Latest news with #African
eNCA
38 minutes ago
- General
- eNCA
Kenya's Ngugi wa Thiong'o, champion of African expression
NAIROBI - During his imprisonment, Kenyan author Ngugi wa Thiong'o decided he would never write in English again, a defiant move that helped put literature in African languages firmly on the map. Ngugi died at the age of 87 on Wednesday, his daughter announced on Facebook. "It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of our dad, Ngugi wa Thiong'o this Wednesday morning," wrote Wanjiku Wa Ngugi. "He lived a full life, fought a good fight." Widely regarded as east Africa's most influential writer, Ngugi sought to forge a body of literature reflecting the land and people from which he came, and not follow in the footsteps of Western tradition. "I believe so much in equality of languages. I am completely horrified by the hierarchy of languages," he told AFP in an interview in 2022 from California, where he lived in self-imposed exile. His decision in the 1970s to abandon English in favour of his native Kikuyu, as well as Kenya's national language Swahili, was met with widespread incomprehension at first. "We all thought he was mad... and brave at the same time," said Kenyan writer David Maillu. "We asked ourselves who would buy the books." Yet the bold choice built his reputation and turned him into an African literary landmark. The softly-spoken writer also lived a life as dramatic as his novels. His criticism of post-colonial Kenya -- describing the violence of the political class and the newly rich as "the death of hopes, the death of dreams and the death of beauty" -- brought him into frequent conflict with the authorities. - 'Decolonising the mind' - Born James Ngugi into a large peasant family in Kenya's central Limuru region on January 5, 1938, he spent the first 25 years of his life in what was then a British settler colony. His early works were heavily influenced by his country's battle against colonial rule and the brutal Mau Mau war of 1952-1960. In his first collection of essays, "Homecoming", he described himself as a "stranger in his home country". But his anger would later extend to the inequalities of post-colonial Kenyan society, incurring the wrath of the government. In 1977, Ngugi and fellow writer Ngugi wa Mirii were jailed without charge after the staging of their play "Ngaahika Ndeenda" ("I Will Marry When I Want"). It was then that he decided to write his first novel in Kikuyu, "Devil on the Cross", which was published in 1980. AFP | Tony KARUMBA He had already abandoned his "English" name to become Ngugi wa Thiong'o. "I wrote it on the only paper available to me, which was toilet paper," he told US radio broadcaster NPR. Amnesty International named him a prisoner of conscience, before a global campaign secured his release from Kamiti Maximum Security Prison in December 1978. As early as 1965, Ngugi's novel "The River Between" embarked on a critical examination of the role of Christianity in an African setting. "If the white man's religion made you abandon a custom and then did not give you something else of equal value, you became lost," he wrote. He went into self-imposed exile in 1982 after a ban on theatre groups in Kenya, moving first to Britain then to the United States. In 1986, he published one of his best-known works, "Decolonising the Mind", a collection of essays about the role of language in forging national culture, history and identity. - 'A Kenyan Tolstoy' - When Ngugi returned home on a visit in 2004, he was mobbed by supporters at Nairobi's airport. "I have come back with an open mind, an open heart and open arms," he declared. Days later, he and his wife were attacked by armed men: she was raped and he was beaten up. It was not clear whether robbery was the sole motive or whether the assault was politically motivated. Margaretta wa Gacheru, a sociologist and former student of Ngugi, described him as a national icon. "To me he's like a Kenyan Tolstoy, in the sense of being a storyteller, in the sense of his love of the language and panoramic view of society, his description of the landscape of social relations, of class and class struggles," she said. In addition to fiction, the father-of-three, who became a professor of comparative literature at the University of California Irvine, also published essays and three memoirs. His most recent book was the genre-defying novel-in-verse "The Perfect Nine", which he translated into English in 2020. It recounted the founding of the Kikuyu people, blending folklore and allegory. From widening economic inequality to the lingering trauma of racism, the issues raised in the play still persist in Kenya and beyond, a fact not lost on its creator. "I am an activist, I want to see change," Ngugi told AFP. "I hope we can continue striving for that world. We cannot give up."
Int'l Business Times
43 minutes ago
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
Africa Elects Its Next 'Super Banker'
The race to become Africa's next "super banker" ends on Thursday, with five candidates, including one woman, vying to succeed Nigeria's Akinwumi Adesina as head of the African Development Bank in a contest that appears too close to call. In 2015 it took six rounds of voting to elect Adesina as president of the AfDB, which was founded in 1964 and now has 81 members, including 54 African nations. Based in Ivory Coast's economic capital Abidjan, the AfDB is one of the world's largest multilateral development banks, and is funded by member subscriptions, loans raised on global markets as well as repayments and income from loans. But Adesina's successor will immediately face a disrupted international economic environment, notably due to announcements from the US Trump administration. Beyond tariffs, the AfDB is also facing the threat of losing 500 million dollars in US funding for its projects to support low income countries on the continent. Two of the five candidates are from west Africa -- former finance ministers Amadou Hott of Senegal and Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania. Two others hail from southern Africa -- Zambian economist Samuel Munzele Maimbo and South African Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala, who was previously a vice president at the institution. Chadian Abbas Mahamat Tolli, the former governor of the Bank of Central African States, will represent central Africa, which has never held the AfDB presidency. All five promise to make the AfDB even more effective to transform Africa, continuing Adesina's five priorities to light up, feed, industrialise, integrate and improve quality of life. "I am proud of the legacy we are leaving behind for... my successor, for the bank, and for Africa," the outgoing president said in a speech on Tuesday. "We have built a world-class financial institution that will continue to advance Africa's position within a rapidly changing global development and geopolitical environment." Adesina said 565 million people had benefited from AfDB projects during his decade in charge. Major projects include support for the construction of the Gabal El Asfar wastewater treatment plant in Egypt -- the largest in Africa. The bank also helped finance a bridge connecting Senegal and the Gambia, expanded the port of Lome in Togo, and supported sanitation projects in Lesotho and access to electricity in Kenya, he said. From 2015 to this year, the bank's capital more than tripled from $93 billion to $318 billion, he added. To win Thursday's election, candidates must secure a majority of votes from all member countries and a majority of votes from African nations. But the weight of each shareholder state is determined by the extent of its capital contribution to the bank. As such, the five largest African contributors -- Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, and Morocco -- will be especially courted. The United States and Japan are the largest non-regional contributors. If there is no winner in the first round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, a situation that repeats until a candidate achieves the required majority. Alliance-building will therefore be crucial on Thursday, in the corridors of the Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan.
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Rising Stars: 16 Students Awarded Scholarships by African Caribbean Council of Halton
On May 23, the African Caribbean Council of Halton (ACCH) held their third annual Black Excellence Scholarship Awards and Fundraising event. The ACCH is a non-profit organization whose aim is to strengthen and empower the African Caribbean community through political and educational advocacy, and collaboration with other community groups. Scholarships, like the ones given out last Friday to graduating students who met the ACCH's criteria, are another empowerment tool the group uses. The award is open to students of African, Caribbean, and Black descent. Students must attend a high school in Halton and have been accepted to a post-secondary institution. According to the ACCH website, students are also expected to be involved in community work and the Black History Month initiative. Recipients are expected to mentor other students, volunteer, and be ambassadors of the community. Sixteen awards were given out, seven for Halton District School Board (HDSB) students and nine for Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) students. The event was held at Burlington's Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School and was attended by many dignitaries, including politicians, a Halton Regional Police Service officer, and both school board directors. The ceremony was held in the school gym, with tables and chairs set up for guests. A Jamaican dinner was prepared for attendees, which was served after the scholarships were handed out. Students also walked around with a QR code on their phones, which enabled attendees to donate to the ACCH. Adejisola B. H. Atiba (also known as Lady ABHA), founder and board chair, spoke first at the event and talked about the importance of nurturing our youth. 'We always say our students are our future,' Atiba said. 'But they are only our future if we invest in them today.' Atiba also spoke about how valuable time is and quoted an African proverb about asking for help. 'Time is your most precious currency,' Atiba said. 'It doesn't wait. It doesn't pause, and you can't rewind it. How you use it determines what you become.' 'Lean on your mentors, your teachers, and your elders,' Atiba continued. 'Seeking guidance is a strength. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.' Atiba finished with an analogy to guide students going forward. 'Time is your seed, mentorship is your soil, and intentional living is how you bloom,' Atiba said. Edosa Adams-Idode, president of ACCH, spoke next and outlined the three pillars that, for her, make these awards essential. 'Ownership is number one,' Adams-Idode said. 'We cannot complain that our youths are not successful without a conducive and collaborative environment to recognize their hard work, leadership, and service of volunteerism, which is the bedrock of our Canadian values.' 'The second pillar is the link between student achievement and mentorship,' Adams-Idode continued. 'Where one is weak, the other is compromised. Without both, there can be no trust in our educational system. And finally, the last pillar is investing in our youth. That's where we look to the future with hope and confidence.' Adams-Idode noted that she thinks this group of recipients will produce many MPs and the future prime minister. Paul Sharman, Burlington Ward 5 councillor, followed with reflections on the rewards of public service, encouraging the students to consider careers rooted in empathy and community impact. 'The best career of all is being an elected official, because that way I can make contributions to the community,' Sharman said. 'And as you think about your careers, if you think about your empathy, doing good for the community, doing good for your families, and for your loved ones, that is the biggest gift you can give the world.' Milton Regional Councillor Sammy Ijaz (Ward 3) reiterated the importance of time when he stepped up to the front of the room to speak. 'If you waste time today, at some point, time will waste you,' Ijaz said. 'That's not a promise, it's a commitment of time. If you do justice to time, time will do justice to you. But if you do injustice to time, time will catch up and then do injustice to you.' Curtis Ennis, director of education for HDSB, urged the students never to let go of their dreams and emphasized the importance of perseverance. 'Never lose your dream,' Ennis said. 'Regardless of what anyone says, work hard, stick to it, and never lose your dream. You are going to be discouraged. You're going to find others who are trying to stop you, but never lose your dream because you, and you alone, along with the determination, the purpose, and the resilience that you have, determine where you end up.' 'When you are locked in, when you are focused, when you are determined, when you are committed, there is nobody or nothing that can stop you from becoming who you were created to be, absolutely nothing or no one,' Ennis continued. 'I believe that to my core, I believe that every single one of you here has a gift and a purpose that you must realize, and so do not be distracted.' John Klein, director of education for HCDSB, drew on faith in expressing his hopes for the students' futures. 'There is a very old saying in the church that says, 'The glory of God is humanity, fully alive,'' Klein said. 'So I'd ask you to think about what it means to be fully alive for those that you encounter each and every day, how you honour them and how you respect them. And that's really my prayer and my hope for you.' Ryan Smith, a staff sergeant for Halton police, spoke of the lasting impact the students will have on the community and how they will help shape Halton going forward. 'Don't lose the fact that you will have such a tremendous impact on this community for generations to come,' Smith said. Effie Triantafilopoulos, MPP for Oakville North-Burlington, was not present at the event, but sent a video message that was played via projector. In it, Triantafilopoulos spoke about her continued involvement with the ACCH's work. 'As part of my commitment to the important work done by ACCH leaders, each summer I offer a job in my community office to one of the successful recipients and will be doing so again this summer,' Triantafilopoulos said. 'So, please contact ACCH if you're interested in better understanding how the Ontario government works.' The following students were honoured with scholarships at the event:
France 24
an hour ago
- Business
- France 24
Africa elects its next 'super banker'
In 2015 it took six rounds of voting to elect Adesina as president of the AfDB, which was founded in 1964 and now has 81 members, including 54 African nations. Based in Ivory Coast's economic capital Abidjan, the AfDB is one of the world's largest multilateral development banks, and is funded by member subscriptions, loans raised on global markets as well as repayments and income from loans. But Adesina's successor will immediately face a disrupted international economic environment, notably due to announcements from the US Trump administration. Beyond tariffs, the AfDB is also facing the threat of losing 500 million dollars in US funding for its projects to support low income countries on the continent. Two of the five candidates are from west Africa -- former finance ministers Amadou Hott of Senegal and Sidi Ould Tah of Mauritania. Two others hail from southern Africa -- Zambian economist Samuel Munzele Maimbo and South African Bajabulile Swazi Tshabalala, who was previously a vice president at the institution. Chadian Abbas Mahamat Tolli, the former governor of the Bank of Central African States, will represent central Africa, which has never held the AfDB presidency. Five priorities All five promise to make the AfDB even more effective to transform Africa, continuing Adesina's five priorities to light up, feed, industrialise, integrate and improve quality of life. "I am proud of the legacy we are leaving behind for... my successor, for the bank, and for Africa," the outgoing president said in a speech on Tuesday. "We have built a world-class financial institution that will continue to advance Africa's position within a rapidly changing global development and geopolitical environment." Adesina said 565 million people had benefited from AfDB projects during his decade in charge. Major projects include support for the construction of the Gabal El Asfar wastewater treatment plant in Egypt -- the largest in Africa. The bank also helped finance a bridge connecting Senegal and the Gambia, expanded the port of Lome in Togo, and supported sanitation projects in Lesotho and access to electricity in Kenya, he said. From 2015 to this year, the bank's capital more than tripled from $93 billion to $318 billion, he added. Election rules To win Thursday's election, candidates must secure a majority of votes from all member countries and a majority of votes from African nations. But the weight of each shareholder state is determined by the extent of its capital contribution to the bank. As such, the five largest African contributors -- Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, South Africa, and Morocco -- will be especially courted. The United States and Japan are the largest non-regional contributors. If there is no winner in the first round, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated, a situation that repeats until a candidate achieves the required majority. Alliance-building will therefore be crucial on Thursday, in the corridors of the Hotel Ivoire in Abidjan.
Kuwait Times
an hour ago
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Crown Prince in Japan on key visit
Crown Prince in Japan on key visit Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled's visit a milestone in history of strategic partnership TOKYO: HH the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and his accompanying delegation arrived in Japan on an official visit Wednesday. HH the Crown Prince was received by Japanese Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director-General for Middle East and African Affairs Toshihide Endo, Kuwaiti Ambassador to Japan Sami Al-Zamanan and Japanese Ambassador to Kuwait Kenichiro Mukai. Al-Zamanan said HH the Crown Prince's visit to Japan represents a milestone in the history of bilateral relations and strategic partnership between the two countries. In remarks to KUNA, Ambassador Al-Zamanan noted that the 'historic' visit of HH the Crown Prince is the culmination of a long history of constructive cooperation and mutual understanding, and bears significance for the depth of relations between the two friendly countries and peoples. Kuwait and Japan have a strong friendship spanning nearly 64 years, embodied through ongoing cooperation and communication, and based on the principles of mutual respect and shared interests, he added. He said Kuwaiti-Japanese ties have witnessed significant growth in recent years thanks to the keenness and interest of the two wise leaderships, expressing his confidence that this high-level visit will contribute to opening new horizons that will achieve the aspirations of both leaderships. During the official visit, HH the Crown Prince is scheduled to meet Emperor Naruhito and the Crown Prince Fumihito. An official summit will also be held between HH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between Japan and Kuwait and to address regional and international developments. – KUNA
