In the Grandiose Parlor…

Hat-tip to Sokari (Black Looks) for posting on this Norwegian freakshow: A beauty contest for landmine survivors in Angola, where the contestants are then propped up on display in a fashion magazine showcasing specially designed clothes for amputees!

To say this project is despicable is an understatement, it’s an appalling means of social advocacy, and a reckless display of human and cultural insensitivity. I share the anguish and disgust of the writer (and those have commented to the post).

However, what we need to understand is that this “beauty show” was not designed to mock or be-little the circumstances of the victims, and if the victims were Norwegians it would have been appropriate for their society. The project back-fired because Morten Traavik, a Norwegian artist (no wonder!), and the the originator of the idea, failed to consider the implications of his project.

After reading the 15+ comments to Sokari’s post, I’m somewhat deflated that no one proffered alternative means of “showcasing” the plight of these victims of landmine horror. After all, it is our insensitivity as Africans (some of us), and our inability to proffer creative solutions to our socio-political issues that breath life into projects like Traavik’s. There are artists and musicians in Angola and all over Africa, but I’m yet to hear/see any concerted advocacy efforts from this sector. If we Africans can’t think and work to deal with our issues, then someone else will!

The African landscape is dotted with varieties of human-created mishaps and tragedies, until we wake-up to this reality and find ways and the strength to act individually and in unison, and address these issues, we have no business crying foul.

Yes, there are several existing outlets (blogs/websites) that have taken the “bull by the horn”, and have been addressing several social and political issues on the continent, but these are in the minority. More hands need to be on deck. It appears the days of the NIMBY (Not-In-My-Backyard) mentality over; we must be social catalysts one way or the other.

These are (some) questions we need to answer:

• How can Africans (including blogger)s creatively address our issues?
• How can we build effective coalitions?
• What skill-sets, resources, and infrastructures do we need to generate both internal and external momentum to sustain these efforts?

• Benn Loxo Du Taccu: Groovy Naija

• African Shirts: Plaut and Hearing – Embattled Nigerian Vice President’s interview on World Today

• NYT: Egypt: Blogger Gets 4 Years- An Alexandria court sentenced a blogger, Abdel Kareem Nabil, to four years in prison for insulting Islam and Egypt’s president through his Internet writings.

• BBC: Oil worker shot dead in Nigeria

• Via TechCruch: Tree-Nation is a Barcelona-based entity that wants to plant 8 million trees in Niger, in the shape of a giant heart. Their hope is that this re-forestation campaign will help the environment and the people of the country.Tree Nation

• Meskel Square: Where have all the bloggers gone?

• African Unchained: Investing in emerging markets

If the insurgency in the Nigeria oil rich Niger-delta is allowed to continue unresolved, it will cumulate into a catastrophic event of epic proportions with dire consequences on the socioeconomic and political stability of the nation. This is not a dooms-day prophesy, or a forecast that requires some complicated regression analysis; it’s simple common-sense.

What bothers me most is the nonchalant attitude of those most affected by the event: the state governments and their legislatures (members of the House of Assemblies). It is apparent the feds have given up on the issue, or have simply ran out of workable solutions that could quell the violence, short of heeding the demands of the militia: granting the region more control of the black gold being sucked out of their lands, and the release of their leaders and colleagues locked-up in various jails.

While I do not subscribe to the tactics of the militia in the Niger-delta, I can relate to their circumstances given the devastation oil exploration has brought on their environment, and the relative and disproportionate underdevelopment of the region. However, I wish these militia could see how misguided their actions are.

Continue reading…

“Five Chinese telecommunications workers have been kidnapped by unidentified armed men in southern Nigeria”, according to a BBC report. I wonder how this will impact the Sino-Nigeria business and trade arrangements which requires hundreds of Chinese technicians and expatriates. to be domiciled in Nigeria for several years. There is no doubt that the provision of private security for these people and other expats. in the Niger-Delta region has jacked-up the cost of doing business in Nigeria.

The agitations in the Niger-delta, and secessionist miltia in the eastern region, have sucessfully labelled Nigeria in the eyes of world as a time-bomb rigged to explode at any time.
As much as the Nigerian government tries to whitewash the stains of, and “airfreshens” the stench from, the rotting lumbers of our national foundation, it’s just a matter of time before things reach a tipping-point and our national foundation gives way completely. Well, unless the goons in charge realize the importance of carrying the people along.

As events indicate at the moment, the government strategies employed to nip sectarian violence and appease to those aggravated entities have not work. Rather than “staying the course of a doomed voyage”, isn’t it just simple commonsense to halt, take a breather, and reevaluate available options?

Related articles:

Wordsbody: Selling Nigeria

Laspapi: Natives are Friendly

Nigeriafirst.org: Nigeria-China relations in Perspective: 1999 – 2006

Still grumpy from the sour taste the Blood Diamonds movie left in my mouth last night, I woke up to read about the war between Somalia and Ethiopia. What a way to celebrate theYuletide!

The hand-writings of the war mongers have been very clear on the wall, and events in the last couple of weeks have strongly suggested the region is going to explode; however, I had hopes that somehow, a reasonable and peaceful resolution would be achieved well before the rivers of tears and blood begin to flow, yet again on another African battlefront.

From Sudan/Darfur, then Chad, now to Somalia/Ethiopia.

Nuts!

Check the facts and more stories here:

Wikipedia: Ethiopian Involvement in Somalia

EthioBlog: Ethiopia Hits Somali Targets, Declaring War

Global Voices Online: Somali-Ethiopia Conflict Looms Over Ethiopian Blogosphere