MAN KILL MAN

The senseless Killings in Iraq and now in Palestine leave me baffled about the state of morality or civilisation in our world today. There were shocking scenes in the news yesterday of open shooting in the midst of old people demonstrating against the violence. It may me think if the world is becoming a better place, as politicians and historians will make us believe, or if we are going in a full circle again back to ages of savagery and man-eat-man.The civilisation and human rights concept that are trumpeted by world organisations such as the United Nations appear not to be visible in Darfur, Iraq and Palestine.But why all these states of murder and mayhem? Of course we will more than willingly lay the blame on the great super power; Our United States of America. But does this not beg the question?May it just not be that it is America’s fault only because it is the super power around and delights in interfering in matters, otherwise, not their business?I find it particularly appalling to blame a super power for infightings between Hamas and Fatah; old sworn enemies, or Sunnis and Shias, or Sudan’s classic Darfur conflict.It makes nonsense of tackling problems at their root cause when UN envoys make blanket statements such as its America’s fault. Who cares about America? Any people not divided against themselves; willing to stand for each other can overcome America any day.Super powers only win in territories where there is great division already. You can’t stop a superpower from exerting its power because, for example, America derives immense economic benefits from its war since the 1st World War.Commentators and our men in coats from the UN and other charitable organisations need to stop the rhetoric, forget America and Britain and lay the buck where it belongs. That is in the hands of corrupt and very evil minded leaders of nations, who don’t care a hoot for the people they pretend to govern. This includes the Mugabes, the Talibans, Hamas, Fatah and the rebel groups scattered all over Africa.In fact the next time I hear there a protest against America at a conference, I will try and organise a special protest for all these faceless crooks we call leaders!

THE BLACK MAN AND THE WHITE MAN SUMMIT

The white man was very clever
He came quietly and peaceably with his religion
We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay
Now he has won our brothers
And our clan can no longer act like one
He has put a knife on the thing that held us together
And we have fallen apart?

(Obierika (Okonkwo's Friend) in Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe)


I am not beating war drums. These days are days of peace between Europeans and Africans and I will like to keep it at that.

But it doesn't mean I am not in a poetic mood and neither can I ignore that sentimentality; that feeling of tranquil disability that I feel now.

Forgive my impetuousness but I simple have to say I am wondering what on earth we are talking about: A meeting or summit (whatever you call it) between Europe and African leaders? Talk about selling one?s conscience for a calabash of porridge.

Is it only Africa that will never learn? That man always lives for himself alone; whether white or black. Even nti, the little sparrow said that because hunters have learnt to shot without missing, it has learnt to fly without perching (apologies to all Igbos).

What am I hearing? Ewoooo.....

The calamity of disunity is forever sealed. We will never be our own people, living for ourselves again after this. No, mark my ways; Africa is about to be tied with a rope round its neck like a sheep and dragged to where it doesn?t want to go.

Instead of our own unity, we talked and fought at the shores of Accra; at the African Union Summit. Now we believe a meeting with white men (no racism intended) will yield more.

We forget so quickly.

Ukpana okpoko gburu, nti chiri ya

(A grasshopper that is killed by the noisy okpoko bird has a collapsed ear.)

Africa certainly has a problem. Mark my words; nothing will come out of this for Africa.

And I hear everyone is clamouring for Mugabe not to come.

For this one, I say Mugabe, you are better off not going. Please stay with your starving people because you will certainly, together with all the other African leaders, go back home with less than you brought.

Ewooooo...calamities of calamities. God help us!

Give me Tinitin anyday for Harry Potter

I want to start by saying that I am not racist in any form. If this may help you, I am African and a true black.

Before I go on to say anything further, I want to question the rationale behind the British thinking they will do better in standing up for our rights than we ourselves.

The UK Commission for Racial Equality has labeled the Tintin book racist and criticized a high street book chain for stocking the title. A spokesman for the chain said it was moving the Tintin book from the children's to the adult graphic novels section of its stores.

I understand it is the 'job', if it can be so called of the Commission for Racial Equality to ban books, films, adverts and so on, that portray any sense of racism, in any form.

In this regard I do not dispute the fact that the Commission had a right to register its distaste for portrayal of Africans in 'Tintin in the Congo' by Herge. Neither do I see the justification for appointing themselves to lead the charge when they could have deferred the 'responsibility' to an African Representative group.

Well, let us leave it there; because I was going to go on to say that sure sounds racist in disguise to me.

But to my real subject matter; for sometime now the media has refused to let us have any rest from the intense publicity of the launching, or is it 'de-launching', of the last Harry Potter book. This is meant to be the great children?s book that has ruled a generation.

I want to declare my biases upfront; I hate Harry Potter with a passion, while I completely adore the reporter boy, Tintin.

Billions of blistering barnacles! I can not imagine for the life of me why someone will want to take offence at a portrayal of Africans in a way they have always been portrayed through time. When I read Tintin in the Congo I sincerely didn?t even notice that the African portrayed were representative of me. It is simply not so and the world, or most of it knows it now. It wasn?t also as if the major characters in Tintin mistreated blacks or insulted their intelligence. It is clearly a case of 'mistaken identity' and could be gladly forgiven.

The British habit of pragmatism, honest or otherwise, should not be imposed on the African free and inhibited spirit. If we were angry at everything, I don?t think we will be making fun of their Prime Ministers by giving them chieftaincy titles.

So now why am I all huff and puff about the boy wizard, Harry Potter? Because of the very underlining reason for all black antagonism; the portrayal of white good and black bad.
Don?t worry about agreeing with me (especially if you are Harry Potter Fan), but raising children on a daily dose of white and black magic is not my idea of cultural balance.

But I am out going out in the streets today carrying a placard saying 'Death to Harry Potter' or planning bombs for the crowded movie centres on launching day (no laughing matter).

I just accept it as good literature and a profitable business venture.

That is why I ask that you leave my Tintin alone or else, I promise by Ten Thousand Thundering Typhoons, I will insistently launch a very personal campaign against Harry Potter, even in his death (if it gratefully happens) and so help me God.