From January 9 to 15, Sudan held a referendum to decide the faith of the South of the country. The results of the referendum show that the people of the South had voted overwhelmingly to succeed from the north. In this edition of African Perspectives, we spoke with Farid Omar about the larger geopolitical causes and implications of this referendum, the civil war in Sudan, and the prospects for this new country.
Farid Omar is a consultant, freelance writer and researcher at the York Center for International and Security Studies. He recently wrote an article in the Socialist Worker on Sudan and Oil.
Listen to this week's African Perspectives here
Weekly headlines from the African continent (until 15:43)
Interview with Farid Omar (starts at 15:44)
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Tunisia
The Jasmine revolution has been seen as a dawn of a new era in Tunisia and a reference point for other North African countries who are also suffering from price inflation and food shortages. Robert J Prince, has been with the University of Denver’s Graduate School of International Studies where he teaches full-time in their undergraduate International Studies Program, mostly courses on Global Political Economy. We discuss Tunisia wit him, its domino effect in North Africa and the way forward.
The interview can be listened to here
The interview can be listened to here
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Kenyan Constitution
The 2010 Constitution of Kenya was drawn up to replace the first constitution of Kenya. The constitution was presented to the Attorney General of Kenya on April 7, 2010, officially published on May 6, 2010, and was subjected to a referendum on August 4, 2010. The new Constitution was approved by 67% of Kenyan voters. The constitution was promulgated on 27 August 2010.
The show can be listened to here
The show can be listened to here
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Elections in Ivory Coast
This edition of African Perspectives focused on the impasse of the November 28th elections in Ivory Coast. With both Alassane Ouattara and Laurent Gbagbo claiming victory in the elections, the international community is calling of Gbagbo to step down, and threatening military intervention.
The first interview we conducted is with Mawuli Dake, who speaks about the dangers of a military intervention and war mongering by the international community. We also spoke with Gary Busch, who discussed the historical context of this election, especially of formal colonial power France.
Listen to the show here
The first interview we conducted is with Mawuli Dake, who speaks about the dangers of a military intervention and war mongering by the international community. We also spoke with Gary Busch, who discussed the historical context of this election, especially of formal colonial power France.
Listen to the show here
Sunday, January 2, 2011
New Publications from Tanzania
December 26, 2010
In this edition of African Perspectives, we explore two new publications from Tanzania that explore an important part of the history of that country. We start this edition as we always do with headlines from the African continent.
Our first interview is with Karim Hirji, the editor of a book called Cheche: Reminiscences of a Radical Magazine. Cheche was a radical socialist student magazine at the University of Dares Salaam, first published in 1969. It featured incisive analyses of key societal issues by prominent progressives, it gained national and international recognition in a short while. Because it was independent of authority, and spoke without fear or favor, it was banned after just a year of existence.
Our second interview is with Annar Cassam, the co-editor of Africa's Liberation: The Legacy of Nyerere. The book is a collection of the words, works and legacy of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, and is co-edited by Chambi Chachage. The book includes contributions from leading commentators, those who worked and fought imperialism alongside Nyerere, members of a younger generation – and Nyerere in his own words. Their writings reflect on Nyerere and liberation, the Commonwealth, leadership, economic development, land, human rights and education. Above all, they are a testament to the growing recognition of the need to rekindle the fires of African socialism to which Nyerere was deeply committed.
Part 1: Headlines from the African Continent for the week of December 26, 2010, listen here
Part 2: Interview with Karim Hirji, listen here
Part 3: Interview with Annar Cassam, listen here
In this edition of African Perspectives, we explore two new publications from Tanzania that explore an important part of the history of that country. We start this edition as we always do with headlines from the African continent.
Our first interview is with Karim Hirji, the editor of a book called Cheche: Reminiscences of a Radical Magazine. Cheche was a radical socialist student magazine at the University of Dares Salaam, first published in 1969. It featured incisive analyses of key societal issues by prominent progressives, it gained national and international recognition in a short while. Because it was independent of authority, and spoke without fear or favor, it was banned after just a year of existence.
Our second interview is with Annar Cassam, the co-editor of Africa's Liberation: The Legacy of Nyerere. The book is a collection of the words, works and legacy of the late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, and is co-edited by Chambi Chachage. The book includes contributions from leading commentators, those who worked and fought imperialism alongside Nyerere, members of a younger generation – and Nyerere in his own words. Their writings reflect on Nyerere and liberation, the Commonwealth, leadership, economic development, land, human rights and education. Above all, they are a testament to the growing recognition of the need to rekindle the fires of African socialism to which Nyerere was deeply committed.
Part 1: Headlines from the African Continent for the week of December 26, 2010, listen here
Part 2: Interview with Karim Hirji, listen here
Part 3: Interview with Annar Cassam, listen here
Friday, November 19, 2010
The Occupation of Western Sahara
The Western Sahara is a former Spanish colony, and is the scene of Africa's longest-running territorial dispute. The phosphate-rich territory was annexed by Morocco after Spanish settlers left in 1975. The Polisario liberation front fought a guerrilla war against Morocco until the UN brokered a ceasefire in 1991. Morocco now offers to grant it autonomy, while Polisario is demanding a referendum on full independence. The talks between both sites have been deadlocked for years, and the last meeting in February 2010 ended without any movement in the dispute. On Monday November 8th at least ten people have been killed in clashes in Western Sahara, after Moroccan security forces broke up a protest camp near the territory's capital, Laayoune. This protest camp has been the biggest protest against Moroccan rule in the 35-year dispute. The repression by Moroccon forces came just days before a meeting in New York between Polisario and Moroccan officials to try and broker peace in the region.
The show starts with headlines, and then an interview with Malainin Lakhal, the Secretary General of the Saharawi Journalists and Writers Union and finally an interview with Sidi Omar, the Ambassador of the Sahrawi Republic to Ethiopia and the African Union. The show was aired on African Perspectives on CHRY 105.5fm in Toronto on November 14th, 2010.
Listen to the show here
Headlines and introduction until 19:22
19:23 Malainin Lakhal, the Secretary General of the Saharawi Journalists and Writers Union
41:05 Sidi Omar, the Ambassador of the Sahrawi Republic to Ethiopia and the African Union
The show starts with headlines, and then an interview with Malainin Lakhal, the Secretary General of the Saharawi Journalists and Writers Union and finally an interview with Sidi Omar, the Ambassador of the Sahrawi Republic to Ethiopia and the African Union. The show was aired on African Perspectives on CHRY 105.5fm in Toronto on November 14th, 2010.
Listen to the show here
Headlines and introduction until 19:22
19:23 Malainin Lakhal, the Secretary General of the Saharawi Journalists and Writers Union
41:05 Sidi Omar, the Ambassador of the Sahrawi Republic to Ethiopia and the African Union
Saturday, August 7, 2010
August 1 - Oil Exploitation in Nigeria
In this week's episode, we explored the impact of oil exploitation in Nigeria and the people's resistance to it. The world has been abuzz since April when a blow out from a well started gushing millions of barrels of crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico. However, since the inception of the oil industry in Nigeria, there has been no concern and effective effort on the part of the government, let alone the oil operators, to control environmental problems associated with the industry. We spoke with Asume Osuoka about the exploitation of oil corporations in Nigeria and we also spoke with Grace Adeniyi Ogunyankin about community resistance to these oil companies, focusing especially on the organizing of women.
We also featured headlines from the continent: constitution in Kenya, extension of UNAMID mission in Darfur, Ugandan bombing arrests, African Union summit, racist kids in South Africa, and oil in Sudan.
To find out more about oil in Nigeria and resistance to it, check out Justice in Nigeria Now and sign a petition telling Exxon to clean its spills in Nigeria.
This episode featured the music of Seun Kuti and Tony Allen.
Listen to this episode here
We also featured headlines from the continent: constitution in Kenya, extension of UNAMID mission in Darfur, Ugandan bombing arrests, African Union summit, racist kids in South Africa, and oil in Sudan.
To find out more about oil in Nigeria and resistance to it, check out Justice in Nigeria Now and sign a petition telling Exxon to clean its spills in Nigeria.
This episode featured the music of Seun Kuti and Tony Allen.
Listen to this episode here
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