T H E
A F R I C A N
P E R S P E C T I V E
M A G A Z I N E
VOL 1 | ISSUE 3 | 2015
EASTERN AFRICA DIASPORA Business Council Is a
FRUITARIAN diet for you? What should we teach AFRICAN CHILDREN?
Must Know
AFRICAN AMERICAN INVENTIONS
DR. RICHARD SEZIBERA,
EAC Secretary General
AFRICA 2.0,
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EDITOR'S NOTE Dear TAP family, Welcome to the third issue of The African Perspective Magazine. It is a great honor and privilege to be publishing another issue which I am certain you’ll enjoy. We have built our reputation on providing rich and informative content in an easy to consume way and this issue stays true to those values. Within its pages, you’ll find pieces on business, health, nutrition, politics, music and a special visual infographic of African American innovations as well as a beautiful two page spread of one of the most exuberating places in Africa.
Editor-in-Chief MOSES MUTABARUKA
We are thrilled to have Hon. Ambassador Dr Richard Sezibera on the cover of this issue and a special interview with him is featured. Dr. Sezibera is the current secretary general of the East African Community having been appointed by EAC heads of states in April 2011. Among many other features, we are also delighted to have Prof. Grace Obado who is Africa 2.0 Spain chapter head. On behalf of the whole TAP team, I’d like to extend our sincerest gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this issue in one way or the other. Special thanks to Dr. Tammary Esho, Dr. Marie Ojiambo, Alex Ribeiro, Ben Kazora, Emmanuel Nkundakiri, Amandla Ooko-Ombaka, Olivier Masabarakiza, Zandile Chiwanza and Robert Whittaker for affording his awesome images to this issue.
VOL 1 | ISSUE 3 | 2015
Last but not least, I want to thank all TAP enthusiasts for your constant support. Our previous issue exceeded expectations and it is all due to your support. We are continuously revamping our content contribution list and making new contacts to make sure we continue to bring you superior content. More than ever before, we are committed to telling the African story to the world; unbiased, uncensored and from a balanced perspective. Enjoy your third issue!
Moses Mutabaruka CEO, TAP Magazine mutabaruka@tapmagonline.com
Until lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter”. — African Proverb
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VOL 1 | ISSUE 3 | 2015
CONTENTS Innovation
10 African American Invention You Must Know
Diaspora
12 Eastern Africa Diaspora
Business 18 MERGIMS
Business Council
Education
24 What should we teach African children?
Leadership 30 Interview with
Prof. Grace Obado Africa 2.0 Spain, Chapter Head
Cover Interview
34
Dr. Richard Sezibera: EAC Secretary General
Travel
44 Serra da leba Africa's must visit
Health/Nutrition 48 What is a fruitarian diet?
Health
53 Sickle Strong Initiative
Lifestyle
60 Are you living a healthy Sexual life?
Music
66 Bob marley at 70: 7 Things you didn’t know 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 9
INNOVATION
DIASPORA
BRAIN EXCHANGE FOR NATION BUILDING. Bridging the technology gap through innovative and strategic global partnerships
Eastern Africa Diaspora Business Council Engaging Diaspora for Eastern Africa Global Competitiveness
12 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
ABOUT
T
he Eastern Africa Diaspora Business Council (EADBC) is a US-based non-governmental, membership-based organization. It was established in 2013 to promote the Diaspora’s role in the delivery of technology solutions for development challenges by leveraging trade and investment partnerships between the United States and the
greater East African region. EADBC represents professional, institutional, business and student memberships from East African countries and the US - embodying expertise and investments in several key sectors including in ICT, Engineering, Energy, Agriculture, Environment, Education, International Trade and Development, Policy and Health Care.
DIASPORA
EADBC engages closely with key industry and intergovernmental agencies to provide a platform for transfer of Diaspora knowledge and skills through consultancy opportunities as well as recruitment of Diaspora to the private sectors. They provide a medium for Eastern Africans in the Diaspora to build public and private partnerships with entities in the US for synergistic business development opportunities in Africa. EADBC forges strategic partnerships to nurture individual and institutional potential to impact regional economics in East Africa, and to build feasible cooperation and effective forum
for discussion on key development issues and activities through core sector platforms and programs.
GOAL Establish a hub where Eastern Africa Private Sector. US Private Sector and Diaspora can meet, share resources and develop partnerships.
OUR MISSION The Eastern Africa Diaspora Business Council’s mission is to harness US Diaspora resources to the Eastern
Africa region and furnish sustainable economic development, capacity building, and multi-sector partnerships through market-based linkages between US-based corporations and technical expertise, and market opportunities in East Africa.
PROGRAMS: EADBC and Partner organizations spend a lot of time building capacity and identifying ways they can benefit their members. Below you will find the different EADBC programs that help us achieve our goals. 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 13
DIASPORA
PARTNERSHIP BUILDING PROGRAM The Partnership Building Program provides a platform for Eastern Africans in Diaspora to build strategic alliances with entities in the US and East Africa. Public and private partnerships with the Diaspora enhance US business opportunities in a competitive African market through synergistic business ventures. To achieve this goal, EADBC and its partners will host trade and investment forums; facilitate trade missions between government and private sector partners. The EADBC seeks to continue on the path of nurturing individual and institutional potential to impact regional economics through the CBP platform. The CBP affords more Eastern Africans the opportunity to contribute to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and other key areas. With the help of our strategic partners, we seek to expose Diaspora students to internships and work experience and capacity-building opportunities. This will in turn enable our graduates to return to the region better equipped with important professional and management skills and relevant experience to work in the very competitive multinational corporate environment. Additionally, EADBC promotes opportunities for showcasing Diaspora entrepreneurship by creating networking opportunities among business leaders and forging strategic institutional partnerships in knowledgeintensive sectors to foster long-term economic growth in Eastern Africa countries.
14 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
EADBC represents professional, institutional, business and student memberships from Easten African countries and the US - embodying expertise and investments in several key sectors including in ICT, Engineering, Energy, Agriculture, Environment, Education, International Trade and Development, Policy and Health Care. TRANSFER OF CULTURE, KNOWLEDGE AND TECHNOLOGY Transfer of Culture, Knowledge, and Technology (TOCKT) aims to increase the transfer of Diaspora knowledge and skills to their countries of origin through consultancy opportunities as well as recruitment of Diaspora to the private sectors. The program works to achieve this through partnerships with Diaspora organizations and US government agencies, this platform will allow for transfer of Diaspora knowledge and skills to their countries of origin through consultancy opportunities as well as recruitment of Diaspora to the private sectors. The program also supports exchange of best practices through expert meetings and e-consultations.
VOICE ON THE TABLE Voice on the Table is a program that activates feasible cooperation with key players and affords a medium for discussion on development issues and activities; lobbying, campaigning and advocacy for policies and practices that enhance the Diaspora’s involvement in development. This platform allows the Diaspora to move beyond insular and individual approaches towards more structured forms of participation in the regions development. EADBC promotes effective networks among Eastern Africa Diaspora organizations and associations in the USA, enabling them to enter into consolidated strategic alliances and initiate joint, transnational development projects. EADBC has developed the working space for the Eastern Africa Diaspora to engage key players on issues of common interest, liaise with the private and public sector leadership in East Africa and the US, and catalyzing the implementation of trade and commerce policies that promote upward economic mobility
For more on EADBC and how you can join and benefit from the organizations contacts and programs, sign up for a Tap Speaks (Google Hangout) event with EADBC president Ben Kazora on May 23rd, 2015 by sending an email to tapspeaks@ tapmagonline.com
+254 736 789 432 | +254 708 789 432
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BUSINESS
MERGIMS
Muhire Louis Antoine, MERGIMS CEO is one of the first 1000 African entrepreneurs selected by the Tony Elumelu Foundantion to participate in its $100 Million Tony Elumelu Entrepreneurship program (TEEP) 18 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
BUSINESS
TAP: Introduce yourself to the Tap audience! My name is Muhire Louis Antoine; I was born in Bugesera, in the eastern province of Rwanda in the early eighties. I am a New Medias graduate at Ottawa University. I also have two bachelor’s degrees in Marketing and Public Relations for social causes and business enterprises. I’ve also spent three years working for the Montreal Police in its intelligence unit which is the comfortable job I quit to start MERGIMS.
TAP: What services does MERGIMS offer? We are a mobile payment application that allows (for now) migrants from Rwanda to pay airtime, utility bills and tuition fees for their family or those who depend on them back home. Before the end of the year we should be present in all East Africa, with more features such as Food or Mortgage payment, etc…
TAP: When and how did you come up with the “Mergims” idea? When you live in the diaspora, you face many challenges; among them is always the need to help relatives back home. The classic way this is done is of course to send the money, through money transfers. Whoever has used
MERGIMS is a mobile payment application that connects African migrants back to merchants in their countries of origin, so they can buy electricity, airtime and pay tuition fees for their relatives at a service fee of 5% only: a premium solution to a very specific problem.
2015 | Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 19
BUSINESS
these services, knows how stressful this can be. You basically need at least an hour to complete the full process since you have to find a branch, line up, fill the complicated paper work, then stand there and have the cashier type out all the information before paying.
Furthermore, most relatives back home have no idea how hard it is to earn money in the West so when you send it they end up misusing the funds thus why MERGIMS emphasized on paying of relatives services and not necessarily sending cash.
In search of a way out, I asked different immigrants about their money transfer methods and the complaint was communal. So MERGIMS came as a response to my frustration, bad experiences and expensive service fees from money transfer companies.
TAP: Why should the diaspora use MERGIMS and not the Money Transfers?
20 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
With MERGIMS, one can control the money he/she sends and also the time spent. We are connecting Immigrants
directly to merchants in East Africa, starting with Rwanda. We came up with a business model that literally sliced the cost halfway, by charging five percent instead of the ten percent service fee charged by money transfers companies.
TAP: Take us through the Mergims APP process step by step; from registration to paying the bills? What exactly does someone need to get MERGIMS services?  Our application is very simple. It will take
BUSINESS
you a maximum of five minutes since you have to create your profile in three easy steps. Once logged in, one chooses among the services that they require. They then fill up whatever details that are needed in order to have the service delivered to the right beneficiary. You can then checkout using either debit, Visa or MasterCard. For members, the whole process takes approximately three minutes to complete.
TAP: Which major institutions (banks, utility companies, schools,) have you secured their partnerships so far? Equity bank is one of our key partners. They process our payment via PayPal, along with the payment gateway from Kenya called iPay, we are in talks with Bank of Kigali for possible future collaboration. We are also in talks with most of the major Universities in Rwanda. We are also partnering with the number one reseller of airtime and
utility bills in Rwanda. In due time, we will expand in other countries of East Africa and diversify the application features.
Beside you being from Rwanda, what other reasons compelled you to venture into Rwanda? Well, I am Rwandan but business oriented too. Before choosing Rwanda as the starting point, I visited East Africa and definitely Rwanda stood out from the rest because of security reasons and also because it is free and less complicated to open a business in Rwanda than anywhere else in EAC. -
TAP: Overall, what has been the most fulfilling part serving Rwandans?
Before choosing Rwanda as the starting point, I visited East Africa and Rwanda stood out from the rest because of security reasons and also because it is free and less complicated to open a business in Rwanda than anywhere else in EAC.
The fulfilling part is that by opening a business in Rwanda, I’ve been able to create job opportunities therefore, fighting poverty. I believe the 1994 genocide found its origins in poverty. Thus, I am doing my bit to prevent another horror in my country.
TAP: In one statement, why should anyone use MERGIMS? It is a premium solution to a very specific problem. MERGIMS is also a 100% African solution for an African problem. So to all Africans, and friends of Africa, use it and support it, you should be proud of what Rwandan kids have managed to offer to Africa. If MERGIMS isn’t in your region yet, download it any way so as to encourage us to deploy it in your country before the planned dates. We thank you in advance.
2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 21
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EDUCATION
What should we teach
AFRICAN CHILDREN? 24 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
EDUCATION
W
e cannot do the same thing over and over again and expect different results. However, this is exactly what we are doing with the education of our children. Afrikan children, on the continent and evermore in the Diaspora, are taught the European way, and it does not help us toward the progress we want for our nations; instead of building our future, we look up to the West, which at the moment, isn’t even in a good position in the first place. We need an education adapted to our needs and to our beings, to our societies and our way of life, not to job markets. Currently, schools provide students of all ages with an employee skill set only. No one shows them the path to independence, nor teach them anything on how to take care of themselves, how to deal with interpersonal relations, etc. Children are not encouraged to pursue innate out of the box interests. Rather, they are supposed to find interest in a particular field of study while in high school after most of their creativity has been bashed out of their heads. Most parents don’t have the time to fill that gap and when they do, a lot of them don’t know how and even lack the energy to do so.
I-lex
We need an education adapted to our needs and to our beings, to our societies and our way of life, not to job markets
Moreover, our Afrikan children suffer even more from that inadequate education because those schools teach euro-centrism, which is questionable if you are European, and destructive if you are Afrikan. It gives the child a perception that only Europeans did things worth mentioning, while the focus of ‘Black history’ on slavery and civil rights portray Afrikans as victims of history.
In the end, it’s not about preparing children for the future; it’s about preparing them to make the future. Strong children will ensure a strong Afrikan community tomorrow – which doesn’t relieve us from the duty of creating one today” The media is not at all helpful. If you turn on the tell-lie-vision, you basically see criminalized Afrikan people on the news, Afrikan thugs and pimps fronting money, guns and whores promoting their lifestyle, and cartoons pushing western (mostly American) values. After an overdose of this, if the child hasn’t been convinced to pick up destructive attitudes, his people at the very least disappoint him and this plays on his self-esteem. This is the full scope of the problem. Rising the coming generations in that frame promises nothing good. How can we turn the situation around? First of all, we need to acknowledge that the natural curiosity of the child will reveal to him his future passions; it is therefore something to feed and foster instead of discouraging it dismissively. Children also dream of 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 25
EDUCATION
Afrikan children, on the continent and evermore in the Diaspora, are taught the European way, and it does not help us toward the progress we want for our nations; instead of building our future, we look up to the West, which at the moment, isn’t even in a good position in the first place�
independence (like you may still do); it is important to guide them through a gradual acquisition of freedom and the responsibility coming with it. Their creativity should be encouraged instead of beaten down with uniformity, and critical thinking should be practiced so they may develop intellectual independence. And all of these needs have to be considered not only by the parents, but also by the teachers and those who create the school programs. Second, Afrikan children need to know the African perspective (not just the magazine). They should learn about
26 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
EDUCATION
Afrikan history in fun, entertaining and stimulating ways – singing, role-playing, etc. They should also be introduced to Afrikan literature and folk tales, to Afrikan arts and Afrikan sports. This and mastering an Afrikan language will make them claim their Afrikan heritage proudly. If there is no place dispensing this kind of knowledge around your neighborhood, pull up your sleeves and make one, it’s part of our mission! Third, over-exposition to tell-lie-vision is never a good thing, but we need to grasp our own media and be conscious of its effect on viewers, especially young
ones. Afrikans can make their own movies, like Nollywood successfully proved it; why not make our own children shows, our own cartoons and our own children movies? (Those who name-drop shows or movies they know in the comments commit themselves to produce as many as they mention. If Kirikou is mentioned, multiply it by 6.) Positive messages are all around so let’s promote them. It will benefit even those without children because it will improve the attitudes of the people they are interacting with. We all aim for the best in life and the best insurance for it is to make the world better for all.
You can’t resume the job of the colonizer after you celebrated independence. Teach the children Afrika, whether they are born and raised in the West Indies, North America, Europe, or even Asia or Oceania
2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 27
EDUCATION
I have mentioned language, but more has to be said on the subject. Language is the key to a people’s worldview as it is linked to their history and their lifestyles, their experience and their identity. To teach the child the languages linked to his heritage, or at least his continent, is to reinforce his pride of his Afrikanity. Sometimes, parents in the wilderness/Diaspora neglect the Afrikan language to favor the European language that will get the children employed. This foolishness needs to stop. You can’t resume the job of the colonizer after you celebrated independence. Teach the children Afrika, whether they are born and raised in the West Indies, North America, Europe, or even Asia or Oceania. In the end, it’s not about preparing children for the future; it’s about 28 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
preparing them to make the future. Strong children will ensure a strong Afrikan community tomorrow – which doesn’t relieve us from the duty of creating one today. We might need some Afrikan schools or centers to accomplish some of these goals; if so, let’s make them. I feel it should be part of our legacy to have provided future generations with ways to fulfill themselves better than the materialist money hunt. I Lex I Lex is a young Ras hailing from West Afrika and living in Ottawa, Canada, studying translation and linguistics because he “knows that the key to over standing the trap lies in language”. I Lex is also the author of the “roots’ column on TAP MAGAZINE.
Afrikan children need to know the African perspective (not just the magazine). They should learn about Afrikan history in fun, entertaining and stimulating ways.
LEADERSHIP
We are a benevolent civil society
INITIATIVE BRINGING TOGETHER some of the most accomplished
YOUNG AFRICANS from the highest ranking international, pan-African and national organisations operating on the continent today
30 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
Interview with Prof. Grace Obado Africa 2.0 Spain, Chapter Head
LEADERSHIP
Interview by- Moses Mutabaruka Special thanks to- Amandla Ooko-Ombaka
Background Grace Obado was born and raised in Kenya. While she was in High School, she heard of a Spanish scholarship that no one from Kenya had been awarded in over ten years. She applied, and got it. Unfortunately, based on the Spanish regulations then, she could not join college unless she passed their University entrance exam (La Selectividad); she accepted the challenge, learnt Spanish, took on courses such as Latin that she had never studied before; passed her exams and the rest is history. She is now the, CEO of Hidrolution Kenya, an Eco- friendly water technology company, a University Professor at Madrid Campus of Schiller International University and Spain Chapter Head of Africa 2.0 Foundation.
So how long have you been in Spain? I have been in Spain for 25 years. First time I went to Spain was in 1989 during the fall of the Berlin wall.
Have you picked up Spanish citizenship? No! I have the right to a Spanish citizenship but I still keep my Kenyan one.
After you were allowed to go to university, what did you pursue? Political Science and International Relations
What made you make that decision? Perhaps because of the historical context I was raised up in. As a young girl, I started being interested in leadership matters, so to speak, right when I was learning to read. In 1976, I sat on my father’s lap as he was reading his newspaper and a photo of the famous Soweto uprising was on the cover page and it drew my attention. My father would then explain to me that school children in South Africa, like me, were not being allowed to have as many subjects in English as they wished, and that’s why they were protesting. That stuck with me, in such a way that when I finished my master’s degree in 1997, I went to South Africa, worked for the South African broadcasting television (SABC) and fate had it that I would attend a documentary screening entitled “Where is Mbuyiso?” Mbuyisa Makhubo was the 18-year old South African school boy seen carrying Hector Pieterson in the famous photograph of Soweto Uprising.
As someone who’s been interested in Leadership from a young age, what’s your take on the political apathy that exists within the African community both at home and abroad? I understand political apathy, to an extent, which is directly linked to the
quality of leadership we have had, or still have on the continent. People have moved on, but some of the leaders don’t seem to have the ability of continuously responding to the preferences of their citizens. People are tired of empty promises. Having said that, the decisions these leaders we choose make still affect us. Indeed choices have consequences!
Talk to us about Africa 2.0 Founded in 2010, Africa 2.0 gathers a community of 450+ young African leaders from more than 41 nationalities on the continent and from the diaspora, sharing a collective vision for Africa. Our members are committed to piloting and scaling up sustainable solutions capable of leapfrogging the development of the continent. Africa 2.0 is a D-ink Tank (a Think Tank that Does Things). Africa 2.0 therefore offers a unique platform to all those who want to play a significant role as catalysts of accelerated and sustainable growth on the African continent.
5 years after yy
Mobilized more than 2500 Global and African Leaders, 35 Head of States and Governments, as well as 65% of the top African and International media.
yy
Generated more than 300 cross border business opportunities & thought leadership content in many countries and influenced policies in Africa.
yy
Become a Thought Leader of reference on African topics in all major platforms (AU, G20, World Economic Forum, etc.).
yy
Has put its members to practice, developed and piloted impact initiatives based on global best practice such as Start Up Africa (mobilizing over 8000 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 31
LEADERSHIP
entrepreneurs, mentoring 1000 and providing access to funding and incubators to more than100). yy
yy
Continues to attract the most talented young Africans and influence them to go the extra mile to contribute to the accelerated development of the continent through a coordinated approach for greater impact. One of the few organizations that has partnered with President Obama on YALI initiative, (Young African Leaders Initiative) also known as Mandela Washington Fellowship.
Is there a specific policy you can name that Africa 2.0 has helped develop and implement? In education, Africa 2.0 had a ministerial meeting with 43 education ministers to discuss effective ways of improving education on the continent.
So do you have a list of good boys and bad boys? Not at all, we tend to focus more on creating an enabling environment for progress, good governance and inclusive growth. We also believe in horizontal leadership models. Leadership at many levels and spread out. Besides, as most of the countries on the continent are registering improvements in many areas, irrespective of the obvious challenges, the positive trend is gradually becoming self-reinforcing.
So Africa 2.0 has no mechanisms in place to administer the policies? Just a positive enforcer! As an advocacy group, in terms of policy, what we can really do is make recommendations, although we always follow up because in Africa there’s 32 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
been too much talk, and little action. So we thought if we were just to make recommendations alone, they would probably get dusty in the shelves!
Does Africa 2.0 do any research/ studies on key issue on the continent? We do, but remember we have our jobs, and Africa 2.0 is mainly a platform that brings together professionals from Africa and the diaspora where we can share ideas and roll out some initiatives. For example, I can share research I do at the university with the other members.
Is it true that members work on volunteer basis? Yes, we have a secretariat in South Africa, where a few people are hired by the organization, but most of the members do it for the love of the continent.
Is Africa 2.0 looking to work with other young leadership organizations that share same values such as the African Leadership Network? Very often we partner with various organizations on the continent and in the diaspora to drive specific development initiatives.
What has been the biggest challenge for Africa 2.0 in the last four years? The biggest challenge has been funding because most of our initiatives are self-funded. Working on so many momentous projects with limited funding can sometimes be challenging.
Talk about membership, how does one become a member of Africa 2.0 and what are the dynamics of Africa 2.0 membership? We have two ways of membership recruitment. One is to apply from our website, or if there’s a chapter in the country you are based in, you can get in touch with their chapter head or local secretariat.
Who are on the Advisory Board? We have former President Chisano of Mozambique, former President Obasanjo of Nigeria, and Hadeel Ibrahim, just to mention a few.
So how can people on the outside, the average person, students etc. contribute to Africa 2.0? There are many ways to contribute to our causes, those who want to make monetary contributions can do so, and those who want to join our campaigns such as Weare1ne or the zero Ebola campaign can refer to Africa 2.0 website and Facebook for more information.
Just to finish off, what are your future aspirations for Africa, what do you hope Africa achieves in the next five years. Hmm….I would like to see inclusive growth that is tied to wealth creation, employment, gender balance and education. We need to get more people, especially women completing secondary school education, and also, taking up apprenticeships, because that will be catalytic in driving the development process of Africa.
THE AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE MAGAZINE
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2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 33
COVER INTERVIEW
East African Community; PEOPLE DESTINY 34 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
COVER INTERVIEW
TAP SPEAKS with Hon. Amb Dr Richard Sezibera. EAC Secretary General
Interview by: Moses Mutabaruka Special thanks to: Emmanuel nkundakiri
E
ast African Community (EAC) is one of the most vibrant regional blocks today! After long periods of skepticism and negativity this integration project has taken a turn. Currently, people in other African union ‘building blocks’ such as those in the Economic Community of Western African States (ECOWAS) and the ones that belong to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are looking at the speed to which EAC is moving with both admiration and envy! Depending on who you ask, even the European Union has sent officials to learn how things are done in Arusha!
2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 35
COVER INTERVIEW
We pride ourselves in being the only community coming together with the explicit aim of forming a political federation. A dream that was started by the region’s founding fathers; Mwalimu Nyerere, Mzee Kenyatta and others
36 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
Established by some of the region's founding fathers such as Mwalimu Nyerere and Mzee Jomo Kenyatta in 1967, the East African Community is a regional inter-governmental organization comprising the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania. Although it was dissolved in 1977 it was reestablished in 2000 under Article 2 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community that entered into force on July 7th that year. The vision of EAC is to attain a prosperous, competitive, secure and politically united East Africa. Her mission is to widen and deepen economic, political, social and cultural integration in order to improve the quality of life of the people
of East Africa through increased competitiveness, value added production, enhanced trade and investment. The brand of the East African Community is ‘‘One People, One Destiny’’. To give you a visual of previous EAC impact, during the 60’s when it was in full swing, you could take a train from Kasese in Western Uganda near Congo to Mombasa in just 12 hours. The three founding countries; Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were truly connected. Today, once again, regional political leaders are fully on board and member citizens are starting to buy into the idea of an integrated East African region; slowly coming to terms with the opportunity presented and the challenges it will bring. To give you some numbers, Intra-EAC trade
COVER INTERVIEW
"As I have observed before, the people of East Africa are united. In their hearts and in their minds, our people are already integrated". — Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya
grew by 40% between 2005 and 2009. Uganda’s exports to Kenya increased more than tenfold from USD15.5 Million in 2004 to USD172 Million in 2009, while Tanzania’s exports to Kenya over the same period nearly tripled, from USD 95.5 Million to USD 300 Million. In the last five years, East Africa’s GDP growth has averaged five percent and is projected to continue
on the growth trajectory with the establishment of a Common Market coming into play and foreign investors flocking to the region. The man presently charged with steering this ambitious ship is none other than Hon. Ambassador Dr Richard Sezibera. Dr. Sezibera is a hugely respected former Army
Major, parliamentarian, Minister and Rwandan ambassador to the US. Prior to our meeting, I interviewed a few people who have worked with him and on meeting the man I was not disappointed one bit. He carries himself with great honor and humility. His very insightful, calm and diplomatic but won’t shy away from dishing a sharp response to an imprudent 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 37
COVER INTERVIEW
If EAC cannot form one political entity then I don’t foresee any other grouping forming such an entity. There are eight regional blocks on the continent that are accepted by the African Union and in my opinion East Africa has most chances of success in forming a political federation meaning the weight of history is heavy on the shoulders of the leaders of East Africa and Africa in this era." —Dr Sezibera
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COVER INTERVIEW
question as I witnessed during a panel discussion at Harvard Business School this past March. Since his appointment as EAC secretary general by EAC heads of states on April 19, 2011, Dr. Sezibera has been hard at work; putting in place agreement on a Single EAC Customs Territory, implementing a common market and completing negotiations on the EAC Monetary Union among other key strategic breakthroughs. Sezibera is not one to bask in his achievements and does not enjoy talking about himself but under his tutorage, EAC is destined for a brighter future and the man himself will certainly keep on doing bigger and better things long after he has left the EAC.
TAP. The region is growing, with lots of positive things coming out of it. What are your expectations for the region for the next two years or so before your mandate runs out? Dr. Sezibera: We pride ourselves in being the only community coming together with the explicit aim of forming a political federation. A dream that was started by the region’s founding fathers; Mwalimu Nyerere, Mzee Kenyatta and others in 1967. A legacy we’d like to see fulfilled. To achieve this there are several stages we’d have to go through namely: yy
The formation of a customs union to allow for free movement of people, goods, capital
yy
Formation of a common market
yy
A single monetary unit
yy
Finally, a political federation
The important areas to facilitate the forward movement that I would like to see include a few things; The free
movement of goods within East Africa, moving towards a common E. African identification card and passport, elimination of work permits and the use of a single identity card for members, common infrastructure including rail, energy, waterways ports and harbors. I’m very happy that for the first time in a hundred years we are laying a railway line. Between the years 1954 to 2000 the only dam in Uganda was the one built by the British on the Nile in 1954. Currently though, Uganda has more dams, Kenya is generating geo-thermal energy, Rwanda is commissioning new dams, and there’s a lot of investment in the energy sector in all our Partner States. Another important factor that would determine progress is involvement of the people in this agenda. The youth, women groups, religious leaders, people are very important when striving to build momentum towards integration. We are trying to create a momentum towards integration that is beyond just leadership.
TAP: How do you foresee a single political union for East Africa? Dr. Sezibera: You cannot impose political unity on people. It has to come from within, from East Africans feeling East Africa! And the best way to feel it is if it brings prosperity to them. This is the only way we can do this and that’s what we are working on; If you talk to East African business people, which I do all the time, they are excited about East Africa. The expansion of banks within the member countries is a good example. Banque de Kigali now has a liaison office in Nairobi and wants to expand to Uganda and other areas; CRDB of Tanzania has branches in
Burundi. Kenyan banks and businesses have also expanded in the region. Overall, East Africans are excited about this because it’s working for them.
TAP: We are not modelling the EAC after the European Union model! Or are we? Dr. Sezibera: As a matter of fact we are not. If anything it is the Europeans that actually borrowed integration tips from the East African Community while it was still functional up until 1977. From the sixties they used to come and learn about integration. The two are different because of the different historical backgrounds, experiences, different levels of wealth etc. a good example is the fact that the European Union can afford to subsidize for poor performers within its system while we cannot, EAC chose not to have a compensation fund. We can nevertheless learn from them, we takeaway the good things they did and avoid their mistakes; we have to build our own thing that is purely East African.
TAP: Moving goods within the region has always been a hindrance, how are we tackling this issue? Dr. Sezibera: It still takes too long to move goods from one country to another and it is also very costly. This has been caused by delayed clearances along the way including but not limited to numerous roadblocks, delayed port clearance, delays at weighbridges. For example it used to take approximately 21 days to move goods from the port of Mombasa to Kigali. Concerted leadership reduced this to approximately 5 days. Transport cost has also gone down by over US Dollars 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 39
COVER INTERVIEW
"I am happy that diaspora remittances for all countries are high and a key source of revenue. This is extremely important for the economy but it’s not only the remittances of money! I’d like to see East African diaspora’s bring back their expertise and skills whether on loan or permanently. Returnees are beneficial to the block."
1, 070. Clearance times at Ports have been reduced and the Region has a target of moving goods from Dares Salam to Bujumbura and Kigali in less than 5 days by roads. Another example 40 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
is that in Mombasa there’s now a charter called “Mombasa road Charter” where all agencies come together and you can pre-clear your goods! Even if you don’t clear your goods, the charter has targets to make sure that a container does not spend more than seven days at the port. This means they are now working 24hrs a day; they have single windows systems so a lot of work is going on to ease the costs and improve efficiency of doing business in the region.
TAP: What is the E. A. C policy on youth and women? Dr. Sezibera: We have an East African youth policy. The community urges national governments to set up specific programs and funds for youth and women in their respective countries. We have youth organizations in Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania. For women, under the EAC council, we are promoting female-based enterprises. That being said, there’s only so much a policy can do. At the end of the day it is up to the concerned individuals to rise up to the challenge and take advantage of the opportunities availed to them.
TAP: Are we looking to expand the community by bringing in countries such as Ethiopia and the DRC? Dr. Sezibera: The EAC does not solicit for members. Individual countries apply and once they comply with the requirements they can join. Currently it’s only Somalia and South Sudan that have applied. And for Somalia there’s been limited headway due to the obvious reasons. With South Sudan we’ve been under talks for about a year now and
formal negotiations start in March to about August then we shall see. The process is quite rigorous, application must be sent, verification process must ensue and the applicant must join the customs union, which is mandatory. We are not like many other organizations that a presidential declaration makes you a member. There are some specific things that we only do at the EAC members. However, the EAC, COMESA and SADC are negotiating a Free Trade Area (under the Tripartite arrangement) to bring in our neighbors. Under this we have common infrastructure programs, free movement of business people etc. It doesn’t make sense to build rail that takes you to Kigali but doesn’t reach Eastern Congo for example! Once done it will cover 26 countries and have a GDP of about 1trillion US Dollars.
TAP: You’ve said that if the EAC fails then a United States of Africa as a political and trading unit fails! Please expand. Dr. Sezibera: It is a huge historical burden for East Africans. If East Africa cannot form one political entity then I don’t foresee any other grouping forming such an entity. There are eight regional blocks on the continent that are accepted by the African Union and in my opinion East Africa has most chances of success in forming a political federation meaning the weight of history is heavy on the shoulders of the leaders of East Africa and Africa in this era. As already mentioned, the Heads of states have begun the process of making a constitution for the proposed Federation. Eventually, this will involve consultations with the people and I don’t know what the outcome will be but its something that has to be done.
COVER INTERVIEW
TAP: What sort of pressure are you under since you are charged with the responsibility of ensuring the EAC works?
TAP: Is there any project that is particularly close to your heart and what legacy would you like to leave behind?
Dr. Sezibera: It is a huge responsibility that I enjoy very much.
Dr. Sezibera: No, I’m not a legacy person and I just want to do my job to the best of my ability. There’s still a lot of work to be done so right now am just focused on the delivery. However, at some point I will look back at my work.
TAP: What is the report card process and how are member states receiving it? Dr. Sezibera: It is an online real-time reporting system-a self-reporting mechanism with clear commitments made by each country and since the commitments made are clear it is easy to verify. This information and the Secretary General’s independent report forms part of a scorecard for members. Bi-annually, the council of ministers is expected to report to the Heads of states on their progress using these report cards. We have noted that East Africans generally are not bothered by the agreements but are more interested in the implementation so member states have received this well.
TAP: How would you like to see Africans in the diaspora getting involved within the block for the benefit of the community as a whole? Dr. Sezibera: First of all am happy that diaspora remittances for all countries are high and a key source of revenue. This is extremely important for the economy of East Africa but it’s not only the remittances of money! I’d like to see East African diaspora’s bring back their expertise and skills whether on loan or permanently. Returnees are beneficial to the block. Moving forward, I’d like to see more
I’m not a legacy person and I just want to do my job to the best of my ability. There’s still a lot of work to be done so right now am just focused on the delivery. However, at some point I will look back at my work investment vehicles set up by the diaspora for the whole of East Africa. There is the East African Diaspora Business Council (EADBC) that exists in the United States and we’ve been talking with them to see how they can set up more investment vehicles beyond just remittances. We are seeking to establish a strong link with this council and we hope more council like this open elsewhere.
TAP: What have been your biggest challenges and or accomplishments? Doctor: My achievements are the achievements of the Community including the agreement on a Single Customs Territory, implementation of the common market, the completion of the negotiations on the Monetary Union, the focus on critical infrastructure including in particular, Railways, Energy, Ports and Harbors, inland waterways, etc. as well as involving the people of East Africa in the integration agenda. The biggest challenge we've faced has been making people buy into the “project” idea since it has to be people centered and owned. Another challenge is getting the resources to match our big ambitions! Bureaucracy is also another one; it’s a challenge to get them to think regional, as they are set up to think and act national, we have to harmonize this as it can hamper progress.
TAP: What do you do to unwind? Dr. Sezibera: I read, play tennis and spend time with my family. Currently am reading the book “Capital and Inequality”. 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 41
ACHIEVEMENTS T
he main achievement has been the implementation of confidence-building measures that have spurred
Banks during national budget preparation and presentation yy
and energized Partner States’ efforts in regional integration. Partner States have expanded the spirit and enhanced the basis of the Community from the initial threshold of mere cooperation
SOCIAL/CULTURAL yy
Adoption of the EAC Anthem “Wimbo wa Jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki” in 2010
yy
Operationalization of the East African passport, which passport grants a holder a six month multiple-entry visa in the region
to a higher level of integration, with the ultimate objective being political federation. Summary of key EAC achievements and successes:
yy
ECONOMIC yy
Establishment of the East African Community Customs Union
yy
Establishment of the East African Community Common Market Convertibility of the currencies of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda Capital markets development and cross-listing of stocks
yy
yy
Joint infrastructure development projects (e.g. Arusha-Namanga-Athi River Road) Harmonization of the EAC axle load (vehicle weight) limit Harmonization of standards for goods produced in East Africa Reduction of national trade barriers
yy
Implementation of preferential tariff discount Free movement of stocks
yy
Harmonizing operations of Ministries of Finance and Central
42 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
Mutual recognition of health certificates issued by national bodies for goods traded in East Africa
Implementation of seven-day grace period for personal motor vehicles crossing national borders if the EAC Partner States
yy
Establishment of special immigration counters for East Africans at ports of entry
yy
Issuance of temporary travel documents to facilitate travel within the region by EAC citizens Harmonization of immigration forms at ports of entry
yy
Abolition of student visas for East Africans
yy
Standardization of university fees for citizens of East Africans
yy
Implementation of student and lecturer exchange programmes at university level Implementation of cross-border disease control programmes (EAIDSnet) Harmonization of procedures for granting work permits
yy
Conducting annual EAC Students Essay Competition Conduct of the annual EAC Military Sports and Culture Week
POLITICAL/SECURITY/ DEFENCE yy
Signing of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community in 1999
yy
Joint military exercises by EAC Partner States Defence Forces
yy
Establishment of fora for chiefs of Police, Directors of CID and Directors of Operations and Intelligence to coordinate peace and security matters
yy
Joint patrols, sharing of criminal intelligence and surveillance to combat cross-border crime
INSTITUTIONAL yy
Establishment of the East African Court of Justice
yy
Establishment of the East African Legislative Assembly
yy
Establishment of the East African Science and Technology Commission Establishment of the East African Kiswahili Commission
yy
Establishment of the East African Health Research Commission
yy
Establishment of the EAC Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency Establishment of EAC Chief Justices Forum
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HEALTH/NUTRITION
WHAT IS A
FRUITARIAN DIET? A fruitarian diet is a subcategory of a raw vegan diet with most of the diet coming from fruits. Some fruitarians only eat fruits, and others, like I, consume vegetables and nuts in small quantities.
48 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
HEALTH/NUTRITION
Why would anyone choose to live on such a diet? Most people choose to eat a vegetarian, vegan or fruitarian diet for ethical, religious, environmental and health reasons. On the ethical side, we find those who are against violence and killing of animals for food or clothing. Others still, believe that eating this way is very healthy. On the internet one can find many testimonials (blogs and videos) from those who improved their health by eating a raw vegan or fruitarian diet. A number of studies have linked many chronic conditions like heart problems and diabetes to excessive consumption of meat and dairy products. On the religious side, we find those who believe that a fruitarian diet was what God intended for us when he created the earth (Genesis 1:29). On the environmental side, a number of studies have shown how increased meat and dairy consumption has a negative impact ranging from global warming to water pollution to destruction of natural habitats etc.
So what is a fruitarian diet? A fruitarian diet is a subcategory of a raw vegan diet with most of the diet coming from fruits. Some fruitarians only eat fruits, and others, like I, consume vegetables and nuts in small quantities.
Personally, I became a fruitarian for health reasons. I had struggled with excess weight for almost twenty years, and while researching for healthier options I slowly transitioned to a vegan diet. After a year on a vegan diet, I discovered many benefits for being on a raw vegan diet, and decided to give it a try. Slowly, I went from a raw vegan diet to a fruitarian diet as I found eating fruits provided me energy to keep up with my workouts and other daily activities. To my surprise, I found that
A fruitarian diet is widely misunderstood in the medical profession, and many doctors and nutritionists will discourage anyone wishing to experiment with such a diet as it is contrary to the Canadian and US governments recommended food guide; “My Plate
eating a fruitarian diet was the simplest and most natural way of eating. I found myself spending less time grocery shopping, and I was no longer spending hours per week in the kitchen preparing food and cooking. All I had to do was peel my fruits and eat them. It is also an easy and healthier diet for busy people; if you are always on the go, it is easier to snack on fruits throughout the day. A few months into my fruitarian diet experiment, amazing things started happening. I had so much energy throughout the day and I no longer woke up tired. My workouts became more enjoyable because my body was recovering quicker and I no longer suffered muscle cramps like I used to. I found that my endurance increased dramatically as well. 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 49
HEALTH/NUTRITION After going through my own body transformation (I lost 50 pounds and reversed some of my chronic conditions), I have been helping others achieve great health results at
Negativity A fruitarian diet is widely misunderstood in the medical profession, and many doctors and nutritionists will discourage anyone wishing to experiment with such a diet as it is contrary to the Canadian and US governments recommended food guide; “My Plate”. For instance, when I met with my nutritionist, she feared I might be suffering from protein,
50 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
iron and calcium deficiency due to the exclusion of meat and dairy from my diet. So far my blood test results have not found any of the mentioned deficiencies. That said, the fear that consuming lots of fruits will lead to diabetes is real among many people. I do regular blood tests and despite being on a high fruit diet, my blood sugar is normal. With the reported health benefits of those on a vegan, raw vegan or fruitarian diet, one needs to do his/her own research and experiment to find out the truth. As I say to those who question my dietary choices, at the end of the day, no matter what anyone says,” results
are the only ones that count.” I lost 50 pounds, kept the weight off for more than 2 years and I haven’t been sick for almost 3 years now. So educate yourself, and slowly experiment to find out whether or not this type of eating is right for you.
Impact on communities In developed countries, healthcare costs are climbing at an alarming rate due to an endless list of chronic conditions and according to CDC (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention) 86% of healthcare dollars goes to treatment of chronic diseases. Also, chronic diseases are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States and Canada. Studies conducted by Doctor Caldwell Esselstyn and Doctor Neal Barnard showed how possible it is to reverse heart problems and diabetes by adopting a plant-based diet.
HEALTH/NUTRITION And for developing countries, mainly African countries where many diseases are linked to malnutrition, a diet high in fruits can fix most nutritional deficiencies.
countries have potatoes, and for some African countries its cassava. So for most fruitarians, banana is the easiest fruit to make a staple food. If you wish to transition into a fruitarian diet, you can start by gradually increasing the raw food intake in your diet. You can start by eating 50% raw and increase gradually over time.
Meat and dairy industry on environment: - http://www.pnas.org/ content/111/33/11996.abstract http://www.unep.org/ resourcepanel/Portals/24102/PDFs/ PriorityProductsAndMaterials_Report. pdf
Olivier Masabarakiza After going through my own body transformation (I lost 50 pounds and reversed some of my chronic conditions), I have been helping others achieve great health results at
And for developing countries, mainly African countries where many diseases are linked to malnutrition, a diet high in fruits can fix most nutritional deficiencies. Many developing countries have an ideal climate for growing fruits, and if fruits were encouraged to be part of the normal diet, those countries might be able to feed their population and possibly eradicate hunger.
How can someone in North America adopt a fruitarian diet? For obvious reasons, a fruitarian diet can easily be adopted in a tropical climate but how about those of us who live in cold climates? It is very challenging as it is very difficult to find a variety of fruits at a reasonable cost during winter months. However, it is manageable. One tip I would give is to make bananas your staple fruits. Bananas are very healthy, available year round and are very cheap. If you look at different cultures, there is always a staple food. For instance, Asian culture has rice, some European
http://www.FatOliver.ca. I also run a Facebook Private Group “Body Transformation - Fitness and Nutrition Challenge” to motivate & support those who want to transition into a healthy lifestyle. You can join the group at https://www.facebook.com/ groups/vitalilty/
References: MyPlate: http://www.choosemyplate. gov Dr Caldwell Esselstyn : http://www. dresselstyn.com Dr Neal Barnard: http://www. nealbarnard.org Healthcare costs: http://www.cdc.gov/ chronicdisease/index.htm Leading causes of death and disability: http://www.cdc.gov/ chronicdisease/overview/ Low consumption of fruits and vegetables and nutritional deficiencies: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih. gov/pubmed/24963861
At the end of the day, no matter what anyone says,” results are the only ones that count.” I lost 50 pounds, kept the weight off for more than 2 years and I haven’t been sick for almost 3 years now. So educate yourself, and slowly experiment to find out whether or not this type of eating is right for you” 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 51
52 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
HEALTH
SICKLE
STRONG INITIATIVE 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 53
HEALTH
An inherited disease of the blood,
SICKLE CELL DISEASE
is a condition whereby the substance responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood, hemoglobin, is abnormal.
Dr. Marie Ojiambo
I
was born into a family of four (second born) children where my brother, our first born also suffers fullblown sickle cell disease. My two younger siblings do not suffer the condition, one having normal hemoglobin while the other is a carrier but totally asymptomatic for the disease. My family has learnt how to work around my
54 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
HEALTH
brother and myself especially when we fall sick and require extra attention. While younger, the burden of sickle cell disease on my body seemed to be greater. As I grew, I’ve learnt how to take care of my body and how to listen to it and look out for any impending complications or infections that could lead to a crisis episode. I now suffer less pain and I’m leading a much more productive life. Many sickle cell warriors suffer like me, while others suffer way beyond me with this disease. Sickle cell disease, the most common genetic disease in the world is prevalent amongst people whose families come from Africa, South or Central America (especially Panama), the Caribbean islands, Mediterranean countries (such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy), India, and Saudi Arabia. In the United States, about 1 in every 500 African Americans are born with the disease. Hispanic Americans are also affected at a rate of about 1 in 1,000 to 1,400. The trait in Africa is three times that in USA. In certain parts of Africa today, the frequency of the mutant gene for sickle-cell (HbS) is very high at about 5-20% of the population. West Africa, Central Africa and East Africa are most affected. In countries such as Cameroon, the Republic of Congo, Gabon, Ghana and Nigeria, the prevalence is between 20% and 30% while in some parts of Uganda it is as high as 45%! An inherited disease of the blood, sickle cell disease is a condition whereby the substance responsible for carrying oxygen in the blood, hemoglobin, is abnormal. Sickle cell hemoglobin or HbS differs from normal adult hemoglobin or HbA by an amino acid substitution.
“In my home country of Kenya, there is currently no data provided by the ministry of health on the prevalence of the disease. However, the disease is predominantly found in the Coastal and Western regions of the country. These are malaria endemic areas and include the towns of Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi and Kisumu as well as Busia, Bungoma, Sio port, Nyanza and Homa Bay in the West”
Amino Acids are building block of proteins that are synthesized in the body in certain orders. Any deviation in the sequence or order of an amino acid causes a mutation or production of an abnormal protein which then causes distortion of red blood cells at low oxygen tension states leading to sickling, premature destruction of these cells. This hemolysis is responsible for the anemia that is the hallmark of sickle cell disease. Sickle Cell Anemia is the homozygous state in which 90% of
hemoglobin in a person is HbS. Individuals carrying just one copy of the sickle mutation (inherited from either the father or mother) are known not to develop sickle cell trait, leading rather normal lives and not showing symptoms of the disease. However, it is found that these same individuals, said to carry the sickle cell trait, are in fact highly protected against malaria, thus explaining the high prevalence of this mutation in geographical areas where malaria is endemic. Sickle hemoglobin is not favorable for the sustenance of the Plasmodium parasite that infects red blood cells in malaria, reducing the number of parasites that actually infect the host and thus conferring some protection against malaria The presence of HbS can cause red blood cells to change from their usual biconcave, fluffy disc shape to a crescent or sickle shape due to decreased oxygen states. Acute and chronic tissue injury can occur when blood flow through the vessels is obstructed by the abnormally shaped and rigid sickled cells; complications include painful episodes involving soft tissues and bones, acute chest syndrome, priapism, cerebral vascular accidents, and both splenic and renal dysfunction. In my home country of Kenya, there is currently no data provided by the ministry of health on the prevalence of the disease. However, the disease is predominantly found in the Coastal and Western regions of the country. These are malaria endemic areas and include the towns of Mombasa, Lamu, Malindi and Kisumu as well as Busia, Bungoma, Sio port, Nyanza and Homa Bay in the West. 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 55
HEALTH
Marie Ojiambo is a Doctor of Pharmacy currently pursuing an MSc in Industrial Pharmacy at St. Johns University, Queens, NY. Her career focus lies in the area of Drug Research and Development. Marie is also a former Miss Kenya USA Crown holder.
Some issues faced by patients suffering this disease, their families and medical personnel include: zz Lack of medical supplies. . zz Institutional factors: Barriers associated with health facilities. zz Poverty. zz Lack of SCD screening equipment. zz Lack of financial preparedness by patients/families. zz Poor Quality of Sickle cell care in medical institutions. zz Level of knowledge among health workers. zz Decreased staff motivation. (Health workers). zz Increased workload among health workers. zz Lack or decreased levels of education among care givers and health workers.
To date, there is no known cure for Sickle cell disease. However advances in stem cell research and bone marrow transplant therapy have brought to light options used in the treatment of the disease. Though costly, these surgical interventions are used to treat extremely critical cases. Genetic counseling is the only known method of prevention of this disease. Young couples especially from endemic areas are encouraged to undergo screening prior to conception.
Sickled cells
Advocacy
Normal red blood cells
My Not for profit; the Sickle Strong Initiative, a Kenya based NPO seeks to create awareness around the control and management of the disease and to help foster a positive attitude amongst patients living with the disease. I’ve used and continue to use this initiative to awaken the voices of those suffering the disease in Kenya. Through public awareness campaigns and media outreach exercises, Sickle Strong
56 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
Initiative is encouraging those suffering from the disease to speak out. We’re also urging the Kenyan government to pay full attention to this vulnerable group and give them access to full healthcare benefits that they so much need to lead a good quality of life. A lesson I’ve learnt from my own personal battle is that God only dictates one’s life span. I encourage other warriors to stay strong and positive. Listen to your body and learn what works for you. Keep away from anything that may cause your body pain or illness. It is indeed a tough fight, but it is also a manageable one. To support Sickle Strong Initiative, visit www.sicklestronginitiative.com/ Marie Ojiambo is a Doctor of Pharmacy currently pursuing an MSc in Industrial Pharmacy at St. Johns University, Queens, NY. Her career focus lies in the area of Drug Research and Development. Marie is also a former Miss Kenya USA Crown holder.
“Many sickle cell warriors suffer like me, while others suffer way beyond me with this disease. Sickle cell disease, the most common genetic disease in the world is prevalent amongst people whose families come from Africa, South or Central America, the Caribbean islands, Mediterranean countries, India, and Saudi Arabia” —
Marie Ojiambo
2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 57
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LIFESTYLE
Are you living a healthy
Sexual life? Dr. Tammary Esho
Living a healthy sexual life requires that we acknowledge our sexuality does not exist in a bubble; we therefore need an understanding of its interdisciplinary nature.
60 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
S
exuality is a central part of who we are as human beings. Our abilities and choices around reproduction, intimacy, and sexual expression are very crucial. The study of human sexuality as a science from the early 19th century has advanced our knowledge in understanding sexuality issues that have over many years been sidelined and still are to date. Sexuality is still reserved for the aspect of reproduction and not for sexual desire and emotionality;
the pathological aspect instead of the positive aspect of it. Sex is still considered a controversial issue in our society today as we continue to celebrate an era of sexual conservatism albeit with serious ramifications due to selective ignorance. Sex happens everywhere but is given a ‘nowhere’ kind of attitude! Human sexuality is perhaps the most misunderstood and misinterpreted subject since man set foot on earth.
LIFESTYLE
The idiom ‘the forbidden fruit’ has come to represent the extent to which SEX is a taboo subject. We however have to bring this subject to the forefront of our society. Today, it is imperative that sexual education is both encouraged and provided especially to the youth. Living a healthy sexual life requires that we acknowledge our sexuality does not exist in a bubble; we therefore need an understanding of its interdisciplinary nature. It is influenced by many factors such as biology, psychology, spirituality, and even social-economicpolitical environments. These factors influence our attitudes and beliefs and subsequently our behaviour and experiences. Thus, we need to seek and receive factual and positive information about sexuality. Sexuality is expressed through our thoughts, fantasies, desires, beliefs, attitudes and behaviour. Everyone is unique and therefore, there exists different ways that people experience and express their sexuality. These activities fulfil an important physical and emotional need for closeness and intimacy. Your feelings about yourself, your body image, about sex, your sexual partner(s) and previous
A healthy sexual life correlates positively with a general healthy life. Therefore, we should not dismiss our sexuality and place it in the back shelf but rather let us bring it to the fore." — Dr. Tammary Esho, PhD Biomedical Sciences (Human Sexuality Sciences)
sexual experiences are part of your sexual makeup which greatly influences and affects one’s sexual needs and satisfaction. So what entails living a healthy sexual life? In order to live a healthy sexual
life, one must always be true to themselves’. It is the most important aspect of living a healthy sexual life. Each of us experiences their sexuality differently; we cannot all be the same. Having a healthy sex life has benefits to our general health and well being. Living in a healthy, sexually active way improves relationships due to the effect of the bonding hormone, oxytocin that is released during intimate acts of a couple. It also reduces anxiety, depression, and stress levels while at the same time decreasing pain sensations. These benefits have an overall effect of a healthy life and wellbeing. With these benefits in mind, we can now begin to look at the four practical steps one can undertake to experience their sexuality in its fullness. First and foremost, one must understand their sexual anatomy and physiology. Sexual education goes a long way in helping one to understand their sexual functioning. This kind of education can be achieved through attending trainings and seminars, discussions with health care providers, reading self-help books among other sources of information. Physical awareness of our bodies is important since it helps us have a positive body and self-image. It is vital that we understand how we function and what can be the challenges that might be experienced. This should happen at all life stages through ageappropriate sexuality education. Secondly, other than the physical awareness, psychological awareness is also crucial. On the psychological level, everyone needs to develop a level of confidence and healthy self-esteem. This does not originate from a beautiful exterior body but rather from the inside out. Love and intimacy cannot be 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 61
Sex is still considered a controversial issue in our society today as we continue to celebrate an era of sexual conservatism albeit with serious ramifications due to selective ignorance fulfilling without appropriate confidence and self-esteem. Building a healthy self esteem begins by accepting that you are not perfect and you have faults just like everybody else. You have to appreciate your self-worth and take pride in your accomplishments and this confidence will radiate on the outside making it possible for you to become a loving and lovable person.
Sex happens everywhere but is given a ‘nowhere’ kind of attitude! Human sexuality is perhaps the most misunderstood and misinterpreted subject since man set foot on earth.
Thirdly, a healthy sexual life will emanate from loving relationships with others. In relationships, a healthy sexual life is developed from good communication among partners. In a relationship, it is important to discuss issues of sexuality, experiences of sexuality, sexual behaviour and also fantasies. Understand yourself and your partner; communicate your sexual health needs among others. Lastly, it is crucial to understand and debunk sexual myths that sometimes take over our expectations. For example, one of the myths that affect female sexual expectations includes the idea that experiencing an orgasm is a must for women to enjoy sex! Research has actually proven that it is possible to have sexual satisfaction even without an orgasm for some women. This is because a sense of women’s sexual satisfaction results from enhanced intimacy and connection to a partner more than physical satisfaction. In such a case therefore, a woman will not feel abnormal if she does not have an orgasm but on the other hand if she feels that she needs an orgasm to be satisfied, then there is an opportunity to seek therapy in this regard. It is therefore useful to understand sexual functioning since this will inform an individual whether and how they can improve on their sexuality and possibly seek treatment in cases of problems and dysfunction. All in all, treatment is available ranging from psychotherapy, sex therapy, counselling, medical and also surgical treatments. A healthy sexual life correlates positively with a general healthy life. Therefore, we should not dismiss our sexuality and place it in the back shelf but rather let us bring it to the fore.
62 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
Pavilion Health Pavilion - Pavilion Health is a center that focuses on enhancing the general well being of the family as the smallest component that makes up society. We give special attention to psychological and sexual well being of our clients. As a team, we focus on enhancing the well-being of the mind and body using various approaches. We provide individual, family, couple, group and also sex therapy. We do not limit our services to psychotherapy alone but we also give training, seminars, workshops and talks on sexual health education.
CONTACT US Phone:
254 020 522 7541
Mobile:
+254 722 319 369
Email:
info@pavilionhealth.org
Website:
www.pavilionhealth.org
Address: Lange Lange Apt 11 Off Milimani Road (Behind Heron Hotel) PO Box 51591- 00100 Nairobi
2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 63
64 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
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2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 65
MUSIC
BOB MARLEY AT 70:
7 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW Bob is the first international superstar from a third world country. Today, it doesn't matter if you’re in China or Brazil; you’re likely to hear some Marley jams from the streets of Mogadishu to Rio and Tokyo. His song “One Love” was voted the song of the 20th century. 66 | Tap Magazine | Issue 3 | 2015
MUSIC
Moses Mutabaruka
EARLY LIFE February 6th 2015 marked Bob Marley’s 70th birthday. As the world celebrates, we want to have a look at the life of the King of Reggae; a man who is the definition of one manifesting own destiny. Bob had a vision and refused to give in until he realized it. Born in a small village of Nine Miles, Saint Ann Parish Jamaica as Nesta Robert Marley; a Jamaican passport official would later swap his first and middle names. His mother Cedella “Ciddy” Malcolm was seventeen years old when she met (Bob's father) Norval Sinclair Marley, a white Jamaican of English descent originally from Essex, England. Marley senior was a captain in the Royal Marines, as well as the official superintendent of the British owned lands in the parish of Saint Ann where his mother was born. By the time Cedella was nineteen, Norval had already abandoned her and Bob. As Rita Marley once recalled, "Bob only remembered meeting his father once, he only offered him a “Willy” penny (which is an old copper coin thought of as a collector’s item)". Bob’s father was twice Cedella’s age and died of heart attack at about age 70. Bob was ten years old. He spent his early years with his grandfather (Cedella’s father) Omeriah Malcolm who was a traditional healer, a successful businessman, a well-respected member of the community and someone who immensely inspired Bob’s black consciousness.
At fourteen, Bob and his mother moved from the rural areas of Saint Ann into Kingston city. While there, Cedella met Mr Thaddeus Livingston; she worked for him and moved her family in with him only to find out that Mr Livingston had another family. She then decided to move on to Wilmington, Delaware (USA) where some of her family and friends resided in search of a better life. By this time, Cedella had already had a baby girl called Pearl with Livingston whom she took with her to the US; leaving Bob alone with Mr Livingston. His mother’s plan had been to send for him in three months’ time, but she soon learnt how difficult it was to secure documents in the USA. Hence, Bob had to endure some troubling times by himself in Trench town, one of the toughest slums in Jamaica. Livingston's common-law wife resented Bob and their relationship became estranged and Bob left the household. He couldn't find a place to lay his head until a friend offered him a place to
sleep, in the auditioning/waiting area of his studio. However, Livingston's biological son, Neville (otherwise known as Bunny Livingston and later Bunny Wailer) remained a close friend of Bob and was later to became one of the Wailers’ founding trio. Bob even considered Bunny his own brother. With his mother away, and with no family or relatives to see him through the hard life of Kingston and Trench town, Bob was an emotional wreck. According to his wife, he often wondered where his mother was. In fact, one of his early songs is “Where Is My Mother,” is a dedication to his mother.
TRENCHTOWN As a young mixed race teenager, growing up in the all black and poverty ridden trench town slums; Marley suffered racial prejudice because of his mixed racial origins. Questions about his identity were to follow him his whole life. One of his greatest quotes summarizes his feelings on this
BOB MARLEY Singer
Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley OM was a Jamaican reggae singer-songwriter, musician, and guitarist who achieved international fame and acclaim. BORN:
February 6, 1945, Nine Mile, Jamaica
DIED:
May 11, 1981, Miami, Florida, United States
PARENTS: Cedella Marley-Booker, Norval Marley
2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 67
MUSIC
In his latter days, Bob described his invitation to perform at Zimbabwe's Independence Day as the biggest honour of his life. Earlier in his life, Bob's other vision that one day he would be rewarded by a ring had been realised when Emperor Haile Selassie’s son, Prince Asfaw Wossen, gave him a ring that once belonged to the Emperor himself. Bob wore the ring for the rest of his life and never took it off.
particular issue. “I don't have prejudice against myself. My father was a white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don't dip on nobody’s side. Me don't dip on the black man's side nor the white man's side. Me dip on God's side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white.” Nevertheless, throughout his entire life and mainly because of his beliefs, he self-identified as a black African/Jamaican. In his songs such as "Black Survivor", “Rat Race”, “Zimbabwe”, "Babylon System" and "Blackman Redemption", Marley sings about the Black people’s struggles against oppression from the West or "Babylon". As a teenager Bob was nicknamed "Tuff Gong" because of his ability to fend for and defend himself in the streets of Trench town.
USA Bob married Rita Marley at the age of 21. At the time, Rita already had a baby girl from a previous relationship and when they had Cedella and Ziggy, their little income from music wasn't enough to take care of the family so 68 | Tap Magazine | Issue JANUARY 3 | 2015 2015
Bob decided to join members of his mother’s family in Delaware so he could support his new family. While in the US, Bob was introduced to the civil rights movement and realised that the state of black people in America was similar to what he had experienced in Jamaica. He became more aware of the global "Black Struggle". His stay in America wasn't as he had expected though; he was worried sick about Rita and the three kids he had left her with. He increasingly became homesick and at some point his "homesickness" was thought to be uncontrollable. When he first arrived in the USA, he got a job working in a Chrysler factory but was now out of work and doing menial tasks. In fact he even worked as a cleaner at Hotel DuPont in Wilmington Delaware. He became frustrated and decided to go back to Jamaica. In one of the letters he sent to Rita while in the US, he noted that “today while I was vacuuming, the vacuum bag burst and all that dust went up in my face. If I stay here, this is going to kill me".
SUPERSTAR Had he been alive today, Bob Marley
would be 70years old. Actually some say that he is not dead! These people say they can still vividly hear his voice. His legacy is far from being forgotten especially in his home country where they have a national holiday every year on his birthday. Bob single-handedly introduced Jamaica and reggae music to the world. He was also the first international superstar from a third world country. Today, it doesn't matter if you’re in China or Brazil, if you go to a club or you’re just walking on the streets; you’re likely to hear some Marley jams. His song “One Love” was voted the song of the last century and it was proudly sung during President’s Obama’s inauguration to office. Since President Obama is a big fan, Bob’s family (led by eldest son Ziggy Marley) were one of the few families invited to dine with President Obama in his early months at the White House.
SHOT Bob’s life could have ended in December of 1976. He was scheduled to perform at a concert (smile Jamaica) with an aim of easing tensions between two opposition parties in Jamaica, during that year’s election. Promoters told him that his presence at the concert would help reduce violence especially in the ghettos. Against the advice of many who believed it would be dangerous for him to attend, Bob agreed to be present and just two days before the concert, while rehearsing at his Hope Road home, Bob and three other people; his wife Rita, Manager Don Taylor and a guest Lewis Griffiths, were all shot. As Rita recalls, Bob could have easily been killed, “the gunman who got him was aiming for the heart, but the bullet just grazed his chest, hit and lodged in his
MUSIC
My father was white and my mother was black. Them call me half-caste or whatever. Me don't dip on nobody’s side. Me don't dip on the black man's side nor the white man's side. Me dip on God's side, the one who create me and cause me to come from black and white.” — Bob Marley
elbow, where it stayed for the rest of his life’. As for Rita, she was shot in the back of the head and credits her life today to God and her thick dreadlocks which prevented the bullet from making direct impact. Most people would have been cowed by this incident but not Bob. He came out of the hospital and went directly to the concert. Asked why he had gone to perform despite the obvious threat to his life, his answer was, “the people trying to make this world worse are not taking the day off!”.
AFRICA AND ROYALTY Bob could at times be described as psychic. Those close to him say he once predicted that he would die at the age of 36! It is also understood that as a boy, just like his grandfather, he used to read peoples palms. When it came to Africa though, Bob had but a single message. Africa was home and that’s where he wanted to be. In one of his interviews, he says that he wanted to finish recording his music so he could go back to Ethiopia (meaning Africa), buy a farm and raise his children in peace. Unfortunately, he passed before he accomplished that dream but soon after he was gone, Rita Marley travelled to Ethiopia (she describes her presence in Ethiopia like putting a foot in heaven’s door) and was able to leave a piece of his dreadlocks there! She has since built a home in Ghana near a village called Konkonuru. In his latter days, Bob also described his invitation to perform at Zimbabwe's Independence Day as the biggest honour of his life. Earlier in his life, Bob's other vision that one day he would be rewarded by a ring had been realised when
Emperor Haile Selassie’s son, Prince Asfaw Wossen, gave him a ring that once belonged to the Emperor himself. Bob wore the ring for the rest of his life and never took it off.
SOCCER/CANCER Like most boys who trace their roots in various shanty slums of the World, Bob Marley was known to be a mad soccer fan. Wherever his tour bus stopped, whenever studio sessions were over, whenever he had time to spare, everyone knew it was time for some football. In 1975 during a football game in France, one of the players wearing sharp metal cleats stepped on Bob’s right foot and he suffered a serious injury to his big toe. Being the hard man he was, he refused to see doctors deeming the injury as "nothing" to stop him from performing and enjoying his football. Two years later, when he re-injured the toe, the nail fell off and malignant melanoma developed. Ironically, this type of cancer rarely affects people of colour! At this stage, doctors suggested that they cut the toe before the cancer spread but since Bob was under pressure to perform and his career had started to get off the ground, with all these factors combined with his Rastafarian roots of staying natural, he refused to permit the doctors to cut off the toe. On the morning of May 11, 1981, at the age of 36 as he had envisioned as a youngster, Bob Marley went to meet his creator. He died from the same melanoma that had spread to his lungs and brain. Happy Earth day Bob and thanks for the music and inspiration. One Love, Forever. 2015 |Issue 3 | Tap Magazine | 69
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