Where Do The Children Go? Part 2

In a previous post, I asked where African children orphaned due to HIV/AIDS and those abandoned go when extended families are unable to provide for them. Most countries to not have a formal child welfare system set up that facilitates fostering or adoption. As a result, there are a plethora of children relegated to street life.
I was made aware of this problem almost two years ago, while in Kampala. Today, governments are finally making strides to address the problem at hand, which has been intentionally and unquestionably ignored for years.
This article highlights a similar issue I witnessed at Sanyu Babies Home, where many infants are abandoned because they are born to young or poor mothers who are unable or unwilling to take care of them. More children than one might imagine are found abandoned on the side of the road or in pit latrines when they are less than a week old.
Luckily, there are babies' homes set up to care for them, but once they grow into toddlers, there are very few institutionalized structures set up to absorb the number of orphans and abandoned children in these regions.
This issue is compounding, especially since most children are being left without homes and families because of poverty and HIV/AIDS, two seemingly endless cycles.
For children who are able to be reunified with their families, Cameroon has set up rehabilitation and vocational training programs. However, there are thousands more who are abandoned and orphaned as infants and can not be reunified. In a growing world with shifting family structures and accepted responsibilities, it is time for African nations to address the needs of orphans and recognize that villages are no longer willing to raise children and extraneous options need to be considered and established.

Team Work Against China

For some unexplainable reason, China thinks it's a good idea to ship arms to Zimbabwe- a country in the midst of a political conflict, where the president has made it clear that he will use force to sustain power. Thankfully, Zambia, Angola, and South Africa have prevented China from transporting arms to Zimbabwe.
Thank you Africa, for not allowing China to fuel an already brewing violent conflict!

Cooperation is the Only Option

The opposition parties in Zimbabwe have realized that the only way to successfully oust Mugabe out of power is to cooperate and unite as one for the time being. Tsvangirai and Mutambara, Zimbabwe's opposition party leaders, have united to declare control over parliament and demand that Mugabe concede. Mugabe has relegated to imprisoning the opposition in an effort to maintain power for another 28 years, but I feel as though with the support of the international community and unification of the opposition parties, he will not succeed without bloodshed. Hopefully, he will not take it that far. In the past we've seen the need to virtually drive out other dictators who wouldn't give up their throne and this still led to bloodshed. Mugabe, please spare the lives of innocent citizens and step down!

African Idol

I was recently made aware of the existence of "African Idol" through an article questioning why contestants had to sing Western songs to gain legitimacy on the song. I supported the authors critique, especially because I am a fan of various genres of African music and also find it nonsensical for Africans to not use the show as a platform to showcase their own talents.
Because I had never seen an episode of African Idol, I decided to youtube it, take a look at how the show was produced, and better understand the author's critique. I was more than surprised by what I saw. Take a look at the video!

As Simon would say, it was absolutely HORRID! I think we do better when we stick to our own songs. It sounds so sweet!





But I'll give props when it's due, this was a damn good rendition of "Faith"!

Respecting Your Roots- Rest in Peace Aimé Fernand David Césaire

I can not claim to have created the intellect behind my quest to "Reinvent Africa" in the eyes of those who don't know her.



Aimé Fernand David Césaire was a writer and influential leader in the movement to "reinvent"the perception of Negroes throughout the world. At a time when colonialist and imperialist powers were still lauded for their control and exploitation over southern nations and people, Aimé Césaire used his words to denounce such beliefs.
I remember reading "Discourse on Colonialism" during my freshman year of college in my Introduction to African American history course. And though I did not immediately understand its significance, as I have grown and traveled, I have come to understand the impact on colonialism on the colonizers and colonized, as well as the need for Black people to free themselves from mental slavery. The quest of this blog is to facilitate and open and honest discourse about Africans and the Diaspora because as we've realized through the work of Césaire and other revolutionaries, colonialism did not only exist politically. Africans around the world were trapped mentally and came to believe that they were inferior to the colonizers. It is only through an open and honest examination of ourselves that we can strive to and achieve greatness, through what we experience in our communities.

Malaria, Still a Mighty Killer

Is there a way to eradicate mosquitos? Because the wrath that they bring with the transmission of malaria is unmeasurable. Though malaria is virtually nonexistent in the US, it kills an African child every second. Can you believe that??? By the time you finish reading this post, hundreds of children will have died, due to malaria. The worst aspect of it all, is that this can all be prevented if people sleep under insecticide treated bed nets. They cost less than a dollar, but can't be afforded by those living in extreme poverty. For those of you who can afford to donate a net or the time to play a game and get a sponsor to donate one, please go to www.NothingButNets.net

Note: The game is kind of boring, so you can just click the link to "Deliver the Net"

Africans Do More Than Play Futbol

As surprised as I am to see Africans participate in sports other than soccer, I was even more suprised to see them playing hockey! Especially since it's hard to find a Black person playing that sport, period. I guess I have even more reason, besides the Washington Capitals playoff run, to jump on the hockey bandwagon. After watching their final game, I realized it's a pretty fun sport; very fast and physical. Though, I still don't understand the fact that they're allowed to fight each other, I do appreciate the physicality. Sometimes I get frustrated with basketball when petty fouls are called. Sometimes you should just let the athletes play!
Okay, now I'm deviating from the point of this post. I think it's great that Africans are branching out to playing other sports. And hockey, especially, is a sport that children in all locales and socioeconomic conditions, can participate in through makeshift rinks, pucks, and sticks. I only see good wholesome fun coming out of this.

419ers

My friends laugh when I rail on 419ers, but, honestly, this is not a good look.
I know a few people who have been fooled by some of these scams and though I sympathize with their naiveté, I am amazed by the cunningness of their perpetrators. They are netting millions of dollars and I wish that more Africans would use their intelligence to mastermind projects that benefit the development of their people as a whole. Though, I don't doubt most of these people are sending remittance back to their families in Nigeria, I can't help but imagine the type of world power Nigeria could be if these well thought out and calculated plans were directed towards national development. But now, the international community will probably be more skeptical about forming partnerships with Nigerians and other Africans since these scams have garnered the attention of the FBI and international law enforcement.

Do Not Shun the Oyibo

I came across a very interesting article that gave the authors point of view on Cameroonians and other Africans who seek to establish relationships with "Oyibos" (white people). After the article, there reader comments published that made it even more interesting to read.
What I think needs to be pointed out is, besides relationships that some Africans seek to establish with Oyibos because they believe they will help them establish a better life, many Africans seek to establish relationships within Westerners in general.
I am stating this based on my own experiences in Africa as a Black woman. My Blackness did not deter some people from attempting to establish very superficial relationships with me on the basis of my Westernization. Almost everyday, a stranger would exchange email and other contact information with me after learning that I resided in the US. We shared nothing else in common and often, they did not even pay much attention to me during initial introductions, but once they heard my accent and learned that I lived in the US, they were suddenly interested in maintaining contact with me.
I dont doubt that some people were generally interested in learning about my culture, as I was traveling to learn more about there's. However, some were more forthright and honest with their approach and told me that they were interested in finding someone abroad to sponsor their education or their application for a visa to travel to the US. I never rejected the opportunity to exchange contact information with strangers because though there were some people who were not necessarily interested in establishing a friendship with me, there were many that were. And as a result, I have made quite a few friends abroad who were more than hospitable to me during return trips.
I say this all to say that I think it is unfair for the author to discourage Africans to pursue relationships with foreigners simply because they are white or Western. Relationships are usually mutual and those that are not are due to one parties, naiveté or exploitative nature, rather than their race. In the US, people are constantly giving their business cards to strangers in an effort to network and establish relationships that may be beneficial in the future. How is this any different?

Happy (Belated) Emancipation Proclamation!

Apparently yesterday was a national holiday in observance of the Emancipation Proclamation. I didn’t get the day off, but many charter schools in DC were closed and a friend of mine who works for an African based organization said she had the option of taking the day off and many of her co-workers didn’t come in. I have never been and was not extended that option…I wonder why…
I mean, if you think about it, the Emancipation Proclamation should be a widely observed holiday, Veterans and Memorial Days are, so why not the day the Emancipation Proclamation was signed.
Unarguably, enslaved Africans did more for the US than any soldier could claim. Not to minimize the importance of those who have served this country in anyway, but I think enslaved Africans served a more important cause. Not only did many of them fight in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, as well, but the built the country on their backs! Setting aside a day in remembrance is the least they could do!
So next year, I’ve resolved to take off on the Emancipation Proclamation. And somehow, I doubt my employer will challenge me on this one…

Hewa Bora Plane Crash in Goma

Today, there was a plan crash in Goma, that has left almost eighty people dead, and counting.
It caused even more of a worry in my immediate life because two of my colleagues are currently on a humanitarian mission there. Luckily, they were on a day trip outside of Goma and returned in the evening to the chaos of people looking for their relatives lost in the crash.
Several of my other colleagues where not at all surprised by the situation because of the condition and location of the airport and drunken manner in which most of the pilots operate, when they themselves had flown Hewa Bora. When I suggested that we seek other methods of transport to and from Goma, they notified me that other than UN aircrafts this is the only available option.

Horses More Important Than People

The recent displacement of tens of thousands of Chadians is completely despicable and unimaginable. After a failed coup attempt, residents were given 30 days to evacuate and over 2000 homes were destroyed.
The government stands by its word that the residents inhabited the land, unlawfully and it was needed to build a massive horse-racing track…
The government has not provided shelter for those it has made homeless and many are leaving next to their demolished property or have traveled to Northern Cameroon to join other refugees who fled during fighting in early February.

Rulers for Life- Mugabe

Weeks after the presidential elections in Zimbabwe, Mugabe refuses to turn over power or reveal the percentage of votes he received. Tsvangirai has fled to Botswana for fear of his life.
The desire of African leaders to be rulers for life has convinced them to completely reject democracy and the will of the people. Even opposition parties, who develop the courage to speak against them are eventually silenced and fear for their lives and those of their supporters because they realize that these dictators care more about their personal power than the future of the nation.

A refugee who fled Zimbabwe with his family said his fellow countrymen had finally spoken, but warned that dark days lay ahead.
"If Tsvangirai becomes president Mugabe will mobilise war vets, the army, police, secret service and the militia to take revenge on the people who just want bread and freedom.
"On the other hand, if Mugabe rigs the elections in the next 21 days and imposes himself as president, people will fight back and lives will be lost," he said.

Are they Displaced the Only Ones Who Deserve Aid?

Currently, there is conflict surrounding refugee and displaced people, where locals who are still fortunate to live in their homes, feel that those in camps are receiving better treatment than they are. Aid agencies often overlook the fact that though those that are living in camps are obviously unable to provide for themselves, due to their displacement, most likely those living in the communities surrounding the camps are struggling as well, but were fortunately located in areas that were not directly impacted by conflict, but they still lack basic needs.
Some community members feel so neglected that they often go to camps and pose as dwellers in order to receive the rations given to those who actually live there. Should this be viewed as theft, greed, or perhaps an unavoidable issue that needs to be addressed?


Kenya: Red Cross Complains of Fake Refugees

The East African Standard (Nairobi)

13 April 2008
Posted to the web 14 April 2008

Peter Mutai And Roselyn Obala
Nairobi

The Kenya Red Cross Society Secretary-General Mr Abbas Gullet says half of the 14, 000 people camping at Nakuru Showground are not genuine internally displaced persons.

Gullet said an estimated 7,000 people were taking advantage of the situation to get free food and other humanitarian assistance. He said the masqueraders wanted to use the opportunity to get compensation from the Government.

Speaking at the Nakuru DC's office on Saturday morning, Gullet said the alleged IDPs were only found at the camp during the day and retreated to stay with relatives at night.

Accompanied by a representative of the UNHCR, Mr Liz Ahua, they were received by senior DO 1, Mr Albert Mulita.

He called on the Government to look for ways of getting rid of the masqueraders. At the same time, Gullet said some militia groups have infiltrated the camp.

Separately, IDPs at Kakamega Police Station have expressed fears of disease outbreak due to adverse weather conditions.

Their spokesman, Mr Peter Munyiri, said more than 400 people at the camp have leaking tents.

Munyiri said the IDPs were being forced to sit all night due to the heavy rains. "Children are the worst affected and are prone to malaria and pneumonia," he said.

Uncharacteristic, But Welcomed Peace

Today the Olympic torch had its only leg in Africa, visiting Tanzania. Uncharacteristically, for the torch and much of Africa, this was a peaceful and joyous day.
Though some well-known figures, such as Wangari Maathai of Kenya, pulled out of the race in protest of China, the torch relay was not marred with the same level of violence and protest witnessed in Paris and San Francisco.