Items by Sokari

Black Looks

• A doctor in Nigeria: 1948

  Posted: March 13, 2010, 5:58 pm by Sokari

  Via Heal Nigeria

• Senegalese film director, Mahaman Johnson Traore: – RIP

  Posted: March 13, 2010, 3:46 pm by Sokari

  Senegalese film director and one of the founders of the Pan-African Film festival [FESPACO], Mahaman Johnson Traore, died last Monday. Mark Coles talks to Keith Shire on the work of Johnson Traore, particularly his films which addressed “the politics of women’s position in their societies”. Listen to the interview below. Via Bombastic Element

• Women of Jos protest in Abuja

  Posted: March 12, 2010, 12:46 pm by Sokari

  Nigerian women dressed in Black marched in Abuja to protest the massacres taking place in Plateau State. The women demanded the removal of the military commander in charge of security, Maj-Gen. Saleh Maina. Once again the Nigerian military, who were supposed to be protecting the women and the villages, [...]

• Confronting censorship in the face of “hyper-visibility”

  Posted: March 10, 2010, 5:41 pm by Sokari

  Last week South African Arts & Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana walked out of the Innovative Women exhibition claiming photographs by gender activist Zanele Muholi and Nandipha Mntambo were pornographic. Whilst the Minister is entitled to her own opinion she must be mindful of her status as a minister of government and the [...]

• Whiteness as an act of cultural dominance

  Posted: March 10, 2010, 4:27 pm by Sokari

  “White people embarrass me” – A personal reflection on racism and white privilege in Britain amongst the LGBTIQ community by Del LaGrace Volcano. The problem is not just white privilege – its refusing to acknowledge it when challenged. White people embarrass me. Probably not quite as much as I embarrass myself but [...]

• Dogo Nahawa resident’s testimony on Jos violence

  Posted: March 9, 2010, 7:32 pm by Sokari

  A resident of Dogo Nahawa described to Human Rights Watch what happened: Dogo is a farming village several kilometers from Jos. They came at around 3 a.m. to attack our village. When they arrived, they immediately started shooting, so many of us ran outside to see what happened. Then others attacked us with machetes, killing so [...]

• African woman found in York dating back to 400AD

  Posted: March 9, 2010, 6:17 pm by Sokari

  Africans living in Britain since at least 4th Century AD Remains of a “high status woman” of African origin found in York in 1901.  Question is why are we only learning about this now? Her grave dates back to the second half of the 4th Century. She was buried with items including jet and elephant ivory bracelets, [...]

• One paragraph on the IWD & the celebration of heteronormativity.

  Posted: March 8, 2010, 9:40 pm by Sokari

  Last Monday was International Women of Colour Day. Today is International Women’s Day. A month and a day ago was African Feminist Homophobia Day. Friday will mark Beijing +15 Day where hundreds of women will manage to spend 10 days talking about women but render Lesbians, [...]

• International womens day

  Posted: March 7, 2010, 12:09 pm by Sokari

  Ife Franklin is an African American artist and sculptor, who designs and dyes her own fabrics using the Nigerian Adire method. Below is a collage created for Black Pride New England in 2007 to reflect the beauty of a community that is “lovely, healthy and strong”. The second photo is [...]

• Uganda: Religious leaders & HIV activists petition parliament

  Posted: March 6, 2010, 10:02 pm by Sokari

  On Monday 01 March 2010 a delegation of activists AIDS service providers, Spiritual mentors and counsellors took centre stage in Kampala when they met the Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of Uganda Rt. Hon. Edward Ssekandi Kiwanuka over the Anti-Homosexuality Bill and later held a press conference at the National Theatre. The group [...]

• Nigeria: Secrets and lies

  Posted: March 5, 2010, 8:57 pm by Sokari

  Last weeks return to Nigeria of President Yar’Adua in the dead of night has created even more intrigue and political back stabbing than when he was away in Saudi Arabia.   He is back but no one has seen him or at least if they have they are not telling the nation what they saw.   I [...]

• “Let us all be one family that Stands for Justice, Equality and Peace”

  Posted: March 2, 2010, 8:28 pm by Sokari

  On Monday, 1st March,  a group of activists and civil society organisations in Uganda presented a petition signed by 450,000 people from across the world opposing the Anti-Homosexuality Bill. The Petition was presented to Edward Sekandi, the Ugandan Speaker of Parliament and called for Parliament to “enact laws that will protect people and not [...]

• Proudly African & Transgender: Self-Portraits in Writing

  Posted: March 2, 2010, 2:36 pm by Sokari

  As part of the Proudly African & Transgender exhibition by Gabrielle Le Roux, each person has written a short self-portrait on being transgender and on the exhibition itself. Below are their stories of their lives to go with the portraits drawn by artist and activist for social justice Gabrielle Le Roux. The importance [...]

• International Women of Colour Day: Celebrating Réa Dol

  Posted: March 1, 2010, 5:00 pm by Sokari

  On International Women of Colour Day I celebrate all the women of colour who consistently work towards social justice across the world. In particular I would like to honour the work of Haitian community activist and founder of SOPUDEP School, Réa Dol and ALL the Haitian women and girls who have self-organised in [...]

• Negrillon: young voices from Haiti

  Posted: February 28, 2010, 7:17 pm by Sokari

  Music from Camp Guatemala, Haiti

• Walter Riley report back on the 1000s left out of humanitarian aid

  Posted: February 28, 2010, 5:38 pm by Sokari

  Human Rights lawyer, Walter Riley speaks of about his experience of the earthquake and Haitian activist Pierre Labossiere explains that the emergency relief system put in place by President Aristide was destroyed after the 2004 US/France back coup and the trained volunteers jailed or kicked out of Haiti. Haiti from New America Media on Vimeo.

• Homophobia in Uganda preventing HIV/AIDs access & treatment

  Posted: February 27, 2010, 2:26 pm by Sokari

  Frank Mugisha of Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG) explains how homophobia and the denial that MSM exist, plus criminalisation is preventing access to HIV/AIDs treatment.

• Proudly African & Transgender: A cultural intervention for social justice

  Posted: February 24, 2010, 1:16 am by Sokari

  Portraits and narratives of ten transgendered Africans from seven countries in East and Southern Africa by Gabrielle Le Roux in partnership with IGLHRC exhibited for the first time by Amnesty International – Amsterdam.

• Proudly African & Transgender: Portraits

  Posted: February 24, 2010, 12:28 am by Sokari

  Portraits and narratives of ten transgendered Africans from seven countries in East and Southern Africa by Gabrielle Le Roux in partnership with IGLHRC exhibited for the first time by Amnesty International – Amsterdam. Zimbabwe: Amanda Uganda: Julius South Africa: Bongi Burundi: Flavia Uganda: Victor Mukasa Namibia: Madam Jholerina Kenya: Marsha Uganda: Salongo Namibia: Silva Botswana: Skipper Mogapi

• Video tour of Uganda’s Anti-Homosexuality Bill

  Posted: February 18, 2010, 4:48 pm by Sokari

  Excellent video spelling out the life and Death details of the Ugandan Bill presently under discussion. Please circulate. Via Waking Up Now

• Multinationals on trial

  Posted: February 17, 2010, 5:35 pm by Sokari

  Shell, Chevron in the Niger Delta, Texaco/ Chevron in the Ecuadoran Amazon – both examples of militarisation of commerce and corporate theft and violence against communities. In 1993 the communities of Lago Agrio in Ecuador sued Chevron / Texaco for $27 billion [Aguinda v. Texaco] for environmental damage. Judgment on the case [...]

• “A Word for Haiti”

  Posted: February 17, 2010, 4:18 pm by Sokari

  Blacklondoners Appeal, a London based group are calling on all writers for contribution of short stories, poems and lyrics to a collection of works to be published in May 2010. The book, A Word for Haiti, will be part of BlackLondoners year long appeal to raise funds for Haiti. BlackLondoners Appeal is about grassroots organizations and [...]

• “Kill gay people” march through Kampala today

  Posted: February 15, 2010, 5:56 pm by Sokari

  Rainbow Uganda activist Andrew Waiswa just published this report by followers of “Evil Postor Ssempa” in Kampala – I think it is from this morning.   Video of march on Facebook “As i write now, there is a big demonstrating taking place in the main of Jinja town. I followed them from Kampala to cover every detail. [...]

• Dont feed the Haitians – they already get one meal a day

  Posted: February 15, 2010, 5:20 pm by Sokari

  A month after the Haitian earthquake and still thousands are without water, food, medical care and shelter.  The white washing by the media around the distribution of humanitarian aid continues the latest was a visit by Brangelina Jolie with an insipid interview and some whitewashed photo shots in tented hospitals – No she has not [...]

• Happy Valentines Day from WOZA, MOZA

  Posted: February 14, 2010, 1:07 am by Sokari

  700 members of Women and Men of Zimbabwe Arise – WOZA and MOZA marched through Harare with Valentine cards, roses and copies of the WOZA report on the state of democracy in Zimbabwe In typical WOZA fashion, six protests started separately and converged on the offices of the Herald. The peaceful groups sang as they [...]

• The trees no longer hide the wood as Nolly arrives in Holly

  Posted: February 12, 2010, 6:02 pm by Sokari

  Nigerian actress Hilda Dokubo has been nominated for best actress in this year’s Oscars for her portrayal of Queen Amina of Zaria. Ms Dokubo [pictured below with her close friends and sistas, the mischievious peace activists Sokari Ekine and Emem Okon] is the first Nigerian to be nominated for the Oscars. On Tuesday, thousands of Nigerian [...]

• Interview with Haitian activist Rea Dol

  Posted: February 8, 2010, 8:24 pm by Sokari

  Rea Dol is grassroots community organiser and founder of SOPUDEP school in Port-au-Prince. Shortly after the earthquake they had to abandon the school which was being used as a shelter due to the stench of dead bodies and sturtural damage which made the building unsafe. For the school to continue it will [...]

• Henrietta Lacks: Stolen cells

  Posted: February 7, 2010, 7:27 pm by Sokari

  I never heard of Henrietta Lacks until a few days ago. But I have heard of the Tuskeegee Experiment in which 399 Black men were used as clinical samples for studying the late stages of syphilis. The men who were poor sharecroppers from Alabama, where never told they had syphilis and [...]

• Seun on Fela

  Posted: February 6, 2010, 9:23 pm by Sokari

  After intensive pressure from members of the National Assembly, the media, trade unions, political activists and the Nigerian people, President Yar’Adua has agreed to hand over the Presidency to his deputy, Goodluck Jonathan. I think Fela would have loved this – the beginnings of “people power” in Nigeria – here Seun talks [...]

• Death of a language & invasions of the mind

  Posted: February 5, 2010, 5:55 pm by Sokari

  Boa Sr, the last speaker of Bo’, “one of the ten Great Andamanese languages has died”. The death of Boa Sr and the language she spoke is the end of 65,000 years of linguistic heritage and culture. It is estimated that a language dies every two weeks and by 2100 90% of languages of the [...]

• Kampala – Uganda – “Desperate. Distraught”

  Posted: February 3, 2010, 6:00 pm by Sokari

  From Uganda, Gay Uganda reports on continuing police harassment and roundups of LGBT people – “knock on the door” Desperate. Distraught. Now, the knock early morning on the door. We say we shall run. But, what if we cannot run? We have family, jobs, businesses. We are normal human beings. Common Ugandans. What of when we [...]

• Kampala – Uganda – “Desperate. Distraught”

  Posted: February 3, 2010, 6:00 pm by Sokari

  From Uganda, Gay Uganda reports on continuing police harassment and roundups of LGBT people – “knock on the door” Desperate. Distraught. Now, the knock early morning on the door. We say we shall run. But, what if we cannot run? We have family, jobs, businesses. We are normal human beings. Common Ugandans. What of when we [...]

• Nigerian soldiers killing civilians

  Posted: February 2, 2010, 12:50 am by Sokari

  Nigeria soldiers shooting defenseless civilians Jos, Plateau State one year ago. Viewer Discretion is Advised – Sahara Reporters. By late tomorrow dozens of Nigerian asylum seekers will be deported from the UK Why do people flee Nigeria? In its 2009 World Report, Human Rights Watch maintained that Nigerian state security forces “continued to commit extrajudicial [...]

• Nigerian soldiers killing civilians

  Posted: February 2, 2010, 12:50 am by Sokari

  Nigeria soldiers shooting defenseless civilians Jos, Plateau State one year ago. Viewer Discretion is Advised – Sahara Reporters. By late tomorrow dozens of Nigerian asylum seekers will be deported from the UK Why do people flee Nigeria? In its 2009 World Report, Human Rights Watch maintained that Nigerian state security forces “continued to commit extrajudicial [...]

• UN: Human Rights Violations Against LGBTI People

  Posted: February 1, 2010, 9:07 pm by Sokari

  Victor Mukasa’s presentation to the UN on “Grave Human Rights Violations Against LGBT People in Africa”

• There’s always music, always hope

  Posted: January 31, 2010, 7:44 pm by Sokari

  Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Canada Via, Women and Beyond

• There’s always music, always hope

  Posted: January 31, 2010, 7:44 pm by Sokari

  Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Canada Via, Women and Beyond

• There’s always music, always hope

  Posted: January 31, 2010, 7:44 pm by Sokari

  Governor General Michaëlle Jean, Canada Via, Women and Beyond

• Haiti: “This is criminal”

  Posted: January 29, 2010, 9:35 pm by Sokari

  Interview with Pierre Labossiere of Haiti Action speaking on Haiti two weeks after the earthquake. Pierre raises a number of very important points in relation to the relief itself, the many NGOs, organisations, groups and individuals that have descended on Haiti – aptly described as “social vampires”. He also speaks on the role of [...]

• Stop taking your dream suppressants – the soil is alive

  Posted: January 28, 2010, 10:27 pm by Sokari

  Preview from PUMZI a Short film directed by Wanuri Kahui and showing at the Sundance Film Festival The film started as a joke. A friend and I pondered the possibility of living in a place where we paid for air. We invented the city, the virtual natural museums, the people. That was over 2 years, [...]

• No donation without agitation

  Posted: January 28, 2010, 9:37 pm by Sokari

  The process of delivering humanitarian aid and the behaviour of aid agencies are often as harmful as they are helpful as the last two weeks in Haiti has clearly shown. The militarisation of the whole process; the disorganised and incompetent delivery of food, water and medical supplies; the instant response [...]

• “Nothing makes sense anymore, my sister”

  Posted: January 27, 2010, 6:35 pm by Sokari

  A beautiful and moving poem by Jamaican writer and poet, Geoffrey Philp. Nothing makes sense anymore, my sister. Nothing makes sense anymore, my sister. The dead words in my mouth can’t say how I feel And forgive me, Lord, but it hurts when I kneel. For they say the age of miracles is over, But when will the horrors end so [...]

• Rwanda: Republic of women

  Posted: January 27, 2010, 1:45 pm by Sokari

  Via Africa is a Country

• Responses to homophobia in Africa

  Posted: January 26, 2010, 5:01 pm by Sokari

  I’m writing this post in response to number of articles on the prevalence of homophobia in Africa and to try and give some perspective and historical context.     In the last six months we have seen the expression of homophobia with the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill; the arrest of gay Malawian couple, Tiwonge Chimbalanga [...]

• Has mining Haiti’s riches contributed to the earthquake?

  Posted: January 25, 2010, 9:00 pm by Sokari

  Tags:   
  An important and thoughtful post from Haitian blogger,  Ezili Danto who raises a number of serious questions around why the earthquake happened at this time – the first in 239 years. In the Mining Haiti’s Riches interview, I recount how there were areas in Haiti hidden behind UN guns, fenced off where Haitians knew nothing about [...]

• 15 activist errors & how to avoid them

  Posted: January 23, 2010, 6:17 pm by Sokari

  The Palestine Think Tank [Haitham Sabbah, Yousef Abudayyeh, Mohamed Khodr, Mary Rizzo,] have published this excellent list of common errors made by activists / movements and how to rectify them. The errors and solution are applicable to movements and activists worldwide. Activism and activists for Palestine have been getting some media attention recently. [...]

• Roundup of commentary on Haiti

  Posted: January 22, 2010, 6:45 pm by Sokari

  Rebecca Zausmer presents a comprehensive roundup of commentary on Haiti in this weeks Pambazuka News. Yet criticism of the US extends beyond their immediate control of the crisis. Commentators are asking why Haiti has been so badly affected. The devastation is being seen as partly natural disaster, but also manmade. The finger of blame [...]

• African Cities Reader

  Posted: January 22, 2010, 5:10 pm by Sokari

  The African Center for Cities together with Chimurenga Magazine call for submissions for the 2010 African Cities Reader II:Mobilities & Fixtures. The Reader which will include a range of genres including “text, image, sound and performance” will become a forum where Africans tell their own stories, draw their own maps and represent their own [...]

• When we voted for freedom

  Posted: January 21, 2010, 5:30 pm by Sokari

  “We will bend but will not break” by Kevin Pina and narrated by Pierre Labossiere Part 2 – Election of Jean-Bertrand Aristide

• Haiti: Thoughts on Women

  Posted: January 21, 2010, 2:33 pm by Sokari

  KOFAVIV - The Commission of Women Victims for Victims [working with women who have been raped] has issued a report from Haiti. Because of where the catastrophe hit in Haiti the majority of victims are woman of Kofaviv and many of them died with all of their family, the rest that are left are sleeping under [...]

• Haiti: Thoughts on Women

  Posted: January 21, 2010, 2:33 pm by Sokari

  KOFAVIV - The Commission of Women Victims for Victims [working with women who have been raped] has issued a report from Haiti. Because of where the catastrophe hit in Haiti the majority of victims are woman of Kofaviv and many of them died with all of their family, the rest that are left are sleeping under [...]

• Banks and shops protected while most people get no help

  Posted: January 20, 2010, 4:13 pm by Sokari

  Donate to grassroots women. Support return of elected President Aristide. For more information see Global Womens Strike. The US military has taken over the airport and are obstructing rescue efforts. Caribbean and Latin American governments and Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres are complaining that the US is preventing humanitarian aid coming in.  In a repeat of [...]

• Homophobe Jon Qwelane appointed SA ambassador to Uganda

  Posted: January 19, 2010, 12:12 pm by Sokari

  In July 2008 Jon Qwelane wrote the following article in the South African Sunday Sun. Qwelane has now been appointed by Jacob Zuma as South Africa’s ambassador to Uganda despite facing charges in the SA Equality Court for the article in the Sun. But of course with Zuma’s own record, matters [...]

• So, send in the Marines, OK?

  Posted: January 18, 2010, 11:38 pm by Sokari

  We are now into the sixth day after the devastating earthquake in Haiti which struck at 4.30pm on Tuesday 12th January.   Knowing fully that an urgently timely response  would be essential yet humanitarian aid is only just beginning to reach small numbers of people.  Aid and the aid agencies continue to sit on the tarmac [...]

• So, send in the Marines, OK?

  Posted: January 18, 2010, 11:38 pm by Sokari

  We are now into the sixth day after the devastating earthquake in Haiti which struck at 4.30pm on Tuesday 12th January.   Knowing fully that an urgently timely response  would be essential yet humanitarian aid is only just beginning to reach small numbers of people.  Aid and the aid agencies continue to sit on the tarmac [...]

• So, send in the Marines, OK?

  Posted: January 18, 2010, 11:38 pm by Sokari

  We are now into the sixth day after the devastating earthquake in Haiti which struck at 4.30pm on Tuesday 12th January.   Knowing fully that an urgently timely response  would be essential yet humanitarian aid is only just beginning to reach small numbers of people.  Aid and the aid agencies continue to sit on the tarmac [...]

• So, send in the Marines, OK?

  Posted: January 18, 2010, 11:38 pm by Sokari

  We are now into the sixth day after the devastating earthquake in Haiti which struck at 4.30pm on Tuesday 12th January.   Knowing fully that an urgently timely response  would be essential yet humanitarian aid is only just beginning to reach small numbers of people.  Aid and the aid agencies continue to sit on the tarmac [...]

• So, send in the Marines, OK?

  Posted: January 18, 2010, 11:38 pm by Sokari

  We are now into the sixth day after the devastating earthquake in Haiti which struck at 4.30pm on Tuesday 12th January.   Knowing fully that an urgently timely response  would be essential yet humanitarian aid is only just beginning to reach small numbers of people.  Aid and the aid agencies continue to sit on the tarmac [...]

• So, send in the Marines, OK?

  Posted: January 18, 2010, 11:38 pm by Sokari

  We are now into the sixth day after the devastating earthquake in Haiti which struck at 4.30pm on Tuesday 12th January.   Knowing fully that an urgently timely response  would be essential yet humanitarian aid is only just beginning to reach small numbers of people.  Aid and the aid agencies continue to sit on the tarmac [...]

• So, send in the Marines, OK?

  Posted: January 18, 2010, 11:38 pm by Sokari

  We are now into the sixth day after the devastating earthquake in Haiti which struck at 4.30pm on Tuesday 12th January.   Knowing fully that an urgently timely response  would be essential yet humanitarian aid is only just beginning to reach small numbers of people.  Aid and the aid agencies continue to sit on the tarmac [...]

• Stories of Haiti: Edwidge Danticat

  Posted: January 17, 2010, 12:16 am by Sokari

  Edwidge Danticat speaking in 2004.

• Stories of Haiti: Edwidge Danticat

  Posted: January 17, 2010, 12:16 am by Sokari

  Edwidge Danticat speaking in 2004.

• Stories of Haiti: Edwidge Danticat

  Posted: January 17, 2010, 12:16 am by Sokari

  Edwidge Danticat speaking in 2004.

• The legacy of poverty in Haiti

  Posted: January 16, 2010, 6:27 pm by Sokari

  Peter Hallward, author of Damming the Flood: Haiti, Aristide and the Politics of Containment,comments on the factors which have exacerbated the impact of the earthquake on the people of Haiti. Any large city in the world would have suffered extensive damage from an earthquake on the scale of the one that ravaged Haiti’s capital city [...]

• The legacy of poverty in Haiti

  Posted: January 16, 2010, 6:27 pm by Sokari

  Peter Hallward, author of Damming the Flood: Haiti, Aristide and the Politics of Containment,comments on the factors which have exacerbated the impact of the earthquake on the people of Haiti. Any large city in the world would have suffered extensive damage from an earthquake on the scale of the one that ravaged Haiti’s capital city [...]

• The legacy of poverty in Haiti

  Posted: January 16, 2010, 6:27 pm by Sokari

  Peter Hallward, author of Damming the Flood: Haiti, Aristide and the Politics of Containment,comments on the factors which have exacerbated the impact of the earthquake on the people of Haiti. Any large city in the world would have suffered extensive damage from an earthquake on the scale of the one that ravaged Haiti’s capital city [...]

• Smoke & Mirrors – militarisation of an earthquake.

  Posted: January 15, 2010, 1:12 am by Sokari

  Tags:   
  The report begins with a report from Ansel Hertz in Haiti . Then Pierre Labossiere of Haiti Action talks about the response and the media manipulation. Finally Kevin Pina on the loss of life due to lack of mobilization waiting for the Pentagon to take control of Haiti. [...]

• Smoke & Mirrors – militarisation of an earthquake.

  Posted: January 15, 2010, 1:12 am by Sokari

  Tags:   
  The report begins with a report from Ansel Hertz in Haiti . Then Pierre Labossiere of Haiti Action talks about the response and the media manipulation. Finally Kevin Pina on the loss of life due to lack of mobilization waiting for the Pentagon to take control of Haiti. [...]

• Let Haiti be Haiti

  Posted: January 15, 2010, 9:38 pm by Sokari

  Jacques Depelchin writes on Pambazuka We would like to express our solidarity for Haiti a country where, from 1791 to 1804, Africans unchained themselves in the name of fidelity to humanity. Africans, ahead of their time, had then given a lesson to those who usually assigned themselves that role, self-proclaimed revolutionaries of a revolution, we are [...]

• Haiti action plan

  Posted: January 15, 2010, 3:39 pm by Sokari

  The Foundry is the blog of the right wing Heritage Foundation think tank The Foundry promotes conservative policies and principles by offering the best in public policy research with the day’s current events. The Foundry is published by The Heritage Foundation On Wednesday evening it published the following headline on Wednesday evening warning us that disaster [...]

• Haiti action plan

  Posted: January 15, 2010, 3:39 pm by Sokari

  The Foundry is the blog of the right wing Heritage Foundation think tank The Foundry promotes conservative policies and principles by offering the best in public policy research with the day’s current events. The Foundry is published by The Heritage Foundation On Wednesday evening it published the following headline on Wednesday evening warning us that disaster [...]

• Haiti action plan

  Posted: January 15, 2010, 3:39 pm by Sokari

  The Foundry is the blog of the right wing Heritage Foundation think tank The Foundry promotes conservative policies and principles by offering the best in public policy research with the day’s current events. The Foundry is published by The Heritage Foundation On Wednesday evening it published the following headline on Wednesday evening warning us that disaster [...]

• Haiti action plan

  Posted: January 15, 2010, 3:39 pm by Sokari

  The Foundry is the blog of the right wing Heritage Foundation think tank The Foundry promotes conservative policies and principles by offering the best in public policy research with the day’s current events. The Foundry is published by The Heritage Foundation On Wednesday evening it published the following headline on Wednesday evening warning us that disaster [...]

• Haiti action plan

  Posted: January 15, 2010, 3:39 pm by Sokari

  The Foundry is the blog of the right wing Heritage Foundation think tank The Foundry promotes conservative policies and principles by offering the best in public policy research with the day’s current events. The Foundry is published by The Heritage Foundation On Wednesday evening it published the following headline on Wednesday evening warning us that disaster [...]

• Haiti action plan

  Posted: January 15, 2010, 3:39 pm by Sokari

  The Foundry is the blog of the right wing Heritage Foundation think tank The Foundry promotes conservative policies and principles by offering the best in public policy research with the day’s current events. The Foundry is published by The Heritage Foundation On Wednesday evening it published the following headline warning us that disaster capitalism was [...]

• Haiti Action – Various

  Posted: January 13, 2010, 10:43 am by Sokari

  Twitter Pictures More photos STREAMING NEWS Twitter/carelpedre PHOTOS       http://mashable.com/2010/01/12/haiti-earthquake-pictures/ An Urgent Appeal from the Haiti Emergency Relief Fund Haiti hit by the first large earthquake in 240 years Thousands may have been killed and tens of thousands left homeless. This is a moment in which your solidarity is of critical importance. Haiti’s grassroots movement – including labor unions, women’s groups, [...]

• President Museveni distances himself from Anti-Homosexuality Bill

  Posted: January 12, 2010, 12:06 am by Sokari

  Nonetheless it is not clear how much of the Bill he is distancing himself from so the pressure needs to be kept up as clearly it working.

• Outrageous Sara Baartman ornaments on sale

  Posted: January 11, 2010, 11:38 am by Sokari

  Nearly 200 years has passed and 16 years after the end of Apartheid South Africa and still the exploitation of Sara Baartman continues. And where is this taking place? In a shop in Johannesburg were china ornaments of Sara Baartman’s body are on sale amongst household wares and “colonial throw-back domestic workers [...]

• Darren Deslandes & Wintworth Deslandes Jr. Family Press Release

  Posted: January 7, 2010, 8:31 pm by Sokari

  The Deslandes family is issuing this press release in order to set the record straight regarding their family and the events surrounding the cowardly shooting which left 34yr old Darren Deslandes dead and his 25yr old brother, Wintworth [Junior] Deslandes,  remains in the Critical Care Unit. This is a well educated, hardworking, upstanding and loving family [...]

• Nigerian bloggers on the fallout from Abdulmutallab

  Posted: January 6, 2010, 9:08 pm by Sokari

  I have been on a semi hiatus over the past few weeks which is one of the reasons I haven’t commented on the Nigerian “knicker bomber” Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab.  The actions of Farouk have dramatic and serious implications for Nigerians in particular and Africans in general traveling to the US.   A number of  Nigerian [...]

• A poet’s call to action

  Posted: January 3, 2010, 11:43 pm by Sokari

  Image by matthewbradley via Flickr We are in serious difficulty all over the planet. We are going to say to the world: There’s too much of profit, too much of greed, too much of suffering by the poor… The people of the planet must be in action.” …Dennis Brutus

• Africana Studies: homophobia

  Posted: December 27, 2009, 4:25 pm by Sokari

  Thoughtful insight into “homosexuality as Un-African” by Soul and Power The second point leads into another grievance that I have with several people. Being gay seems to be something that is looked as if it only entails sex. Meaning that the extent of being homosexual is who you have sex with. This could not be farther [...]

• Africana Studies: homophobia

  Posted: December 27, 2009, 4:25 pm by Sokari

  Thoughtful insight into “homosexuality as Un-African” by Soul and Power The second point leads into another grievance that I have with several people. Being gay seems to be something that is looked as if it only entails sex. Meaning that the extent of being homosexual is who you have sex with. This could not be farther [...]

• RIP Dennis Vincent Brutus, 1924-2009

  Posted: December 26, 2009, 7:39 pm by Sokari

  One of Africa’s most celebrated poets and political activists, Dennis Brutus, died early this morning in Cape Town. Throughout his life Dennis spoke against injustice in South Africa and beyond. Below Dennis speaks on reparations from corporations that benefited from Apartheid. In very typical Brutus fashion, he makes the links [...]

• RIP Dennis Vincent Brutus, 1924-2009

  Posted: December 26, 2009, 7:39 pm by Sokari

  One of Africa’s most celebrated poets and political activists, Dennis Brutus, died early this morning in Cape Town. Throughout his life Dennis spoke against injustice in South Africa and beyond. Below Dennis speaks on reparations from corporations that benefited from Apartheid. In very typical Brutus fashion, he makes the links [...]

• Uganda: To live without fear and in peace

  Posted: December 26, 2009, 5:20 pm by Sokari

  Victor Mukasa of SMUG Uganda shares his experience as human rights defender and gives an overview of the criminalisation of LGBTI people across Africa. Finally he calls on everyone where ever they are to publicly denounce the anti-homosexuality bill which is before the Ugandan parliament. There are reports that President Museveni will [...]

• Remembering Busi

  Posted: December 23, 2009, 3:02 pm by Sokari

  Today is Busi’s birthday, she would have been 29 but she died on the 12th March 2007. Busi was 25, a survivor or rape, HIV+ with diabetes and other complications. This photo was taken by me on the 18th February 2007 – one of those happy days of just hanging out with [...]

• Remembering Busi

  Posted: December 23, 2009, 3:02 pm by Sokari

  Today is Busi’s birthday, she would have been 29 but she died on the 12th March 2007. Busi was 25, a survivor or rape, HIV+ with diabetes and other complications. This photo was taken by me on the 18th February 2007 – one of those happy days of just hanging out with [...]

• Remembering Busi

  Posted: December 23, 2009, 3:02 pm by Sokari

  Today is Busi’s birthday, she would have been 29 but she died on the 12th March 2007. Busi was 25, a survivor or rape, HIV+ with diabetes and other complications. This photo was taken by me on the 18th February 2007 – one of those happy days of just hanging out with [...]

• Remembering Busi

  Posted: December 23, 2009, 3:02 pm by Sokari

  Today is Busi’s birthday, she would have been 29 but she died on the 12th March 2007. Busi was 25, a survivor or rape, HIV+ with diabetes and other complications. This photo was taken by me on the 18th February 2007 – one of those happy days of just hanging out with [...]

• Remembering Busi

  Posted: December 23, 2009, 3:02 pm by Sokari

  Today is Busi’s birthday, she would have been 29 but she died on the 12th March 2007. Busi was 25, a survivor or rape, HIV+ with diabetes and other complications. This photo was taken by me on the 18th February 2007 – one of those happy days of just hanging out with [...]

• Remembering Busi

  Posted: December 23, 2009, 3:02 pm by Sokari

  Today is Busi’s birthday, she would have been 29 but she died on the 12th March 2007. Busi was 25, a survivor or rape, HIV+ with diabetes and other complications. This photo was taken by me on the 18th February 2007 – one of those happy days of just hanging out with [...]

• Remembering Busi

  Posted: December 23, 2009, 3:02 pm by Sokari

  Today is Busi’s birthday, she would have been 29 but she died on the 12th March 2007. Busi was 25, a survivor or rape, HIV+ with diabetes and other complications. This photo was taken by me on the 18th February 2007 – one of those happy days of just hanging out with [...]

• Remembering Busi

  Posted: December 23, 2009, 3:02 pm by Sokari

  Today is Busi’s birthday, she would have been 29 but she died on the 12th March 2007. Busi was 25, a survivor or rape, HIV+ with diabetes and other complications. This photo was taken by me on the 18th February 2007 – one of those happy days of just hanging out with [...]

• Providing inclusive HIV prevention

  Posted: December 22, 2009, 3:46 pm by Sokari

  ‘How do you convince me to come out and say I am a homosexual yet the same government that is asking me to do this criminalizes what I am engaged in? I would rather they offered the services without going into the business of knowing who we are and trying to count us.’ Kenya’s HIV prevention [...]

• Providing inclusive HIV prevention

  Posted: December 22, 2009, 3:46 pm by Sokari

  ‘How do you convince me to come out and say I am a homosexual yet the same government that is asking me to do this criminalizes what I am engaged in? I would rather they offered the services without going into the business of knowing who we are and trying to count us.’ Kenya’s HIV prevention [...]

• Providing inclusive HIV prevention

  Posted: December 22, 2009, 3:46 pm by Sokari

  ‘How do you convince me to come out and say I am a homosexual yet the same government that is asking me to do this criminalizes what I am engaged in? I would rather they offered the services without going into the business of knowing who we are and trying to count us.’ Kenya’s HIV prevention [...]

• Providing inclusive HIV prevention

  Posted: December 22, 2009, 3:46 pm by Sokari

  ‘How do you convince me to come out and say I am a homosexual yet the same government that is asking me to do this criminalizes what I am engaged in? I would rather they offered the services without going into the business of knowing who we are and trying to count us.’ Kenya’s HIV prevention [...]

• Providing inclusive HIV prevention

  Posted: December 22, 2009, 3:46 pm by Sokari

  ‘How do you convince me to come out and say I am a homosexual yet the same government that is asking me to do this criminalizes what I am engaged in? I would rather they offered the services without going into the business of knowing who we are and trying to count us.’ Kenya’s HIV prevention [...]

• Providing inclusive HIV prevention

  Posted: December 22, 2009, 3:46 pm by Sokari

  ‘How do you convince me to come out and say I am a homosexual yet the same government that is asking me to do this criminalizes what I am engaged in? I would rather they offered the services without going into the business of knowing who we are and trying to count us.’ Kenya’s HIV prevention [...]

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

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

The end of the fish cakes