showing again.

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Boateng invited to join Anti-Discrimination Taskforce

he sun was shining on Friday as Ghanaian international Kevin-Prince Boateng arrived at the Home of FIFA to meet with President Joseph S. Blatter. Despite the clement weather, the theme of their encounter conjured up a dark cloud threatening the game, with the two men tackling the issue of discrimination and racism. “Unfortunately, our extremely popular sport – which involves nearly a billion people throughout the world – is affected by several scourges: violence, cheating, doping, match fixing and discrimination,” explained the FIFA President in his opening statement. “At FIFA, we try to tackle all of them, but the question of discrimination angers me in particular. It’s abhorrent and we have to combat this evil, but it’s difficult to find the adequate response.” For Boateng, who was in Geneva on Thursday for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – an event organised as part of the 22nd regular session of the United Nations Human Rights Council – the issue has been especially pressing of late. On 3 January this year, he decided to walk off the pitch with his AC Milan team-mates after 26 minutes of a preparation game, incensed by racial chants emanating from the stands. More power for referees “When I left the pitch against Pro Patria, I know it wasn’t the right decision, but at that moment I was very angry and very emotional,” the midfielder explained to FIFA’s President. “I spoke to the referee about it very early on, but after 26 minutes I just lost it and walked off the pitch. It shouldn’t be the decision of the player, though. I think that referees should perhaps have more power in this area and they should

take their courage in their own hands. But it’s not easy and I realise that.” The two men then discussed the appropriate sanctions in cases like this. It is a thorny issue, as some might argue it is unfair to punish a team for the actions of their supporters. “I’m a player and so I know that a points deduction might not go down well,” said Boateng. “But we need to be very strict in this domain and, if there are rules, we have to apply them. We absolutely need to have a real threat of sanctions.” For his part, the FIFA President is in favour of pursuing both preventive measures and sanctions. “We need to follow two directions. First of all, we have to educate very young people and, for that, FIFA already has a fantastic network in our member countries, thanks to technical courses, grassroots programmes and so on. We have to repeat the message tirelessly, and we also need any players who are victims of such acts to report them immediately. “Secondly, we need to punish. I don’t think games behind closed doors or financial sanctions are effective. In my opinion, we need to deduct points or even eliminate a team from a competition. It’s tough, and not everybody will agree, but it’s the only way to seriously intimidate and stop the troublemakers.” Same wavelength With that in mind, President Blatter explained that FIFA has been working on proposals for anti-discrimination measures which will then have to be “implemented and applied by member associations everywhere, and at every level. We’re working towards presenting something to the FIFA Congress in May.” The two men were clearly on the same wavelength, and it was only natural for President Blatter to then invite the Milan

player to join FIFA’s new Anti-Discrimination Taskforce. “The President of the new Anti-Discrimination Taskforce, Jeffrey Webb, is a strong and dynamic man who will take action,” commented the FIFA President. “This taskforce needs strong personalities and people who stand out from the crowd, like yourself, to give it credibility.” Boateng happily accepted the invitation, adding that “everyone needs to be stricter regarding this issue and this taskforce needs to make sure of that”. Meanwhile, the newly created FIFA Task Force Against Racism and Discrimination will hold its first meeting on Monday, 6 May, at the Home of FIFA in Zurich. The creation of the task force was announced by FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter in early March, following a meeting of the FIFA Strategic Committee, as part of a series of measures to tackle the pressing issue of racism and discrimination in football. Chaired by FIFA Vice-President and CONCACAF President Jeffrey Webb, the task force will include representatives from the different stakeholders of the foot-

ball community as well as a broad panel of experts in the fight against racism and discrimination. Aiming for a “zero tolerance” policy towards any acts of racism and discrimination, the group has been tasked with identifying tougher disciplinary sanctions on the one hand, and initiatives in the area of education and prevention on the other, in order to eradicate this scourge from the beautiful game. An update on the work of the task force will be presented at the FIFA Congress in Mauritius on 30-31 May. “We have to work on two fronts,” said the FIFA President. “First on education, and for that FIFA has a fantastic network through its 209 member associations. But besides that, we also need to have stronger sanctions. We have seen that fines achieve little, but point deductions and exclusion from competitions could be more effective measures. We will now have a task force with experts in this area who I am sure will help us achieve our objective of kicking discrimination and racism out of football”.

previously rampant Nigeria at the group stage; and it was clear the Nigerians had been stung by the criticism they received at home for that performance. Within the next six minutes, Ifeanyi Mathew and Chiedbere Nwakali came close to restoring Nigeria’s lead before the break. Three minutes into the second half, Musa Yahaya was played into a scoring opportunity after superb offensive play but he could only hit the side-netting. On 52 minutes, Bedia was in position to score a second goal for the Ivorians with a close range header but Adewale reacted well. The tournament’s leading scorer, Isaac Success, repeatedly marauded inside the Ivory Coast’s penalty area but was misfiring on the day. Inside the last 20 minutes, Nigeria had a penalty shout waved away when Success claimed he was bundled down in the goal area by four Ivorian defenders.

With 16 minutes left, goalscorer Omego was sent off by Malian referee Mahamadou Keita for use of the elbow. Down to ten men, Nigeria, who had scored 18 goals so far compared to Cote d’Ivoire’s five, would nevertheless have hoped that their pressure would have led to a winning goal in normal time instead of being subjected to the lottery of penalties. At the final whistle, it was clear some in the crowd were expecting the customary 15 minutes each way of extra time, but FIFA has wisely asserted that 120 minutes at this competitive level is too much of a physical challenge for adolescent bodies. As both teams huddled on the pitch and then lined up in the centre circle as it slowly dawned that the championship of the entire African continent would come down to how many of them could successfully kick a ball from 12 yards into a 192 square foot goal.

Baby Elephants’ mean defence earns U-17 crown

By Alan Oakley

he Baby Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire emerged top of the pile at the African U-17 Championship by easing past Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets in a penalty shoot-out in Saturday’s final, having conceded a paltry three goals throughout the tournament. FIFA rules for the youth level dictate that U-17s do not play extra time at the end of 90 minutes, so the ultimate game of the hotly contested tournament went straight to penalties, where Chiedbere Nwakali suffered anguish very familiar to England international players by missing what turned out to be the crucial kick. Nigeria caught Cote d’Ivoire just settling into the game when Izu Omego put them ahead after just seven minutes. Ifeanyi 22

Mathew met a Nwakali corner at the near post and headed goalwards across the ‘keeper. Somehow, Aboubakar Diabagate in the Cote d’Ivoire goal saved low and to his right but could only parry the ball into the path of the onrushing Omego, who reacted quicker than several defenders to hook the ball in. This seemed to galvanise the Eaglets into action but a period of sustained Nigerian pressure culminated in an equalising goal for Cote d’Ivoire against the run of play on 26 minutes. Hesitancy in the Nigerian back line led to goalkeeper Adeyinka Adewale having to come off his line to meet a pass. His poor pass out led to a free kick being given away in a central position some 35 yards from goal. The kick was met by Chris Bile Bedia, who rose above two defenders to head the ball beyond the reach of Adewale in Nigeria’s goal. The Ivorians arrived at the match with the confidence-boost of a win against a

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Anichebe accuses NFF of abandonment

Victor Anichebe has cited his proneness to injury and lack of care from Nigeria’s football ofﬁcials as part of the reasons for his reluctance to return to the national team.

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi recently accused Anichebe of not responding to his calls or those of other football ofﬁcials. But the Everton FC striker, who has been in impressive goal scoring form this season. told his club’s ofﬁcial website that he is set to continue his exile from international football in order to enable him concentrate on his club career. “I have always been proud to represent my country but it is becoming more and more evident that with the injuries I have had over the last two years or so, I have to manage my body accordingly. “That’s why I feel the best thing for me at the moment is to concentrate on club football. “Without club football there is no international football and everyone at Everton was with me every step of the way during my injuries and rehabilitation and so I owe it to the club to manage myself correctly. “I didn’t feel that the Nigerian Football Federation was there for me the in the same manner, which was especially disappointing given that I got the injury representing my country.

Victor Anichebe in action

“But I don’t blame anyone for this nor do I have any issues with anybody from the NFF or Stephen Keshi our coach. He has done a fantastic job and is building a team that Nigerians can be proud of.” The 25-year-old stated that he was not disappointed at not being a part of the team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in February as his absence afforded him the time to cement his place at Everton. He however added that he was looking

Essien eyes positive impact at Chelsea on loan return

forward to making a return to the national team in the near future. “If I had gone, would I be playing for my club at the level I am now? “Perhaps not, so it worked out well for both sides. The time is just not right for me to resume my international career as of yet but I would certainly love to represent my country in the not too distant future,” he says.

Boxing Sisters Look to Olympics

Continued from back page

These days Diana trains Monday through Saturday, three times a day. In between, she studies nursing in a programme that her mother pays for. “Life without boxing - I can’t imagine it. It would be bad,” says Diana. “Boxing is like part of my blood, it’s like losing blood and remaining with water, I would die.” Listen to a short clip of Diana speaking below. No money, just excitement Life is not easy in Katanga. The sisters still live at home with their mother, who makes a living by selling the leaves of Matooke, green bananas. They, too, must work. At present, there is hardly any funding for women’s boxing in Uganda. “When you win a boxing match, you can’t get money. The only thing you can get is excitement,” says Diana. “But you don’t get money, even when you become a national champion.” Still, the women say the sport has changed them. The boxing sisters have become famous in Katanga and beyond, after taking the national championship for ladies - each in their own weight category. “I am the reigning champion until someone comes and challenges me,” notes Diana proudly. “I don’t think that anyone can

Michael Essien

Michael Essien is keen to reestablish himself at Stamford Bridge when he returns from loan at the end of the season.

What sends Uganda’s boxing sisters into the ring? Diana Turyanabo (L) & Helen Baleke

come and take me on or win over me, I am the only one who can win in my weight.” “One day I want to become the champion of the world,” says Helen. “That is my dream.” Diana shares international ambitions, adding, “I wish that one day we will be able to participate in the Olympics.” Home life Meanwhile, it isn’t always easy to keep the peace at home. The sisters not only practice together, but on each other. Diana remembers a pivotal match, when people came to watch and place bets. “[Helen] became angry, then she beat me up. Then I got angry, she beat me seriously,” she says, though also points out, “she was the one who trained me.”

Helen admits having lost to her young sister. “She gave me a knock-out,” she says. “That is why I fear her sometimes. After the match, the sisters went a week without talking to each other, despite staying in the same one-room house and even sharing the same bed. Their mother had to intervene. “Our mom told us: ‘You girls should stop boxing if you know that you are going to be angry with one another like that,’” says Diana. But the sisters aren’t likely to give up the sport any time soon. “Life without boxing - I can’t imagine it. It would be bad,” says Diana. “Boxing is like part of my blood, it’s like losing blood and remaining with water, I would die.”

The versatile player was a bench warmer during Robeto Di Matteo’s reign and had to be farmed out to Real Madrid to save his career. At the Santiago Bernabeu, the Ghana international reunited with former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, who he affectionately refers to as daddy. The Portuguese trainer knew about Essien qualities and handed him more game time in the Spanish La Liga and UEFA Champions League. Essien has made 17 appearances in the Spanish top-ﬂight and convinced all and sundry about his former attributes. The 30-year-old hopes to remain competitive on his return to England. “I will return to Chelsea with my head up and try to win my place back,” said Essien. “I think my loan at Madrid has shown I have still got it at the top level.” 23

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ISSUE 480

Boateng invited to join AntiDiscrimination Taskforce SEE PAGE 22

Boxing Sisters Look to Olympics

Courtesy: Radio Netherlands Worldwide

Diana Turyanabo Twenty-four-year old Helen Baleke became the first female boxer in the Kampala slum of Katanga. Today she and her younger sister, Diana Tulyanrabo, are Uganda’s female boxing champions. RNW met up with them to find out what, in the first place, got them punching. So far, Helen has lost only once in her career of 13 official fights. She began boxing at age 16 and has been missing a part of her tooth ever since a ferocious match in Kenya. Helen remembers just how it happened: “The fourth round. It was, like, five second to go. I was just turning back, then they gave me a right-left hook.” How her boxing career began is also unforgettable. “I started because one day I was walking [to school] and I encountered a guy,” she

says. “He started abusing me. I wanted to fight him back him. He beat me up.” Helen decided to protect herself. “I started looking for a gym. I found Rhino,” she says, referring to the Rhino Boxing Club. The men’s club, located near her home, asked for 20,000 shillings [8 US dollars]. She was unable to raise the money, but that didn’t stop her. “I went back, told coach I failed,” she explains. “He said: ‘You just come, you have to start training.’” Three months of practice later, Helen was ready to confront her abuser. “I told him: ‘This is the last warning,’” she recalls. “’I want to beat you,’ he replied, ‘I am going to beat you.’ We fought and fought and fought... From that day I started boxing.” Like her sister Diana also began boxing at age 16. Like

her sister, unpleasant circumstances drove her to the ring. “Children teased me a lot in school,” she says. “Whenever I came back home, I used to report to my mom that they beat me up in school. Then she said: ‘Diana, you can at least get lessons in self-defence, you can stop them from beating you up.’” Helen was a natural role model. Remembering the conversion, Diana, now 20, says: “The first time I went to the gym, I was so shy. All the things I did was because my sister did them. When she jumped, I jumped.” The sisters, two of the only four girls at the gym then, began training together, regularly and seriously. Before long, the bullying at school stopped and Diana had her first fight - for the sport of it.

“First time I beat someone else, it was good, but I was scared of the crowd,” she says. “When I went in the ring, my mom was sitting nearby. She cried. But when I started boxing, I enjoyed it. It was so, so exciting.”

Continued on page 23

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