Kiva: microfinancing towards development

I have been involved for a while now with an organization called KIVA, which facilitates micro loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries via the internet. I strongly advocate investing within African and Caribbean economies instead of the current system of reliance on foreign aid, which perpetuates the neocolonial dominance of these economies by the West... and now the East (China and India). Plus those who benefit most from this aid aren't the ordinary people but the politicians, their families, associates and members of their tribal group... and of-course the non-governmental aid agencies for whom poverty and despair is big business.

I decided to "put my money where my mouth is" by investing in entrepreneurs who are working to provide a better life for themselves, their families and their communities. There are many worthwhile enterprises to be supported, so I encourage you to get involved. These are the projects I am currently supporting:

1. Chaka Dembélé
2. Jared Mangaa Oimeke
3. Assurance De Phaeton Group

Blackout of humanitarian crisis in Cote d'Ivoire

In the wake of the enormous media coverage of the uprisings and so-defined "revolutions" in North Africa and the Middle East, I am hard pressed to find any media coverage of the escalating atrocities and impending civil war in Cote d'Ivoire. The "blackout" of this media coverage I am referring to is not within the mainstream media... which is understandable... it's within the AfroSphere itself. One can read more on Chris Brown... even on Charlie Sheen... on blogs, news sites and webzines within the Black/African blogosphere, than on Cote d'Ivoire.

The sad thing about this is that in this age of the power of social media within the creation of communities of interest, the recent histories of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Rwanda and Kenya are being repeated today in Cote d'Ivoire (here)... and we don't care. It's an indictment on all of us, from President Obama... "a son of Africa"... to those of African descent within the continent, the Diaspora and the AfroSphere. We do nothing, then we get pissed and question the motives and sincerity of the Bono's, George Clooney's and Mia Farrow's of the (white) world when they take up the causes of African people.

In saying all this however, I must acknowledge and give props to Patrick-Bernard at Cry Me An Onion for his post "The Ivory Coast Saga" in December 2010. He is one of a handful within the AfroSphere with a global perspective and understanding on the importance and significance of these issues on those of African descent regardless of where we reside.

Henceforth, the first step to do something... anything... about this is awareness. Below are some resources on Cote d'Ivoire that bring knowledge and perspective to what is happening there now:

1. Aljazeera: An Ivorian Miracle?
2. Crossed Crocodiles: Ivory Coast - What Happened? What Next? (excellent background and references on current situation)
3. Thed African Executive: The Ivory Coast: Unlocking the Impasse
4. Pambazuka News: Cote d'Ivoire: Forces behind the crisis and what's at stake

Post something on your blog or webzine to bring attention to this crisis. Hundreds have been and thousands will be massacred. Atrocities such as mass murders and rapes, other crimes against humanity including genocide is forthcoming. Obama and the European allies argued that they had to intervene in Lybia to prevent a humanitarian crisis... what about Cote d'Ivoire?

Enlighten those during discussions about the so-called "Jasmine Revolutions" as well as debates surrounding military intervention in Lybia, about the fight for democracy and the current humanitarian crisis in Cote d'Ivoire.

The mainstream media may ignore the plight of the people in Cote d'Ivoire... that's expected... our blackout of this event... is self-imposed. The guilt will be ours.

sat'day riddymz

Sunday Chat with Dad

"Those who talk a lot are likely to sin, but those who control their tongues are wise." Proverbs 10:19

Hi Pops, the past few weeks you have been teaching me a lot about the value and wisdom of being silent. I have recently seen people saying way too much in situations where the less that was said, the better it would have been.

One of the tenets of our society is freedom of speech, so we have all been conditioned to not only exercise our right to speak as much as we can, but to further believe we have a right to be heard. Everyone therefore has something to say... and the more they get to say, the more attention they expect to receive... and the more attention they receive, the more they believe they're valued and respected. There are also those who believe that the more they say, the more intelligent they are... or appear to be.

Paradoxically, as a police officer I have learnt that the right to remain silent is for the benefit of the guilty. The innocent have nothing to tell but the truth. The guilty who wish to take responsibility for their actions are more than willing to confess and be accountable. Both don`t need to say much... and they usually don`t.

"We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak" Epictetus, Greek Philosopher.

You are forever teaching me the benefit of listening. I am consistently working at getting my point across in as few words as possible. Sometimes just a "look" suffices... lol!

I thank you for teaching me this very important lesson: sometimes there is no value engaging in discussion or debate.

"Do not give that which is holy to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces." Matthew 7:6

sat'day riddymz

Friday Date Night at Steak Lounge

The wife and I had an amazing dinner at Steak Lounge in our home town. Check out this photo I took of my meal:

My entreé was Sirloin Oscar: medium rare 7oz sirloin, béarnaise, prawns, lemon asparagus, mini tomatoes, sweet red cabbage, twice baked potato with sour cream and bacon bits and red horse radish...yum...yum. I started with Surf and Turf Spring Rolls (short rib, shrimp, mandarin sauce) for an appetizer, washing it all down with a bottle of Beringer Stone Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon. We ended it all off with a praline crusted Cheese Cake. I should have taken a photo of the dessert also... my bad... but we attacked it once it got to our table!  

sat'day riddymz

Afro-Futurism: The Marketing of Revolution

rev-o-lu-tion: noun


1. an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed;
2. a radical and pervasive change in society and the social structure, especially one made suddenly and often accompanied by violence.


Like most of the world, I have been following the so-called "Jasmine Revolution" in North Africa and the Middle East. As I watched the news coverage (primarily on Aljazeera English), saw the images of protest, violence and chaos, observed the manoeuvrings of the ruling class to maintain power, while some were pretending to relinquish it, as I read throughout the blogosphere, afrosphere and listened to the "experts" predict the rise of people power, I mused of how wrong Gil Scott Heron was when he stated that "the revolution will not be televised."  

Not only is the revolution being televised, it is also being marketed throughout all media platforms... on television, radio, in print, but most importantly, throughout cyberspace. It has become apparent that 21st century revolutions are purposely being marketed via the internet... and the main players, multi-national, billion dollar corporations such as Facebook, Google and Twitter, or media created sensations such as WikiLeaks, are the primary beneficiaries. 

History is a cruel teacher, because it teaches the same lessons to future intelligentsia, who continuously fool themselves into believing that they are smarter, as well as more sophisticated, than all the generations previous. However history has taught us, if we care to examine closely, that all revolutions... whether secular, religious, political or social... no matter how noble and well intentioned they began, ends up replacing one small parasitic ruling class with another privileged one. History also teaches us that from the beginning, if we care to examine closely, the benefits from the new revolutionary society were always intended for a chosen few.

"No question now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which." George Orwell: Animal Farm

I remember during my university days revolutionaries such as Gaddafi, Mugabe and Castro were my heroes. I recently watched a documentary on the rise of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, who some consider a new age revolutionary. When they were leaking information such as the dumping of toxic waste off the Ivory Coast by western corporations (here), they realized that the world was taking little or no notice of their leaks. Then they devised a marketing strategy to bring themselves to prominence. They would focus on leaking American secrets and brand themselves with a face... and who better than a white-haired, blue eyed, fair-skinned, Norse-like god to be the face of WikiLeaks... although he was originally from Australia and had dark hair.

The image makeover and marketing of Assange as the new Thor-like revolutionary hero... who like the mythical hero that wielded a hammer to produce thunder throughout the heavens... Assange wielded the "send" button on his computer, to produce a thunderous effect throughout cyberspace, heard around the world... an internet driven revolution of society. However, just like real thunder, which initially may cause a mixture of fear, chaos, wonder, and worship among the young, uninformed, blind and zealots... over time this new revolutionary thunder dissipates into nothingness and life goes on. It becomes a news cycle story for a time, then a hollywood produced movie.. panem et circences... and history once again repeats itself. 

Interestingly, Jasmine-like revolutions which has been taking place within "black" Africa, people rising up against despotic leadership in places such as Zimbabwe, Kenya, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan, Chad and recently the Ivory Coast, don't get the anywhere near the worldwide attention and concern... particularly among the self described "black revolutionaries" within the afrosphere. These "Cocoa Revolutions" have no marketing value, except to reinforce the perception that these are just a bunch of savage Africans killing each other as usual. There are no white-haired, blue eyed, fair-skinned, Tarzan-like figures, associated with these revolutionary struggles in "black" Africa to capture our attention... or to worship. Most importantly, "black" Africa is not conducive at this point, for profit generation by the new multi-national, billion dollar corporations such as Facebook, Google and Twitter.  

The future for those of African descent, regardless of where we reside in the world, isn't in revolution. 20th century revolutions for the 21st century is foolish and self-defeating. History has taught us, for those who wish to learn, that revolution hasn't benefitted us in the past, whether it's been marketed with a "white" Christ, Marx, Lenin, Mao, Assange or whatever fair-skinned brand they are planning to throw at us in the future. History has taught us, for those who wish to learn, that European based revolutionary ideology, like all Eurocentric ideology and theology, wasn't created for our benefit... or profit... even if it has been marketed to us with a "black" face. The fact is, they have been used time and time again, to enslave us, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. 

Moving forward into our collective Afro-Future, individually and as a people we need to embrace a spirit of evolution. The 60's ended on January 1st, 1970. Malcolm, Martin, Nkrumah, Lumumba, etc., had their moments. Today belongs to us. The time is now to build upon their foundation... as well as on those of all our ancestors... not rest on them. Future generations should honour our efforts and be inspired by our words of wisdom, just like we honour and quote our ancestors. We must evolve within, first and foremost.... spiritually, emotionally, mentally. As a people, we are only as strong as our weakest link. If we can't evolve to the point where we can unite with each other... or at least listen to each other... regardless of ideology, theology, politics, gender, sexual orientation, national and/or tribal affiliations, we will always be slaves to the marketing strategies and revolutions of others.

"The best way to control the opposition, is to market it. Once a revolution can be branded, given a Facebook page and "Googled", it's the shareholders in front of their computers, not the people on the streets, who determine the course of their history." Asabagna 

sat'day riddymz