AMERICA'S LEADING MAGAZINE ON AFRICA <flFMCfl CULTURE and POLITICS We know what it takes to create a quality product, uceess. On the way to pro- deposits in minority banks, ducing a quality beer, the Qx)rs is encouraging the people at the Adolph Coors stability and vitality that give (x>mpany learned a lot birth to successful citizens. about the elements that go So look for the Cxx>rs into it. Things like ambi- name in your neighbor- tion, commitment and hood. Because when Coors pride, to name a few. and the community get Through its involvement together, the results can be in the community we serve, spectacular. Coors is helping to develop those qualities to their full- est. From endowments to Black colleges, to sponsor- ship of cultural events and JULY-AUGUST 1987 AMERICAS VOLUME 32, NUMBER 4 LEADING MAGAZINE <flFRICflON AFRICA A Publication of the WORT African-American Institute Letters to the Editor The 4 African-American Institute Update Chairman 5 Randolph Nugent Editor: Andre Astrow President Culture and Politics Donald B. Easum Interview with Mohammed Hen Abdallah. Secretary of Education and Culture, Ghana 14 Publisher By Margaret A. Novicki Frank E. Ferrari The AiNC and the Cultural Boycott 19 Editor-in-Chief By Barbara Masekela Margaret A Novicki Managing Editor United Nations Alana Lee The Sins of Paul Simon 22 liy Michael Maren Assistant Editor Andre Astrow Music Editorial Assistant Interview with Hugh Masekela 26 Deepak Bhargava By Margaret A. Novicki and Ameen Akhalwaya Art Director 31 Joseph Pomar A Conversation with Ray Phiri By Mxohsi Mgxashe Advertising Director Barbara Spence Reporter's Notebook Marionette, Inc. The Hazards of Cultural Deprivation 33 (718)773-9869, 765-9244 By Denis Herbstein Africa Report (ISSN 0001-9836). a non- Theater partisan magazine of African affairs, is published bimonthly and is scheduled Interview with Duma Ndlovu and Mbongeni Ngema 36 to appear at the beginning of each date By Margaret A. Noi'icki and Ameen Akhalwaya period at 833 United Nations Plaza, People's Theater New York. N.Y. 10017. Editorial corre- Page 36 Africa in the U.S. spondence and advertising inquiries should be addressed lo Africa Report, "We Are The World" 40 at the above address. Subscription By William Howard rates: Individuals: U.S.A. $24. Canada $30, air rale overseas $48. Institutions: U.S.A. $31, Canada $37. air rate over- Artists United Against Apartheid 42 seas $55. Second-class postage paid By Danny Schechtcr at New York, N Y. and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: If this Literature magazine is undefivetable. please send notice to Africa Report at the Africa's Nobel Laureate 46 above address. Telephones. Publisher By Barbara Summers with Malaika Adero (212) 949-5719; Editor (212) 949- 5731. Copyright c 1987 by the African- American Instilute. Inc. Thiong'o: The Writer as Dissident 48 By Carl Wood U.S.A. Newsstand Distribution by FOUR STAR News Distributors. Inc.. Censorship of "The Word" 50 3117 12th Street, Long Island City, New York 11106. By Nadine Gordimer Africa's Nobel Film Note: Because we have recently Page 46 changed our fulfillment company, sub- Interview with King Ampaw 53 scribers may have experienced delays m receipt of copies Please be advised By Margaret A. Novicki thai Transaction, Inc. is no longer han- dling any Africa Report business mat- Culture and Politics ters. Please direct subscription inqui- 57 ries to Africa Report Subscription Ser- Burkina Faso: A Revolutionary Culture vices, P.O. Box 3000, Denville, N.J. By Margaret A. Novicki 07834. Mozambique Doing Business in Beira 61 Photo Credit: By Colleen Lowe Morna Photographs of Hugh Masekela, Interview with Armando Guebuza, Minister of Transport and Miriam Makeba, and Paul Simon Communications 6-4 from the "Graceland" concert in By Andre Astrow Harare are courtesy Richard McLaren/Showtime. Chissano's Challenge 67 Building Beira By Karl Mater I'age (SI ist groups who are in league with the devil. Letters to the Editor Ambassador Abdullahi Ahmed Addou To the Editor: with full respect to the welfare and human Embassy of the Somali I read with interest C. Anthony Gif- rights of our citizens. Somalia continues to Democratic Republic fard's article, "Closing the Gap: The New maintain a realistic position, consistent Washington, D.C. World Information Order" (March-April with its national interests and the wishes 1987). I am glad to report that the Inter and aspirations of its people. The author replies: Press Third World News Service is now Finally, I must deplore Greenfield's If all is well in Somalia and there is "pre- available through the Global Information wild, misleading, and baseless charges of vailing peace and stability," who then are Network, Ltd., a not-for-profit organiza- power struggles, internal conflict, and im- the "mercenary anti-Somalia elements in tion specializing in distribution of Third minent collapse. His highly exaggerated in- the service of [unnamed] foreign forces World and development news, located at terpretations of normal political processes and governments" who apparently so ex- 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, N. Y. are invalidated by the prevailing peace and ercise the Somali representatives? Would 10017. stability in the country. Perhaps Green- it not be more to the point to address the David Dion field would like to see conflict and turmoil human rights situation and other Somali is- Editor, IPS-U.S.A. Database in Somalia in order to promote his per- sues that I actually raised? New York, New York sonal, material interests—people like I was ordered to leave Rhodesia in Greenfield always like to fish in troubled 1963—admittedly having been given more To the Editor: water. time to pack than most, it was said, be- It is surprising that you saw fit to publish Mohamud Adan Ali cause I had never joined a political move- Richard Greenfield's version of the politi- Permanent Mission of Somalia ment. It was my interpretations that were cal and economic situation in Somalia ("An to the United Nations found offensive. Yet 23 years later, I would Embattled Barre," May-June 1987), since New York, New York be welcomed to an independent Zim- the author is obviously not an objective re- babwe, which I had foreseen. I published a porter. To the Editor: book in 1965 warning of impending revolu- Your biographical note on Greenfield in- Richard Greenfield's article, "An Em- tionary changes in Ethiopia: It was not an dicates that he was once in the service of battled Barre," (May-June 1987), should act of hostility to that country but the hum- the Somali government. In fact, he had be dismissed as false propaganda based on ble insight of one trained observer. Em- long been an adviser and supporter of the fabricated gossip and pure speculation. bassy officials and others nevertheless government, and began publishing articles The article is nothing but despicable disin- sought for years both to suppress my writ- hostile to Somalia after the completion of formation blinded by personal vendetta, ings and to discredit me personally. Thus I his contract and the government's decision leveled at the Somali government for not am saddened but not surprised to see that that it would no longer require his ser- renewing the writer's contract. Greenfield syndrome reemerge—and not just in vices. His sudden turn-about and his sup- is notorious for manipulating facts to suit America—in reaction to my recent articles port for mercenary anti-Somali elements in his own designs. and lectures. Regrettably, your corres- pondents appear to have confused loyalty the service of foreign forces and govern- The article suffers from a glaring ab- to a decaying regime with loyalty to a na- ments must be seen as motivated by vin- sence of objectivity, honesty, intelligent tion and a people. dictiveness, personal interest, and oppor- understanding, and profound knowledge of tunism rather than by intellectual or other Somalia's social and political structures. It Nor am I alone, particularly in the hu- concerns. is quite plain that Greenfield plays on the man rights position that I have taken with With regard to Greenfield's grave dis- outmoded colonial mentality of fomenting the Somali government—among others— tortions and misrepresentation of the propaganda to distort realities. privately for some years, as befits an ad- facts, I would like to set the record This is evident in the mendacious and viser, and more publicly on leaving govern- straight. President Mohamed Siad Barre absurd claims that ". in Mogadishu it- ment service. Indeed, on a rough count, has returned to health and strength and is self, the Somali capital, clear parallels with eight out of 10 of the Somali ministers, am- in full control of the country's political situ- the last days of Emperor Haile Selassie in bassadors, judges, counsellors, directors- ation. His election to another seven-year nearby Addis Ababa are daily emerging." general, and military and press attaches term last December was a reflection of his The power struggle that Greenfield por- with whom I have had dealings over the true popularity and the people's confidence trays is a pure figment of his imagination. last nine years are today detained without in his leadership. Furthermore, it should be made clear that charge or trial, have defected to opposition Somalia's economic difficulties, like President Barre is in good health after he groups (none of which am I connected those of many other developing countries sustained injuries in a road accident. with), or are in exile as refugees. affected by the African economic crisis, Above all, despite the economic con- It seems to me that all thinking men and stem mainly from externally caused fac- straints experienced by Somalia, the busi- women should seriously question such a tors (e.g.