Review of African Blogs – April 2, 2009

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/426/april02_01_mmalawi.gifMmalawi Blog uses the case of Malawi to demonstrate how the Western media promotes ignorance about Africa:

“The Washington Post, the New York Times and other media giants have written about Madonna and her adoption saga, while not mentioning or concentrating on the problems affecting the Malawian population. At the time that the Queen of Pop is fighting with judges, Malawi is experiencing a political crisis that has even escalated to cases of violence… While UK's The Guardian presents a case study on Madonna adoptions; Malawi is mourning with Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) after 22 supporters died at a FIFA World Cup qualifying game in a stadium of Abidjan in a stampede. Malawi is still struggling with problems like gender inequality, high children mortality and the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The only time that Malawi gets a window to expose itself to the world, Madonna takes the stage and all eyes unflinchingly focus on her without looking at the problems of the country. It is therefore not surprising that Madonna's adopted son David Banda is more popular than the country's President Mr. Bingu wa Mutharika or Mr. Kamuzu Banda, the Malawian first dictator.”

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/426/april02_02_afrodissident.g…Afrodissident is pleased with a recent article in Time Magazine which touts Africa’s economic potential:

“Time magazine has named Africa’s business potential as one of the ‘10 ideas changing the world right now’. For once Africa isn’t being depicted as a disastrous basket case – indeed in this article quite the opposite is the case. With positive economic growth for African nations forecasted to continue (despite the global downturn that has caused so many other economies – especially in the first world – to contract) Africa is cited as a glimmer of economic hope in these gloomy recession-hit times…

It’s great that the Africa – at long last – is being feted in mainstream western media as a place of potential. Of course the rampant poverty, conflict and corruption still bedevil the continent. But there’s so much more to the continent.

As Time says ‘Look … at the African growth figures once more. Compare them with this year’s forecasts for the developed world. Who’s the basket case now?’”

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/426/april02_03_cigbokwe.gifCasmir Igbokwe outlines the conditions under which Nigeria’s “rebranding” campaign will have a meaningful impact:

“Nigeria: Good people. Great nation! That’s our brand new slogan. It sounds good...But then, we need to address the peculiar messes surrounding our existence first…

For this rebranding exercise to make meaningful impact, Nigerians generally must resolve to change their attitude, their value system. The President of the country must attend to state functions with dispatch. He must rule with sincerity and love for all. The governors must provide essential infrastructure and other things that make life worth living for their people. The local government chairmen, the legislators, judges and whoever is in government must do their work efficiently and effectively.

Other citizens, on their part, must endeavour to carry out their civic responsibilities. If you are a bricklayer, there is no point stealing some bags of cement you are meant to work with. If you are an auto mechanic, make sure you use the original engine oil your customer has bought for you to service his car. If you are a chief executive, make sure you pay your workers a living wage. If you are a pickpocket, the law will not be merciful to you when caught.”

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/426/april02_04_whereher.gifWhat An African Woman Thinks comments on a recent talk by anti-aid activist Dambisa Moyo at New York University:

“Moyo… characterised Bono & Co as ‘misguided,’ claiming ‘they paint Africa and Africans as victims rather than countries and people with capabilities and promise.’ And, on top of that, they usurp the role of African leaders, who really ought to be the ones who speak for Africa.

I really feel badly for Bono and Blair and their ilk. They see a problem and they’re compelled to do something. It’s hard to fault them on that ground. There are too many people all over the place doing nothing when they should be doing something.

On the other hand, it’s clear that AID has not worked/is not working as it’s supposed to, unless of course, it had the subversive objective all along of perpetuating dependence, in which case, it’s truly a work of genius. As Moyo says, ‘giving aid to Africa remains one of the biggest ideas of our time,’ which is puzzling no end because all the evidence suggests is that it’s an idea that has failed miserably.”

http://www.pambazuka.org/images/articles/426/april02_05_bombastic.gifBombastic Element reviews a recent report on the Congo by award-winning Canadian photojournalist Finbarr O'Reilly:

“Reporting what's up in the Congo, Finbarr O'Reilly goes off the Western reporter's worn, beaten path. Watching the clip above makes you realize that foreign correspondents need to cut through Congo's tragic thicket of war and displacement in order to catch a glimpse of another Congo.

In O'Reilly's case, he finds that ‘despite the fear and the daily struggle to survive, the women of the DRC maintained their dignity and their looks using creative and inventive hairstyles.’

The human will in Africa to adapt, protest, heal, reinvent and survive is the real African news. Some may dismiss such survival in the face of unimaginable odds as settling for hell. But news like this serves to remind the rest of the world that those dwelling in "hell" still, in their own unique ways, live out, like the rest us, the complete spectrum of human emotions and desires…”

* Dibussi Tande, a writer and activist from Cameroon, produces the blog Scribbles from the Den

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