KenyaUnlimited Blogs Aggregator » The Afropolitan Network:::

The Afropolitan Network:::

Africa's Organic Farms

Posted: February 29, 2008, 11:20 pm by Beve

Here's a very interesting article in the International Herald Tribune about debate over organic farming as an "idealized food system". This farming system, however, is still used in Africa, but not because it is trendy or healthier, but because there is no other option. The author makes a good point about the West's disdain of genetically modified foods as detrimental to African farmers who might find crops that can withstand pests and drought, useful. However, I think the best option is to build on the current advantage of farming organic products in Africa, by investing in farming technology as well as educating farmers on ways to enhance crop yield. There are several studies, like this one by Organic Exchange, that seem to suggest that farmers can actually make more money with organic products as well as help business in the long term by using environmentally sustainable methods that don't deplete soil. According to the article:

"Take a trip to Africa. The small farmers who populate the continent's impoverished countryside are living out something close to this post-materialist fantasy."

read more | digg story
Guinean Model/Activist Found Dead

Posted: February 29, 2008, 9:28 pm by Beve

This is a sad story. Katoucha Niane, who modeled with Yves Saint Laurent, was found floating in the Seine River in Paris. It seems to have been an accident. Born in Conakry, Guinea, she was also known for bringing international attention to FGM (Female Genital Mutulation), herself a victim of the horrible practice at the age of 9. Here is more on her sad passing and her life lived.
Blackness: A quick and dirty primer

Posted: February 28, 2008, 11:58 pm by Beve

John McWhorter takes on the sticky issue of whether some people are blacker than others.

read more | digg story
Still "Whites Only" Places in South Africa??

Posted: February 28, 2008, 12:52 pm by Beve

I saw this in the Times UK today and was stunned. 14 years after the official end of apartheid and there is a school, University of the Free State, that is just now integrating?? Just checked my calendar, and yup its still 2008. Amazing. What's even more shocking is that the is a disturbing video out showing white students forcing black workers to drink "contaminated" soap and eat dirty meat that is causing an uproar.

I have a question though, why would the janitors listen to the kids?? There must be an unbelievable sense of powerlessness on one side and privilege on the other for this equation to go down. Some of the workers were elderly. Sad. Here is a direct quote from a white student protesting the integration:
"Once upon a time the boere (Afrikaners) lived peacefully here on Reitz Island, until one day when the lessa dvantaged discovered the word ‘integration’ in the dictionary,” a resident of the men’s hostel says."
Unbelievable. Again, this happened a few days ago, not in 1942.
The Black Comedy Experiment Festival

Posted: February 27, 2008, 12:39 am by Beve

This is cool. Some of my favorite comedians (who happen to be black), have put together a collective called The Black Comedy Experiment. They will be showcasing their talent in New York during the 3 Day Festival from Feb 28th - March 1st. Those of you in Brooklyn, New York should go and check them out. If any of the other performers are as funny as Jordan Carlos (who was considered to play Obama on Saturday Night Live) and Baron Vaughn, you'll be in stitches. Wish I could make it...

The same people are also involved in an ongoing discussion of the state of black comedy on
The Black Comedy Project
Blogging for Human Rights

Posted: February 27, 2008, 5:34 pm by Beve
Just added the ubiquitous "I blog for human rights " e-sticker. So, I thought to back up that claim, I'd start advocating some of the issues on the Amnesty International blog. They explicitly encourage bloggers to help them campaign.

So this brings me to the case of 23 year old Karim Amer. Around the same age as me, blogger, African and voices dissent against the government (which I do on and off line). Seems pretty normal, right, his crime? "Criticizing religious authorities, President Husni Mubarak and Islam." (amnesty international)

Yikes. Specifically, these accusations turned into these charges:
1. "spreading information disruptive of public order and damaging to the country's reputation"
2. "incitement to hate Islam"
3. "defaming the President of the Republic".
Karim Amer is the first Egyptian blogger to be tried for pretty much speaking out via his blog. His sentence is 4 years and he just finished a year on Friday. This is scary stuff and it lets me know that we in the "free world" so to speak, take a lot of our freedoms for granted. If Amnesty is doing a letter writing campaign on his behalf. There's more about his story and his treatment in prison here.
The Siiiiiiiimpsooooons

Posted: February 26, 2008, 5:17 pm by Beve

By way of Afrigadget I found this really cool carving community in Western Kenya (where I'm originally from by the way) that make Simpsons figurines. Also a BBC article on it.

Here's the official site
links for 2008-02-26

Posted: February 26, 2008, 1:27 pm by Beve
- Why Black Athletes Dominate Sports and Why We're Afraid To Talk About It
- The Standard | Annan: It’s now up to Raila and Kibaki
Worth Watching Pambazuka News

Posted: February 25, 2008, 3:35 pm by Beve

Pambazuka, a Swahili word which means "dawn" or "get light" is also a cool news site that has podcasts and videocasts
"Pambazuka News is produced by a pan-African community of some 300 citizens and organisations - academics, policy makers, social activists, women's organisations, civil society organisations, writers, artists, poets, bloggers, and commentators who together produce insightful, sharp and thoughtful analyses and make it one of the largest and most innovative and influential web forums for social justice in Africa."
Obey the Giant

Posted: February 24, 2008, 7:05 pm by Beve

Here is the site of the guy who made those ubiquitous (my new favorite word) Obama graphic icons that you see all over Facebook.

Its called Obey the Giant (thanks to Jamhuri Wear blog for that) and I love the tag "Manufacturing Dissent Since 1989". Classic. Here's some stunning pieces from the renowned artist behind the work Shepard Fairey:
Make-up Design in East Africa

Posted: February 23, 2008, 10:36 pm by Beve

Interesting piece in...the Daily Mail? This was passed on to me and I love the colors and flowers and poses! Designs of the Surma and Mursi ethnic groups in Sudan, Ethiopia, and Kenya in East Africa's Omo Valley.
Obama and the Black State of the Union

Posted: February 23, 2008, 3:12 pm by Beve

I've watched the State of the Black Union since 2004 and this last one was great but I came away thinking that it was exactly like the other 4+ and with the audience automatic call and response, and standing ovations every 30 seconds, I don't think anything gets done as a consequence of the meeting. I know there was the Tavis Smiley's Covenant with Black America, what became of that? Anyway, Obama has said he will not be attending this year's SOTBU in New Orleans. Understandably its a big deal that he won't. On one hand, I think that it is unfortunate that he feels that he has to distance himself from the Black community at this juncture, but on the other hand I feel like he's making a safe decision which is the best thing he can do right now. He has primaries in Texas and Ohio in about a week and those have already been billed the last nail for whoever's candidacy's coffin.

But whatever.

I think if I was in his shoes I would do the same thing. Is that the wrong decision? Perhaps. He should send a taped apology of why he can't appear (i.e. campaigning).

Also,

I just don't like how these kind of forums feel like they have a monopoly on the black experience
in America. I love it, I'll probably still watch but we've got to spread ourselves out here, Black people! Many leaders, not one, or some, should be the new worldview. I mean we saw it earlier in Obama's candidacy when Sharpton et al tried to make it as though since they hadn't given him their blessing he was not legitimate "black candidate". I like the new guys: Deval Patrick, Obama, Ford from Tennessee the NJ mayor. Check out this piece in the Baltimore Sun for what I mean.

Lastly,

I know the usual reaction to a post like this is there is still systemic racism and endemic injustice. I know, you're preaching to the choir. I just feel that to counteract these issue we, black people in America, need better leaders who are as diverse as we are. I think the sun is setting on Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, NAACP etc. Believe me I love these organizations but either they radically update themselves or face irrelevancy because as we get further and further away from the Civil Rights Movement with time, I believe that black america is outgrowing these tight boundaries.
Are You a State Blogger?

Posted: February 22, 2008, 9:09 pm by Beve

Want to go to the Democratic National Convention in Denver? You can if you are a state blogger, all you have to do is apply for official credentials. A requirements, among others, you have to blog about local/state politics. Heres more info:

Download dncc-blogger-credentialing-final-111307.pdf
links for 2008-02-22

Posted: February 22, 2008, 1:27 pm by Beve
- The Standard | China has proved it’s not a friend to count on
- The Black Commentator - Barack Obama, Fractals and Momentum in Politics
Mr. Bush Goes to Africa

Posted: February 21, 2008, 1:11 am by Beve

Great piece in the New York Times by Josh Ruxin (who wrote this earlier balanced and narrative-busting piece during the heat of the Kenya Election Violence). This new one talks about President Bush's trip this week in Africa to check on the progress of his AIDS initiatives. He argues that while, yes the US needs to fund programs that fight AIDS and Malaria, the government should also invest in business/technology in Africa. Heres an excerpt to illustrate this point:
"In the community of Mayange, Rwanda, a Columbia University project recently rolled out voluntary counseling and testing for AIDS. While the community quickly took advantage of the new service, it was not exactly the talk of the town. Several weeks later, the basket weaving cooperative in Mayange received a purchase order for $2,000of coasters and placemats. The community has been talking about that ever since."
(Photo by Mandel Ngan)
Another Cool Group: The Cuba Groove All Stars

Posted: February 19, 2008, 7:43 am by Beve

[Zimbabwe]
links for 2008-02-14

Posted: February 14, 2008, 1:21 pm by Beve
My Fellow (Kenyan) American

Posted: February 14, 2008, 7:08 am by Beve

Beverly Lwenya
Tuesday, February 12, 2008

Barack Obama has 8 straight wins, on top of the wins on Super Tuesday. He has now won 23/35 states and has won every region. He is not only the most viable African American candidate to ever vie for the presidency, but the most transcendent.

A friend of mine mentioned to me the other day that the only thing that her little sister and all her friends talk about in school is Barack Obama. The bright 14 year old was continually asks her big sister how many super delegates there are and how many it takes to actually secure the nomination. This is a little black girl in East Oakland.

I wish I could share with the world the sense of optimism that is in the balance for young people. It’s all that my friends are talking about and all their friends and so on. When Bill Clinton came in to power in 1992 I hadn’t moved to the States, it wasn’t until his reelection in 1996 that I started paying attention to politics and decided that I was a Democrat. Not unlike, my friends sister, I was a 13 year old who was witnessing an election with full awareness, for the first time. But with defeats in 2000 and 2004 the only revelation for me and many of my cohorts, was that the Democratic Party became just as complicit in George Bush’s misadventures as their colleagues. Almost like trying to jumpstart a Ferrari, the youth vote first dipped our collective toe in the 2000 election to no avail. Then, we pushed our anti-Bush desires on our man John Kerry, but as is now famously documented, the youth vote slept in. Amazed that an election can be “stolen twice” many had their sites on just making it to 2008 and the end of our Bush-dominated voting careers.

So now in 2008, we are four years older again and there’s some new brothers and sisters under our wings, some of whom will turn 18 just before election day. Yet, progressives in the party are still few and far between on Capitol hill, (and we try not to mention the party defectors). But what is really in short supply, so much so, that we didn’t even realize is, was good old-fashioned inspiration.

The thing I like most about Barack Obama, is his ability to inspire, not "hope" but inspire. One of the best quotes I've heard in awhile is this: “people are not persuaded, but attracted”. If all you want from your leader is someone who can tout “experience”, then that’s where we part ways. I want someone who can lead and inspire people to be their better selves. Someone who will demand excellence and elevate discourse for the entire country. That's the definition good leadership. Is this Obama? Well, is it anyone else right now?

He is the smartest (he hasn't made too many gaffes), most organized (his campaign is almost flawless in grassroots organizing from ground up), most authentic (listen to his non-speeches) and most inspiring (carrying youth vote and new voters handily) candidate. If this is lost on you then you are not paying attention. I believe it was Tim Russet on MSNBC who noted that if November does end up being an Obama V McCain election, it will be the widest gap in age between candidates in American presidential history. If there was a case to be made that this election was a grand entrance for eldest of the Generation Xers then this is it. Meanwhile, us Millennials are Ferrari now at a yellow light “Waiting for the World to Change”. I don’t think we’ll be sleeping in this time.
links for 2008-02-13

Posted: February 13, 2008, 1:23 pm by Beve
- Hillary's Scarlett O'Hara Act | TheRoot.com
- Millennials Are About to Give American Politics an Extreme Makeover - The Huffington Post
More Politics

Posted: February 12, 2008, 6:47 am by Beve

So I've been weighing whether to have more commentary on the US Elections here, the con being that this isn't really a political a blog and the pro being that I love this stuff, and that one of the candidates happens to be "Afropolitan" (although I'm not sure if he would agree/like that term or not). So I've come to the conclusion that since this is my blog I'll do as I please! Ok, well not anything crazy.

But I've just been inhaling every bit of news on the primaries/caucuses and would like to throw in my 25 cents worth (now that I'm 25). This decision also on the heels of endorsing Obama for president.

First thing's first, is he electable? I think yes. For many reasons, the most important being that Clinton divides, he unites. It's kinda that simply. Second, he has a built in energizer bunny electorate. They are going with him straight to November. If he is does not win the nomination, many will stay home feeling disenchanted yet again (for what it's worth I'll grudgingly vote for Clinton). However, if he wins the nomination, her voters will most likely flow to Obama. I haven't heard anyone say that they will stay home if Obama is the nominee but I heard plenty say they will abstain from voting if Hilary gets the nod. That's not good for Dems.

Third, honestly, if you put Obama v McCain, he can out campaign him. We already see that McCain is largely being forced onto conservatives (most of the people who would vote for McCain are Democrats, Independents or moderate republicans). Everyone else is flocking to Huckabee. Baring an unforeseen accident or good old fashioned rigging, Obama looks likely to win in 2008. I will refer back to this post in November and see if I was right or if I was fatefully (yes there will be blood) wrong.

~Beve
Next President of the United States

Posted: February 10, 2008, 7:53 am by Beve

Congratulations to Senator Obama for a Clean Sweep in Washington, Nebraska, Louisiana and the Virgin Islands.
Hilarious Video on "Diversity"

Posted: February 9, 2008, 7:08 am by Beve

Also check out the blog: Racialious
Let's Rock and Blogroll! Funny Style

Posted: February 8, 2008, 4:43 pm by Beve
Ok, here's my Afro Pick (get it? haha! I'm funny) for comedians:
- Jordan Carlos [Dallas] Also known as Stephen Colbert "Black Friend"
- Baron Vaughn [Las Vegas]
- W. Kamau Bell [Chicago]
The W. Kamau Bell Curve: OE's & AA's
Add to My Profile | More Videos
links for 2008-02-07

Posted: February 7, 2008, 1:20 pm by Beve
- The Black Commentator - The Black Community’s "Change Killers" - Between the Lines
- The Black Commentator - Civil Rights Movement Gets Real - St. Louis Mayor Booed Off MLK Platform
Just for the Record...

Posted: February 6, 2008, 10:37 am by Beve

....This blog officially endorses, fellow Afropolitan,

Barack Obama for President
Dem Nomination Selected not Elected

Posted: February 6, 2008, 10:35 am by Beve

Interesting post making the probable case that neither Hilary Clinton nor Barack Obama will win outright enough delegates to be the nominee, and thus, the winner will be decided by the super delegates at the convention in Denver, Colorado
Yes We Can Video

Posted: February 3, 2008, 9:44 pm by Beve
Let's Rock and Blogroll! Caribbean Style

Posted: February 2, 2008, 6:21 am by Beve
Ok, here is the second edition of Let's Rock and Blogroll! This time I'm gonna focus on the Caribbean. Definitely need to do more posts around West Indian/Caribbean culture so here's what I've got:
- Barbados Free Press [Barbados]
blog that's doing great work to keep the media free and open in Barbados that is "designed from the start to be an Open Intelligence Database: a valuable tool for anyone who needs an insider’s knowledge of Barbados, the people and the invisible networks that often impact life, politics and investments here on the island. As the months and years pass, Barbados Free Press will become a major resource for those who love Barbados, and like us, believe that knowledge, transparency and accountability are fundamental to a healthy democracy. ("It's also the first Caribbean/West Indian blog on my site.
- Nicholas Laughlin's Blog, etc [Trinidad]
To say that Nicaholas seems well-read is an understatement. His blog is includes book reviews, essays, awards and as he says "questions, discoveries, complaints..."
- Blog Bahamas [Bahamas]
"Human Action...Not Political Design". This blog has several authors and its main goal is "add to the debate and war of ideas in the Bahamas"
- Active Voice [Jamaica]
"Hi, I used to write a column for the Sunday Herald (Jamaica) called
Style and Passion. Had to give it up when the subeditor changed the
word 'Bollywood' to 'Hollywood' in my last column. Now I'm looking
forward to life without editors in this blog, Active Voice...which i
hope you'll tell others about."
- Gil The Jenius [Puerto Rico]
"I write about Puerto Rico and interests as related to Puerto Rico
because I believe someone has to. I want My Island to become a
spearhead of progress, shedding its current malaise in favor of
world-class growth. I like technology, love learning, despise
politicians and absolutely loathe seeing Us fail because of them. I
write in English to reach both a smaller (local) and larger (global)
audience. If I had My choice, this blog would be required reading for
everyone over the age of 12."
- And Still I Rise.. [Saint Vincent And The Grenadines]
This lady has been blogging since 2002, thats decades in computer years! She is practically a veteran:
"To know me is to love me.

I may come over as being mature but am a child at heart.

Am a survivor.

I like the simple things in life and am concerned about issues that affect young women.

If I could I would eradicate all instances of child abuse.

I worry about HIV and its effects on a generation

Am addicted to chocolate but its not reflected in my size.

I can also be very moody so tread carefully."
This is a new Friday feature, so stay tuned for the next week's edition!!
Guest Blogpost: My Sister!

Posted: February 1, 2008, 7:30 am by Beve

I'm introducting a new segment where I have guest bloggers. So to kick it all off, he's my kid sister Natasha's post. She'll be the new Afropolitan Music Critic, because she's the most astute and wide ranging taste in music of anyone I know. *Drumroll*

By Natasha Lwenya

Vampire Weekend, an up and coming Indie Pop ensemble can only be described as a retro breath of fresh air. Don’t let their name fool you, they’re anything but blood sucking, and can be listened to any day of the week. In a time where most new bands strive to be different and, in the process, end up sounding exactly the same, Vampire Weekend gathers inspiration from around the globe and creates music that is light and appealing. Hits like “Mansard Roof”, “Oxford Coma”, and “M79” conjure images of fantasy lands, while “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” and “Bryn” demonstrate the Western African influence the band proudly claims.

I think the main reason that Vampire Weekend is a fabulous new listen is because they choose to unite Africa with music in a way that isn’t for a charity show or personal gain. While Africa is facing issues that need to be overcome, it also has an extremely rich history in the arts that is often overlooked. I commend Vampire Weekend for incorporating the beautiful rhythms and themes of African music in a way that people from all cultures can appreciate. Here’s a video of the group performing “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” live for an MTV Spankin’ New Session.