Year 3 of the AfroSpear!

YES! It’s been 3 years already… and counting! Much love and appreciation to all our contributors, commentators, visitors and supporters over these 3 years!

Beauty: The Versatility of Natural Hair

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beauty, Natural Hair

{images from Arise magazine}

The natural hair shots here are almost aerodynamic in their structure and dimenson. The saturated colour of her lipstick and her accessories clashes in majestic harmony with the crown of gorgeous Afro hair.

With the natural hair the possibilities for beauty are endless. I am biased though. I’ve been part of the natural sisterhood since 2004 and have not looked back since.

sat’day riddymz

AFRICOM: The expansion of US military interests on African soil

Thanks to Désiré Katihabwa for forwarding these videos.

Ann Coulter’s Canadian Adventure

American conservative, so-called “right-wing”, political commentator Ann Coulter is on a speaking tour of Canadian universities this week. Known for her controversial, sound bite type comments, she didn’t fail to live up to her billing when asked by a Muslim student about her previous statements that Muslims who feel unfairly profiled in regards to air travel, can take “flying carpets” instead. The student asked that since she doesn’t own a flying carpet, what mode of transportation would Coulter recommend… and she answered: “take a camel” (OUCH! now that’s some inappropriate… but funny sh*t!). Coulter’s event last night at Ottawa University, in our nation’s capital, was subsequently cancelled amid fears of violence from protesters (come on.. this is Canada), who pulled a fire alarm and caused the venue to be evacuated as it was about to begin (which is a perfect example of how violent Canadians get lol!). Read story here and watch her interview on Power Play. 

As I followed the story, a David Bowie song came to mind: “This is not America“.

Canadians pride themselves on being a “tolerant” society. However, there is an underlying current of dislike for Americans in general and a fervent hate for conservative Americans in particular. Our Conservative Party here is not a carbon copy of the Republican Party in the USA. They are more like the centrist conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats. 

As a society, in comparison to the USA, free speech is more controlled and curtailed here, especially via the media. It is more censored, officially (through legislation) and unoffically. The state media vehicle, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), is very influential in how information… “news”… is packaged to shape public opinion. We would never have a canadian version of a “FoxNews” here. Too opinionated and controversial. It would do what Canadians fear most, enflame passions! Plus we already have “Hockey Night in Canada” (on CBC)… and Don Cherry… for that! 

This is the reason why the administration of the University of Ottawa felt it was necessary to send Coulter a warning that the content of the speech could lead to criminal charges if it is seen as promoting hatred:  

“I hereby encourage you to educate yourself, if need be, as to what is acceptable in Canada and to do so before your planned visit here,” University of Ottawa academic vice-president François Houle wrote. “Promoting hatred against any identifiable group would not only be considered inappropriate, but could in fact lead to criminal charges.”

I find this interesting as I wondered if so-called “left-wing” pundits would be given the same warnings. I doubt it. Last month there were speakers at “Israeli Apartheid Week” events, hosted and sponsored by universities throughout Canada, who questioned not only the legitimacy of the Jewish state, but in not so many words, advocated it’s destruction. I didn’t hear of any warnings or reprecussions regarding the speakers. Canadian universities are bastions of the so-called “left-wing” intelligensia. The illusion that they are the centers of free exchange, discussion and debate of varying ideas or points of view is just that, an illusion, as Ann Coulter found out. Good or bad, they are indeed a reflection of Canadian society, where certain ideas are accepted while others are tolerated to exist… but muzzled.

“A little piece of you
The little peace in me
Will die (This is not a miracle)
For this is not America”

Byts and Bytes: Black to the future

It’s been a while since I dropped a post. I’ve primarily been busy being a husband, father and worker (in that order). The little free time I do have, I’ve been spending reading, as well as watching documentaries, movies, HardTalk (on BBC World), Tavis Smiley and Glenn Beck (more on him in an upcoming post). In a sense, I’ve been recharging my batteries and doing a lot of thinking… more like meditating… on life.  

With all that being said, last month I read a lot of articles and posts, as well as watched a couple of documentaries, in regards to Black History Month but didn’t have the urge to comment or do a post. It was all primarily the same ole stuff about what we’d accomplished in the past (and didn’t get credit for), and the discrimination and tribulations we’ve experienced in the past and still going through today. I didn’t read anything on how we are making history today, laying the groundwork for a look back, in the future, to our positive accomplishments. Now I’m not saying that there wasn’t anything like that being discussed out in the afrosphere, in relation to Black History Month, I just didn’t read any (maybe more of a reflection of the blogs and websites I frequent… I will need to meditate more on that).  

However in my various cyber travels, I did come across some sites and information that gave me hope and encouragement in our future. It reminds us…me … that everyday we are indeed laying the foundation for the future, as well as making positive history today, that is not confined to a single month.

1. I watched an inspiring show on the African Leadership Academy. I saw it on Tavis Smiley, watch the segment here.  

2. “Brainwashed: Challenging the Myth of Black Inferiority” by Black advertising pioneer Tom Burrell.

3. Fihankra International: A mission to return to build a future in the motherland.

4. We all no doubt heard and/or watched the Serena Willimas meltdown during the 2009 U.S Open. It was all over the media then and even today. However there was no media coverage, that I saw anyway, or to the extent of her meltdown, of her work in building two schools in Kenya: The Serena Williams Secondary School and The Serena Williams Wee Seconday School.

5. An excellent documentary about the political power of hip-hop in Africa: African Underground: Democracy in Senegal

“Yar’Adua needs to be freed from Turai and Co.” by Nkwazi Mhango

Reports that Nigeria ailing president was on 24 Feb., smuggled into Nigeria at small hours without acting President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan being aware are disgusting. To add salt to injuries it’s said Jonathan did not even authorize the army to line up Abuja streets at the time his boss was secretly arrived. What’s more, the media in Nigeria was caught off guard thanks to the news of Yar’Adua arrival being broken by Al-Jazeera Television. It is said that even presidential press did not notify anybody about this event!

If this is true, there is a very big problem that needs urgent arrest of the same. What’s more, this is the typical replica of what is going on in many African countries whereby a kit and caboodle of power brokers surrounding big men can abuse the constitution by hijacking the president without being dealt with. If Jonathan was not aware off all happenings-cum-goings-on or being informed then who is screwing Nigeria? There are many more questions that beg answers. What is the root of this unconstitutionality in the first place? Who ordered the army to line up Abuja streets other than the Commander in Chief who in this case is Jonathan?

The first suspect in this power abuse and usurpation is none other than the first lady Turai, who barred Jonathan even from having audience with his boss, not to mention Yar’Adua relatives as per the media. Yar’Adua mother Hajj Dada was recently quoted praying that her son be allowed to go back to Katsina so that they can pray for his recovery. The pretext Turai offers is that doctors told her not to allow anyone to see the president! What rubbish! Ensconced amidst power brokers from Katsina the home of Yar’Adua, Turai is doing whatever she can to get away with it, shall the president die anytime. This has created much jumble in Nigeria.

For the people do not know what is going especially with regards to the condition of their president. Rumours are rife that Yar’Adua is in bad shape and therefore, anything can happen anytime. Turai and Co. are embarking on these abracadabras all aiming at creating conducive environment for power to change hand. Some refer to Turai as Nigeria’s Imelda Marcos after the influential wife of former Filipino strongman Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled for more than two decades before being driven from power by protests in 1986.

I once wrote on how the first lady and whiz kids surrounding African big men are tearing down our continent. They’ve become presidents and what not behind the curtain. In Kenya, the first lady was able to attack the media and beat journalists up without being punished for the abuse of the power of her husband! In other African countries first ladies are seen in public acting as if they have constitutional backing to act like rulers. In Uganda president’s clan-cum-family use the country just like their privy firm and nothing is done to arrest this anomaly! They are everywhere doing everything that can make money. All lucrative tenders and the like are under the control of their netherworld. Like the strongman himself they’re above the law.

That’s why Museveni’s Brother Caleb Akandwanao aka Saleh Salim has nary been charged for sabotage and corruption. The situation is even gross in Algeria, Congo, DRC, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Libya, Gambia, Rwanda, Togo, Tunisia and Zimbabwe to mention but a few of countries where a family-crony axis of evil lords it over people.

Though it is scandalous and ridiculous, news that Yar’Adua wife glutted the acting president from seeing his boss without the fear of the institution of presidency is a blow to Nigeria. There is a saying in US when a winning presidential candidate is declared president. They say: “This is not a normal human being but the president of the United States.” This means that the president-elect ceases to be a family matter but a national one. In principle the president is supposed to be above petty things like family, tribe, religion, region and what not. As we ponder on Yar’Adua’s scenario-cum-fiasco, his wife has grossly erred to hijack the president of the people that voted him their leader. This crime borders treason shall laws be applied to the same.

We all know that Yar’Adua is bedridden, therefore incapacitated despite all the barbarity and lies surrounding his plight. That is why he’s nary been seen in public since November last year. That’s why his homecoming was secretive and controversial. Yar’Adua needs help of being freed from dirty hands of greedy hyenas using his wife who cannot become president under whatever circumstance. Despite riding roughshod over Nigerians for a while, Jonathan is still in charge despite Yar’Adua presence in Nigeria and all machinations and flaws surrounding him. Were I Jonathan, under the power vested in me under Nigerian constitution, I’d order the release of the information about the president’s bill of health come what may. This would help to stop anxiety and confusion about the president. And it’d stop the machinations carried out by Mafioso surrounding the president.

Legally speaking, Nigerians have the right to see and hear their president. For, they’re the ones that voted him their president. Mrs Yar’Adua needs to understand. If she does not get it, she must be brought to book. What she is doing is dangerous for democracy. Shameful as it is, what’s going on in Nigeria is a big lesson for Africa that we need to lop powers from first ladies and cronies defecate on behind the curtains. Even Prince Philip despite being the consort of the Queen, can nary barricade Britons from seeing their monarch simply because they share one bed. Turai’s mischievous stance has offended Nigerians.

Information minister Dora Akunyili was recently quoted as thus: “I believe that it is people around him that were gaining from the confusion, people around him that are doing to him today what 100 million political enemies cannot do to him. The cabal wants to continue with their usual statement of ‘the president said,’ and you must comply. They want to continue dishing out instructions even when the president did not say so,” the minister said. She warned: “This cabal should, please, stop heating up the system and allow President Yar’Adua to recover.” This statement shows how desperate and frustrated Nigerians are. The whole minister does not know anything about the health of her boss simply because his wife and the cabal do not like!

Paroxysms emanating from Yar’Adua affair do not end up in Nigeria. The US has already warned saying that Jonathan must be left alone to rule till the president is declared fit to rule. Nigerians are wary and balked. Professor Itse Sagay one of Nigeria’s political pundits was recently quoted as thus: “In the absence of that, being brought back in an ambulance and then taken by an ambulance, somewhere without being seen, simple is a token that his condition is still very bad, rather than the other way round.” And, so, this cannot make any difference to the institution of an acting presidency.

The big lesson we get from Nigeria is we should start thinking about how to curb president’s wives, cronies and other hyena-like power brokers behind the president or first lady. Importantly, Yar’Adua needs to be freed from the first lady and her inner sanctum bêtes noix.

Nkwazi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.

“Kagame must reconcile with Rwandans” by Nkwazi Mhango

What betided Rwanda recently shows that Rwandan President Paul Kagame is slowly losing his grip on power and Rwandans. Reports that former chief of staff Lt. Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa fled Rwanda to South Africa will have telling effects and have a lot to do with the weathering of Kagame’s power.

However bad Kagame seems to be before our eyes, he’s the credit of calming Rwanda down and ushering in some notable discipline and development. Moreover, one thing is amiss. Shall Kagame want to be nobly and fondly remembered in Rwanda’s history, he’d embark on true democracy. Failure to this, all decorous things he’s brought will evaporate into thin air. One thing he should also do is avoid overstaying just like his comrade in arm, Yoweri Museveni.

Naturally, arrogance has one cardinal principle when it comes to its demise. It creates the seeds of destruction within itself so as to fell itself. For long, Kagame has been everything in Rwanda. After taking over and appointing a stooge in former president Pasteur Bizimungu, he kept pulling strings behind the curtain till he deposed Bizimungu and came forth. The way he maltreated Bizimungu will haunt him.

Apart from manipulating the constitution to remain in power, Kagame has ruled Rwanda with iron fist, banking on genocide he uses as a pretext to purnish or thwart whoever came with different ideas. This is not my take but of those that fell out with Kagame. Refer to recent attack on oppostion leader aspiring to stand for presidency, the firebrand and trouble sort Victoire Ingabire, whom he accused of touching the scars of the nation simply because she urged why Hutu are sidelined as if they’re not killed.

Another gammon Kagame is accused of oft using is prefering serious crimes against his prey. Many, whom he thought to be a threat, were charged with this vague and far fetched crime. His detractors add that Kagame’s been using genocide to threaten anybody, including the international community whom he blames for not preventing it. This has given him a clout to even present an exparte case with regards to who committed genocide. For a while Kagame’s gimcrack gimmicks worked. But as they time lapses, it seems, his magic bullet is losing credibility thanks to starting taking on the members of his inner sanctum.

Nyamwasa is a recent casualty of Kagame purge on enemies after notable others with who he toppled the government were kicked under the belt. Sadly, what’s going on in Rwanda has no border to the episode of eggs eating hen. After eating all eggs, the hen found itself facing the big question. How will I forge ahead without procreating? Differently from the sage hen, Kagame, like any dictator, does not think about dying or democracy but ruling for life. This is the take of his opponents.

16 years down the line people are starting to question the infallibility of Kagame. They’re tired of boot licking. They want democracy-true democracy. Ingabire who minces no words was recently quoted as saying that Rwandans want modern politics based on true democracy not claptrap, deceit and backstabbing. Hell bent to stage a clean and tough fight, Ingabire has brought a new breath in Rwandan politics. Politics of fear and “kow tow”, soon will be seen as something of the past shall she stay put as Rwandans give her supports.

Kagame regarded by his foes as a self-appointed guardian and custodian of stability in Rwanda, needs to practically and logically reconcile with time and understand that the wellbeing and development of the country depend on the people, especially the citizenry as a whole. Times we live in today do not allow a one man show. What’s more, Kagame’s always maintained he is not a dictator, the words of one of his inner sanctum that recently fell out with him, Nyamwasa, speak volume. He was recently quoted as thus when he was asked about the genesis of his fall out: “I am not the only one. Look at the turnover of all people who have served in that regime. It tells the whole story. Look at all those who have served with President Paul Kagame, ask him who is still serving with him now. If all of us are bad and he is the only good person, then Rwanda has no future.”

One of characteristic of dictators when they are faced with the people they think can snatch their morsel  is to appointing them ambassadors so as to let them being forgotten by the people at home as they pine out there. Taking a leaf from his mentor that cloned him, Museveni, Kagame’s been disposing almost all comrades he regards a threat to his rule. Remember James Kazini, Noble Mayombo and other in Uganda. December 2003, President  Museveni, the Commander in Chief of the UPDF, committed Kazini and a dozen senior officers to the General Court Martial on various charges, especially creation and maintenance of “ghost” soldiers on the army payroll. Others included Brigadier Nakibus Lakara (former Chief of Staff), Brigadier Henry Tumukunde (former director general of the Internal Security Organization)

To unlock the political gridlock in Rwanda we see how Kagame is turnig against his coallegues. Lt. Gen. Nyamwasa, who until he fled was Rwanda’s ambassador to India, joins a growing list of former senior Rwandan army officers who in recent years have fallen out with President Kagame — and ultimately left the left country. In 2007, Col. Karegeya, also fled to Uganda and then to South Africa. Others who fell from grace thanks to Kagame’s machinations are Theoneste Musindashaka (July 27, 2009), Senator Stanley Safari (June 2, 2009), Lt. Col. Sam Baguma (April 2009). Others are Capt. Evaris, Capt. Eliphaz Ndikuyezu, Capt. Claude Bizimungu, Capt. John Uwintari, Capt. John Bosco Muhizi, Capt. Theobal Gakumba, Capt. John Ontabuka, Jean Pierre Kagubare reportedly all left around June 2009 and Maj.Gen. Emmanuel Habyarimana (2004).

Looking at how things happen in Rwanda, one does not see any difference in style with what has been happening in Uganda. Where are comrades like James Kazini, Noble Mayombo and others that were buddies of Museveni? The difference though slight is Kagame does not kill his enemies the way his friend does.

To continuing excelling in development and stability, Kagame must take pains of reconciling with his people by doing things the way they democratically want in lieu of dictating them. It’ll be surreal shall Rwanda lose the gains she achieved under Kagame.

Nkwazi Mhango is a Tanzanian living in Canada. He writes regularly for “The African Executive” and also has a blog entitled “Free Thinking Unabii”. He is a regular contributor to AfroSpear.