Africans Launch Blogs to Repair Image of Continent

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January 9, 2013

Capetown, South Africa native Dr. Sean Jacobs recently launched a blog, “Africa is a Country,’ to challenge images of Africa that only include famine, Bono or Barack. (Google Images)

Ebony.com is highlighting a number of Africans that are launching publications to combat the negative stereotypes of Africans in culture and society. Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond writes:

The stereotypes about Africa/Africans are too many to list here. They’re mostly negative, myopic depictions that focus on war, famine, abject poverty, disease, and corruption. In other oversimplifications, Africans are written up as model immigrants, overachieving geniuses, or displaced chiefs moonlighting as gas station attendants.

Outside of these caricatures, many Africans are going to work and school, voting in their local elections, and spending way too much time on Facebook. And they’re over the ignorance that has collectively miscast them. In response, a swelling movement of young Africans are launching concerted efforts to wrest the image of Africa from entities and interests that don’t promote a balanced understanding of the continent.

Among this group is South African professor Sean Jacobs who founded the incisive Africa is a Country, billing it as “the media blog that’s not about famine, Bono, or Barack Obama.” Ghanaians Sandra Appiah and Isaac O. Babu-Boateng launched Face 2 Face Africa Magazine to combat portrayals of Africa as pathological and troubled.

Likewise, Nigerian-American Enyinne Owunwanne started ecommerce boutique Heritage 1960 to promote what she says is “the best of the best, when it comes to African fashion, lifestyle and culture”. Fellow Nigerian-American Ngozi Odita initiated AFRIKA21 to broaden the conversation around what 21^st century Africa really looks like, apart from the stereotypes, you could even pick up some tips on how to start an eCommerce website of your own.

Read more at Ebony.com.

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Cameroon: Men Jailed for 'Looking Gay' Released

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TheBurtonWire

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January 9, 2013

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Baileys — Two men convicted sentenced to 3 years for ‘looking gay’ in Cameroon, are freed. (Google Images)

The Associated Press is reporting that a Cameroonian court has overturned the conviction of two men who were sentenced for five years in prison for “looking gay” and ordering Bailey’s Irish Cream.

The Court of Appeals Monday acquitted the men and ordered their release. The two men had already spent more than a year in jail where they were subjected to abuse from guards and other prisoners, according to human rights advocates.

The new ruling has been hailed by human rights lawyers and gay rights advocates who urged President Paul Biya to release all other prisoners found guilty under the country’s harsh anti-gay laws.

On Dec. 17, a Cameroonian court upheld the five-year-sentence of another man, Roger Jean-Claude Mbede, who was convicted of sending a text message that said “I love you” to another man.

TBW Commentary: What is the world coming to when you can’t have a shot of Bailey’s Irish Creme? What is the world coming too when foolishness like this passes as justice?

Cameroon: Men Jailed for ‘Looking Gay’ Released

By

TheBurtonWire

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January 9, 2013

0

The Associated Press is reporting that a Cameroonian court has overturned the conviction of two men who were sentenced for five years in prison for “looking gay” and ordering Bailey’s Irish Cream.

The Court of Appeals Monday acquitted the men and ordered their release. The two men had already spent more than a year in jail where they were subjected to abuse from guards and other prisoners, according to human rights advocates.

The new ruling has been hailed by human rights lawyers and gay rights advocates who urged President Paul Biya to release all other prisoners found guilty under the country’s harsh anti-gay laws.

On Dec. 17, a Cameroonian court upheld the five-year-sentence of another man, Roger Jean-Claude Mbede, who was convicted of sending a text message that said “I love you” to another man.

TBW Commentary: What is the world coming to when you can’t have a shot of Bailey’s Irish Creme? What is the world coming too when foolishness like this passes as justice?

Caribbean: S&P Lowers Credit Rating for Several Countries

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TheBurtonWire

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January 4, 2013

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Standard-and-poors — Standard & Poor downgraded several Caribbean countries including Barbados and the Bahamas in 2012. (Google Images)

Peter Richards of Caribbean 360 gives the lowdown on all of the changes that occurred in the Caribbean that resulted in a bevy of social, economic and political turmoil in 2012. Richards methodically highlighted the challenges facing many countries in the Caribbean:

*McKeeva Bush became the the first head of government (Cayman Islands) in modern Caribbean history to be detained by police on suspicion of theft in connection with financial irregularities relating to the alleged misuse of a government credit card, breach of trust, abuse of office and allegedly importing explosive substances without valid permits on or before February 2012. Subsequently, he received a vote of no-confidence and was voted out of office by his administration.

*After leading his Free National Movement (FNM) into defeat in the general elections in March, Hubert Ingraham bowed out of politics in the Bahamas. “I shall return to private life from whence I came,” he said, soon after the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), headed by Perry Christie, won what it termed the “most important general elections since 1967”.

*In Grenada, Prime Minister Tillman Thomas got Governor General Sir Carlyle Glean to prorogue parliament in the face of a second vote of no confidence in 2012. The first, filed in April, had been brought by the main opposition New National Party (NNP) of Dr. Keith Mitchell and although the National Democratic Congress (NDC) closed ranks in defeating the motion, the second in September was brought by Thomas’s former foreign affairs minister Karl Hood.

*Former Turks and Caicos Islands premier Michael Misick was arrested at the Santos Dumont Airport in Rio de Janeiro by Brazilian Federal Police. INTERPOL had issued an international warrant for Misick, who also found himself the subject of a warrant issued by the Brazilian Supreme Court. His arrest was sought in relation to an ongoing investigation by the Turks and Caicos Islands authorities into issues uncovered during the Sir Robin Auld’s 2008-09 Commission of Inquiry regarding alleged corruption and maladministration. Misick was implicated in large-scale corruption in Turks and Caicos that led to the suspension of the democratic government in the TCI by the United Kingdom. He faces several “serious charges” relating to corruption and maladministration.

*Jamaica has still yet to sign a new Stand By Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

*In St. Lucia, the government of Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony launched a multi-million dollar stimulus package in a bid to turn around a sluggish economy.

*The US-based rating agencies, Standards & Poor’s (S&P) and Moody’s, downgraded several Caribbean countries including Barbados and the Bahamas during 2012, with S&P also downgrading the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) long term rating to AA with a warning that the ratings could plunge even lower if a regional government borrower fails to “clear its arrears” with the financial institution.S&P said that the decision to lower the ratings from AA+ to AA reflects “embedded credit risks in CDB’s loan portfolio.”