AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

Without being too judgmental, most of us will agree that Bob Marley is one of our all time legend personalities. His music was real,his messages were carried life by themselves.His popularity across the globe is/was untouchable. To this day,his music is widely listened to and its one of the tunes that will witness a crowd going wild but with peace. His music was all season to mean that he sang for all causes.

Like many musicians of his time, he was concerned about the welfare of the world and specifically African continent where before he even stepped on its soul,he believed that was his home. One of the things that he called for was UNITY. We know that his efforts saw no child, Africa never united.But what happened to the idea of UNITED AFRICA? Can the same idea resurrect again?See Bob Marley in the video below and tell me what you think.

To millions of people in the world,today is Valentine’s Day. Like many things in the world, the real story behind this day is not very clear and surprisingly no one will even admit to historical facts errors even if new proofs accompanied by new sciences would back up their new stories. Its for the hypocrisy,greed and fear that lots of stones are left unturned for centuries and centuries.Nobody wants to tell the corporate world that Valentine’s Day is not about love anymore but about business and economies.Most of us can not even remember anymore what this day actually mean or supposed to mean. Who is fooling us? It might be ourselves using our laziness to read,research and even ask some basic questions.We let it flow,day after day as if history will never torment us some day.

If I had authority to change the name of this day,I would call it the “Business of Love Day”.Its a shame that the day is judged not by thoughts and considerations but about “what did you buy me”.To make matters worse no one is talking about spreading and preaching word love as it means.Do not then be surprised to have a scene of lovers passing a homeless man and care less about his wellbeing.Do not question why the world is full of wars,explosions, terror attacks,political hypocrisy overshadowing every single mean of words like peace,democracy,human rights and associates.

Well,I guess that is our world even though some of us can now firmly state that it is not the world we ever dreamed of and few are making it the way it is.Today, its valentine’s day with a winter storm in most parts of North America. Now tell me,who would not dream of a place like the one you see above?I am and for all means dreaming of Africa today.

Africa is not only about wars,diseases,corruption, deaths and tooth to tooth struggles! If you happen to be an african advocate, you have probably lamented that way when you constantly see in the news what western media prefers to feed its viewers and readers.Almost nothing positive comes out of Africa.I am using a word “almost” because I do not get to see all the channels and newspapers all the time. When the recent war between Somalia and Ethiopia broke out,it made it to mainstream headlines out here in North America and surely around the globe.When Kenyans peacefully voted for their constitution reform last year it was not news.It did not worth reporting.Such examples are millions and millions.

However, an important question need to be asked. What does our African media report?Does the western media get the bumps from ourselves? Why don’t you read this website headlines and see what I am talking about.

As of today,Canadians and Americans who will be traveling by air across their borders as well as to Mexico and the Caribbean are supposed to carry their passports along with them. The move is said to be geared towards increased border security across all borders.In common terms,both Canadian and American authorities agrees that the borders needs to be more secure than ever before. As we know,the 9/11 attacks at World Trade Center in New York did drastically change the way across the borders issues are viewed and put in perspective.In fact, the whole world reviewed their policies on immigration procedures and border securities.It became a new mantra among politicians and policy makers.

However,because the “bring along your passport” idea originated in US,the whole move sounds “American” something which to many Canadians it indicates US distancing itself from Canada or slowly but smartly cutting the “friendship” that has existed for centuries apart from its ups and downs.Some have even predicted the beginning of the long walk towards redefining what Canadians and US friendship will look like in next 10-20 years.

Most of us will definitely agree that all nations in the world(including Canada and America) needs and must protect their borders. However, when it comes to way Canada and America talks and practice “border securities” subjects the sense I get is that different standards are put in place between or among the air travel from land or even sea travelers.

If you have ever traveled by land, lets say by Greyhound, Coach Canada or any other means of public transport across the borders you would have noticed that passengers are allowed on board without going through any high tech detectors like the ones you see at airports. The luggage are never screened.Literally,you are free to bring on board whatever you want to.Come with your liquids,come with your toy gun for your kids,no problem! The best the bus driver will do is to check whether you have a right ticket for the date that you want to travel.
Now let us assume that a small airplane at Pearson International Airport carries 45 passengers on the way to Detroit, Michigan. The same number of passengers boards the bus at Toronto Greyhound terminal on its way to the same destination as the small plane from Pearson.Is there any difference in the importance of life of these two groups of passengers? Many politicians,policy makers and citizens will agree with me that no,we do not have classes or rather we should not have. But is there any better way of meaning what we preach than practically doing it? Do we clearly split it out that we have classes when it comes to securities and values of lives? If not, then what criteria is used to determine the level of security that someone deserves or not deserve?

Applauding any move towards increased securities(not only at borders but also internal) should go hand in hand with treating everybody equally.What do you think?

If there is one thing that most of North Americans (and nearly all developed countries in the world), is that each one is suffering from certain types of debts.Most of those debts are financial debts although spiritual and moral debts are slowly becoming heavier and heavier. Most people,especially after holidays like Christmas, will head towards their kitchen tables, holding enough amount of bills wondering what happened,what went wrong and where the hell do I get these monies to pay back the debts? The fact is most people survives from a pay check to pay check.

Now having any type of debt is never a good feeling.No wonder some have committed suicide, some have committed murder, stole, became highly depressed, went deep with mental issue etc.The question is how do we get there? Is having debts stupidity or its the ultimate price of “development”? And are you one of those people who hates bill collectors to death?What happened?

Greetings,
Miraculously the year 2007 has already kicked in which suggests that all things that were done or undone in 2007 goes into historical archives waiting to be shared mostly among history students and their professors. They say the world is too busy to remember everything or try to keep history alive and a tool for learning. Soon we will forget about Saddam Hussein, shall we?

Whilst a new year comes along, lots of people are usually busy with resolutions. Loosing wait, eating more healthy, exercising, go back to school, get engaged, get married, fall in love for the first time or again, rob a bank (yes, there are some whacko’s out there) etc. Resolutions are both realistic and daydreams. Nonetheless, a new year means new hope. Just the fact that you heard the bells and shouts plus seeing the fireworks brings when the big clock was almost counting 12:00am brings some sense of life. You deserve to celebrate dear pal because it’s the ugly fact that lots of people were not blessed to see those digits changing.

Nevertheless, apart from all the joys that a new year brings into our hearts the challenge of setting goals and wishes is always overwhelming. It does not surprise me that I have chosen 2007 to be a year with no explicit plans. It came like a wind and would like to see it going away the same way. That means I am trying to be realistic or unrealistic, depends on how you view it. Previously, I used to look up and set goals, did I achieve all of them? Half of them? Was I swept by high tides of the world and could not even remember my goals? Let us allow heaven to judge.

In favor of 2007, I carry with me wishes and hopes instead of goals. Why wishes and hopes instead of goals Jeff? Well….let us wait and see. The following are samples of my wishes.

I wish less and less people get infected by HIV/ AIDS and almost no one dies of the disease in 2007

I hope US will come to realization that when you turn the other cheek it does not necessarily mean you are weak and get out of Iraq and all other places on earth they unlawful occupy.

I wish to see less and less people die from hunger and preventable diseases.

I wish to see no one sleeps in the corridors of cities and towns for being homeless while unnecessary wars destroys homes and lives of millions.

I wish to see tolerance of other people’s cultures, traditions and religions is highly practiced and respected fully.

I wish to see less and less destruction to the environment. We must love our environment, politicizing environmental issues is a hell of mistake we are making as human beings.

I wish equal rights will no longer be just a vocabulary word but a practical reality of humanity whereby no “double standards”

Literally my wishes list goes down to 99, long list eenh! What are your wishes? Do we share same views? Happy New Year.

What are you doing for Christmas? That question has been thrown on my face thousands of times in the last few weeks.I have been asked that question so many times to the extent that now, whenever I am about to meet anyone that I know has not asked me before, I volunteer the answers. Everybody is busy with preparations for Christmas holidays. Over 2 billions dollars will be spend just this month for gift-exchange programs. I call them programs because I am yet to get the history behind exchanging gifts among relatives,friends, colleagues, and almost all the people you know and have been close by in the year if not years.I am told it takes up to March for most people to start recovering from the debts earned during the programs.Uh!

But there is one thing that I must admit about the season out here.It is exciting!You can not just walk away from this end of the year buzz! I also know that it annoys sometimes. The over crowded malls, busy than usual roads, crazily drivers who are on the rush to get some last minutes presents for families and friends, all day x mas songs and commercials on television. Well,you are not alone, some Christmas songs are boring, lets be real for Gods sake.

Literally everything else collapses during this time of the year. Its all about Christmas and some politics of whether calling greeting people with Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Does it real matter?So that brings about my question. Must everybody be doing something for Christmas? Why am I being asked the above question over and over again? Unfortunately, the above question is not asked plainly.It is asked with great expectations. When I reply that I have no plans for Christmas, have nothing like a Christmas tree at my house, my kids have not been to the mall to take a picture with Santa and have not bought any gift for anybody, there comes a look!Must we all celebrate Christmas? Are you?

Today is World AIDS/HIV day. I do not fancy the idea of having a “specific day” for a crisis that affects millions of lives everyday. To me, in most of the times, the specific days takes away commitment and essence of the struggle. However, that is probably how it has always been and I have little choice than to agree with the “system” before the system rejects me!

Africa, for all the reasons, remains the most affected continent when it comes to this pandemic. The vulnerability goes hand in hand with long rooted historical, economical, social and political causes. No one can even explain best on the question what happened and what should be done. Theories and theories emerge every other day. No one seems to be getting it right because the fact remains that millions are dying, millions are suffering.

Therefore, I believe, there has to be some sorts of twists and shouts if we are to witness drastic changes not only on how to fight the killer disease but also on how we prepare the current and next generation’s future.

Apparently, I have heard some people arguing that contacting HIV/AIDS is almost a matter of choice. If you know that you could be exposing yourself to the disease why have unprotected sex? Why use drugs, share needles and other stuff with people who you believe they could have been infected? While, on a short note would like to agree with them, the consideration I never stop highlighting is circumstances. That is when I love the idea of not judging anyone but instead extend the arms of love, grace and unconditional support. We should all do just that.

AIDS/HIV is real. I can hardly think of a family, specifically in continental Africa, that has not lost a dear one, has not lost a friend, a neighbor, a colleague etc due to the disease. That should, therefore, inform each one of us that HIV/AIDS does not discriminate and pays no attention to gender or even sexual orientation.

While I insist that education going together with support is crucial, I also want to remember all those who have passed away. R.I.P. I also know that millions of brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, fellow countrymen and women are suffering and struggling with the disease. To all of you, the only thing I can say is never loose hope, keep fighting and never give up.

The results for the first round of votes towards Canadian Blogs Awards are out.As you all know this blog had been nominated for Best Cultural Blog category.Unfortunately, this blog did not make it to the second round. You can see the results here. Does that surprise you? For sure it surprised me. I thought I had a better blog especially in that specific category of my nomination. What do you think?

What I know is that a lot of you voted for me. The numbers of e-mails, phone calls, sms etc. were overwhelming. THANK YOU very much to each one of you. That meant love, support, dedication, honor, respect and commitment towards Africa, culture, traditions, humanity and development.

This blog, at a wider point of view, stands for all of the above. Its people like you who, therefore, make it worthwhile to write, read and get challenged sometimes. I must also agree that the nomination made me feel good, made me feel that I am not just writing just in vain but for a live audience out there. Thank you to whoever suggested to the committee that I am nominated. That is enough reason for me to continue writing. I shall.

I wish the rest of the bloggers whose blogs have made it to second round all the best. Feel more than free to write what you think. Lastly, I know some of you will be mad that I did not win. To all of you please play the below video, stand up and dance to Three Little Birds by one of my all time legend, Bob Marley. Thanks a lot.

I am currently reading a book titled Fashioning Africa:Power and the Politics of Dress which is edited by Jean Allman. Thanks to my friend Scout of Harper Valley for recommending to me this book through sending me one of the essays. The book is fascinating. It is like reading the history again, in different perspective. The book revisits some historical facts and histories using “fashion”. The book tries to draw a clear close connection between the clothes we wear and our political expression. The book bases on facts that to date, few scholars have explored what clothing means in 20th-century Africa and the Diaspora.

The book is a collection of essays from an international group of anthropologists, historians, and art historians who bring rich and diverse perspectives to this fascinating topic. From clothing as an expression of freedom in early colonial Zanzibar to Somali women’s head covering in inner-city Minneapolis. These essays explore the power of dress in African and pan-African settings. Nationalist and diasporic identities, as well as their histories and politics, are examined at the level of what is put on the body every day.

Above are pictures of three African leaders. On the left is Nigerian President, Oleusegun Obasanjo, on the middle is my Tanzanian president,Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete and on the right is King Mswati III of the kingdom of Swaziland. Now with reflection of connection that you think our clothing styles have with our political,social and even economical stances, do you see anything in common or out of common in these leaders? What can you say about cultural issues by looking at the pictures?