kwizera-blog

[kwizera-blog]

Genocide, the physical extinction of a people, is universally condemned, but ethnocide, the destruction of people’s way of life, is not only not condemned, it’s universally celebrated as part of a development strategy.

- Wade Davis, Dreams from endangered cultures. (via engenderandendear)

[kwizera-blog]

[kwizera-blog]

DOCUMENTARY: IN BETWEEN STORIES

In Between Stories is a short documentary that features four young artists from the African diaspora communities in Toronto.

This film touches on issues including media representations of Africa, experiences of second-generation immigrant youth and the role of storytelling.

As they navigate through the different narratives that make up their lives, they share what it means to be a young African in today’s society.

submitted by http://otbcolony.tumblr.com/

[kwizera-blog]

Brymo - Ara

[kwizera-blog]

Educate yourselves of Africa To liberate yourself, Africa Keep your heads up high No more will we cry Our history that they stole, Africa It's written in our souls, Africa Ships that sale to distant places, robbed us of our rights and worths History says that you've betrayed us, talking of the god's you serve Hear the rumbling in the sky, tears I tore for father's cry Until today we're still in chains, damn this shackle from our minds You're the cornerstone, the king upon the throne How beatiful art thou, Africa All nation have to bow, Africa Don't you fall from grace You're that sacred place

- Made in Africa Stephen Marley

[kwizera-blog]

[kwizera-blog]

If there is employment, we don't want casual employment. We want to provide employment where when somebody has been provided employment, you forget about it. And when you provide employment for one person, he will create some more employment...For example if you have people working, then people in the market will also be employed because they will have people with money who are going to buy the goods.

-President Michael Sata on the reassurance of decent jobs for Zambians

[kwizera-blog]

Increasingly, Rwanda is associated with miracles. Indeed, some talk of “the Rwanda miracle.”

Usually what they have in mind is the tremendous socioeconomic change the country has undergone in less than a generation, after suffering one of the greatest tragedies in human history, which most...

[kwizera-blog]

Re: 10 Reasons Countries Fall Apart

I was recently reading an article from Foreign Policy called "10 Reasons Countries Fall Apart" by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson (thank you @dgtlUbun2 for posting this!). The name of this article intrigued me, as it implied that it would be an explanatory piece on how nations become enveloped in corruption, poverty, war and dismay - basically a guide of how not to achieve a "utopian" society. However upon delving into the 10 reasons, it became apparent that this was ultimately a skin surface explanation. 

Ultimately the 10 reasons were condensed into symptoms rather than causes. Symptoms are easy to diagnose as they are clearly evident in plain sight view. However systemic endemic causes - ones that are caused by historical factors that have been embedded as the norm - are the ones that are often overlooked in our current fascination with global convergence. Rarely is it that analysts take the time to clearly understand the ingrained historical, political, economic, social, environmental and technological context of a region when exploring the region's development. Rather than looking at issues such as colonialism, neo-colonialism, Bretton Woods supranational institutions, slavery, the resource curse, brain drain, capitalism, upon a plethora of other factors - that I do not believe can be contained to 10 factors given the diverse extent of global regional nuances and dynamics - symptoms such as lack of property rights and a tilted playing field were pinpointed as independent factors. Ultimately this article was trying to validate weak arguments, such as saying that the reason for poverty is due to a lack of income.... Really, why is it that there is a lack of income?  

Furthermore, many of the "reasons" were highly correlated to one another -further signifying that these were symptoms rather than causes. I can say that no law and order is a strong factor, but this lack of law and order can explain all of the other reasons. Overall, development that initaties with inequality ingrains corrupted institutions which supplants generations of instability and underdevelopment. So the real question is how do countries come to the point where there is no law and order. 

I am trying to hint at the point, specifically for the African context, that colonialism  created the borders of countries that were separated by different kingdoms reflecting pre-colonial cultural divides. The lack of consideration for regional nuances and dynamics that has emanated from colonialism grouped individuals who have historically had differing laws customs and ruling traditions, and forced them under one set of laws and customs - that were largely Euro-centric. And to think that 40-60 years after independence that a nation will be in complete unity is too far-fetched (Take in the example of Somalia and Somaliland). That is why it took years before U.S., Canada and other OECD historically colonized nations before they came to be categorized as developed nations.

Africa is truly on the path of an economic surge, it is not a doomed or failed region that is on the brinks of falling apart. Take into consideration the context before you believe the hype!

-kwizeraAFRICA

realizing AFRICA’s truth

[kwizera-blog]

The second single from upcoming album Road to Lungi. Paper Chaser- Dyce Lamtek ft Succulent Reppin sweet Salone!!! Enjoy

[kwizera-blog]

Alonzo - Salone Party

[kwizera-blog]

Human migration documentary via CBC

[kwizera-blog]

Iyanya -Kukere

[kwizera-blog]

5Five - Bossu Kena

[kwizera-blog]

E.L. - Obuu Mo

[kwizera-blog]

Today is Sierra Leone’s Independence Day - Happy Independence day to all those from Salone!

Love,

DynamicAfrica