Continued…….. Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) on 6 July 2024 to share policies to eventually establish a federal Pan-African state that would move the continent toward one governance. This radical vision has led the West to attack the landlocked African states in various ways. Mali is the first AES country subjected to US sanctions that target government and military officials. 

We must raise our voices to defend the entire AES confederation, as the future of Pan-Africanism lies in their unification.

Check out the complete conversation with @authentic_african (IG) on the Ahmed Kaballo YouTube channel (@ahmedkaballo4170).

Hear Us Roar: https://news.1rj.ru/str/AfricanStream

BOB MARLEY: AFRICA'S OUR HEAVEN

On this day in 1981, reggae star Bob Marley passed away. He was 36.

His legacy extends beyond his groundbreaking music. He was a fervent pan-Africanist who envisioned a unified Africa. Though born in Jamaica, Marley never saw Africa as distant. He called it home. He travelled to Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Marley recognised the shared struggles of Africans. This was powerfully expressed in anthems such as Africa Unite and Zimbabwe. His music served as a call to resistance against injustice and exploitation. He used it to advocate for a spiritual and physical return to Africa, which he passionately described as Heaven.

Forty-four years after his death, Bob Marley remains the most iconic and cherished reggae artist worldwide. His revolutionary music and unwavering dedication to pan-African ideals resonate deeply with people of African descent everywhere.

Let us know which of his songs you’ll be playing today. 🤟🏾🎵❤️

Continued…….. Sources

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/4/17/when-bob-marley-serenaded-zimbabweans-celebrating-independence

https://trtafrika.com/world/42-years-on-inside-special-bond-bob-marley-had-with-africa-13211478

https://www.africanews.com/2019/02/07/bob-marley-and-africa-zimbabwe-liberation-ethiopian-love-gabon-kenya//

https://www.okayafrica.com/bob-marley-africa/

S’ LEONE FIRST LADY: WOMEN’S RIGHTS UNDER SIEGE

Sierra Leone has made significant strides in addressing gender disparities. First Lady Dr. Fatima Maada Bio (@FirstLadyBio - X) has been at the forefront of initiatives to promote gender equality and empower women and girls. It’s Mother’s Day across much of Africa today. For the occasion, we share this video of her talking about women having a seat at the table when it comes to making decisions. She says ‘pushing women into the kitchen’ is strangling her country’s development. She compares it to telling Muhammad Ali to box with one fist (though, to be fair, he’d probably still do all right!). The First Lady’s Hands Off Our Girls campaign, launched in 2018, combats gender-based violence, early marriage and teenage pregnancy.

Continued……. This has led to significant changes in the law, including an amendment to the Sexual Offences Act, increasing penalties for r*pe, and the establishment of a Fast-Track Special Court for s*xual assaults. Hats off!

Sources

https://gleanersl.com/first-lady-bio-supports-women-in-the-media-and-offers-scholarships/

GOOD NEWS SUNDAY

Here’s episode 2 of our new series Good News Sunday: from do-it-yourself astronomy to record-breaking paintings, it features inspirational Africans leading the way when it comes to reshaping perceptions about our continent. Let us know in the comments what other bright stories caught your eye.

BOB MARLEY AND THE ART OF REASONING

Reggae icon Bob Marley, who passed away at just 36 on this day, 11 May, in 1981, is pictured here reasoning with brothers in Zimbabwe. 

'Reasoning’ is a form of social interaction and discussion that involves the exchange of ideas in a group. It often occurs in laid-back and informal settings, such as on street corners, in community spaces, or at home. But doesn't make it any less serious! It is a way for individuals to connect with their roots, share traditional stories and pass down cultural values from one generation to the next.

It’s a visible part of Jamaican culture, which, of course, has African origins. Many enslaved Africans brought their culture, including communal gatherings and discussions, to the island during the European Slave Trade. It also draws from the Maroon communities, descendants of enslaved Africans who escaped plantations and formed independent communities in the mountains of the Caribbean island.

Continued……. Rastafarians also engage in a version of reasoning they call ‘groundation,’ typified by music, chanting, discussions and the smoking of cannabis. They regard the latter as a sacrament with beneficial properties.

What do you think they're talking about here?

Image credit: Bob Marley Foundation

Sources

https://www.aljazeera.com/features/2020/4/17/when-bob-marley-serenaded-zimbabweans-celebrating-independence

https://trtafrika.com/world/42-years-on-inside-special-bond-bob-marley-had-with-africa-13211478

https://www.okayafrica.com/bob-marley-africa

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/366900262_The_Philosophical_Foundation_Of_African_System_Of_Kinship

https://www.africanews.com/2023/06/02/why-rastafari-smoke-marijuana-for-sacramental-reasons-and-the-faiths-other-beliefs

https://www.reggaeville.com/artist-details/groundation/about/

https://jamaicanpatwah.com/term/Groundation/4976

MOTHERS OF AFRICA

Most of Africa celebrates Mother’s Day today. So, let’s use the occasion to celebrate some very special African mothers: of the nation, of the people, of the environment, of victory. Have a watch. Who inspires you most?

Sources

https://www.blackpast.org/global-african-history/yaa-asantewaa-mid-1800s-1921/


https://www.greenbeltmovement.org/wangari-maathai


https://theconversation.com/the-legacy-of-iconic-singer-miriam-makeba-and-her-art-of-activism-178230


https://www.dw.com/en/taytu-betul-ethiopias-strategic-empress-african-roots/a-57010781