Continued….However, the result was an instant 175 per cent increase in pump prices for its citizens. Hardly a way of lifting its population out of poverty, 40 per cent of whom live on less than US$2 a day.

Maponga seems to be talking sense. Just run the oil industry as a proper business, which means refining the black gold yourself! Too simplistic? Give us your thoughts.

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AKON: AFRICA IS THE WAY OUT FOR BLACKS!

Senegalese music maker and entrepreneurial shaker Akon is deeply committed to Africa - and to his home country in particular, where he’s investing in the creation of a modern, high-tech city (named, not so humbly, after himself!).

One reason for that is that he sees our continent as a place where diaspora Africans can finally find dignity. As he points out in this clip, Africans as good as built America with their sweat and blood - yet have received neither thanks nor gratitude (let alone reparations!). And that breeds resentment in the community.

He thinks investing in Africa is good not just because Africa is great, but also because it is a way for diaspora Africans to re-connect with a place where there are none of the legacy grievances and obstacles to self-realisation - a place where they can truly be free.

What do you think?

WHEN CHE GUEVARA VISITED GHANA

On this day in 1965, Che Guevara visited Ghana as part of his three-month tour of Africa.

The Argentine-born revolutionary who is remembered for his role in the Cuban revolution, which helped topple Cuba’s US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista, aimed to unite African liberation movements with their Latin American counterparts. In Ghana, Guevara met with Pan-Africanist hero, Kwame Nkrumah, who served as both president and prime minister. The two leaders toured development projects, such as the hydroelectric Volta Dam and the Accra-Tema highway.

Continued….Guevara’s visit laid the groundwork for Cuba’s internationalism, which supplied personnel, plus material and logistics support, in Africa’s struggle against imperialism. His legacy in Africa also has inspired generations of medical personnel, who’ve contributed to Africa’s health programmes over the decades.

Guevara’s influence in Ghana and Nkrumah’s revolutionary spirit did not go unnoticed. It is widely believed the CIA helped overthrow Nkrumah in 1966 and eliminated Guevara a year later.

AFRICAN TOWNS UNDER WATER

The history of flooding African-majority towns in the United States is a deeply troubling and often overlooked chapter in our people's struggle. African communities have disproportionately borne the brunt of environmental injustices because of discriminatory practices embedded in settler-colonial policies, as well as urban planning and development policies. This has perpetuated systemic inequalities, as our communities—thanks to the imperialist agenda—often lack resources and political power to resist or mitigate the effects.

In this clip, comedian Amber Ruffin, host of 'The Amber Ruffin Show,' tries to bring humour to the sad reality of 'development-induced displacement.'

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WHO ON THIS $2 BILL DIDN’T OWN SLAVES?

Let’s play a game! Here is an image of the back of the US $2 bill. Depicted are key figures in the establishment of the United States of America—the original signers of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

However, while this document spoke of ‘natural rights,’ some of the signers took part in the inhumane practice of chattel slavery. Under this system, enslaved Africans—and many other people—were denied every right the Declaration of Independence claimed to uphold because they were not considered humans.

We’ve identified only 8 of the men depicted here who did not own slaves. Take a close look at the image and try to guess one of the 8. For a bonus point add their name

After 5 days, we’ll post the answer in the comments!

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There’s not a single gold mine in France, but Paris boasts the world’s fourth-largest gold reserves - with an estimated 2,437 tonnes worth $112 billion. On the other hand, Mali has over 800 gold mines but has no gold reserves of its own. Why is that?

Mali was a French colony from 1892 to 1960 and during that time a lot of its wealth, including gold, was taken to Paris. France also dominated gold mines in other former colonies in West Africa.

Even after independence, Mali remains economically tethered to France via the Communauté Financière Africaine (‘African Financial Community’). This uses the CFA franc, which is controlled by the French Treasury. One of the rules is that central banks of the nations using the CFA franc have to keep at least 50% of their foreign currency reserves in France.

Continued….Following the overthrow of president Ibrahim Keïta in 2020, Mali embarked on a programme to regain control of its resources. In 2023, Mali introduced a new mining law and also signed a deal with Russia to build a gold refinery in Bamako. It has vowed to make gold ‘shine for ordinary Malians.’

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PLO: AFRICA WELCOMED OUTSIDERS, THEY ABUSED US

Over the ages, Africans have been welcoming to foreigners - but foreigners, often, have come with malicious intent to our continent. Watch Pan-African scholar PLO Lumumba get visibly emotional as he recites the long list of outsiders who came - and abused. What do you think about his final warning about China? Is he right that they too abuse us?

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The number of cheating students paying for fake qualifications has got so bad Nigeria’s government has banned recognising degrees from dozens of universities. On the barred list are institutions in the UK, US, Togo and Benin while others in countries like Kenya are being closely watched.

It comes after an investigative journalist exposed how criminal syndicates offer desperate students degrees for a fee. One picked up a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications from Benin without attending a single lecture. He got it within six weeks, when it would normally take a student four years of learning.

However, it's feared the blanket ban could affect 10,000 Nigerian students who're currently studying and have done nothing wrong.

Nigeria’s Ministry of Education says it’s investigating a further 107 universities over the scandal.

Has it gone too far, or not far enough?

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FARRAKHAN’S TAKE ON VIOLENCE

As the far right across the globe claims ‘replacement theory’ and ‘white genocide’ threaten Europeans, this 1990 throwback of Minister Louis Farrakhan hits back! The Nation of Islam leader challenged a white audience member on her fear of African ‘violence’ during an appearance on ‘The Phil Donahue Show,’ which broadcast on US television. In this controversial episode, Farrakhan tackled issues like reparations, racism and the need for self-determination.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments.

HOLLYWOOD’S WHITE-MADE ‘BLACK’ CULTURE

Many non-Black people understand Black culture and identity through the lens of US TV and cinema. The problem is that the biggest sitcoms and movies often project a completely false picture of our community - one riddled with negative racial stereotypes. Typically, that’s because they’re noscripted and directed by Whites. This issue is picked up in this clip by podcasters Jr. and Autarchii, a.k .a. (and respectively) ‘The Bald Head - N - The Dread.’ They cite the pervasive trope of the Angry Black Woman with Attitude. They also note that these misleading portrayals not only reinforce false perceptions but can lead to mimicry in the community via the feedback loop of media consumption - almost as if sitcoms and movies are re-programming some of us into our worst versions of ourselves. What are your thoughts on this?

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