FRANCE BLOCKS NIGERIEN ARTISTS

In the wake of military collaboration between Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, France has moved to force its cultural and arts institutions to cut ties with Niger. French institutions are perplexed at this development, while Nigerien artists say they will not be dismayed.

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GANDHI'S RACIST LEGACY IN AFRICA

Mahatma Gandhi was born on this day back in 1869 and is widely hailed for his fight against British colonial rule in India.

But while he’s remembered for fighting for the freedom of his people, the same can’t be said for his attitude towards Blacks. While living in South Africa, he attempted to align with the White ruling class.

He campaigned for Indians living there to be treated better than Blacks who he called savages. It was a callous attempt to gain favour with the ruling authorities.

While Gandhi’s achievements are of course celebrated, this sinister chapter in his life should not be forgotten either.

All leaders, past and present, should be held accountable for their conduct and words, both negative and positive.

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THE BRITISH COLONIAL ORIGIN OF SLUMS

On World Habitat Day, we take a look at the root of Africa's massive slum problem, which can be found in 19th century England and was transported to Africa by the colonisers. African Stream's Kenneth Kaigua takes us to one of Kenya's poorest neighbourhoods.

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BLACK GIRL SKIPPED OVER AT MEDAL CEREMONY

A video clip from March 2022 that appears to show racial discrimination against a now 10-year-old Black girl in Ireland has gone viral on the Internet. Viewers condemned a white woman looking like she had ignored the Black girl during a gymnastics medal ceremony by skipping over her and presenting a medal to white girls. The parents of the girl reported the incident, demanding an apology from Gymnastics Ireland, the body that governs the sport on the island country. It was only after public uproar that the body issued an apology.

Let us know in the comments what you think.

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NOTHING'S WRONG WITH AFRICA!

Let's address the big elephant in the room. Before pointing out the speck in our eye, the West must first look at the log in theirs.

If imperialist powers are not colonising African states that already had systems in place, they are exploiting Africa’s precious resources, fueling wars and meddling in Africa’s business, stifling the continent's ability to conduct its social and economic affairs.

In US economist Jeffrey Sach's words, Africans have experienced exploitation and a denial of their rights. That is a violation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that the United Nations General Assembly adopted in 1948. Belgian King Leopold II (1865-1909) carved a colony out of the Congo and turned it into a labour camp where Congolese were tortured, murdered and forced into slavery for 30 years.

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Continued- NOTHING'S WRONG WITH AFRICA!

Belgium didn't offer an apology or reparations, but conveyed its "deepest regrets" for the colonial humiliation. And as if that wasn't enough, the CIA planned and assassinated the Democratic Republic of Congo's first democratically elected leader, Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba and have looted DRC's resources ever since.

In this video, Sachs openly castigates the hypocrisy of the West and the mess they created that has disenfranchised the African masses, while making millions for conglomerates who are still exploiting countries in Africa.

The problem isn't Africa—it's the meddling West!

Thoughts? Leave them below.

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AFRICAN DIASPORA DEFENDING ETHIOPIA

When Italy invaded Ethiopia for a second time in 1935, thousands of Africans around the world mobilised to fight the colonialists. For the Italians, the war was not merely payback for that humiliating defeat 40 years earlier, but a chance to implement dictator Benito Mussolini’s plan to inflate Italy's standing on the world stage.
However, for millions, the invasion imperiled Black freedom and dignity across the globe and awakened a strong sense of allegiance that transcended national boundaries.

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MEET THE FOREST PEOPLE

Central African forests are home to some of the oldest, and shortest, tribes in the world. Ready for a brief encounter?

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BLACK MEN’S STRUGGLE WITH STEREOTYPES

This is a recording of a TV show in 1988 called, "People Are Talking." In this episode, it explored the images and stereotypes of Black men in the United States. Three Africans were invited to share their experiences: Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party; Ishmael Reed, a novelist and poet; and Jawanza Kunjufu, an educator and author. The episode also featured questions and comments from the audience, who represented diverse backgrounds and opinions. The program was aired to honour the birthday of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the civil rights leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner.

Let us know in the comments what you think of there assessments regarding America's treatment of black men. Has anything change?

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SOMALIS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN BLACK

The blackness of Somalis has always been uniquely scrutinised. Are Somali people Black? Some reject this claim, as was the case in a video showing African youth debating the issue in London. Each to their own, but we believe Somalis are unquestionably African and have always aligned themselves with the Pan-African agenda. We unpack the country's history in our reaction video. Let us know your thoughts.

Watch the full video on YouTube
https://youtu.be/YcDhzUz2vzc?si=gpa2RzWydZQf-jbf

Video Credit: Content Over Everything

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HAITI'S GOOD EXAMPLE

The United Nations Security Council has just passed a resolution authored by the United States and Ecuador, authorising armed intervention in Haiti to fight alleged gangs. Thirteen members voted in favour of the resolution, while two members—China and Russia—abstained.

Many people don’t understand the geopolitical significance of Haiti, often scratching their head in confusion about why some countries and wealthy interests seem to be so keen on involving themselves where they don't belong.

To find the answer, African Stream looks back at an approximately mid-1990s interview with All-African People's Revolutionary Party organiser Kwame Ture. He reviewed the history of Haiti dating back to 1803.

Few things are more dangerous than the threat of a good example. Let us know in the comments what you think.

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A multi-national security force led by Kenya looks set to be sent to Haiti to restore ‘democratic’ order. The mission’s just been greenlighted by the UN Security Council, with 13 of its 15 members voting in favour. Among them African nations Gabon, Ghana and Mozambique, while China and Russia abstained (check out our graphic below). Kenya has pledged to send 1,000 of its own police officers, and says it will lead to a ‘renaissance’ in Haitian security. Gangs currently control most of the capital Port-au-Prince and other parts of the country. But critics argue the East African country has simply become the Black face of Western imperialism. The US, which drafted the resolution with Ecuador, will not send any personnel, but will give $200m in support. There’s also concern over the impact of the new mission. Previous foreign interventions have failed to bring peace and stability to the Caribbean island and brought new problems.

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Continued- In 2010 sewage from a UN peacekeeping camp contaminated water supplies, sparking a cholera outbreak that killed over 10,000 people. On top of that, more than 100 UN troops have faced sex abuse allegations against Haitian women and children.

And if that’s not bad enough, watchdogs have already voiced concerns about the dismal human rights record of Kenyan police. Little wonder many Haitians are against the presence of foreign forces on their resource-rich island. Back in Kenya, William Ruto’s government faces accusations of ignoring a cost-of-living crisis that’s seen nationwide protests. Prioritising a mission half way around the world seems odd, to say the least. As usual, your thoughts are welcome in the comments.

WHY IS AFRICA UNDERDEVELOPED?

We’ve been told some countries are poor because they have failed to develop on their own. That's what historian Walter Rodney referred to in his work as "underdevelopment." But the reality is these countries have historically been exploited, as he laid out in this seminal 1972 book, "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa." Take the case of Niger, it has been ranked as one of the poorest countries in the world. Yet, the country is the world’s seventh-largest producer of uranium. However, the French have extracted Niger's uranium through a monopoly on the Sahelian country's mines. About 20 per cent of the uranium used to power France comes from the Sahelian nation. Meanwhile, most Nigeriens don't have electricity in their homes. After the recent coup, some Nigeriens accused France of exploiting their resources and leaving it in the condition that it is.

Leave your thoughts below.

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'FRENCH CHICKENS COMING TO ROOST'

France is learning a painful lesson in Africa and the chickens are coming home to roost. That’s how Pan-African scholar P.L.O. Lumumba sums up the anti-French feeling sweeping parts of the Sahel. The people-backed coup in Niger follows similar events in Mali and Burkina Faso. After decades of exploiting the economies and resources of these countries, the French are being told to get out.
Ask Nigeriens who live in the world’s second-poorest nation despite supplying tonnes uranium to France for half a century. See the frustrations among those who live in the 14 African states still bound and financially oppressed by the CFA franc.

The time has come for France to acknowledge the injustices built into its system, according to Lumumba.

Listen to him explain how Paris' brutal actions on the continent are finally catching up with it.


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SOMALIA'S FEMALE ENGINEERS!

As Somalia witnesses a construction boom following security improvements, female engineers are breaking barriers in the conservative country and taking on roles that had been dominated by men. Even though there is inequality in salaries and resistance to change, two women are determined to challenge the stereotypes and forge ahead. Somali’s current and future women engineers are our power women to watch this Wednesday!

Let us know what you think in the comments.

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RUTO WELCOMES HAITI INVASION VOTE

Predictably, Kenyan President William Ruto has welcomed the October 2 UN Security Council decision to send a Kenyan-led multinational force to Haiti. The move comes after U.S.-backed Haitian leadership appealed for international help to combat escalating gang violence in the Caribbean island nation, which critics argue has been fuelled by U.S. weapons flooding the Caribbean country. Kenya has offered to deploy 1,000 police officers and has received support from the United States, which—pending congressional approval—will provide $200 million for the mission.

Let us know in the comments what you think of this move.

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