After Africa

Same same, but different

Both photos are taken within the distance of few kilometres close to Mbabane in Swaziland.

Both signs were placed near to schools, indicating pupils crossing the road. Back in December 2005.

How I love the differences between the two signs.

(I'm obviously not Kenyan), but curious to see what happens at #Kenya28Feb

We are extremely proud to be Kenyan!
We are proud of our beautiful country!
We are proud of our diversity cultures and traditions!
We are proud of our heroes!
We are proud of our high achievers!
We are proud of being hustlers!
We are proud of our hoods!
We are proud of our tribes and twengs!
We are proud of our kanges and our mats!
We are proud of our artists and musicians!
We are proud of our industries and farms!
We are proud of our sports teams!

On the 28th of February 2011 at 1pm EAT, wherever you are, at work, in the supermarket, in traffic, in school, on campus, in hospitals, in churches, in mosques, in temples, in synagogues, on sports pitches, in court, on your farm, at police stations, at armed forces barracks, in matatus, in buses, on the beach, in the game parks, at the airport, in parliament, in State House, in your homes …
On the 28th of February 2011 at 1pm, we stand
On the 28th of February 2011 at 1pm, we unite
On the 28th of February 2011 at 1pm, we shall speak in one voice.
On the 28th of February 2011 at 1pm, let’s sing our beautiful and powerful National Anthem, all three verses.
On the 28th February 2011 the world will watch as Kenyans stand UNITED;
1pm, 1 nation, 1 people, 1 anthem, united in 1 prayer for 1 Kenya
We are Kenya!

Website: 28Feb.co.ke
Email: unite@28feb.co.ke
Twitter: @Kenya28Feb
Facebook Page: 28FebKenya
Bloggers: We need your help!

Women of Egypt. Powerful photos

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm totally in love with the series of photos I found of women in action here. (Do note the photo album disclaimer).

(And that the Serbian resistance movement's clenched, white fist on black, is back.)

Will (Sub-Saharan) Africa be next?

1stworldmusic asks a question on Twitter:

'Revolution in Tunisia now unrest in Egypt. The middle east is unstable. Will Africa be next?'

I see trends on Twitter, blogs and Facebook of Africans debating this question. Last week I put together this sum-up, but it hasn't seemed to stop at this.

Is it a trend spreading to Africa?

And have we got anything to base these assumptions on?

What do you think?

 

STUNNING art work! The 2011 TED Prize Winner: JR

 

Non-violent Struggle Multi-Media Library. What did we learn from Serbia?

I lived in Belgrade in 2000. Most of the time in a rented room in a big house in Ulica Ivana Milutinovica, where a hopeful boyfriend of my landlord had painted 'I love Irina' on the opposite house in the street. 

A rather famous grafitti around Belgrade at that time, which every morning reminded my landlord - and me - that even though love might not last, original intentions can still be real.

The house was normally full of visitors of all sorts - and occasionally young men were sleeping on the couch while escaping the rough facts of life, like military service (or doing the dishes).

At one point I slept with over 10.000 USD under the mattress, while having a resistance movement poster in the window towards the street. This was my first experience of volunteering in a country where youth appeared to be living on a constant edge of emergency. Not just politically, but also emotionally. I quickly realised that I wasn't going to suggest that poster to be taken down, but to figure out a safer solution till someone did.

And I never really got over the addiction I gradually grew in Belgrade for:

Political activism combined with intellect, mad ideas and creative skills.

The feeling that it can all be over tomorrow, or next week.

Living in a pocket that the rest of the world is ignoring.

The pride that sets in with lack of money, but not ideas, and which makes you recycle your mother's vintage Chloé and Chanel from the 1970ties.

'Vreme je!' - the time is now - was one of the slogans of a campaign running at that time, amongst others from the concert tour with Darkwood Dub, Kanda, Kozda i Nebojsa etc., where the photo above is taken. I remember I was offered a seat on a bus going to Nis and back again the same day by a hard core photographer (who convinced me that I could take photos, too).

Another slogan was 'Life is what you make it' - advertising for the Exit festival in Novi Sad.

It pretty much said it all:

Like is exactly what you make it. (Add to that luck and hard work, and it cannot go totally wrong).

Belgrade 2000 was one of the best periods of my life.

So, obviously, I was happy to find the Canvasopedia, a non-violent multi-media library, yesterday, which is made by the people behind the Serbian resistance movement, Otpor.

They have also produced a fantastic handbook to non-violent struggle, which can be downloaded here: Download Nonviolent_Struggle-50CP.

Soundtracks:
  

 
  

What would Nyerere have said?

We, in Africa, have no more need of being ‘converted’ to socialism than we have of being ‘taught’ democracy. Both are rooted in our past — in the traditional society which produced us.

Julius K. Nyerere

Do also read my understanding of Tuko Pamoja seen from a Danish perspective.

Thanks for the inspiration to Kate.

Saying no (but wishing to say yes)

 
In Tanzania you hardly ever hear a clear no.

Maybe a haya, a labda or a baadaye.

Maybe because Africa is the continent of opportunities, where you gotta keep all doors and windows open as no one knows what tomorrow will bring.

If you say yes, you can always say no later. (Or blame it on the lack of network, electricity, air time or that you (thought you) had malaria, the road was full of pot holes, the rain season began or that you didn't know what time you were on).

Keep everything open. Let it flow.

I think I brought this thing with me.

Grabbing all opportunities I see, instantly thinking they might not be there tomorrrow or later. That it is so fantastic to be asked about something, that how can I say no?

However, Denmark, is different.

Somehow the other way round.

This is no longer the place of opportunities, time is limited, we close our doors and windows (literally and physically) and we more or less know what tomorrow will bring.

And if you say yes, you have to do it.

So, I've started saying no (though I'm highly against it).

Check out Puma's Football Song. Good energy

Fantastic music video, though nothing much new there when it comes to football related videos and Africa...

However, the publicity Africa is getting through the football and videos like this shouldn't be estimated. Lots of free airtime, so to speak, lots of free publicty.

And from new angles which Africa deserve to put on display.

That must be why we love this stuff - though cut over the same template. Makes you wanna go back there and be part of the energy.

Music by Gnarls Barkley.

Taken from Kate with thanks.

Black, white, blue in Soweto

On 22 May thousands of Pretoria's Blue Bulls rugby fans poured into Orlando Stadium in Soweto – the township famous for its historic opposition to apartheid – and were welcomed with open arms and waving flags.

See the slideshow here - and remember that these kinds of stories must also be told from Africa.