This post is the second one in a series titled African Democracy that deals with the issues related to democratization process in Africa in the contexts of its historic and contemporary local realities. The general presumption of the series is that immense complexities Africa represents are not necessarily suitable for a direct adaptation of an “American version of Democracy” and that the task of democratization of Africa may require a paradigm shift in defining what is truly involved in building a system that is socially, politically, economically and ecologically just but also feasibly implementable in Africa by peaceful means.

This post is the first one in a series titled African Democracy that deals with the issues related to democratization process in Africa in the contexts of its historic and contemporary local realities. The general presumption of the series is that immense complexities Africa represents are not necessarily suitable for a direct adaptation of an “American version of Democracy” and that the task of democratization of Africa may require a paradigm shift in defining what is truly involved in building a system that is socially, politically, economically and ecologically just but also feasibly implementable in Africa by peaceful means.

World 800m champion Caster Semenya was recently cleared by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to compete as a woman after nearly a year of speculation over her gender. While she will not be competing in the upcoming African Championships in Kenya on July 28, 2010, she is expected to compete in Finland on July15 and at the Commonwealth Games in India later in October, 2010.

For much of well over a one hundred years, the DRC, as it is known for short, has been mired in war and violence of unimaginable proportions except for three periods of relative calm. While not the only mineral fueling the war in the Congo, coltan (columbite–tantalite) is the mineral at the center of issues. 80% World’s known reserves are in Congo (DRC), mostly in the Eastern provinces of Kivus and Orientale.

The World Cup Opens with the host country South African playing against Mexico. The match ended 1 for South Africa,  1 for Mexico

Watch Tshabalala score the first goal of the game 10 minutes into the second half of the game.
Rafael Marquez scored Mexico’s only goal to earn a 1-1 draw.
France and Uruguay face each other in the other Group A game later Friday.
Watch South Africa pre-opening interviews here
“Football legend Pelé in South Africa”. Pelé launched Pelé Sports at a dirt pitch in Melrose Arch on Thursday.

Brooklyn College
Presentation: AFRICA AND THE UN
Monday May 10, 2010, from 7-9 pm
Reception from 6-7 pm.

Columbia University’s Global Thoughts:
Building an African Presence
2-Day Conference

Apr, 30th & May 1st

Ujima means cooperation in Swahili, East African language spoken by more than 50 million people. In a traditional sense it applies to working for the good of a local community, such as working in the fields or building something for common benefit. However, when ujima was transited from the traditional local community forum into the international cooperation area, the original good intent associated with it seems to often get lost.

Recently “Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution” television show debuted chronicling Oliver’s efforts to improve the health of one of America’s unhealthiest towns. His mission to overhaul their poor eating habits and introduce natural and unprocessed foods was unsurprisingly met with loads of resistance and resentment. It seems that Oliver finally received a positive response when he helped reveal one family’s poor health and their son’s high risk of diabetes.

The Center for Black Literature at Medgar Evers College presents The Tenth National Black Writers Conference. Presided by Nobel Prize winning author Toni Morrison and honoring Amiri Baraka; Author & Poet, Kamau Brathwaite; Educator & Historian; andformer President, Medgar Evers College, CUNY, Dr. Edison O. Jackson.