Category Archives: Africa

Africa, International, Media, USA

The Son of Africa Claims a Continent’s Crown Jewels

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By John Pilger
October 20, 2011 – johnpilger.com

Barack ObamaOn 14 October, President Barack Obama announced he was sending United States special forces troops to Uganda to join the civil war there. In the next few months, US combat troops will be sent to South Sudan, Congo and Central African Republic. They will only “engage” for “self-defence”, says Obama, satirically. With Libya secured, an American invasion of the African continent is under way.
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Africa, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, People's Partnership, Politics, Racism Watch

Moving Backward Into Slavery

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
October 19, 2011

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeAddressing the 15th Divali Celebration organized by the United National Congress Siparia Women’s Association last Friday, the Hon. Prime Minister offered the following remarks to her followers: “I thank you for your support, for your prayers and the adjustments you have made to your lifestyles during this period of the State of Emergency [SOE].”
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Africa, Caribbean, General T&T, Jamaica, Labour, Race and Identity, Racism Watch, Violence

Question of Apology for Slavery and Reparations: Updated

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By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
October 09, 2011

Dr. Kwame NantambuApology for Slavery

In April 2006, the Church of England voted “to apologize to the descendants of victims of the slave trade” and in March 2007, considered paying reparations.
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Africa, Caribbean, England, General T&T, India, International, Race and Identity, Sports

My Two Cents on ‘fire in Babylon’: And a Slightly Different Take on ‘Calypso Cricket’

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By Corey Gilkes
October 01, 2011

Calypso CricketOn Wednesday I went to MovieTowne in Port of Spain for the first time ever (no, seriously). Now before the last seven friends I have left in this world get vex with me, rest assured I haven’t had a change of heart and decided to be like everyone else. It was only because that was where the documentary “Fire in Babylon” was being shown and allyuh know how strongly I feel about cricket and social consciousness. So yuh boy gone and took in the thing (and again on Sunday to see the documentary on the Black Power Movement “70s the Movie”).
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Africa, Court, Crime in T&T, General T&T, Law, People's Partnership, PNM, Police, Politics, Security

The CJ’s Wisdom

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
September 20, 2011

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeSooner or later it had to happen. Amidst the chaos and head-in-the-sand posture, a mature voice had to rise up and address the implications of the state of emergency (SOE) that was declared by the government. While so many of my fellow citizens, buoyed by the apparent calm of the society welcomed the suspension of many of our civil liberties, it took a brave voice to remind us that a constitution cannot suspend itself and that the declaration of a SOE does not automatically abrogate all of our right as citizens.
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Africa, Court, Crime in T&T, Culture, General T&T, India, Law, People's Partnership, Police, Politics, Race and Identity, Racism Watch, Security, Violence

Fulfilling Prophecy

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
September 14, 2011

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeWilliam Hardin Burnley was the biggest slave holder in Trinidad and Tobago. In 1813 Sir Ralph Woodford arrived in the island as the governor. One of his first tasks was to secure sufficient laborers for the island, Trinidad being notorious for not having sufficient laborers to till its soil. One year after he arrived he asked each member of his Board of Council to come up with suggestions to induce laborers to settle in the country.
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Africa, General T&T, People's Partnership, Politics, Race and Identity, Racism Watch

With Respect to All

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
August 03, 2011

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeIf one opened the dailies the day after Emancipation Day one could not miss the photographs of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Arts and Multiculturalism sitting proudly in their African threads on either side of Kafra Kambon (Express, August 2nd) with a headline that proclaimed: “PM: No more last minute funding.” Just to reinforce her concerns, she cooed: “As a testimony to the recognition in the Emancipation Support Committee, I have requested a convening of an inter—ministerial team charged with the review of all festival—based commemoration to ensure matters of funding and production will no longer be matters of last minute intervention. We stand committed to the success of this intervention and the Minister of Multiculturalism Winston ‘Gypsy’ Peters will head this very special committee to ensure that you get the funding and support you need at the appropriate time.”
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Africa, General T&T, India, People's Partnership, Politics, Race and Identity, Racism Watch, Religion

The Hidden Agenda

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By Dr. Selwyn R. Cudjoe
July 26, 2011

Dr. Selwyn R. CudjoeOn Monday next (Emancipation Day) black folks will come out in full ethnic regalia to commemorate the emancipation of our forefathers and foremothers. They will march from the Brian Lara Promenade to the Savannah and make uplifting speeches (as they should) about our condition. The next 364 days thereafter they shall continue their slide into penury and humiliation as the People’s Partnership (PP) government does everything to ensure that African people eat the bread the devil kneads. In this new dispensation no mercy will be shown and no sympathy offered.
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Africa, General T&T, Race and Identity, Racism Watch

Power versus powerlessness in T&T

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Emancipation Day Special: Part 2

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
July 26, 2011

Dr. Kwame NantambuPart 2 of this Emancipation Day Special focuses on the power dynamics between Trinbagonians of Indian descent versus the powerlessness of Trinbagonians of African descent. And this overt ethnic imbalance is real despite the current United Nations-sponsored year-long celebration.
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Africa, General T&T, Race and Identity, Racism Watch

Trinbagonian versus African Descent

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Emancipation Day Special: Part 1

By Dr. Kwame Nantambu
July 19, 2011

As T&T celebrates the United Nations-sponsored “International Year for People of African Descent,” it is a sine qua non to analyze/investigate the crucial reality of being Trinbagonian versus, albeit compared to, being of African descent in this Euro-centric environment.

The stark reality is that the ordinary Trinbagonian of African descent does not regard himself or herself as African. He/she is Trinbagonian, period.
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