85 PEOPLE RICHER THAN 3.5 BILLION

If you want a clear sign that capitalism has failed Africa, here is an eye-opener: according to a study by Oxfam, the wealth of just 85 individuals matches that of a staggering 3.5 billion of the planet's most marginalised. Our continent is home to 1.2 billion and we bear a large brunt of that poverty - despite our abundant resources.

Whereas this should be a wake up call for change, some are cheering the Oxfam findings - saying they will motivate the less well off to work even harder to overcome their circumstances and become super-rich! Watch Canadian businessman Kevin O'Leary leave a TV news host aghast when he tries to argue precisely that.

He thinks it’s proof capitalism works. We think it’s proof the system is rigged against us. What do you think?

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

US SUPPORTS GENOCIDE OF PALESTINE

One of the biggest revelations from the aftermath of the 7 October Israeli-Palestine escalation is just how far the United States is willing to go to continue the Israel's genocidal occupation.

In this 7 November video out of Florida’s legislature, after an African representative named Angie Martin raised concern over the Israeli attacks on Gaza, another representative named Michelle Salzman allegedly was heard saying, 'All of them.' Many took that as a call for the complete annihilation of Palestinians. Meanwhile, the only Palestinian in the US House of Representatives, Rashida Tlaib, was censured after calling for an end to the massacre of her people. This occurred a few days after 300,000 people marched in support of Palestine in Washington DC. Other actions throughout the United States have garnered mainstream media coverage, which is not the norm.

Continued….A month after the escalation of the 75-year-old conflict between Palestine and Israel, the Zionist state's military has killed more than 11,000 civilians. That figure includes more than 4,200 children. Thus far, the United States has vetoed two UN resolutions for a ceasefire in Gaza, continues sending weapons, sent a group of aircraft carriers to the eastern Mediterranean Sea and its House of Representatives recently approved a motion—due to be approved by the US Senate and US President Joe Biden—to give Israel an additional $14 billion in military aid. This is on top of the $3.8 billion in annual military aid it gives Israel, even as the Zionist state maintains a system of apartheid in Palestine.

Let us know what you think.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

THE ASTRAL DOGON PEOPLE OF MALI

There’s a mystery surrounding Mali’s ancient Dogon people. How did they apparently know something about the starry heavens that astronomers only discovered relatively recently? We’re talking the existence of a second star near Sirius A (aka the Dog Star) - the brightest in the night sky. It forms a binary system with the far less bright Sirius B, which is hidden to the naked eye (and even to smaller telescopes). And yet Dogon folklore speaks of a ‘hidden world’ near Sirius A. Brace yourself for a tale of visitation by a race of alien mermen and mermaids!

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

BRIGHT ‘N’ BREEZY: YOUNG INVENTOR HARNESSES WIND

Meet the young Malawian for whom inventing things is a breeze. He was just 14 when he built a wind turbine for his village!

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

TEARS OF THE CONGO

Being far away in the diaspora doesn’t mean what’s happening back at home on the continent doesn’t matter deeply to you. Watch as a Congolese sister in America fights back the tears to try and raise awareness of all the crises facing her native DRC right now - the butchery and the genocide in the east, the rebel groups indirectly financed with Western funds, the huge internal refugee emergency, the child slavery in the multinational ‘horror’ mines, the Western exploitation of her nation’s abundant mineral riches for profit and for the creation of gadgets the world needs but most Congolese will never own. She admits the pain gets too much when she reflects on all this and feels frustration at nothing having changed in over a decade of activism and awareness-raising - something that’s left her in despair and close to giving up.

Continued….We think her message needs to be heard far and wide - her cry for help speaks for millions of desperate Congolese, and Africa will only ever be truly free when the giant Congo is. Please watch, like, and share, share, share. And show some love and support for @hindirlane in the comments.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

AL AHLY FANS CHANT FOR PALESTINE

Al Ahly football club fans recently showed their support to Palestinians under Israeli occupation during a game against South African club Mamelodi Sundowns. Al Ahly is the team with most Egyptian and African noscripts in football and was voted the African team of the century in the year 2000.

Al Ahly fans or ‘Ultras Ahlawys,’ as they are known, have long been political and played a key role in the 2011 revolution on 25 January. Alongside Zamalek’s White Knights, their rivals, they led mass protests in Cairo’s Tahrir Square, demanding freedom, an aversion of cost of living crisis and human dignity, from now-ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

EXECS CENSOR HIP HOP

Hip hop's origins were socio-political. It was created in the dire economic conditions of the South Bronx to express the struggle of Africans in the United States, most of whom live in poverty or working-class conditions. In this excerpt from the Savior's Day Convention held years ago near Chicago, USA, recording artist Wise Intelligent breaks down how record labels have facilitated an atmosphere for artists to promote negative stereotypes and tropes about African communities. But when they want to discuss state-sponsored police brutality, they are censored.

Through examples he raises of artists, such as JT the Bigga Figga and former G-unit rapper Young Buck, it is understood record labels demand a message that encourages gun violence among young Africans.

What do you think about the state of hip-hop? Is this all by design? Or are the artists, not the record companies, to blame? Let us know in the comments.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

Every week, African Stream likes to draw attention to certain facts. This week, it’s some truths about China's supposed debt-trap diplomacy in Africa. Chew them over with us in the comments.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

Continued…..International isolation played a key role in dismantling apartheid in South Africa. Western governments worked to undermine the fight against apartheid back then. Similarly, the US has now vetoed two UN resolutions calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. But just as the West was unable to maintain the colonial project in South Africa, many hope the same will hold in the Middle East.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

Australian-American basketball star Kyrie Irving donned a traditional Palestinian garment to his latest postgame press conference. The black-and-white keffiyeh - or scarf - is often worn to symbolise solidarity with the Palestinians. He made no vocal pronouncements about the situation in Gaza, discussing only what had happened on the court (where his Dallas Mavericks lost to the Sacramento Kings 113-129).

Irving is one of the NBA's most skilled guards, averaging 27.1 points per game last season, and has not been afraid to use his celebritiy profile to raise issues regarding social justice.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

CONGO IS BEING ROBBED!

Activist and artist Chakabars spoke with entrepreneur 19Keys at a 3-day conference, ‘REVOLT WORLD,’ about tangible ways to build generational wealth. He encouraged Africans around the world be part of owning land, media, and mining operations in Africa.

Chakabars compared the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of three US states with that of all of Africa, demonstrating theft leaves our people on the continent in tatters. Though, the numbers are a bit different from what we find, the disparity remains. Resource-rich Africa is getting ripped off.

Continued….During this conference held in the US city of Atlanta, panelists stressed the need for Pan-African unity, creating new economic and educational systems, taking back control of our culture, building our own institutions, and collective action. We don’t know if the conference mentioned socialism, a key component of Pan-Africanism. However, this clips ends with Chakabars saying Africans in the Americas and in Europe would rather help build than pillage Africa’s wealth, as neocolonialist capitalist corporations and countries are currently doing.

Let us know what you think.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

BEYOND COLONIAL BORDERS

During the era of colonialism, European powers established arbitrary borders without regard for existing ethnic, cultural or tribal divisions. This process split up communities and created artificial nations, leading to a lack of harmony between borders and the distribution of ethnic groups.

The occupiers established systems of ‘pass’ laws, which required individuals to carry passes or permits to move within certain areas. These passes often specified where individuals were allowed to live and work, and violating these restrictions could result in severe penalties.

For instance, in the former French colonies, instead of allowing for the creation of a single, large - and potentially more powerful - state in West Africa, France pushed for the establishment of several independent countries.

Continued….Today, the result is a continent which is incredibly inconvenient to travel across internally, and a people who are increasingly unaware of each other.

Vusi Thembekwayo, a South African entrepreneur, author and investor, challenges us to resist the imposed importance of these borders, as well as concepts like citizenship, passport and visa. How would freedom of movement across Africa change the quality of life for Africans? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

‘BLACK IS NOT A VALUE-FREE IDEA’

Renowned Nigerian Author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie says she never thought about being Black while growing up in her home county. But all that changed when she moved to the United States to study, where suddenly it became an issue. She faced a wave of prejudice, with even her tutor making assumptions about her academic talent because of the colour of her skin. To her it revealed the raw reality of being Black outside Africa and spurred her critically acclaimed short story Americanah. It also fuelled her admiration for those who continue to succeed, regardless.

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

JUSTICE IS A REQUIREMENT FOR PEACE

There are many disturbing similarities between the apartheid policies of Israel and those once seen in South Africa. However, Egyptian YouTuber Mohammed Hijab says Israel has gone one stage further with the mass cleansing of Palestinians from their ancestral land. He made the point during a British TV debate with Rabbi Schmuley Boteach. Hajib also condemned Hamas for killing civilians, but said peace is only possible if horrific injustices against Palestinians are acknowledged and rectified.
Do you agree?

Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio

ANTI-APARTHEID ICON COMMENDS ANC

South African anti-apartheid icon Ronnie Kasrils has commended the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for backing opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters' call that the government close Israel's embassy in the capital of Pretoria.

South African parliamentarians are set to vote 21 November on a motion to close the Israeli embassy, in condemnation of Israel's onslaught of Palestinians since the 7 October escalation in the Gaza Strip. So far, Israel has killed 13,300 Palestinians, with about 5,600 being children.

Hours before Tuesday's vote, Tel Aviv recalled its ambassador to South Africa for 'consultation', adding a new twist to frosty relations between the two countries.