Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

African Superwomen

Posted: November 8, 2012 in Aid & Development, Education, News, Politics
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SuperwomanWomen have long been the backbone of societies in Africa. It’s common to see images of women carrying babies on their backs while doing other chores: fetching water and firewood, digging in the garden, washing clothes, cooking food, winnowing grains and pounding with a pestle. This is all done to ensure that their families are fed and nurtured. These activities are done in humble obscurity. African women are now emerging from this  reality to find their place in traditionally patriarchal societies.

Women are now gaining their place in leadership roles in the new millennium. Women are now presidents of nations, government leaders, business executives, peacemakers, and agents of change.

These are some of the women who are radically changing the perception of woman’s roles in Africa. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. It’s intended to be a starting point for people who wish learn more about the changing roles of women in Africa. If you know a African woman who you believe should be recognized, please provide information about her in the comments below.

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Marieme Jamme (@mjamme) is a London-based social entrepreneur, blogger, and technologist with a passionate commitment to helping empower Africans through education, leadership, and economic development. She is a co-founder of Africa Gathering.

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Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg (@wanjirukr) is an activist, social entrepreneur, and Assistant Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco. She is the founder and director of Akili Dada.

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Dambisa Moyo (@dambisamoyo) is a Zambian economist and author of the bestselling book “Dead Aid“.  She was named as one of 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2009.

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Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) is an award-winning columnist and an international public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues. She is a lecturer and researcher on the growing importance of social media in the Arab world.

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Magatte Wade (@magattew) is a self-proclaimed cultural adventurer and entrepreneur from Senegal. Her newest adventure explores the world of love, happiness, peace, and human sensuality. Discover Tiossan.

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Evelyn Namara (@enamara) has a strong background in information technology and systems management.  She is the country director for Solar Sister in Uganda. The organization seeks to alleviate energy poverty by empowering women with economic opportunity by utilizing the potential of solar technology.

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Rosebell Kagumire (@rosebellk) is a multimedia journalist working on peace and conflict issues in eastern Africa. She is passionate about promoting the work of bloggers and journalists to enhance human rights coverage.

Dambisa Moyo

Posted: July 16, 2012 in Aid & Development, Charity, Education, Politics
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Dambisa Moyo

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Author and economist Dambisa Moyo is an outspoken critic of foreign aid to Africa. In her best-selling book “Dead Aid“, she explains the state of post-colonial development policies in Africa and challenges the belief that billions of dollars in aid sent from wealthy countries to developing African nations  helps reduce poverty and stimulate growth. To the contrary, she boldly confronts politicians and celebrities who have called for increasing aid to Africa by demonstrating that these policies have caused many African leaders to abandon national responsibilities to their citizens, increased the temptation for corruption, hindered the development of a middle-class in Africa, and altered the purpose of democratic elections on the continent. The failure of aid to “trickle down” to the grassroots level has resulted in the dramatic increase of well-intentioned charities and philanthropic organizations who act as surrogate providers of vital services, including healthcare and education.

Moyo makes it clear that she is not criticizing emergency relief aid that is necessary after natural disasters or unexpected circumstances. She also excludes the type of compassionate aid that connects people of one country to another.

While aid programs worked in post-World War II Europe and Japan with the Marshall Plan and has been successful in Asian countries like South Korea, the same strategies have not worked in Africa. While aid continues to increase from wealthy countries to Africa, poverty rates have escalated and growth rates have declined. There is evidence that the continent is currently experiencing worse circumstances with massive foreign aid efforts than it experienced during the independence movement of the mid-20th century.

In this video, Moyo discusses her thoughts about foreign aid to Africa with Canadian pollster and media pundit Allan Gregg on “Allen Gregg In Conversation“. She moves beyond criticisms and provides ideas for self-reliance and sustainability regarding the future of Africa.

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Dambisa Moyo makes a compelling case for a new approach in Africa. Her message is that “Africa’s time is now”. It is time for Africans to assume full control over their economic and political destiny. Africans should grasp the many means and opportunities available to them for improving the quality of life.
Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General

Since writing “Dead Aid“, Moyo has authored “How The West Was Lost” and “Winner Take All“. Both books address the challenges of a global economy in an ever-changing world.

Champions of Change

Posted: February 3, 2012 in Aid & Development, Education, Politics
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Champions of Change

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On January 30, 2012 the White House honored 14 leaders in American Diaspora communities with roots in the Horn of Africa as “Champions of Change“. These leaders are helping to build stronger neighborhoods in communities across the country, and are working to mobilize networks across borders to address global challenges.

These individuals represent a diversity of ethnicity, gender, age, faith, education, and personal experience. Each one brings a unique perspective to community building at the grassroots level in America and abroad. The passion that they each have is a testament to the dedication in their advocacy and mobilization efforts.

Each of the 14 leaders was given the opportunity to discuss the importance of what they doing at the local, national, and global levels.  The entire “Champions of Change” ceremony can been viewed below.

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Champions of Change

You can learn more about each “Champion of Change” and read in detail about their work by clicking the link below.

The White House “Champions of Change” blog

Africans to Follow on Social Media

Posted: January 6, 2012 in Aid & Development, Charity, Education, News, Politics
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Social Media LogosSocial media has revolutionized how people communicate with each other. It has become the standard for personal and professional networking. It provides an effective and inexpensive method of connecting people with other people, products, causes, ideas, and information.

Applications like Facebook and Twitter are made more useful because of the proliferation of devices such as smartphones and digital tablets. Individuals are constantly utilizing these devices, which makes it possible to stay in constant contact with them.

I’ve been following innovative African thinkers for several years in the quest for understanding and wisdom. That is the reason for compiling this list of “Africans to Follow on Social Media”. These are individuals who have proactively decided to have a strong presence in cyberspace.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list. It’s intended to be a starting point for others who wish to engage in a dialogue regarding issues that impact Africa and Africans.

This is an old African proverb that expresses the challenge of speaking the truth depending on your perspective:

Until the lion learns to speak, the tale of the hunt will always glorify the hunter.

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Social media is giving a voice to the lion. Many Africans are using social media to continue the African tradition of storytelling. The audience has become the global village.

The List

Marieme Jamme (@mjamme) is a London-based social entrepreneur, blogger, and technologist with a passionate commitment to helping empower Africans through education, leadership, and economic development. She is a co-founder of Africa Gathering.

TMS Ruge (@tmsruge) is a photographer and social entrepreneur who is the co-founder of Project Diaspora. The innovative Villages in Action conference is a great example of grassroots community engagement to find solutions to global challenges.

Maurice Kirya (@mauricekirya) was named the winner of the Radio France International (RFI) Discovery Prize for Best New African Artist in 2010. He has won numerous awards for his unique style and talent.  His music and videos are available on his website and Reverbnation.

Binyavanga Wainaina (@binyavangaw) is an author, journalist, and winner of the prestigious Caine Prize for African Writing. His memoir, “One Day I Will Write About This Place” was published in 2011 and his satirical essay “How Not To Write About Africa” caught the attention of millions of people around the world.

Kathleen Bomani (@katebomz) is a passionate social commentator and activist on African issues.  She is an event coordinator with TEDxDar.

George Ayittey (@ayittey) is a Ghanaian economist, educator, author, and founder of the Free Africa Foundation. His book, “Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa’s Future“, sends a call for a Cheetah Generation of young Africans to become innovative, fast-moving entrepreneurs to take charge of their countries.

Wanjiru Kamau-Rutenberg (@wanjirukr) is an activist, social entrepreneur, and Assistant Professor of Politics at the University of San Francisco. She is the founder and director of Akili Dada.

Ida Horner (@idahorner) is an entrepreneur and inspirational speaker who has developed an expertise on sustainable development and issues affecting poverty stricken women in Africa.  She is the founder of Ethnic Supplies.

Emeka Okafor (@emeka_okafor) is an entrepreneur and venture catalyst who lives in New York City. He is the curator of Maker Faire Africa and the creator of Timbuktu Chronicles.

Dambisa Moyo (@dambisamoyo) is a Zambian economist and author of the bestselling book “Dead Aid“.  She was named as one of 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine in 2009.

Andrew Mwenda (@andrewmwenda) is the managing editor of The Independent magazine in Uganda and a prolific critic of foreign aid to Africa.

Milton Allimadi (@allimadi) is the publisher of Black Star News in New York City and the author of “The Hearts of Darkness: How White Writers Created the Racist Image of Africa“.

Solomon Jagwe (@soreel) is an animator and independent filmmaker. He is passionate about preserving wildlife in Africa and is working on the animated film “Galiwango“. The film is about a mountain gorilla’s tale of survival and perseverence.

Kambale Musavuli (@kambale) is a Congolese human rights activist raising awareness and mobilizing people around the world to bring an end to the injustice and violence in Congo. He is the spokesperson for Friends of the Congo and a coordinator for Breaking the Silence.

Mona Eltahawy (@monaeltahawy) is an award-winning columnist and an international public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues. She is a lecturer and researcher on the growing importance of social media in the Arab world.

Magatte Wade (@magattew) is a self-proclaimed cultural adventurer and entrepreneur from Senegal. Her newest adventure explores the world of love, happiness, peace, and human sensuality. Discover Tiossano.

Evelyn Namara (@enamara) has a strong background in information technology and systems management.  She is the country director for Solar Sister in Uganda. The organization seeks to alleviate energy poverty by empowering women with economic opportunity by utilizing the potential of solar technology.

Vava Tampa (@vavatampa) is an activist raising awareness for the struggles of the Congolese people. He is the director of Save the Congo based in London.

Ato Ulzen-Appiah (@abocco) is an entrepreneur with a focus on technology. He is a passionate advocate of African arts and entertainment. He is the founder of Museke, which gives global exposure to African musicians.

Nii Thompson is (@myweku) is the founder and editor of MyWeku. The website covers a diverse range of topics including music, film, fashion, culture, and politics related to Africa.

Rosebell Kagumire (@rosebellk) is a multimedia journalist working on peace and conflict issues in eastern Africa. She is passionate about promoting the work of bloggers and journalists to enhance human rights coverage.

Ezioma Anosike (@EziAnosike) is the publisher of Amoize Magazine. The publication is a lifestyle and cultural magazine focused on the rich and beautiful diversity of African heritage.

Jackson Kaguri (@Twejaka) is an author and founder of the Nyaka Project based in western Uganda. His memoir “A School For My Village” is an inspiring story of how one person can really make a difference in the world.

Calestous Juma (@Calestous) is a professor at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He specializes in science, technology, and globalization issues that impact Africa.

Shirlene Brown (@jamati) is the  Editor-In-Chief of Jamati.  The publication is a premier online destination for African entertainment. The portal covers African music, film, fashion, books, sports, and lifestyle.

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Binyavanga Wainaina

Posted: October 27, 2011 in Art, Education, Politics
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Binyavanga Wainaina

Binyavanga Wainaina

Binyavanga Wainaina is an author, journalist and winner of the prestigious Caine Prize for African Writing. His groundbreaking book, “One Day I Will Write About This Place” was published in 2011. In his vivid and compelling debut memoir, he takes the reader through his school days, his mother’s religious period, his failed attempt to study in South Africa as a computer programmer, a moving family reunion in Uganda, and his travels around Kenya. The African landscape in front of him always claims his main attention, but he also evokes the shifting political scene that unsettles his views on family, tribe, and nationhood. By avoiding African stereotypes and clichés, he paints every scene in “One Day I Will Write About This Place” with a highly distinctive and hugely memorable brush.

In January 2007, he was nominated by the World Economic Forum as a “Young Global Leader”. It’s an award given to people for “their potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.” He subsequently declined the award. In a letter to the global institution, he wrote:

I assume that most, like me, are tempted to go anyway because we will get to be ‘validated’ and glow with the kind of self-congratulation that can only be bestowed by very globally visible and significant people, and we are also tempted to go and talk to spectacularly bright and accomplished people – our ‘peers’. We will achieve global institutional credibility for our work, as we have been anointed by an institution that many countries and presidents bow down to. The problem here is that I am a writer. And although, like many, I go to sleep at night fantasizing about fame, fortune and credibility, the thing that is most valuable in my trade is to try, all the time, to keep myself loose, independent and creative. It would be an act of great fraudulence for me to accept the trite idea that I am ‘going to significantly impact world affairs’.

His satirical essay “How Not To Write About Africa” caught the attention of millions of people around the world.  This brilliant piece has awakened different opinions and instigated some controversies. Benin-born Academy Award nominated actor, Djimon Hounsou, narrates the essay in this video:

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UPDATE: This is a wonderful book review of  ”One Day I Will Write About This Place” by Ikhide R Ikheloa.

Our World According to Binyavanga Wainaina

UPDATE: The BBC‘s Audrey Brown interviews Binyavanga Wainaina.

Kenyan Author Binyavanga Wainaina Shares His Secrets

Wangari Maathai

Posted: September 27, 2011 in Education, Politics
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Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai

Wangari Maathai (1940-2011) was a visionary who was dedicated to addressing the roots of social and environmental issues.  She has served as an inspiration for many in the fight for democratic rights and especially encouraged women to better their situation in Africa.  She studied abroad in the United States during the civil rights struggle of the 1960s and was the first woman to earn a doctorate degree in East and Central Africa. She reconnected with the rural women of her childhood, helping her fellow Kenyans deal with the issues stemming from a degraded environment: lack of firewood and clean drinking water, soil erosion, government corruption and human rights abuses.

Her passion for the environment led to the creation of the Green Belt Movement.  In 2004, she was recognized for her efforts by being honored with the Nobel Peace Prize for her contributions to sustainable development, democracy and peace.

I found myself a woman fighting for justice, a woman fighting for equity. I started planting trees and found myself in the forefront of fighting for the restoration of democracy in my country.

Instead of viewing poverty, debt, human rights, social justice, environmentalism and women’s rights as isolated issues, Wangari Maathai  addressed their connectivity and the relationships between them. Examining symptoms and root causes is how she succeeded in taking a seemingly simple idea, like tree planting, and used it to fight larger, underlying problems.

“Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai” is a wonderful documentary about the life of this champion of Africa and Africans. It includes resources that can be incorporated into the classroom to teach students about the work of Wangari Maathai.

The Cheetah Generation

Posted: June 14, 2011 in Aid & Development, Politics
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The Cheetah Generation

The Cheetah Generation

George Ayittey is a Ghanaian economist, author, and founder of the Free Africa Foundation in Washington D.C. He argues that African poverty is directly related to African freedom, and that Africa suffers from the oppression of native autocrats. He also goes beyond criticism to advocate for specific ways to address the abuses of the past and present; specifically he calls for democratic government, debt reexamination, modernized infrastructure, free market economics, and free trade to promote development. In his visionary book, “Africa Unchained: The Blueprint for Africa’s Future“, Ayittey sends a call for a “Cheetah Generation” of young Africans to become innovative, fast-moving entrepreneurs and take charge of their countries. He has been a professor at American University and an associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.

We call our governments vampire states, which suck the economic vitality out of the people.

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Ayittey is also a prolific speaker. He frequently gives presentations that focus on the leadership challenges in Africa and the need to stop complaining about the impact of colonialism on the continent.  You can watch his fantastic presentation at the TED Global Conference in Arusha, Tanzania by clicking the link below.

George Ayittey on Cheetahs vs. Hippos

UPDATE: Marieme Jamme wrote this great article in The Guardian about how the “Cheetah Generation” is utilizing social media to push for positive change in Africa.  Click the link below to read the article.

Africa’s New Generation is Using Social Media to Push for Change

Villages in Action

Posted: May 28, 2011 in Aid & Development, Education, Politics
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During one of my visits to Uganda,  I attended a fantastic conference in a village near the town of Masindi. The Villages in Action conference was the inspiration of Teddy Ruge. His home village of Kikuube was strategically chosen to host the event. Teddy is a social entrepreneur who lives a nomadic life travelling between the United States and Uganda and other places.

Teddy and Project Diaspora were motivated by a meeting that took place in September 2010 to discuss the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in New York City. World leaders, diplomats, academics, and development industry people came together to discuss the state of the poor in Africa. The poor according to them are similar to the people of Kikuube village. They spoke about poor people in their absence, like they didn’t have a voice and referred to them as numbers.

Teddy decided that if global leaders in New York City didn’t want to invite the poor to their conference that the best thing to do was to bring the conference to the village so that the poor can tell the world who they are, how they live, and the solutions that they come up with to their daily challenges.

It was absolutely brilliant.

Teddy and many others mobilized people and technology to give a voice to the silent majority. Hundreds of local people gathered to listen and be heard. Village business owners and farmers had the chance to finally represent themselves to the world and use their own words. Panelists discussed topics regarding technology, education, farming, small business, entrepreneurship, and health. The keynote speech was given by Milly Businge. She is the local government representative for Kikuube village. She was surprised that as a government representative she had never heard of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) even though they had been launched in 2000 and created for the benefit of villages like Kikuube.

Here is an excerpt from her keynote speech:

I welcome the world to Kikuube today. Today is a historic day because for the first time in history, Kikuube gets the microphone to share with the world about how it is developing. We would like the entire world to know simply that we exist, and that we are empowered, we live, and we are real and not just a story. We would like you to know how we stand, how we survive, how we study, how we grow, our successes and our failures.

I will never forget the people that I met and the voices that I heard at the Villages in Action conference. There were many people that made the event possible. They deserve the highest praise for their efforts to make the event a success. I also want to recognize the main sponsors of the event. Orange™ Uganda provided the technology that made it possible for the world to hear the voices of Kikuube village and to watch the conference via video link and internet access. Business Fights Poverty is a global network of people who believe that the best way to improve lives is by helping entrepreneurs succeed and sharing practical ideas a bout how to fight poverty through good business.

This is an interview that I did for Villages in Action.

Celebrity Activism in Africa

Posted: January 12, 2011 in Aid & Development, Charity, Entertainment, Politics
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Africa has become a playground for some celebrities in the last several years.  This is not a new phenomenon.  They are following in the footsteps of Goofy who courageously traveled to Africa in 1945.

After an uneventful voyage, we sighted Africa.  The dark continent.  Land of adventure.  Africa the unknown.  Black, foreboding, mysterious Africa.

Understanding Africa for Dummies

Posted: January 12, 2011 in Aid & Development, Politics
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Understanding Africa for DummiesThere is an amazing amount of diversity on the continent of Africa. Unfortunately the focus of non-African media seems to be on death, destruction, danger, and disease in Africa. Americans would be offended if the world defined the United States through sensational murders, natural disasters, misguided political leaders, and epidemics. That’s exactly what we do to other parts of the world. “Understanding Africa for Dummies” is my satiric attempt to get people to think about how we perceive the rest of the world, especially Africa. I would like to see the book become a reality by bringing together several writers to accurately represent the African narrative. Each chapter would focus on a unique subject matter: climate, environment, education, technology, government, history, health, trade, politics, art, music, food, and so on. Each chapter would be written by a respected African personality who is qualified to write about the subject matter. Ignorance and misunderstanding can be alleviated through education.

UPDATE: Africa is a Country featured the idea and motivation behind “Understanding Africa for Dummies”.  Click the link below to read the article.

Africa for Dummies

UPDATE: This German website translated an article about about “Understanding Africa for Dummies” into English.  Click the link below to read the article.

Africa for Dummies

Jan Egeland | Global Peacemaker

Posted: May 26, 2008 in Aid & Development, Charity, News, Politics
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Referred to by Time Magazine as “the world’s conscience”, Jan Egeland served as the United Nation’s under-secretary general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief chief from 2003 to 2006.  He has first-hand experience with the impact of natural disasters, civil wars in Africa, crises in the Middle East, and ”forgotten conflicts” across the globe.  Egeland has personally confronted warlords and guerilla leaders and has been a tireless voice for the disenfranchised of the world.
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Jan Egeland and Michael Kirkpatrick
Jan Egeland and me with Acholi children in Internally Displaced Persons camps in Uganda.

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Jan Egeland currently serves as director of the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs. He has written numerous articles on conflict resolution and humanitarian concerns. His new book, “A Billion Lives: An Eyewitness Report from the Frontlines of Humanity”, offers an up-front account of his efforts to negotiate an end to conflict in some of the most tumultuous situations.

One of the world’s longest and most tragic conflicts has been in northern Uganda. For over 20 years, the Acholi people have been victimized by a brutal war that has pitted rebel insurgents called the Lord’s Resistance Army against the Ugandan government. Thousands of innocent civilians have been killed and mutilated, children have been abducted, forced to kill, tortured, and sexually abused.

Jan Egeland documents his clandestine meeting with the leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, Joseph Kony, in his book. Chapter 9 is titled “Uganda’s Twenty Thousand Kidnapped Children.” The 18 pages also recount his meeting with the President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni.

Egeland’s travels to war ravaged northern Uganda enabled him to witness the horrible conditions of the Internally Displaced Persons camps that were created by the Ugandan government. What he saw caused him to proclaim, “I cannot find any other part of the world that is having an emergency on the scale of Uganda that is getting so little international attention” and to describe the situation as “the world’s most neglected humanitarian crisis”.

These quotes have been used by hundreds of organizations and people to raise awareness of the desperate problems in northern Uganda. In June 2007 and December 2007, I traveled to northern Uganda at the invitation of my Acholi friends. I saw for myself what Jan Egeland described in his book.

The international community has finally responded to the call for help. However I have come to question the effectiveness of government sponsored financial aid and the strategies of many aid organizations and charities.

My passion for Uganda has motivated me to learn as much as possible about the causes of such suffering and how the world can respond effectively. I have read many books about African socio-political and economic issues. I have researched organizations and individuals that are doing humanitarian work in Uganda by using the internet.

I have also attended several presentations and speeches given by “experts” on these complex situations. The “experts” include celebrities, professors, and authors. The anticipation of learning something profound is usually met with disappointment by the time the “expert” is finished the presentation.

On March 12, 2008 I attended a World Affairs Council of Dallas presentation by Jan Egeland. I was skeptical about what I was about to hear from another “expert” on Africa. Egeland restored my passion. I was extremely pleased with his objective understanding of the issues and his honesty.

He is realistic and practical when it comes to discussing the obstacles to peace and conflict resolution. Egeland offers constructive criticism regarding the policies of large institutions and relief organizations. I had the opportunity to speak with him about some of my own experiences in northern Uganda. When I asked him about the picture on the cover of his book, he confirmed that the photograph was taken with several Acholi children at a camp in northern Uganda. I will never forget the faces of the children that I met on those remarkable journeys.

Please read “A Billion Lives: An Eyewitness Report from the Frontlines of Humanity“. I am convinced that Jan Egeland will win the Nobel Prize for Peace in my lifetime.

To see the story originally published in Black Star News, click on the link below.
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Letter From Bill Clinton

Posted: January 25, 2008 in Aid & Development, Charity, Politics, Travel
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I commend you for making a difference in Africa.
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Bill Clinton Letter
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