Why Mob-Justice Is On A Rise In Africa

The pinnacle of the values of a society is reflected in its justice system.  A platform from which a society defines morality, revenge, punishment and forgiveness.  Every society has guidelines in place to deal with perpetrators and these guidelines evolve with time.  Historically, crime in many African societies was viewed as a private matter between the affected kinships.  Gifts would often be sent to the family of the affected individual(s) seeking forgiveness.  When the ‘gift option’ failed, blood feuds often emerged with retribution in form of an ‘eye for an eye’ or worse.  Other forms of punishment included banishment/disowning of individuals from the clan, family or community depending on the severity of the crime or disgraceful conduct.  Disownment was the ultimate punishment at that time since all the descendants of that family branch would have a curse bestowed upon them. These components of justice had similarities to those of ancient Greece and the middle ages.

As society grew and communities became more organized with a hierarchical leadership structure, justice was transferred from the control of the private citizens to a centralized system. The concept of laws became common with legislators, enforcers and executioners of punishment. An impartial centralized justice system was meant to protect the rights of the perpetrators while also preventing the victims from seeking vengeance beyond proportional justice. The emergence of kingdoms and chiefdoms resulted into adoption of a complex justice system rooted in culture, customs and taboos. This was eventually replaced by the English common law system adopted in the post-colonial era. Under this system, one was innocent until proven guilty and actus reus( act of wrong doing) and mens rea (intent/culpable state of mind)were paramount to proving criminality beyond a reasonable doubt.

The Chinese Dragon Versus The American Eagle In Africa

by Ahmed K. Sirleaf

Is the Dragon Threatening the Eagle’s Lunch in Africa? America or China: who wins the New Scramble for Africa?

The growing influence of China in Africa poses significant threats to United States’ interests on the continent. Unless the U.S. moves fast, it will lose the influence war in Africa to the Chinese.

China’s burgeoning influence on the continent comes with serious consequences for America’s interests in Africa.  National security, rule of law, human rights and democratic governance interests are at risk.

Undoubtedly, China is not new to Africa. However, it is evident today that China has made a strategic move to prioritize trade and foreign direct investments on the continent.

Since the mid 1990s, China’s influence in Africa has exponentially grown. In 2009 China surpassed the United States as Africa’s leading trading partner. China-Africa (exports and imports) totaled $127 billion dollars in 2010. This is in comparison to the U.S.-Africa trade value of $113 billion dollars during the same time period. While there are huge trade deficits between the U.S. and Africa, China’s trade balances with most African countries are virtually deficits free.

Christmas: To Celebrate Or Not To Celebrate

by Ifrah Jimale : Ask A Somali

Picture Courtesy of TC Daily Planet

The holidays are not my favorite time of the year for two reasons. One, it is the time that I am constantly aware of how much I miss my family who are scattered all over the world. Two, I am guilty if I celebrate Christmas because that is not what Somalis do, and I am still guilty if I don’t celebrate it because my friends say I am different from your typical Somali and do everything else and am always preaching to them how we should integrate and assimilate.

My preaching stops when religion is involved. These people I am arguing with about Christmas are non-Somali Americans. The friends and family that know me, know I don’t celebrate Christmas because it is a holiday I associate with Christians. I am a Muslim, therefore I don’t celebrate Christmas, I celebrate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha.  Because these holidays move around, they’re not always in the winter.

An African Musical Icon and Legend Passes: RIP Cesaria Evora “Barefoot Diva”

by Nelima

I woke up this morning to see this message in my Facebook stream.

I was heartbroken! Cesaria Evora has been a long time favorite of mine (and many around the world), I really hoped that I would get the chance to see her perform live. Nonetheless I am glad to have even known of her music, she is singing with the Angels now.

Victoria’s “Ugly” Secret: African Child Labor

by Nelima

Isn’t sad how one girl’s glory is another girl’s nightmare?

Victoria's Secret Fashion Show 2011 Picture Courtesy of CBS

For those of you who didn’t know, the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show aired on CBS last night. I managed to catch the show right before its end and I can’t say which I found more entertaining between the show or the comments on twitter. One girl called ‘all the Angels her models’, another said she ‘couldn’t stop crying because of their beauty’, while others dropped not no subtle hints to friends and family about what Victoria’s Secret items they wanted for Christmas.

Dec 18th: Somali Entertainment Awards at The Cedar Cultural Center

by Nelima

The Blue Carpet Awards are upon us again, this time at The Cedar Cultural Center. It’s bound to be a sold out event so if you haven’t got a ticket, do so soon. Details can be found below.

World AIDS Day Thoughts And Events

I didn’t have a heartfelt World AIDS day story this time round. I couldn’t even post a tweet with alarming statistics of some sort – hence my late post. It took me a while to sort out my feelings after which I realized that I’m not any less passionate about the issue.  It’s just that after years of having lost ( and continuing to lose) friends and family to AIDS – this statement, albeit cliché, summarizes what I would want to say.

Remember the 3 ‘P’s; Precaution, Prevention, and Protection

But that’s not all I would like to say

If you can, try to attend at least one World AIDS Day event. The Minnesota Department of Health has a comprehensive list of World AIDS Day Events around the state. I have also highlighted a few that may be of particular interest to our readers (because they are either African – themed or have been put together by some good folk in our community).

African Music Ensemble Fall Concert at the UMN

African Music Ensemble

If you haven’t attended one of these you should. Watching Sowah Mensa and his protegés play an array of African instruments ranging from drums and flutes to the xylophone is a real treat! Best of all – the concert is free

Event Information

Date: 12/02/11

Time: 8:00pm – 9:30pm

Location: Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall  - Ferguson Hall

Cost: FREE

For more information click here

Training immigrant health partners in Minnesota

BY BERLINE PIERRE-LOUIS, TC DAILY PLANET

November 28, 2011

In Irene Asong-Morfaw’s native Cameroon, the cultural opinion is that “boys are the heroes and boys can’t get in trouble.” This mindset, she feels, prevents boys and men from having to be responsible for their sexual health. Asong-Morfaw says that a woman may know that there are ways to prevent pregnancy or STI’s but if her husband or partner does not approve of birth control or condom use she may feel she can’t pursue these options freely. That’s why she is part of the Partnership Project, a Planned Parenthood program designed to meet the reproductive and sexual health needs of African-born persons in the Twin Cities in a culturally appropriate way. The project uses community leaders as lay health educators to deploy culturally relevant sexual and reproductive health information into the community.

Minnesota’s immigrant population increased rapidly during the 1990s, and has continued to grow, though at a slower pace, during the past decade. A large and growing proportion of new immigrants come from from East and West African countries such as Somalia, Ethiopia, Liberia, and Kenya

Ivorian Dobet Gnahore at The Dakota Jazz Club this Thursday

Grammy Award winner Dobet Gnahore will be back in Minnesota to deliver an amazing performance this Thursday at The Dakota Jazz Club and Restaurant. FYI: The promotional code ‘MinneAfrica‘ gets you a discounted ticket read below.

Here’s a great description on The Dakota Jazz Club’swebsite.

Dobet Gnahore picture credit: Wikipedia

Dobet Gnahoré, a singer, dancer and percussionist from the Ivory Coast, inherited the force of the “Bété“ tradition from her father, Boni Gnahoré, a master percussionist. Dobet met French guitarist Colin Laroche de Féline, who went there to immerse himself in African melodies and rhythms, after being introduced to them by Toroma Sika in France. Having spent some time in the well-known Tché Tché dance company, Dobet decided with Colin (in 1999) to form a duo, Ano Neko, which means “Let’s create together“ in the Bété language. The duo toured widely in France (1999-2000) where they settled temporarily following the instability that unfortunately struck the Ivory Coast. In 2003, their artistic project refocused on Dobet Gnahoré and expanded when a backup vocalist and a percussionist joined them. This was when the Contre Jour label produced her first album entitled Ano Neko, making the link with Dobet and Colin’s evolving musical history. Ano Neko contains songs recorded in Abidjan and others recorded in Belgium during the summer of 2003. From Mandingue melodies to Congolese rumba, from Ivory Coast Ziglibiti to Cameroon Bikoutsi, from Ghanian High-Life to Zulu choirs, their compositions, carried along with jazz-like sounds, are varied and colorful. The sanza, the balafon, the calebasse and bongos are brought in to support the guitar, the vocal backup and Dobet’s warm and powerful voice. Dobet, who won the BBC Radio 3 Awards for World Music 2006 “Best Newcomer”, made her North American debut in the fall of 2006 in Putumayo Presents: Acoustic Africa, alongside Habib Koite and Vusi Mahlasela. In 2010 Dobet Gnahoré won the Grammy for Best Urban/Alternative Performance for the song “Pearls” in collaboration with India.Arie.

Tickets are $30.00 – The promotional code ‘MinneAfrica’ gets you a discounted ticket.