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

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