Continued.......The rebellions against slavery continued aboard the ships; there were numerous incidents of revolts by enslaved Africans against their captors and tormentors. Some estimates suggest that about 8 to 10 per cent of boats carrying enslaved people experienced some form of revolt.

Even after arriving on the plantations on the other side of the Atlantic, the resistance against slavery continued. Some of the most notable rebellions include the 1760 Tacky's revolt in Jamaica, the largest uprising of enslaved people against the British empire in the 18th century.
The most significant revolts occurred in the then-French colony of Saint-Domingue in 1791 when enslaved people rose and defeated French government forces. The revolt's success led to establishing the first Black republic in the world, Haiti.
Similar rebellions raged across the Americas. These revolts planted fear in the hearts of the plantation owners and the British Empire, making them think twice about slavery.

The second factor that made the British Empire abandon slavery was economic and not moral reasons.
By the 1800s, the sugar industry, which was one of the most significant users of slave labour, especially in the Caribbean, became unprofitable due to overproduction, which resulted in higher supply than demand. In simple terms, slavery was no longer making economic sense.
Also, the rapid colonialisation drive in Africa meant that Britain and other colonisers wanted Africans to stay on the continent so that they could be exploited there.
The empire found it cheaper and less cumbersome to use indentured labour from India on the Caribbean plantations than using enslaved Africans.

If morality were the driving reason, then the British government would have compensated the formerly enslaved people instead of paying millions of pounds to the enslavers. In fact, the Africans did not only walk away empty-handed; they had to raise £27 million of the 47 million pounds that was paid to the enslavers by working for an additional four years after the British parliament had abolished slavery. Is this the 'driving force' Musk wants more people to know?

SOURCES:

https://slaveryandremembrance.org/articles/article/?id=A0032
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/z732pv4/revision/5


https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/feb/11/lets-end-delusion-britain-abolished-slavery

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/20/gladstone-wellington-peel-britain-pro-slavery-british-history-abolition

https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/lj8jik/did_the_british_empire_really_outlaw_slavery_for/

https://x.com/jasonhickel/status/1533092897213583366?lang=en

https://archives.history.ac.uk/history-in-focus/Slavery/articles/walvin.html

https://www.historyhit.com/reasons-why-britain-abolished-slavery/

https://www.penguin.co.uk/articles/2020/06/myth-britain-slavery-clean-break-afua-hirsch-british

UNIFY UNDER THE BANNER OF THE UNITED STATES OF AFRICA

It's an intergenerational struggle that goes back at least one century: The fight for Africa's total unification. Long understood to be the key to Africa's freedom and the emancipation of Africans everywhere, the goal of creating a 'United States of Africa' was articulated as early as 1887 by the Kansas African Emigration Association. This would influence great Pan-African leaders from Marcus Garvey (1887-1940) to Kwame Nkrumah (1909-72).

The understanding that unification is the pathway towards Africa's freedom led countries such as Mali to state in their constitution, 'For the achievement of African Unity (XV), the Republic of Mali may conclude with any African state agreements of association or of a community comprising the partial or total abandonment of sovereignty of Mali (Article 117).' It led Tanganyika to unite with Zanzibar to establish Tanzania and Mali to temporarily unite with Senegal.

Continued......Today, the struggle continues, as the countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, fight for unification under a Pan-African federation. Civilians and government officials within the bloc have been clear that their end goal is total African unity.

To some, this might sound unrealistic. How can a continent that is so vast and so diverse possibly unite? To understand this, we leave you with two book recommendations: 1) Africa Must Unite (1963) by Kwame Nkrumah and 2) Black Africa: The Economic and Cultural Basis for a Federated State (1978) by Cheikh Anta Diop.

What do you think about unifying the African continent into one superstate? Let us know in the comments.

SOURCES:

https://www.fao.org/faolex/results/details/en/c/LEX-FAOC128393

https://www.blackagendareport.com/essay-why-africa-must-unite-kwame-nkrumah-1963

https://aaregistry.org/poem/hail-united-states-of-africa-by-marcus-garvey

https://dailynews.co.tz/a-shared-pan-african-success-story-60-years-of-unity-leadership-and-commitment

https://stichproben.univie.ac.at/fileadmin/user_upload/p_stichproben/Artikel/Nummer38/04_Text_on_Mali_Federation_WURZER_doi.pdf

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9NUJwYt0OT/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yNz_t0HzWLXezy9Hy5gB4OON2hFbLrwT/view?usp=sharing

https://www.amazon.com/Black-Africa-Economic-Cultural-Federated/dp/1556520611

https://rutgers.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?vid=01RUT_INST:01RUT&docid=alma991006912539704646

WHO IS ISRAEL FIGHTING? COMEDIAN ON PALESTINE

In his February tour of London comedy clubs, stand-up comedian Aamer Rahman emphasised that Israel's actions in Gaza are not directed against militant group H*mas, but constitute the destruction of the Palestinian people. To justify the violence, they resort to gaslighting, deflection and blaming the occupied Palestinians for their actions. 

A year after the 7 October escalation in the 76-year Israeli occupation of Palestine, the military onslaught continues, with no ceasefire or arms embargo in sight.

So far, Israel has k*lled more than 42,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. However, according to the Lancet medical journal, the death toll as of early July may have already topped 186,000. Plus, by September, University of Edinburgh global health chair Devi Sridhar estimated deaths at 335,000.

Continued.......Recently, Israel extended its offensive into Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran, raising fears of another world war.

Rahman pointed out that all colonised people can relate to the struggles of the Palestinian people. For example, post-apartheid South Africa has been in solidarity with Palestinians, including providing material support. 'Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians,' said South African freedom fighter and first post-apartheid President Nelson Mandela. Meanwhile, during apartheid, the white supremacist regime aided Israel, a white supremacist settler colony.

Rahman added that Israel has been testing out tactics and sophisticated weaponry, which oppressive governments can deploy against marginalised populations, as has been done in the past. Thoughts?

Video credit: @aamer_rahman on X

SOURCES:

Gaza death toll
https://www.yahoo.com/news/gaza-health-ministry-palestinian-death-130322598.html

Lancet figure
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01169-3/fulltext

Devi Sridhar figure
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/sep/05/scientists-death-disease-gaza-polio-vaccinations-israel

Israel bombardments
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/longform/2024/10/8/one-year-of-israels-war-on-gaza-by-the-numbers

https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2024/4/23/photos-200-days-of-israels-war-on-gaza

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/amount-of-israeli-bombs-dropped-on-gaza-surpasses-that-of-world-war-ii/3239665

Mandela quote
http://www.mandela.gov.za/mandela_speeches/1997/971204_palestinian.htm

South African apartheid regime and Israel
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/feb/07/southafrica.israel

FRENCH ORANO SQUEEZED OUT OF PRODUCTION IN NIGER

French mining company Orano has announced it will suspend uranium production in Niger from October 31, opting to perform only maintenance activities. The company cited strained relations with the new military government, financial challenges, and difficulties obtaining export licenses as reasons for the halt. Additionally, Niger’s closed border with Benin has impacted logistics, as the landlocked nation depends on Benin’s ports for export routes. Orano had proposed using air transport via Namibia for uranium exports, but Nigerien authorities did not respond. For years, the firm has benefited from favorable treatment, including tax breaks and exemptions from export and customs duties.

Continued......Niger’s government has been moving toward revising foreign mining regulations. In June, it revoked Orano’s license to mine the Imouraren site, one of the largest uranium deposits globally, with reserves estimated at 200,000 tons. Niger ranks as the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer and holds Africa’s highest-grade uranium ores. On September 19, Niger’s government passed a draft decree to establish the Timersoi National Uranium Company, signaling a shift toward greater national control over its resources.

While French interests have long dominated Nigerien uranium, fueling Europe for decades, Niger itself has seen little economic benefit. Although uranium comprises 80% of Niger’s exports, it accounts for only 5% of its economy, and only 10-20% of urban Niger has access to electricity.

Continued....... This reality also manifested in Niger being one of the world’s poorest nations, with a GDP per capita of $1,550 (PPP) in 2023. Under General Tchiani’s administration, Niger has seen impressive economic growth, with projections indicating a leap to 9.9% growth in 2024 from 2.4% in 2023, according to the IMF.

Sources:
News
https://www.barrons.com/news/nuclear-energy-firm-orano-halts-niger-uranium-production-ed2fd6b6

Niger GDP PPP
https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/the-poorest-countries-in-the-world.html

Nothing to show for uranium exports
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214790X17301429

7th largest producer
https://www.neimagazine.com/news/nigers-uranium-remains-focus-of-international-interest/

IMF projections on Niger
https://www.imf.org/en/Publications/WEO/Issues/2024/10/22/world-economic-outlook-october-2024

Opposition supporters took to the streets of the Mozambican capital, Maputo, to protest against the government's alleged electoral fraud shortly after the country's National Electoral Commission (CNE) announced that Daniel Chapo of the ruling democratic-socialist Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO) won the 9 October election.

According to the CNE, Chapo garnered 71 per cent of the votes, way ahead of his closest opponent, Venâncio Mondlane, who ran on the ticket of the Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique (PODEMOS).

Since the day of voting, Mondlane has accused FRELIMO of tampering with the results. This has led to nearly daily protests in the capital and other major urban cities where the opposition leader enjoys significant support.

Mondlane accused security forces of orchestrating the 19 October double murder of his lawyer, Elvino Dias, and PODEMOS official Paulo Guambe, a charge that the government has denied. However, Mondlane's accusation has added fuel to the volatile situation.

Continued......More protests are expected in the coming days despite warnings from Filipe Nyusi, the outgoing president who served a maximum of two terms who is also a FRELIMO leader, of stern action against protesters who engage in acts of violence.

SOURCES:

https://www.enca.com/news/mozambique-warns-protesters-ahead-election-results

https://clubofmozambique.com/news/mozambique-elections-police-fire-tear-gas-in-maputo-to-disperse-marchers-who-were-beginning-to-gather-269171/

https://clubofmozambique.com/news/mozambique-elections-venancio-mondlane-confirms-general-strike-for-monday-aim-269142/

https://www.arabnews.com/node/2576463/amp

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c14lzy75355o

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/gunmen-kill-two-mozambique-opposition-figures-ahead-election-protests-2024-10-19

https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/world/article/2001505104/mozambican-opposition-leader-says-security-forces-killed-his-lawyer

https://clubofmozambique.com/news/mozambique-nyusi-demands-speedy-action-over-murders-of-elvino-dias-and-paulo-guambe-watch-269414

MOROCCO’S FADING INDIGENOUS TATTOOS

The women of Morocco's Amazigh community - the largest in North Africa - have tattooed their faces for centuries. However, this tradition is slowly fading due to changing religious attitudes in recent decades. Many attribute the fading of facial tattoos to Morocco's changing religious attitudes in recent decades, with interpretations of Islam where inked skin and other body modifications like piercings are seen as against Islamic teachings. Some challenge this perception and argue the claim that it is haram has no basis in the Koran.

The designs of the tattoos vary among the different tribes and were originally used to symbolise the wearer's origins, fertility, and protection.