Johan Bävman followed the lives of Tanzanian albinos, an exposed and vulnerable group in one of the world's poorest countries. Many African albinos are hunted and killed for their body parts, believed to bring luck, wealth, good health, etc. In addition to discrimination, and a recent wave of murders, the albino population face serious medical issues. Eye problems often lead to a lack of education among albino people and living under the equatorial sun exposes them to skin cancer.
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More hereThe new building project encompasses a master plan for approximately seven new structures over the course of two to three years. Each new school building will sturdy construction, fully equipped classroom, boys’ and girls’ latrines, and, thanks to William Kamkwamba’s design additions, carbon-free hybrid solar/wind power, battery storage systems, lights, ventilation fans and A/C electricity. The plan also provides for a much larger library than the one that inspired William to build his windmill.
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No one denies the fact that symbolism is a greater part of the human culture expressions. A symbol is a reality that points to another reality. The former being merely a pseudo depiction of the beingness of the later which is more a quintessential. In other words, a symbol is less the center of attraction than the object or reality which it represents. If you ask me what symbol should represent a nation, I would say the president...Consequently, it seems undeniable that the much talked about medical condition of the president is a clear pictogram or rather a symbol of the Nigeria‘s national illness. The country is simply sick. And it appears that our frantic efforts to revitalize her proves sterile as had been shown by Yar’Adua’s stubborn illness.More here
Being an intellectual begins with thinking your way outside of your assumptions and the system that enforces them. But students who get into elite schools are precisely the ones who have best learned to work within the system, so it’s almost impossible for them to see outside it, to see that it’s even there...[continue reading]An observation even more ominous for the future of Africa's productive capacity where the elite adopt a redistributive rather than productive approach to wealth. This is further accentuated by a preference for non-manufacturing MBA's
via TED's Best of Web
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- Monetising content
- The Obama Effect
- The Law OF ‘KATO’
- The State Versus The Market
More hereContemporary African Art Since 1980, a new book by Okwui Enwezor and Chika Okeke-Agulu,The book explores how political, social, and cultural changes over the past thirty years have shaped urban, indigenous, and globalized "diasporic" art forms. Contemporary African Art is a roadmap of change and of evolving identities.
"...is to develop the intellect of Africa’s youth and highlight the excellent educational opportunities that African Universities offer to its citizens."...“Zain will be awarding 50,000 USD to the winning University and 5,000 USD to the student contestants, which is part of the company’s 1,000,000 USD total investment in cash, educational grants and teaching materials,”The questions in the fast-paced quiz programme cover a wide range of topical areas including: history, science, African culture, geography, literature, music and current events.More here
Continue readingIt has been shown that poor trade infrastructure is a key reason for Africa's weak exports. This column goes a step further and provides evidence that the delays in inland transport are the most crucial factor restricting Sub-Saharan Africa's trade. Policy makers’ focus on foreign trade policy may therefore be misguided.
More here...most of what Ryszard Kapuscinski wrote about the warlord phenomenon still applies to the handful of ex-students and poorly educated former army sergeants who have been plundering the northern half of Ivory Coast for the past seven years. "Warlords," he writes in The Shadow of the Sun, "are the sowers of tribal and racial hatred in Africa. They will never admit to this. They will always proclaim they are leading a national movement or party...What does a warlord do? Theoretically, he fights with other warlords. Most frequently, however, he is busy robbing his own country’s unarmed population. The warlord is the opposite of Robin Hood. He takes from the poor to enrich himself and feed his gangs. We are in a world in which misery condemns some to death and transforms others into monsters. The former are the victims, the latter are the executioners. There is no one else.”
Normally, by the time an investment tip makes its way into a newspaper, conventional wisdom says the money is already off the table. Not so in the case of sub-Saharan Africa. American investors and companies are overlooking an investment opportunity in plain sight. And the smart money will climb aboard before the economic tide rises. The rest will miss a fast-moving boat.More here
Small, medium and micro-sized enterprises (SMMEs), a central policy focus area in South Africa, specifically with regard to economic growth and employment creation, have the potential to become engines of innovation. But lack of funding hampers the sector's innovation development. Irma Wilkinson believes that current SMME policies and programmes need to be broadened to stimulate innovation.More here
At the slightest provocation – in fact, often at no provocation at all – Nigerians invoke God’s name. In today’s column, I imagine a letter God has written to Nigerians titled “You’re on your own.” Here goes. Beloved Nigerians (yes, I call you beloved even though many of you are among the world’s most unrepentant sinners), I’m going to be blunt.More here
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African countries need to find alternative sources to money to finance their national budgets, rather than rely on overseas aid, according to an official from the UN millennium campaign..."African governments must find ways of financing development; we are calling for a paradigm shift in financing of development, not depending on donors,"More here
Amy Niang writes about the decline of leadership under the Senegalese president: The implications for state-building in Senegal and similar regimes are clear: democratic change may be a prerequisite but the absence of an institutionalised effort to stabilise the system beyond the regime remains an obstacle. The Wade administration may have few days of glory left. But the damage done by his ruling style to the state-building project is immense. The nominal state has become a carcass institution with a flag and an anthem. Its leading structure is a coalition of an amorphous body made of new political aristocrats whose main characteristics are wealth and relative economic prosperity.More here
...he has systematically undermined Cameroon's legal and political institutions to perpetuate his own rule. He has minimized the role of the legislative and judiciary branches of government and totally ignored input from opposition parties and civil society. He has also co-opted most of the traditional authority in the country, where 55 percent of the population lives in rural areas under the influence of powerful chiefs and lamida.
For resource rich Africa, the Copenhagen meeting if not well debated, might provide yet another excuse for wealthy nations to seek to micro manage mineral exploitation on the continent. It is therefore crucial that the continent's experts and leadership focus on judicious parameters for exploitation, and use of technology to ensure clean usage of the same. Climate change eschatology through the fear of "melting earth" or "end of the world" should not be used to render a resource rich continent poor at the stroke of the pen simply because world powers are at each others throats over resources.More here
The question is whether or not developing nations should be permitted to harness their natural resources to lift their people out of poverty. Many rich-nation delegates, particularly from Europe, say "no" as they fear such development will exacerbate climate change and ecological degradationMore here via African Liberty
We believe that by educating, engaging and empowering the people of Equatorial Guinea, we can create an Equatorial Guinea in which justice, equality, and harmony are fully realized...We envision a truly democratic and open society in which power and resources are shared; in which all people participate meaningfully in the decisions that affect their lives; in which every person has food, shelter, health care, education, and a safe and sustainable livelihood; in which all human rights are protected; in which the environment is cared for; and in which people come before profits.
