African Voice

Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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ISSUE 478

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

2G delivers millions of e-books to developing world

Africa continues to grow strongly despite global slowdown

SEE PAGE 7

SEE PAGE 8

17 arrests in the Loughborough Junction area under Operation Bearnaugh

SEE PAGE 14

Thatcher’s nation divided to the end

By Alan Oakley

Britain said goodbye to Margaret Thatcher on Wednesday. In the end, most of those visible said it with warmth and respect, sometimes absolute devotion.

Many others will not mourn the Iron Lady’s passing. Mercifully her dissenters remained relatively muted as fear of violent protests along the funeral parade route failed to materialise – possibly because of the heightened tension following Monday’s Boston Marathon bombings.

Mrs Thatcher’s coffin was taken by hearse from her short, but ceremonial funeral service to the Royal Hospital Chelsea for a private cremation later in the day.

Though not officially a formal state funeral, some 2,300 handpicked mourners gathered at St. Paul’s Cathedral, where Bishop of London Richard Chartres delivered a frank but warm acknowledgement of the controversy Thatcher stirred when she was prime minister. He said debates about her policies and legacy should be left to the politicians; instead he shared his own personal and sometimes humorous encounters with the former Conservative prime minister, and of her Christian faith.

Continued on page 2

Mark Thatcher and wife Sarah leaving the funeral service

Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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News

A nation divided to the end Continued from front page

encounters with the former Conservative prime minister, and of her Christian faith.

“The storm of conflicting opinions centres on the Mrs. Thatcher who became a symbolic figure – even an ‘-ism,’ ” he said.

“There is an important place for debating policies and legacy … but here and today is neither the time nor the place.”

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh were among those in attendance, as was former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger. Nancy Reagan represented her late husband, former-US president Ronald Reagan but the Obama’s were not invited.

As Thatcher’s coffin was carried from the church after the service, there were cheers from supporters gathered outside. A BBC reporter noted a protester with a megaphone outside, but wrote “it is hard to hear what he has to say as he is drowned out by booing …

The pro-Thatcher contingent appears to be ruling the roost here.”

Thatcher’s Union Flag-draped coffin had arrived at St. Paul’s after a military procession through the streets of London. Police blanketed the procession route through Central London to ensure that any activists planning to disrupt the former prime minister’s funeral would be unable to do so. While Scotland Yard decided several days before that there would be no attempt to prevent protesters from gathering or making their views known, it had let it be known that if they were disruptive, abusive or violent, police would respond quickly and firmly.

Some protesters turned their backs on the coffin as it was carried toward the cathedral.

There were also reports of objects thrown toward the horses in the funeral cortege, but

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.

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the cortege arrived safely at the cathedral.

As during her three terms as prime minister, Britain has been sharply divided over how or whether to mark Thatcher’s death since the 87 year-old former leader died of a stroke on April 8. Her pro-business policies and strong support for the military have grated on her opponents for years. Many still condemn her for humbling Britain’s trade union movement, encouraging militarism and instituting far-reaching economic social reforms that made London a world business capital again and raised the standard of living for many Britons but did little to help poorer citizens struggling to get by. More than 20 years since Thatcher was ousted from within her own party, such is the animosity that exists towards her that 4,000 police were deemed necessary to secure her funeral parade route.

Thatcher has been credited by many commentators with making Britain great again, presumably because her anti-union policies virtually put paid to the industrial action that was an almost constant backdrop to the 70s.

Indeed, so great has she made Britain that both her twin children have chosen to spend most of their time overseas.

Son Mark, allegedly heavily involved in arms deals and a convicted felon in South Africa for his part in an attempted coup d’etat in Equatorial Guinea, avoids UK taxes by keeping his fortune, estimated at tens of millions, in offshore accounts.

Close to African Voice’s editorial office in Brixton, south London, news of the Iron Lady’s death was heralded by dancing in the street. Residents, many of whom are Black and Multi-ethnic or live happily amongst

them, regard Thatcher as a racist. However, another former leader has, somewhat amusingly to this writer’s eyes, jumped in to defend his ally against such accusations.

South Africa’s last apartheid leader FW de Klerk said on the eve of her funeral that Margaret Thatcher did not give the “slightest support for apartheid or for racial discrimination of any kind”.

In life, and after her death last week, Thatcher was accused of racism because of her opposition to sanctions against the apartheid regime. De Klerk said she simply understood the politics at play better than most contemporaries!

“Thatcher understood that sanctions have limited effect on states that believe that their very existence is at stake,” said De Klerk, who attended the funeral. He said he consulted with Thatcher during the last year of apartheid, to inform her about his “intention of embarking on fundamental constitutional transformation”.

De Klerk’s support is unlikely to sway opinion about the polarising British premier.

Last week, the African National Congress (ANC) greeted Thatcher’s death with mixed feelings, recalling her hostility towards the party she once described as a terrorist organisation.

The ANC expressed “sadness” while noting that Thatcher “redefined British politics and public administration.” The only hint of lingering resentment was an acknowledgement that “the ANC was on the receiving end of her policy”.

Baroness Thatcher’s daughter Carol was once – and perhaps more often than that -indelicate enough to call mixed-race French

tennis player Jo-Wilfred Tsonga a “gollywog” and a “gollyfrog” in a BBC hospitality room. The BBC soon dispensed with her services but she has not attempted to offer even an insincere apology – instead suggesting that her words were a succinct description of the player’s appearance!

Hundreds of troops from regiments, squadrons and warships who expelled Argentinean forces from the Falklands in 1982, Thatcher’s most emblematic moment, lined the relatively short 19-minute procession route after it set out with her body on the horse-drawn gun carriage. The military pallbearers included commandos, infantrymen and artillery gunners. Argentineans and those nations allied to the Argentine cause could view it as somewhat provocative to give Falklands regiments such a high profile at a time when United Nations resolutions call for both sides of the Falklands dispute to resume negotiations on sovereignty.

There was, incidentally, no official representative from Argentina at the funeral.

President Cristina Kirchner was not invited, but, in keeping with diplomatic protocol, an invitation was sent to the Argentine Ambassador to the UK, Alicia Castro, who declined.

After the funeral up to 1,600 family members, friends and dignitaries attended a reception at the City of London’s Guildhall. Thatcher’s closest family and cabinet members arrived after a separate reception for foreign dignitaries at nearby Mansion House.

A private cremation was held at Mortlake Crematorium in south-west London.

Government approves new National Minimum Wage The government has accepted the independent Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations for this year’s adult and youth National Minimum Wage (NMW) rates.

However, the government has concluded that the apprentice rate should be increased rather than frozen as recommended by the LPC. The LPC based this recommendation on concerns about level of compliance with the apprentice rate.

The following rates will come into effect on 1 October 2013.

Business Secretary Vince Cable said: “The independent Low Pay Commission plays a crucial role in advising the government when setting the National Minimum Wage every year. It balances wages of low paid workers against employment prospects if the rate was set too high.

“We are accepting its recommendations for the adult and youth National Minimum Wage rate increases, which I am confident strikes this balance. However, there is worrying evidence that a significant number of employers are not paying apprentices

Vicnce Cable, Secretary of State for Busines

the relevant minimum wage rate.

“Apprenticeships are at the heart of our goal to support a stronger economy, and so it is important to continue to make them attractive to young people. Therefore, I am not taking forward the LPC’s recommendation to freeze the apprenticeship rate due to non-compliance, but instead am raising it in line with the youth rates.

We are working on a series of tough new measures to ensure we tackle non-compliance issues across the board.”

Chair of the LPC David Norgrove said: “We welcome publication of our 2013 Report and the Government’s acceptance of our recommendations on the level of the National Minimum Wage for adults and young people. We also very much welcome the Government’s commitment to tackle non-compliance in the areas highlighted by us.”

The government will be working with employers, apprentices and training providers to improve awareness of rights and responsibilities on pay. Along with this, it will be undertaking focused enforcement work to clamp down on non-compliance by employers of apprentices.

The government supports work experience as a valuable way of helping young people get into work. The law on the NMW is clear. Work experience as part of an education course and pre-employment provision is exempt under the NMW regulations. However, if somebody is a worker under NMW legislation, then they are entitled to the minimum wage.

Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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News

Calls for more diverse nominations for honours Sir Bob Kerslake, Head of the Civil Service and Chair of the main Honours committee hosted an event with Dame Clare Tickell, chair of the Community, Voluntary and Local Services (CVLS) honours committee for representatives of around 30 national voluntary bodies at 10 Downing Street on Friday.

A particular objective was to spread the message that we need more diversity in nominations. Women and others from the ethnic minorities and in certain regions of the United Kingdom are usually under represented in the Queen’s birthday and new year’s honours lists.

The proportion of honours awarded to people from BME background has declined over recent lists. 6% of the total honours awarded in the 2013 New Year’s list were to people from a BME background, down from 6.8% in the 2012 New Year’s list.

In New Year’s Honours 2013, Women made up 47% of the honours list which was a great improvement on previous rounds (43% at NY12) but the goal is to push it up to at least 50%.

The Cabinet Office, who oversee administration of the honours system is keen to reverse the trend for the number of honours awarded to people from a BME background and continue to push

up the figure for women – the only way to achieve this is through increasing diversity of nominations received.

Far from being the preserve of Celebrities and business people, the honours system is open to everyone yet many people are unaware of this and feel that the system is not for them.

However anyone can nominate anyone for an honour. It’s a very simple process people can just log on to Gov.uk/honours for all the details.

It is hoped that the invited organisations with their national reach can help to spread the message amongst their members and followers and encourage them to get nominating.

The CVLS committee awards the highest percentage of honours out of all the committees so raising awareness in this sector could make a big difference.

Sir Bob Kerlsake said: “I was delighted that so many voluntary organisations were represented at the event.

The clear impression that I was left with is what an important role the Honours system continues to play in rewarding extraordinary, often very local, achievements. When someone receives an Honour it really provides a lift for them, their organisation and their community - we know that because

Dame Clare Tickell, chair of the Community, Voluntary and Local Services

we consistently hear it from recipients in every Honours round. However, despite some progress being made, there is still work to do to address the under representation of certain groups and we need to receive more quality nominations for women, people from an ethnic minority background and people in regions outside of London and the South East.

“Today’s event was about having an honest discussion with the voluntary

sector about what we can do to help them ensure those who deserve an honour are nominated but also to appeal to the sector to help us to get the message out into the communities that anyone can nominate someone for an honour. Everyone must know someone who does amazing and selfless work to help others. Whether they make a difference in the workplace or in their community we want to know about them.”

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Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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Comment

Africa: World Bank to Strengthen Focus on Land Rights

T

By Carey L. Biron

he World Bank will be placing stronger emphasis on issues of land tenure and socially and environmentally sustainable agricultural investing, it announced on Monday.

The bank, one of the world’s largest development lenders, also formally reiterated its concern over the large-scale corporate “land grabbing” that has affected vast swathes of Africa in recent years.

Without these guidelines, we’d be left with anarchy.

“The World Bank Group shares these concerns about the risks associated with large-scale land acquisitions,” World Bank President Jim Yong Kim said in a statement from the bank’s Washington headquarters Monday.

“Securing access to land is critical for millions of poor people. Modern, efficient, and transparent policies on land rights are vital to reducing poverty and promoting growth, agriculture production, better nutrition and sustainable development.”

Following on decades in which agricultural sectors were almost completely bypassed by international investors - including bilateral donors and multilateral lenders such as the World Bank - recent years have seen a surge of interest across all types of investors and development institutions.

On Monday, Kim noted that the World Bank, too, had stepped up its agriculturerelated investments, but warned that “additional efforts must be made to build capacity and safeguards related to land rights - and to empower civil society to hold governments accountable.”

Ahead of a four-day annual World Bank conference on land and poverty here this week, the institution stated that it expected the global population to grow by two billion by 2050, requiring an expansion of global agricultural production of 70 percent.

While the institution is reiterating longstanding calls for significant new public and private investment in both small-scale and large agricultural operations, it has warned that “investment alone will not be enough” to attain these levels.

Rather, citing spiking food and fuel prices coupled with the looming uncertainties of climate change, the bank is urging the adoption of stronger national and international standards on investments and land rights as a way of helping farmers across the globe raise yields.

“Usable land is in short supply, and there are too many instances of speculators and unscrupulous investors exploiting smallholder farmers, herders and others who lack the power to stand up for their rights,” the bank notes. “This is particularly true in countries with weak land governance systems.”

As such, the bank will now be strengthening efforts aimed at improving land governance, protecting the rights of landowners, and promoting policies “that recognise all forms of land tenure and help women

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Dr.Jim Yong Kim , World Bank President achieve equal treatment in obtaining land rights”.

Growing global discussion Particularly following the rise in both global food-price volatility and demand for biofuels over the past half-decade, agricultural land has become a lucrative commodity for international investors, who have focused particularly on Africa.

According to 2011 research by the bank, some 60 million hectares of land in developing countries were purchased or leased by private sector investors in 2009 alone, a process that has continued. In many cases, local civil society organisations have warned that these transactions are being carried out with government complicity and without following international standards on stakeholder inclusion.

“There’s been a tendency recently towards governments giving large plots of land to international investors for free or at concessional rates, thinking that doing so will fast-track development,” Nicholas Minot, a senior research fellow with the International Food Policy Research Institute, a Washington-based think tank, told IPS recently.

“To some degree there’s logic to that, but there is a huge question as to whether that land was owned by the government or whether it was previously occupied by small-scale farmers without titles. Establishing secure land rights for people in rural areas is a massive but critical issue.”

Organisers say that this week’s World Bank conference on land and poverty - the 14th - is the largest they’ve ever put on, and

includes participation by government officials from several countries. Bank officials also say that the conference’s focus, titled “Moving towards transparent land governance”, is indicative of a new global discussion on the issue.

“This year we have dozens of sessions on issues of land governance, transparency and implementation of the Voluntary Guidelines, which wouldn’t have been as prominent four years ago,” Jorge Munoz, a land tenure adviser for the World Bank, told IPS. “This is not a new subject for the bank, but it has become much more prominent globally - though clearly some countries are much more interested in increasing transparency for improving land governance than others.”

As part of the bank’s scaling-up on the issue, Munoz points to the institution’s rollout of a new tool with which governments are able to get a snapshot analysis of their current land tenure and related laws.

Called the Land Governance Assessment Framework, Munoz says 33 countries have now started to use it.

In addition, the bank is now assisting in implementing new international guidance, approved in May under the auspices of the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), called the Voluntary Guidelines for the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries, and Forests in the Context of National Food Security.

According to USAID, the Untied States’ central foreign assistance agency, at least 22 countries have now requested technical

assistance on implementing the Voluntary Guidelines. Although the project is still in a pilot phase, a “zero draft” of the guidelines is to be released within the coming month.

“Voluntary regulations don’t always work, of course, but in this case these guidelines may be the only way to solve the problem of ensuring that small-scale farmers don’t get abused and are able to access lands they may have used for generations,” Danielle Nierenberg, co-founder of Food Tank, a Washington think tank, told IPS. “Without these guidelines, we’d be left with anarchy. Still, governments and consumers now need to take the initiative to push corporations to take this seriously.”

The bank is also involved with another FAO process to develop an international set of Principles for Responsible Agricultural Investment, aimed at offering global guidelines on socially and environmentally sustainable investments in agriculture.

In recent years, some civil society groups have questioned the bank’s own part in facilitating large-scale land acquisitions (including here and here), particularly that of its private sector arm, the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Yet Munoz says much of this criticism has overstated the institution’s role, which he suggests has focused less on financing than on offering technical assistance on reforms.

“There is a major global problem with land-grabbing,” says Munoz. “The bank’s role is, essentially, to be leaders in assisting countries in improving land governance and improving the behaviour of private investors.”

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Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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News Text messages of hope aim to save lives in Sierra Leone The Red Cross has teamed up with the telecommunications industry to use mobile phone technology, to save lives in Sierra Leone.

The launching of Red Cross and Airtel initiative aims to reach around 1 million Sierra Leoneans within its first month with information on disease outbreaks and other emergencies such as fires or floods.

Using an innovative location-targeted SMS system called the Trilogy Emergency Relief Application (TERA), the Red Cross with support of leading mobile communications providers in the West African country will be able to reach 36,000 people an hour at the touch of a button.

“This system is a real life-saver. We can use it to warn people when emergencies or outbreaks start and to give them vital information on preventing diseases like malaria and cholera,” said Sharon Reader, the Red Cross TERA project manager.

“Even better, TERA is a two-way system so we can quickly assess the areas with the greatest need after an emergency, and respond to requests for information on a large-scale. Harnessing technology in this way is really helping the Red Cross

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to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our aid operations.”

Sierra Leone is only the second country in the world to launch the TERA SMS system after Haiti. Still recovering from a long-running civil war and cholera outbreak which killed hundreds last year, Sierra Leone hopes the TERA initiative will help cut down further fatalities from preventable diseases.

“Last year our country was hit by the worst cholera outbreak in 40 years. Simple information could have helped prevent some of the 300 deaths we suffered,” Sierra Leone’s Vice President Chief Samuel Sam Sumana said.

“We know Sierra Leone has a poor health record and the government is committed to doing something about that. Working with the Sierra Leone Red Cross, Airtel, Comium and SierraTel we can make sure people are armed with the knowledge and tools they need to protect themselves and their families,” he added.

The system will immediately roll out information on preventing malaria, a disease which claims over 16,000 lives in Sierra Leone every year, making it the country’s largest preventable cause of death.

Kenyan fraud on rise against falling trend A new report has named Kenya among the top four African nations for fraud.

The report by KPMG indicates that South Africa has the highest number of reported fraud cases on the continent, followed by Nigeria and Zimbabwe. The Africa Fraud Barometer report released on Wednesday says Kenya has the most cases of fraud reported in the East African region and has achieved the dubious honour of making it to the top four on the continent as a whole.

William Oelofse, KPMG’s East Africa director responsible for Forensic Services, says: “In Kenya, we saw a general increase in the number of fraud cases. (…) We are very active in the financial sector, both banking and insurance, and there is certainly increased activity. The perpetrators are normally employees with assistance from third parties. We also noted that IT departments are more often involved, with some input from operational people.”

The reported fraud cases in other East African countries, — Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda — had decreased.

“There are clear indications that both banks and insurance companies are taking fraud risk management more seriously. They are not only talking about it but there are actual steps taken to implement some of the fraud risk management controls,” said Mr Oelofse.

The report, however, says the overall cases of fraud in the continent had decreased from 503 in the first half of 2012 to 348 cases in the second half of 2012. This is the third consecutive period where a decrease in reported fraud and corruption cases has been recorded.

In the same period, the value of fraud increased from $2 billion (Sh168 billion) to $4 billion (Sh335 billion).

Nigeria still has the highest value of reported fraud cases with $3 billion, an increase of 50 per cent.

Worldreader has distributed 10,000 e-readers to African schoolchildren Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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News

2G delivers millions of e-books to developing world

By Zoe Fox

Innovation in the mobile phone space, for many of us, means the latest smartphone or tablet from Apple or Samsung. But for millions of people in the developing world, simpler developments for feature phones — the type you probably haven’t used in half a decade — can be an education game changer and a tool for empowerment.

Non-profit Worldreader has brought more than half a million e-books to children in Africa via the 10,000 Kindles it’s distributed. After a one-year pilot program, the organisation has launched Worldreader Mobile, a way for any feature phone user with a 2G connection to read more than 1,400 books for free.

“Feature phones are omnipresent in the developing world. They’re people’s lifelines; they’re where they get their access to payments and the Internet,” Susan Moody, Worldreader’s director of marketing and communications, told Mashable. IPhones and similar smartphones may be buzzworthy, she says, but they apply to a proportionally small number of people.

Five billion people are using feature

phones that run on 2G networks.

Through 2G networks, Worldreader pushes classic titles available through Creative Commons — think Pride and Prejudice and Nancy Drew — onto its users’ phones. It recently began adding local African materials, which has caused an immediate surge in readership. Hindi and Bengali titles for the large Indian user base are coming through the pipeline.

During the pilot, readers in Nigeria, India, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe, among other countries, have become hooked on reading. The Worldreader Mobile app has been downloaded onto 4 million feature phones, and there are more than half a million active users, who use the app at least 20 times each month.

If innovation in the feature phone space seems outdated, remember there are only 1.5 billion smartphones among the world’s 6.4 billion cellphones. In Africa specifically, there are just 15 million smartphones among the continents half billion phones.

According to 2012 projections from Wireless Intelligence, those numbers won’t soon be changing: By 2016, 75% of sub-Saharan Africa will still just have access to 2G.

Worldreader has distributed 10,000 e-readers to African schoolchildren

Churchgoers burned for talking during sermon Police in Zimbabwe have arrested six people, including a church leader from the True Gospel Apostolic Faith Church in the central town of Chitungwiza, after two youngsters were injured while being forced to walk on hot coals as punishment for chatting during a church sermon.

Reports suggest that a 14-yearold boy and a 21-year-old man suffered severe burns as a result of the punishment meted out to them on April 14.

According to witnesses, that the unnamed victims were dragged over the coal after they were caught talking through the pastor’s sermon.

“The two victims were accused of talking while the church leader was addressing at the church service

on Sunday at around 9 am,” Police spokesman Tarirai Dube said.

Dube further said that after the pair were caught talking, a group of congregants took them to an open fire and linked hands to form a ring from which they could not escape. Both victims eventually fell onto the fire, causing serious burns to their legs and feet. The victims were taken to Chitungwiza Central Hospital and were in a stable condition.

Inspector Dube named the accused as church leader Justice Nguni, 35, and congregants Courage Macheka, 24, Martin Mazvazvido, 43, Jesca Mushakavanhu, 40, Clifford Murota, 37, and Richard Rushaya, 16. All six will appear in court this week charged with assault.

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Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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Africa continues to grow strongly despite global slowdown Economic growth in SubSaharan Africa is likely to reach more than 5 per cent on average in 2013-2015 as a result of high commodity prices worldwide and strong consumer spending on the continent, ensuring that the region remains amongst the fastest growing in the world -- according to the World Bank’s latest Africa’s Pulse, a twice-yearly analysis of the issues shaping Africa’s economic prospects.

In 2012, about a quarter of African countries grew at 7 per cent or higher and a number of African countries, notably Sierra Leone, Niger, Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Ethiopia, Burkina Faso and Rwanda, are among the fastest growing in the world.

The new World Bank report forecasts that medium-term growth prospects remain strong and will be supported by a gradually improving world economy, consistently high commodity prices, and more investment in regional infrastructure, trade, and business growth.

Welcoming the new assessment that Africa continues to grow faster than the global average, the World Bank’s Vice Presi-

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Makhtar Diop, World Bank’s Africa Vice President dent called on the need for faster progress in areas such as electricity and food in the vulnerable areas of The Sahel and the Horn of Africa, and that significantly more energy and agricultural productivity were needed to raise the quality of life for Africans throughout the continent and reduce poverty significantly.

“African countries will need to bring more electricity, nutritious food, jobs and

opportunity to families and communities across the continent in order to better their lives, end extreme poverty, and promote shared prosperity,” said the World Bank’s Africa Vice President Makhtar Diop.

“Without more electricity and higher agricultural productivity, Africa’s development future cannot prosper. The good news is that governments in Africa are intent on changing this.”

Diop also urged African governments and their development partners to upgrade the continent’s statistical capacity so that citizens could better measure and monitor their development progress and analyze the reasons for its success and failure, especially in resource-rich countries and fragile states, where data gathering and analysis remained weak.

New mineral discoveries drive growth Africa’s Pulse says that recent discoveries of oil, natural gas, copper, and other strategic minerals, and the expansion of several mines or the building of new ones in Mozambique, Niger, Sierra Leone, and Zambia, together with better political and economic governance, were sustaining solid economic growth across the continent.

Looking forward, it is expected that by 2020, only 4 or 5 countries in the region will not be involved in mineral exploitation of some kind, such is Africa’s abundance of natural resources.

The World Bank says that given the considerable amounts of new mineral revenues coming on stream across the region, resource-rich African countries will consciously need to invest these new earnings in better health, education, and jobs, and less poverty for their people in order to maximize their national development prospects.

Consumer spending and private investment up Consumer spending, which accounts for more than 60 per cent of Africa’s GDP, remained strong in 2012.

This trend was driven by declining inflation, which fell from 9.5 percent in January 2012 to 7.6 percent in December 2012; improved access to credit, for example in Angola, Ghana, Mozambique, South Africa,

and Zambia; lower interest rates--for every interest rate hike there were three cuts; and a rebound in agricultural incomes, thanks to more favorable weather conditions in countries such as Guinea, Mauritania and Niger, which all experienced better rains compared with the 2010/2011 crop year; and the steady remittance inflows, which are estimated at $31 billion in 2012 and 2011.

Increased investment flows are supporting the region’s growth performance. In 2012, for example, net private capital flows to the region increased by 3.3 percent to a record $54.5 billion; and foreign direct investment inflows to the region increased by 5.5 percent in 2012 to $37.7 billion.

Africa’s Pulse notes that exports are also driving the continent’s growth and that the traditional destination of these goods over the last decade is changing as well. Since 2000, the overall growth of Sub-Saharan exports to emerging markets, including those of China, Brazil and India, and to countries in the region has surpassed that to developed markets. Total exports to Brazil, India and China were larger than to the EU market in 2011.

Africa’s impressive growth has not reduced poverty enough After more than a decade of strong economic growth, the World Bank says that Africa has been able to cut poverty on the continent, but not by enough.

“While the broad picture emerging from the data is that Africa’s economies have been expanding robustly and that poverty is coming down, the aggregate hides a great deal of diversity in performance, even among Africa’s faster growers,” says Shanta Devarajan, the World Bank’s Chief Economist for Africa, and lead author of the new report.

Devarajan adds that during the second half of the 2000s, Ethiopia and Rwanda saw their economies expand at 8-10 percent (or between 5 and 8 percent per capita), which resulted in a 1.3 to 1.7 percentage point yearly fall in their national poverty rates. In contrast, poverty reduction in some other countries has lagged far behind growth.

Future offers prospects of more growth, much less poverty, and shared prosperity Africa’s Pulse suggests that a number of emerging trends on the continent could help to transform its current state of development over the coming years. These include the promise of large revenues from mineral exploitation, rising incomes created by a dramatic expansion of agricultural productivity, the large-scale migration of people from the countryside into Africa’s towns and cities, and a demographic dividend potentially created by Africa’s fast-growing population of young people.

“If properly harnessed to unleash their full potential, these trends hold the promise of more growth, much less poverty, and accelerating shared prosperity for African countries in the foreseeable future,” says Punam Chuhan-Pole, a co-author of the Africa’s Pulse and a Lead Economist in the World Bank’s Africa region.

Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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President Jonathan sets up committees on Boko Haram President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the constitution of a Presidential Committee to constructively engage key members of Boko Haram and define a comprehensive and workable framework for resolving the crisis of insecurity in the country.

According to a release by the Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) Reuben Abati in Abuja on April,17 the action is sequel to the consideration yes-

terday, April 16 by the National Security Council of the report of the technical committee it set up to review fresh modalities for addressing security challenges in the North.

The Committee’s terms of reference will include developing a framework for the granting of amnesty; setting up of a framework through which disarmament could take place within a 60-day time frame; the development of a comprehensive victims’ support programme and the development of mechanisms to address the underlying

causes of insurgencies that will help to prevent future occurrences.

President Jonathan has also approved the constitution of a Federal Government committee on the proliferation of small arms and light weapons in keeping with his pledge that Nigeria will work with the United Nations and other countries to stem the worrisome proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and their use in creating insecurity and instability in Nigeria and other developing nations.

COMMITTEE ON SMALL ARMS AND LIGHT WEAPONS

Both committees will be formally inaugurated by President Jonathan at 10 am on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The composition of the two committees is as follows: COMMITTEE ON DIALOGUE AND PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF SECURITY CHALLENGES IN THE NORTH 1. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, Minister of Special Duties - Chairman 2. Sheik Ahmed - Member 3. Dr. Hakeem Baba Ahmed - Member 4. Col.Musa Shehu - Memeber 5. Sheik Abubakar Tureta - Memeber 6. Dr. Datti Ahmed - Memebr 7. Senator Sodangi Abubakar - Member 8. Senator Ahmed Makarfi Member 9. Hon. Mohammed Bello Matawalle Member 10. Amb. Zakari Ibrahim - Member 11. Comrade Shehu Sani - Member 12. Hajiya Naja’atu Mohammed - Member 13. Malam Adamu S. Ladan - Member 14. Dr. Joseph Golwa - Member 15. AVM A. I. Shehu - Member 16. Mr. R. I. Nkemdirim - Member 17. DIG P. Leha - Member 18. Prof. Nur Alkali - Member 19. Malam Salihu Abubakar - Member 20. Alhaji Abubakar Sani Lugga - Member 21 Barister Ibrahim Tahir - Member 22. Brig-Gen. Ibrahim - Member 23. Amb. Baba Ahmed Jidda - Member 24. Group Capt. BilalBulama - Memeber 25. Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi - Member 26. Representative of OSGF - Secretary

1. Amb. Emmanuel Imohe - (Chairman) 2. Amb. Martin I. Uhomoibhi - Member 3. Amb. T. Hart - Member 4. Amb.Ghali Umar - Memeber 5. Amb. B.G. Wakil - Member 6. Mr. Opelusi Olureti - Member 7. Representative of Ministry of Interior Member 8. Representative of NSA - Member 9. Representative of DG (SSS) - Member 10. Representative of NIA - Member 11. Representative of Federal Ministry of Justice - Member 12.Representative of Ministry of Defence - Member 13.Representative of DIA - Member 14.Representative of the Nigeria Police Force - Member 15.Representative of the Nigerian Cus toms Service - Member 16.Representative of OSGF - Member 17. Director, International Organisations Dept (MFA) - Secretary

Boko Haram terrorists

President Jonathan has not endorsed any committee on 2015 In spite of clear and unambiguous pronouncements by President Goodluck Jonathan that he remains fully focused on the implementation of his Administration’s agenda for national transformation and not the politics of future elections, the Presidency has noted with concern that some individuals, groups, organisations and sections of the media have continued to foster the myth of a President and Administration solely concerned with jostling and self-positioning for the 2015 elections.

On Monday, April 15, 2013, ThisDay newspaper published a front page news story titled “21-member C’ttee Empanelled for Jonathan’s Second Term Bid” wherein it was stated, inter alia, that “the president’s aides and associates have set up

a 21-member committee to advise (President) Jonathan on the viability of his entry into the presidential contest in 2015”. The impression is further created that a group known as “We, the people” has its roots in the Presidency and that the 2015 campaign has now become the main preoccupation of the Presidency.

This is totally untrue and without any basis in reality. As he has truthfully declared on several occasions, President Jonathan has not yet taken a decision on whether or not he will seek re-election in 2015 and has therefore not mandated any individual, committee or organisation to start working on his behalf for the 2015 elections.

President’s Jonathan’s stated wish to be left alone to focus on delivering on his promise of good governance and national transformation without unnecessary distractions should be respected. Political job-

bers and their collaborators in the media should stop heating up the polity with baseless speculations and falsehoods revolving around imaginary plans and schemes by the Presidency for the 2015 elections.

The Presidency has also observed what seems to be an emerging trend whereby persons with their eyes fixated on political opportunities in future elections are beginning to use President Goodluck Jonathan’s name to promote themselves and their vaulting ambitions. It was clearly in this regard that some unscrupulous persons began to print 2015 campaign posters with President Jonathan’s photograph whereas the Independent National Electoral Commission is yet to announce the commencement of campaigns and political parties are yet to conduct any primaries for the selection of candidates.

Democracy is the surest way to peace, prosperity and development – VP Sambo Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has observed that only democracy had the potential of ensuring peace, prosperity and development of any nation.

He was speaking when he received Ambassador Maria Leissner, Secretary-General of the Community of Democracies in his office at the State House, Abuja, on Wednesday, April 17.

The Vice President was elated with the election of Nigeria as the President of the Democratic Communities as he noted that democracy in Nigeria has firmly found its roots.

Arc Sambo noted the successes recorded in the conduct of transparent elections from 2011 to date and attributed such to the commitment and determination of Dr Goodluck Jonathan Administration to keeping to its promises. He said that it was attained due to efforts geared toward strengthening the democratic institutions and the independence of the electoral body.

The Vice President also stated that Nigeria is always ready to partner with other brotherly countries to further the cause of Democracy. He noted further that the administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan has demonstrated good faith in the observance of the Rule-of-Law as no one has been unjustifiably arrested or manhandled for no just cause.

Arc Sambo seized the opportunity to intimate the visiting secretary-general of the administration’s efforts at raising the socio-economic status of the citizens. He reviewed the efforts made in the Power, Transportation, Education, Agriculture and Health sectors.

Earlier, Amb Marie Leissner had thanked Nigeria for accepting to sponsor the ongoing 2-day workshop on strengthening democratic traditions and institutions, and was elated by the involvement of Nigeria in the Community of Democracies stating that, as part of the troika, it has included all political actors, civil society and all other institutions needed to advance the cause of democracy.

Leissner noted that the Community of Democracies is made up of two layers; Out Layer involving over 140 actors, which declaration was adopted in Warsaw and signed by over 110 countries, and the Inner Circle. She noted that the global platform has provided the good opportunity to discuss Democracy stating that “you are keen in supporting democracy when you know what it is and not because you have it.”

Present at the meeting were the Minister of State Foreign Affairs Professor Mrs Viola Onwuliri, Amb Asalina Raymond Momuno, Amb. Samuel Wodi Jimba and the Deputy Chief Of Staff Mohammed Kachalla.

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Osun inaugurates 50 waste disposal trucks The Osun State Government inaugurated 50 waste disposal trucks under its environmental sanitation initiative tagged, O’Clean Plus.

To sensitise the public on the importance of proper waste disposal, the trucks were driven round major roads in Osogbo, the state capital, and later to the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding, the venue of the inauguration.

The O’Clean Plus scheme is aimed at maintaining a clean and healthy environment in the state.

Governor Rauf Aregbsola said the successes recorded with the scheme between 2011 and now informed its re-invigoration.

He said: “Between 2011 and now, incidents of malaria and other diseases have reduced drastically. Our assessment has helped us to measure whether our various projects and their implementation are meeting the set targets and if they have made the desired impact.

“These have given us the opportunity to determine whether to stop the projects,

rework them, keep them on course or take them to the next stage. We have reached that point with O’Clean and we have decided to scale it up to O’Clean-Plus. Our development plan is all-encompassing. Part of its health and environment component is the O’Clean. Personal cleanliness and cleanliness of one’s surroundings cut across the environment and health sectors.

“In fact, they bring into sharp focus the close and inseparable relationship between health and the environment. Any consideration of human health that does not view man in the light of his environment cannot be an adequate perspective on healthy living.”

Aregbesola said when he assumed office, his administration was confronted with the enormous challenge of waste disposal, as the people were used to dumping refuse indiscriminately.

The governor said: “This to us posed immediate danger to the well-being of our people and the environment. We moved quickly to declare a 90-day state-of-emergency in environmental sanitation and we subsequently came up with the O’Clean programme.”.

From Right –Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Ambassador of Kuwait, Saad Al – Asousi and Special Adviser on Federal Matter, Hon. Yidiat Babalolo at a Business Dinner at Dunes Hotel Abuja

Photos: Taofeeq Adejare

From Left – Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, his Wife Senator Oluremi Tinubu, Ogun State Governor Senator Ibikunle Amosun and Governor, Centeral Bank Of Nigeria, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi during the Bola Tinubu Colloquium at Musiom Centre, Lagos State

FROM Left –Deputy Governor, State of Osun, Otunba Titi-Laoye Tomori, Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Chairman Local Organizing Committee of the 37th West African College of Physicians [WACP] Nigeria, Dr. Rasak Adebayo and Chairman Nigeria Medical Association[NMA], State of Osun Chapter, Dr. Anthony Onipede during the courtesy visit to the Governor at the Governor’s office, Abere, Osogbo 10

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Train operator accused of concealing black workers

France

France’s national railway company is under fire from their industry union for allegedly hiding its black and Arab workers during the visit of Israeli president Simon Peres.

The Sud Rail union said the workers, employed by Itiremia, a subsidiary of Société Nationale des Chemins de fer Français (SNCF), were deliberately kept off a rota when the station master selected extra staff for Peres’s arrival by train at Paris’s Gare du Nord station last month.

Other black and Arab workers were asked to stay away from the platform where Peres, who was on a European tour, would be disembarking, and workers were told the reason was “for their own security”, the union said in a statement.

“The manager of the site went ‘shopping’ among his staff to exclude blacks and Arabs because no Muslims were wanted to welcome the Israeli head of state,” the statement said.

The Itiremia works council has begun an

internal investigation to check the allegations and determine whether discriminatory instructions were issued and who, if anyone, was behind them.

In a statement, SNCF denied receiving any order from Peres’ staff, the Israeli Embassy or the French interior ministry to discriminate among its workers. It also denied issuing any discriminatory instructions to the Itiremia baggage handling company.

Israeli Embassy spokesman Yaron Ganburg denied allegations that a request for nonMuslim baggage handlers had come from any Israeli body, pointing out that Peres met with Muslim leaders during his trip.

“This is a lie, pure and simple,” Ganburg said. Yacine Chaoui, a Sud Rail member in charge of the investigation, said questioning did not reveal evidence of written instructions but that an Itiremia station chief had received oral instructions to keep minority workers out.

“We are convinced there were instructions to discriminate, but we are still trying to determine where they came from,” said Chaoui.

Angry beggar sets man alight USA

Israel is at odds with most Arab and Islamic countries partly because of its unresolved conflict with Palestinians who seek a state on land captured by the Jewish state in a 1967 war. France’s secular tradition

forbids keeping official records of people’s religious or ethnic background. But advocacy groups argue that discrimination based on “foreign-sounding” names goes largely unchecked.

Riot warnings causing pre-election panic Malaysia Shoppers in Penang have started to stockpile food and other essentials after receiving mysterious text messages warning of rioting when Malaysia goes to the polls on May 5.

Police confirm that they have received complaints of the alarmist messages, which urge the public to buy food in bulk ahead of polling day as rioting is expected.

A report in The New Straits Times said that the text messages were “spreading like wildfire in Penang and creating public unease”, but offered no details as to where the messages came from or what exactly it said about the rioting.

Penang Assistant Commissioner of

Police Roslee Chik confirmed that some families have been stockpiling but dismissed reports of panic.

“Everything is in order here and I advised the public to disregard the allegation in the SMS. I am also advising the people not to recirculate the SMS as they can be charged under the Sedition Act,” he told a press conference.

“The information is false” he added, according to Bernama news agency.

Individuals arrested and convicted for spreading false text messages will be dealt with under the Sedition Act and Section 232 of Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act for abusing phone lines to convey false information.

The horrific scene outside the convenience store

A 63 year-old man has died from his injuries following reports that an apparently homeless man threw an incendiary device into his car.

Witnesses report that Jerry Payne, who had been waiting outside a 7-Eleven store in Long Beach, had earlier refused to give the homeless man money.

The man threw a bottle into Payne’s SUV through an open window, after which it exploded in flames. Witnesses

helped pull the driver from the burning vehicle, but he suffered serious burns and was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.

Police arrested 38 year-old Raymond Sean Clark in connection with the deadly attack.

“The suspect was found at a nearby location taken into custody. I will be able to get more information as the investigation continues,” Sgt. Aaron Eaton told reporters.

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Nollywood

I regret being a divorcee – Monalisa Chinda spent greater part of his life in Germany. As far as I’m concerned, my dad was a German. He was always in the forefront of ensuring that his children were well catered for. But my mum was a career woman before she retired.

We learnt that you are planning to go into marriage again. Is it true?

I would love to remarry. In fact, I’m designed to be under a man. I’m not going to lie that I like this ‘single mother nomenclature. But whereby there is no one at the moment, one is bound to get used to the situation. It’s not a ‘do- or -die affair’ because I have been there before, anything I’m going to do now,it has to be done right.

I’m not in the school of thought, where the first one happened and perhaps, the second one. No, any bold step I have to take in settling down again, it has to be right. I’m not ready to make another mistake. But I will definitely remarry. I believe in the principles of marriage. Whether you like it or not, marriage is a better option.

How soon are you planning to settle down?

I honestly don’t know about that, and I can’t tell for now.

Have you found love again?

It’s neither here nor there. I’m a lover and I love to love.

BENJAMIN NJOKU Two things are bound to attract you to Monalisa Chinda whenever you are privileged to engage her in a conversation. They are her frankness and humility. These attributes played out last week as Showtime Celebrity took her on a trip into her past, her present and perhaps, her future. For the first time, Lisa bares her mind on a number of issues bothering on her love life, crashed marriage and accomplishments. Chiefly, she confirms that she has found love again, not ruling out however, the possibility of giving marriage a second chance. Enjoy!!!

Find love again Do you still believe in love ?

I believe in love. Love is the reason for our existence. It’s really not enough if you want to get something done, you have to do away with that emotion and be real.

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Are you religious?

I’m from a religious background. I ‘m an Anglican and all the moral teachings I learnt while I was growing up are still there till date. While I was seven, I was a member of my church choir . I attended an Anglican school, Archdeacon Memorial Grammar School, it’s a convent school. I’m quite religious.

How did you feel when your father was murdered?

Every day that passes by, I think of that man. God bless his soul. He was the reason, I’m doing what I am doing at the moment. My late dad was a philanthropist. He would give out the last money in his pocket to those who do not have. I took after my Dad, whereas my mum was a career woman.

My dad ensured that his children were well taken care of, in all ramifications. He was a good cook and he

It was rumoured recently that you have found love again?

Is there anything wrong with that?

I just replied you that I love to love.

What else do you want to know.

Your fans would want to know if there is any man in your life at the moment?

Yes, there is a man in my life. …Lanre Nzeribe right?

No comment. This is my private life.

People are alleging that you are pregnant for him?

You can see that I’m not pregnant.

Naturally, I’m not pregnant for anybody.

What do you regret most about your past?

One thing I regret most is the fact that I am divorced. Where I come from, I’m the first daughter. I’m from a royal family, it has never been on record in

my family that the first daughter will walk out of her matrimonial home.

But it was a matter of life and death, otherwise, I would have stayed back and make my marriage work. I tried to make it work, but it takes two people to tango.

That’s the only thing I regret, having to raise my child without the father. It’s a bit painful. But I have to live with it.

It’s better that way than to expose my little daughter to all sorts of domestic violence. It will definitely disorient her and affect her upbringing. She will be dis-functional. God knows the best. May be, I should have been more careful.

With such shocking experience, what would you say life has taught you?

I’ m a bit stronger and wiser now than before. I have known how not to get involved in anything emotional again. If you are emotional even in a relationship, you don’t get to think.

One shouldn’t allow her emotion to overrule her sense of reasoning.

I have understood what it means to be patient to persevere and also, to be careful with people around me. If somebody around you is your very good friend, you end up finding that the person is actually an enemy in disguise. I have learnt all of that because I have been alone. While my marriage was intact, I was not keeping friends. After I’m through with my work, I usually retire to my house.

But since I’m alone, and having to mix up with a lot of people, I have realised that I have to be very careful

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Nollywood and free-minded and at the same time, be myself.

In the midst of all these challenges, what would you say has kept you going?

I’m a very strong woman, and openminded. I know who I am. I’m a Godly person, but I’m not a perfectionist. If I do something wrong, I will always find a way to show remorse and repent of whatever sin I might have committed.

That has kept me going. I’m highly determined and focused. I do not go by what people say about me.

If your ex- comes back to you today, will you accept him again?

God forbid. He’s a closed chapter in my life.

You recently premiered your latest movie, Weekend Getway, What’s the movie all about?

First of all, the premiere was successful. I thank God for that. A lot of people turned out to show their support. The movie was produced by myself ,Ini Edo and Emem Isong. It was directed by Desmond Elliot. It paraded A-list actresses, b o t h

Does it mean your little daughter is not missing her father?

She doesn’t know her father . She was barely a year when our marriage crashed. I think she will ask some day.

Share your experience with us as a Glo ambassador?

It has been rewarding for me. Activities always come up here and there, going around, talking about the brand.

Glo has made a long lasting mark in the country.

How do you describe yourself?

I’m just the girl-next-door. I don’t have many ears around me, I try to be humble. I want people to be able to reach out to me. I’m not a difficult person.

I’m an easy-going lady.

young and old ones in the industry.

We had to create a platform where up and coming actors star alongside seasoned actors which made the film more unique. The movie is already selling out in the cinemas. Between last Friday when it was premiered and yesterday( last week), we have made substantial amount of money from the box office alone. I also acted in the movie.

What are your recent movies?

Kiss &Tell which was produced in 2010 but premiered in 2011. My second movie, Cat Walk was shot in 2010, but premiered in February, 2012. My third movie, Weekend Getway, premiered forth-night ago.

Why did you go into production of movies?

Producing has always been at the back of my mind as an actress. In fact, I should speak the minds of a lot of people who are in the art. They want to diversify and break new grounds and to also show the various things they can do. Naturally, we all want to try our hands in other things as long as it’s within the genre of entertainment. That’s the reason I wanted to do

something different. Right now, I’m even going into live theatre which is already dying in this country. Thespians like myself and a few other people are trying to revive the dying live theatre culture in the country.

Was it why you staged a dance-drama, “Dance for Life’ last December?

Yes, because the first outing was actually sponsored by myself.

That’s why I want to see how I can get corporate bodies to partner with me for the the second edition of the dance project which I want it to come up on May29.

Do you dance?

As a Thespian, we all do the three arms of theatre including Dance , Music and Acting.

These are the three arms of theatre, so you must be able to do the three and then, specialize in one.

Last December outing, was it the first time you actually involved in dance ?

Yes, it was the first time I would dance in public. I’ve never done that before in my life . I only danced while I was in the university. As an artiste, we were involved in all sorts of performances way back in school.

How did you feel that fateful day?

I had mixed-feelings because of the massive turn-out of celebrities. Again, it was because of the fact that a lot of people enjoyed themselves and they didn’t want to go home again. So, I was in between rolling myself on the floor with tears of joy and also, praying that this kind of dance project should continue. It was a divine feeling.

Did the project actualise your dream of reviving live theatre in Nigeria?

Yes, I’ve always wanted to do exactly that. I’ve always wanted to find an opportunity to revive the dying live theater in the country. People look at

dance as a non-productive act, but I don’t think so because dance is even more vigorous than acting. You have to love the art, love theatre and singing before you can be able to have a grasp of the message. The performer on stage is trying to understand the message being put across through dance.

Since you delved into movie production what has been your challenges?

It’s been a good experience, and also, knowing that I’m getting older, I need to step aside for the emerging actresses to excel. But even at that, it’s really difficult for them. I think some of the fresh actresses are joining Nollywood for different reasons and probably not for the love of the industry. They just have this silly idea that if I hit the screen, people would see me and like my face as well. It’s not done like that.

If you call for an audition today, and about four thousand people show up, you will be shocked to find out that not up to five of them have what it takes to be an actress. The five people would have rigorous screening before they are able to deliver their lines. That also is a very big challenge. That’s why we keep recycling a lot of known faces even when we are getting older and tired. We still try to look slim and young, competing favourably with the younger ones.

Do you intend to go solo in your next movie?

Yes, I will like to go solo in my next movie just to see what it’s like not wanting to do the movie with anybody else. But I will still engage seasoned directors to direct my movie. But I want to be the solo financier and solo producer o f my next movie. That will happen before the end of this year.

We learnt you are planning to launch a perfume line?

Yes, I’ve already started and I’m planning to do a launch of the perfume in future. The product is called Monalisa Mcold Beauty Products. That’s the brand name I’m using for now. I have a factory outside Lagos where the fragrances are produced. They took samples of my skin to test if the products are good for human consumption. We are producing body cream, age defining hand creams, body mix for men and women and soap.

First published in Vanguard Newspaper, Nigeria.

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CRIME

Women convicted of burglary at Barnardos Brixton Alejandra Sanchez, aged 21years, was sentenced to 28 days imprisonment on Thursday 11 April at Camberwell Green Magistrates Court. Sanchez had been charged with burglary at Barnardo’s, Brixton, SW9 on 9 April 2013.

The court heard that on Monday, 8th April, at approx 19:00hrs local officers in Lambeth had dealt with a group of people who met following the death of Baroness Thatcher in Brixton.

The group of approximately 100 people in Brixton had caused low level disorder including throwing missiles at officers.

In order to protect the community and to ensure the highways remained clear extra officers were deployed.

Two women [A - 20ys; B - 21ys] were initally arrested in the early hours suspicion of burglary after being found inside the shop in Brixton. No further action was taken against the other female.

DC Andy Hall says “Sanchez took advantage of earlier disorder which culminated in an unprovoked attack on Barnardo’s to commit a burglary in a shop; which seeks to raise money to help children.

Hopefully this swift sentence will show that criminality, no matter what excuses people hide behind, is unacceptable and will be dealt with. I appeal to anyone who has information regarding the disorder on Monday 8 April to contact the police or Crimestoppers.”

17 arrests in the Loughborough Junction area under Operation Bearnaugh

Barnado’s, Brixton

Umar Tufail murder trial

Sanchez Thomas

Two teenagers have been sentenced at the Old Bailey for murdering Umar Tufail.

In a joint Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and British Transport Police (BTP) operation, 17 people were arrested in the Loughborough Junction area.

Operation Bearnaugh, which took place on Thursday 21st March 2013, targeted drug dealers and crime associated with it. A series of warrants were simultaneously executed within the vicinity of a series of railway arches in Loughborough Junction. This resulted in 17 arrests for conspiracy to supply drugs, possession of drugs and immigration offences.

Acting Detective Chief Inspector Will White, of Lambeth CID, said: “This was a successful joint operation between BTP and the MPS in the Lougborough Junction area, which resulted in a significant number of arrests, seizure of drugs and cash. The 14

premises raided have been closed and eviction notices served. Feedback from the local community has been positive and the public can be reassured that Police will take robust action to deal with criminal behaviour.”

Detective Chief Inspector Kate Forsyth from BTP, said: “The operation was designed to remind the community that we are out working for them, and to warn anyone with criminal intentions that they could be caught.

We want to send out a clear message that we will do everything in our power to bring prosecutions against those involved with the supply of drugs across the rail network and surrounding area.

We are committed to addressing this issue and working together with our Metropolitan Police colleagues on this proactive operation is just one of the methods employed in tackling it.”

Sanchez Thomas, 19 of Unity Close, SE19 was sentenced to life with a minimum of 25 years and Kyrone Daley, 19 also of Unity Close, SE19 was sentenced to life with a minimum of 22 years.

Police were called at 16:35hrs on 15 July 2012 to a man found shot in his red Vauxhall Corsa which was parked in Wharncliffe Road SE25.

Umar Tufail a delivery driver, of South Norwood had left his home address to visit local shops when the suspects’ vehicle - a grey Vauxhall Corsa - pulled alongside him and a single shot was fired through an open window.

The suspects are believed to have fled in the direction of Grange Road, SE25.

Umar was found suffering a gunshot injury. He was taken by London Ambulance Service to Kings College Hospital where he died on 16 July 2012. A post-mortem examination held at Croydon Mortuary gave cause of death as a single gunshot wound to the head.

An investigation was launched by detectives from the Trident Gang Crime Command.

Local enquiries led to the identification of Thomas as a potential suspect. On 16 July 2012, a search warrant was executed at an address on Unity Close, SE19 and the Vauxhall was seized from a parking bay

Kyrone Daley

opposite the house. A number of items were recovered and were sent off for forensic examination.

DNA taken from a baseball cap - which had traces of gunshot residue on it - and a grey Adidas top was matched to Thomas. A fingerprint taken from the passenger door was linked to Daley.

As a result of viewing hours of CCTV footage, officers were able to prove that Thomas had been wearing a grey Adidas top on the day of the murder.

On 19 July 2012 a warrant was executed at a second address in South Norwood.

On 23 July 2012 detectives arrested Thomas after he attended Bromley police station. He was bailed pending further enquiries and subsequently charged with murder on 9 August 2012.

Daley - a known associate of Thomas was arrested on 6 August 2012 and charged with murder the following day.

Detective Chief Inspector Lee Watling, Trident Gang Crime Command, said: “The motive for this murder remains unclear.

However, what is clear is that these two men took the life of a young man in a violent manner. I would like to thank my team for their hard work in bringing justice to Umar Tufail’s family and I would personally like to thank the family for their continued support of the police investigation.

“The Trident Gang Crime Command are committed to bringing those individuals to court who carry and use firearms and associate with gangs.”

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Sounds of Diaspora People of America

Celeb BB rapper loses his Coolio 2 Chainz headed for Nigeria bash US rapper and former Celebrity Big Brother housemate Coolio has found himself in a spot of bother after allegedly punching his girlfriend in the face for objecting to his bringing home another woman.

According to TMZ.com, Coolio, alias Artis Ivey Jr. fled the scene with their young son and the other woman after allegedly punching and pushing Anabella Chatman to the ground. Ms Chatman also alleges that Coolio’s car hit her on the leg as he drove away from the house.

Coolio told police that Chatman had hit and scratched him in a jealous rage during the April 1 incident, but he was arrested and charged.

Coolio shot to prominence with Stevie Wonder cover Gangsta’s Paradise

Threatened Lauryn pleads for judge’s mercy

Lauryn Hill has asked for leniency, claiming threats to herself and her family led to her failure to file tax returns between 2005 and 2007.

Lauryn Hill has performed sporadically over the last decade

The former Fugee, who potentially faces jail after pleading guilty to charges of tax evasion, is due to be sentenced on April 22.

The Doo Wop (That Thing) singer stopped paying taxes ‘when she withdrew from society at large due to what she perceived as manipulation and very real threats to herself and her family,’ according to court documents. The hip-hop artist didn’t elaborate on the perceived threats.

Hill also has asked the court to consider other factors before her sentencing, including her contention that she can pay off her debt faster if she’s not imprisoned.

She faces a maximum one-year sentence on each of three counts of tax evasion, plus fines.

Hill launched her solo career in 1998 with the critically acclaimed album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. She largely disappeared from public view starting about 2000 and has been raising her six children. Five of her children are with Rohan Marley, son of reggae legend Bob Marley.

2 Chainz was formerly one half of Georgia duo Playaz Circle

American rapper, 2 Chainz, is expected in Nigeria for a show tagged “D’KINGZ MEN Concert,” organised by singer D’banj and his DKM Media alongside Ndani TV.

The concert is being organised in celebration of D’banj’s birthday. D’banj earlier gave an hint about bringing 2 Chainz to Nigeria when he tweeted from his twitter account on April 1 saying: “So I said to someone, @2chains will be at my birthday

party in June performing #thebirthdaysong the person said, April fool! Hmm #ROADTODKM “ He further tweeted: “AlI I want for my bday is.........in fact I’m thinking something crazy will let u guys know soon.”

Nigerian singers expected to perform at the event include from Fallyipupa, Kayswitch, Olamide and J-sol.

Last December, Idris Elba, Pusha T and Big Sean were all in Nigeria for D’banj’s koko concert.

Will Kelly get her X Factor back She might have got the boot from the UK version of ‘The X Factor’ but Kelly Rowland is set to make a return to the US version of the show according to reports.

The former Destiny’s Child star is frontrunner to replace Britney Spears on the judging panel of the third series of the singing competition when it airs later this year.

Kelly first appeared on the UK version of the show in 2011 when she joined

Gary Barlow, Tulisa and Louis Walsh on the judging panel but left after just one series.

But now it looks like the ‘When Love Takes Over’ singer will be joining Simon Cowell, Demi Lovato and a fourth, as yet unannounced, judge on the show.

A source told The Mail Online: “Simon has always remained a fan of Kelly’s and she’s most definitely in the mix to join the judging panel on X Factor USA.” 15

Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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Gospel

FORGIVE FOR YOUR OWN SAKE!

O

By Michael Adekoya

“Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins maybe as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they maybe red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Isa. 1:18.

ne evening, in a church service, a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart. She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Saviour and Lord. This young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs and prostitution. She lived what we tagged as ‘dirty lifestyle’. But, the change in her was evident after she had given her life to Jesus. Her love for God and for people was extraordinary.

My friend, do you know that when babies are hungry, they put their hunger on display. They will cry no matter who is watching or listening. This became the woman’s new passion. She became so hungry for God. As time went on she became a faithful disciple in a local church. She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children. It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the Pastor’s son. The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans. This was when the problems began.

My friend, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with such a past lifestyle was suitable for a Pastor’s son. Sound familiar. Isn’t it? The church (the elect of God – God’s own people) began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting. As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand. The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. The situation was so tensed and the woman began to cry. At that time, the Pastor’s son stood to speak in the meeting. He could not bear the pain which his fiancée was going through.

He began to speak and his message was this: “My fiancée’s past

is not what is on trial here. What you are questioning is the ability of the Blood of Jesus to wash away sin. Today you have put the Blood of Jesus Christ on trial to know whether it washes away sin or not?” With this Holy Spirit energized words, the type we need today from our pulpits and telecasts, conviction came upon the people and the whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the Blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters in the same local assembly, even against our parent, husband, wife, child, family member, friend, neighbour, Pastor, boss, school mate; against a colleague at work or a political rival. My friend, does this describe you? Do you use people’s past against them to prove a point or use it to fight them? Listen, “no sin or action is unforgivable!’ We are called to keep no record of wrongs, refuse to punish those who have hurt us but to show mercy and to avoid any form of bitterness. God forgives us, so we must forgive other people.

Today, many people are full of anger, bitterness and they live in a pit and in bondage simply because they cannot forgive others and even themselves. My friend, maybe you were abused by someone close to you and you cannot get over it. Maybe your husband or wife or business partner is unfaithful to you. Maybe you’ve been hurt by your parent, Pastor, boss or friend. Maybe you’ve been lied about or accused and everybody believes the lie. Maybe you have been treated unjustly. Maybe you’ve actually committed the sin.

Remember, we have a wonderful God! We must not drag the past into the future.

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

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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

Mahalia Jackson

Recently, a man asked me, “What can wash away my sins? “ My friend, is this your question today?

“It is nothing, but the Blood of Jesus!” The power of the Blood of Jesus is the least message from our pulpits and telecasts today, yet it is the central message the world needs to hear. Hear me! Let it be known to you this day that the Blood of Jesus did not just wash us clean; but it also poured life into our spiritual veins so that our hearts could be made right with God. Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, so forgiveness is not an option. If the Blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.

If truly we are Christians, and not just church goers, we must know, this year, that the Holy Spirit has taken up residence, not casual visitation, within us so that the Blood of Christ can wash away all the impurities, pride, pollutions, anger, bitterness, accusations, poisons, lust, stains of our sins and destroy the strongman of unforgiveness in us. This miraculous transfusion can only be received when Christ becomes the Lord of our lives. It is 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

when this happens that His righteousness replaces Satan’s gene of lies, stubbornness, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, accusations and destructive criticism so that we can be filled with the light of God’s truth.

By His precious blood, Jesus paid the price for our sins. We are washed in the Blood of the Lamb and we have received a Holy Ghost transfusion! The Bible says, “He gave up His own life as a ransom for you, me and many.” Mark 10:45. When He died on the Cross, Jesus hung in our place, carrying in His body all the sins that ever would be committed by people throughout history - our pride, anger, resentment, bitterness, doubt, harsh words, evil thoughts, discrimination, unfaithfulness, lust, unbelief, gossip, prejudice, accusation, unforgiveness, the things we wish we had done and every mistake we’ve ever made.

Jesus died that we might die to all sins, including false accusations, destructive criticisms, bringing up the past other people and using it as a weapon against them (an act of unforgiveness). Jesus died that His blood might cleanse us from unrighteousness each time we confess our sins. My friend, it is because of Jesus’ that we’ve become new creatures. We can draw on the power of the Holy Spirit for the strength, wisdom and power we need as we live to righteousness. This means doing the right things, making the right choices and decisions.

Jesus says, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” John 8:12. What Jesus says is this, “Let Me transfuse My life in you, because you cannot rise, reign, rule, fruitful, multiply and have dominion on earth unless you forgive others and wouldn’t use their past against them, just 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

as you wouldn’t do to yourself.”

So, my friend, once you take the decision to give your life to Jesus, the cleansing Blood of Christ will enter every aspect of your life— conscious and subconscious. It would flush through every vein and purify you so that when you stand before God, He sees Christ in you.

My friend, hear me! Sin will always leave a mark, a stain so deep, so dark, that you and I cannot remove it any other way than through the Blood. Good works cannot remove it, except the Blood of Jesus Christ. Are you a member of “The Church of Greatly Hurt”?

Are you compelled to tell your own side of the story? Have you lost hope because of what someone else did to you? What sort of offence are you still holding on to?

My friend, to live in this end-time and making the most of everyday, you must forgive those people who have hurt you, used you, abused you, betrayed you, disappointed you, mistreated you, offended you, unfaithful to you, criticize or accused you wrongly. You should start each day afresh and anew, especially in your relationships with God and people in your life and around you.

My friend, are you expecting God to move on your behalf for extra measure of His favour, anointing, victory, healing, deliverance, joy, peace, progress, fruitfulness, increase, blessing; even for divine connection this year? Do you expect God to confirm His Word with signs and miracles in your ministry? Don’t harbour any form of anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment or strife against anybody. “Forget those things which are behind and reaching forth unto those things which are before” Phil 3:13. Let’s be the doer of this Scripture. 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

WWW.AFRICANVOICEONLINE.CO.UK

Africa

Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

Newsround

Cocoa farmers receive fertilizer boost Côte d’Ivoire In what is said to be a first, chocolate producers are handing out special cocoa fertilizer to help boost the yields of farmers in Ivory Coast.

Some of the world’s largest conglomerates have pooled resources, initially to supply 20,000 tonnes of the fertilizer to help poor farmers.

“The idea is that cocoa companies in the future will pre-finance fertilizer for the farmers and the farmers will pay back with cocoa beans, which they can through their increased yields,” said Daan de Wit, spokesman for IDH, the Sustainable Trade Initiative, a not-for-profit organisation based in Utrecht, Netherlands.

“In a few years time the farmers will have enough money to buy the fertilizer themselves.”

Chocolate makers have been trying to secure long-term cocoa bean supplies to meet rising demand. Production growth

has been hampered by crop disease, poor farming practices and competition from other crops such as rubber.

Fertilizer is not widely used by rural farmers in Ivory Coast. The shipment is less than 5 percent of the country’s potential usage. The organisation estimates that cocoa farms in Ivory Coast could potentially use around 450,000 tonnes of fertilizer annually.

“The shipment is a drop in the ocean ... but it is a very important drop,” de Wit said.

IDH, primarily funded by the Dutch government, organised the partners in the joint initiative in 2012.

The fertilizer is being distributed to smallholder farmers as well as to cooperatives by the program’s partners and cocoa giants, including Cargill, Archer Daniels Midland, Mars, Mondelez, Barry Callebaut, Continaf and ECOM Agroindustrial Corp Ltd, as well as some smaller partners.

The shipment arrived in Abidjan last week,

Ivory Coast is world’s no. 1 cocoa producer

de Wit said.

This is the first such program to bring together cocoa companies, governments and non-governmental organisations to distribute fertilizer, which has been developed specifically for West African soil and climatic conditions, de Wit said. It was purchased from Morocco-based producer OCP. When used properly with other farming techniques, the fertilizer has the poten-

tial to help double cocoa harvest yields in West Africa, IDH stated in a release. In the 2011/12 crop year, Ivory Coast produced an estimated 1.476 million tonnes of cocoa, International Cocoa Organisation data showed. Only 40,000 tonnes of fertilizer were used at that time, IDH stated. More than 70 percent of the world’s cocoa, the key ingredient in chocolate, is grown in West Africa. Ivory Coast is the world’s number one grower.

Constitution to be explicit over gay law Collapse kills 17 unofficial ‘miners’ Zambia marital, ethnic, tribal, social or economic status”. Advocates of the plans fear the minority practice of homosexuality might be able to ‘sneak in’ with protection for other minorities unless the illegality of such practices is spelled out in clear terms.

Last week, gay rights activist Paul Kasonkomona was Paul Kasonkomona was arrested after speaking out on TV arrested after he Zambia’s law makers are pushing spoke out against ahead with plans to further ban Zambia’s homophobic laws on live telesame-sex activity in the country’s vision. Friends of Mr Kasonkomona tried new constitution, which is cur- to hide him in a car, but he was found during a police search before leaving the rently being drafted. grounds of the television studio. He was Same-sex sexual activity is already illebailed last Thursday, having pleaded not gal in Zambia for both males and females, guilty to being ‘idle and disorderly in a with those convicted facing up to 14 years’ public place.’ imprisonment. The National Constitution Last week, a group of gay couples atConvention has recommended that “hotempted to register their marriages but mosexuality” and “lesbianism” should were stopped and the government ordered be included in a list of “abominable practhe arrest of anyone practising homosexutices”. The move comes at a time when ality, according to AFP. Zambian politicians are debating protectIn 2011, both the UK and US warned ing citizens from discrimination on the they would use foreign aid to push for hogrounds of “birth, race, sex, origin, colour, mosexuality to be decriminalised in Afriage, disability, religion, conscience, beca. South Africa is one of the few African lief, culture, language, pregnancy, health, countries where it is legal.

Ghana Police in Ghana report that up to 17 people killed at a mine in the centre of the country were there illegally.

Area police commander William Out told reporters that the mine operator had completed its work at the site near the town of Kyekyewere and returned only to shut down the operation and carry out reclamation work. They found several people from the local community mining illegally, who refused when asked to leave. Not long after, “the operator got

information that the mine caved in and covered the people,” the police commander said.

“The number of those trapped were 22,” said local government official Peter Owusu-Ashia. Sixteen bodies were found dead at the scene, while six others were rushed to the hospital for treatment. One of the six being treated later died from his injuries.

“We have stopped rescue operations for now,” said Owusu-Ashia. He explained that the illegal miners were working with tools that they found discarded at the site.

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Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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African Travelmusic artist

In association with

Bembeya Jazz

B

embaya Jazz National is a Guinean jazz group that gained fame in the 1960s for their infectious Afropop rhythms.

They are considered one of the most significant bands in Guinean music.

Many of their recordings are based on traditional folk music in the country and have been fused with jazz and Afropop style. Featuring guitarist Sekou ‘Diamond Fingers’ Diabaté, who grew up in a traditional griot musical family, the band won over fans in Conakry, Guinea’s capital city, during the heady days of that country’s newfound independence. Bembeya Jazz fell onto harder times in the 1980s and disbanded for a number of years, but reformed in the late 1990s and has toured Europe and North America in the early 2000s.

In the aftermath of the Guinean Independence in 1958 and through the cultural policy of “authenticite”, which encouraged cultural pride, numerous bands were created throughout the regions

of Guinea. Guinea’s President, Ahmed Sékou Touré, disbanded all private dance orchestras and replaced them with statesupported groups, such as Keletigui et ses Tambourinis and Balla et ses Balladins.

The most popular was Bembeya Jazz National, formed in 1961. Specializing in modern arrangements of Manding classic tunes, Bembeya Jazz National won 1st prize at two national arts festival’s in 1964 and 1965 and were crowned “National Orchestra” in 1966.

Initially an acoustic group, featuring a Latin-flavored horn section of saxophone, trumpet, and clarinet, Bembeya Jazz National reached its apex with the addition of lead singer Aboubacar Demba Camara. The group toured widely, and became one of the most well-known groups in Africa. Among their biggest hits were the songs “Mami Wata” and “Armee Guineenne”.

Bembeya Jazz National’s most

Diblo Dibala

D

iblo Dibala, born in 1954 in Kisangani in the Congo (now Zaire), of the Baluba people, is the one of the hottest African Soukous lead guitarists around.

At the age of 6 Diblo moved to Kinshasa and by the age of 15 he was playing guitar in the great Franco’s TPOK band. In Kinshasa, Diblo continued to master his lava-hot guitar chops with such top Zairean bands as Vox Africa, Orchestre Bella Mambo, and Bella Bella.

In 1979 Diblo left Zaire and landed in Brussels where he played a rented guitar and washed dishes to make money. In 1981 he moved to Paris, where the Soukous scene was a happening thing.

He rejoined Kanda Bongo Man, who he had played with in Bella Bella. Their first album, Iyole (1981), was a big hit: Kanda became a big star, and Diblo became the most sought-after session man in Paris.

Diblo’s huge European success with Kanda Bongo Man led to the formation of his own band, Loketo (which means ‘hips’, as in ‘shake your...’), featuring the work of the gifted vocalist Aurlus Mabele.

By this time Diblo was the dominant Soukous session man in Paris and he was in great demand. On recordings by such Soukous giants as Kanda Bongo Man 18

Bembeya Jazz

ambitious album, Regard Sur Le Passe, released in 1968, was a musical tribute to the memory of Samory Touré, who founded a Mande conquest state in much of what is now northern Guinea in 1870, and who became a nationalist emblem following 1958.

A live album, 10 Ans De Succes, was recorded during a 1971 concert, but set-back for the band came

on April 5th, 1973 when Demba Camara was killed in an auto accident on his way to a concert in Dakar. Although they remained together, Bembeya Jazz National was unable to duplicate the success of their earliest years. The group disbanded in 1991 with Sekou Diabaté and Sekouba Bambino Diabaté going on to successful solo careers.

and Pepe Kalle you can hear them calling out “Diblo” when guitar solo time comes around.

Diblo’s naturally gentle demeanor might have served him well in a recording studio, but he had problems keeping Loketo together with the flamboyant Mabele. In 1990 Diblo left Loketo to form Matchatcha (means “a type of flower that

produces an itch”) with a few other Loketo members, Freddy de Majunga on rhythm guitar, Miguel Yamba on bass, and dancers Antoinette Yelessa and Joelle Esso.

Diblo also added session drummer Komba Bello Mafwala, and vocalists Fede Lawu and Otis Mbute.

Continuing to have problems with keeping his bands together, Matchatcha went through another change of personnel in 1992 when de Majunga and Lawu left to be replaced by Frenchman J.P. Kinzaki on rhythm guitar, and two

Diblo Dibala

vocalists, Dely Mpeletu and David Mondo.

Later on in ‘92 Yamba left the band to be replaced by his protege Fellyko, and in ‘94 he was replaced by Djo Mali. Congo player Serge Bimangou was also added around this time. Though Diblo has certainly gottten better at keeping his band together, Matchatcha is still undergoing personnel

changes.

To see Diblo and Matchatcha in concert is to experience a hot hot time. His scoarching guitar leads will leave you breathless and when you’re hand is grabbed and you’re swept up onstage to dance with the band you’ll close your eyes and suddenly be transported to Kinshasa.

Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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African music artist

Boukman Eksperyans

B

oukman Eksperyans is a mizik rasin band from the city of Portau-Prince, Haiti. The band derives its name from Dutty Boukman, a vodou priest who led a religious ceremony in 1791 that is widely considered the start of the Haitian Revolution.

The other half of the band’s name, “Eksperyans”, is the Kreyòl word for “experience”, and was inspired by the band’s appreciation of the music of Jimi Hendrix.

The band was at the height of its popularity in 1991 when the presidency of Jean Bertrand Aristide was overthrown in a military coup d’etat. Like many other artists and performers, Boukman Eksperyans fled the country to live in exile. During their time abroad, the band performed and spoke out against the military dictatorship of Raoul Cédras. In 1994, after Aristide was restored to power, the band returned to Haiti, where they continued to play concerts, record albums, and perform at the Carnival celebrations.

Boukman Eksperyans was founded in 1978

by Theodore “Lolo” Beaubrun and his wife Mimerose and members of various groups who launched the mizik rasin revolution in Haiti in the late 1970’s. One of these groups was led by Fanfan Alexis, and included the future musicians of such groups as Group Sa, Foula, and Rara Machine.

Beaubrun’s father was a comedian and was often referred to as the Bill Cosby of

Haiti.

While on tour in the United States, he brought back a James Brown LP which left a lasting impression on young Lolo.

After his parents divorced, he followed his mother to Brooklyn, New York. In the United States, he studied two years of Business Administration.

Lolo returned to Haiti in 1978, and there were bands playing music known as minidjaz. To Lolo, they seemed to pay no attention to song lyrics that dealt with reality. They were even accused of standing too close to the Duvaliers. When Lolo and Mimrose began to seek their musical goals, they felt a strong desire to incorporate the African element in Haiti’s culture into their music. They decided to combine roots music with vodou religious and musical traditions. The greater vision was to use their music to combine the structures found in common throughout world religions with Haitian vodou.

Lolo’s grandfather was deeply involved in vodou, but his parents never made this available to him. Lolo and Mimrose entered their first vodou lakou-s, a Haitian spiritual community, where they met musicians and singers. They also got their first real glance at the African culture of Haiti in the form it was handed down from members of various tribes. They founded a group to study vodou music, giving it the name of Moun Ife (“People of the Abode of the Deities”). Lolo stated that Bob Marley, another important musical inspiration, made him think. When he heard the Jamaican legend in 1976, he thought he

Boukman Eksperyans live on stage could create something similar in Haiti with vodou. Lolo and Mimerose began to perform as a live act in the 1980s.

The traditional roots instruments were replaced by electric instruments, like the bass guitar and two guitars played by members Eddy François and Daniel ‘Daby’ Beaubrun, Lolo’s brother and the band’s chief arranger. In 1985, the group changed their name to “Boukman Eksperyans”, the name of Fan Fan Alexis former band, of which Lolo was the lead singer. The name was a tribute to the Jamaican born slave leader Boukman Dutty, who launched the the Haitian Slave rebellion in August of 1791. “Eksperyans” was in honor of the “high priest of rock music”, Jimi Hendrix.

Since the beginning, starting with the first encounters made by the Beaubruns with deep African roots, Boukman Eksperyans has remained steadfastly linked to the Ginen (“Guinea”) vodou line. The band calls it

Oumou Sangaré

O

umou Sangare (born February 25, 1968, in Bamako, Mali) is a Malian Wassoulou musician, sometimes referred to as “The Songbird of Wassoulou.” Wassoulou is a historic region south of the Niger River, and the music there is descended from traditional hunting songs, and is accompanied by a calabash. Her mother was the singer Aminata Diakité.

She is an advocate for women’s rights, opposing child marriage and polygamy.

Oumou Sangaré is also involved in the world of business, hotels, agriculture and the sale of cars: Oumou Sangaré has given her name to a Chinese automobile. She is the owner of the 30-room Hotel Wassoulou in Mali’s capital, Bamako, a haven for musicians and her own regular performing space. “I helped build the hotel myself. I did it to show women that you can make your life better by working. And many more are working these days, forming co-operatives to make soap or clothes.”

Although she also has been a goodwill ambassador for FAO she still says she

does not want to be a politician: “While you’re an artist, you’re free to say what you think; when you’re a politician, you follow instructions from higher up.”

She is a cousin of an actor, Omar Sangare.

Early life

As a child, Oumou Sangaré sang in order to help her mother feed their family as her father had abandoned them. At the age of five, she was well known for her talents as a gifted singer. After making it to the finals of a contest for the nursery schools of Bamako, she performed in front of a crowd of 6,000 at the Omnisport Stadium. At 16, she went on tour with the percussion group Djoliba.

She then worked with Amadou Ba Guindo, a great maestro of Malian music with whom she recorded her first album Moussoulou (“Women”), which was very successful in Africa with more than 200,000 copies sold.

With the help of Ali Farka Touré, Oumou Sangaré signed with the English label World Circuit. At the age of 21, she was already a star.

Oumou Sangare

Music

Oumou Sangaré is considered an ambassador of Wassoulou; her music has been inspired by the music and traditional dances of the region. She writes and composes her songs, which often include social criticism, especially concerning the place of women

vodou adjae after a vodou ceremonial dance. This was also the title of their first album, released in 1991.

Boukman Eksperyan first became famous in 1990 when they presented their song “Ke’m Pa Sote” at the Carnival celebration in Port-au-Prince.

The song included the refrain “My heart doesn’t leap, I’m not afraid”. This song was a protest against the living conditions under the post-Duvalier interim military government of General Prosper Avril.

After a young girl was shot dead by a soldier, this song became an out-and-out battle hymn admonishing the government.

The band continued to write and perform rebellious songs. The band members were never directly threatened, but were advised ‘never go out at night’. When the military junta overthrew president Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1991, the band decided to leave the country for their own safety.

Just before the second coup d’état against Aristide in 2004, Lolo joined with many others in protesting the abuses at the very least condoned by the President.

Nowadays, Boukman is not associated with any political party. Their songs depict the reality of today’s Haiti as they see it.

and their low position in society.

Since 1990, she has performed at some of the most important venues in the world: the Melbourne Opera, Roskilde festival, festival d’Essaouira, Opéra de la monnaie of Brussels.

Many of Sangaré’s songs concern love and marriage, especially freedom of choice in marriage. Her 1989 album Moussoulou was an unprecedented West African hit. In 1995, she toured with Baaba Maal, Femi Kuti and Boukman Eksperyans. Other albums include Ko Sira (1993), Worotan (1996), and a 2-CD compilation Oumou (2004), all released on World Circuit Records. Oumou Sangaré supports the cause of women throughout the world. She was named an ambassador of the FAO in 2003 and won the UNESCO Prize in 2001 and a commander of the Arts and Letters of the Republic of France in 1998.

Sangaré is featured prominently in “Throw Down Your Heart,” a documentary featuring world-renowned banjo player Bela Fleck, and his exploration of the relatively unknown relationship between his instrument and the musical traditions in Africa.

She contributed vocals to “Imagine” for the 2010 Herbie Hancock album, The Imagine Project along with Seal, P!nk, India.

Arie, Jeff Beck, Konono N°1 and others.

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Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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Entertainment

Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards 2013

All Set for Africa Movie Academy Awards

By Pauline Odhiambo It may not be surprising to some that Nairobi Half Life has made the cut for the 9th annual Africa Movie Academy Awards (Amaa) scheduled for this Saturday April 20 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

The film created quite a buzz in the Kenyan film scene and has as such been duly selected for an award in nine categories among them for best film, best director and best film in an African language.

In the Eastern African region, Kenya produced the most entries for the award ceremony beating Tanzania which submitted no entries while other notable submission emerged from Uganda and Rwanda.

Among the Kenyans up for awards are David “Tosh” Gitonga for his film Nairobi Half Life, Ng’endo Mukii for her film Yellow Fever. Zipporah Kimundu also makes the list with two short films - Burnt Forest and Give Me Back My Home, both based on the Kenya post-election violence of 2007.

“There are several other entries from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Malawi and even Dubai and other places outside Africa from Africans living in the Diaspora,” says Amaa regional director for Eastern Africa Ongova Ondego.

“There were no entries from Tanzania which is quite worrying and nothing also from Eastern Congo and Somalia but that is likely because of unrest in these areas.”

Entrants for the awards had to adhere to some strict guidelines - all films must be no longer than 120 minutes. They should also be director’s cut only,that is, no adverts or other marketing material are permitted within the submitted film. Additionally, only one entry per film is allowed.

“Nigerians, for example, can make up to five versions of the same film. We only need one version”, Ondego explains. “The films must be in English or subtitled with English translations.

Subtitles in English must also be given for any music played in a language other than English.” This year’s entries were made between January 2012 and Dec 2012 , meaning all submissions must be made within the year preceding the awards.

The majority of films from Tanzania are done in Kiswahili but according to Ondego, the accompanying subtitles are often not up to par. “The subtitles should make as much sense as possible as well as stay true to the Swahili meaning but in many cases the subtitles are often badly spelled or make no sense at all.”

As such, Amaa will by its 10th year disallow such glitches and thus disqualify any film submitted with these perceived errors.” Another change expected to be enforced next year is a cut in the film du20

Tonto Dikeh

ration from the current 120 minutes down to 90 minutes.

The Amaa Awards are presented annually in recognition of professionals in the African film industry. Founded in 2005 by African Film Academy (AFA) founder Peace Anyiam Osigwe the awards recognise directors, actors, writers and other professionals in the film industry with the aim of promoting excellence in the African movie industry in addition to highlighting the contribution of the African continent via arts and culture.

The award presentation is attended by numerous international media representatives, Hollywood and Nollywood celebrities, Nigerian politicians as well as journalists, actresses & actors from all across Africa.

As such, the Amaa awards are widely considered to be Africa’s most important film event and one of the most prestigious African film awards. International observers have in the past fondly referred to the African Movie Academy Awards as the “African Oscars”.

Back to film entries from Kenya, Yellow Fever by Ng’endo Mukii is a film about skin bleaching - a phenomenal prevalent among Africans in various African coun-

tries. It has been nominated in the best short film award category. One the other hand, Zippy Kimundu’s two films are up for awards in two categories.

The first film Burnt Forest has been nominated in the best short film category while “Give Me Back My Home” is nominated in the best documentary category.

In addition to the previously mentioned nominations for Nairobi Half Life, director David Gitonga has been nominated in the best director category.

“Kenyans are banking on this film to win big in this year’s Amaas just like Wanuri Kahiu’s From A Whisper which was voted the best film in Africa last year and won several awards.

Her film raised the bar for directors”.

Nairobi Half Life is up for awards in the sound, visual effects, cinematography and editing categories. The film has garnered further nominations in the most promising actor category as well as best actor in a supporting role category.

Ondego adds: “Kenya is very respected when it comes to fictional film making.

Kenyans are known to respect film-making first as an art form then secondly as something to make money from. This is quite unlike some other African film mak-

ers who put the commercial aspect before art.”

From Ghana is the “The Contract” - a film Ondego describes as deceptively simple in its plot and from Nigeria “The Meeting” which is based on the subject of bureaucracy.

From Malawi is “The Fishing Boat”- a story about a fisherman, descendant of a long generation of fishermen but because of global warming quits the now unprofitable fishing business to become a beach boy.

Additionally, “The Ugandan” is a film by Ugandan Patrick Sekyaya while Imbambezi, The Pardon by Rwandese film maker Joel Karekezi - both films have been nominated in the best child actor category.

All films shortlisted for Amaa pass through a contingent of regional officers, journalists and critics from across Africa, academicians especially in visual arts, screeners as well as an international jury from Africa and the Diaspora. From Kenya, Jitu Films made the most submissions but none of the productions qualified for this years Amaa.

“Their films couldn’t compete in terms of creativity. “The competition is stiff this year with quality submissions from Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Latin America, Oceania and Europe where Africans in these regions have made their submissions.”

As part of the experience Bayelsa with Africa Movie Academy Awards, the organisers are working with the state government to host an international book and craft fair in Yenagoa, the capital of the oilrich state.The book and craft fair according to the Director, Onyeka Nwelue will be held between 17-19 April.

During the fair, established Nigerian authors and their international counterparts will be part of the second edition of the book fair designed by the Bayelsa Tourism Development Board as part of the Experience Bayelsa project within the AMAA week.

“Authors that will participate this year include Shobhaa De from India, a former model and very controversial columnist; Brian Bwesigye from Uganda and Javier Lozano from Mexico. Portuguese actor, Jose Fildago will be in a conversation with former Big Brother Africa housemate and currently Rhythm FM presenter, Melvina Longpet.

“Uti Nwachukwu, model, actor and TV presenter will moderate sessions and also talk about the invasion of the privacy of the lives of celebrities. Nollywood director, Charles Novia will launch his memoir, Nollywood Till November and also speak about the joy of documentation.”

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New country, new football hero

James Moga in action

As one of the newest countries in the world, South Sudan wasted little time in joining FIFA, and just a year after being formed in 2011 the country’s football federation was welcomed into the world footballing family. They played their first international friendly in July 2012, drawing 2-2 with Uganda. James Moga is one of several players to have played international senior football for two different countries, having represented Sudan until throwing in his lot with the new country, and the India-based player instantly gained fame by scoring South Sudan’s first international goal.

Moga recently told FIFA.com that he will never forget pulling on the new strip for the first time. “It was a terrific feeling when I played my first game for South Sudan. It is your own country and passion

oozed. The feeling goes beyond just words, it goes much deeper,” he said. “It was not an easy struggle for us to gain political independence and once we achieved it, it was a matter of pride to enact a similar struggle on the field of play.

“When I heard the national anthem, I literally cried. It was a dream come true. Similarly, when I scored, it was like a dream come true. I thought before the match about scoring, so when it happened it was just wonderful.”

Improving and learning The 29-year-old admits that South Sudan will be playing catch-up with their neighbours and brothers in the north for a while. “Honestly, in the north is where footballers are grown. The conditions are good, people support the players and offi-

cials know about the game. I played with them for eight years, people there care about football. It is the first sport. In comparison, in South Sudan people have only just come out of a civil war. This war has been a preoccupation for such a long time.

The first sport in South Sudan is basketball because the players are tall and can easily adapt to the game.”

Moga is, however, confident, that the situation will change in the future. “The [South Sudan] government of late has begun to keenly look into other sports with a focus on football. They have seen all the different championships and realised how important the sport is. I think over the next three-four years things will be different.

We have the quality, our players are skilful.

Now, they need the experience of playing together continuously. Presently there are only four who were part of the north side, we are now mixing that experience with the other players with a view towards developing the side.”

He believes that the country can improve as a footballing nation with enough support and patience. “Players need time as one cannot develop overnight. Any building process needs patience. The next four to five years will be a huge test for South Sudan. Losing will be part of the journey, which is a test that needs support with the final aim being improvement and building a strong football nation.”

As one of the most experienced players in the side, he knows that he is one of the players who can guide his team-mates.

“Our captain Richard Justin also fits that role. He was the captain in the Sudan side and now captains our side. In terms of international experience, I am behind him, but I have played nine years of professional football.”

The example of Burkina Faso Moga moved to India and joined Sporting Clube de Goa in 2011, before signing for Pune FC a year later. “Pune appealed to me when I first visited the city in the 2011/12 season. It’s a nice place to stay. I liked the way they play. They are quite professional, different from other clubs, though I had other options. I think the club can go far in the I-League. We receive good support from all officials and have a good coach.”

The player admits that he misses South Sudan, even if he has adapted well to living in India. “Home will always be home.

When my family arrives in India - hopefully soon - it will be even easier. Because of the education of the children, my wife, two daughters (aged seven and two years) and my twin sons (aged five and a half years) reside in Kampala.”

Moga says that South Sudan should look to the changing landscape of African football for inspiration. “African football today is no longer like the past,” he said.

“Burkina Faso, nobody knew them, but they played the final of the African Cup of Nations against Nigeria. Our chance will come and then we have to take it. We will wait for it, but it does not come without working hard.”

FIFA will also be playing their part in developing football in the country, and last year the FIFA Development Committee approved a one-million US Dollars fund to build a footballing headquarters and technical centre. Although work on these has not yet started, FIFA will this month also be involved in helping with football governance and be discussing finances and identifying priorities, including the infrastructure projects approved last year.

Hosts Morocco and Tunisia on Tuesday qualified for the U17 World Cup after they advanced to the semi-finals of the CAF U17 Championship.

Both teams won their second games of the African championship to record six points apiece.

Tunisia became the first team to reach the last four of the competition after they beat Gabon 4-2 in their second group game.

The North Africans opened scoring through Belarbi in the 32nd minute, before Haj Hassen made it two seven minutes later.

Abboud made it 3-0 in the dying minutes of the first half.

Gabon came back strongly and reduced the margin when Bouanga Owane scored on 73 minutes and Selimi netted an own goal.

In the second game of the day, hosts Morocco beat Botswana 3-0 with Bnoun Marzouk scoring a brace in the 17th and 80th minutes. Sakhi then made it 3-0 for the home nation to sail to the U17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in October.

Morocco and Tunisia will do battle on Friday to determine the overall winners of Group A.

Siasia wants Ugandan job Morocco, Tunisia qualify for U17 World Cup Coach Samson Siasia, one of the attacking pearls of the Super Eagles of yore and ex Eagles coach is asking to take over from the dismissed Bobby Williamson as the chief coach of the Ugandan Cranes.

Bobby recently lost his job because he has not been able to bring the Cranes into limelight on the continental plane though he has significant achievement winning the regional championship.

Coach Siasia’s record with the Eagles stands out. He was coach of the Nigerian national team between 2010 and 2011 and only lost a match in that tenure. He was also coach of the Nigeria Olympic team that did creditably winning the silver at the olmpics games in Beijing, China in 2008. He was also the master strategist at the helm of affairs when Nigeria won the Africa Youth Championship (U 20) in benin in 2005.

The position of the Ugandan FA has been to get a coach that will take them to the 22

continental stage which is not an ambition that cannot be realized. The release of Williamson may point to the fact that there is apparent need to get a coach that will not only understand that ambition but is also hungry for achievement. It is in the light of these that some senior players like Denis Onyango and Hassan Wassawa in the Ugandan national team are also in support of getting an international coach to ensure a good international presence.

It is known that a number of foreign coaches such as Roger Palmgren (Sweden), Nikola Kayazovic (Serbia), and Guiseppe Dossena of Italy have indicated interests in the job.

But the Ugandan FA has since said that it would make known its choice by 8th June, 2013. Meanwhile the team is in the hands of the trio of Jackson mayania, Leo Afraa, and Fred kajoba.

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Eaglets target World Cup ticket A win on Wednesday for Nigeria against Cote d’Ivoire at the African U17 Championship will guarantee them a place at the World Cup in UAE.

Nigeria lead Group B after they thrashed Ghana 6-1 on Sunday, while both Cote d’Ivoire and Congo cancelled themselves out in a 1-1 draw.

Mathematically, Nigeria would be through to the World Cup with a win against the Ivorians irrespective of the outcome of their last game against Congo on Saturday as they could either place first or second in the final analysis-all the semi-finalists automatically qualify for the World Cup. Coach Manu Garba said it was important to beat a physical Ivorian side and seal their World Cup qualification on Wednesday.

“We are happy that we won our first game against Ghana, but winning the second game against Cote d’Ivoire is very important because it would take us to the World Cup,” Garba said.

“I saw a bit of their match against Congo and the Ivorians are not a bad side though they are physical but we know how to handle such team.”

The Eaglets coach said he has high hopes for this tournament.

“We have prepared well for this championship,” he said matter-of-factly. “We have not lost a match since we assembled this team and we are certainly not ready to lose now.

Continued from back page

World Cup in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the months of October and November.

The Eaglets had good reason to be confident, if not overly so, following their rout of Ghana’s Black Starlets. Isaac Success from Megapp Soccer Academy banged in four goals for Nigeria in last Sunday’s Matchday 1 fixture. Ghana were reduced to 10 men after goalkeeper Ati illegally foiled an attack in the penalty box.

The result meant the impressive Eaglets went straight to the top of Group B with three points after the first round of matches as a result of Congo and Cote d’Ivoire playing out a 1-1 draw.

The Eaglets dictated play against Ghana from start to finish, with Success scoring after just ten minutes before Bernard Bulbwa made it 2-0. It was 3-0 before halftime, courtesy of another strike from Success.

After the break, Success again lived up to his name with a fourth - Nigeria’s fifth - on 69 minutes. Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho got the Eaglets’ sixth goal in stoppage time.

Ghana’s only response came at 0-4 from a Yaw Yeboah scorcher against the run of play.

Siasia wants Uganda post Ex-Nigeria coach Samson Siasia has thrown in his hat to the ring for the Uganda top coaching post to replace fired Bobby Williamson.

Nigeria Eaglet players

“My confidence is reinforced in their ability against any team following how they handled a big team such as Al Sadd of Doha, a team that had won the Asian Champions League in the past complete with a great player like Raul Gonzalez.”

Leading goal scorer Isaac Success, who grabbed a remarkable four goals against the Black Starlets, has equally promised to score more goals to ensure the team’s passage to the World Cup. “I have not set any personal targets at this tournament, but what is important is for us to beat Cote d’Ivoire on Wednesday, “said Success, who has been nicknamed Nasara (which translates to success in an Arabic and Hausa language) by coach Manu.

“Of course, I will score by the grace of God if I get the opportunity but I can’t predict the score line against Cote d’Ivoire.

What is important to us as a team is the maximum three points.”

Kick-off time is 4.30 pm Nigerian time The centre referee is 30-year-old Mozambican Samuel Chirindza, who was enlisted as an international referee by the world’s soccer ruling body, FIFA in 2010. He would be assisted by compatriot, Arsénio Marengula, who is aged 30 and appointed

by FIFA in 2010.

The second assistant and fourth official are Bienvenu Dina and Rainhold Shikongo who are from Benin and Namibia respectively.

SA soccer supremo launches age-cheating crusade

South African Football Association president Kirsten Nematandani has called on African football to stamp out the blight of age cheating.

Speaking on the opening day of the African Football Executive Conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday (April 17), Nematandani said: “When you ask an African player how old he is, he will say: ‘Do you want my football age or my real age?’”

His comments came in the wake of CAF’s expulsion of several players from the ongoing Under-17 Championships in Morocco and they were echoed by FIFA’s Jerome Champagne.

Champagne, who refused to be drawn on whether he would stand against Sepp Blatter at the next FIFA elections, addressed the age cheating issue saying: “By cheating you artificially acquire early success, but you kill off long-term results.”

He cited research which showed 80 percent of successful African juniors ended up playing fourth tier football with just 10 percent making it to the top level.

By contrast, 25 to 30 percent of European players who played junior representative football went on to play top tier football as seniors.

Champagne said it was important for Afri-

An insider in the Uganda federation told MTNFootball.com Siasia inquired about the job on Tuesday and promised to send his application.

“We have received over 20 applications so far, but we cannot do so much because we first need to sort out the Williamson issue before thinking of another coach,” said the source who did not want to be mentioned.

Siasia was Nigeria coach between 2010 and 2011 and only lost one match while in charge.

He also handled the Nigeria Olympic team that won a silver medal at Beijing 2008 and also led the Nigeria U20 team to win the 2005 African Youth Championship in Benin.

He has not worked since his dismissal in October 2011 after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Although the Uganda FA have maintained that assistants Jackson Mayanja, Leo Adraa and Fred Kajoba will remain in charge of the team, a foreign head coach is likely to be named before the Cranes face Liberia in the Namboole Stadium on June 8.

Some of Uganda senior players like Denis Onyango and Hassan Wasswa have already voiced their concerns that they would prefer a foreign coach.

Already several foreign coaches like Nikola Kavazovic (Serbia), Tom Sainfeit (Belgium), Guiseppe Dossena (Italy) and Roger Palmgren (Sweden) have indicated interest in the job.

2013 U17 AFCON: Ghana U17 coach vows to bounce back against Congo Ghana U17 coach Paa Kwesi Fabin has promised an improved display in Wednesday’s African Junior Championship Group B clash.

Kirsten Nematandani has recently been reinstated following investigations into match-fixing allegations

can clubs to understand the potential longterm benefits that could be derived from not cheating.

Training fees are due to clubs with each transfer that is made and if the players are able to achieve their true potential then the value generated by the clubs will be significant.

The African Football Executive Conference is a two-day event bringing together footballing officials from across Africa to discus topics like development, sponsorship and partnerships.

The Black Stars suffered a colossal 6-1 defeat to a rampant Golden Eaglets side in their opening match. ‘’Tactically we didn’t do a good job and our approach to the game did not work but its back to the drawing board and we will work to better that against Congo,’’ Fabin said.

The Starlets will be without goalkeeper Lawrence Ati who was sent off in the opening match at the Stade Marrakech.

Defender Yakubu Mohammed has been virtually ruled out for the rest of the tournament with a hamstring.

Congo drew 1-1 with Ivory Coast in their opener after three players failed CAF’s age eligibility test.

23

Friday, 19 April 2013 – Thursday, 25 April 2013

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ISSUE 478

New country, new football hero

Eaglets grounded after brief Success story

SEE PAGE 22

Golden Eaglet Isaac Success failed to reproduce Sunday’s heroics against the Baby Elephants Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets may have paid the price for complacency in their Group B Matchday 2 encounter against the Baby Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire at the ongoing Africa Under-17 Championship in Morocco.

The Eaglets may have been guilty of allowing the group’s opening 6-1 win against Ghana’s Black Starlets to overwhelm them as they failed to match the more enterprising Ivorians.

Yekini Ayodeji, coach of Prime FC, who play in the second tier of Nigeria’s National League told supersport.com: “I think after the 6-1 win against Ghana they’re already looking at themselves as champions even

before the championship ends and they paid dearly for it.

“They (were) lackadaisical throughout the encounter and never created, not to talk of converting, any chance at goal.Their approach in today’s (Wednesday) game was 100% wrong. It’s so bad that you’re tempted to ask whether this was same team that overran Ghana. The Ivorians were clearly the better of the sides.

“Thank God this wasn’t the knockout stage (and) it happened now there is room for correction. If not it would’ve been a complete disaster.”

Ayodeji said the Golden Eaglets must go all out to grab a win in the group’s last game against Congo to cement a spot in the World Cup party.

“What happened in the tie against Cote d’Ivoire is a big lesson and I hope they’ve learnt from it. Of course, they must go all out to win against Congo to guarantee passage to the semi-finals as well as the World Cup. “Though draw may still see them through to the last four, they must be mindful of the head to head rule in case they tie on points with Cote d’ Ivoire. So the way around it is to win against Congo.

They didn’t create a chance at goal against the Ivorians, so they must rediscover their goalscoring ability when they face Congo at the weekend,” he said.

Cote d’Ivoire and Congo drew 1-1 in the group’s Matchday 1.

Nigeria has now lost the group’s top spot

to Cote d’ Ivoire and must defeat Congo on Saturday to be certain of progression into the next stage of the biennial cadet football fiesta. The semi-finalists at the Morocco 2013 CAN Under-17 event will qualify to represent Africa at the FIFA Under-17

Continued on page 23

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