THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - The African Mirror

Jan

03

2024

Peter Magubane was a freedom fighter, full stop!

BRA Peter Magubane is gone. And with that passing, a chapter of revolutionary media players who were guerrillas with cameras, notebooks and pens is steadily fading. A few remain, though, such as Joe Thloloe, Thami Mazwai, Maud Motanyane, Pearl Luthuli, Ike Segola, Bokwe Mafuna and a few others. Bra Peter, as I called him, was a true revolutionary who fought for freedom. Put differently, Bra Peter was a freedom fighter. He was NOT an anti-apartheid activist. To describe him as such, as many media outlets have been doing, is insulting and cheapens both his commitment and contribution to the struggle…

Dec

31

2023

By ABBEY MAKOE

Special farewell to the great Mbongeni Ngema

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

A great man is no more. He left us when we least expected. It's been quite difficult to come to terms with the news of the passing of Mbongeni Ngema. He was my brother's keeper. We were brothers-in-arms. Twenty-four hours after Ngema lost his precious life in a head-on collision returning from delivering a eulogy at the funeral of his longtime manager, Mom Sheila Paris, in Lusikisiki in SA's Eastern Cape province, the terrible news is beginning to sink in painfully. Munt'omnyama, as Ngema and I were fond of calling each other along with a few members of his inner…

Dec

27

2023

By ABBEY MAKOE

US attempt to help Taiwan to secede from China “doomed to fail” – Beijing

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

AT a time of great geopolitical flux – decried by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as a consequence of the “obsolete” global governance system – indications are that international peace efforts lag way behind a satiable appetite for conflict. The UN was founded in the aftermath of WW11 in 1945 in a noble effort to ensure no repeat of global conflict that had left nations in ruins. The UN Charter espouses the essence of a consensus-led international world order. The ethos of multilateralism has therefore formed a nucleus of the UN system, where debate and consensus triumph over bullying and…

Dec

14

2023

By The African Mirror

China-Africa relations in 2023: key moments and events to remember

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

IN a year when headlines have been dominated by conflict in Europe and the Middle East, and geo-economic tensions between China and the West, China-Africa relations were, in comparison, a steady and stable norm. Having followed China-Africa relations for two decades, I wanted to flag a few key moments from this year. These reveal that the relations between China and the continent have focused on building momentum and deepening ties, especially when it comes to trade and the promotion of African exports. LAUREN JOHNSTON, Associate Professor, China Studies Centre, University of Sydney They also highlight China’s growing commitment to supporting…

Dec

21

2023

By The African Mirror

Somali pirates are back in action: but a full-scale return isn’t likely. Here’s why

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

AN Iranian fishing vessel, Almeraj 1, was reportedly hijacked by Somali pirates in November 2023. According to media reports, the pirates demanded US$400,000 in ransom and threatened to use the Iranian ship for additional hijackings if the payment was not made. PETER VIGGO JAKOBSEN, Associate Professor, Royal Danish Defence College TROELS BURCHALL HENNINGSEN, Associate Professor, Royal Danish Defence College Two days later, other Somali pirates hijacked a tanker, Central Park, off the Yemeni coast. The tanker sent a distress signal during the attack. Forces from a nearby American warship captured the pirates as they tried to flee in a small…

Dec

13

2023

By The African Mirror

Mohamed Amin was a famous Kenyan photojournalist – there’s much more to his work than images of tragedy

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

KENYAN photojournalist Mohamed Amin (1943-1996) rose to fame for documenting the 1984 famine in neighbouring Ethiopia with powerful images of the tragedy. He also captured the Ethiopian people’s suffering during the brutal reign of Mengistu Haile Mariam. These images, broadcast by the BBC, shocked the global public and had a significant international impact. They mobilised governments, individuals and institutions. This even led to Live Aid – the famous 1985 benefit concert to raise funds for victims of the famine. TAMARA ANTONA JIMENO, Lecturer at Journalism and Global Communication, Universidad Complutense de Madrid ISMAEL CRESPO MARTÍNEZ, PhD Candidate in Journalism, Universidad…

Dec

12

2023

By The African Mirror

Kenya at 60: the shameful truth about British colonial abuse and how it was covered up

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

IT is fairly well known that the lives of hundreds of thousands of Kenyans were affected by terrible acts of violence under the British colonial administration. The British government and King Charles have acknowledged it, and some victims of violence have taken the British government to court for these crimes. AOIFE DUFFY, Senior Lecturer, University of Essex Less known is how much the British imperialist government tried to cover up these violations. My research reveals how harsh British detention camps in Kenya were, and the extremes to which the colonialists went to conceal information about this. Much of this violence…

Dec

07

2023

By JOVIAL RANTAO

“The Boy from Silvertown who shook Africa and the world with love, respect and humility”

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

TODAY we not only mourn the departure of a man but we celebrate the extraordinary life of Jermaine Craig - a beacon of love, humility, and unparalleled talent whose legacy transcends borders, touches hearts, and reshapes the very essence of sports journalism in South Africa and beyond. Jermaine's journey began in the humble streets of Silvertown, Cape Town - a boy with dreams as vast as the African sky, fueled by a passion for sports and an unwavering commitment to capturing the intricate tapestry of athletic triumphs and tribulations. Through his words, he painted the vivid portrait of South Africa's…

Dec

04

2023

By MATHEWS PHOSA

When A Dream Comes True

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

DURING the famous Rivonia Trial of 1963 and 64 our first democratically elected President, Nelson Mandela eloquently verbalized his dream for a post-apartheid South Africa. In it, he made it clear that he was willing to fight, and if necessary, die for the ideal of non-racial South Africa, free of any prejudices. That was his dream. Standing on the shoulders of hundreds of selfless struggle heroes, he achieved that ideal thirty years later, in 1994. His example has galvanized many people across the world towards the achievement of their goals. In the very recent past, we saw a young man…

Dec

02

2023

By The African Mirror

Henry Kissinger: history will judge the former US Secretary of State’s southern African interventions to be a failure

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

HENRY Kissinger, who sexed up the art of diplomacy in the eight years between 1969 and 1977, has died at the age of 100. In the obituaries that have been written, some laud Kissinger’s role in the shaping of East-West relations while he was in office as US Secretary of State. And many in their commentary on the decades beyond call him a “statesman”. PETER VALE, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria, and Visiting Professor of International Relations, Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil, University of Pretoria Radical critics have pointed to Kissinger’s ruthless…