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General Discussion / Read Neanderthals!
« on: October 13, 2010, 11:07:55 AM »
Somewhere inbetween all the smashing, swatting away of sperm-thirsty broads, polishing of your hard exteriors and reinforcing of your priviledge read this.
And f*** Colin Powell.

Afrikan Women Warriors
 
Matriarchal warrior tribes and matrilineal tribal descent are a continuing theme in African history and in some cases survived into modern times. One of the great African warrior queens of the ancient world was Majaji, who led the Lovedu tribe which was part of the Kushite Empire during the Kushite's centuries long war with Rome. The empire ended in 350 AD when the Kushite stronghold of Meroe fell to repeated Roman a**aults. Majaji led her warriors in battle armed with a shield and spear and is believed to have died on the walls of Meroe.

The Egyptian warrior queens included Ahotep, the 7 Cleopatras and Arsinoe II & III, all of who descended from the royal house of Kush. They ruled Egypt and led her army and navy through Roman times. A succession of Ethiopian Queens and military leaders known as Candace were also descended from the Kush. The first Candace, leading an army mounted on war elephants, turned back Alexander's invasion of Ethiopia in 332 BC. In 30 BC Candace Amanirenas defeated an invasion by Patronius, the Roman governor of Egypt and sacked the city of Cyrene.

In 937 AD Judith, Queen of the Falash, attacked Axum, sacred capital of Ethiopia killing all the inhabitants including the descendants of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.

Through the 10th and 11th centuries the Hausa states (modern day Nigeria) were ruled by the Habe warrior queens: Kufuru, Gino, Yakumo, Yakunya, Walzana, Daura, Gamata, Shata, Batatume, Sandamata, Yanbamu, Gizirgizir, Innagari, Jamata, Hamata, Zama and Shawata. Centuries later Amina, daughter of Queen Turunku of the Songhai in mid-Niger ruled the Hausa empire from 1536 to 1573. She extended her nation's boundaries to the Atlantic coast, founded cities and personally led her army of 20,000 soldiers into battle.

Mbande Zinga was the sister and advisor of the king of Ngola (today Angola) and served as his representative in negotiating treaties with the Portuguese. She became queen when her brother died in 1624 and appointed women, including her two sisters Kifunji and Mukumbu, to all government offices. When the Portuguese broke the peace treaty she led her largely female army against them inflicting terrible casualties while also conquering nearby kingdoms in an attempt to build a strong enough confederation to drive the Portuguese out of Africa. She accepted a truce and then agreed to a peace treaty in 1635. She continued to rule her people and lived to be 81. When Angola became an independent nation in 1975 a street in Luanda was named in her honor.

Llinga, a warrior queen of the Congo armed with ax, bow and sword fought the Portuguese in 1640. Women warriors were common in the Congo where the Monomotapa confederacy had standing armies of women.

Kaipkire, warrior leader of the Herero tribe of southwest Africa in the 18th century led her people in battles against British slave traders. There are records of Herero women fighting German soldiers as late as 1919.

Nandi was the warrior mother of Shaka Zulu. She battled slave traders and trained her son to be a warrior. When he became King he established an all-female regiment which often fought in the front lines of his army.

Mantatisi, warrior queen of the baTlokwas in the early 1800s fought to preserve her tribal lands during the wars between Shaka Zulu and Matiwane. She succeeded in protecting the baTlokwas heritage although her son, who became King when she died, was eventually defeated by Mahweshwe.

Madame Yoko ruled and led the army of the fourteen tribes of the Kpa Mende Confederacy, the largest tribal group in 19th century Sierra Leone. At that time at least 15% of all the tribes in Sierra Leone were led by women, today approximately 9% have women rulers.

Menen Leben Amede was Empress of Ethopia. She commanded her own army and acted as regent for her son Ali Alulus. She was wounded and captured in a battle in 1847 but was ransomed by her son and continued to rule until 1853.

Seh-Dong-Hong-Beh, was a leader of the Dahomey Amazons under King Gezo. In 1851 she led an army of 6,000 women against the Egba fortress of Abeokuta. Because the Amazons were armed with spears, bows and swords while the Egba had European cannons only about 1,200 survived the extended battle. In 1892 King Behanzin of Dahomey (now Benin) was at war with the French colonists over trading rights. He led his army of 12,000 troops, including 2,000 Amazons into battle. Despite the fact that the Dahomey army was armed only with rifles while the French had machine guns and cannons, the Amazons attacked when the French troops attempted a river crossing, inflicting heavy casualties. They engaged in hand to hand combat with the survivors eventually forcing the French army to retreat. Days later the French found a bridge, crossed the river and defeated the Dahomey army after fierce fighting. The Amazons burned fields, villages and cities rather than let them fall to the French but merely delayed Dahomey being absorbed as a French colony.

In the late 19th century Mukaya, the leader of the Luba people of central Africa who's nation stretched along the rain forest from Zaire to northern Zambia, led her warriors in battle against enemy tribes and rival factions. Initially she fought alongside her brother Kasongo Kalambo, after he was killed in battle she a**umed sole control of the empire and the army.

Nehanda (1862-1898) was a priestess of the MaShona nation of Zimbabwe. She became a military leader of her people when the British invaded her country. She led a number of successful attacks on the English but was eventually captured and executed.

Taytu Betul (1850-1918) was Empress of Ethopia. During her 14 year reign she established and named the modern capital of Addis Ababa, she led troops in battle and negotiated peace treaties. She retired from public life after the death of her husband.

Yaa Asantewaa (1850-1921) the Queen Mother of one of the Asante states of Ghana led her army in continuous battles against the British until her capture.

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General Discussion / HOW [NOT] TO WRITE ABOUT AFRICA
« on: September 23, 2009, 06:19:48 PM »
BY BINYAVANGA WAINAINA

(ok,i know i'm invoking the spirit of colin with this one,but i couldn't help myself ;D,those with the time please read)

Always use the word 'Africa' or 'Darkness' or 'Safari' in your title. Subtitles may include the words 'Zanzibar', 'Masai', 'Zulu', 'Zambezi', 'Congo', 'Nile', 'Big', 'Sky', 'Shadow', 'Drum', 'Sun' or 'Bygone'. Also useful are words such as 'Guerrillas', 'Timeless', 'Primordial' and 'Tribal'. Note that 'People' means Africans who are not black, while 'The People' means black Africans.

Never have a picture of a well-adjusted African on the cover of your book, or in it, unless that African has won the Nobel Prize. An AK-47, prominent ribs, naked breasts: use these. If you must include an African, make sure you get one in Masai or Zulu or Dogon dress.

In your text, treat Africa as if it were one country. It is hot and dusty with rolling gra**lands and huge herds of animals and tall, thin people who are starving. Or it is hot and steamy with very short people who eat primates. Don't get bogged down with precise descriptions. Africa is big: fifty-four countries, 900 million people who are too busy starving and dying and warring and emigrating to read your book. The continent is full of deserts, jungles, highlands, savannahs and many other things, but your reader doesn't care about all that, so keep your descriptions romantic and evocative and unparticular.

Make sure you show how Africans have music and rhythm deep in their souls, and eat things no other humans eat. Do not mention rice and beef and wheat; monkey-brain is an African's cuisine of choice, along with goat, snake, worms and grubs and all manner of game meat. Make sure you show that you are able to eat such food without flinching, and describe how you learn to enjoy it—because you care.

Taboo subjects: ordinary domestic scenes, love between Africans (unless a death is involved), references to African writers or intellectuals, mention of school-going children who are not suffering from yaws or Ebola fever or female genital mutilation.

Throughout the book, adopt a sotto voice, in conspiracy with the reader, and a sad I-expected-so-much tone. Establish early on that your liberalism is impeccable, and mention near the beginning how much you love Africa, how you fell in love with the place and can't live without her. Africa is the only continent you can love—take advantage of this. If you are a man, thrust yourself into her warm virgin forests. If you are a woman, treat Africa as a man who wears a bush jacket and disappears off into the sunset. Africa is to be pitied, worshipped or dominated. Whichever angle you take, be sure to leave the strong impression that without your intervention and your important book, Africa is doomed.

Your African characters may include naked warriors, loyal servants, diviners and seers, ancient wise men living in hermitic splendour. Or corrupt politicians, inept polygamous travel-guides, and prostitutes you have slept with. The Loyal Servant always behaves like a seven-year-old and needs a firm hand; he is scared of snakes, good with children, and always involving you in his complex domestic dramas. The Ancient Wise Man always comes from a noble tribe (not the money-grubbing tribes like the Gikuyu, the Igbo or the Shona). He has rheumy eyes and is close to the Earth. The Modern African is a fat man who steals and works in the visa office, refusing to give work permits to qualified Westerners who really care about Africa. He is an enemy of development, always using his government job to make it difficult for pragmatic and good-hearted expats to set up NGOs or Legal Conservation Areas. Or he is an Oxford-educated intellectual turned serial-killing politician in a Savile Row suit. He is a cannibal who likes Cristal champagne, and his mother is a rich witch-doctor who really runs the country.

Among your characters you must always include The Starving African, who wanders the refugee camp nearly naked, and waits for the benevolence of the West. Her children have flies on their eyelids and pot bellies, and her breasts are flat and empty. She must look utterly helpless. She can have no past, no history; such diversions ruin the dramatic moment. Moans are good. She must never say anything about herself in the dialogue except to speak of her (unspeakable) suffering. Also be sure to include a warm and motherly woman who has a rolling laugh and who is concerned for your well-being. Just call her Mama. Her children are all delinquent. These characters should buzz around your main hero, making him look good. Your hero can teach them, bathe them, feed them; he carries lots of babies and has seen Death. Your hero is you (if reportage), or a beautiful, tragic international celebrity/aristocrat who now cares for animals (if fiction).

Bad Western characters may include children of Tory cabinet ministers, Afrikaners, employees of the World Bank. When talking about exploitation by foreigners mention the Chinese and Indian traders. Blame the West for Africa's situation. But do not be too specific.

Broad brushstrokes throughout are good. Avoid having the African characters laugh, or struggle to educate their kids, or just make do in mundane circumstances. Have them illuminate something about Europe or America in Africa. African characters should be colourful, exotic, larger than life—but empty inside, with no dialogue, no conflicts or resolutions in their stories, no depth or quirks to confuse the cause.

Describe, in detail, naked breasts (young, old, conservative, recently raped, big, small) or mutilated genitals, or enhanced genitals. Or any kind of genitals. And dead bodies. Or, better, naked dead bodies. And especially rotting naked dead bodies. Remember, any work you submit in which people look filthy and miserable will be referred to as the 'real Africa', and you want that on your dust jacket. Do not feel queasy about this: you are trying to help them to get aid from the West. The biggest taboo in writing about Africa is to describe or show dead or suffering white people.

Animals, on the other hand, must be treated as well rounded, complex characters. They speak (or grunt while tossing their manes proudly) and have names, ambitions and desires. They also have family values: see how lions teach their children? Elephants are caring, and are good feminists or dignified patriarchs. So are gorillas. Never, ever say anything negative about an elephant or a gorilla. Elephants may attack people's property, destroy their crops, and even kill them. Always take the side of the elephant. Big cats have public-school accents. Hyenas are fair game and have vaguely Middle Eastern accents. Any short Africans who live in the jungle or desert may be portrayed with good humour (unless they are in conflict with an elephant or chimpanzee or gorilla, in which case they are pure evil).

After celebrity activists and aid workers, conservationists are Africa's most important people. Do not offend them. You need them to invite you to their 30,000-acre game ranch or 'conservation area', and this is the only way you will get to interview the celebrity activist. Often a book cover with a heroic-looking conservationist on it works magic for sales. Anybody white, tanned and wearing khaki who once had a pet antelope or a farm is a conservationist, one who is preserving Africa's rich heritage. When interviewing him or her, do not ask how much funding they have; do not ask how much money they make off their game. Never ask how much they pay their employees.

Readers will be put off if you don't mention the light in Africa. And sunsets, the African sunset is a must. It is always big and red. There is always a big sky. Wide empty spaces and game are critical—Africa is the Land of Wide Empty Spaces. When writing about the plight of flora and fauna, make sure you mention that Africa is overpopulated. When your main character is in a desert or jungle living with indigenous peoples (anybody short) it is okay to mention that Africa has been severely depopulated by Aids and War (use caps).

You'll also need a nightclub called Tropicana, where mercenaries, evil nouveau riche Africans and prostitutes and guerrillas and expats hang out.

Always end your book with Nelson Mandela saying something about rainbows or renaissances. Because you care.

http://www.newcollege.utoronto.ca/programs/africanstudies/writeafrica.htm

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Movie Talk / Black Movies
« on: October 22, 2008, 09:31:49 AM »
What is your take on recently released 'black movies'?

The Tyler Perry Ones:
Diary of a Mad Black Woman
Madea's Family Reunion
Daddy's Little Girls
Why Did I get Married etc

And Others:
I think I love My Wife
This Christmas
Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins

All centered on family values and marriage and black characters doing well for themselves, no drugs, prostitution or gangsterism in the plot.

Whats your view?

4
General Discussion / Top Ten Richest Men in Africa-2008
« on: October 19, 2008, 07:59:51 PM »
I say forget bill gates or warren buffet...conquer ur own backyard 1st, seems like egypt is heading the pack!
who thort patrice was only no. 10?(see bottom of list there was an omission richer than him)

This year welcomes two new faces to the list of the richest men in Africa as well as one omission from last year. It will however be most memorable for début of the first black Africans to join the esteemed company on the list. Not surprisingly the two, Aliko Dangote and Patrice Motsepe are from Nigeria and South Africa the two countries on which most of the hope for African economic renaissance lies and they join at position 6 and 9 respectively.

They say the first million is the hardest so one would guess by the time you get to a billion it is positively child’s play to make money, and so it would seem as all the entrants from 2007 remain on the with most having increased their wealth despite torrid global economic conditions

. Here is how they pan out:

Patrice Motsepe (South Africa)
African Rank No.9 – World Rank No.503 – Wealth $2.4 billion
It has been fourteen years since the end of Apartheid and Africa’s largest economy South Africa has finally produced its first black billionaire, Patrice Motsepe. The Pretoria raised lawyer was born into a relatively well off black family for the time, his father ABC Motsepe was one of the wealthiest black business men in the country. Motsepe specialised as a mining lawyer and this paved his way into the industry that was too make his fortune. His company African Rainbow Mineral is today one the largest mining concerns in South Africa. Motsepe is also the owner of one of South Africa’s most successful football clubs Mamelodi Sundowns FC


Samih Sawiris (Egypt)
African Rank No.8 – World Rank No.396 – Wealth $2.9 billion
Samih Sawiris is the first of the four Sawiris family members we meet in this list. It has been a good year for Samih as his interests in tourism and leisure have seen his wealth rise from $1.6 billion to $2.9billion. Probably his most significant investment over the year was his commitment to invest $500 million in a luxury alpine resort in Andermatt, Switzerland his first venture outside the Middle East. The resort will comprise a 5-star hotel, apartment and villa, an ice rink all spread over 37 acres.


Aliko Dangote (Nigeria)
African Rank No.7 – World Rank No.334 – Wealth $3.3 billion
Another débutante on the list and the first from Africa’s most populous nation. While the average man on the street in Nigeria would insist that the country has produced many billionaires’, mostly former heads of state and their cronies, Dangote represents a break from this tradition as a man who has created his wealth in a comparatively transparent manner. His interests in sugar,cement and food have propelled Dangote to the top of the pile in Nigeria. His close relationship with former Nigerian President Obasanjo some argue has fuelled his wealth and Obasanjo’s exit from power last year saw Dangote’s influence wane somewhat typified by the revocation of his purchase of former-state owned refineries by the new government.


Johann Rupert & family (South Africa)
African Rank No.6 – World Rank No.284 – Wealth $3.8 billion
Johann Ruperts and family have seen their total wealth slip by about $500 million and drop three places down the list of Africa’s richest on the back of challenging global economic conditions and downturn in the luxury goods sector where his Richemont group is a major player. The tough economic conditions had not stopped rumours of Rupert looking to pay millions to purchase the English football team Blackburn Rovers, a deal Rupert has categorically denied.


Nicky Oppenheimer & family (South Africa)
African Rank No.5 – World Rank No.173 – Wealth $5.7 billion
The Oppenheimer fortune is facing challenging times as investment pours into Russian extensive mineral resources fuelling competition, resource hungry representatives of China and India scour Africa looking to secure their supply lines and back home the Black Empowerment policy has meant changes in Anglo American Corporation the mining giant founded by the Oppenheimer family. Despite these challenges the family fortune has grown but not enough to keep their position in last year’s list as they drop three places to No’5.


Mohammed Al Amoudi (Ethiopia)
African Rank No.4 – World Rank No.97 – Wealth $9.0 billion
Last year year’s list omitted Mohammed Al Amoudi but this year the Ethiopian born billionaire takes his rightful place. Al Amoudi migrated to Saudi Arabia from Ethiopia in 1965 and made his fortune in property before diversifying into petroleum interests. Al-Amoudi was one the biggest sponsors of celebrations earlier this year to mark the the start of the millennium in Ethiopia. The centre piece of his sponsorship was the construction of the multimillion dollar Millennium Central Hall in Addis Ababa.


Onsi Sawiris (Egypt)
African Rank No.3 – World Rank No.96 – Wealth $9.1 billion
The list has already seen the first of the Sawiris family and the top three positions are all taken up by family members, the Sawiris father and his other two sons. Onsi Sawiris despite being in retirement and having divested most of the Orascom Empire he built to his three sons has seen his wealth almost double from $5 billion in 2007 to $9.2 billion today. Interestingly the combined Sawiris fortune of $34.7 billion would see the family at No.7 amongst the world’s richest.


Na**ef Sawiris (Egypt)
African Rank No.2 – World Rank No.68 – Wealth $11.0 billion
Of all those who made this list Na**ef Sawiris has had the most spectacular rise in his wealth, last year his wealth was estimated at $3.9 billion but he starts this year with three times that fortune at $11 billion. Na**ef Sawiris runs the construction arm of the Orascom empire and soaring oil prices have ensured his target market of the Middle East is awash with development funds. Orascom Construction signed some big deals last year including building a $1.8 billion fertiliser plant in Algeria, a $110 million Solar Plant in Egypt and part of a consortium building Cairo’s new metro.


Naguib Sawiris (Egypt)
African Rank No.1 – World Rank No.60 – Wealth $12.7 billion
In gloomy world economy the growth of telecommunications, the internet and the media have been one of the few bright spots. In the emerging market it has been no difference and Naguib Sawiris has benefited tremendously from this. In particular the mobile telephony part of his empire has shown strong growth although not without controversy as investments in North Korea and investigations into the purchase of an Italian Teleco have proved. Despite these hiccups Naguib Sawiris retains his spot as Africa’s richest man.

Mo Ibrahim (Sudan) founder of Mobile Telecommunications giant CelTel which operated Mobile Phone services across Africa. He sold the firm in 2005 to Kuwaiti Investors.

Forbes reports him to be worth $2.5 billion, which makes him the 462th richest man in the world and he would make the Africa rich list at number 9 ahead of Patrice Motsepe who would drop to 10 


 
 

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General Discussion / Black People Love Us!!
« on: October 18, 2008, 08:24:56 PM »
wat do u think of this site?

check out the testimonials... :o :o ;D ;D, made me chuckle, smtymz uneasily, i think its some sort of experiment

http://blackpeopleloveus.com/

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General Discussion / Knowledge of Self
« on: October 13, 2008, 09:26:46 PM »
How important is knowledge of self as an element 2day?
What does it mean 2you and how r u pursuing it if u r?
How much of this is based on your religious affiliation as was evidenced by 5%ers and hebrew israelite rappers back in the day?

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