Ivory Coast: More Than A Test of Democracy. How About Respect For The Will of The people?

We have a bunch of Political Area Boys, from the Mugabes to the Kibakis of Africa, who think it is okay to ignore the will of the people and then use the platform of power-sharing as a means of holding on to power.

Ivory Coast: More Than A Test of Democracy. How About Respect For The Will of The people?

Tony Porter: Break Out Of Your Man Box!

“My Liberation as man is tied to your liberation as a woman.” I wish someone would sing that into the head of Congolese Militias and government troops until they stop destroying the bodies of their mothers, sisters and every girl child in eastern DRC.

Tony Porter: Break Out Of Your Man Box!

Africa Is Open For Business Not Exploitation

Africa is open for business not exploitation. Whenever I hear of an African country giving land away to China or any other nation to develop and then weigh it up against the returns, my mind fails to comprehend why we keep short-changing ourselves.

Africa Is Open For Business Not Exploitation

In Celebration: Ory Okolloh

I am always excited by people who challenge me mentally, intellectually, creatively and in all aspects of life. From individuals who are silent achievers to those, whose achievements are in public sphere because they have been recognised for their work, they get the baby inside me kicking and jumping when they talk about their passions and visions. Today, my choice of person to celebrate is Ory Okolloh, popularly known as the Kenya Pundit.


In Celebration: Ory Okolloh

In Conversation: Precious Williams

I do not think that writing a book, publishing it, and having it reviewed in the press – possibly harshly – is going to help anybody heal from childhood trauma. For example, One critic complained in her review that my memoir – in her view – was a ‘misery memoir’ and she implied that writing a memoir about enduring and overcoming childhood abuse is clichéd and has been done-to-death. Imagine how crushed and invalidated a writer would feel by that response if they’d written their memoir as an aide to healing and to find their voice! Fortunately, because I’d already done my healing in the appropriate setting (behind closed doors, in a therapist’s office) I was able to just shrug the comment off and think, “So maybe my book’s a misery memoir. And?”

In Conversation: Precious Williams

In Conversation: Precious Williams

I do not think that writing a book, publishing it, and having it reviewed in the press – possibly harshly – is going to help anybody heal from childhood trauma. For example, One critic complained in her review that my memoir – in her view – was a ‘misery memoir’ and she implied that writing a memoir about enduring and overcoming childhood abuse is clichéd and has been done-to-death. Imagine how crushed and invalidated a writer would feel by that response if they’d written their memoir as an aide to healing and to find their voice! Fortunately, because I’d already done my healing in the appropriate setting (behind closed doors, in a therapist’s office) I was able to just shrug the comment off and think, “So maybe my book’s a misery memoir. And?”

In Conversation: Precious Williams

Reading: A Window To The Soul

Still Water in A Storm is described as ‘A voluntary one-room schoolhouse. Neighbours as family. Thinking as pleasure. Expression as survival. We write, read, speak and listen. We practice compassion.’ The information on their website goes on to say, ‘We began as a grassroots alliance of Bushwick residents who needed an opportunity for safe self-expression.’

Reading: A Window To The Soul

The Joy of Reading: My Books of 2009/2010

These are some of the books I have enjoyed in the last year and half…some kept me up because I just had to finish reading. On Black Sisters’ Street by Chika Unigwe, The Long Song by Andrea Levy did that to me. Tail of The Blue Bird by Nii Ayikwei Parkes had me mesmerised with its language, I didn’t go to church one Sunday for I had to finish the book. Forgive me Lord! Yes, they were that good…others, made me think.

The Joy of Reading: My Books of 2009/2010

Issues Give You Baggage

This is my opinion and mine alone, there are people, whose issues you will discover on Facebook, either by their status or their contribution to a thread/conversation. I dare say, it is downright sad to display your ignorance on the WWW Milky Way…

Issues Give You Baggage

Keeping Tradition, Breaking Tradition

Some interesting news stories from Africa. Enjoy!!

Keeping Tradition, Breaking Tradition

Angelique Kidjo : In A Class of Her Own

Angelique Kidjo is in a class of her own. No one comes close and none compares. She more than deserves the Grammy nod, I hope she wins.

Enjoy!!!

Angelique Kidjo : In A Class of Her Own

Urbanknit: The Art Of Bag Couture

An architect by profession, Dolapo James is no stranger to the world of designs. It started with her obsession of Ankara and other African fabric. Though, it was never a conscious decision to start a company, James is the proud owner of Urbanknit, a company she started over 6 years ago and specialises in handmade bags, scarves and accessories, using African fabrics. “For ages I have been obsessed with Ankara and the crazy variety we have in Nigeria. Ankara is so chic and the variety is unbelievable. It’s so different and unusual and I just thought, why not introduce it and try to create a fusion, where it’s not just about it being an African fabric but to be able to use it in everyday life also,” she says.

Urbanknit: The Art Of Bag Couture

Modern Day Slavery As Perpetrated by Africans Against Africans

Horror is an inadequate word to describe what I felt when after watching these videos. To think that the lady, who enslaved these young ladies would treat them the way she did is still hard to believe. To know that she is African like them hurts even more because she should know from history, this should never happen again.

Modern Day Slavery As Perpertrated by Africans Against Africans

The Other Side of Domestic Violence

We deplore and decry a man who beats a woman but what happens when it’s a woman beating a man?

The Other Side of Domestic Violence

Democracy Is A Farce. International Transparency Is A Farce. China, Please, Grow Up!

Julian Assange, poor boy. Surely, you knew this whole airing of US dirty laundry was not going to be easy.

Democracy Is A Farce. International Transparency Is A Farce. China, Please, Grow Up!

Nelson Mandela: Conversations With Myself (Feature)

“One issue that deeply worried me in prison was the false image that I unwittingly projected to the outside world; of being regarded as a saint. I never was one, even on the basis of an earthly definition of a saint as a sinner who keeps on trying.”

Nelson Mandela: Conversations With Myself (Feature)

Black Girls Rock!!

We are black women and we are proud. We are not for sale and we refuse to be cheapened by the bling or the dollar...

Black Girls Rock!!

Leah Chishugi: A Long Way From Paradise

A memoir of all memoirs…Leah Chishugi’s story is so compelling, I had to ask where she gets the strength to carry on. A formidable woman and a humanitarian at heart, I am in awe of her bravery. To survive a genocide is no joke but to watch your uncle killed in front of you and his heart chopped out of him while you watch, that is enough to send anyone to a mental institution. If I keep writing, then I am silly and don’t get it. Please, watch this video of Leah at a recent Frontline event...

Leah Chishugi: A Long Way From Paradise

My Brother’s Keeper

To love and to hold, in sickness and in health does not include, to love, hold and use you for my punch bag! Selah!

My Brother’s Keeper

World Aids Day: We Still Have Work To Do

We have come so far but we still have a long way to go. From Nigeria to South Africa to India, three countries with staggering statistics. I would like to believe the day will come, when more people have access to treatment and those already infected will no longer be stigmastised or live in shame...


World Aids Day: We Still Have Work To Do