Black Looks

• DRC: people not profit

  Posted: October 31, 2008, 8:16 pm by Sokari

  Today’s BBC reports rapes and killings by rebels and DRC forces as 250,000 people are displaced hiding in the bush or simply trekking along roads to nowhere. One only has to listen to stories by asylum seekers and refugees in the UK to know what horrors women, children and men are faced with. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "DRC: people not profit", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/drc_people_not_profit.html" });

• FREE Jonathan Elendu NOW!

  Posted: October 31, 2008, 12:00 pm by Sokari

  UPDATE: Another online publisher arrested (Source Point Blank News) “Mr. Emeka Asiwe of huhuonline.com was on tuesday picked up at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos by officials of the State Security Services, SSS. Asiwe who had arrived Nigeria from the United State to visit his sick mother was arrested shortly after arriving the country on [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "FREE Jonathan Elendu NOW!", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/free_jonathan_elendu_now.html" });

• Elendu is FREE!

  Posted: October 29, 2008, 12:09 am by Sokari

  Jonathon Elendu is Free and receiving medical attention. Nigerian Curiosity received the news from his family and he is now receiving medical treatment. This is excellent news for Elendu, his family and friends but there are still many questions to be answered by the Nigerian government not least of all the continued summary [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Elendu is FREE!", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/elendu_is_free.html" });

• Nigerian blogger, Jonathon Elendu tortured

  Posted: October 28, 2008, 10:39 pm by Sokari

  Nigerian Curiosity is maintaining regular contact with Jonathon Elendu’s family and is publishing regular updates on his detention. The reports are reminiscent of the ugly days of Abacha when disappearance, detention and torture of journalists, activists, politicians, writers, and just about anyone who dared to dissent, where regular occurrences. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Nigerian blogger, Jonathon Elendu tortured", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/nigerian_blogger_jonathon_elendu_tortured.html" });

• Refusing to fade in obscurity: On Black lesbians making histories

  Posted: October 28, 2008, 12:17 pm by Zanele Muholi

  It has been two months since our only outspoken lesbian soccer team, the Chosen Few, came back from winning bronze at the International Gay & Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) tournament in London. This was the team’s second bronze medal after winning at the Gay Games Chicago in 2006. Chosen Few is making African herstory [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Refusing to fade in obscurity: On Black lesbians making histories", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/refusing_to_fade_in_obscurity_on_black_lesbians_making_histories.html" });

• Vote for “Imagine This”

  Posted: October 28, 2008, 11:13 am by Sokari

  In 2007, “Imagine This” by Nigerian writer Sade Adeniran won the Commonwealth Prize for best first book for the Africa. This is one of the books I have been meaning to read but haven’t got round to (a list that is becoming way to long) “Imagine This” is now on the list for [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Vote for \"Imagine This\" ", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/vote_for_imagine_this_.html" });

• Marriage equality and civil rights

  Posted: October 27, 2008, 12:05 pm by Sokari

  This essay by Ahimsa Timoteo Bodhrán makes the link between civil rights and marriage equality with a plea for voters in three US state, California, Florida and Arizonia to vote against amendments which would outlaw same gender marriage. Although directly addressing people in the US, Timoteo Bodhran words speak to those in Africa and elsewhere [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Marriage equality and civil rights", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/marriage_equality_and_civil_rights.html" });

• Palestine football

  Posted: October 26, 2008, 11:03 pm by Sokari

  Palestine host their first international football match on their home ground in the West Bank. Tags: Palestine Football SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Palestine football", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/palestine_football.html" });

• Pandering Prejudices?

  Posted: October 26, 2008, 5:42 am by Mia Nikasimo

  You would think a bookshop such as is Waterstones is an institution that encourages the attainment of knowledge and you would be right to think so. However what would you make of the same institution used by some of its workforce as a platform for their prejudicial wiles? Do they (transphobic staff) act this way [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: " Pandering Prejudices? ", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/_pandering_prejudices_.html" });

• The Message: A Poem for Troy Davis

  Posted: October 25, 2008, 10:16 pm by Rethabile

  “The Troy Davis case involves Troy Anthony Davis, an American sports coach, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the 1989 murder of a Savannah, Georgia police officer, Mark Allen MacPhail, solely on the basis of eyewitness testimony.[1] Seven of nine witnesses later recanted their testimony, but he has been unable to get a [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "The Message: A Poem for Troy Davis", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/the_message_a_poem_for_troy_davis.html" });

• Visionaries

  Posted: October 25, 2008, 3:33 pm by Sokari

  One woman’s visionaries are another woman’s flying ducks ie they joined the 1st class glossy magazine flyers club, hmm where did all that money come from then? Here is a list of 50, most of whom I would include on my personal list. Via BFM PS I dislike this word “movers” and the phrase [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Visionaries", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/visionaries.html" });

• Twitter Updates for 2008-10-24

  Posted: October 25, 2008, 3:59 am by Sokari

  ‘Oga I wan go born for America, maybe one day, my own son too fit become America’s president, abi now’ http://tinyurl.com/55wjz6 # RT @Benin: Nigeria: FG Earns $300 Billion Revenue From Oil: Nigeria’s oil and gas sector in the last 30 years generate.. http://tinyurl. … # blacklooks blogged Not just a pair of old shoes: [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Twitter Updates for 2008-10-24", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/twitter_updates_for_2008-10-24.html" });

• Women of Zimbabwe

  Posted: October 24, 2008, 2:30 pm by Sokari

  On the 16th October members of WOZA (Women of Zimbabwe Arise) held a demonstration declaring the food situation a “national disaster” and demanding immediate food aid. On that day 9 members of WOZA were arrested, 7 were released on the same day but 2, Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, remain in custody. Members of [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Women of Zimbabwe", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/women_of_zimbabwe.html" });

• Government by AK47

  Posted: October 24, 2008, 1:56 pm by Sokari

  The above photo posted by Kayode Ogundamisi on his Facebook blog is allegedly the son of President Y’aradua published on Sahara Reporters which is fast gaining fame and no doubt fortune from publishing similar photos of Nigeria’s “royal” family. Kayode writes: Dear All, Thanks to the citizens platform Saharareporters.com we now can see the mentality of [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Government by AK47", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/government_by_ak47.html" });

• Nigerian blogger arrested

  Posted: October 23, 2008, 2:43 pm by Sokari

  Via Committee to Protect Bloggers and Nigerian Curiosity Nigeria’s State Security Service or SSS, the same intelligence agency that shut down Channels TV for legally broadcasting incorrect information about President Yar’Adua, is at it again. Jonathan Elendu, the writer at Elendu Reports, was arrested by Nigeria’s SSS on Saturday evening upon arrival in Nigeria from the United [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Nigerian blogger arrested", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/nigerian_blogger_arrested.html" });

• Death row Nigeria

  Posted: October 22, 2008, 1:42 pm by Sokari

  Hundreds of Nigerian prisoners are being held on death row many of whom have been tortured or whose trials were not conducted properly. “The police are overstretched and under-resourced. Because of this, they rely heavily on confessions to ’solve’ crimes - rather than on expensive investigations,” Ms van Kregten said. Ledap, the Nigerian legal organisation [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Death row Nigeria", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/death_row_nigeria.html" });

• Ugandan lesbian receives asylum in UK

  Posted: October 21, 2008, 7:06 pm by Sokari

  Congratulations to Ugandan lesbian Prossy Kakooza who has won her asylum case after 15 months. According to the report, the judge was influenced by the medical evidence and the expert’s report which highlighted the extreme difficulties of being LGBTI in Uganda. The judge was heavily influenced by three factors: the Country [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Ugandan lesbian receives asylum in UK", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/ugandan_lesbian_receives_asylum_in_uk.html" });

• Not just a pair of old shoes

  Posted: October 21, 2008, 4:47 pm by Sokari

  Phew, just when I thought I was talking to a pair of my Dad’s old brogues I am relieved to find that some people are actually reading this space. A great weight has been lifted off my shoulders, thank you all! Tags: Afrigator SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Not just a pair of old shoes", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/not_just_a_pair_of_old_shoes.html" });

• Relationships

  Posted: October 20, 2008, 4:04 pm by Mia Nikasimo

  For some people relationships are paradise but for others, they could be dire warnings of frayed emotions to come. As a translesbian of African descent I am an avid “people watcher” and if I watch anyone, I watch women in particular as a lesbian and I have found that anything that happens in the straight [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Relationships", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/relationships.html" });

• Why are Nigerians applying for asylum?

  Posted: October 19, 2008, 2:27 pm by Sokari

  UNHCR reports that 4,816 Nigerians applied for asylum in the first 6 months of 2008 making the country the 9th highest after countries like Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia, China to name a few. I know of two Nigerians who have sought asylum on the basis of their sexuality, one gay man and one lesbian. [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Why are Nigerians applying for asylum?", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/why_are_nigerians_applying_for_asylum.html" });

• Another Black Man Dragged to Death

  Posted: October 19, 2008, 1:58 pm by Sokari

  Brandon McClelland dragged to death in Paris Texas SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Another Black Man Dragged to Death", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/another_black_man_dragged_to_death.html" });

• THE ULTIMATE Fela remix

  Posted: October 18, 2008, 12:22 am by Sokari

  Get this widget | Track details | eSnips Social DNA Thanks to Suya Project on Nigeria Village Sq Tags Fela DJ Fernando Brazil SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "THE ULTIMATE Fela remix", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/the_ultimate_fela_remix.html" });

• Rebellion and repression in Angola’s diamond mines.

  Posted: October 17, 2008, 3:43 pm by Sokari

  The Portuguese-language media is reporting that a rebellion took place last week against a number of diamond mining companies in the Curango municipality in north-east Angola. The rebellion, by mine workers was started after some unlicensed diamond miners were expelled, was brutally repressed by security forces working for the mining multinationals. The [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Rebellion and repression in Angola's diamond mines.", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/rebellion_and_repression_in_angolas_diamond_mines.html" });

• Poverty: Invest in caring not killing

  Posted: October 15, 2008, 1:09 pm by Sokari

  There are 75 million more people living in poverty today compared with last year. Latest World Bank figures estimate 1 billion will not be able to get the minimum nutritional levels needed to sustain themselves. I just did a google of videos on poverty and came up with pages, many [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Poverty: Invest in caring not killing", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/poverty_invest_in_caring_not_killing.html" });

• Poverty Pauvreté Bofutsana

  Posted: October 15, 2008, 12:01 pm by Rethabile

  Whatever you call it, it’s the same and it is devastating whole populations the world over. The Occident hasn’t been spared. I live in Europe and I run into begging hands wherever I go. The developing world is experiencing the full brunt of it. I have decided to list five blogposts taking part in today’s [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Poverty Pauvreté Bofutsana", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/poverty_pauvret_bofutsana.html" });

• Supeme Court denies Troy Davis

  Posted: October 14, 2008, 7:39 pm by Sokari

  The US Supreme Court has denied Troy Davis a new hearing effectively ending his hope of submitting new evidence in his favour. “The Supreme Court’s decision is truly shocking, given that significant evidence of Davis’ innocence will never have a chance to be examined,” said Larry Cox, executive director for AIUSA. “Faulty eyewitness identification [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Supeme Court denies Troy Davis", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/supeme_court_denies_troy_davis.html" });

• Quick Links

  Posted: October 13, 2008, 12:09 pm by Sokari

  *** No surprise poverty in “Africa’s Kuwait” All Africa reports, “Equatorial Guinea is one of the world’s top 30 oil producers, according to its Ministry of Mines, but corruption watchdog group Global Witness says most in the country still live in poverty. Global Witness US-based policy advisor, Sasha Lezhnev, told IRIN: “Equatorial Guinea is the dictatorship that [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Links", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/quick_links-15.html" });

• Kelele: African Bloggers Conference

  Posted: October 12, 2008, 12:49 pm by Sokari

  The 2009 African Bloggers Conference takes place in Nairobi Kenya…….. What is Kelele? Kelele is an annual African bloggers’ conference held in a different African city each year and run by an organising committee in that city. Kelele will be held for the first time in August 2009 in Nairobi, Kenya. Why Kelele? Kelele is the Kiswahili word for [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Kelele: African Bloggers Conference", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/kelele_african_bloggers_conference.html" });

• Migration management center in Mali

  Posted: October 10, 2008, 3:44 pm by Sokari

  Just over two years ago the Spanish government desperate to stop migrant workers from crossing into Spain from the Sahara, came to an agreement with the Senegalese government to deploy their coast guard off the coast. They also agreed to set up a school for youths in the hope that would stop them [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Migration management center in Mali", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/migration_management_center_in_mali.html" });

• “An everyday psychopathic murder”.

  Posted: October 10, 2008, 1:09 pm by Sokari

  This is a story of the hundred of thousands invisible people - the “illegals” who feed the underbelly of Britain. Apparently there are up to 200,000 Chinese undocumented slave workers in Britain and god knows how many from other countries in Africa, Asia and South America. Xiao Mei Guo was a 29 [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "\"An everyday psychopathic murder\".", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/an_everyday_psychopathic_murder.html" });

• Dream graphics from Anansi

  Posted: October 9, 2008, 3:04 pm by Sokari

  Selected images from Lance Tooks new graphic novel, Anansi’s Dreams Tags: Lance Tooks Anansi’s Dreams Graphic Novel SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Dream graphics from Anansi", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/dream_graphics_from_anansi.html" });

• Black History Season or 64 years of a lot of things

  Posted: October 9, 2008, 2:28 pm by Sokari

  This year’s Black History Month died and Black History Season was born - it’s not quite clear how long the season lasts but most events are in October and November. The Inner London Borough’s have really made an attempt to put on a diverse range of events covering our hidden his/herstories [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Black History Season or 64 years of a lot of things", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/black_history_season_or_64_years_of_a_lot_of_things.html" });

• Ugandan LGBT activists forced into exile

  Posted: October 7, 2008, 6:23 pm by Sokari

  On the 10th September, two Ugandan LGBTI activists, Georgina (aka) Oundo George and Brenda (aka Kiiza) were taken into custody by two men in plain clothes who identified themselves as police officers. The two activists were held illegally for one week, were denied any legal representation, denied bail and never brought before [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Ugandan LGBT activists forced into exile", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/ugandan_lgbt_activists_forced_into_exile.html" });

• International resistance to Zionism

  Posted: October 6, 2008, 12:28 am by Sokari

  Last Thursday, the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network [IJAN] was launched at a press conference in London. The launch was chaired by Selma James together with Michael Kalmanovitz of the Payday Network and social activst and founding members of Matzpen, Prof Moshe Machover. The launch of IJAN is the culmination [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "International resistance to Zionism", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/international_resistance_to_zionism.html" });

• commit to a revolutionary act - be optimistic

  Posted: October 5, 2008, 3:45 pm by Sokari

  “Optimism is a Political Act” speaks to those who are willing to put up with the status quo and those who repeatedly deny the possibility of change. Especially for Nigerians who despair and have silently given up hope REPENT for there is still a chance to make a difference ………… Optimism, by contrast, especially [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "commit to a revolutionary act - be optimistic", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/commit_to_a_revolutionary_act_-_be_optimistic.html" });

• Soweto pride 2008

  Posted: October 5, 2008, 12:00 pm by Sokari

  Source: Forum for the Empowerment of Women, SA Tags: Soweto + Pride South Africa LGBTI SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Soweto pride 2008", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/soweto_pride_2008.html" });

• Half hour for Haiti

  Posted: October 4, 2008, 11:50 am by Sokari

  Rep. Maxine Waters has called for $300 million in emergency assistance for Haiti. She is not asking for grassroots support for the bill at the time, but we will issue an alert if appropriate. There is more durable good news- for nationals of Honduras, El Salvador and Nicaragua. TPS was extended for those three countries on [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Half hour for Haiti", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/half_hour_for_haiti-5.html" });

• Freedom2be for LGBTI Nigerians

  Posted: October 3, 2008, 2:20 pm by Sokari

  The House of Rainbow is calling upon Nigerians in the Diaspora and at home to please support the Nigerian LGBTI community by filing a complaint with the Nigerian Human Rights Commission. More information on the MCC site here and Sankofa Way. Tags: LGBTI Nigeria House of Rainbow SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Freedom2be for LGBTI Nigerians", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/freedom2be_for_lgbti_nigerians.html" });

• Ogoniland after Shell

  Posted: October 3, 2008, 1:56 pm by Sokari

  For 15 years the Ogoni people prevented Shell Petroleum from operating on their land. Finally in June the Ogoni won a victory as the Nigerian government agreed to replace Shell’s concession. This was an opportunity for the Federal and River’s State government to create a new dialogue with the Ogoni and other [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Ogoniland after Shell", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/ogoniland_after_shell.html" });

• Imagine this headline: “Chemicals sprayed into Synagogue, Children Hurt”.

  Posted: October 2, 2008, 8:16 pm by Sokari

  On Monday I commented on a Media Lens article which highlighted the selected reporting and amnesia of the Western press particularly the US, in failing to report the thousands who died and million who have been made homeless following Hurricane Gustav and Ike hitting Haiti. Another example of selected reporting and racism is [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Imagine this headline: “Chemicals sprayed into Synagogue, Children Hurt”.", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/imagine_this_headline_chemicals_sprayed_into_synagogue_children_hurt.html" });

• Quick Links

  Posted: October 2, 2008, 7:23 pm by Sokari

  ** International Petition to Free Jamie and Gladys (Please Sign) We invite you to assist us by signing our Petition to Free two innocent Ladies (amie and Gladys), who are wrongfully convicted, imprisoned and serving double life sentences each in the State of Mississippi (USA) since October 5, 1994. ** Rape trial in Greece Please visit this courageous [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Quick Links", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/quick_links-14.html" });

• Where Africa?

  Posted: October 2, 2008, 10:26 am by Mia Nikasimo

  Africa, my Africa! Where are the people of the LGBTIQ of African origin be that Africans in Africa or those in the Diaspora? Wherever you are, this clarion call is what has led me to create the trans-group known as, “Transafro,” which can be found on Facebook. Although the continent of Africa [...]SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "Where Africa?", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/where_africa.html" });

• 48 years old!

  Posted: October 1, 2008, 11:08 am by Sokari

  Walkin, walkin, keep walkin, walkin in a wonderland As someone once said “The fish that can see that its water is getting shallower, cannot be stranded.” but is the fish seeing the water? Tags: Nigeria Independence SHARETHIS.addEntry({ title: "48 years old! ", url: "http://www.blacklooks.org/2008/10/48_years_old_.html" });

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes