Pambazuka News 764: Africa: Our glorious heritage of struggle
03 March 2016
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TURNING ADWA INTO A GLOBAL HERITAGE SITE OF PAN-AFRICAN STRUGGLE Mammo Muchie  March 1 marks the 120th anniversary of the Battle of Adwa, a decisive victory of Ethiopia over Italian colonialism. This great victory has been a source of inspiration for struggles for freedom throughout the pan-African world. Adwa has important lessons for Africans in their resistance against new forms of oppression.
IF WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND AFRICAN HISTORY, WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE BATTLE OF ADWA Hannah Giorgis  The battle - and the greater narrative of Ethiopia's independence – is a powerful symbol of African resistance to European imperialism. "Ethiopianism" has often served as a basis for other black and African peoples' visions of political and spiritual liberation from colonial forces, both formal and informal. HOW I "MET" REEYOT Alemayehu G. Mariam  The Ethiopian dictatorship has succeeded to transform an ordinary teacher and journalist into an international symbol of press freedom, resistance to tyranny and courage under fire. Reeyot's story of commitment to truth, sacrifice, virtuousness, honesty, decency and humanity should inspire all young people in Ethiopia and Africa to stand up for their beliefs.
THE COUP THAT SET GHANA AND AFRICA 50 YEARS BACK Charles Quist-Adade  Nkrumah wanted to industrialize Ghana within a generation, and everything was on course until the Americans and their British cousins used some disgruntled and self-serving Ghanaian soldiers to stage that terrible coup on 24 February 1966. It was a major setback, not only for Ghana but the whole of Africa! REMEMBERING PINTO: HE WAS KILLED FOR SPEAKING TRUTH TO POWER Cyprian Fernandes  When the African American freedom fighter, Malcolm X, visited Kenya in 1959, he found he had a lot in common with Pinto. They planned a common strategy to deal with the daily humiliation and indignities suffered by both Africans and African-Americans. Malcolm X was assassinated on February 21, 1965, three days before Pinto. IN MEMORY OF THE LATE JM KARIUKI Rosemary Kariuki  Popular Kenyan politician Josiah Mwangi Kariuki is widely believed to have been assassinated by agents of the regime of Kenya's first president Jomo Kenyatta, whose son, Uhuru, is now head of state. JM was a sharp critic of Kenyatta's corrupt ethnic state. The truth about his murder – like several other political assassinations in Kenya – has never been fully known. A VICTIM OF CIRCUMSTANCES Peter Kenworthy  "I am a victim of circumstances", says activist Mphandlana 'Victim' Shongwe of the nickname he is known by because of the decades of state harassment he has endured in his homeland, Swaziland. "But what has kept me going is the desire to be free". TRIBUTE TO AMILCAR CABRAL BY POET ESPIRITO SANTO Kwame Opoku  In a 'Requiem for Amílcar Cabral', which is full of praises and admiration for Cabral, the Sao Tomean poet Espirito Santo underlines the important position of the Guinean leader in Africa before the barbarous act of his ambush and assassination and calls him the 'Guevara of Africa', an allusion to the great historic leader of the Cuban guerrilla warfare that overthrew the US- supported corrupt regime of Batista in 1959. BLACK POWER, WHITE BACKLASH: 150 YEARS OF STRUGGLE FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION AND SOCIALISM Since the American Civil War, Africans have been on the frontline of the movement against oppression and economic exploitation Abayomi Azikiwe  The struggle of African Americans against national oppression and economic exploitation has continued through the 20th century up until the anti-racist struggles today against police terrorism and the demands for self-determination in the workplace, public service, education and cultural affairs. 2016 being an election year makes it appropriate to review some of the important historical developments that continue to shape the politics of the second decade of the 21st century in America and the world.
CLAUDIA JONES: UNKNOWN PAN-AFRICANIST, FEMINIST AND COMMUNIST Ajamu Nangwaya  Claudia Jones' Pan-Africanism led to her advocacy for freedom of Caribbean and African peoples from colonialism. She used the organizational space of the Communist Party to advance the cause of anti-racism, world peace, decolonization and the class struggle. KENYA: IS THE NEW CONSTITUTION A 'MAGIC BULLET' FOR CHALLENGES FACING MINORITIES? Liz Alden Wily  How the National Constitution treats minorities is a good test of a nation's maturity. How government applies their rules is a good test of the state's maturity. EUROPE: TOWARD A MILITARY SOLUTION TO THE "MIGRANT CRISIS"? Samuel Albert  The refugee crisis in Europe continues to deepen, with knock-on effects around the world. Recently, NATO sent warships to the Aegean Sea in a very opaque manoeuvre – what could be the real intent of this? And what are the implications for the fleeing refugees?
KENYA: LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT ON CORRUPTION Paul Karanja Kenya is now the third most corrupt country in the world, according to a survey on prevalence of economic crimes released in Nairobi last week by audit firm PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PwC). Kenya only fared better than South Africa and France. The Jubilee government's numerous pledges to deal decisively with graft remain just that - pledges. Public despair is growing.
UHURU, WALK THE TALK ON CORRUPTION Boniface Mwangi The government of President Uhuru Kenyatta in Kenya has lost credibility in the eyes of citizens because of extensive corruption by people that are very close to the seat of power. New scandals are coming to light every other day. While Uhuru keeps talking about fighting the scourge of graft, nothing is happening on the ground.
LYING IN STATE: OFFICIAL DECEPTION IN THE JUBILEE ERA Patrick Gathara Politicians of the ruling Jubilee coalition in Kenya and public officials routinely lie to citizens, and the public has come to accept that as normal. This has led to a debilitating cynicism and resignation to the inevitability of deception. When the lies are not just expected but acceptable, when they no longer arouse outrage and when national policies can be built around them, it is evidence that the nation is sick. BIOMETRIC VOTER REGISTRATION: LESSONS FROM UGANDA ELECTIONS Rindai Chipfunde Vava The BVR system worked well in Uganda's recent elections. But BVR is not a silver bullet in solving all electoral issues. Inadequate voter education was a major problem as well as state interference and harassment of the opposition. The electoral commission was also perceived to be partisan in favour of Yoweri Museveni. MEDIA AS MISSING LINK IN RUSSIA-AFRICA RELATIONS Kester Kenn Klomegah Over the past few years, Russian authorities have been prioritizing media cooperation and the use of soft power to address the falling image of Russia among the political and business elites in Africa.
REMEMBERING CARLOS SANTANA'S GHANA VISIT 45 YEARS AGO Cameron Duodu A chance meeting in a hotel and a missed opportunity… How one journalist, with nothing to talk about, had his love of music transformed by a guitar riff and a drum beat. Cameron Duodu shares his memories from four decades ago.
INTERNATIONAL YOUTH ORGANIZATION CALLS FOR DEMOCRACY IN SWAZILAND Peter Kenworthy The International Union of Socialist Youth (IUSY) passed a resolution at its 31st world congress that called for a process that would unban political parties, remove repressive legislation and introduce multi-party democracy in Swaziland. JUSTICE FOR WALTER RODNEY COMMITTEE: RELEASE INQUIRY REPORT Statement to the media and public by the Justice for Walter Rodney Committee Guyana's President Granger has dismissed the report of the Walter Rodney Presidential Commission of Inquiry, without making the findings public. The Justice for Walter Rodney Committee insists that the report should be released to Dr Rodney's family, lawyers representing all sides and to the people of Guyana.
SCHOLARS PETITION PRESIDENT KOROMA OVER PROF. IBRAHIM ABDULLAH Eminent scholars from around the world have written to the president of Sierra Leone to intervene to save the career of Prof. Ibrahim Abdullah of the University of Sierra Leone. His treatment by University authorities could terminate his career or tarnish his hard-earned academic reputation.
UGANDA'S WOMEN WANT ELECTIONS BODY TO DECLARE RESULTS FORMS Women of Uganda press statement The women say that presidential election data are impossible to explain logically and warrant immediate independent scrutiny by patriotic Ugandan citizens.
Supporting Women Human Rights Defenders working on Extractives: Field Experience Sharing Session Roger Smith Hotel 501 Lexington Avenue. New York, NY 10017 Room Starlight Loft, Mezzanine Floor Date: 17 March from 2:30pm to 4:30pm  Supporting Women Human Rights Defenders working on Extractives: Field Experience Sharing Session The event will give participants a rare opportunity to hear firsthand
from Women Human Rights Defenders doing work on Extractives in Latin America,
Africa and South East Asia
Kindly RSVP by 14 March, 2016 to connie@urgentactionfund-africa.or.ke
Please note that there are limited spaces.
VIEW PDF
HUMAN RIGHTS EDUCATION COORDINATOR - DAKAR (1481) Closing Date:16 March 2016 Location:Dakar Type:Permanent Salary:€50,926 Amnesty International  Amnesty International's Regional Office is looking for an experienced Human Rights Education Coordinator to coordinate and develop Human Rights Education Programmes Online and Offline and implement together with colleagues Amnesty's Strategic Goals. REGIONAL CONTENT MANAGER (1454) Closing Date:17 March 2016 Location:Dakar Type:Permanent Salary:€50,926 Amnesty International For more than 50 years, we've been campaigning for human rights, wherever justice, freedom and truth are denied. We've reshaped policies, challenged governments and taken corporations to task. And in doing so, we've changed thousands of lives for the better. Right now, we're creating a new kind of force for human rights, combining Amnesty's strength and reputation with the voices of grassroots activists across the world. Delivering world class content that connects with people individually, you'll help us to realise this potential.
SENIOR ADVOCATE: UNITED NATIONS (AMERICAS) (1412) Closing Date:9 March 2016 Location:New York Type:Permanent Amnesty International The purpose of AI's work with the UN and other intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) is to ensure that AI's positions, concerns and recommendations are effectively communicated to IGO actors and are reflected in their actions and decisions. DONATE AND SUPPORT PAMBAZUKA! We appeal to you to make a brave decision today by donating at least five GBP (£ 5) a month to keep Pambazuka News free and independent.
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