Mama Afrika says...

Double taxes to support Africa?

2008-01-19T07:41:00.000-08:00

How would you answer the following question: "Many people leave Africa to live in Europe or North America each year. What do those people owe to their nations once they leave?"

Some countries, like Eritrea require that duel citizens pay income tax. Yes, this means that an Eritrean who moves to London would be required to pay taxes on their income twice, once to the English government and again to the Eritrean government. Recently, the government representatives in Germany decided to require an additional 300, 150 or 50 Euros from all Eritrean-German citizens depending on if they are employed, unemployed or students.

What do you think? Should African people be required to pay to keep their citizenship even if it means paying income tax to two different governments? I ask primarily because almost all Africans who leave "home" send money home regularly to support those family members that they left behind.

Tell us what you think.

Blessings,
Mama

NEW version of MamaAfrika.com is on the way...

2008-01-17T19:51:00.000-08:00

February is Black History Month and Mama Afrika is taking advantage of this to unveil her updated version of her website to the world!

Join us on our countdown to the unveiling... exactly 2 weeks to go!!

Until then though, join us here for a weekly article concerning Africa. Tomorrow we'll talk about the role of the diaspora in the building of Africa's economy. Anyone with views on the subject can chime in early by posting their ideas here.

Blessings,
Mama

Why NOT buy that t-shirt for Africa?

2007-08-23T10:25:00.000-07:00

Go into your favorite shop and pick up a t-shirt which has some catchy little phrase telling how important it is to "Save Africa". It sounds like a wonderful idea after all. I mean you like the t-shirt, its in a color that looks great on you and you'll get to tell all your friends about how you helped feed the poor in the process.

We at Mama Afrika sell goods to feed the poor; so it would only follow that we would love the idea. But when people ask me about it, I tell them what they might not have considered before deciding on their most recent purchase.

If the company offers a donation with the purchase of your cell phone, tennis shoes, t-shirt or other product you normally buy; it seems logical that it is better to buy that one than not. Heck, why not even talk ourselves into "needing" the new shoes so that we can help?

Well, lets start at the beginning: the vast majority of those products are not made in Africa. Africa makes textiles though, so why not? Well, if the company producing the t-shirt can buy them from a factory in China where the workers have no rights and are paid a penny or two for the sewing, they should be able to donate a large part of their sales revenue to the poor. Now though, the donation is being made at the expense of the Chinese factory worker who has no basic rights that the average employee in the West takes for granted.

But let's forget the Chinese worker for a moment and consider that the fact that the fabric is being sewn in China also means that it isnt being made in a textile factory in Lesotho for example where over 35% of the population is infected with the HIV virus; but have no place to work since the United Nations decided not to renew the trade agreement which gave them the ability to trade at an advantage by not having import taxes charged. So, where there were hundreds of thousands of factory employees able to support their families by working hard in textile mills just a few years ago... now those factories have closed and people are finding less opportunity to buy African clothing items. Who has filled that gap? Why, China of course.

Yes, the cotton might be high quality African cotton; but it is exported at very low prices and finished in China.

So far, we've found two reasons not to buy that t-shirt which is supposed to "Save Africa". Let's move on to reason number three: donations don't save people unless its in the midst of crisis.

Yes, if we are talking about a natural disaster or a coup d'etat, donations are needed to feed and move people to a safer location. But it is NOT a permanent solution. What is needed is trade on fair terms. Africans don't want to live their lives waiting for hand-outs, even if the people handing out the money or goods are famous European or American rock stars or hits at the box-office.

The only solution is to offer Africans the ability to feed themselves through earnings. We need to think long term and figure out that supporting fair trade companies, offering assistance in the form of micro-loans so that men and women in Africa can start small businesses, donating to programs which train youth to learn trades or even something as small as only buying fair trade coffee or tea each morning instead of giving your $5 to a company like Starbucks which tried to trademark the name of Ethiopian coffees, preventing the farmers from being able to market their own product globally.

I guess the thing that bothers me most about these campaigns is that it takes advantage of people who really want to do something good for their fellow man. So I say this: you can't know the negative impact until someone tells you. Now you've been informed. So make informed choices and spread the word. Skip the "Save the world" t-shirt and find ways to make a real impact with your dollar, euro or yen.

Always,
Mama

Returning Tanzania's history...

2005-11-16T03:49:00.000-08:00

Chagga want chief Meli's skull back from Germany

By Valentine Marc Nkwame, Arusha Times

"Elders in the Old Moshi location of Kilimanjaro region have one more task for the outgoing president, Benjamin William Mkapa. They want him to hand over the responsibility of bringing back the skull of their former traditional leader, the late Mangi Meli Kiusa bin Rindi Makindara to the incoming president, lest the issue is forgotten.Mangi (Chief) Meli who was hanged by the German colonialists in early 20th century was one of the heroes of the former Tanganyika colony, who stood firm to fight against the colonial encroachment around the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro. He reigned in the 1890s.Meli was later on brutally killed by German colonial soldiers in the open while his people watched. He was hanged to death, after which, the German colonial administration ordered that his head be chopped off and taken to Germany where it is believed is still kept in a museum.Mangi Meli's great grandson Isaria Anael Meli pointed out recently that the Old Moshi community has been making several attempts to follow up their historical Chief's skull since 1968 for the sake of restoring it back for essential traditional ritual procedures but their efforts have ended in vain. ......."

".... According to Isaria the community of old Moshi believes that in the absence of their former chief's skull, the necessary rituals could not be performed and as a result natural calamities such as mysterious deaths within the Mangi's clan and the community in general are threatening the area. Other misfortune connected to the absence of the skull includes; poverty, diseases, insufficient or destructive rains, famine, and the drying up of about 90 percent of natural water springs which originated from the mountain, plus the fact that the grounds in the area keeps getting barren.Before Mangi Meli was hanged in 1898 another local chief, Mkwawa, a courageous and persistent freedom fighter committed suicide to avoid being captured by the German colonial soldiers. After his death the German also cut off his head and sent it to Germany. However, Hehe made persistent demands for its return and it was brought back to Tanzania where it is being kept in his capital at Kalenga in Iringa region. "

For the full-text article, click here: http://www.arushatimes.co.tz/front_pge_1.htm

Hey Mr "President", why are you paying the arms dealers before the doctor?

2005-10-25T09:59:00.000-07:00

Ok, let's get directly to business here...

I have been asked countless times why it is that African leadership buys weapons before food for their citizens. And frankly, it is the one time that I am left without a response that satisfies me, much less the person I'm speaking with.

After taking another look at the United Nation's Human Development Index today, I am left wondering how any African leader can explain the enormous discrepancies in spending! After all, leaders are elected (although not often enough is real democracy present on our continent) with the hope that they will be able to impliment programs which facilitate people's daily lives, improve their living conditions and allow mothers to see their children live longer, stronger and better.

Isn't it a universal ideal after all for each generation to want better for future generations? How is it then, that we have managed to breech this rule of law in our leadership's vision for our nations?

Since when does it make sense to spend 10% of your national budget on your military; yet 1% on healthcare for your citizens?! Utterly disgraceful numbers by anyone's standards. These numbers may be true of Ethiopia's government; but the fact is that you could plug in the budgets of a host of other countries (Eritrea, Angola, Djibouti...) and ask yourselves the same thing.

When will education, healthcare, access to clean water and other development goals be what leads the decision making process? When will we put our children first?

Just my thoughts,
Mama

Conflict big and small

2005-09-23T06:03:00.000-07:00

Here are a few stories discussing conflicts large and small. Any thoughts on the subjects are welcome.

Eritrea warns of renewed conflict

Threats close Nigeria oil station

Ethiopia Jews go on hunger strike

S African white farm to be seized

Good day,
Mama

Back to school for African children

2005-09-19T10:02:00.000-07:00

Hello all,

I hope you had an enjoyable weekend. Today's news focuses on children. Some are stories you will enjoy, others might inspire discussion as to how to improve the educational systems in some countries.

Best wishes for a fabulous week,
Mama

Burundians flock to free schools

Mozambique's crowded classrooms

School Dropouts Set Off Alarm Bells (South Africa)

And what about women...?

2005-09-15T10:21:00.000-07:00

Today's articles focus on the rights of women in Africa:

More Women Needed -- At Peace Talks, and in Government (Sudan)

Rape Bill Introduced At NTLA

Educate Girls - and Boost Health

Enjoy!
Mama

Poverty in Africa... what are your views?

2005-09-14T10:31:00.000-07:00

Today's focus is on poverty. I found a couple of good articles on BBC.com and would like to share them with you. But above all, I am very interested in learning more about the issue through you. Please comment and share any interesting reading you might have seen or tell us your views on the causes of poverty or the possible long-term solutions.

Here are the articles:

Ethiopia strives to feed itself

In pictures: Millennium Village in Kenya

I look forward to your input!

Mama

Happy New Year...yes, in September!

2005-09-12T05:34:00.000-07:00

Good morning everyone! I hope your weekend went well. Sunday September 11th was Eritrean (and Ethiopian) New Year. Although we use the modern Christian calendar now due to international commerce, etc, the traditional calendar is still recognized and celebrated to this day. The Orthodox Church still uses the Julian calendar, which puts the religious calendar 7 years and 7 days behind the more commonly used calendar. Those of us in the diaspora whom receive the Eritrean television station via satellite got to watch beautiful celebrations held throughout the country. We watched our fellow countrymen dancing, singing and drinking traditional coffee, like millions of Eritreans did throughout the planet.

It was also a time to call family and friends to wish them a happy and prosperous New Year. One of the many traditions in Eritrea is to start a fire outside of the house, jump over it three times (once for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit) while singing songs of praise and prayer. Men and boys are blessed through the songs by the women of the family/village and the men then take a torch (lit by the flames of the fire everyone is dancing and singing around) run around the house three times.

To quote one of the songs I heard sung by some gorgeous Eritrean women yesterday, here is my wish for my people and the people of Ethiopia... and for all of us worldwide: "Let us sing and dance together, so that there will be peace. Let us visit each other often, so that there will be peace...."

A wonderful day with family and friends, prayer and the delicious smells of strong traditional coffee brewing and singing and dancing... who could ask for more? Happy New Year everyone!

On the health front in Africa, here are a few articles concerning health in Africa today:

Multi-Drug Resistant TB Cases Confirmed (Kenya)

Ugandan Girl to Address US Congress (Uganda)

Cultivated Land Disappears in Aids-Ravaged Africa (Ethiopia)

Ethiopians held as slaves in the Middle East

2005-09-07T06:07:00.000-07:00

At long last! The west is taking a look at the issue of slavery and human trafficking in the Middle East. It has always bothered me that in the hope of being politically correct; many have turned their heads where this issue is concerned so as not to offend Arabs. Between this issue in the Horn of Africa and the way that blacks and Christians are being slaughtered in Sudan... it makes me wonder why noone is drawing any comparisons?

The worst is that Christian and Muslim Ethiopians have been living in side by side for generations despite religious differences. It is this which leads Ethiopians to trust that they will not be persecuted, tortured or sexually abused when they take jobs in places like Yemen, Saudi Arabia, etc. After all, they have never known a Muslim to hate them simply because they are Christian. They've had Muslim friends and neighbors their whole lives.

I can hardly imagine that if these same black faces were being held against their will in countries like the United States or Germany that people would do anything but jump on the offenders and their nations for allowing it.

I read a book recently concerning slavery in the diplomatic field, this book discussed Europe primarily and France specifically. But other than the sensational news story when a girl is found in horrible living conditions once every few years in the home of some ambassador or other... it is largely ignored.

My sincere hope is that this story will be shared and discussed. I also applaud not only the woman who was daring enough to share her story; but the Ethiopian government for taking her story to the average Ethiopian who might be considering making the same journey.

Now let us all help this part of the world develop so that they can find a means to provide for themselves while remaining in their country.

Here is a link to the original story: Ethiopian tells of migrant ordeal (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)

All my best,
Mama

2005-09-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

News in Africa:

Minimum Wage Act Has Legalised Slave Wages - ZCTU (Zambia)

Police Torture Wum SDF Chairman (Cameroon)

Villagers Respond to Aids Orphans Crisis (Zimbabwe)

I have to say how much the last article struck me. It speaks volumes to the spirit of Zimbabwe's people that they are living in such terrible conditions and still manage to reach out to help those suffering with them. I am touched by their willingness to grow food for others when they are never sure what the situation will be from day to day for themselves.

May God bring peace to their nation soon. Dictatorships rarely produce anything positive for the citizens of the countries that they hold hostage. I hope that the average citizen in Zimbabwe soon has the right to speak his opinions without fear, to provide for his family and to flourish in a way that they deserve. After all, history shows us they are ever-so-capable!

Peace,
Mama

In the news

2005-09-05T10:34:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day to those of you in the US.

Here are a couple of interesting stories concerning Africa today:

Africans feared killed by Katrina (BBC)

Didn't do it for you: How the World Betrayed A Small African Nation (Eritrea)

The queen’s surgeon visits Kenya to help heart patients (Kenya)

Enjoy,
Mama

Todays news in Africa...

2005-09-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

I spend most mornings digging through the news coming out of Africa. I read not only the international press; but local newspapers and news sources from African countries across the continent.

I know that most of you don't have time in the day to do the same; so I figured I'll peruse the news and then post a few of the headlines I find most interesting so that you can come to one place, sip your morning cup of coffee, click through to some of Mama's favorite news stories of the day and then get your day started.

Here are today's stories:

Eritrean cookers saving firewood , By Ed Harris BBC News, Eritrea

Development-Africa: Water, Water Everywhere... by Thalif Deen, IPS News South Africa

Labour-Niger:Gold Miners Exploit Children, by Ousseini Issa, IPS News South Africa

Enjoy,
Mama

What can one kid do to help Africans live better?

2005-09-01T15:11:00.000-07:00

I got an email earlier this week from a little girl in the US asking what a child could do to help in Africa. I tell you it warms my heart everytime I get one of these mails.

I've decided to post my reply to her here (removing any identifying information of course). I hope it will inspire other children to get involved too.

Hello T,
Thank you so much for taking time to email me. I am always impressed by children like you who are already interested in helping other children live better lives.

Over the years, I have been lucky enough to hear from other kids like you who want to help. Here are a few ideas of projects they started. Maybe this will help you think of something you can do too.

K. in Montreal Canada started a little organization of her own . She started by having a slumber party where she invited lots of her friends and charged them each $5 to come. Her mom made some great snacks and games for them to play and the money was saved. They then started doing little fundraising activities and now donate the money to an orphanage in Uganda.
Mama Afrika works with a wonderful organization in Rwanda which helps orphans from the genocide. To change a girl/woman's life costs only $25 a month. She will receive the money for one year and that allows her to have a business so she can feed herself and her family for life. We really love this project! Perhaps you could get together with a few friends and try to do bake sales, ask family or friends or some other interesting idea to raise money and you could help in this way? You'll find more information about this project here: http://www.mamaafrika.com/NGOs/rwanda/mbwirandumva.php

If you go to the following page on MamaAfrika.com you will find the story of two girls who decided to donate some of their savings and sending school supplies to a school in Ghana. http://www.mamaafrika.com/NGOs/ghana/pwa_ghana2.php

You can find great items at those stores which sell things at a discount (Dollar Stores, 99 cent stores, etc). These two girls were able to send items like crayons, pencils, art supplies and things for the playground like jump ropes, etc. The children in Ghana were so very happy to receive such things!

If you would like the address of an organization we work with in Africa so that you can send items directly; just let me know. I'm always happy to help children with big hearts like yours.
Again, thank you for caring about my beautiful continent. You are an angel!

Love,
Mama Afrika

The adventure begins

2005-09-01T14:44:00.000-07:00

After having people ask me why on earth Mama isn't blogging yet, I've decided to give this whole thing a shot. Those of you who have met me know I am far from being one of those women who is at a loss for words... so here it goes!

Honestly, the main reason I have decided to take the plunge into the land of blogs is that it will give me the opportunity to share more information about Africa, Africans and the issues facing our great continent.

I also think it will meet the request (at long last) of those visitors to the website who miss the days when I was able to post an article per week to MamaAfrika.com Those days are long gone and time restrictions prevent me from adding them as often as I like.

Keep an eye out here though for briefs on the news of the day, answers to questions that people send me and a host of other things to do with Africa.

Make it a place to have yoru morning cup of coffee, enjoy your lunch or take that 10 minute break you need during the day. Above all, contribute your views, ideas and thoughts.

I think that with enough of us focused on the same goal, we can get some wonderful things accomplished!

Away we go...

Mama