THE THIRST FOR POWER AND ITS ULTIMATE PRICE IN AFRICAN POLITICS

African leaders


Many people study politics at school. They are simply inspired to be politicians because they want to create or make a special contribution to the country they belong to. 


Throughout history, some politicians have created and continue to create a good name for themselves by proving to be outstanding leaders to their countries, because of their unique service to the people. The people first, that's the core of their engagement and service to their countries.

Unfortunately, in Africa, the story is entirely different. Most politicians are inspired into politics by corruption. The heavyweight of poverty hanging over Africa's continent creates a sort of barrier to prevents most African leaders from caring for the welfare of the masses. 

They only see it as an opportunity to amass wealth for themselves and their family, while the people suffer in poverty. Such leaders are extremely dangerous and often like to be in power as long as they wish or till death.

Many ask, why  Africa continues to be poor when it has all the best natural resources? Is it because Africans are lazy? Is it because the leaders do not care to develop their countries? 

Like many developing and developed countries, there are both hard-working class of people and lazy workers. But what has ruined Africa totally is the military. Lack of good leadership, experience, and corruption has destroyed Africa without any remedy.

What makes some of the African leaders cling to power at all costs? The answer is the same, 'Corruption.' After over 42 years in power, Muammar Gaddafi's iron rule tragically came to an end this week. The question is, 'Do African leaders learn anything from such experience? 

Mugabe now joins the ranks of Africa's aging authoritarians. Instead of stepping down, many African heads of state walk in an embodiment of corruption until they meet their untimely death, but nothing lasts forever.

AFRICAN-AMERICANS must put the painful memories of slavery behind them

African-Americans: How many of them are proud to be Africans?


About six years ago, there used to be a black, I had been seeing frequently at a drinking Café I used to work in Antwerp, Belgium. As I said earlier, I have met him many times, but his strange attitude made me find out where he comes from. 


He never responded to my greetings. Closely, I could greet him, but every time without a word. I made inquiries to my boss as to who he was, and I was told that he was a musician from the United States of America. I wasn't surprised to hear that.

I choose special books I like to read. The few I had read are about African-Americans. Some call them "African souls lost in the diaspora." Most of them hate to be called Africans. Despite knowing well the circumstances that led them to be African-Americans, some simply prefer to be morons and claim to be Americans, instead of Africans."

Part of the lyrics of the song "Greetings" by Jamaican reggae star Burning Spear, real name Winston Rodney, says 'One thing I don't understand, why so many black people in America have no intention, respect for the culture. I wonder why. 

Even though they say I am a Yankee, never mind them. I still love my black brothers and black sisters in America. Such a lyric evidently speaks about the same negative attitude maintained by African-Americans, which I am writing about.

It is documented that Africans faced a shameful and brutal experience in slavery, which went on for more than three hundred years. Three hundred years of raids, roundups, pursuits, and ambushes by the white man resulted in millions of young Africans deported across the Atlantic in horrific conditions. 

Those who were lucky to emerge in today's new world are the descendants of the slaves who are now African-Americans. Unfortunately, the unexpected riches they have built have diminished their ability to remember their history.

The painful and lasting imprints of this epoch left upon the memory and consciousness of the African, centuries of disdain, humiliation, and suffering, have degraded the black man to the extent that some feel it is better to claim as an American than African. 

Unfortunately, maintaining this negative attitude is not helping them; they are rather a laughing stock in the eyes of the white man.

I am happy and proud to be African. I think the soul singer James Brown was also proud to be, else he wouldn't have played "Say it Loud I'm black and Proud." I think it's time for every African-American to put behind them those painful memories. 

Once in their lifetime, if any of them could get the chance to visit Africa, as some of them had previously done, they would love Africa and proudly claim to be Africans.

BOOK: WILLIAM AND HARRY BY KATIE NICOLL

Katie Nicoll



William and Harry, the children of the wayward Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, were very young when their mother met her untimely death in an accident in France.

Like other children who lost their loved ones tragically, they were emotionally affected. Since the death of Diana, William and Harry have been mystical figures constantly in the media.

While their mother wept in silence, Prince Charles was having an affair with her rival Camilla. Diana thought leaving behind all the royal blues could make her happy. Unfortunately, things went wrong.

On the shelves now is the story of William and Harry. A book written by Katie Nicoll. The gripping book reveals it all, about how the boys have made it through to be strongly united.