STOP THE OBIANG NGUEMA PRIZE!

Readers of this blog would remember that we have addressed the issue of the rapacity of Equatorial Guinea's dictator, Obiang Nguema, for a while now. The last time we heard about him, we thought that the prize which he wanted UNESCO to name after him had been rejected. However, thanks to his African friends whom he has elaborately bribed, it seems the issue is now on the table again! Considering the brutality of his regime, it would be shameful for any organization to name any prize after him.

Change Cannot Come Through The Ballot Box, Says Cameroonian Intellectual

A highly respected Cameroonian intellectual and one of the leading thinkers in African studies, Achille Mbembe, has argued that democratic change cannot come to Cameroon through the ballot box. Bewailing the extent to which the Biya regime has gone to manipulate the reform process in Cameroon, Mbembe points out that change can only come "through an armed rebellion spearheaded or not by a political organization or by foreign forces (as was the case in Cote d’Ivoire); through the natural death or assassination of the autocrat; or even through a coup de force by dissident elements within the army. Beyond that, all paths to a peaceful change initiated by Cameroonians themselves are blocked." 


Read more here.

Armed Protest Against Paul Biya In Cameroon

Some people have apparently taken up arms to protest against the dictatorship of Cameroon's Paul Biya who has been in power for about 30 years. See Reuters video here. Watch another video here.

The Difference Between Eto'o and Drogba

One of the differences between Samuel Eto'o, the Cameroonian soccer star, and Didier Drogba, the Ivorian soccer star, is not simply that they are from different countries and have played for different teams in Europe. A profound difference between them has to do with how they view politics. The difference is not that one is involved in politics while the other is not; in fact, both of them are involved in politics. The profound difference between them is that they are involved in politics in hugely different ways. While Eto'o is simply happy to be rubbing shoulders with those at the higher political echelons even as his country rots in all kinds of mediocrity and confusion, Drogba puts himself right in the middle of politics to work for the welfare of his people. Drogba has been working tirelessly to bring peace to his country since the civil war began to this day. Now, he is involved in the truth and reconciliation commission. Eto'o is simply content to go to the presidency and take pictures with the Biya royal family because, as a celebrity, he is also a royalty. From their actions, we can see that while Drogba is on the side of the people, Eto'o is on the side of the government in power. However, both Eto'o and Drogba have powerful voices that can be used for change in society. Eto'o simply prefers to use his voice to support the government in power while Drogba uses his to work for peace and justice in his country.  

Obituary: Death Of Wangari Maathai, Nobel Laureate

You can read more about Prof. Maathai here and here.

Zambia's Presidential Election: An Example For Paul Biya

In a free and fair presidential elections in Zambia, the opposition candidate won. This means that where there is free and fair presidential elections, it is possible for the opposition candidate to win. In Biya's Cameroon, however, it is unimaginable for an opposition candidate to win because Biya's election is neither free nor fair. I wonder whether the Zambian election would be reported by Biya's CRTV.

A Musical Minister of Culture

Peru's Minister of Culture is a renown musician. Read more about her here and watch:

African Art at the MET, New York City

See more here.

For Al Shabab, An AK-47 Goes To The Winner!

In Somalia, Al Shabab is giving guns as prizes to kids who perform well in Shabab trivia. Perhaps this is the sickest movement to inhabit Africa to date. That this movement is still finding a home in our continent reinforces the dysfunctionality of parts of the continent. Movements like these should find no peace in an African country.

Africa's Technological Gurus

All Cameroon Opposition Parties Support Paul Biya

There is an illusion going on in Cameroon that the country has opposition parties. In view of the upcoming presidential election to be held sometime in October this year, those responsible for what passes for election in Cameroon have published a list of 21 candidates who are standing for the election. While it is clear that some of these parties have been created by the ruling CPDM party in order to give the impression that Cameroon is a multiparty democracy, what is still not clear is that even those that are not created by the CPDM, such as the SDF, are also in strong support of Paul Biya, the incumbent president who has been in power for about thirty years. All the political parties in Cameroon that are participating in this election are supporting Paul Biya, whether they know it or not.

It should be clear to anyone familiar with politics in Cameroon that no single opposition party can remove Biya from power, let alone a confused group of twenty or so. Only a united opposition that comes under a single banner can do so. If the narrow interests of these parties are not put aside for the good of the country, all what they will be doing in this election is to lend legitimacy to the sham which the Biya regime is orchestrating in Cameroon in the name of election. No matter how bright the ideas of a political party might be, that idea will not see the light of day in Cameroon until Biya is out of power. That is why the singular goal of all the political parties in Cameroon should be the removal of Biya. Anything short of coming together to achieve this goal is a waste of Cameroonians' time. These political parties should simply openly declare their support for Biya rather than giving the impression they are opposition parties when their real intention is to give the Biya regime legitimacy.

And The 2011 Miss Universe Is From . . . Angola!

Leila Lopes, Miss Angola, was crowned Miss Universe in Brazil last night. Congratulations to her and congratulations to the judges for recognizing beauty and intellect when they see one.

The Fine Art Of Buying Votes In Cameroon

Politicians probably do buy votes all over the world in order to win elections. However, the situation seems to be so blatant in Cameroon that people are paid cash to march in support of the ruling CPDM. This recent report brings the matter to the fore. While elsewhere people press governments for jobs if the government is going to stay in power, in Cameroon the CPDM simply buys the votes. Impoverished young people are especially susceptible to this scheme because they know that even if they vote for the opposition, the ruling party will still rig the election. Now that Paul Biya has elected to perpetuate his 30-year rule by fixing the election in his favor again, young people appear to be resigned to their fate. Their parents have simple told them to take the dirty money from the Biya regime and vote for Biya in October. And so even though everyone knows that most Cameroonians would be glad to see Biya leave power, Biya will force himself on the people once again come October.

A Question Of African Identity

Is it possible to move to Europe and still keep your African identity? This is a question Aljazeera asks of Africans who move to Europe. This question assumes a certain fixity to African identity that is under danger if one moves from the continent. That is, however, not the case. Staying in Africa does not guarantee that one would keep their African identity, whatever that is. If one wants to maintain a so-called African identity and feels that leaving the continent is a threat to doing so, they should stay in Africa. Period. If one wants to go to Europe and at the same time fears sullying their identity, they probably have no business going to Europe.

Is Preaching Big Business In Africa?

African Pentecostal preachers are among some of the richest people on the continent. The irony, however, is that most Africans are so poor that they cannot even dream about the kind of money these pastors make. Has the church become like any other business that  exploits the poor? If exploitation has become a tolerated part of the church in Africa, then we are in big trouble.

To Be Circumcised Or Not To Be Circumcised?

That's the question in Zimbabwe's parliament.