DOCSLIB.ORG

Mobilizing Action for Women and Girls in West Africa December 7–9, 2015 a Carter Center Human Rights Defenders Forum Hosted by the National Chief Imam of Ghana

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Mobilizing Action for Women and Girls in West Africa December 7–9, 2015 a Carter Center Human Rights Defenders Forum Hosted by the National Chief Imam of Ghana Mobilizing Action for Women and Girls in West Africa December 7–9, 2015 A Carter Center Human Rights Defenders Forum Hosted by the National Chief Imam of Ghana Mobilizing Action for Women and Girls in West Africa December 7–9, 2015 A Carter Center Human Rights Defenders Forum Hosted by the National Chief Imam of Ghana One Copenhill 453 Freedom Parkway Atlanta, GA 30307 (404) 420-5188 Fax (404) 420-5196 www.cartercenter.org Contents Acknowledgments..........................3 Working Group Report III Gender, Faith, and Conflict ................25 Executive Summary.........................4 Factors Contributing to the Rise Introduction ............................4 in Violent Extremism ....................25 The Life of the Girl Child .................5 What Can Be Done .....................27 Women’s Leadership .....................5 Poem: A Dream From the Future. 28 Gender and Faith in Conflict ...............5 Closing Remarks Commitments to Action ..................6 ..........................29 Poetry Competition ......................6 Conclusion ................................32 Opening Remarks ..........................7 The Girl Child .........................32 Women in Leadership ...................32 Keynote Address..........................12 Gender, Faith, and Conflict ...............32 Working Group Report I Our Commitment .......................33 Protecting and Developing the Girl Child ...16 Appendices ...............................34 Challenges to Moving From Rhetoric to Action ......................17 Appendix A: Core Participant Biographies ...34 What Can Be Done .....................18 Appendix B: Khalif’s Opening Remarks in Original French ......................51 Poem: A Girl Has Been Born ..............20 Working Group Report II Women in Leadership . .21 Challenges to Fostering Women’s Leadership ....................21 What Can Be Done .....................23 Poem: The “Every Woman” Me ............24 2 Acknowledgments This conversation would not have taken place new, we were able to execute a powerful event. The without the leadership provided by President and Human Rights Program staff, Danielle Taylor and Mrs. Carter, who together envision a world in which Karin Ryan, and consultant Melinda Holmes were women and girls are afforded the same opportunities, crucial to the actualization of this conference. We respect, and dignity as men and boys. Their efforts are deeply appreciative of George Akanza and all of have mobilized a movement in which actors from all the staff at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel Accra, segments of society are forced to examine their roles who ensured that all logistics were executed flawlessly in upholding structures that discriminate against and and every last-minute request was accommodated. harm women and girls and to take concrete steps to The forum would not have been possible without the produce change. generosity of many dedicated individual and institu- The Human Rights Program wishes to acknowl- tional donors committed to supporting human rights edge the outspoken support provided by some of West defenders worldwide. Africa’s most senior religious leaders, including Khalif Finally, while we certainly cannot thank everyone Sheikh Ahmed Tidiane Ibrahim Niasse, Bishop who contributed to this enormous effort, we would Matthew Hassan Kukah, and especially Sheikh Dr. like to especially mention those who contributed Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, the national chief imam of to the development of these conversations and the Ghana, whose kind and sincere invitation sparked sacrifices they made to ensure this was a meaningful this conversation and called many local religious event: Bolanle Makanju, Sita Ranchod-Nilsson, Naa leaders to action. Koteitsoo Afrasomanso I, Hafsat Abiola-Costello, This important regional conversation was post- Chinedum (ChiChi) Aniagolu-Okoye, Harriette poned twice due to extraordinary circumstances, Williams Bright, Usman Bugaje, Esther Ibanga, including the 2014–2015 Ebola epidemic, which was Muhammad Nurudeen Lemu, Babacar Niang, and beyond the control of any individual or organization. Khuzaima Mohammed Osman. However, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Carter Center staff and our incredible partners, both old and Danielle Taylor was responsible for writing this report. 3 Executive Summary Introduction communities to transform harmful social norms. The goal was to move beyond scholarship and rhetoric; The oppression and abuse of women and girls participants sought to develop a regional strategy for are recognized globally as a serious impediment academics, the media, civil society, and religious and to sustainable development and human security, traditional authorities to actively and concertedly contributing to the suffering of entire families and address violence and discrimination against women communities. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and girls. They paid special attention to the role that has often argued that the mistreatment of women religious and traditional leaders can and should play and girls is the number one human rights abuse of in this effort. our lifetime. He has blamed this abuse largely on the Of significance to participants from Nigeria, misinterpretation of holy texts, which relegate women Liberia, Sierra Leone, Niger, Senegal, and Ghana to secondary positions to men. was the role religious and traditional values can and In December 2015, The Carter Center joined should play in advancing peace and respect for every West African partner organizations and institutions human being. Given the high levels of religiosity in for a Human Rights Defenders Forum to explore the region — and religious and traditional leaders’ these issues in a regional context. Hosted in Accra, prominence at all levels of life — many participants Ghana, by the Office of the National Chief Imam of were distressed that this influence and reach have Ghana, the forum provided a space for actors from not been better employed by those seeking to diverse segments of society to exchange understand- improve respect for human rights. They expressed ings and resources on the abuse and oppression of understanding that although religion has been women and girls in the region as well as a means traditionally viewed as a driver of conflict, religious of countering narratives and interpretations of leaders have been involved in peace and human faith-based teachings that perpetuate inequality and rights work for years. They were eager to hear the gender-based violence. The forum promoted efforts testimonies of religious and traditional authorities on by regional and local organizations to mobilize their Ronald Borden Participants in the 2015 Human Rights Defenders Forum: Mobilizing Action for Women and Girls in West Africa 4 Mobilizing Action for Women and Girls in West Africa their attempts at addressing human rights violations societies’ security and advancement. In turning to against women and girls and to learn how they could the present, participants considered whether their support one another in addressing these challenges. current communities, families, and belief structures Three complementary focal areas were addressed are creating environments for women to achieve in panel discussions and working groups: socially greatness in all realms of life, including the political imposed limitations on the girl child, women’s access and spiritual. Leading women from across diverse to leadership positions, and the need to address the fields testified about the challenges to, and resources religious and gender dimensions of conflict preven- available for, empowering African women to lead the tion and resolution in the region. region toward sustainable and inclusive development and peace. The Life of the Girl Child As in other parts of the world, the girl child in West The duty falls on us to educate Africa faces inequality in many life opportunities, ranging from less access to education to the threat of our boys, so that they see early forced marriage. This ongoing gender inequality God in the eyes of every girl, has been attributed to families making the most of so that they understand that the realities of life in underdeveloped communities, traditional conceptions of the roles of women, and within her lie the keys to our religious misinterpretations of the capacity and rights collective progress. She has so of women. Poignant arguments were presented to negate these perceptions and promote understanding much to give our world, and of the spiritual and practical importance of opening we, men and the boys who opportunities for girls. Participants overwhelmingly agreed that ensuring the sustained respect for and will follow us into manhood, empowerment of women and girls required teaching must not block her path with and sensitizing boys to destructive social biases and physical, social, spiritual, or the true teachings of holy texts. If not, Dr. ChiChi Okoye noted, we will continue “raising 21st-century psychological violence. girls who end up marrying 18th-century boys.” — Jimmy Carter Women’s Leadership Participants highlighted the empirical data that Gender and Faith in Conflict demonstrates the value of women’s leadership and With increasing international focus on the violent active participation in all facets of society. Their tactics of nonstate actors across West Africa and the exclusion from decision-making spaces, especially in Sahel, discussions of inclusive governance, human deliberations on security, defense, violent extremism, security, and sustainable development
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Prophet Muhammad Reincarnated and His Son, Jesus: Re-Centering Islam Among the Layenne of Senegal
    Journal of Historical Geography 42 (2013) 24e35 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Historical Geography journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jhg The Prophet Muhammad reincarnated and his son, Jesus: re-centering Islam among the Layenne of Senegal John Glover Department of History, University of Redlands, 1200 East Colton Avenue, PO Box 3080, Redlands, CA 92373-0999, USA Abstract This article explores how the Layenne of Senegal have employed the historical geography of the Cap Vert peninsula as an archive to effectively re-center the Islamic world away from Arabia to the coast of West Africa. Annual pilgrimages to Layenne religious sites and shrines that serve as lieux de mémoire provide ‘foyers’ on which contemporary collective and individual identities are contemplated with regard to Layenne perceptions of the past. The Layenne historical imagination is tied to the geographic space that constitutes Cap Vert in a symbiotic relationship by which history gives meaning to place and vice versa. While the rituals practiced at the Layenne places of memory revolve around the hagiography of their founder, Seydina Limamou Laye, who claimed to be the Mahdi and the reincarnation of the Prophet Muhammad, the Layenne have also appropriated sites and symbols associated with French colonization and a post-colonial Senegal into a vibrant and fluid conception of modernity that is simultaneously indigenous and global. Ó 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Islam; Senegal; Layenne; Cap Vert; French West Africa; Sites of memory In 1884, a Lebu fisherman on the Cap Vert peninsula in the French colonial officials, and he was briefly imprisoned by the French in 1887 colony of Senegal announced that he was the long-awaited Mahdi, or due to fears, later proven unfounded, that he was gathering arms for the renewer of Islam that would appear at the end of time, and also an anti-colonial jihad.
    [Show full text]
  • MYSTIC LEADER ©Christian Bobst Village of Keur Ndiaye Lo
    SENEGAL MYSTIC LEADER ©Christian Bobst Village of Keur Ndiaye Lo. Disciples of the Baye Fall Dahira of Cheikh Seye Baye perform a religious ceremony, drumming, dancing and singing prayers. While in other countries fundamentalists may prohibit music, it is an integral part of the religious practice in Sufism. Sufism is a form of Islam practiced by the majority of the population of Senegal, where 95% of the country’s inhabitants are Muslim Based on the teachings of religious leader Amadou Bamba, who lived from the mid 19th century to the early 20th, Sufism preaches pacifism and the goal of attaining unity with God According to analysts of international politics, Sufism’s pacifist tradition is a factor that has helped Senegal avoid becoming a theatre of Islamist terror attacks Sufism also teaches tolerance. The role of women is valued, so much so that within a confraternity it is possible for a woman to become a spiritual leader, with the title of Muqaddam Sufism is not without its critics, who in the past have accused the Marabouts of taking advantage of their followers and of mafia-like practices, in addition to being responsible for the backwardness of the Senegalese economy In the courtyard of Cheikh Abdou Karim Mbacké’s palace, many expensive cars are parked. They are said to be gifts of his followers, among whom there are many rich Senegalese businessmen who live abroad. The Marabouts rank among the most influential men in Senegal: their followers see the wealth of thei religious leaders as a proof of their power and of their proximity to God.
    [Show full text]
  • Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’S Enduring Insurgency
    Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’s Enduring Insurgency Editor: Jacob Zenn Boko Haram Beyond the Headlines: Analyses of Africa’s Enduring Insurgency Jacob Zenn (Editor) Abdulbasit Kassim Elizabeth Pearson Atta Barkindo Idayat Hassan Zacharias Pieri Omar Mahmoud Combating Terrorism Center at West Point United States Military Academy www.ctc.usma.edu The views expressed in this report are the authors’ and do not necessarily reflect those of the Combating Terrorism Center, United States Military Academy, Department of Defense, or U.S. Government. May 2018 Cover Photo: A group of Boko Haram fighters line up in this still taken from a propaganda video dated March 31, 2016. COMBATING TERRORISM CENTER ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Director The editor thanks colleagues at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point (CTC), all of whom supported this endeavor by proposing the idea to carry out a LTC Bryan Price, Ph.D. report on Boko Haram and working with the editor and contributors to see the Deputy Director project to its rightful end. In this regard, I thank especially Brian Dodwell, Dan- iel Milton, Jason Warner, Kristina Hummel, and Larisa Baste, who all directly Brian Dodwell collaborated on the report. I also thank the two peer reviewers, Brandon Kend- hammer and Matthew Page, for their input and valuable feedback without which Research Director we could not have completed this project up to such a high standard. There were Dr. Daniel Milton numerous other leaders and experts at the CTC who assisted with this project behind-the-scenes, and I thank them, too. Distinguished Chair Most importantly, we would like to dedicate this volume to all those whose lives LTG (Ret) Dell Dailey have been afected by conflict and to those who have devoted their lives to seeking Class of 1987 Senior Fellow peace and justice.
    [Show full text]
  • TWITTER WEBSITE FACEBOOK Int. Sales Agent Publicity Distributor (North America)
    FACEBOOK TWITTER WEBSITE Filmmaker Publicity Int. Sales Agent Distributor Joanna Lipper Adam J. Segal Philippa Kowarsky (North America) Vertumnus Productions The 2050 Group Cinephil Kristen Fitzpatrick [email protected] (202) 422-4673 (mobile) +972 3 566 4129 Women Make Movies [email protected] [email protected] (212) 925-0606, x312 [email protected] EXCERPTS FROM RECENT PRESS “The Supreme Price is a deeply profound and beautiful experience, and an integral film to watch.” - Indiewire “Taking a long historical view of a troubled country struggling to emerge from a military dictatorship is Joanna Lipper’s documentary “The Supreme Price,” about Nigeria’s female-directed democracy movement. After a military coup in 1993, M. K.O Abiola, a pro-democracy leader who was considered the victor in aborted presidential elections that year but never took office, was imprisoned in 1994. Four years later he died under suspicious circumstances. After his imprisonment, his fearless, eloquent wife, Kudirat, took over the movement’s leadership, but she was assassinated in 1996. The history is told through the eyes of their daughter Hafsat Abiola, a Harvard-educated crusader for human rights and democracy who now leads a movement to dismantle the country’s patriarchal structure.” - The New York Times “Some of the best documentaries tell inspiring stories of people overcoming the unthinkable... With an uptick in kidnappings and killings, the situation in Nigeria is looking bleak. How exactly did the country get to such a state? Joanna Lipper’s film looks at the pro-democracy movement in the corrupt African nation but also gives a helpful tutorial on Nigerian politics.” – The Washington Post “...Nigeria’s history is fleshed out in a new documentary called The Supreme Price.
    [Show full text]
  • When Art Is the Weapon: Culture and Resistance Confronting Violence in the Post-Uprisings Arab World
    Religions 2015, 6, 1277–1313; doi:10.3390/rel6041277 OPEN ACCESS religions ISSN 2077-1444 www.mdpi.com/journal/religions Article When Art Is the Weapon: Culture and Resistance Confronting Violence in the Post-Uprisings Arab World Mark LeVine 1,2 1 Department of History, University of California, Irvine, Krieger Hall 220, Irvine, CA 92697-3275, USA; E-Mail: [email protected] 2 Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Lund University, Finngatan 16, 223 62 Lund, Sweden Academic Editor: John L. Esposito Received: 6 August 2015 / Accepted: 23 September 2015 / Published: 5 November 2015 Abstract: This articles explores the explosion of artistic production in the Arab world during the so-called Arab Spring. Focusing on music, poetry, theatre, and graffiti and related visual arts, I explore how these “do-it-yourself” scenes represent, at least potentially, a “return of the aura” to the production of culture at the edge of social and political transformation. At the same time, the struggle to retain a revolutionary grounding in the wake of successful counter-revolutionary moves highlights the essentially “religious” grounding of “committed” art at the intersection of intense creativity and conflict across the Arab world. Keywords: Arab Spring; revolutionary art; Tahrir Square What to do when military thugs have thrown your mother out of the second story window of your home? If you’re Nigerian Afrobeat pioneer Fela Kuta, Africa’s greatest political artist, you march her coffin to the Presidential compound and write a song, “Coffin for Head of State,” about the murder. Just to make sure everyone gets the point, you use the photo of the crowd at the gates of the Presidential compound with the coffin as the album cover [1].
    [Show full text]
  • Arabic Poetry As a Possible Metalanguage for Intercultural Dialogue Author: Daniel Roters
    Arab-West Report, December 22, 2009 Title: Arabic Poetry as a possible Metalanguage for Intercultural Dialogue Author: Daniel Roters “For me the province of poetry is a private ecstasy made public, and the social role of the poet is to display moments of shared universal epiphanies capable of healing our sense of mortal estrangement—from ourselves, from each other, from our source, from our destiny, from the Divine” (Danial Abdal-Hayy, US-American poet) Introduction The aim of this study is to show how modern Arabic literature and poetry could help in the effort to understand modern Arab society and its problems. At the same time it will be necessary to describe the history of Arabic poetry if we want to understand how important poetry in contemporary Arab society is. This whirlwind tour through the history of Arabic poetry will be restrained to the function of the poet and the role of poetry played in general in Arabic-Islamic history. Indeed the preoccupation with works of modern writers should not only be an issue for organizations working on the improvement of intercultural dialogue. It is also of great importance that the scholarly discourse in Islamic or Middle Eastern Studies recognizes the importance of modern Arabic literature. Arabic literature could be another valuable source of information, in addition to the Qur' ān and Sunnah. If you 1 consider the theory of theologian Hermann Gunkel about the “Sitz im Leben ” (seat in life) and if we question a lyrical or prose text about the formative stage, it is possible to learn much about the society from which an author is addressing his audience.
    [Show full text]
  • The 9Th Toyin Falola Annual International Conference on Africa and the African Diaspora (Tofac 2019)
    The 9th Toyin Falola Annual International Conference On Africa And The African Diaspora (tofac 2019) THEME: RELIGION, THE STATE AND GLOBAL POLITICS JULY 1-3, 2019 @BABCOCK UNIVERSITY ILISHAN-REMO, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FEATURING: DISTINGUISHED GUEST OF HONOUR CHIEF DR OLUSEGUN OBASANJO, GCFR, PhD Former President, Federal Republic of Nigeria CHIEF HOST PROFESSOR ADEMOLA S. TAYO HOST President/Vice-Chancellor, Babcock PROFESSOR ADEMOLA DASYLVA University Board Chair, TOFAC (International) GRAND HOST HE CHIEF DR DAPO ABIODUN, MFR Executive Governor, Ogun State, Nigeria CONFERENCE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS HE Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Nigeria Professor Bankole Omotoso, Writer, Dean, Faculty of Humanities, Elizade University Professor Ibigbolade Aderibigbe, Professor of Religion & Associate Director, The African Studies Institute, University of Georgia, Athens, USA BANQUET CHAIRMAN: His Imperial Majesty Fuankem Achankeng I, MA, MA, PhD The Nyatema of Atoabechied Ruler, Atoabechied, Lebialem Southwestern Cameroon & Professor, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, USA BANQUET SPECIAL GUEST OF HONOUR Professor Jide Owoeye Chairman, Governing Council & Proprietor Lead City University, Ibadan 2 NATIONAL ANTHEM Great lofty heights attain To build a nation where peace Arise, O compatriot, And justice shall reign. Nigeria’s call obey To serve our father’s land BABCOCK UNIVERSITY With love and strength and faith The labour of our heroes past ANTHEM Shall never be in vain Hail Babcock God’s own University To serve with heart and mind Built on the power of His Word One nation bound in freedom Knowledge and truth, Peace and unity Service to God and man Building a future for the youth Wholistic education, O God of creation, The vision is still aflame: Direct our noble cause Mental, physical, social, spiritual Guide our leaders right Babcock is it! Help our youths the truth to know Hail, Babcock God’s own University In love and honesty to grow Good life here and forever more.
    [Show full text]
  • Incarceration As a Gateway to Wonder in the Poetry of Ahmed Fouad Negm
    Contemporary Literary Review India CLRI Print ISSN 2250-3366 | Online ISSN 2394-6075 Vol. 7, No. 4: CLRI November 2020 | p 1-27 Incarceration as a Gateway to Wonder in the Poetry of Ahmed Fouad Negm Ahsan Ul Haq Ph D Research Scholar, Dept. of English, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, J & K. Abstract Ahmed Fouad Negm (1929-2013), was an Egyptian poet writing poetry in colloquial Arabic. He is one of the most celebrated revolutionary poet of Egypt. Negm was arrests and imprisoned multiple times for his outspoken and dissent voice. It was behind the prison walls that he found his voice. His prison poetry has strong impact on the minds of Egyptian folk, and inspires resistance against the dictatorship and regimes. Negm, remains the most popular and vernacular poet of Egypt. Typifying the artist’s progress, from inside the prison/jail Negm continues to speak for the voiceless Egyptians. This paper is an attempt study his prison poetry, and how jail/prison infused spark in his art. The paper will Contemporary Literary Review India | pISSN 2250-3366 / eISSN 2394-6075 | Vol. 7, No. 4: CLRI November 2020 | Page 1 Incarceration as a Gateway to Wonder in the Poetry of Ahmed Fouad Negm | Ahsan Ul haq examine some of the best prison testimonials translate in English. Keywords: Ahmed Fouad Negm, prison/jail, incarceration/imprisonment, revolution, poetry. Introduction The themes of incarceration and exile are predominant in the poetry of Egyptian Vernacular poet, Ahmed Fouad Negm (1929-2013), who spent eighteen years of his life prisons. Negm was nicknamed as Al-Fagomi (the impulsive).
    [Show full text]
  • Report Impacts of the Coronavirus Pandemic On
    ECONEC | ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions ___________________________________________________________________________ REPORT IMPACTS OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ON THE UPCOMING ELECTIONS IN THE ECOWAS REGION DISCUSSIONS AND PROSPECTS 15th April 2020 Introduction ECONEC held a videoconference which lasted 03 hours 50 minutes on 15th April 2020 to discuss with sixteen participants, including seven electoral commissions, on the “Impacts of the coronavirus pandemic on the upcoming elections in the ECOWAS region.” The main objective of the meeting was to bring together the Presidents of the Electoral Commissions preparing for elections, representatives of the ECOWAS Directorate of Political Affairs and the Electoral Assistance Division, and electoral experts from the region for an open discussion in order to anticipate on the new challenges related to the health crisis in the region. Mr. Francis Oke, Head of the ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division and Permanent Secretary of ECONEC moderated the meeting. He started by presenting the agenda, which was unanimously adopted. The session commenced with the introductory remarks from the ECOWAS Director of Political Affairs, Dr. Aderemi Ajibewa, who thanked the Presidents of the Electoral Commissions in attendance, ECONEC and OSIWA for this meeting which is timely for all countries preparing to conduct crucial elections in West Africa. Dr. Ajibewa highlighted that it is important to take into account the legal framework of each country concerned and the provisions that provide for emergency, war or natural disaster making it impossible to organize elections at the right date. He also recommended to review the chronograms of Member States in order to identify the activities affected by the pandemic and to reflect on possible readjustments, by adopting a consensual or inclusive approach with innovative solutions.
    [Show full text]
  • Email Edition March/April 1999
    Timeline Email Edition March/April 1999 - No. 44 A Publication of the Foundation for Global Community http://www.globalcommunity.org [email protected] Phone: (650) 328 7756 Fax: (650) 328 7785 In this Issue: Peter Russell: Science and Spirituality An Invitation to the "Edge Course" Eileen Rinde: The Milky Way Galaxy in a Box of Salt A World Without Nukes: Ten Reasons to Abolish Nuclear Weapons Donella Meadows: When the Economic Machine Sputters, Consider Replacing it Hafsat Abiola: Profile of an Emerging Leader What the Tule House Has to Teach Us Blips on the Timeline Ó1999 Foundation for Global Community TIMELINE of space, time, and matter—things that SCIENCE AND can be pinned down and measured. But the inner world of mind and SPIRITUALITY consciousness, which can’t be touched Peter Russell and can’t be measured, is the world that spirituality has explored in depth, Peter Russell is an author, physicist, and whereas science has almost totally futurist. One of the first to introduce human ignored it until very recently. potential seminars into the corporate field, he has been lecturing and consulting on There are good reasons for this: Science creativity, learning, stress management, and tries to be objective; it doesn’t want personal development for twenty years for clients such as IBM, Apple, American the subjective to come in. It wants to Express, Shell Oil, and British Petroleum. determine what is true, independent Books include The Global Brain and Waking of the mind or the mental state of the Up In Time, a revised edition of his earlier observer.
    [Show full text]
  • JOIN BLACKWORLD!!! Ppreciating African American
    |fceemrisjyoc wr I e I [ vo j r.. : uii yio amrTifow..^ U SI1 BLACKORLDONE ATIO s Africah itudeht CoNvE h at Ihth'i CahferEhce By: Josephine Oduro School of African Awareness, which is a he pocketed it." IASA is to develop a resume book which Stony Brook' s own African non-profit, non-governmental organiza- Most of the participants at the will be sold to conipanies that are inter- Student Union, participated in the fourth tion that was launched in Zimbabwe. The conference shared a common view that ested in hiring qualified Africans. annual International African Students SAA's major purpose is to address issues the U.S. has absolute power because it A relative view shared by some association (IASA) conference hosted at pertaining to cultural awareness, and Af- holds the most votes in the United Na- of the African students at the conference, Howard University. The conference, rican self-help and self-reliance. The tions, International Monetary Fund and was that they represent a small minority which attempted to address issues facing SAA is designed to play an instrumental the World Bank. The avenue of boycott- on their college campuses and that events Africa, occurred on April 3rd through the role in the educating and development of ing and lobbying was identified to be a like the conference really allow them the 5th. Africa and its people. It is also targeted limited option. chance to unite. "I come here to meet The IASA conference united at people who have an interest in Africa "The only people that address people, because of the atmosphere at my representatives from African Student and its culture.
    [Show full text]
  • The Africa Programme in 2017 Chatham House Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Is an Independent Policy Institute Based in London
    The Africa Programme in 2017 Annual Report Africa Programme | December 2017 The Africa Programme in 2017 Chatham House Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, is an independent policy institute based in London. Our mission is to help build a sustainably secure, prosperous and just world. For more information please contact Tighisti Amare, Africa Programme Manager, Chatham House Tel: + 44 (0) 207 9527 5718 Email: [email protected] | @AfricaProg Website: https://www.chathamhouse.org/about/structure/africa-programme Contents Foreword 2 Introduction 3 Africa in the International System 4 Demographic Change and Inclusive Economic Growth 9 Technology and Governance 12 The Africa Programme and Nigeria 14 The Horn of Africa Project 18 The Africa Programme and Angola 20 Elections and Political Systems 22 Peace and Security 26 2017 Africa Programme Speakers 27 2017 Africa Programme Reports 32 Africa Programme Staff 33 Africa Programme Funders 34 Africa Programme Partners 35 Chatham House | 1 Foreword 2017 was a year of leadership changes and unprecedented events in a number of sub-Saharan African countries. ECOWAS regional leaders ensured that President Yahya Jammeh obeyed the will of the Gambian people to end his 22 year reign. President Robert Mugabe was forced from office, the only leader independent Zimbabwe has known in its 37 years. In Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos, also president for 37 years, ended his own tenure, enabling a smooth transition. Somalia’s Mohamed Abdullahi ‘Farmaajo’ Mohamed defeated his more established rivals to win the February presidential election, and the Kenyan Supreme Court made history in voiding the result of the August election.
    [Show full text]