Download Youtube Video: Amanpour talks to Goodluck Jonathan

Download Youtube Video: Amanpour talks to Goodluck Jonathan.

African singers to raise money for Haiti

West and Central African singing stars will record a song in early March in the Senegalese capital Dakar to raise money for victims of last month’s earthquake in Haiti, the musical project’s leader said on Wednesday.

More than 200,000 people were killed and a million left homeless when a magnitude 7.0 quake struck the poor Caribbean country on January 12. Since then, a mass of international relief efforts have been launched.

In the most recent African aid initiative, dozens of singers, among them internationally known names including Senegalese vocalists Youssou Ndour and Baba Maal, Ivorian reggae artist Alpha Blondy and Congolese musicians Lokua Kanza and Papa Wemba, will gather in Dakar from March 1-6 to record a song, all proceeds from which will go to Haitians.

“We have seen many solidarity actions from other parts of the world, we too have to do our share,” singer and project coordinator Coumba Gawlo Seck said after a meeting with Senegal’s President Abdoulaye Wade.

Mali and Guinea will also be represented musically, while Coumba Gawlo said a mega-concert in Dakar will be organised to raise more money for Haitians.

Soon after the earthquake, Wade grabbed international headlines but surprised many in his own country by proposing the creation of a new African state to resettle homeless Haitians, comparing the idea to the 1948 birth of the state of Israel.

SOURCED FROM REUTERS

CHRIST EMBASSY PAINTS NIGERIA GREEN

Nigeria’s 49th independence was marked with panache and vigour all around Nigeria’s commercial hub, Lagos, surprisingly not by the central government but a boisterous flock of Christ Embassy Church members that brought Lagos to its feet. Streaked in the fecund and peaceful national emblems of green and white, hats, wigs and body-art spoke voluminous tales of patriotism.

Traffic lights ahead on Oregun, stalled on green but the traffic remained bumper to bumper as the colourful crowd, snaked and meandered through the narrow streets. Large carnival-like floats carried the cheering crowd along as they distributed the ministry’s daily devotional to an animated mass, as they danced and sang glorious canticles of a new dawn; knocking on doors and announcing salvation.

Only minutes before the foot soldiers launched out, hundreds of volunteers had worked tirelessly throughout independence eve at the church’s headquarters in Oregun, wrapping up thousands of Rhapsody of Realities to ensure everyone in Lagos received a copy of the famed devotional. “this is our contribution in ensuring that Nigeria’s future is altered for the best” an exuberant member of the ministry said, her hands crammed with plastic bags and books.

Back on the streets there were mixed feelings in the celebration of Nigeria’s Independence. A vibrant and often critical press played the shrink’s role as expected.

The Daily Sun’s headline read “Rich country, Poor people” while This Day summed up Nigeria’s President Umar Yar’Adua’s psyche. “we have not lived up to the expectations of our founding fathers”.

But then maybe Nigeria has not been sincere in dealing with the root cause of its gross underdevelopment. “Pastor Chris says we have to change inside out. Our leaders have never tried the word of God in solving the problems of the nation” said an emphatic Pastor Ifeoma Chiemeka

Acrobats walked on sticks and men rode on horses while power bikes and roller-skates squared-up for a titanic battle. The children loved it all dancing along on the streets and shrieking in glee at the roadside carnival, at the same time they jostled for the freebies – a copy of Rhapsody of Realities. A group of labourers watched on nonplussed.

“There is no light, no water and the teachers are on strike what is there to celebrate?” they queried, their stern faces and arms akimbo spoke out their frustrations but nevertheless, they collected the books, the lettered immediately opened to the pages and would not stop.

Undeterred, the spiritual cum social crusaders harped away and joggled footballs in the humid and hot weather; “I believe in Nigeria” they chimed, waving Nigeria’s Green white and green flag. “We are charting a new course. We are sowing into the future of our dreams; through our prophetic words we are beautifying Nigeria’s future” the radiant Pastor Deola Okeowo said when the crowd pulled over at Maryland.

It was the British novelist and politician, Bulwer Lytton who said, “Nothing is so contagious as enthusiasm. It is the true allegory of the tale of Orpheus; it moves stones and charms brutes, it is the genius of sincerity and truth achieves no victories without it”.

Even as the crowds, emptied from the streets, it was obvious that this was a momentous gathering, this was a good awakening and off course the birthing of a new day. Happy Birthday Nigeria.

Aghogho, CONNECTAFRICA

NIGERIAN AUTHOR BASKS IN OPRAH’S PICK

Nigerian author Uwem Akpan, who is a Jesuit priest, said he was “humbled” that his debut collection of short stories was chosen by influential U.S. talk show host Oprah Winfrey for her book club.

Oprah picked “Say You’re One Of Them” as her 63rd book club selection, the first time she has chosen a book of short stories, saying these stories “left me stunned and profoundly moved.”

The collection, published in 2008, includes five separate stories from the perspective of an African child that were described as capturing the resilience of children growing up in the face of unimaginable devastation.

Uwem Akpan, who runs a parish in Lagos, told Entertainment Weekly that he was “very, very humbled” to be chosen by Oprah.

He said he was not currently working on another book as his parish had been so busy but the church supports his writing with no conflict of interest between writing and being a priest.

“I have permission to write, but I do not need an imprimatur from the church — that is more for people who are writing about theology and philosophy. They see that I am writing fiction and assume it is made up,” he said.

“Don’t forget that Jesus was a priest and a poet.”

Oprah’s book club is the biggest in the world with almost two million online members and books chosen for Oprah’s book club invariably skyrocket to the top of the U.S. bestseller lists.

Akpan studied philosophy and English at Creighton and Gonzaga universities then studied theology for three years at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.

He was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 2003 and received his master’s degree in creative writing from the University of Michigan in 2006.

His story collection was first published last year by Little Brown & Co, which is part of the Hachette Book Group that is owned by French publishing company Largardere.

FORMER KIGALI GOVERNOR JAILED FOR LIFE

A U.N. court trying the architects of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide jailed a former Kigali governor for life on five counts including ordering the killing of 60 Tutsi boys in a church-run pastoral centre. The Arusha-based International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) had indicted Tharcisse Renzaho of genocide, complicity in genocide, murder and rape in the massacres in which 800,000 minority Tutsis and politically moderate Hutus were killed.

The court found him guilty of all except complicity in genocide. “He has been imprisoned for life. He has been found guilty on five counts, that is of genocide, two counts of murder as crimes against humanity, two counts of rape as crimes against humanity, ” Danford Mpumilwa, associate information officer, said from the northern Tanzanian town of Arusha, the court’s seat.

Prosecutors said he was one of the massacre’s main perpetrators. His name figured among nine major suspects for which the U.S. government had put out a $5 million bounty.

The 65-year-old was also accused of broadcasting orders over Radio Rwanda asking police, soldiers and militia to construct and supervise roadblocks to intercept, identify and kill Tutsis.

SOURCED FROM REUTERS

RAI STAR DOCKED 5 YEARS FOR ABORTION BID

A French court has jailed the Algerian singer Cheb Mami for five years for abducting a former partner and forcing her to undergo an attempted abortion.

Cheb Mami, whose real name is Mohammed Khalifati, was found guilty at a trial in Bobigny, a Parisian suburb.

He had denied the charges, telling the court that he had been “manipulated” by his entourage.

The singer is credited with bringing Algeria’s popular Rai folk music to an international audience.

The maximum sentence was 10 years and the prosecution had asked for seven.

Prosecutors had said that Cheb Mami was one of a group who abducted and beat the woman, a French photographer, in the Algerian capital, Algiers, in 2005.

They said she came to Algeria believing she was on a business trip, a few days after telling Cheb Mami, 42, that she was pregnant.

She said that she was drugged and taken to a villa in Algiers. There, three people tried to perform an abortion.

On her return to France, she discovered she was still pregnant and later gave birth to a daughter, now aged three.

France issued an international arrest warrant for Cheb Mami after he skipped bail in Paris in May 2007 and fled to Algeria.

He returned to Paris on Monday, saying he wanted to attend the trial, and was arrested at Orly airport.

He had denied involvement in the attempted abortion and said he was being persecuted because he was a successful Arab star.

The star showed no emotion as the verdict was read out.

But during the trial he had expressed remorse and asked for the woman’s forgiveness.

He broke down in tears and admitted making a “serious mistake” but said he did not love the woman and felt “trapped” when she told him she was pregnant.

Cheb Mami blamed his former manager Michel Lecorre – also known as Michel Levy – saying he was behind the plot.

“I was in a panic and I agreed,” he said. “I did nothing to stop him.”

Michel Lecorre was sentenced to four years for plotting and organising the assault.

The court also issued arrest warrants for two of the singer’s aides, Hicham Lazaar and Abdelkader Lallali.

They were convicted in absentia of involvement in the case and were sentenced to three and six years in jail respectively.

SOURCED FROM BBC

RAI STAR UNDER TRIAL FOR FORCED FRENCH ABORTION

Algerian singer Cheb Mami is to stand trial in France over allegations that he forced a former partner to undergo an attempted abortion. Cheb Mami, whose real name is Mohammed Khalifati, was arrested at Orly airport in Paris on Monday.

The singer, 42, is credited with bringing Algeria’s popular Rai music to an international audience. He faces 10 years in prison if convicted of complicity in violence but has denied the charges. Prosecutors at Thursday’s trial in Bobigny will allege that Cheb Rami was one of a group who abducted and beat the woman, a French photographer, in the Algerian capital, Algiers, in 2005.

The woman was allegedly forced to undergo an abortion, but on returning to France she discovered she was still pregnant and later gave birth to a daughter. France issued an international arrest warrant for Cheb Mami after he skipped bail in Paris in May 2007 and fled to Algeria.

He denies any involvement in the alleged abortion and says he is being persecuted because he is a successful Arab star. His former manager, Maurice Levy, is also under investigation along with two former aides.

SOURCED FROM BBC

MICHAEL JACKSON AND THE PARADOX OF THE NIGERIAN STATE

‘This is it’ and he died just weeks before the promised last stand, the last dance -very apocalyptic. All around, reactions have poured thick and fast. This morning a friend linked the early morning shower to MJ’s demise. Umbrella over my head, I’m jumping street-lakes, and someone is singing ‘don’t stop till you get it on’ another is whistling ‘thriller’. The Michael Jackson revolution is on full throttle. It is scary to imagine a world without break-dancing, moon-walking, crotch grabbing, karate chops and hat throwing dancing manoeuvres. Pull over at major bus stops in Lagos, pants rolled up to weary knees, very angry commuters are seething venom for having to pay thrice the usual transport fare simply because it’s raining. The road side news analysts aren’t anywhere near the newsstands; it’s raining cats and dogs but I can see Michael Jackson’s face on a number of National tabloids. Everyone knows Wacko Jacko here and his strongest fans in Africa can be found in the nooks and crannies. Even though no one was bemused when he failed to make a stopover in Lagos in the 80’s and then it was widely rumoured that he was Nigerian. The commuter beside me has fond memories of Michael. “No party was complete without a Michael Jackson hit. The guy rocked the world”

But then everyone is visibly upset with the state of roads in Lagos. Pot holes have become pit holes and expressways are an extension of the Atlantic Ocean. The sorry tale of MJ is the parody of the Nigeria state. A Prodigy at birth, Nigeria is now the full grown man-child that still shouts on rooftops for relevance. Hear the propagandists, ‘Nigeria is the biggest black nation in the world and the giant of Africa.’ Next year Nigeria will be 50, equaling the premature exit age of Michael. The bad news is that the Nigerian health care system is a laughing stock; deplorable that President Yar Adua wouldn’t treat a common cold at home aping what Michael Jackson sang ‘they don’t really care about us.’ Meanwhile I’m getting my drums out. The world’s greatest music legend and entertainer, the Afro American Michael Jackson who thrilled the world with ABC and Billie Jean deserves a bow.

Aghogho, CONNECTAFRICA

AFRICA MOURNS MICHAEL JACKSON

News of pop star Michael Jackson’s death has been greeted with a mixture of disbelief and sadness across Africa.

In Nigeria, a presenter on Radio Continental broke down live on air and could not continue her programme.

A woman in Ghana burst into tears in the capital, Accra, when told by a BBC reporter about the musician’s death.

In 1999, he was presented with a lifetime achievement award by South African icon Nelson Mandela at the Kora All Africa Music Awards.

Michael Jackson first visited the continent at the age of 14 as the lead singer of the Jackson Five.

Emerging from the plane in Senegal, he responded to a welcome of drummers and dancers by screaming: ”This is where I come from.”

He returned for an African tour 19 years later, when the king of pop was crowned chief of several African villages.

But the trip quickly turned into a public relations nightmare amid allegations that police had beaten the crowds who went to see him and complaints in the local media that the pop star had been seen holding his nose, as if to keep out a bad smell.

Ghanaian journalist Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, who says she was a huge Jackson Five fan as a girl, covered the visit.

She said he spent most of his time locked away in his plush hotel or hidden in his limousine when out.

When his car window wound down for a brief minute for him to greet fans, she asked him about his trip to Africa, and he replied limply: “Beautiful, I love it.”

It was “a spectacular disappointment in many ways”, Ms Quist-Arcton told the BBC’s Network Africa programme.

But the crowds who lined Abidjan’s streets during his visit were testament to his huge popularity across the continent where fans have been expressing their shock at his death.

The BBC’s Tom Oladipo in Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos said the Radio Continental presenter broke down sobbing live on air after hearing the news and her co-presenter had to take over.

One of Michael Jackson’s brothers, Marlon, is planning to develop a controversial luxury resort, a mixture of a slave history theme park and a museum dedicated to the Jackson Five in Nigeria.

He also had passionate fans in Ghana.

“It’s not true, no it’s not true,” a woman in Accra wailed as her companion accused our correspondent of lying about the news of Jackson’s death.

“He’s a legend, he’s not supposed to die,” a woman in the Kenyan capital told the BBC.

But others expressed concern about his obsession with his appearance.

“He was not proud to a black American, he wasn’t, he wanted very much to be white,” a man in Nairobi said.

The BBC’s Jonah Fisher in Johannesburg says Michael Jackson’s most tangible contribution to Africa came at the peak of his career in the mid-1980s, when he co-wrote the charity song We are the World with Lionel Ritchie.

Sung by a group of leading artists, the single topped charts around the world raising awareness and more than $50m for famine relief in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa.

SOURCED FROM BBC

MADONNA WINS ADOPTION CASE

Madonna has won her appeal to adopt a second child from Malawi, the country’s highest court has ruled. The star was appealing against an earlier decision in April that she could not adopt Chifundo “Mercy” James, aged four. Judge Esmie Chondo ruled out the adoption saying prospective parents had to be resident in Malawi for 18 months.

The rule was waived in 2006 when Madonna adopted a boy, David, from the southern African state. Mercy has been living in an orphanage since her 18-year-old mother died shortly after giving birth. The 50-year-old entertainer also has two biological children – Lourdes, 12, and Rocco, aged eight.

SOURCED FROM BBC