The First Genocide of the Twentieth Century

Before the holocaust, there was the genocide of the Hereros and Namaqua of Namibia. Read it from the Jeune Afrique.

An Alphabet of African Feminism

A scathing response from Dr. Elain Salo:

A is for Ama Ata Aidoo, Amina Mama, Ayesha Imam, Akosua Ampofu
B is for Bessie Head, Bolanle Awe, Bisi Fayemi
C is for Charmaine Pereira, Calyxthe Beyela, Cynthia Mugo, Chimananda Ngozi Adichie
D is for Dzodzi Tsikata, Doria Shafik
E is for Eleanor Sisulu, Embet Mulugeta
F is for Fatima Mernissi, Filomena Steady, Flora Makwa, Fenella Mukungara
G is for Gertrude Fester (based in Rwanda)
H is for Huda Sharawi, Hamza, Amal
I is for Isabel Casimiro, Ibitola Tolu Pierce
J is for Josephine Akhire, Jessica Horn, Jessie Kabwila Kapasula
K is for Khaxas, Elizabeth
L is for Liz Frank
M is for Molara Ogundipe, Margaret Munalula, Mariama Ba, Marjorie Mbilinyi
N is for Nawal el Sadaawi, Nabuwiyya Musa, Nobantu Ratsebotsa
O is for Obioma Nnaemeka, Onalenna Selolwane, Oyeronke Oyewumi
P is for Pat McFadden
R is for Rudo Gaidzanwa, Ruth Meena, Ruth Ochieng
S is for Sheila Bunwaree, Shailja Patel, Sylvia Tamale, Sara Longwe, Sandra Manuel
T is for Tsitsi Dangarembga, Therese Cruz e Silva, Takiywaa Manuh
U is for Unity Dow
V is for Veronica de Klerk
W is for Wangaari Mathaai, Winnie Binyanyima
Y is for Yvonne Vera, Yasmina Faull
Z is for Zenebeworke Tadesse, Zo Rriandriamaro, Zubeida Tumbo Masabo.

Never Begin a Sentence with "I am Not Racist . . . but": Never!

Otherwise, you go on to say racist things like "there are too many blacks in" Italian youth football.  Mr. Sacchi could have saved himself much trouble if he had simply said "I am not racist" and then stopped talking.

Ebola Lies in America, Europe, and Africa

There is a piece in The New York Times debunking some of the most outrageous lies told by some prominent figures around the world in 2014. At least three of these lies were about Ebola and one came from an American medical doctor who now doubles as a Senator from Kentucky. Some say he is preparing to run for president of the United States.

"How to Topple A Dictator" Non-Violently

In other words, Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., were not just dreamers; they were right in insisting that only non-violence can break the backs of oppressive regimes. A very important piece from The New York Times that may be very useful in toppling the many dictatorships we have in Africa.

Equatorial Guinea Rescued the African Nations Cup Tournament

The run-up to the just ended African Nations Cup tournament was anything but inspiring. I am not aware of any African Nations Cup tournament in recent memory, the hosting of which was turned down by so many countries, some of which were participating in the event. In fact, in the past, nations have fiercely competed to host the event and this was still true of the just ended one. However, the talk of the continent just before the tournament began was the Ebola crisis in West Africa. This crisis led Morocco, initially slated to host the event, to turn it down. Ghana, then Angola, also turned down requests to host the tournament. Little Equatorial Guinea of just over 700,000 people stepped in to save the day. Some called for the event to be cancelled as a way of fighting Ebola. FlourishingAfrica was among these voices.

However, it seems that Equatorial Guinea has proven us wrong. The main problem that the event encountered related to protests that had nothing to do with Ebola. So far, it appears not a single case of Ebola was registered during the event. By all accounts, the event was a success and the naysayers appear to have been proven wrong. Equatorial Guinea ought to be congratulated for rescuing the tournament.

The Joy of Winning: Ivory Coast Celebrates!

Robert Mugabe's Wife's Appendix Could Note Be Removed in Zimbabwe?

The story is making the rounds that Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe's wife's appendix was removed in the Far East, an apparent reference to Singapore. Now, it is normally not much news when someone's appendix is removed but what interests us in this particular story is that it had to be done in Singapore. We are going to assume here that the removal of the appendix is the real issue. (This assumption is based on the well founded suspicion, backed by a long history of African ruling elite's non-disclosure of the nature of their illnesses. It is now rumored that Mugabe's wife is in a coma.) If that assumption is translated into fact, then it becomes really disturbing that one of the loudest advocates of African independence, Robert Mugabe, has been unable, in the past thirty years as President, to establish a medical system in his country that can take out the appendix of his wife. If it is true that this procedure, which is an outpatient procedure, could not be carried out in Zimbabwe, one may be led to wonder about the legs on which Mugabe thinks his pride stands. Replacing Western benefactors with Eastern ones does not make one any less dependent. Looking forward to the day the appendix of the wife of the leader of Singapore will be removed in Zimbabwe.

Ivory Coast Are African Champions!!!