Black Looks

• SOPUDEP: Post Earthquake community organizing

  Posted: November 30, 2010, 4:07 pm by Sokari

  Video on the work of SOPUDEP schools in Morne Lazarre and the start of the community micro-credit programme

• The Beads Around Her Head

  Posted: November 29, 2010, 9:15 pm by Sokari

  THE BEADS AROUND HER HEAD by Donald Molosi what more could it have been (rooted in role-play and obligation as it was) but a sad longing undefined? what good could it have done to have called it “idiotic” if institution eschews freedom, and culture refuses to accuse tradition of demonizing spinsterhood? that’s right - once upon a time fond tears spilled out [...]

• Black Dutchmen of Indonesia

  Posted: November 26, 2010, 7:19 pm by Sokari

  The Black Dutchmen are the desendents of 3,000 West African men who were sent by the Dutch colonialist to fight in their colonial war in Indonesia. Black men forced to the other side of the world to fight a white man’s war against another group of black men. They were given Dutch nationality, Dutch [...]

• Questions of loyalty in movement building

  Posted: November 24, 2010, 9:11 pm by Sokari

  How can loyalty become a threat to social movements and how can it be a source of strength? How should movements respond to threats and how do we nurture and build on loyalty from within? What does it mean for the poor? S’bu Zikode, the President of Abahlali baseMojondo, addresses these questions at [...]

• African Commission blocks LBGTI human rights

  Posted: November 23, 2010, 4:07 pm by Sokari

  Pambazuka News has a special issue on the African Commission for Peoples and Human Rights which recently denied “Observer Status” to the Coalition of African Lesbians. The day the African Commission disavowed humanity Fikile Vilakazi and Sibongile Ndashe The Coalition of African Lesbians (CAL) says it is ‘extremely angered’ that their application for observer status before the African [...]

• Ijebu war of 1892: Two accounts

  Posted: November 22, 2010, 5:26 pm by Sokari

  This detailed report on the Ijebu War of 1892 gives an insight into  British rule in Nigeria.  The Chief of Ijebu Ode,  the Awujale, had blocked the trade route from the interior into Lagos which at the time was a Crown Colony.  In May of 1891 a British officer traveled with Hausa troops to try [...]

• Breakdown on UN vote to exclude LGBTI from condemnation of execution

  Posted: November 21, 2010, 7:49 pm by Sokari

  UPDATE: The news is that this is back on the agenda again and they are meeting to reconsider the application Last week the UN General Assembly Human Rights Committee voted to delete specific reference to killings due to sexual orientation from a resolution condemning unjustified executions. The resolution urges States to protect [...]

• Fear of art

  Posted: November 20, 2010, 5:29 pm by Sokari

  Last August, Owen Maseko’s art was banned by the Zimbabwe government following an exhibition earlier in Bulawayo last March.   Maseko’s art documents the political violence which took place 25 years ago in Matabeleland when thousands were massacred.  Maseko himself was arrested after the exhibition opened was charged with insulting and or undermining the authority [...]

• African Mosaic

  Posted: November 19, 2010, 8:35 pm by Sokari

  African Mosaic is an exhibition of African art at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African Art and has a mix of  contemporary art, installations and popular street art.  The centerpiece of the exhibition is a tribute to Toussaint Louverture – a life size sculpture by Senegalese sculptor Ousmane Sow. I believe the exhibition runs until the end of [...]

• France must Repay Haiti Independence Debt

  Posted: November 18, 2010, 11:08 pm by Sokari

  For Haiti November 18th and January 1st are specifically dedicated each year to the INDEPENDENCE DEBT. For November 18 – the last battle where the Haitians defeated Napoleon and January 1st Haiti’s Independence Day, HLLN welcomes all those interested in ending the UN/US occupation of Haiti and returning back Haiti’s sovereignty to help by signing [...]

• Conference on Sexworkers cancelled by Ugandan ethics minister

  Posted: November 18, 2010, 10:56 pm by Sokari

  Earlier today, a conference for the Commercial Sex Workers Leadership  Institute [SWLI] was cancelled on the orders of the Minister of Ethics and Integrity, Mr Buturo who claimed “prostitution” is illegal therefore the SWLI was an illegal organisaton.   The conference organised by  Akina Mama wa Afrika was due to start today, the 18 until 20th November [...]

• Introduction: Ken Saro-Wiwa, 15 years on

  Posted: November 17, 2010, 1:50 am by Sokari

  Ben Amunwa, co-ordinator of the Remember Saro-Wiwa project introduces the Niger Delta series based on interviews during his recent visit to the region.

• Toolkit for LGBTI activism

  Posted: November 16, 2010, 4:31 pm by Sokari

  The new Activist’s Guide is a toolkit which provides an introduction to the Yogyakarta Principles on the application of international human rights law in relation to sexual orientation and gender identity, and explores how they can enhance the work of LGBTI activists to promote equality on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It presents creative [...]

• Episode 1: 15 years of not getting justice

  Posted: November 12, 2010, 3:01 pm by Sokari

  As part of the 15th anniversary of the execution of the Ogoni nine, Remember Saro-Wiwa has produced a series of interviews with leading human rights defenders in the Niger Delta. Episode I is concerned with Women’s Rights in Niger Delta, and features an interview with women’s rights activist, Emem J Okon, of Kebetkache [...]

• Creation Myths: Remembering Ken Saro-Wiwa

  Posted: November 10, 2010, 4:49 pm by Sokari

  Today marks the 15th anniversary of the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa by the Nigerian state under General Sani Abacha on November 10th 1995. Why did this happen? Ike Okonta explains.. In life, Ken Saro-Wiwa, the Nigerian writer and minority rights activist, was an elemental force. Like the sun that illuminates all that it touches, [...]

• Outrage at denial of observer status to CAL by the African Commission on Human Rights

  Posted: November 9, 2010, 6:07 pm by Sokari

  The African Commission on People’s and Human Rights [ACPHR], denial of observer status to the Coalition of African Lesbians [CAL] is a denial of the Rights enshrined in the Charter of all Africans who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex [LGBTI]. In the denial of Rights, the ACPHR, effectively [...]

• Criminalising homosexuality in the DRC

  Posted: November 8, 2010, 5:06 pm by Sokari

  The DRC parliament is presently debating proposed in the process of discussing legislation which will criminalise homosexuality. There are a number of major difference between the DRC Bill and legislation proposed in for example, Nigeria and Uganda which have proposed similar legislation. First the DRC does not presently [...]

• Nigerian contemporary photography

  Posted: November 7, 2010, 7:03 pm by Sokari

  An exhibition featuring 13 Nigerian photographers which brings together the “famous, infamous and non famous” as a way of thinking about Nigerian collective identity in a contemporary world. The exhibition employs deconstruction as a strategy of critical analysis and seeks to challenge the displaced and misinterpreted Nigerian identity forced on us by addressing [...]

• Today Its Me – performed by Donald Molosi

  Posted: November 7, 2010, 4:16 pm by Sokari

  My good friend and writer, poet, engerised optimist, Donald Molosi is performing his “one man” play in New York on the 20th November. Details below TODAY IT’S ME Performed by Donald Molosi, BOTSWANA Sat, Nov 20 at 7:00pm Theatre ROW 410 West 42nd Street, New York City …This is the true story of the [...]

• A Prayer for Amy

  Posted: November 6, 2010, 3:08 pm by Mia Nikasimo

  A Prayer for Amy Let us close our eyes in pray for dear Amy, here! We hope the Almighty God in heaven helps her see, We are all well adjusted, heavenly father, please help, We hope she becomes born again in your image? Heavenly father, this is for Amy your prodigal lamb, Father it’s the way she looks at other girls, [...]

• African futures for social justice

  Posted: November 5, 2010, 4:27 pm by Sokari

  A huge congratulations to Hakima Abbas who has been appointed the new Executive Director of Fahamu: Networks for Social Justice. The founder and previous ED, Firoze Manji will continue leading Pambazuka News and Pambazuka Press meaning we will all still benefit from his wisdom! Hakima sets out her own vision for [...]

• Sitting on a Stoep

  Posted: November 5, 2010, 3:23 am by Rethabile

  The first time we sat on this stoep at night a moon (Japanese lamp with moth-coloured cloth tightly around it) stopped over her shoulder & looked at what was happening in her lap. Which was nothing more than our hands entwined. It has since come every night to listen with us for cries of life from bushes and trees, where people we [...]

• Rolling Stone Uganda ordered to stop publication

  Posted: November 3, 2010, 4:12 pm by Sokari

  The Uganda tabloid Rolling Stone has been ordered by the High Court to stop publication of the names and photos of people who it believes are gay and lesbian saying this was “an invasion of privacy” Several of the people in the original list reported facing harassment, including a woman who was forced to [...]

• A Beginning…

  Posted: November 1, 2010, 3:44 pm by Mia Nikasimo

  Transitioning is not circumcision, circumcision is not transitioning; One is the beginning of life, refreshing; the other robs one of life. Our innate fears loom on every horizon, a mirage or a starved wolf. Women fear the potential lose of potential husbands, of families, Men fear the potential lose of potential wives, of the idle of home. Diversity is [...]

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes