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Thursday, April 29, 2010

The Shame that Is Robert Mugabe

Robert MugabeRobert Mugabe

Having fought to liberate Zimbabwe from British colonialism, Mugabe, like most African leaders, has declared himself the right colonial master for the Zimbabweans. He has outmaneuvered opponents and run the country aground. Now Zimbabwe is in such a sorry shape that has led many Zimbabweans to flee the country. Having run out of opportunities to hold on to power, he is now belatedly rejuvenating the problematic notion of indigenization to whip up a new racism. Mugabe has decided to annihilate his people to spite the West. Having lost the support of the West, he is now seeking the support of China and Iran, rather than that of his own people. Basically, Mugabe has outlived his usefulness and must be removed. For all practical purposes, he should no longer be part of any discussion about the future of Zimbabwe. This audio from The Economist discusses the situation in Zimbabwe.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

"Dying to Give Life": How African Men Kill Their Women

One of the most shameful aspects of contemporary African life is the rate at which women die in the process of giving birth. Because of the dismal lack of healthcare facilities in many African countries, women's life often hang on the balance each time they are about to give birth. This case of Sierra Leone, whose diamond has been looted by successive leaders, is so pitiful that the country is now being helped by the UN and UK. When will African men, especially those in power, love their women enough to fight so that they may not die like flies in childbirth? These rapacious men are culpable for every woman who has died in childbirth. It is a shame!

For more, see this NYT piece.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

An African Church Talks Science and Technology

At a time when most churches in Africa are emphasizing the miraculous, a lone Ghanaian voice is emphasizing science and technology. It is the voice of Apostle Kwadwo Safo, founder of Kristo Asafo (Christ Reformed Church). I hope many more churches would follow his lead. For more about the work of this church, see this article, this recent BBC report, and this article.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Ahmadinejad Goes to Africa

Iran's Ahmadinejad goes to Africa to visit hist partners in crime as Africans are left to conjecture what new forms of repression may follow his visit.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Africa as Dumping Ground for Toxic Waste

In recent years African countries have increasingly become the dumping ground for toxic waste generated especially in Western countries. This series of articles express the most recent case of such activity in Nigeria. A couple of years ago the BBC had a running battle with another European company that was accused of dumping toxic waste in the Ivory Coast.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Bono's Who's Who and What's What in a New Africa

Many have recently been dreaming of the emergence of a new and more viable Africa. Bono is one of them.  See his very interesting  New York Times op-ed of central themes and personalities, both famous and obscure, of the emerging Africa.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Africa is the Most Religious Continent in the World

Here is a very interesting recent Pew Research study of religion and morality in Africa. One of its interesting findings is that Africa is the most religious continent in the world. What do you make of this interesting study? See this BBC summarythis report and this Pew report. Also see this report from the Economist.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Breaking Africa's Banks: A Modest Proposal

In 2009 the US government forced the Swiss banking giant, UBS, to hand over a list containing names of Americans who took their money to Switzerland in order to evade taxes in the US. A similar exercise should be carried out by African pressure groups and it should be directed at tracing the bank accounts of former and current ruling elites of various African countries. A recent report by the group,Global Financial Integrity, states that between $854 billion and $1.8 trillion was siphoned out of Africa between 1970 and 2008 and stashed in foreign banks. One of the services that may be provided by those interested in helping Africa should be the checking of bank accounts in Europe and America to recover some of this ill-gotten wealth deposited there by thieving African ruling elites. There are always to sides to the official bank robberies carried out by African ruling elites: the elites who break the banks and the Western banks that serve as their get-away cars. Also see this report.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Who's a Hero?

This interesting piece  from New York Times's Nicholas Kristof sees African heroes in unlikely places. Identifying such heroes makes the villains stand out in sharp relief.

Friday, April 9, 2010

Africa, China, and the West

China's recent incursion into many African countries is now widely acknowledged. What is still being hotly debated is whether China will play a constructive role or not in the continent. Is China, like the West, going to follow the way of imperialism or not? The debate indicates how Africa is still the object which is acted upon rather than an agent who controls the encounter. It seems that the debate must now emphasize the role that African governments must play in order to control the encounter. For important elements of this debate, see this Sunday Times Oxford Literary Festival 2009 series of videos and this long Nordic Africa Institute conference video on a similar subject.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Investing in Africa: Inspiring Stories

Some observers are now pointing out that while many in the West see Africa as a charity case, needing aid for survival, China has been investing in the continent. According to this 2009 Harvard Business Review article and this Forbes video investors should take a good look at the continent for its investment opportunities. For more inspiring stories on investing in Africa take a moment and watch this video and this one.

Monday, April 5, 2010

Symbol of Senegal's Renaissance

Senegal recently unveiled a symbol of its (and Africa's) renaissance called Monument of African Renaissance - a statue higher than the Statue of Liberty. See the picture here. Even though some currently do not appreciate the structure, I hope it would prove to have been prescient in the future. You may read part of the story here. The country also began to assert its independence from France by re-taking control of military bases still under French control. A wise and adequate move?

Thursday, April 1, 2010