On 27 February 1978, South African freedom fighter and pan-African intellectual, Robert Mangaliso Sobukwe passed away. By the time of his death he had made a profound and lasting impression on the struggle against apartheid.
Sobukwe was born on 5 December 1924, in a Black township on the outskirts of the town of Graaff-Reinet in today’s Eastern Cape province. After a childhood marked by academic excellence, he enrolled at Fort Hare University in 1947, an institution whose alumni included many anti-colonial icons such Robert Mugabe, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela.
Like many before him, it was at Fort Hare that Sobukwe's revolutionary flame was lit. Becoming a key figure on the university political scene, he’d serve as the president of the Students Representative Council and Secretary in the newly-formed African National Congress Youth League.
Sobukwe was born on 5 December 1924, in a Black township on the outskirts of the town of Graaff-Reinet in today’s Eastern Cape province. After a childhood marked by academic excellence, he enrolled at Fort Hare University in 1947, an institution whose alumni included many anti-colonial icons such Robert Mugabe, Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela.
Like many before him, it was at Fort Hare that Sobukwe's revolutionary flame was lit. Becoming a key figure on the university political scene, he’d serve as the president of the Students Representative Council and Secretary in the newly-formed African National Congress Youth League.
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Continued….After University, Sobukwe briefly taught as a high school teacher before landing a job in the African Studies department at Witwatersrand University in Johannesburg.
In 1958, Sobukwe led members of the ANC who, disgruntled by the party’s “liberal-left-multiracialist’ policies, ceded from the organization and formed the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC).
On 21 March 1960, Sobukwe led thousands of citizens in a march to Orlando police station in Soweto in protest against the so-called “pass law”, which restricted the movement of Black people. In the aftermath of the demonstrations, Sobukwe was arrested and later sentenced to a three year prison term.
After completing the prison sentence, Sobukwe was again detained under the so-called General Law Amendment Act which allowed apartheid authorities to prolong the imprisonment of any political prisoner indefinitely. The law became infamously known as the ‘Sobukwe clause.’
In 1969, Sobukwe was released from prison and subsequently banished to Kimberly in the Northern Cape province where he was placed under 12-hour house arrest and restricted from engaging in political activities.
While in Kimberly he fell ill with lung cancer. Restrictions imposed on his movement complicated his attempts to receive timely medical care. He succumbed to the disease on 27 February 1978.
In 1958, Sobukwe led members of the ANC who, disgruntled by the party’s “liberal-left-multiracialist’ policies, ceded from the organization and formed the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC).
On 21 March 1960, Sobukwe led thousands of citizens in a march to Orlando police station in Soweto in protest against the so-called “pass law”, which restricted the movement of Black people. In the aftermath of the demonstrations, Sobukwe was arrested and later sentenced to a three year prison term.
After completing the prison sentence, Sobukwe was again detained under the so-called General Law Amendment Act which allowed apartheid authorities to prolong the imprisonment of any political prisoner indefinitely. The law became infamously known as the ‘Sobukwe clause.’
In 1969, Sobukwe was released from prison and subsequently banished to Kimberly in the Northern Cape province where he was placed under 12-hour house arrest and restricted from engaging in political activities.
While in Kimberly he fell ill with lung cancer. Restrictions imposed on his movement complicated his attempts to receive timely medical care. He succumbed to the disease on 27 February 1978.
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PT. 2: GRENADA’S REVOLUTIONARY SCHOOLS
In part two of African Stream’s series on Grenada’s revolution, we continue looking at how transforming education helped shape the socio-political landscape from 1979 to 1983.
In 1980, all teachers met to analyse education, leading to a new curriculum and sparking the revolution’s other programmes: The National In-Service Teacher Education Programme (STEP) and the Community School-Day Programme (CSDP).
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In part two of African Stream’s series on Grenada’s revolution, we continue looking at how transforming education helped shape the socio-political landscape from 1979 to 1983.
In 1980, all teachers met to analyse education, leading to a new curriculum and sparking the revolution’s other programmes: The National In-Service Teacher Education Programme (STEP) and the Community School-Day Programme (CSDP).
If you want to hear more about Grenada’s revolutionary process, drop us a comment.
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'TOO MANY MUSLIMS HERE' - UKRAINIAN REFUGEE IN U.K.
Check out this Brit's shock at learning one of the Ukrainian refugees who lived with her was bothered that Britain is home to many Muslims, Africans and Asians.
This would be surprising if the world weren't already given a dose of some of the racism evidently present in the eastern European country back in February 2022 at the start of the war with Russia. African migrants were blocked from boarding trains to safety, while Ukrainian Deputy Chief Prosecutor David Sakvarelidze expressed horror at the violence exacted on people with 'blond hair and blue eyes.' Others quoted in the media said they were shocked, as they were used to only seeing non-white people fleeing a war zone.
Check out this Brit's shock at learning one of the Ukrainian refugees who lived with her was bothered that Britain is home to many Muslims, Africans and Asians.
This would be surprising if the world weren't already given a dose of some of the racism evidently present in the eastern European country back in February 2022 at the start of the war with Russia. African migrants were blocked from boarding trains to safety, while Ukrainian Deputy Chief Prosecutor David Sakvarelidze expressed horror at the violence exacted on people with 'blond hair and blue eyes.' Others quoted in the media said they were shocked, as they were used to only seeing non-white people fleeing a war zone.
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Continued….As Britain works to deport asylum seekers from countries that European powers have exploited, underdeveloped and invaded, it has offered British citizens anywhere between £350 and £500 a month to host Ukrainian refugees. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also recently agreed to journalist Piers Morgan's bet during an hour-long television interview that he would have refugees out of the country by the next general election.
Have a watch, and let us know what you make of this.
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A teacher at West Charlotte High School in the US state of North Carolina has stirred up controversy over her usual choice of Black history month classroom decoration.
She separately labelled her classroom entrance doors 'white' and 'coloured' to depict how public stores, not to mention fountains, bathrooms, transportation, entertainment venues and other entities were segregated during the Jim Crow era.
Some have hailed the controversial decoration as a creative way of highlighting the painful journey of Black people in the US ever since the first ships carrying abducted Africans landed on the shores of the country. However, some insist that the door labels had crossed the line of decency.
She separately labelled her classroom entrance doors 'white' and 'coloured' to depict how public stores, not to mention fountains, bathrooms, transportation, entertainment venues and other entities were segregated during the Jim Crow era.
Some have hailed the controversial decoration as a creative way of highlighting the painful journey of Black people in the US ever since the first ships carrying abducted Africans landed on the shores of the country. However, some insist that the door labels had crossed the line of decency.
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Continued….At the demand of the local educational board, school authorities have since removed the separate “white” and “coloured” door labels. They claim that the decoration was in violation of the “district’s curriculum and approved lesson plans.”
The educational board also stated, “the school district is required to provide social studies and history lessons to all our students in an age-appropriate manner.” However, such “age-appropriate” discretions were never afforded to newborns, adolescents or youths growing up in the Jim Crow era.
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The educational board also stated, “the school district is required to provide social studies and history lessons to all our students in an age-appropriate manner.” However, such “age-appropriate” discretions were never afforded to newborns, adolescents or youths growing up in the Jim Crow era.
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NORWAY EXPLOITING AFRICA
The Norwegian salmon farming industry devastates West African wildlife, food production and the economy. That’s according to European environmental group Feedback’s recent investigation.
Among the world’s top 20 farmed fish producers, 11 are in Norway. One of those is Mowi, which has established processing plants in Mauritania to turn wild fish into fishmeal and fish oil to feed farmed salmon in the world’s largest farmed fish operation.
It doesn’t help that Mauritania established a so-called ‘free zone,’ which offers incentives to foreign investors. That includes tax breaks, customs exemptions, and access to Mauritania’s infrastructure and services.
The Norwegian salmon farming industry devastates West African wildlife, food production and the economy. That’s according to European environmental group Feedback’s recent investigation.
Among the world’s top 20 farmed fish producers, 11 are in Norway. One of those is Mowi, which has established processing plants in Mauritania to turn wild fish into fishmeal and fish oil to feed farmed salmon in the world’s largest farmed fish operation.
It doesn’t help that Mauritania established a so-called ‘free zone,’ which offers incentives to foreign investors. That includes tax breaks, customs exemptions, and access to Mauritania’s infrastructure and services.
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Continued…..The free zone’s activities have devastated livelihoods and the environment in neighbouring Senegal, the Gambia and Guinea-Bissau. This is why Ghana’s first leader, Kwame Nkrumah, warned African countries against doing business with foreigners before uniting on a continent-wide vision.
How do you think African countries should create economic arrangements with foreign powers? Let us know in the comments.
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How do you think African countries should create economic arrangements with foreign powers? Let us know in the comments.
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US AMB. TO UN EVENT PAUSED DUE TO PRO-PALESTINE DISRUPTION
The US ambassador to the UN and second Black woman to lead that post, Linda Thomas Greenfield, was interrupted by pro-Palestine protestors as she opened her speech at a recent event hosted by Columbia University. Taking to the podium to speak on the theme, ‘Preventing and Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence’, Greenfield, ironically, has consistently vetoed multiple ceasefire resolutions to bring relief if not an end to Israel’s bloodthirsty assault on the Gaza Strip. Nearly 30,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed to date. Adding insult to injury, Israeli soldiers have been accused of rape and other forms of sexual abuse against Palestinian females and males during and prior to the current assault.
The US ambassador to the UN and second Black woman to lead that post, Linda Thomas Greenfield, was interrupted by pro-Palestine protestors as she opened her speech at a recent event hosted by Columbia University. Taking to the podium to speak on the theme, ‘Preventing and Addressing Conflict-Related Sexual Violence’, Greenfield, ironically, has consistently vetoed multiple ceasefire resolutions to bring relief if not an end to Israel’s bloodthirsty assault on the Gaza Strip. Nearly 30,000 Palestinians, mainly women and children, have been killed to date. Adding insult to injury, Israeli soldiers have been accused of rape and other forms of sexual abuse against Palestinian females and males during and prior to the current assault.
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Continued….The pathetic and sickening pattern of the US using Black faces in high places to advance its foreign policy objectives is all too familiar. Remember Colin Powell and Condoleeza Rice? This is the main reason why Kenya has been anointed to lead the UN-backed security force deployment to Haiti, sponsored and bankrolled by none other than Uncle Sam him and herself. American boots on the ground in the Caribbean island wouldn’t cut it, especially during a highly contested presidential election year where incumbent president Joe Biden (“Sleepy Joe”) needs each and every single vote to defeat his primary contender, Donald Trump.
Have a watch and let us know what you think in the comments section.
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Have a watch and let us know what you think in the comments section.
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BURKINA FASO CHURCH & MOSQUE ATTACKED
On 25 February, terror struck religious institutions in Burkina Faso.
Reports say a first attack killed several dozens at 5 a.m. during prayer at a mosque in the eastern village of Natiaboani. A few hours later, 15 Catholic worshippers were reportedly killed during a mass in the northern village of Essakane.
While the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES) is working to strengthen its mutual defence, such attacks continue to impact millions of civilians who live in border zones. Representatives of the three states that formed the AES—Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—have spoken about the imperialist roots of the violence. They trace the proliferation of paramilitary organisations in Africa’s Sahel region to NATO destabilising Libya in 2011. After Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was slain and overthrown, militias reportedly seized Libyan weapons that flooded the Sahel.
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On 25 February, terror struck religious institutions in Burkina Faso.
Reports say a first attack killed several dozens at 5 a.m. during prayer at a mosque in the eastern village of Natiaboani. A few hours later, 15 Catholic worshippers were reportedly killed during a mass in the northern village of Essakane.
While the newly formed Alliance of Sahel States (AES) is working to strengthen its mutual defence, such attacks continue to impact millions of civilians who live in border zones. Representatives of the three states that formed the AES—Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger—have spoken about the imperialist roots of the violence. They trace the proliferation of paramilitary organisations in Africa’s Sahel region to NATO destabilising Libya in 2011. After Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was slain and overthrown, militias reportedly seized Libyan weapons that flooded the Sahel.
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SOUTH AFRICA ELECTION : ANC LIKELY TO LOSE MAJORITY
Millions of South Africans are set to cast their votes in the upcoming general election. Scheduled for 29 May and coinciding with the 30th anniversary since the fall of apartheid, it has been described as South Africa’s most crucial election since Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first democratically-elected president in 1994.
While the campaign season has just kicked into high gear, many political analysts and commentators predict trouble for the African National Congress (ANC) party, which has been at the helm of the country’s governance for the entire post apartheid-era.
Opinion polls conducted by several research and academic organisations indicate that for the first time since 1994, the ANC will receive less than 50 percent of the national vote, a threshold required to form a majority government.
Millions of South Africans are set to cast their votes in the upcoming general election. Scheduled for 29 May and coinciding with the 30th anniversary since the fall of apartheid, it has been described as South Africa’s most crucial election since Nelson Mandela was sworn in as the first democratically-elected president in 1994.
While the campaign season has just kicked into high gear, many political analysts and commentators predict trouble for the African National Congress (ANC) party, which has been at the helm of the country’s governance for the entire post apartheid-era.
Opinion polls conducted by several research and academic organisations indicate that for the first time since 1994, the ANC will receive less than 50 percent of the national vote, a threshold required to form a majority government.
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Continued….Dwindling support for the ANC has been attributed to its failure to oversee a thorough dismantling of apartheid-era economic structures that are widely blamed for high levels of poverty among the country’s majority Black population. Rising crime and the increase in rotational electricity rationing, locally known as load-shedding have also contributed to voters fleeing from the ANC.
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Namibia’s minister of justice gave a strong speech at the International Court of Justice. Yvonne Dausab called for an end to the decades of injustice suffered by the Palestinian people. Speaking at a UN-instigated hearing into the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories, she spoke of Namibia’s shared pain and sense of moral duty to appear before the court, and urged the world “not to ignore the carnage waged against the Palestinians.”
But she also referenced Namibia’s brutal, colonial occupation by the Germans, and the genocide they perpetrated - massacring as many as 100,000 indigenous Namibians in what’s seen as the first genocide of the 20th century. Berlin has defended Tel Aviv against South Africa’s recent genocide case against Israel at the ICJ. Germany claims the case has 'no basis’ and accuses Pretoria of a 'political instrumentalisation' of the charge of violating the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention.
What do you think of Germany’s position and Namibia’s less-than-subtle rebuke?
But she also referenced Namibia’s brutal, colonial occupation by the Germans, and the genocide they perpetrated - massacring as many as 100,000 indigenous Namibians in what’s seen as the first genocide of the 20th century. Berlin has defended Tel Aviv against South Africa’s recent genocide case against Israel at the ICJ. Germany claims the case has 'no basis’ and accuses Pretoria of a 'political instrumentalisation' of the charge of violating the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention.
What do you think of Germany’s position and Namibia’s less-than-subtle rebuke?
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NIGERIANS PROTEST WORST ECONOMIC CRISIS IN DECADES
Thousands of Nigerians are rallying against high costs of living that have left hungry about 26 million people, or 12.4 per cent of the population.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), an umbrella organisation for trade unions, had called for two days of protests starting 27 February to pressure the government to tame inflation and boost a depreciating Naira, all of which has caused the worst economic crisis in decades in Africa’s biggest economy.
Nigeria’s central bank raised the interest rate by four percentage points on 27 February to 22.75 per cent, after the inflation rate reached a three-decade high of 29.9 per cent in January.
Thousands of Nigerians are rallying against high costs of living that have left hungry about 26 million people, or 12.4 per cent of the population.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), an umbrella organisation for trade unions, had called for two days of protests starting 27 February to pressure the government to tame inflation and boost a depreciating Naira, all of which has caused the worst economic crisis in decades in Africa’s biggest economy.
Nigeria’s central bank raised the interest rate by four percentage points on 27 February to 22.75 per cent, after the inflation rate reached a three-decade high of 29.9 per cent in January.
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Continued…After being elected last year, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu removed fuel subsidies and currency controls, immediately tripling petrol prices and spiking living costs as the Naira currency slid by 70 per cent against the US dollar. Tinubu has asked Nigerians to be patient, saying the moves are intended to attract foreign investment. However, Nigeria’s favourite jollof rice has doubled in price over the last year. Many are now eating poor-grade rice typically fed to fish.
If you are in Nigeria, have you joined the protests? If so, please let us know how it has gone on the ground.
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If you are in Nigeria, have you joined the protests? If so, please let us know how it has gone on the ground.
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UNRESOLVED CIVIL RIGHTS MURDER OF CLIFFTON WALKER
Clifton Walker was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan on February 28th, 1964, as he drove home from the International Paper Plant in Mississippi.
It was close to midnight, and he took a shortcut on Poor House Road to avoid the long drive via Woodville to go home to his wife and five children. The KKK Klansmen stopped his car, on the unpaved road, surrounded him and shot him at point-blank range in the face.
The next day, he was found dead with his feet on the floorboard under the wheel and his upper body flung across the passenger seat. This was believed to be the first act of racial violence and murder by the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
Clifton Walker was murdered by the Ku Klux Klan on February 28th, 1964, as he drove home from the International Paper Plant in Mississippi.
It was close to midnight, and he took a shortcut on Poor House Road to avoid the long drive via Woodville to go home to his wife and five children. The KKK Klansmen stopped his car, on the unpaved road, surrounded him and shot him at point-blank range in the face.
The next day, he was found dead with his feet on the floorboard under the wheel and his upper body flung across the passenger seat. This was believed to be the first act of racial violence and murder by the White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan.
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Continued….No arrests were made.
About two weeks before Walker's murder, some 200 members of the White Knights met and declared it a nationwide organisation in response to the growing civil-rights movement at the time. They held cross burnings and agreed to exterminate Blacks.
Walker was a Black American US Army veteran of the Korean war.
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About two weeks before Walker's murder, some 200 members of the White Knights met and declared it a nationwide organisation in response to the growing civil-rights movement at the time. They held cross burnings and agreed to exterminate Blacks.
Walker was a Black American US Army veteran of the Korean war.
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PINTO AND X: OVERLAPPING VISIONS AND FATES
Fifty-nine years ago, two Pan-African greats were taken from us. Kenya’s freedom fighter Pio Gama Pinto and Black civil-rights legend Malcom X were assassinated within the space of just three days, in February 1965. African Stream’s Sefu Sanni visited a memorial gathering at the former’s grave in Nairobi - and relates what other fascinating connections existed between the two icons, who are inspirations to this day. Please share your thoughts on these intertwined heroes.
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Fifty-nine years ago, two Pan-African greats were taken from us. Kenya’s freedom fighter Pio Gama Pinto and Black civil-rights legend Malcom X were assassinated within the space of just three days, in February 1965. African Stream’s Sefu Sanni visited a memorial gathering at the former’s grave in Nairobi - and relates what other fascinating connections existed between the two icons, who are inspirations to this day. Please share your thoughts on these intertwined heroes.
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BLACK KIDS TAUGHT TO CALM DOWN WHEN FACED BY COWARD COPS
Racism is rampant in the United States of America and its various institutions. Most notorious of all are the American police who are known to commit a number of homicides and other violent offences against Black civilians. It has gotten so bad that young children are taught how to be submissive and subservient to police rather than learning how to stand up for their rights and resist oppression.
In the long run, the Black liberation struggle has benefitted most when Black people have had the courage to contest settler authority and fight for their self defence. This was at the core of the Black Panther Party’s principles and actions.
What do you think of this approach? Will it keep SOME of our children safe? Is there any guarantee that the police won’t harm us? Ultimately, should we encourage submission or self-determination and self-defence? Share your thoughts below.
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Racism is rampant in the United States of America and its various institutions. Most notorious of all are the American police who are known to commit a number of homicides and other violent offences against Black civilians. It has gotten so bad that young children are taught how to be submissive and subservient to police rather than learning how to stand up for their rights and resist oppression.
In the long run, the Black liberation struggle has benefitted most when Black people have had the courage to contest settler authority and fight for their self defence. This was at the core of the Black Panther Party’s principles and actions.
What do you think of this approach? Will it keep SOME of our children safe? Is there any guarantee that the police won’t harm us? Ultimately, should we encourage submission or self-determination and self-defence? Share your thoughts below.
Please follow us on Telegram, Link in Bio
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