The Baobab Tree

A fine reflection on a peculiar tree.

Detribalizing Africa?

The extent to which elements of African 'traditions' were, or are being, invented has been discussed by Africanists for a while now. This discussion has, however, hardly moved from the academy into politics . . . until now. South Africa recently cut down the number of traditional chiefs it recognizes from 13 to 7 arguing that those who did not make the cut were appointed by apartheid governments with the intention of dividing the people. It may well be that this is a move designed to save the country some money since funds are allocated to each traditional chief. However, the move is one of the rare occasions where the debates of scholars have political ramification. It may not be necessary to reduce the number of chieftaincy in order to unite the people but doing so may help the process of unity by not unnecessarily multiplying identities. The move may lead to further dispute but the reason given for the move is historically sound and may foster unity. Such moves may help end situations like this one in Kenya.

When China First Came to Africa

Africa and China have had a long relation of mutual interaction even though the Chinese memory of this relation is currently being ravished by oil and Zheng He and his massive ship that sank off the coast of Kenya.

Taxing Africans To Build Africa

It is well known that many African countries rely on external sources of funding for development projects. Such reliance, however, puts the economic development of the continent largely out of the control of its people. In order to build a strong internal base of funding, it is being suggested that African countries should develop and strengthen their systems of taxation. Because taxes are a dangerous political issue, many governments would like to be seen as cutting taxes. However, people cannot be expected to claim ownership of the development process if they do not foot the bill. Although it may be unpopular, Africans must come to see that there can be no development without taxes. Governments must see to it that people are enabled to make money so that they can pay taxes that would in turn be used for economic development. In fact, people are prevented from effectively participating in the economic and political processes of their countries if they do not pay taxes. Worse, it increases dependency on foreign sources of funding for the survival of many countries. The fact that far too many people do not pay taxes in most African countries shows the inefficiency, rather than the magnanimity, of governments. It shows the tendency of governments to remove their people from the political process: since the people do not pay taxes they have no right to demand that government provide any public good.

China's Sierra Leone - Through a Western Eye

A dairy:

Austin, and the others at the table, had no illusions about China, or its role in Africa. "It's good, and it's bad," said Austin. There were angry complaints around the table about how Beijing was "buying up" Sierra Leone's government, flooding the country with inferior products, and building a new foreign ministry in Freetown just to curry favour with those in power.

"China's agenda in Africa is not just economic. It's looking to be a superpower and the more countries it controls, the more it can achieve that," said Austin. He wasn't too impressed with China's journalism either - "too many barriers, too many conditions, the opposite of western journalism," he concluded. But he and his colleagues reserved most of their scorn for attitudes in their own country. "We are failing - we want everything to be put on a plate," said Austin. "Politicians here are driving us crazy. They're self-centred. They only want to enrich themselves, not develop the country. Africa can learn so much from China's determination to succeed."

Oil Disputes in Ghana

The discovery of oil in Ghana is already causing problems between the country and powerful interests. Hope oil does not become a curse in Ghana, too.

Ethiopia and Foreign Aid

Ethiopia is a good case for Dambisa Moyo's Dead Aid.

African Union Scholarship

MWALIMU NYERERE AFRICAN UNION SCHOLARSHIP SCHEME 2010 Call for Applications (Post-Graduate Studies in the fields of Water Sciences, Energy Sciences, Climate Change and Education Planning). Go to the African Union web site for the application.

Somalia is Africa's Problem

African countries are used to being helped by countries out of the continent so much that they now tend to expect such help in times of crises. However, such response has failed to materialize after the recent Al Shabab bomb attacks in Uganda that claimed 82 lives. It is good to know that African countries are becoming more involved in Somalia rather than waiting for help from outside the continent. All African countries must send a considerable number of troops to stabilize Somalia. A failed Somalia is bad for Africa. The recent event in Uganda proves this to be the case. An Africa that hopes to have a flourishing future must not allowed failed states on the continent.

Poverty and HIV and AIDS

The connection between poverty and HIV and AIDS has long been made by scholars who study the disease in Africa. It is somehow surprising that such a relationship is only now being seen in the United States. Hopefully, this report would enable those who fight against the disease to see that one of the ways to fight against the disease is the improvement of economic conditions.

Malaria

Malaria is one of the most pressing issues that those concerned with the well-being of Africa have been engaging.   An author whose work can help us to better understand how best to tackle this issue is Sonia Shah. Her recent work, The Fever, chronicles the history of the disease.

Nelson Mandela International Day

On the occasion of the celebration of his 92nd birthday, the UN declares Nelson Mandela International Day. A new world tradition has begun.

FIFA and Sharia Law

See what would happen if FIFA applied Sharia Law. Thank God FIFA doesn't!

Africa and Drugs

Chris reflects on the dangers of drugs to Africa and draws our attention to this important article. This 24-minute video on drug trafficking in Guinea-Bissau tells much of the story.

Arranged Marriages

Whenever I have talked about arranged marriages in some African cultures, some of my students have tended to think that it is a peculiar African or Indian practice. To dispel this misconception, I have often called their attention to matchmaking sites such as eHarmony and match.com as American versions of such practices. Now a mom has put up a web site looking for a bride for her 31-year old son. "We can be agents for our kids," she says.

Pity or Outrage

Several representatives and members of the military from former French colonies in Africa were invited to France to take part in the celebration of Bastille Day, seen as the birthday of modern France. This has led many activists to display their outrage against France. Perhaps they should also pity the African countries that still call France "master". The wives of these French colonies were also in attendance.

Music and Ambition from a Nigerian Ghetto

An inspiring story. Watch the video here.

Are Islamic Terrorist Organizations Racist?

In the wake of the recent bombings in Uganda, the White House is accusing Al Qaeda and Al Shabaab not only of terrorism but also of racism. Read the ABC News report here and the BBC report here.

The Dangers of Failed States in Africa

Ugandans will remember the FIFA World Cup that took place in South Africa for the mayhem it visited on Ugandans on the final day of the tournament - three bomb blasts and at least 74 dead. The Islamic militant group in Somalia, Al-Shabab, is now claiming responsibility. This tragedy should clearly be a sign of the danger which Somalia, as a failed state, poses to Africans. One failed state in Africa is a threat to all the states. This is demonstrated not only by Somalia but also by Sudan, DRC, and even Uganda itself. The inability of governments to control their territories has generated rebel movements that have spread form one country to another. It is in the interests of all Africans that failed states must not exist anywhere on the continent.Yesterday's tragedy is a vivid reminder of the dangers failed states pose to Africans.

Painting of Mandela's Dead Body: Morbidity or Introspection?

A painting of Nelson Mandela's dead body undergoing autopsy has raised a heated debate in South Africa. While some see it as morbid others see it as introspective.

How France Waged War Against Cameroon

The French TV channel, TV 5, has recently put together an eye opening documentary (in French, 2008) on how France fought to keep Cameroon from gaining independence, massacring Cameroon leaders who fought for independence along with thousands of Cameroonians. Poisonous gas was used in this war against the people of Cameroon. This is a crime that has been kept secret for fifty years. This documentary is crucial not only to the history of the struggle for independence in Cameroon but also to the struggle for independence in Africa in general. Connections are clearly made between what was going on in Cameroon at the time to what was going in places like the Congo and Algeria. It is a fascinating piece.

Remembering Patrice Lumumba

As the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) celebrates fifty years of independence, one can only wonder what could have been if Lumumba had no been assassinated.

Contesting Political History in Guinea-Conakry

The dictatorial tendencies of the political elites in Guinea seem to be diminishing but some, especially those who benefited during post-colonial dictatorships in the country, attempt to vanish the atrocious history of the postcolony.

The Sickness of African Football is the Sickness of African Societies

The FIFA World Cup is now over for all the African teams. Six teams represented Africa: Ghana, Cameroon, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Algeria and South Africa. Many had hoped that Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, and perhaps, Nigeria, would do well in the tournament. I am not sure that many who know about football thought that Algeria or South Africa would do well. As is now known, of all these countries, only Ghana put up a good showing. Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria, teams that had good prospects, fell apart in ways that would make Italy and France proud. 

Although South Africa has silenced the naysayers who thought that the country could not host a successful football world cup tournament, the manner in which African countries crashed out of the competition is a cause for concern. Teams like Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cameroon, and Nigeria, have the caliber of players it takes to win the world cup. However, some Africans are now happily celebrating the fact that Ghana even reached the quarter finals. Few actually stress that an African country should have won the world cup. When are Africans going to stop being contented with mediocre performance?

The president of Nigeria took the matter seriously enough to demand radical changes in how Nigerian football is run. Even though his decision to ban the national team might have been an over-reaction, what is important about that decision is the fact that he took the matter seriously enough to do something about it. He saw that the performance of the Nigerian team was a reflection of how the country itself is run. The disorderliness of the players was a reflection of the disorderliness of Nigerian society. The image he wants to change is not only that of the football team but that of Nigeria itself. I am not naive about the extent to which Goodluck Jonathan can do this but the fact that he is trying to do something is, at least, a mark of seriousness. His response to the matter is in sharp contrast to that of Ivory Coast or Cameroon where those in charge simply want to stay anonymous even as their countries decay. They have so far failed to see that the disintegration of their national teams is a reflection of the disintegration of their societies. That is what the French saw - that is why French authorities are taking the poor showing of the French team at the world cup so seriously. Even though it does not follow that a poor showing at the world cup indicates societal disintegration, in the case of the African countries that participated in the world cup and in the case of France, their poor showings are marks of societal disintegration.

Early Marriages and Poverty

In many African countries it is not unheard of for girls between the ages of 12 and 15 years to be given into marriages by their parents. A recent high profile case in Nigeria is only one example. Even though such marriages are usually attributed to custom, poverty has a crucial part to play in it. Given the importance that the education of girls holds, such early marriages should be discouraged not only by law but also by improving economies so that parents may have the ability to help their children stay in school. Watch this NYT video.

What African Leaders Can Learn from Brazil

The relation between Brazil and some African countries has been on the news in the last week because Brazil's president, Lula, is visiting the continent for the last time as president. Even though he has very high popularity back home, he is barred from running for re-election by Brazil's constitution. It seems that Brazil is a country where the constitution in respected. Many African leaders, however, would rather die in power even if they are very unpopular. Obasanjo of Nigeria, Tandja of Togo, and Paul Biya of Cameroon, are recent examples. Perhaps African leaders can learn that constitutions stand for something. If the constitution says there is term limit, that term limit should be respected. Perhaps one of the reasons Brazil is doing better economically than many African countries is that, unlike these African countries, there is rule of law in Brazil.

The Irony of International Recognition

One of the most profound ironies of the international recognition of African states is that dysfunctional states such as Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are given international recognition while a well organized state such as the breakaway Somaliland are denied such recognition.

What Are Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and What Do They Do?

Non-Governmental Organizations are proliferating in developing countries, especially in Africa. They are increasingly seen as important to economic development. But is that, in fact, the case? This fine paper addresses the matter.

Everything Went Wrong in Somalia

Fifty years after independence, Somalia has disintegrated like an eroded soil, torn apart by massive corruption, religious extremism, unhappy international interference, and general lack of will to forge a better future. Somalia is the sickness of Africa taken to its logical conclusion. It is celebrating its 50th anniversary in disaster. Read other views here and here.

I First Saw This Movie in the US

A report on how the financial market in Nigeria works is reminiscent of exactly how it works in the US. Bailouts, refusing regulation, insider trading, shortchanging investors, etc. Some things are universal.