We were not given a chance to respond to their accusation that we were “distorting the role of the U.S military in Somalia.” So, in the spirit of transparency we’re laying everything out here: the real facts about Washington’s role in Somalia’s unending insecurity crisis, the US Africa Command (AFRICOM) and some hard truths about the so-called ‘war on terror’ in Africa. Swipe through and let us know your thoughts.
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DECOLONISED MINDS EPISODE 6: EGYPT’S EINSTEIN
In this episode of ‘Decolonised Minds,’ African Stream’s Ahmed Ghoneim (@ahmed.ghoneim.official on IG) narrates the story of Dr. Ali Moustafa Mosharafa, known as ‘Egypt’s Einstein,’ whose contributions to physics and mathematics continue to resonate and inspire.
Born in 1898 in Damietta, Egypt, Mosharafa excelled early on, becoming the youngest student to earn a Baccalaureate certificate at 16. His academic journey took him to England, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a PhD, becoming the first Egyptian and the 11th man in the world to earn a Doctor of Science degree.
Returning to Egypt in 1925, Mosharafa quickly rose through the academic ranks, eventually becoming the Dean of the Faculty of Science at Cairo University.
In this episode of ‘Decolonised Minds,’ African Stream’s Ahmed Ghoneim (@ahmed.ghoneim.official on IG) narrates the story of Dr. Ali Moustafa Mosharafa, known as ‘Egypt’s Einstein,’ whose contributions to physics and mathematics continue to resonate and inspire.
Born in 1898 in Damietta, Egypt, Mosharafa excelled early on, becoming the youngest student to earn a Baccalaureate certificate at 16. His academic journey took him to England, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree and a PhD, becoming the first Egyptian and the 11th man in the world to earn a Doctor of Science degree.
Returning to Egypt in 1925, Mosharafa quickly rose through the academic ranks, eventually becoming the Dean of the Faculty of Science at Cairo University.
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Continued……His research, which included 25 published papers on quantum theory and relativity, broke new ground. Mosharafa also made complex scientific ideas accessible through lectures and broadcasts.
Tragically, his life was cut short in 1950 under mysterious circumstances, with some accusing Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, of foul play, as a way to destabilise Egypt. Albert Einstein, who frequently corresponded with Mosharafa, mourned his loss, saying, ‘We are in need of his talents; it is a great loss, and he was a genius.’
Mosharafa’s story is a testament to the power of knowledge, the brilliance of scientists on the African continent and the lasting impact one person can have on the world.
Tragically, his life was cut short in 1950 under mysterious circumstances, with some accusing Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, of foul play, as a way to destabilise Egypt. Albert Einstein, who frequently corresponded with Mosharafa, mourned his loss, saying, ‘We are in need of his talents; it is a great loss, and he was a genius.’
Mosharafa’s story is a testament to the power of knowledge, the brilliance of scientists on the African continent and the lasting impact one person can have on the world.
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ISRAELI SETTLERS TAKE OVER IBRAHIMI MOSQUE
This viral video shows Israeli settlers and what appear to be settler militia members taking over the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, West Bank, on 2 September, clearing rooms of Muslim items and moving in Jewish items to prepare for a concert and the performance of Jewish rituals.
This is textbook colonisation. Taking over a space that doesn’t belong to you and claiming it as your own is something that us Africans know about better than anyone due to the European colonisation of our lands.
As the Israelis were allowed to desecrate the mosque for their religious rituals, occupation forces banned Muslims from accessing the site.
The Jewish month of Elul ends on Rosh Hoshanah (or the Jewish New Year) on 2 October. Settlers began taking over the mosque for Jewish holidays since 1994. That’s when US settler Baruch Goldstein k*lled 29 Palestinians, a year when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Purim holiday overlapped.
This viral video shows Israeli settlers and what appear to be settler militia members taking over the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron, West Bank, on 2 September, clearing rooms of Muslim items and moving in Jewish items to prepare for a concert and the performance of Jewish rituals.
This is textbook colonisation. Taking over a space that doesn’t belong to you and claiming it as your own is something that us Africans know about better than anyone due to the European colonisation of our lands.
As the Israelis were allowed to desecrate the mosque for their religious rituals, occupation forces banned Muslims from accessing the site.
The Jewish month of Elul ends on Rosh Hoshanah (or the Jewish New Year) on 2 October. Settlers began taking over the mosque for Jewish holidays since 1994. That’s when US settler Baruch Goldstein k*lled 29 Palestinians, a year when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and the Jewish Purim holiday overlapped.
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Continued….. After then, occupation forces reduced Muslim access to one-third of the sacred site.
The Ibrahimi Mosque is also where the cave of the Patriarch is located. That portion is known to Jews as the Cave of Machpelah and to Muslims as the Sanctuary of Abraham. The series of caves are 30 kilometres south of Jerusalem.
In July, the International Court of Justice ruled the Israeli occupation unlawful, ordered the evacuation of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, called for reparations to Palestinians, and said states are not obligated to not recognise the occupation.
Video credit: @mariambarghouti (X)
The Ibrahimi Mosque is also where the cave of the Patriarch is located. That portion is known to Jews as the Cave of Machpelah and to Muslims as the Sanctuary of Abraham. The series of caves are 30 kilometres south of Jerusalem.
In July, the International Court of Justice ruled the Israeli occupation unlawful, ordered the evacuation of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, called for reparations to Palestinians, and said states are not obligated to not recognise the occupation.
Video credit: @mariambarghouti (X)
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AMERICA NEEDS BLACK PATHOLOGY NARRATIVE
In this clip, Dr Carol Anderson, a professor and chair of African American Studies at Emory University, remarked that the media pathologised Black people as they reported on the 2014 unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked by police k*lling an unarmed Black man, Michael Brown, Jr.
Black pathology describes a set of beliefs, narratives, or theories that attribute various social problems within the Black community to inherent or cultural deficiencies. However, it does not consider how capitalism, which needs racism to function effectively, oppresses our people in the United States.
Video Credit: @emoryuniversity (YouTube)
In this clip, Dr Carol Anderson, a professor and chair of African American Studies at Emory University, remarked that the media pathologised Black people as they reported on the 2014 unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked by police k*lling an unarmed Black man, Michael Brown, Jr.
Black pathology describes a set of beliefs, narratives, or theories that attribute various social problems within the Black community to inherent or cultural deficiencies. However, it does not consider how capitalism, which needs racism to function effectively, oppresses our people in the United States.
Video Credit: @emoryuniversity (YouTube)
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IVORIAN ICONIC SINGER DEFENDS SAHEL REVOLUTIONS
Meet Aicha Kone, a 67-year-old singer from the Ivory Coast who is making music to support the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). With a career spanning decades, Kone came to the spotlight in the 1970s, singing about political freedom for Africa. Her latest song, released in late August, applauds the revolutionary military governments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, landlocked countries in Africa’s arid Sahel region, south of the Sahara Desert.
She has met Niger’s president, General Abdourahamane Tiani and Burkina Faso’s president, Ibrahim Traoré, lauding their ‘courage to stand up and say loud and clear that they want to take their destiny into their own hands.’
Meet Aicha Kone, a 67-year-old singer from the Ivory Coast who is making music to support the Alliance of Sahel States (AES). With a career spanning decades, Kone came to the spotlight in the 1970s, singing about political freedom for Africa. Her latest song, released in late August, applauds the revolutionary military governments in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, landlocked countries in Africa’s arid Sahel region, south of the Sahara Desert.
She has met Niger’s president, General Abdourahamane Tiani and Burkina Faso’s president, Ibrahim Traoré, lauding their ‘courage to stand up and say loud and clear that they want to take their destiny into their own hands.’
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Continued……Drawing inspiration from the greats, such as South African singer Miriam Makeba (1932-2008), she calls for economic freedom, with lyrics like ‘I want my oil, I want my diamond, I want my gold,’ and ‘Fama [Malian Armed Forces], strength to you!’
With the commercialisation of African culture at the expense of its radicality, such as in the case of music genres such as Amapiano and Afrobeats, Kone’s work invites the masses to resurrect the legacy of the greats such as Makeba and Nigerian musician Fela Kuti (1938-97). Indeed, music is an integral part of revolution.
Have a watch, and let us know what you think.
With the commercialisation of African culture at the expense of its radicality, such as in the case of music genres such as Amapiano and Afrobeats, Kone’s work invites the masses to resurrect the legacy of the greats such as Makeba and Nigerian musician Fela Kuti (1938-97). Indeed, music is an integral part of revolution.
Have a watch, and let us know what you think.
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‘AFRICA FELT LIKE HOME STRAIGHT AWAY’
If you’re in the diaspora, your first visit to Africa can be life-changing. That’s what happened to KD Bowe from The Certified Man podcast. In this clip, he relates how - as a Black man from America - stepping onto African soil in Johannesburg felt like returning home. He made an instant connection with the land of his ancestors and was gripped by an overwhelming sensation of being “reunited with the soil of the DNA from which I came.”
Descendants of those kidnapped by Europeans and taken across the Atlantic were denied their culture, heritage, language and identity. Slaves were forced to adopt their master’s name, making it impossible for later generations to trace their African roots.
Do you agree that “we have to align ourselves with the original design for us”?
Video credit: @KDBowe
If you’re in the diaspora, your first visit to Africa can be life-changing. That’s what happened to KD Bowe from The Certified Man podcast. In this clip, he relates how - as a Black man from America - stepping onto African soil in Johannesburg felt like returning home. He made an instant connection with the land of his ancestors and was gripped by an overwhelming sensation of being “reunited with the soil of the DNA from which I came.”
Descendants of those kidnapped by Europeans and taken across the Atlantic were denied their culture, heritage, language and identity. Slaves were forced to adopt their master’s name, making it impossible for later generations to trace their African roots.
Do you agree that “we have to align ourselves with the original design for us”?
Video credit: @KDBowe
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From German soldiers vacating their base in Niger, to anger at the petrol pump in Nigeria, here’s our weekly photo dump.
1. Wunstorf, Germany – German soldiers return home after vacating their airbase in Niger. Following unsuccessful negotiations with Nigerien authorities regarding legal immunity for its personnel, Germany agreed to hand over the base in July. Niamey is pursuing new alliances and an anti-colonial security strategy.
2. Nairobi, Kenya – University of Nairobi students protest outside the Ministry of Education, calling the new university funding model discriminatory and punitive. They argue it blocks students from poor households from accessing higher education.
3. Goma, DR Congo – A follower of the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith movement holds a photo of Burkina Faso revolutionary Thomas Sankara. The gathering marked one year since 50 people were killed by an elite Congolese army unit during a protest against UN peacekeepers. Families still demand justice.
1. Wunstorf, Germany – German soldiers return home after vacating their airbase in Niger. Following unsuccessful negotiations with Nigerien authorities regarding legal immunity for its personnel, Germany agreed to hand over the base in July. Niamey is pursuing new alliances and an anti-colonial security strategy.
2. Nairobi, Kenya – University of Nairobi students protest outside the Ministry of Education, calling the new university funding model discriminatory and punitive. They argue it blocks students from poor households from accessing higher education.
3. Goma, DR Congo – A follower of the Natural Judaic and Messianic Faith movement holds a photo of Burkina Faso revolutionary Thomas Sankara. The gathering marked one year since 50 people were killed by an elite Congolese army unit during a protest against UN peacekeepers. Families still demand justice.
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Continued….. 4. Gedaref, Sudan – A Sudanese Sufi man performs a traditional dance to celebrate Mawlid al-Nabawi, honouring the birth of Prophet Muhammad.
5. Lagos, Nigeria –
Nigerians line up at Petrol stations as pump prices soar. Frustration is growing over President Tinubu’s economic reforms amid high inflation and a weakening currency.
6. Maputo, Mozambique – A man rests by a wall covered in FRELIMO campaign posters as Mozambique begins its presidential race ahead of the October 9 national election.
7. Moscow, Russia – Russia and Senegal's foreign ministers meet to strengthen ties in energy, agriculture, mineral exploration, and fisheries. They also addressed Africa’s security challenges, including terrorism in the Sahel and the Sudan and DRC crises.
5. Lagos, Nigeria –
Nigerians line up at Petrol stations as pump prices soar. Frustration is growing over President Tinubu’s economic reforms amid high inflation and a weakening currency.
6. Maputo, Mozambique – A man rests by a wall covered in FRELIMO campaign posters as Mozambique begins its presidential race ahead of the October 9 national election.
7. Moscow, Russia – Russia and Senegal's foreign ministers meet to strengthen ties in energy, agriculture, mineral exploration, and fisheries. They also addressed Africa’s security challenges, including terrorism in the Sahel and the Sudan and DRC crises.
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UGANDAN ATHLETE’S BRUTAL DEATH STIRS FEMICIDE WARNINGS
There have been widespread calls for justice after the killing of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei.She was reportedly set on fire by her ex-boyfriend in her Kenyan home on Sunday and later died from her injuries.Her father has demanded the ‘murderer’ is charged and the case has again raised concern over femicide in Kenya. Two other female athletes have been killed by intimate partner violence in the county since 2021. According to Africa Data Hub, there have been over 500 reported femicide cases between 2016 and 2023.In a post on X, Uganda’s athletics federation said, ‘we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.’The United Nations also made a statement, warning gender-based violence is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. Global tributes continue to pour in for Rebecca. Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo, says the French capital will name a sports venue in her honour.
There have been widespread calls for justice after the killing of Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei.She was reportedly set on fire by her ex-boyfriend in her Kenyan home on Sunday and later died from her injuries.Her father has demanded the ‘murderer’ is charged and the case has again raised concern over femicide in Kenya. Two other female athletes have been killed by intimate partner violence in the county since 2021. According to Africa Data Hub, there have been over 500 reported femicide cases between 2016 and 2023.In a post on X, Uganda’s athletics federation said, ‘we condemn such acts and call for justice. May her soul rest In Peace.’The United Nations also made a statement, warning gender-based violence is one of the most prevalent human rights violations in the world. Global tributes continue to pour in for Rebecca. Paris mayor, Anne Hidalgo, says the French capital will name a sports venue in her honour.
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WHY AFRICANS STILL NEED TO ‘GO EXTERNAL’
Go ‘external’ - that’s what African nations do every time they need anything. So alleges Zimbabwean pan-African activist Brian Kagoro in this snippet from a speech he gave at a recent security symposium in Rwanda. Be it defence, finance, development - we’re dependent on our former colonisers for help. And that’s no accident. He says they left us with weak institutions that made us dependent on them - intellectually, economically and in terms of security. The old ‘divide-and-rule’ keeps striking again and again. Is he being too harsh? And if not - what’s the answer?
Video credit: @Kigali Today
Go ‘external’ - that’s what African nations do every time they need anything. So alleges Zimbabwean pan-African activist Brian Kagoro in this snippet from a speech he gave at a recent security symposium in Rwanda. Be it defence, finance, development - we’re dependent on our former colonisers for help. And that’s no accident. He says they left us with weak institutions that made us dependent on them - intellectually, economically and in terms of security. The old ‘divide-and-rule’ keeps striking again and again. Is he being too harsh? And if not - what’s the answer?
Video credit: @Kigali Today
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THE IMPORTANCE OF INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES
In this video, Pan-Africanist author and social entrepreneur Joshua Maponga (@joshua_maponga on IG) highlights the importance of indigenous languages for Africans.
He does this by using the example of the Mususu plant that acts a remedy for stomach issues. In Venda, a Bantu language spoken in parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe, ‘susu’ means stomach and, so, he argues that if the community were to use a foreign name for the plant, they would ultimately forget its use.
Do you think Africans are losing touch with their own indigenous languages and cultures? Let us know in the comments below
Video Credit: THEE ALFA HOUSE (YouTube)
In this video, Pan-Africanist author and social entrepreneur Joshua Maponga (@joshua_maponga on IG) highlights the importance of indigenous languages for Africans.
He does this by using the example of the Mususu plant that acts a remedy for stomach issues. In Venda, a Bantu language spoken in parts of South Africa and Zimbabwe, ‘susu’ means stomach and, so, he argues that if the community were to use a foreign name for the plant, they would ultimately forget its use.
Do you think Africans are losing touch with their own indigenous languages and cultures? Let us know in the comments below
Video Credit: THEE ALFA HOUSE (YouTube)
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