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

International Peasant Conference: Stop the Land Grab

From the 17th to the 19th of November in Sélingué, Mali, the farmers of the National Coordination of Farming Organizations (CNOP) in Mali and the international farmers’ movement Via Campesina, held an international conference on land grabbing and to strengthen their continued fight against land grabs on the African continent. We interviewed Elizabeth Mpofu from Zimbabwe who was at the conference in Mali.

Listen to this weeks AP headlines and the interview with Elizabeth here
0:00 to 14:30 -- Headlines
14:31 to 30:41 -- Interview with Elizabeth

For more information on the conference and Via Campesina, visit their website

Land Grabs in Africa

Multinational corporations are buying enormous tracts of land in Africa to the detriment of local communities. These land grabs puts countries on the path to increased food insecurity, environmental degradation, increased reliance on aid and marginalisation of farming and pastoralist communities. This has resulted in the sale of enormous portions of land throughout Africa. In 2009 alone, nearly 60 million hectares of land were purchased or leased throughout the continent for the production and export of food, cut flowers and agrofuel crops. Recently the Oakland Institute has published several documents on these land grabs and their consequences, based on extensive research. The Oakland Institute is a is an independent policy think tank, bringing fresh ideas and bold action to the most pressing social, economic, and environmental issues of our time. Joining us on the line is Frederic Mousseau, policy director at the Oakland institute where he coordinates Understanding Land Investment Deals in Africa project.

Listen to this week's headlines here

Listen to Land Grabs interview with the Oakland Institute here

For more information on the Understanding Land Investments Deals in Africa project and the Oakland Institute, check out their website

Mau Mau Reparations

In this edition of African Perspectives we start of with headlines and then an interview with George Morara of the Kenya Human Rights Commission. In July of this year, 4 elderly Kenyan men won a "historic" ruling which takes them one step nearer to winning damages from the British Government over colonial atrocities during the Mau Mau uprising. These men were Mau Mau freedom fighters and endured torture and mistreatment from colonial officials during the Kenya struggle for independence.

For more information on the case and the work of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission, check out their website.

Headlines: 0 - 17:10
George Morara interview: 17:11 - end

Listen to the show here

Interview with Femi Kuti

Interview with Femi Kuti as he talks about his new album 'Africa for Africa' and the use of Afrobeat in raising awareness about Africa's history.

You can listen to the interview here

Remembering David Kato

This edition of African Perspectives remembers the life and work of David Kato, a Ugandan gay activist from Sexual Minorities Uganda (SMUG). We feature an interview with Sokari Ekine, and play segments of a vigil held in New York city honoring David Kato. We also hear a talk given by David last year in Europe on LGBT issue in Uganda.

Listen to this edition of African Perspectives here

Check out Sokari Ekine's blog here
For more information on SMUG, click here