THOUGHT LEADERSHIP - The African Mirror

Jun

20

2020

Celebrating the rich legacy of Alfred Nzo

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

KHULU MBATHA ALFRED Babethuxolo Nzo would have turned 95 years old on June 19. Bab’ Andrew Mlangeni, the only Rivonia trialist remaining, who celebrated his 95th birthday on June 6, would have taken a stroll to Comrade Nzo’s place and said, “Ntwana [young man], I am 13 days older than you!” I am sure they would have hugged and laughed, and be the first nonagenarians to disobey in public the COVID-19 social-distancing dictates. I am also certain that a presidential pardon from President Cyril Ramaphosa would have been given on the same day, breaking all procedures for such legal applications.…

Jun

08

2020

By The African Mirror

What Kabuga’s arrest means for international criminal justice – and Rwanda

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

KERSTIN CARLSON FELICEN Kabuga, the Hutu financier of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide, has been captured after 26 years in hiding. More than 800,000 Rwandans, primarily Tutsis, were slaughtered by their countrymen in 100 days of genocide. Kabuga was arrested by French police in a sting operation in a suburb of Paris on May 17. They were acting on an indictment by the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in 1997. Despite a global arrest warrant accompanied by a $5 million bounty, Kabuga avoided authorities for 26 years. He owned and operated Radio Mille Collines, which broadcast messages of hatred. This included the…

Jul

09

2022

By The African Mirror

Farewell, my Dad – an authentic Christian man

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

LORATO RANTAO IN public, my Dad was one of the great pastors of his generation. He served most notably for years mo kerekeng e katoliki ya Roma - Roman Catholic Church In private, my Dad was the same man. There was only one Peter Phakedi Rantao— an authentic Christian man. The distance between what I saw in the New Testament and what I saw in my dad was slight. He was the most Christlike man I’ve ever known. Papa was never too busy Papa was a Bible man. He was wholeheartedly devoted to Jesus. He praised God. As a kid…

Mar

05

2022

By The African Mirror

Emeka Anyaoku: portrait of a skilled diplomat who graced Nigeria, Africa and the globe

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

FEW Nigerians have distinguished themselves to their compatriots and the world so much and for so long as Chief Emeka Anyaoku. Author BENJAMIN MAIANGWA, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Lakehead University The former secretary-general of the Commonwealth represents the true essence of a public intellectual and leadership. He turned 89 in January 2022. Born on 18 January 1933 in Obosi town, Anambra State, Anyaoku showed signs of leadership from an early age. In the mid-1950s he was a student leader at the University College Ibadan, where he studied the classics. He took an active part in the push for Nigeria’s…

Mar

02

2022

By The African Mirror

God and illness: for some South Africans, there’s more to healing than medicine

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

FOR many people, familiarity breeds trust. Hospitals and clinics can be places of mistrust or uncertainty, in part because they are outside people’s daily lives. Instead, people around the world may place more trust in prayer, worship, and other forms of religious practice and healing when facing physical or mental distress. Authors EDNA N BOSIRE, Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Georgetown University (USA) & Kamuzu University of Health sciences (Malawi); Researcher, DPHRU, University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa) & Brain and Mind Institute, Aga Khan University, East Africa., University of the Witwatersrand EMILY MENDENHALL, Professor, Georgetown University LINDILE CELE, Research associate, SAMRC…

Mar

07

2022

By The African Mirror

How Kwame Nkrumah’s midnight speech set a tradition for marking the moment of liberation

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

AS Ghana celebrates the 65th anniversary of its independence from Britain, it is worth revisiting the landmark speech Kwame Nkrumah delivered at midnight to mark the event of Ghana’s birth. Nkrumah had led a mass movement demanding self-government in the anti-colonial struggle and was, with independence, poised to become the first Prime Minister of independent Ghana. Author ERIK JOHNSON, Assistant Professor, Media and Communications Studies, Stetson University Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African country to gain its independence from colonial rule. Accordingly, Nkrumah’s speech at the moment of liberation set a tone of pride in Ghana’s accomplishment along with hope…

Dec

04

2021

By The African Mirror

The furore over Miss South Africa’s decision to compete in Israel: here’s a feminist critique

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE participation of Miss South Africa 2021, Lalela Mswane, in the Miss Universe competition in Israel on 12 December has created a furore. Some South Africans support her participation while others have called for her withdrawal. Author AMANDA GOUWS, Professor of Political Science and Chair of the South African Research Initiative in Gender Politics, Stellenbosch University The Boycott, Disinvest and Sanctions movement in South Africa views Miss South Africa’s participation as tacit support for Israel’s policies toward Palestine, which the movement views as a form of apartheid. The South African government has called on Mswane to boycott the pageant, and…

Dec

03

2021

By The African Mirror

What’s in store for Gambians as they gear up for hotly contested poll

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

GAMBIANS will shortly go to the polls to elect a new president in the country’s ninth direct presidential election, of which only one has seen an opposition candidate defeat the incumbent. That was in December 2016 when Adama Barrow defeated Yahya Jammeh to end the latter’s 22 years of brutal rule. Author DAVID PERFECT, Visiting professor, University of Chester Before that, Dawda Jawara had won three successive elections between 1982 and 1992 and Jammeh five between 1996 and 2011. Even after being defeated at the polls Jammeh tried to cling to power by initially rejecting the outcome. But Barrow was…

Dec

02

2021

By The African Mirror

OPINION: Forty years of AIDS – Justice and equality remain key to quelling a still-potent epidemic

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

EDWIN CAMERON TODAY, marks World AIDS Day. The past four decades have yielded enormous medical and scientific progress – but death and stigma remain. Many elude testing or die in shame, treatment does not reach all who need it, and inequality impedes our global response. I can write this because life unexpectedly afforded me survival from AIDS. Around Easter 1985, I became infected with HIV. There was no treatment: HIV meant certain death. Like many, I kept my HIV status a secret. I hoped to escape death. No. Twelve years later, AIDS felled my body. I became terribly ill. But my privileges…

Dec

01

2021

By The African Mirror

Nigeria and South Africa have a love-hate relationship: the continent needs them closer

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa is visiting four West African countries – Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Senegal. The Conversation Africa’s Wale Fatade asked international relations expert, Olawale Olusola, about the significance of Ramaphosa’s visit to Nigeria and what it could contribute to enhancing the relationship between the two countries. Author OLAWALE OLUSOLA, International Relations expert, Obafemi Awolowo University How important is this visit? It is significant in a number of ways. First, it coincides with the 10th session of the Nigeria-South Africa Bi-National Commission. This was established in 1999 to strengthen bilateral political, economic and trade relations between the two countries.…