Protests Against Egyptian President Mursi

Last Thursday, Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi announced a decree giving him sweeping new powers. The announcement was met with nationwide protests decrying his attempts to put himself above the law. We speak with Nahed Mansour for an update and analysis.

We start the program with headlines from the African continent.

Listen to the program here.  Interview with Nahed starts at 13:55


mosireen collective
Retrospective look at the Egyptian revolution with Samir Amin, Firoze Manji and Mamdou Habashi

Chinua Achebe's "There Was A Country: A Persoanl History of Biafra

This week on African Perspectives, we speak with Daneil Tseghay, independent freelance journalist, about Chinua Achebe's new memoir "There Was A Country: A Personal History of Biafra." We start the show as we always do with headlines from the African Continent.

You can read Daniel's article about Achebe's new memoir at The Millions

Listen to the show here
Interview with Daniel starts at 10:50

LGBT Rigths in Africa

The impact of criminalization of same sex acts and 'promotion
of homosexuality' in Uganda, Kenya and Botswana, and the work to advance LGBTI rights. Click here to Listen

Steve Biko and Wangari Maathai

In this episode of African Perspectives, we look at the lives of two African legends, Steve Biko and Wangari Maathai.

Listen to this show here

Passing of Ethiopian President Meles Zanawi, Mine massacre in South Africa, Trial of former Chadian president Hissene Habre

This week on African Perspectives, we discuss the passing of Ethiopian president Meles Zanawi with Farid Omar, the shooting of 34 miners in South Africa with Ajamu Nangwaya, and the trial of former Chadian president Hissene Habre with Darnace Torou.

Listen to the show here

Colonizing African Values: How the U.S. Christian Right Is Transforming Sexual Politics in Africa

A new Political Research Associates report, Colonizing African Values: How the U.S. Christian Right is Transforming Sexual Politics in Africa, reveals that American conservative groups are in fact continuing to build organizational strength and promote homophobia and anti-abortion politics in African countries. We speak with Rev. Dr. Kapya Kaoma, author of the report.

Read the complete report on the PRA website

Listen to this week's show here

Weekly headlines: 0 - 11:45
Interview with Dr. Kaoma: 11:46 - end

African Football Summer 2012 Update

The summer of 2012 has seen a lot of news on African football, both on the continent and abroad. From the Eurocup to Didier Drogba move to China, we speak with Faird Omar for an update

Weekly Headlines: 0 - 20:14
Football: 20:14 - end

Listen to this week's show here

Somalia Conference in Turkey

Representatives from 54 countries gathered in Istanbul at the beginning of the month to discuss the situation in Somalia and think of ways forward for the country. The two-day conference - which follows the London neocolonial meeting in February - kicked off with discussions among senior officials, experts and businessmen on four key issues: water, energy, roads and sustainability. Abdi Dirshe was a delegate at the Civil Society gathering in Istanbul, a community and civil society initiative that aimed at evaluating and monitoring the Istanbul meeting. Abdi is a political analyst and the current President of the Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance.

To listen to the show, click here
Headlines: 0 - 16:22
Interview with Abdi: 16:23 - 40:21

We also interviewed Abdi in February regarding the Somalia conference in London, you can listen to that interview here

International dimensions of the conflict in Eastern Congo

The profits and riches to be gained from exploitation of Eastern Congo’s natural resources continue to propel violence, pillage and the suffering of the Congolese people.

Listen to the interview here

The BBC African Debate: What Debate? Interview with Femi Akomolafe

The BBC has been reporting news since its mother company, the British Broadcasting Company Ltd, was founded in 1922 by six British telecom companies. The year, however, the world's largest broadcaster has decided to make the news. And where else to start? - Africa, where the BBC's inaugural "Africa Debate" opened in Ghana on 27 January, under the audacious theme: "Is an African Spring necessary, and is it possible?" The audience could not miss the cheek in a foreign broadcaster, from a former imperial power, trying to incite revolutions in Africa. We spoke with Femi regarding the irony of the BBC's new focus, the BBC colonial past and the role of African media in creating dialogue between African nations.

Before our interview, as always, we bring you headlines from the African continent.

Listen to the program here
Headlines: 0 - 14:30
Interview with Femi: 14:31

To read Femi Akomolafe's article in March's edition of the New African Magazine, click here

AU Chairperson Election - Interview with Mr. Kofi Ali Abdul Yekin

In July the 54 leaders of the African Union are due to try again to elect a new Chairperson of the AU Commission. In this past week's Pambazuka News, Mr. Abdul asks: isn’t it time the African had a say in the election, rather than the outcome being influenced by outside interests? We interviewed Mr. Abdul about the upcoming elections and the politics of the African Union and it's impact on the people. To listen to the interview, click here To read Mr. Abdul's article in Pambazuka, click here

Occupy and Reclaim Nigeria: The Rise of People Power in a (Divided) Petro-State

For over a week in January 2012, a General Strike and massive street protests left Nigeria almost ungovernable, as citizens of Africa’s largest oil exporter overwhelmingly expressed their rejection of hikes in the prices of consumer fuels. In solidarity rallies in Toronto, New York, London and other global cities, there was show of resolve to ‘reclaim Nigeria’ from the ruling elite and their international allies. How did ‘Occupy Nigeria’ express the strength of peoples’ power, amidst Islamist and Niger Delta insurgencies in the north and south?

Featuring: Omoyele Sowore, Nigerian pro-democracy activist and Publisher of SaharaReporters.com

Lead discussants: Pablo Idahosa, Asume Osuoka

Listen to this panel here

Elections in Senegal, Toronto Panel: We the People

On this week's African Perspectives, we spoke with Ameth Lo regarding the presidential elections in Senegal. The first round of presidential elections in Senegal were held on February 26th under tense circumstance, as incumbent president Abdoulaye Wade is seeking a third term, even though the constitution limits a president to only 2 terms. Since Wade did not win an outright majority, a second round of elections will be held on March 25th. Listen here

We then spoke with Isaac ‘Asume’ Osuoka regarding the upcoming panel discussion entitled "We the People: Power & Resistance in Africa Today" to be held on Wednesday March 21st at OISE (252 Bloor St W, Toronto), room 5-250. In recent years, there has been an explosion of protests, workers’ strikes and other forms of popular resistance across Africa. In countries like Nigeria, Guinea, Senegal and South Africa, African peoples are taking to the streets and public squares to express their outrage at corrupt puppet regimes, imposed neoliberal economic policies and diminished standards of living amidst a renewed scramble for African resources. What is the significance of the new African Awakening for the continent and its peoples? Listen here

Somalia Conference in London and CAN finals

On Feb 23rd senior representatives from over 40 governments and multi-lateral organisations will come together in London for a conference that aims to deliver a new international approach to Somalia, but there is widespread criticism that this conference, which was organized without the input of Somalis themselves, is an act of neocolonialism and forced foreign rule. African Perspectives spoke to Abdi Dirshe, the current president of the Somali Canadian Diaspora Alliance. For more information on the Alliance or to reach Abdi, email him at: a.dirshe@hotmail.com

In the second part of the show we spoke with Farid Omar to get the final take on this year's Cup of African Nation's which was won by Zambia.

We start the show with headlines from the African Continent

Headlines: 0 - 15:10
London Conference on Somali with Abdi Dirshe: 15:11 - 43:50
African Cup of Nations 2012 with Farid Omar: 43:51 - end

Listen to this week's show here

Occupy Nigeria and CAN

In this week's edition of African Perspectives we speak with Asume Osuoka who has been involved in the pro-democracy movement in Nigeria for many years. We speak to him about the recent mass protests and workers strike in Nigeria.

We then spoke with Farid Omar for an update on the African Nations Cup tournament so far (please note that the interview was conducted on Friday before the 3rd place and final matches)

We start of as we do every week with headlines from the continent.

Listen to headlines here
Listen to interview with Asume/Nigeria here
Listen to interview with Farid/CAN here

African Cup of Nations is Here!

The African Cup of Nations began on Saturday, hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon. The tournament runs until February 12th. We spoke with Farid Omar about what to expect with this year's tournament, his predictions and the matches so far.

Listen to this week's show here
0-14:30 -- Headlines from the African Continent
14:30 - 32:21 -- Interview with Farid Omar on the African Cup of Nations

On this week's show we also featured a conversation from Press TV's Africa Today entitled: What's behind Israel and America's dealings in East Africa? and can be found here