An interview with Ory Okolloh

Ory Okolloh, is a Kenyan activist and Africa's prominent blogger. She runs kenyanpundit.com and is also the founder of ushahidi.com, as well as mzalendo.com, initiatives that have garnered immense attention and praise. In March 2010, she was interviewed by BBC on issues of blogging and contemporary internet culture in Africa. Listen to the audio interview below.

From Amsterdam to Bamako

Documentary film on migration from Africa to Europe. The maker tries to take an African's perspective by reversing a migrant's journey traveling from Amsterdam to Bamako speaking with migrants he meets on the way.

'Tip' from Jadili Africa (Have you joined the group?).

Edit: You would understand why I 'bumped' this documentary film after watching it...

Hard Pressed for Leaders

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation recently met to see if any new leaders (heads of government) fit the profile and qualifications of excellence in leadership and good governance. They decided that since there were no new candidates no prize would be awarded. To some this may seem like de ja vu, there was no prize laureate last year either. The only difference is that last year seemed more powerful and the political message was clear. This time around, there was hardly any news coverage or pomp and circumstance making people question whether this Prize will be around much longer. To be fair, the Prize Committee (the committee responsible for choosing the prize winners) are fighting an uphill battle. One is mathematical in that there will be years where no leader steps down or fulfilled his/her term limits, some term limits are 4 years, others 5, some 10 (see Tanzania). I am sure there will be a year with many potential candidates and years with none. The other problem is the lack of democratically elected leaders and visionary leaders that push for good governance and actually step down after their term without manipulating the constitution or becoming 'president forever.'

I am sure that the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is now thinking of "plan bs" and contingency plans to make sure that the money is used towards the betterment of Africa and good governance. One thing is for sure, we are still facing a deficit in effective leadership. This goes back to the importance of the youth and the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is going to establish a fellowship program and I encourage all of you to watch this spot:

"The Foundation will shortly be launching the Ibrahim Leadership Fellowships, a selective programme designed to identify and prepare the next generation of outstanding African leaders by providing them with mentoring opportunities in key multilateral institutions. The programme will seek to attract a number of highly qualified and talented professionals each year to serve in leading institutions whose core objective to improve the prospects of the people of Africa. “The Foundation is currently working with pan-African organisations to design the fellowships. It will announce further details of them at the Foundation’s annual celebration and forum on governance to be held in Mauritius in November. Applications will open shortly afterwards and we expect the first Leadership Fellows to begin their Fellowships early next year."

This could be an opportunity for all of us to put our ideas and thoughts into action.

What are your thoughts on the Mo Ibrahim Foundation's Prize? Does it hurt or benefit them that they have not awarded a leader in two years? Who has the potential of receiving a Prize in the coming years?

For more information, see this PDF file.

SAM.10

Africa's Leaders of Tomorrow School (ALTS)

By BK

Everyday I read stories about the economic growth of China. I read about Germany's solutions, clean energy in particular, aimed at solving global challenges. I read about a student in a Tanzanian village who uses an oil lamp with a small floating wick, and that 60% of African population is living without electricity. I read that while two out of five Africans lack clean water supplies and Africa's economy is greatly reliant on international aid, the African population will double by 2030.

Some challenges are old. Some are new. I ask myself many questions. Some are: For countries to reaclh or maintain global leadership, should they focus on global solutions? Because global solutions are always also local while local solutions cannot always be global. If the correct answer is yes, then, is it the likeliest situation that an African country will never become a super power?

Obviously, we are living at a time when all agents of development, across all age ranges and professions, must work together to solve these challenges. Since life is only a choice that must have a purpose to be lived well; for Africa, I would propose a leadership school, Africa's Leaders of Tomorrow School (ALTS) that would involve young African students at the earliest time possible in solving African challenges.

ALTS would be a social business, and would place education at the service of the society. Interested mid-school students who are top in their classes, and who have demonstrated great leadership and risk taking skills in their communities would be admitted. They would be brought together and shown the greatest challenges that the continent faces in preparation for tomorrow's leadership. I am mindful that we learn best from the people who surround us. That's why guest speakers who are themselves entrepreneurs, policy makers, government leaders and infuential people would be invited to talk with the students.


The core subject, 'Africa and the World' would guide students through the history of Africa after independence, the challenges it faces and its e orts to solve them. An emphasis would be on why the continent is the poorest despite the great natural endowment it possesses. It would encourage debates and discussions, to emphasize on the development of leadership skills, entrepreneurial skills and global citizenship. It would be discussed on how leaders can play a greater role to improve the life of an African. The students will be required to write a project on a topic of their own choice but related to Africa and the World. An example of such a topic would be 'Africa, what is the missing link? a look at African governance.'

Not until we are aware of the challenges our small communities face, can we dream of solutions to national, continental or global problems. ALTS students would have to complete a minimum number of hours of community service in preparation for leading an interesting life in which serving others is the greatest character.

The major feature of ALTS curriculum would be to train young great minds to understand how every discipline has and can be used to solve the challenges humankind faces. I see this being met through talks by guest speakers and mandatory class discussions with course instructors.

I see graduates from the school become CEO's, politicians, activists, scientists, policy makers and economists of tomorrow, to mention but a few examples. ALTS students would become global citizens. They would not be fatalistics but able to embark on meaningful and unprecedented projects that would change the way Africa and the world operates. They would be able to integrate into the ever changing world in terms of technology, culture, science and politics while devising methods to integrate with solutions that aim at making Africa a bigger economy. With an emphasis on creativity, they would gain problem solving skills rather than mere knowledge accumulation. They would therefore be equipped with an ability to apply knowledge obtained in class to nd answers to the the problems of the society.

I would envision a family of such schools all over Africa under the social business concept that would prepare students to become leaders of tomorrow who would change Africa and the world at large.


BK, a guest columnist, is a senior at Jacobs University Bremen (in Germany) pursuing a B.Sc degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He hails from Mwanza, Tanzania.

Uvumbuzi mahsusi kwa walemavu

Amos Winter, mwanafunzi wa shahada ya uzamivu pale MIT, Marekani yuko njiani kuwekeza matokeo ya elimu yake katika kusaidia walemavu wa nchi maskini. Winter ametengeneza wheelchair maalum kwa walemavu wa miguu kwa ajili ya matumizi kwenye barabara zilizo na mabonde au matope tulizonazo 'uswahilini'. Mradi wake huo uitwao, Leverage Freedom Chair, umemwezesha kushinda tuzo mbalimbali pamoja na kuweza kufundisha wanafunzi wengine kuhusu teknolojia hii. Wenzetu wa VETA na SIDO, mpoo?






Tembelea ukurasa wake hapa ili kufahamu zaidi kuhusu kazi zake.

Africa: A continent on the move

Submitted by Jean-Marie Vianney Habarugira

With the 2010 World Cup set to begin later this week, eyes are turning toward South Africa, the country playing host to the world’s most watched sporting event, and, more broadly, toward Africa as a whole. After decades of stagnation, the continent’s economies have expanded much more quickly during the past ten years. So this month, McKinsey Quarterly focuses on Africa’s surprisingly bright economic future. (You will have to register first to get full access to the articles and the interview.)

What’s driving Africa’s growth
The rate of return on foreign investment is higher in Africa than in any other developing region. It’s time for global executives and investors to pay heed.

South Africa in the spotlight: An interview with Deputy President K.Motlanthe
In a video interview, the deputy president of South Africa reflects on its economy, the battle against HIV/AIDS, how the world perceives Africa, and China’s role there.

Checking Africa’s vital signs (with interactive map)
A series of maps and charts on Africa shows the populations and literacy rates of its countries; their position in the World Bank’s ease-of-doing-business index; and changes in life expectancy, real GDP, levels of HIV/AIDS infection, and capital inflows.

Africa’s path to growth: Sector by sector
The continent’s growth story isn’t entirely about the extractive industries. Seven articles examine the future of a wide range of sectors.

Fulfilling the promise of sub-Saharan Africa
The region has already made big strides below the radar. It now stands to become the developing world’s next great success story.


Source: McKinsey Quartely - June 2010 Newsletter

Artwork Painted by Katongo
Tinga Tinga art from Tanzania

Tuzo za waandishi wa habari Afrika

Mwandishi wa habari kutoka Afrika Kusini, Sam Rogers , (Mtengenezaji wa Filamu za Factuals -- kitengo cha Uhalifu na Uchunguzi) ametunukiwa tuzo ya mwandishi bora mwaka 2010 kutokana na filamu yake "Curse of the Nobody People." Filamu ya Sam inazungumzia matatizo ya walemavu wa ngozi, Tanzania; ubaguzi na mauaji ya ndugu zetu wenye ulemavu wa ngozi.

Mtu mwingine aliyetunukiwa tuzo hii kwa mwaka 2009, ni John-Allan Namu, mwandishi wa habari wa KTN, ambaye aliaandaa filamu inayoitwa "In the Shadow of the Mungiki." Wasilikilize walikuwa na yapi ya kusema (kwa kifupi):

Matatizo wanayoyazungumzia sio mapya masikioni mwetu. Nimeperuzi haraka haraka na nimevutiwa na kazi zao. Nadhani unaweza ukazipata kazi za John-Allan kwa urahisi youtube. Nitajaribu kutafuta filamu zao zenye ubora unaokubalika na kuziweka hapa Vijana FM ili tujifunze mawili matatu.

Watanzania na Ujio wa Brazil

Kipyenga cha mwisho kimelia, huku Brazil wakishinda mpambano dhidi ya Taifa Stars kwa magoli matano kwa moja. Mazungumzo na mabishano juu ya mechi hii iliyokuwa ikisubiriwa kwa hamu na Watanzania wengi itabaki kuwa gumzo la jiji kama sio nchi, kwa wiki kadhaa zijazo. Watanzania tutaelekeza nguvu zetu kwenye kupiga domo juu ya mechi hii huko vijiweni kabla ya hali halisi ya maisha yetu duni kutuzindua kwenye starehe hii iliyo dumu kwa dakika 90.

Ujio wa Brazil umepokelewa kwa hisia tofauti, wengi wakishabikia kuwa hatimaye watamwona mchezaji mahiri wa Brazil, KaKa kwa macho yao wenyewe. Kuna kundi dogo la watu waliotaka Watanzania tususie mechi kwani haina manufaa yoyote katika kuendeleza uchumi wa nchi yetu. Zogo hili la ujio wa Brazil lilianza kupaa kwa kasi pale Bw Paulo Kamau wa Kenya alipobeza uamuzi huu wa Tanzania kuwalipa fedha nyingi vijana hao wa Samba.

Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) wamekuwa kimya kuzungumzia kiwango halisi walichowapa Brazil, wakati mwazoni walidai kuwa Serikali iliwatengea fungu la dola za Kimarekani milioni sita. Tovuti ya BBC wamedai kuwa TFF iliwalipa dola milioni mbili na nusu. Kiasi taslimu cha fedha walicholipwa Brazil bado kinabaki kuwa tata, huku Raisi wa TFF ndugu Leodegar Tenga akidai kuwa, "It's definitely that the coming of top players in the world will be a big boost to local football as well as the tourism sector,".

TFF imejitetea kuwa, ujio wa Brazil utachochea maendeleo katika soka na kwenye sekta ya utalii. Hizi ndizo sababu kuu mbili zakutetea matumizi makubwa ya fedha ya kuwalipa Brazil kuja kucheza na Taifa Stars, sasa swali ni hili, Je Tenga na TFF wana hoja ya msingi?

Mimi binafsi sidhani kama hoja hiyo ina nguvu ya kutosha kuhalalisha matumizi ya hivyo vijisenti walivyowalipa Brazil, na hoja zangu ni kama ifuatavyo. Soka la Tanzania limekuwa kichwa cha mwendawazimu kwa miaka mingi, na mimi nina uhakika wengi tunajua ni nini kinatakiwa kufanyika ili kuinua soka la Tanzania. Tatizo la kwanza, tunapenda kukimbia kabla hatujajua kutembea, na hoja hii aliizungumzia kocha wa Taifa Stars wa sasa ndugu Marcio Maximo alipotoa ushauri wake juu ya soka la Bongo. Mimi sio mtaalamu saana wa soka wala sijawahi kuwa kwenye kamati ya ufundi wa tunguli, lakini hoja ya Maximo itaungwa mkono na wengi wenye uwerevu. Watanzania inatubidi tuanze kujenga utamaduni wa kusikiliza wataalamu na sio wanasiasa wasio jua lolote.

Sasa tukija kwenye sababu ya pili, ya kuwa ujio wa Brazil utasaidia soko la utalii, nadhani kuna mambo kadhaa ya kuangalia kwa utaratibu. Jambo la kwanza, tuna uhakika gani ujio wao utaongeza ujio wa watalii? Najua moja ya jibu la swali hili litakuwa, kwasababu mechi inaonyeshwa moja moja katika nchi zisizopungua mia 160. Hii inaweza saidia; lakini wasiwasi wangu ni kuwa, kuna utafiti mdogo umefanywa katika kuhakikisha kuwa hii ndio njia bora ya kutangaza nchi yetu. Katika mpango huo, je tuliangalia njia mbadala ambazo zingetugharimu fedha kidogo zaidi na ambazo tungekuwa na uhakika zaidi kuwa zitazaa matunda?

Waziri wa Mali asili na Utalii, Mh. Shamsa Selengai Mwangunga (MB) alipotoa makadirio ya Wizara yake Bungeni, aliongelea mipango kadhaa ya Wizara yake. Moja ya mipango hiyo ilikuwa ni kuongeza utalii wa ndani, kwa kuwapunguzia Watanzania viingilio katika mbuga za wanyama na sehemu nyingine za kitalii. Mkakati huo ni mzuri, lakini bado tunategemea zaidi watalii wa nje. Lakini kidogo kimefanyika kuhamasisha watalii wa nje kuja nchini. Tanzania bado inatajwa kama nchi yenye viwango vikubwa (fees) kwa watalii, ukilinganisha na Kenya na Uganda. Kenya na Uganda walipunguza viwango vyao baada ya uchumi wa dunia kuyumba, lakini Tanzania bado tumeacha viwango vikiwa juu. Sasa hapo ndio kuna mgongano wa mawazo -- huku tunatumia mamilioni kadhaa kutangaza nchi, lakini hatupunguzi viwango. Hao watalii wataishia kwenda Kenya na Uganda na kukwepa Tanzania, hivyo mwisho wa siku tunajaza maji kwenye pekecha.

Ripoti ya Repoa iliyokuwa inazungumzia The Role of Tourism in Poverty Alleviation in Tanzania ni ripoti inayotoa mapendekezo yakinifu. Pamoja na ripoti hiyo iliyotoka miaka saba iliyopita, lakini mapendekezo yake bado yana umuhimu, sasa sijui mapendekezo mangapi ya ripoti hiyo yalifanyiwa kazi na Serikali kupitia Wizara yake husika. Mimi nakubali sekta ya utalii inaumuhimu mkubwa, hasa katika kuchangia kupunguza umasikini. Lakini je, tumeboresha sekta hiyo kwa kiasi gani? Tanzania leo tunaweza kusema huduma zetu za utalii zinaweza kushindana na nchi nyingine za Afrika au bado huduma zetu ni duni. Miundombinu bado ni tatizo kubwa, lakini tumeng’ang’ania kutangaza nchi. Jamani, akili ya namna hii haina tofauti na akili ya mtu anayekaribisha wageni kabla ya kufagia nyumba na kuhakikisha kila kitu kiko sawa.

Timu ya Brazil nd’o hiyo imekuja na kuondoka, sasa ningependa kuona kama malengo ya mpango huo yatafikiwa; soka ya bongo kuhamasika na hao watalii kuongezeka. Mimi kwa kiasi fulani ninakubaliana na baadhi ya watu waliotaka Watanzania tususie mechi hiyo na pia ninakubaliana kwa kiasi fulani na mawazo ya Kamau. Tanzania ni nchi masikini kutumbua fedha zote hizo kwenye kitu ambacho hatuna uhakika kitalipa. Tanzania tukiwa kama nchi moja masikini sana duniani, lazima tuwekeze fedha za walalahoi kwenye mambo ya msingi zaidi, sio kwenye starehe za dakika mbili tatu. Majuzi tu, tulikuwa wenyeji wa mkutano wa uchumi wa dunia. Ukiniuliza mimi hiyo ilikuwa nafasi nzuri kutangaza nchi. Je, tulifanya hivyo ipasavyo, au tulishangalia tu wageni waliokuja?

Aliyesema ng’ombe wa masikini hazai, hakukosea. Na msemo huu ni kweli kwani, ni watu masikini ambao mara nyingi hufanya maamuzi ya papara bila kufikiria kuwa kuna kesho. Tuendelee kuzungumzia ni jinsi gani Brazil walivyopigwa chenga na Taifa Stars, lakini wao haoooo wanaelekea kwenye Kombe la Dunia, Sisi je? Kamau alivyozungumzia “character” yetu Watanzania hakukosea sana. Pamoja simuungi mkono na kejeli zake, lakini alikuwa na hoja. Hivi kweli watu wazima tunaweza kusema,” tumefungwa lakini tuliwapiga chenga”. Hilo ni jambo la kushabikia kweli? Tukiendelea na akili hizo sisi kila siku tutanyonywa na kukandamizwa kwani tumekuwa watu wa kufurahia mafanikio madogo, tena ya kijinga, badala ya kusimama na kupigania maendeleo makubwa yenye maana. Tumezidi kuwa wa ndio mzee, badala ya kuuliza maswali, kupigania haki zetu na kupigani uwajibishwaji wa viongozi wabovu wenye kunuka ufisadi. Watanzania, hivi ndio tumekubali kuwa umasikini ni utamaduni wetu?

Watanzania wenzangu waliojitutumua na kulipa viwango vikubwa kuwaona Brazil, je, ulifikiria mechi hiyo kama ina manufaa kwa nchi yetu. Hivi ni wewe huyo huyo unayelalamika kuwa barabara zimechakaa na msongamano wa magari umekithiri. Wewe ulilipa kwenda kumwangalia KaKa, je nyumbani kwako haupatagi matatizo ya kukatiwa maji na umeme mara kwa mara au unajenerata na bwana la maji nyumbani? Leo hii ukalipe fedha zote hizo kuwaona Brazil, alafu kesho unafanya kila uwezalo kukwepa kulipa kodi na kupokea rushwa. Watanzania tunazungumzia sana kuhusu tulivyo masikini, lakini hapo hapo tunataka starehe zinazotushinda uwezo. Naona tunataka kulazimisha maji yachanganyike na mafuta; kweli Tanzania tuna akili zinazotutosha sisi wenyewe.

Ushauri wangu ni huu, kama tulivyopigania tiketi za kumwona KaKa, basi moyo huo huo wa kupigana usiishie hapo. Moyo huo uendelee katika kupigania maendeleo, kupinga viongozi wabovu, tuwe na kiu ya maendeleo na ari ya kuchapa kazi kama tulivyoshangilia magoli ya Brazil kwa nguvu zetu zote. Tuache kuendeshwa na hisia bali tuendeshwe na fikra, kwani ujio wa timu ya Brazil hauwiani na msemo wa ‘mgeni njoo wenyeji tupone’, bali ni ‘mgeni njoo wenyeji tuzidi kuumia’. Mimi ninawatakia kila la kheri Brazil kwenye kombe la dunia na sisi kama kawaida yetu tutaishia kulishangalia kwenye runinga, kama utamaduni wetu, kwani sisi ni nambali moja kwa kushangalia maendeleo ya wengine na kuiga mambo yasiyo na manufaa.

Picha kwa hisani ya cartoonist Gado

Ory Okolloh on becoming an activist

In this TED talk by Ory Okolloh she shares her personal story growing up in Kenya and speaks of the positive ways in which Africa can be perceived. She is an activist, lawyer and blogger.

In her talk, she also mentions the importance of sharing knowledge by blogging and by supporting young entrepreneurs through financial means. She is a corporate lawyer for Enablis, a Canadian non-profit organization that supports entrepreneurs in developing countries.



Any thoughts on this talk ?

Unakumbuka enzi zile?

Kucheza gololi, matairi, magari ya makopo, cha ndimu (angaisha bwege, tobo bao na gombania goli), kutengeneza manati na kuwinda ndege, kudaka panzi, kidali po, kombolela... Bila kusahau kufuga samaki (nilikuwa na magapi kibwena! i.e. guppy aka Poecilia reticulata).

I got this film from Jadili Africa facebook page. Jadili Africa was founded in 2010 by conscious Africans who always dream of a peaceful Africa that is in peace with itself. I will encourage you to join the group if you want to see more short clips, articles, documentaries and news about Africa -- covering all sorts of angles; from politics to sports, cultures to myths, history to tourisms, shaky times to triumphs and many more.

Technology transforms Tanzania

I am glad that, technology is picking up the pace in helping farmers, for example to find potential buyers/ markets for their produce, more easily & efficiently. This is promising, that the government is starting to take agriculture more serious. I have always find it interesting, if not ironic, that Tanzania is called the country of farmers (because many people still relay on agriculture)but the agricultural sector is given the least attention & priority.

There is a lot of work to be done still, for example; improving technology in cultivating the land. Many farmers still use hand hoes, instead of tractors, something that limits how much food is harvested annually. Secondly, Irrigation systems need to be put in place, because depending on the rains that are not always reliable, will be inviting hunger every year. However, this is a good step, because as they say, every long journey starts with one step at a time.

Waafrika tuna asili moja?

Na VR

Kwa muda mrefu nimekuwa nikiumia roho mno kwa jinsi watu kutoka Afrika tunavyolundikwa kwenye kundi moja kiasilia. Kukiwa na tatizo utasikia, waache hao, ni tabia ya Waafrika hio, hawatakoma. Bara/nchi yao imelaaniwa.

Ukweli ni kwamba bara letu lina watu wenye asili na tofauti nyingi mno kimaumbile, kiutamaduni na hata ukiingia kwenye chembe chembe za DNA. Ukiangalia bara la Ulaya, Wajerumani wamepakana na Wafaransa, lakini watu hawa hawapendi kabisa kufananishwa. Ukienda Amerika ya Kusini, ni mwiko kumuita mtu anayetoka Colombia Mbrazili.

Utafiti unaonesha kwamba idadi kubwa ya watu wenye asili ya Afrika wana maumbile mengi na tofauti kuliko watu katika mabara mengine -- hasa ukiangalia chembe chembe L1, L2 na L3 mtDNA (Krings et al, 1999).

Wanahistoria waliojaribu kutafuta jinsi ya kuelezea asili ya Mwafrika, walifanikiwa kusambaza mawazo yao pande zote za dunia. Mengi ya mawazo hayo yawezekana yalikuwa ya kudhani tu au imani. Inasemekana kuwa asili ya Mbantu ni misitu ya Kongo. Ingawa yawezekana ikawa ni kweli, nina hofu ikawa ni imani ya wenyeji wa pale waliodhani kuwa wako katikati ya dunia. Na mtafiti aliyefika pale hakuweza kupata mawazo ya staarabu, makundi au falme nyingine zilizokuwa mbali na eneo utafiti huo ulipofanyika.

Kwahiyo elimu iliyopatikana hapo haikuwa ya kutosha au tuseme ilikuwa hafifu. Ingawa mtafiti huyo alilifahamu hilo, aliamua kufanya hitimisho kuwa Wabantu wote walitokea eneo lile. Ninaweza nikahisi kuwa, Kibantu asili kama ilivyokuwa Kilatini na sasa Kiingereza, ilikuwa lugha ya wasomi wa kale hapa Afrika. Sasa, idadi ya watu wenye asili tofauti ilivyokuwa inaongezeka, lugha nayo ilikua na kubadilika taratibu ingawa iliendelea kuwa na asili yake miaka nenda rudi. Hitimisho hili halina uhakiki kuwa asili ya Wabantu na hasa watu wa kusini mwa jangwa la Sahara wawe na asili ya misitu ya Kongo. Cha kushangaza, chembe L0 mtDNA inayosemekana kuwa mzazi wa L1, L2 na L3 mtDNA, inahisiwa kuwa na chanzo chake Afrika Mashariki.

Kwanini Waafrika tukubali kuwekwa kwenye kundi moja kiasilia? Je, uanzishwaji wa Umoja wa Afrika unaangalia tofauti kubwa zilizopo za utamaduni na asili kati ya makundi mbalimbali hapa Afrika kwa nia ya kuboresha sera za muungano huo? Makala hii itaendelea na uchambuzi wa kina zaidi kuhusu hili jambo.

Picha/ramani inapatikana hapa.

Andrew Mwenda takes a new look at Africa

Quoted form the TED website: "In this provocative talk, journalist Andrew Mwenda asks us to reframe the "African question" -- to look beyond the media's stories of poverty, civil war and helplessness and see the opportunities for creating wealth and happiness throughout the continent".

About the speaker (from TED speaker description): "Andrew Mwenda is a print, radio and television journalist, and an active critic of many forms of Western aid to Africa. Too much of the aid from rich nations, he says, goes to the worst African countries to fuel war and government abuse. Such money not only never gets to its intended recipients, Africa's truly needy -- it actively plays a part in making their lives worse".

We have covered some stories on foreign aid previously. Click here to read more.

Siasa na Vikaragosi…

Leo hii nimekumbana na habari hii inayohusu kipindi hiki kinachoitwa Za Newz cha Afrika ya Kusini. Kipindi hiki kinafanana na ze comedy cha Tanzania, sema wao wanatumia vikaragosi na wamezamia zaidi kwenye ulingo wa siasa.

Kipindi kama hiki cha ze newz kina nafasi kubwa sana kwenye jamii zetu, hasa katika kuelimisha wanajamii maswala ya kisiasa. Tanzania tukiwa bado na mwamko mdogo katika siasa, vipindi kama hivi vinaweza kuongeza changamoto na mwamko wa kisiasa, hasa miongoni mwa sisi vijana. CCM wamenza kufanya hivyo kwa kutumia wasanii wa bongoflava, mfano ni katika kampeni yao ya mimi nimechangia, naomba na wewe uchangie pia.

Vyombo vya habari bado vinakazi kubwa kuhakikisha wananchi wanajihusisha na maswala ya kisiasa. Kupiga kura ni namna moja tu ya kujihusisha na siasa, lakini je tunazifahamu itikadi za wagombea vizuri. Lazima tujue katiba ya vyama tunavyotaka kuvipigia kura. Sasa kipindi kama Za Newz kinajitahidi kusogeza jamii karibu na maswala ya kisiasa kwa kutumia njia ya kukejeli na kuchekesha. Mimi ninadhani hiyo ni njia nzuri ya kuvuta jamii hasa vijana, na kuwapa habari juu ya maswala mbalimbali ya kisiasa.

Uchaguzi mkuu wa raisi na wabunge ndio huo unakuja, lakini je, sisi kama wapiga kura tumejiandaa vyakutosha, au tunaenda tu kupigia kura wale wagombea wenye sura zenye mvuto na matabasamu mazuri?

Tanzania ni Nchi ya Wapole

Mzazi: We Sikuzani, embu acha hiyo!

Mtoto: Kwanini!?

Mzazi: Kwasababu nimesema!

Haya ndio yaweza kuwa majibizano mafupi katika familia nyingi tulizokulia. Mtoto hapewi nafasi ya kujibiwa swali lake, na mara nyingi majibu yatolewayo ni ya ukali au ya kuonyesha utawala. Mara nyingine ukiuliza 'kwanini', unaweza kubalazwa kofi, kwasababu tu umemjibu mzazi!

Nimeamua kugusia mada hii muhimu ya malezi baada ya kusoma kitabu cha Annette Lareau kiitwacho Unequal Childhoods: Class, Race, and Family Life. Kitabu hiki kinatoa mwanga kuhusu tofauti za malezi zilizopo kati ya familia zenye kipato kikubwa/kawaida (mtaani tutaziita za 'geti kali') na zile za kipato cha chini ('uswazi'), yaani middle-class vs. working-class parenting. Muandishi amejaribu pia kueleza ni sifa gani zinawasaidia au kuwaathiri ukubwani watoto kutokana na tofauti ya malezi kati ya matabaka haya mawili. Ingawa tafiti ya kitabu hiki inahusu familia za marekani, kwa kiasi fulani mengi tunaweza kujifunza kuhusu mazingira ya malezi tuliyonayo Tanzania na jinsi gani tunajenga taifa potofu la wapole.

Lareau anaanza kwa kueleza tofauti mbili za malezi: malezi aina ya concerted cultivation (yanayofuatwa na wale wa 'geti kali') na ya accomplishment of natural growth (yanayofuatwa na wa kipato cha chini). Tofauti kati ya aina hizi ya malezi nitaziainisha hivi punde.

Ili kufahamu tofauti zilizopo katika aina hizi ya malezi, Lareau alifanya mahojiano na wanafunzi zaidi ya 80 wa darasa la tatu na nne kutoka familia za wamarekani weusi pamoja na wazungu. Katika kipindi cha utafiti wake, aliweza kubainisha kuwa aina ya malezi ya watoto inategemea na kipato (tabaka) cha (la) familia, wakati kabila (race) ya familia haina uhusiano wowote.

Kwenye malezi ya concerted cultivation aligundua kuwa, wazazi hawa wengi ni wa kisomo cha juu. Wazazi hawa wanahusika mno katika malezi ya watoto wao nyumbani na kwa kiasi kikubwa pia katika shughuli zao nje ya nyumba (kama ufuatiliaji wa maendeleo yao ndani na nje ya darasa). Wazazi wanashughulikia kuwatafutia na kuwaandikisha wanao katika shughuli za nje ya darasa zinazohitaji usimamizi wa wakubwa, mfano: uskauti, mafunzo ya kuogelea, mafunzo ya kupiga kinanda, n.k. Nia yao ikiwa kuwasaidia watoto wao wawe all-rounded ili kupata ujuzi zitakazowasaidia katika maisha ya ukubwani – hasa hasa katika kazi za utaalamu (white collar jobs). Pia, wazazi hawa mara nyingi walikuwa tayari kuingilia kati pindi kukitokea tatizo shuleni kuhusu watoto wao, pamoja na kukutana na walimu wa shule kuulizia maendeleo yao.

Pamoja na hayo, mazingira ya wanayokulia watoto hawa nyumbani ni tofauti (sio kifedha, bali kijamii). Laureau, anaeleza kuwa wazazi katika familia hizi wanajihusisha zaidi kuongea na wanao, na hivyo kuwasaidia watoto kukuza vocabulary au hata ari yao kujiamini. Ari hii ya kujiamini, inakuzwa kwani wazazi pia wanawahimiza wanao kuuliza maswali au ku’negotiate na wakubwa ipasavyo. Pia, amri zinazotoka kwa wazazi huwa zinaambatanishwa na maelezo ya kwanini wanatoa amri hizo. Hivyo, watoto hawa wanakuwa na mazoea mapema ya kuongea na wakubwa na kujua namna ya kujieleza (mf. matumizi ya eye contact), na hata kuwa na uwezo wa kujieleza mbele ya umati. Kumbuka watoto waliofuatiliwa ni wa umri wa miaka kati ya 7 na 9. Laureau anaeleza kuwa, 'ubaya' wa malezi haya ulionekana kwa ukithiri wa watoto kulalamika-lalamika ovyo, kutaka kuwa centre of attention, kuwa wabishi/watundu, kimbelembele, kutojua umuhimu wa pesa, pamoja na kutokuwa karibu na ndugu/koo.

Wazazi wa familia zenye kipato cha chini walifuata aina ya malezi ya accomplishment of natural growth. Katika malezi haya, mzazi hajihusishi mno katika dunia ya mtoto zaidi ya kutoa chakula, malazi, elimu, na mavazi. Tumaini la wengi wa wazazi hawa ni kwamba mtoto atakuwa (atapevuka) tu, sponteaneously – yaani, 'muache mtoto awe mtoto'. Lareau anaandika kuwa, watoto wa malezi haya muda wao mwingi baada ya shule hutumia kucheza na wenzao na hawana ratiba iliyobana ya extracurricular activities kama waliokuwa nayo wa 'geti kali'. Katika malezi haya mazingira au ‘dunia’ ya nyumbani ya mtoto na mzazi ina mipaka thabiti. Mzazi hajihusishi kwa kiasi kikubwa na kazi za mtoto za nyumbani, na mara nyingi wazazi wanatoa amri/adhabu kwa wanao bila hata kumueleza mtoto ‘kwanini’ (mf. Sikuzani na mzazi). Hivyo, watoto wanakuwa na woga kujieleza kwa mamlaka (watu wazima), na mara nyingi wanakuwa na heshima binafsi ndogo (self-esteem). Uzuri wa malezi haya yanafahamika na wengi, kwani katika jamii ya nchi yetu ni aina hii ya malezi inafatwa. Sifa chanya ni kama watoto wanakuja kuwa wakarimu/diplomatic, waangalifu katika masuala ya pesa, n.k.

Lareau anaonya kuwa, hakuna mzazi mbaya au mzuri. Ila, malezi ya concerted cultivation yanawapa advantage fulani watoto ukubwani, hasa katika utafutaji wa kazi (job market). Baada ya miaka 15, Lareau alifuatilia maendeleo ya watoto hawa ili kufahamu wanajihusisha na nini. Watoto waliokulia malezi ya concerted cultivation (geti kali) wengi wao wanafanya kazi katika kazi za utaalam (white collar jobs), wakati wengi wa waliolelewa kulingana na modeli ya accomplishment of natural growth walikuwa bado wanabangaiza.

Mara ngapi umemuuliza mtoto swali dogo tu mtaani, na akaficha uso/mdomo na kukujibu kwa kunong'oneza, hii kama hajakupa jibu: "sijui"? Kwanini watoto wengi (hasa wasichana) Tanzania wanakula chakula chumba tofauti na baba mwenye nyumba?

Nchini Tanzania ni aina ya malezi ya accomplishment of natural growth yanayofuatwa na wengi. Hii inachangiwa sana na hali ya umaskini (mfano: mzazi hajui kusoma/kuandika), ila kwa namna kubwa inachangiwa na mila/desturi zetu tulizorithi kutoka mababu. Ni muhimu kutafakari kuwa mila na desturi hizi nyingi hazitatupa advantage yeyote katika dunia ya sasa na kesho ambayo vijana wachakarikaji wanahitajika. Hali ya umasikini wetu kwa namna moja au nyingine inatokana na aina ya malezi tunayokuza watoto wetu.

Jinsi dunia inavyozidi kuwa competitive, ndivyo tunavyotakiwa nasi kubadilika na kujenga taifa la vijana wanaojiamini walio na umahiri wa kuchukua nafasi katika kila anga. Tunahitaji wananchi wasioogopa kuuliza maswali kwa viongozi wao, hivyo wasio rahisi kudanganywa uchaguzi baada ya uchaguzi. Wananchi wa aina hii ndio wasioogopa kuleta mapinduzi katika jamii ili kufuta status quo. Wananchi wa aina hii tutawapata kama tukiwalea watoto wetu kupitia malezi ya concerted cultivation. Ni hivi tu, tutapata wafanyabiashara mahiri, professionals chungu nzima, na muhimu zaidi raia wawajibikaji. We need less submissive citizens and more of whom are ready to take charge.

Nimechoka kusikia kutoka kwa wageni kuwa: “watanzania ni wapole”.

Ningependa kumaliza kwa kumnukuu David Brooks: “todays rich don’t exploit the poor, they outcompete them.”

picha:

http://www.worldvision.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.201

http://imaginationlane.blogspot.com/2010/04/masai-children.html

Grant opportunity for African journalists

Announcment courtesy of NGOpulse.org:

FAIR Small Grant Guidelines for African Investigative Journalists

Opportunity type: Grants

Opportunity closing date: Saturday, July 31, 2010

The Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR) is offering investigative journalists the opportunity to apply for a grant that intends to help further their research on a particular investigative story of their choice. Two grants of up to €3 000 each and eight smaller grants with a value of €500 each, are funded by Freevoice, and are intended to be used by a journalist for an investigative story that would not otherwise be published.

Application Information

Applications are open to all investigative journalists based, working, and operating in Africa. Applications must be accompanied by a 1 page summary in English, French, or Portuguese. The summary is of extreme importance since the initial shortlist of 20 applications will be compiled on their basis and only the applications that make the shortlist will be considered in full.

The application must contain the following:

• Subject;
• Envisaged methodology (source-building, data to access, testing of obtained info in order to reach conclusion);
• Reason why this subject was chosen;
• Media house that has undertaken to publish (the acceptance letter from the editor is to be attached);
• A paragraph about earlier publications by the journalist; and
• Budget (expenses only).

If an investigation topic is of such a sensitive nature that the applicant does not want the topic to be known to others, he/she should state this in the application. In this event, the applicant and the advisory council will come to an agreement on a suitably neutral/general description of the nature of the investigation, which description will be used when the award is announced.

The applications must be sent by email or fax - preferably along with a hard copy, to the contact details below.

Submission deadline: 31 July 2010

For more information or to submit entries, click here.

From the Horn of Africa

I have to admit that I first heard of K'naan - and listened to his lyrics carefully - in the Nas and Damian Marley's Distant Relatives LP (I have been very busy lately, you know). The kid is talented (listen to 'Tribal War)!

In the following clip, K'naan talks about survival guilt, the World Cup and learning English through hip-hop.

I just have a number of questions: Do you learn anything at all from hip-hop? Do you have any hip-hop or Bongo Flava song that keeps you going or changed the way you think about/look at certain things? Or it's all about entertainment and all that c**p?

Binafsi, kuna baadhi ya nyimbo za hip-hop ambazo zimenifumbua macho. Kuna sehemu ambazo sijawahi kufika, lakini nyimbo za hip-hop zimenipeleka mbali! Kuna nyimbo ambazo zinafanya siku zangu ziwe fupi! Pia, kuna nyimbo ambazo zinanifanya nijiangalie kwenye kioo na kujiuliza maswali.

Sasa hivi huu ndio wimbo wangu:

Sabali.

Welcome to *Badilisha Poetry X-Change.

Badilisha is a project of the Africa Centre, which promotes Pan-African poets through: Badilisha Poetry Radio, the only poetry podcasting platform dedicated exclusively to the voices of Africa and its Diaspora; and Badilisha Live which hosts two annual poetry events that include performance, workshops and lectures in Cape Town, South Africa.



Badilisha ni mpango wa kituo cha Afrika, kinachosaidia washairi wa Pan-African kupitia: Radio ya Washairi, jukwaa pekee linalojikita kwenye kupaza sauti za washairi kutoka Afrika na wale WaAfrika waishio nje ya bara la Afrika. Badilisha Live huandaa tamasha la ushairi mara mbili kwa mwaka, kukiwa na utambaji, warsha na mihadhara huko Cape Town, Afrika ya Kusini.

Mpango huu unazidi onyesha ni jinsi gani tunavyoweza kutumia majukwaa mbalimbali kuwasilisha matatizo yetu na kujadili masuala yanayojiri katika jamii zetu. Hii ni changamoto kwa sisi vijana, kwani kama sisi ni asilimia sitini ya watu wote Afrika, lakini kundi letu pamoja na kundi la wanawake, ni makundi makuu mawili yaliyosahaulika, hivyo kuna haja ya lazima kutafuta mbinu mbadala za kutetea haki zetu na kuhakikisha sauti zetu zinasikika.

The Question of Foreign Aid: a rejoinder

Wiki chache zilizopita, tulikuwa na mjadala hapa kuhusu Dambisa Moyo na ujumbe wake kuhusu athari za misaada ya maendeleo katika ukuaji wa uchumi wa Afrika. Leo nimetazama hotuba ya mchumi mwingine mashuhuri kutoka Ufaransa, Esther Duflo, mshindi wa mwaka huu wa medali ya Clark, almaarufu kama 'the baby nobel'.

Prof. Duflo anafanya utafiti unaojaribu kufahamu ufanisi wa misaada hii katika kupambana na umaskini. Kwa kutumia field experiments ameweza kuainisha umuhimu wa baadhi ya misaada hii katika kupambana na umasikini. Baadhi ya tafiti hizo ni; umuhimu wa ugawaji bure wa neti zenye dawa ya mbu, mapambano dhidi ya minyoo mashuleni katika kusaidia upatikanaji wa elimu, umuhimu wa incentives kwenye miradi ya chanjo, n.k. Hapa mjadala sio uwepo wa misaada au la, bali ni namna gani tunaweza kutumia kwa ufanisi fedha au rasilimali za miradi ya upambanaji wa umasikini.