Another Africa-"one country" summit

Leaders of 50 nations in Africa meet this week in Turkey for a Turkey-Africa summit.
There have been a recent increase in the number of summits of this kind: France-Africa, China-Africa, Japan-Africa, India-Africa... and now Turkey-Africa.
I really don't know what to make of it. Summits such as Africa-EU, Africa-America seem normal. Summits between groups of developing nations such as Africa-South America summit are even better. But the whole Africa meeting with Turkey...I don't know.
Is this a good sign? Meaning leaders in Africa are looking for new and diversified partnerships?
Or do all these summits, one after another, with many promises done, do these summits just illustrate that, as usual, African leaders are looking for outsiders to come and "save" their continent?

Why so much attention to Africa lately? That's the question...
I hope the political and economical leadership in Africa is asking the same question and is planning to capitalize on that.

al

Pourquoi Mugabe beneficie-t-il encore d'un certain soutien Africain

Apres une crise economique qui ne fait que s'accentuer, une election marquee d'irregularites, et des abus de droit de l'homme, les Zimbabweens esperent aujourd'hui que les pourparlers en cours entre le MDC de Tsvangirai et le Zanu-PF de Mugabe portent des fruit et mettent fin a cette crise. Cependant, selon les dernieres nouvelles, les discussions pietinent toujours en ce qui concerne le partage du pouvoir. Pendant ce temps, c'est la Zimbabweenne moyenne qui souffre.

La question que je me pose aujourd'hui est pourquoi Mugabe beneficie-t-il toujours d'un soutien relatif de la part des Africains. Malgre tout ce que son peuple a endure, beaucoup d'Africain politiciens ou simple citoyens ne sont pas enclin a vigouresement condamner celui qui semble en etre l'auteur. Malgre tous les articles de journaux europeens, les reportages televises, et les declarations d'hommes et de femmes d'etats europeens et americains, l'Afrique reste divisee quant a la position qu'il faut prendre face a Mugabe. Pourquoi?
Je me suis pose la question et en suis arrive a un certain nombre de conclusions:

- "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,' when you don't see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you'll see clearly enough to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Luke 6:42. C'est en substance ce que Mugabe a dit au chefs d'etats Africains avant de claquer la porte durant le dernier sommet de l'UA
La plupart des presidents Africains n'ont pas ete bien elus non plus. Pas etonnant que Omar Bongo soit l'un des premiers a reconnaitre et a feliciter Mugabe.

- "Double Standard": Certains se demandent pourquoi est ce que les pays dit "developed" appliquent -ils differents standards a differents pays. Pourquoi certains presidents africains mal elus et corrompus beneficient-ils du soutien ou d'un silence complice alors que d'autres sont denonces des la premieres opportunite? Pourquoi juger un leader a partir de sa collaboration avec certaines puissances, et non a partir de ce qu'il fait pour son peuple?

- L'Histoire: Certains ont pardonne mais ils n'ont pas oublie. Beaucoup se rappellent encore les exactions commisent par la minorite blanche au Zimbabwe, Kenya, et Afrique du Sud. Pendant que les Africains se sont fait arracher leurs terres, pendant qu'ils ont ete mis en travaux force, pendant l'apartheid, beaucoup ont ferme les yeux. Mugabe reste pour beaucoup le symbole d'une lutte. Ce qui explique a mon avis la reticence de Mbeki a le condamner.

Aujourd'hui il est clair que si Mugabe n'a pas le soutien de son peuple, il doit alors quitter le pouvoir. Mais avant de le juger et de le condamner, l'on doit analyser la situation dans le cadre historique du Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai, vu les resultats du premier tour, a probablement le droit de reclamer le pouvoir. Mais l'on doit etre prudent afin de ne pas le prendre pour un sauveur et un saint. L'histoire de Kibaki au Kenya en est une preuve...

al

Guess What!! Togo just won first ever medal in Olympic Games!

Check this out, Togo just won its first ever Olympic medal. And guess in which sport...
Not soccer
Not boxing
but...
men's single Kayak slalom. Yep!
It's a bronze. But still, I am proud. You think it is not worth mentioning? Well, I think it is a good start that needed to be mentioned.
Believe me, there are many countries out there that are still "medalless".
Here is the link to the BBC News articles on it: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7556266.stm

al

Togo-Economie

Pour ceux qui sont interesses par l'economie et la politique Togolaise, je recommende cet article de Frederic Lejeal sur l'economie Togolaise: "Embellie sur les investissements." L'article fait parti d'un dossier sur le Togo publie par Jeune Afrique. Entre autre information l'on peu apprendre que la dette exterieure du Togo est de 1.7 milliard de dollars, et l'evolution du PIB de 2000 a 2006 est en moyenne de 2.4%. L'auteur evoque egalement la reprise de la cooperation avec les institutions de Bretton Woods et l'Union Europeenne. (http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN13078embelstneme0)

al

Chinafrique...again!

One of my previous blogs was about China's new efforts in Africa. I found this interesting article by Francois Soudan in the July's Jeune Afrique (follow link: http://www.jeuneafrique.com/jeune_afrique/article_jeune_afrique.asp?art_cle=LIN13078legraeuqirf0).
Sorry, the article is in French.
Francois Soudan concludes his article by citing Chris Alden (China in Africa, Zed Books, Londres-New York, 2007): "C’est en définitive aux Africains eux-mêmes qu’il reviendra de déterminer la nature et l’ampleur de l’intrusion de la Chine dans leurs affaires intérieures, et non l’inverse." (Translation: Africans, ultimately, will determine the nature and extent of the intrusion of China in their internal affairs).

al

Book Review: "The Time Traveler's Wife"

THE TIME TRAVELER'S WIFE
by Audrey Niffenegger
Published by MacAdam/Cage, 2003
ISBN 1931561648, 9781931561648
518 pages

This is a book about a couple Henry and Claire. The husband, Henry, is a time traveler who disappears to different point in time. Henry first met Claire when he was 28 and she was 20. However, she first met him when she was 6 and he was about 40.
Weird right?
In fact, after they first met when they were in their twenties, and got married, Henry later traveled in time to visit Claire when she was just 6. That's why she knew him when they met in their twenties, even though Henry did not know who she was.
For example Henry first made love to Claire when she was 18 and he was in his 40ties and already married to the Claire who is in her thirties. How come? Because he traveled back in time...
I know it is difficult to understand. Any story involving time traveling is difficult to explain anyway. However, the concept is great.
This fictional book won't probably increase your knowledge on a particular subject, but it is still very entertaining. It makes you ask yourself "what if...". For her very first book Audrey Niffenegger did a great job.
I recommend the book. It is great as a summer or vacation reading.

Ayemi L.

Top 10 Misconceptions about Chinese Investment in Africa

http://codrinarsene.com/2008/07/top-10-misconceptions
-about-chinese-investment-in-africa/


I found this article about Chinese relationship with Africa (Check the link above). I thought it was interesting and wanted to share it with you. Yet, I am not sure what to make of it...I am still thinking...
One thing I will say right now is that "if you do not protect your ass, no one will do it for you."
Two other things:

1. Compared to Africa's relationship with the Western nations, is its relationship with China and India better?
2. I don't think anyone other country will fight for Africa if African leaders do not fight for the interest of their own people.
The last time I checked international relations are still governed by the same theory: Realism. Basically, everyone for his own interest.

So, I might accuse Europeans, Americans, Chinese, Indians, etc for the way they treat Africa. However, allow me to accuse African leaders, first and foremost, for the way they are allowing others to treat Africa.

al

Book Review: "Mountains Beyond Mountains" (The book is in English, the review is in French)

MOUNTAINS BEYOND MOUNTAINS
By Tracy Kidder
317 pp
Random House, New York

“Good work without revolution only prolonged the status quo” semble etre l’une des meilleures phrases dans ce livre de Tracy Kidder. “Mountains Beyond Moutains” est le recit d’un docteur, Paul Farmer, qui a decide de quitter sa zone de confort et de s’impliquer dans l’humanitaire dans une des regions les plus pauvres au monde, Cange en Haiti. Tracy Kidder partage avec le lecteur son experience personnelle aux cotes du Dr. Farmer, ainsi que l’obstination d’un homme pour une cause : etre medecin des plus pauvres parmi les pauvres.

Paul Farmer est un diplôme de Harvard avec un M.D. en medecine et un PhD en anthropologie. Alors qu’il aurait pu choisir une vie aisee partage entre son travail dans un des meilleurs hopitaux au monde et une belle maison dans les banlieues de Boston, il decide plutôt de se consacrer aux soins des demunis. Il était etudiant quand il a visite Haiti pour la premiere fois. Le pays était domine par une dynastie de dictateurs et les conditions de sante etaient abjects. Paul Farmer n’a pas eu le courage de fermer les yeux et de retourner dans son monde de securite. Comme Tracy Kidder l’ecrit, « le monde est plein de lieux miserable. Une manière de vivre confortablement est de ne pas y penser ou, quand tu y penses, d’envoyer de l’argent. » Farmer a decide de ne pas seulement envoyer l’argent mais d’y aller. C’est cette passion qui l’a conduit a créer avec des amis l’organisme ‘Partners in Health’ (PIH). Grace a des fonds qu’ils collecte aupres d’amis et de parents, ces jeunes etudiants construisent un complexe hospitalier qui va changer la vie de milliers de personnes en Haiti.

Pendant qu’il poursuivait ses etudes a Harvard, Farmer partage sa vie entre les classes a Boston et son Hopital Zanmi Lasante en Haiti. Il s’est inspire de la vision en sante publique de l’Allemand Virchow, et de la philosophie de la Theologie de Liberation dont la pensee a envahi les pretres et eveques d’Amerique du Sud pendant les annees 1980. Il consacrait de longues journees a etudier la langue, la culture, et la societe Haitienne. Pour Farmer pour mieux soigner une population il faut maitriser sa culture et ses croyances.

La quete du Dr. Farmer est un recit inspirant et passionnant qui m’a conduit a une auto critique. La lecture de ce livre emmene invariablement le lecteur a s’interroger sur sa propre vie et son apport a la societe. L’auteur et le docteur, dans l’une de leurs discussions, evoquent le passage dans Matthieu qui dit « quand j’avais faim, tu m’as donne a mange. Quand j’avais soif tu m’as donne a boire. Quand j’etais malade… »

Le recit devient un peu ennuyeux vers la fin du livre quand le centre d’interet n’est plus sur la personne du Dr. Farmer mais sur les tractations menees par son organisme PIH aupres de l’OMS et de l’industrie pharmaceutique afin de rendre les produits pharmaceutiques contre la tuberculose accessible aux pauvres. Cependant, apres avoir lu « Mountains Beyond Mountains », il y a certains sujets evoque par le livre qui ont particulierement retenu mon attention.

Premierement, Dr. Farmer raconte a Kidder comment un barrage construit a Cange a change la vie des populations locales…negativement. L’eau qui servait a irriger l’agriculture a été retenu par le barrage, rendant les terres environnante incultivables. Les populations, avec l’agriculture comme principale source de survie, ont été oblige de se quitter leurs villages et d’abandonner tout pour se deplacer vers les milieux urbains. D’autres villages on vu leurs maisons submerger et on du tout quitter. Le barrage était destine a fournir l’electricite aux milieux urbains dans les maisons des riches Haitiens et des expatries Americains et Europeens. Les populations vivant sur les terres environnant n’avait pas d’electricite, sans parler d’eau potable.

Cela n’est qu’un example, parmi tant d’autres dans le livre, demontrant les effets pervers de ce que certains appellent le ‘developpement.’ Le plus impressionnant est le fait que les examples donnes dans le livre me rappellent tellement d’autres cas. Sous d’autres cieux, separes de l’Haiti par des milliers de kilometres, j’ai vu des cas semblables. Que ce soit pour exploiter le phosphate au Togo, le petrole au Nigeria, ou le diamant au Congo, l’exemple de l’Haiti n’est pas unique. Kidder ecrit : « This view of drowned farmland, the result of a dam that has made his patients some of the poorest of the poor, was a lens on the world. His lens. Look through it and you’d begin to see all the world’s impoverished in their billions and the many linked causes of their misery.”

Un autre point commun entre Haiti et l’Afrique evoque dans le livre est le sujet du Vodoo et comment les croyances populaire interferent avec la medicine. Cependant l’auteur, en parlant des origines du Vodoo, pointe la Picardie et la Normandie sans meme evoque l’Afrique. Ca semble bizarre vue que les memes pratiques se retrouvent sur la cote Ouest Africaine, et que les Haitiens sont les decendants d’anciens esclaves venus d’Afrique de l’Ouest.

Certains pourraient interpreter le recit de Paul Farmer comme une celebration—une fois de plus—de l’homme blanc venu ‘sauver’ les ‘peuples non-civilises.’ Mais la grandeur de l’ouvrage reside dans le fait que le livre nous fais implicitement comprendre que et le malheur et le sauveur ont la meme origine.

« Mountains Beyond Mountains » est inspirant et inoubliable. C’est un de ces livres que l’on lit et que l’on garde. C’est un de ces ouvrages qui nous rendent mal a l’aise et nous poussent a ‘faire quelque chose’ pour les plus demunis parmi les demunis. C’est le genre de livre qui contribue a changer positivement la personalite humaine. Le livre m’a été offert par une de mes meilleures amies et je lui en suis reconnaissante. Je le recommande a tous.

By Ayemi Lawani

Thomas Sankara

Allow me to share with you videos of this great African Hero named Thomas Sankara.

Thomas Sankara was President in Burkina Faso from 1983 to 1987. He was very charismatic and started a "revolution" in his country, improving public health and women rights. Because of his positions against neo-colonialism he antagonized Western interests in the country. He was killed on October 15, 1987 by his close friend. He lived a simple life. He was a genuine African Hero.

My Trip to New Orleans

I came back from my trip to N.O. with a great impression. I met many young people very enthusiastic about making a difference. Many of the attendees actually had great ideas and plans. They wanted to do this and this and ... that...they wanted to change the world.

That scared me!!

Obviously, I was not scared because of their eagerness. In fact, I was scared because we all have great ideas and great plans for our lives and the world when we are young. We all have dreams for us, our families, and our countries. I will do this when I grow up, I will change that when I have finished doing this.... and life goes by and nothing really happens.

Don't get me wrong, I am not pessimistic!

But... many have left their dreams behind, many have gave up, many have forgotten what they promised themselves to do... And that's why I am scared. I have seen people enthusiastic about their dreams and so few have tried hard enough to make it happened. I am scared that one day, I will look back in my life and say nostalgically "well, I HAD dreams." I am scared to lose my enthusiasm along the road.

That's why...

...I get my inspiration from those who have tried even if they have not succeeded

...I celebrate my successes and learn from my mistakes and strive for excellence in every aspect of my life

...I keep my dreams alive, and think about them every day

...I try not to give up on my dreams by finding excuses

...I let myself get frustrated every time I feel like I am lazy or giving up

That is why I stay focus.

Will I make ALL my dreams come through? I doubt it. But I will try as hard as I can to make most of them come through.

Will I leave some of my dreams along the road? Probably. But I will try as hard as I can to keep with me the ones I really care about.

I hope I will have the strength and the inspiration. I know I will make it.

I also hope these young students I met at New Orleans will keep their passion. I hope, if not most, at least some of them will have the strength and inspiration to make it happen. One person can change the room, the city, the world. So, If only some of them can make it happen, the world will be better off.

Good Luck!

Aime Cesaire...what do I know of him? Not as much as I should. I read and even had to memorize some of his poems when I was in elementary school without really knowing how great the author was. He was one of those people who, early on, inspired Africans in their fight against colonialism. Even though he was a French citizen, he did not lose his African roots. He became with Senghor and Damas key figures of the "Negritude." Through their poems and other writings many Africans came to realize how beautiful black skin is, and why they should not be ashamed of their culture. I respect you, Cesaire...No, better, I love you. You were a Great "Negre." Even though you were not as appreciated as you should in the French literature, your writings and positions will forever inspire us and the coming generations.
"Que les esprits de nos Ancetres t'acceuillent, et que la terre te soit legere."
Here is an excerpt of Wikipedia on Cesaire's biography followed by a youtube video:

Aimé Césaire was born in Basse-Pointe, Martinique. In 1931, he traveled to Paris to attend the Lycée Louis-le-Grand on an educational scholarship. In Paris, Césaire, who in 1935 passed an entrance exam for the École normale supérieure, created, with Léopold Sédar Senghor and Léon Damas, the literary review L'Étudiant Noir (The Black Student) which was a forerunner of the Négritude movement. In 1936, Césaire began work on his book-length poem Cahier d'un retour au pays natal - Notebook of a Return to My Native Land - (1939), a vivid and powerful depiction of the ambiguities of Caribbean life and culture in the New World and this upon returning home to Martinique...

The years of World War II were ones of great intellectual activity for the Césaires. In 1941, Aimé Césaire and Suzanne Roussi founded the literary review Tropiques, with the help of other Martinican intellectuals like René Ménil and Aristide Maugée, in order to challenge the cultural status quo and alienation that then characterized Martinican identity. Many run-ins with censorship did not deter Césaire from being an outspoken defendant of Martinican identity. He also became close to French surrealist poet André Breton, who spent time in Martinique during the war. Breton contributed a laudatory introduction to the 1947 edition of Cahier d'un retour au pays natal, saying that "this poem is nothing less than the greatest lyrical monument of our times." ("ce poème [n'est] rien moins que le plus grand monument lyrique de ce temps").

In 1945, with the support of the French Communist Party, Césaire was elected mayor of Fort-de-France and député to the French National Assembly for Martinique. He was one of the principal drafters of the 1946 law on departmentalizing former colonies, a role for which independentist politicians have often criticized him.

Like many left intellectuals in France, Césaire looked in the 1930s and 1940s toward the Soviet Union as a source of human progress, virtue, and human rights, but Césaire later grew disillusioned with Communism. In 1956, after the invasion of Hungary by the Soviet Union, Aimé Césaire announced his resignation from the French Communist Party in a text entitled Lettre à Maurice Thorez. In 1958 he founded the Parti Progressiste Martiniquais. In 1960, he published Toussaint Louverture, based upon the life of the Haitian revolutionary. He served as President of the Regional Council of Martinique from 1983 to 1988. He retired from politics in 2001.

In 2006, he refused to meet the leader of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP), Nicolas Sarkozy, then a probable contender for the 2007 presidential election, because the UMP had voted for the February 23, 2005 law asking teachers and textbooks to "acknowledge and recognize in particular the positive role of the French presence abroad, especially in North Africa", a law considered by many as a eulogy to colonialism and French actions during the Algerian War. President Jacques Chirac finally had the controversial law repealed[1].

His writings reflect his passion for civic and social engagement. He is the author of Discours sur le colonialisme (Discourse on Colonialism) (1953), a denunciation of European colonial racism which was published in the French review Présence Africaine. In 1968, he published the first version of Une Tempête, a radical adaptation of Shakespeare's play The Tempest for a black audience.

Martinique's airport at Le Lamentin was renamed Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport on January 15, 2007.

From April 9, 2008, he had serious heart troubles and was admitted to Pierre Zobda Quitman hospital in Fort-de-France. He died on April 17, 2008.^[1]