Some traditional values, such as female circumcision, polygamy and other oudated customs, handed over by ancestors to tribes are doing more harm to Africa than good. Female circumcision has caused more health hazards to females than ever imagined but this old tradition of female genital multilation is still widely practiced in many African countries.
Polygamy in royal households in Africa is another factor draining some of African countries financial resources. A couple of months ago, King Mswati III of Swaziland caused a public outrage by sending his favourite wives on a globe-trotting shopping spree. The royal ruler, despite the poverty of his people, used 7 million Dollars of state money to send five of his thirteen wives and dozens of their aids to France, Italy, Dubai and Taiwan on a secret shopping trip.
The Swaziland people are suffering but they are smiling, the fact that it is a criminal offence to criticize the king's private life in their country. Campaigners have reacted angrily against the British government, that gives aid totalling 65 million pounds to the African country. Swaziland also receives about 235 million dollars from the US.
The king of Swaziland has a personal fortune of $240 million and also receives money from the national budget for the upkeep of his family, yet more than two-third of the country's 1.2 million population survive on less than fifty cent per day, and more than a quarter of the adult population suffers from the HIV.
In a country like Swaziland where education and health should be priority for King, he spent $5 million on 20 armoured Mercedes-Benz cars. A journalist from Swaziland Solidarity Network, told the British times newspaper "They shout about Zimbabwe but they keep quiet about what is happenning in Swaziland, even though they are one of its biggest aid doners. They are wasting British taxpayers' money on this tyrant"
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Men and women, which of them are the most faithful and sincere?
I write on many interesting issues but I have never thought of writing about genders faithfulness or unfaithfulness to each other, when one day someone asked me that "Why do most men die leaving behind their wife?" I couldn`t find immediate answer to her question, then without a thought I said "Because most men are unfaithful to their partners". I was surprised she was satisfied with my answer.
But is it very true that men fall short when it comes to dishonesty? Well many men lie and cheat on their partners but also women. Most men cheat on their wives and girlfriends for several reasons, including lack of sexual satisfaction, biological problems which the woman is not aware of but of which the man cannot speak about it. But with women I keep on asking my self "Why do they often cheat on their men?"
Are they also looking for sexual satisfaction or money? On Monday, 28 September 2009, whilst waiting at London`s Victoria Coach Station to join my bus to Pool, a sad story caught my attention in an entertainment news paper called "London Lite" The story was about a woman who was allegedly strangled by her own husband, after discovering that she was having an affair with another man.
The husband after having enough evidence including secrete taping of 127 hours of his wife conversations with her lover confronted his wife, who asked for divorce. To me that was a very good wife. She did not deny her unfaithfulness but quickly asked for divorce of which her man should have accepted the request and give her her freedom.
Instead he did the most stupid thing a man should do. Fearing the loss of his home, two children and fortune, the jealous husband chose to kill his wife, pretending he hasn`t any knowledge of her death. The court heard of his wife`s previous adulterous adventures. Marriage always turns to different angle of diverse problems when there isn`t any transparency, honesty and faithfulness.
Even though I know that most men die leaving their partners, I can`t really say it is because of their unfaithfulness to their partners, since women also cheat on their husbands. But is a true fact that greater percentage of men cheat on their wives than women.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Bijlmer is beautiful but a dangerous place to live in Amsterdam?
In the south-east of Amsterdam, lies a nice lively neibourhood called Bijlmer. Bijlmer is always in the news firstly due to the big firms and industries that have created thousand of jobs for the Dutch people and secondly due to the wave of crime that has soured the image of its habitants, mainly foreigners. In Bilmer is also situated the magnicicent modern Ajax stadium, which has hosted thousands of international matches, conferences and concerts.
The influx of immigrants both legal and illegal have made Bijlmer a dangerous place to live in Amsterdam. With diverse immigrants, mainly from Surinam, Antillea and Curacao, former colonies of the Dutch and West African immigrants, Bijlmer is now a commercial center for drugs trafficking and habours most hard criminals.
How do we call this? Holland dream or Dutch dream? Like the American dream, inviting many latin Americans and Mexicans into the country, the Surinams came in their numbers to the Netherland. Without any basic education, majority of Surinams are stagnant without any future. Feeling dejected and frustrated the only means to survive the material world of Bijlmer is to resort to drug trafficking, crime and violence.
With the desire to study about the background of Africans living in the Bijlmer, I have never seen merciless, hostile, and aggressive people like the Surinams before. They even think the police fear them and they would not like to come their way. But what makes these people so aggressive and violent? My opinion is the free smoking of marijuana. In the public, the metros running Gaasperplas and Gein, from the Central Station and the lifts of appartments are always choked with heavy smoke and odour of marijuana.
Some of the drugs they smoke and use had taken its toll on them. Junkies are common sight in the Bijmer. The effect of drugs on users are disastrous. Horrible creatures like people acting horror movies. An investigation conducted recently by two Dutch journalists, Jan-Willem Navis and Joris Polman in the neigbourhood of Bijlmer revealed that between two and three hundred euros, someone could own a gun and their fear is, within a short period guns would overflow in the neigbourhood of Bijmer. Young boys move around everywhere with knives hidden on them.
The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Is the crime wave in Bijmer too much for the police to handle or bring the situation under control? Over the years, the police force has demonstrated how good they could be, by catching many criminals and those that wanted to resist arrest jumped to their death. They have tried everything to make Bijlmer a safe place to live but from every angle it seems the police are losing the battle.
The influx of immigrants both legal and illegal have made Bijlmer a dangerous place to live in Amsterdam. With diverse immigrants, mainly from Surinam, Antillea and Curacao, former colonies of the Dutch and West African immigrants, Bijlmer is now a commercial center for drugs trafficking and habours most hard criminals.
How do we call this? Holland dream or Dutch dream? Like the American dream, inviting many latin Americans and Mexicans into the country, the Surinams came in their numbers to the Netherland. Without any basic education, majority of Surinams are stagnant without any future. Feeling dejected and frustrated the only means to survive the material world of Bijlmer is to resort to drug trafficking, crime and violence.
With the desire to study about the background of Africans living in the Bijlmer, I have never seen merciless, hostile, and aggressive people like the Surinams before. They even think the police fear them and they would not like to come their way. But what makes these people so aggressive and violent? My opinion is the free smoking of marijuana. In the public, the metros running Gaasperplas and Gein, from the Central Station and the lifts of appartments are always choked with heavy smoke and odour of marijuana.
Some of the drugs they smoke and use had taken its toll on them. Junkies are common sight in the Bijmer. The effect of drugs on users are disastrous. Horrible creatures like people acting horror movies. An investigation conducted recently by two Dutch journalists, Jan-Willem Navis and Joris Polman in the neigbourhood of Bijlmer revealed that between two and three hundred euros, someone could own a gun and their fear is, within a short period guns would overflow in the neigbourhood of Bijmer. Young boys move around everywhere with knives hidden on them.
The harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. Is the crime wave in Bijmer too much for the police to handle or bring the situation under control? Over the years, the police force has demonstrated how good they could be, by catching many criminals and those that wanted to resist arrest jumped to their death. They have tried everything to make Bijlmer a safe place to live but from every angle it seems the police are losing the battle.
Saturday, August 01, 2009
Obama's historical visit to Ghana
U.S president Barack Obama like many head of states, has Africa in his mind or on his agenda to work with. Africa, many times is like a continent totally neglected but the fact is, there is no head of state that could push the continent aside because of it vast mineral resources which the developed and the developing countries depend on.
Obama chose Ghana as his first country in Africa, because of the country's peaceful political events on the path of democracy. Ghana, formerly called "Gold Coast", the first sub-sarahan nation to gain independence in 1957, recently had its fifth successive civilian goverenment elected since 1992.
It is Ghana's political success of peaceful democracy that caught the attention of Obama to choose the country as his first country to visit after his inauguration as the president of the United States of America, a couple of months ago. The American president was welcomed at the airport by president John Evans Atta Mills, also a newly elected president under the umbrella of National Democratic Congress(NDC), amidst druming and dancing at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, the capital.
"Akwaaba" welcome, says the Ghanaian president to Obama. Here I can't explain in details the happiness and delightness that accompanied the family of Obama as they stepped on the Ghanaian soil for the first time.
In a speech at a fully packed convention centre, Obama said " I have come to Ghana for a simple reason. The 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but what happens in Accra as well.
Obama hit hard on corruption which has been the only tool that has crippled and still crippling the economy of Africa in general. He reminds African leaders the task on their shoulders as head of states, by taking the masses that brought them into power into consideration. He called on the Africans to build democracy, create employment, fight corruption and end the conflicts in Africa, which he called 'a milestone arounds Africa's neck'.
After touring many interesting places, the president and his family were emotionally moved when they visited the slave dungeon at the Cape Coast castle. The slave trade is long ablolished but grim and terror are still fresh in the mind of African-Americans that come on visit to Cape Coast castle. The shackles and the chains used to bind the slaves over three hundred years ago are still there to be seen. After his emotional tour, Obama described the slave trade as one of the evils commited against humanity.
He commended Ghana for preserving the castle and those who contributed to the abolishing of slavery. He said the essence of the tour was to learn about the oppression that Africa-Americans went through and to interact ancestral lineage. "As somebody whose father comes from Africa, I'm pleased this visit has been particularly meaningful for me. He concluded.
Obama chose Ghana as his first country in Africa, because of the country's peaceful political events on the path of democracy. Ghana, formerly called "Gold Coast", the first sub-sarahan nation to gain independence in 1957, recently had its fifth successive civilian goverenment elected since 1992.
It is Ghana's political success of peaceful democracy that caught the attention of Obama to choose the country as his first country to visit after his inauguration as the president of the United States of America, a couple of months ago. The American president was welcomed at the airport by president John Evans Atta Mills, also a newly elected president under the umbrella of National Democratic Congress(NDC), amidst druming and dancing at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra, the capital.
"Akwaaba" welcome, says the Ghanaian president to Obama. Here I can't explain in details the happiness and delightness that accompanied the family of Obama as they stepped on the Ghanaian soil for the first time.
In a speech at a fully packed convention centre, Obama said " I have come to Ghana for a simple reason. The 21st century will be shaped by what happens not just in Rome or Moscow or Washington, but what happens in Accra as well.
Obama hit hard on corruption which has been the only tool that has crippled and still crippling the economy of Africa in general. He reminds African leaders the task on their shoulders as head of states, by taking the masses that brought them into power into consideration. He called on the Africans to build democracy, create employment, fight corruption and end the conflicts in Africa, which he called 'a milestone arounds Africa's neck'.
After touring many interesting places, the president and his family were emotionally moved when they visited the slave dungeon at the Cape Coast castle. The slave trade is long ablolished but grim and terror are still fresh in the mind of African-Americans that come on visit to Cape Coast castle. The shackles and the chains used to bind the slaves over three hundred years ago are still there to be seen. After his emotional tour, Obama described the slave trade as one of the evils commited against humanity.
He commended Ghana for preserving the castle and those who contributed to the abolishing of slavery. He said the essence of the tour was to learn about the oppression that Africa-Americans went through and to interact ancestral lineage. "As somebody whose father comes from Africa, I'm pleased this visit has been particularly meaningful for me. He concluded.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
THE BITE OF THE MANGO - Mariatu Kamara's Book
Interviewed by Jim Clancy, CNN's inside Africa, the Sierra Leonean born victim of war and author of the book '' The bite of the mango'' Mariatu Kamara, told her horrific ordeal during the ten year long brutal war that maimed thousands of civilians in her country.
Mariatu narrates her story. At 12 fleeing from the activities of the rebels, she finds herself in another village. She felt hungry and decided to go to her village to get some food to eat. On the way, she was captured by the rebels and they amputated both of her wrist. The reason? So that there wouldn't be any hands to vote for the government. But they are wrong ''I still have hands to do whatever I want to do'' Said the corrageous woman.
Asked by Jim Clancy why she named her book ''The bite of the mango'' She explained that after her wrists were cut off , a man came to her aid and offered her a mango to eat. But she felt like a child as being fed. Despite the pains and blood gushing out from her wounds, Mariatu held the mango to eat it herself.
At her book launching in the United States of America, the courageous war victim was awarded ''Voices of Courage Award'' She happily interacted and answered questions of people that want to know her story and spoke of the meaning of the award to her. Her message is ''Never give up in life, no matter the situation. She went on further to say that victims of war and other calamities to keep on pushing until success is achieved.
Mariatu is not only a courageous but a strong woman that has brought to the awareness of the world the suffering of war victims globally.
Mariatu narrates her story. At 12 fleeing from the activities of the rebels, she finds herself in another village. She felt hungry and decided to go to her village to get some food to eat. On the way, she was captured by the rebels and they amputated both of her wrist. The reason? So that there wouldn't be any hands to vote for the government. But they are wrong ''I still have hands to do whatever I want to do'' Said the corrageous woman.
Asked by Jim Clancy why she named her book ''The bite of the mango'' She explained that after her wrists were cut off , a man came to her aid and offered her a mango to eat. But she felt like a child as being fed. Despite the pains and blood gushing out from her wounds, Mariatu held the mango to eat it herself.
At her book launching in the United States of America, the courageous war victim was awarded ''Voices of Courage Award'' She happily interacted and answered questions of people that want to know her story and spoke of the meaning of the award to her. Her message is ''Never give up in life, no matter the situation. She went on further to say that victims of war and other calamities to keep on pushing until success is achieved.
Mariatu is not only a courageous but a strong woman that has brought to the awareness of the world the suffering of war victims globally.
Monday, April 06, 2009
Britain's Economic Crisis, will they get out of this disaster?
Britain is a country known to adhere to special rules, regulations, principles, to be neutral, conservative and probably to be unique amongst other advanced countries in the world. The official reasons for staying out of the Euro-zone is a good example of what Britain stands for. In the first place Britain should know best. United we stand, divided we fall. There is no way the economy will be successful with its single currency within the Euro currency zones.
From every angle one could clearly see that the "imperial system of political ideas" in that country, has taken its toll on them. In any crisis people instead of finding immediate solution rather want someone to accuse. Britain accused United States for this unprecendented economic set back, failing to realise that the country's economic woes were brewed by internal factors as well. Just imagine how advance in auto technology is constantly shaping and changing this world but Britain is still driving and producing "Right Hand Steering Vehicles" in Europe. The type of vehicles Europeans and Third World Countries don't need. Even if they produce the right form of vehicles to countries that need them, it will still affect them in many ways.
Teenage Pregnancy
Take for example, how could the economy of a country thrives, when teenagers ignore education and chose to be mothers instead? According to statistics, Britain has the highest percentage of teenage pregnacy. Teenage pregnancy has great effect of the economy of every country. A brilliant child that pulls out of school because of pregnancy is waste of human resource. It's very common to see a British teenger speaking English but can't write. How can she write an application letter for a job, when she can't correctly spell his or her language?
Alcholism
Alcohol is another factor which has affected the health system of Britain's economy. The passion for alcohol in Britain is beyond cure. There is nothing that the British goverment can do to prevent or reduce the rate of alcohol consumption in that country, even if the price of drinks is raised. Alcohol and drug abuse are some of the factors linking to teenage pregnancy, therefore the government need to find solution to these problems, else Britain will experience economic depression always no matter how good a politician is.
Discrimination in employment
Employment discrimination, is another factor which has worsened Britain's economic crisis. Discrimination in employment takes place in Britain in many ways, against women, religion, race and colour. Many qualified professional workers are denied jobs in Britain daily, because of the colour of the person, his or her religion or sex. Instead they employ someone unqualified and lazy, because of the slogan "Our People First". Developments in such circumstances are never achieved or slow because of inefficiency of production.
Lazy workers call for sick leave, stay at home for lengthy days without working, claiming benefits and other allowances, affecting the hard workers and tax payers money. Employment discrimination is some how better in London and places with good integration. The worst place is the county of Dorset (Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch) British Blacks and other foreigners are aware of that, that is the reason one can hardly see them in the neighbourhoods.
People actually enjoy Britain on a visit but I'm always sad when ever I'm in that country due to what I see. Almost on every street I see dozens of "pregnant men" Obesity is taking its toll on the health of the people but they simply don't care because food is delicious. When you talk of fashion, I think the worst dressed Europeans are the British. When one visits places like Italy, Germany, France and Belgium, you can see that they dress well than the British.
High Transportation cost
The cost of public transport in Britain is higher if compared with its European counterparts. Within the city of London, a short trip by bus costs £2. The ticket expires as one alights from the bus. In most of the European countries, for example in Belgium, a city trip by tram or bus costs one euro twenty cents (from the ticket machine) and one euro fifty cents (from the bus or tram chauffeur) The ticket has an hour validity, in this case one can join more than for four of five trams, depending on the length of the journey, until the ticket expires.
Despite all the harsh taxation system, property tax, congestion tax and other means of money collection, Britain is a restless country to live in Europe. This is an indication that capitalism has failed in Britain. The lazy man wants to live like the rich man and have the same thing like the rich man, crime is therefore soaring in Britain. God help the Scotland Yard. Until Britain's economy will come back to the right track, politicians in that country must be serious to find solutions to the afore-mentioned problems.
From every angle one could clearly see that the "imperial system of political ideas" in that country, has taken its toll on them. In any crisis people instead of finding immediate solution rather want someone to accuse. Britain accused United States for this unprecendented economic set back, failing to realise that the country's economic woes were brewed by internal factors as well. Just imagine how advance in auto technology is constantly shaping and changing this world but Britain is still driving and producing "Right Hand Steering Vehicles" in Europe. The type of vehicles Europeans and Third World Countries don't need. Even if they produce the right form of vehicles to countries that need them, it will still affect them in many ways.
Teenage Pregnancy
Take for example, how could the economy of a country thrives, when teenagers ignore education and chose to be mothers instead? According to statistics, Britain has the highest percentage of teenage pregnacy. Teenage pregnancy has great effect of the economy of every country. A brilliant child that pulls out of school because of pregnancy is waste of human resource. It's very common to see a British teenger speaking English but can't write. How can she write an application letter for a job, when she can't correctly spell his or her language?
Alcholism
Alcohol is another factor which has affected the health system of Britain's economy. The passion for alcohol in Britain is beyond cure. There is nothing that the British goverment can do to prevent or reduce the rate of alcohol consumption in that country, even if the price of drinks is raised. Alcohol and drug abuse are some of the factors linking to teenage pregnancy, therefore the government need to find solution to these problems, else Britain will experience economic depression always no matter how good a politician is.
Discrimination in employment
Employment discrimination, is another factor which has worsened Britain's economic crisis. Discrimination in employment takes place in Britain in many ways, against women, religion, race and colour. Many qualified professional workers are denied jobs in Britain daily, because of the colour of the person, his or her religion or sex. Instead they employ someone unqualified and lazy, because of the slogan "Our People First". Developments in such circumstances are never achieved or slow because of inefficiency of production.
Lazy workers call for sick leave, stay at home for lengthy days without working, claiming benefits and other allowances, affecting the hard workers and tax payers money. Employment discrimination is some how better in London and places with good integration. The worst place is the county of Dorset (Poole, Bournemouth, Christchurch) British Blacks and other foreigners are aware of that, that is the reason one can hardly see them in the neighbourhoods.
People actually enjoy Britain on a visit but I'm always sad when ever I'm in that country due to what I see. Almost on every street I see dozens of "pregnant men" Obesity is taking its toll on the health of the people but they simply don't care because food is delicious. When you talk of fashion, I think the worst dressed Europeans are the British. When one visits places like Italy, Germany, France and Belgium, you can see that they dress well than the British.
High Transportation cost
The cost of public transport in Britain is higher if compared with its European counterparts. Within the city of London, a short trip by bus costs £2. The ticket expires as one alights from the bus. In most of the European countries, for example in Belgium, a city trip by tram or bus costs one euro twenty cents (from the ticket machine) and one euro fifty cents (from the bus or tram chauffeur) The ticket has an hour validity, in this case one can join more than for four of five trams, depending on the length of the journey, until the ticket expires.
Despite all the harsh taxation system, property tax, congestion tax and other means of money collection, Britain is a restless country to live in Europe. This is an indication that capitalism has failed in Britain. The lazy man wants to live like the rich man and have the same thing like the rich man, crime is therefore soaring in Britain. God help the Scotland Yard. Until Britain's economy will come back to the right track, politicians in that country must be serious to find solutions to the afore-mentioned problems.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
A BELGIAN MURDERS HIS AFRICAN WIFE
What provoked a Belgian, to the extent of killing his Black wife? This was the question on the lips of the African community in Antwerp. The shocking murder of Evelyn Amarim-Vanacker, a 31 year old mother of two, led to a peaceful demonstration recently.
Avelyn, a native of Anioma local government in the Delta State of Nigeria, was reported to have been strangled to death by her husband at their home on 2nd of March 2009. According to sources, the murder took place while the children of the deceased aged 4 and 1 respectively; were sleeping in one of the rooms upstairs.
After the savage murder, the husband took the lifeless body of his wife into the boot of his car and drove 100 kilometers to dump the body in an open field by the border between France and Belgium, where the French police discovered the body the next day.
After committing the brutal crime, the Mr. Vanacker reported to the Belgian police that his wife was missing. After heavy interrogation that followed, he broke down and confessed to the killing of his wife. The motive behind the murder is not clear but according to sources there wasn't any more happiness in the marriage after five years. Constant quarrels and exchange of words were bringing the marriage almost to its knees when this occoured.
The question is how would the Belgian police handle this case? Especially in Antwerp, where such cases are not seriously dealt with. This has given licence to many Belgians to treat foreigners, especially Africans they way they like.
Many Africans are angry with the African ambassodors sent overseas. "They don't do anything to protect us, all what the care about is corruption and greed. Europeans know that they are weak, so they take the advantage of this to kill us" Said one Nigerian who spoke to me about the killing of Evelyn.
Avelyn, a native of Anioma local government in the Delta State of Nigeria, was reported to have been strangled to death by her husband at their home on 2nd of March 2009. According to sources, the murder took place while the children of the deceased aged 4 and 1 respectively; were sleeping in one of the rooms upstairs.
After the savage murder, the husband took the lifeless body of his wife into the boot of his car and drove 100 kilometers to dump the body in an open field by the border between France and Belgium, where the French police discovered the body the next day.
After committing the brutal crime, the Mr. Vanacker reported to the Belgian police that his wife was missing. After heavy interrogation that followed, he broke down and confessed to the killing of his wife. The motive behind the murder is not clear but according to sources there wasn't any more happiness in the marriage after five years. Constant quarrels and exchange of words were bringing the marriage almost to its knees when this occoured.
The question is how would the Belgian police handle this case? Especially in Antwerp, where such cases are not seriously dealt with. This has given licence to many Belgians to treat foreigners, especially Africans they way they like.
Many Africans are angry with the African ambassodors sent overseas. "They don't do anything to protect us, all what the care about is corruption and greed. Europeans know that they are weak, so they take the advantage of this to kill us" Said one Nigerian who spoke to me about the killing of Evelyn.
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