Video Thomas Sankara: the Upright Man

In every change movement we will always have a Thomas Sankara and a Blaise Compaoré. As we are so focussed on collectively turning the page and restoring the dignity of ALL of Nigeria. We have those who would want us to manage more of the same and see corruption as a way of life. Nigeria will change, if we can not do it in our life time, we have a dynamic new generation of Nigerians, young and informed who are ready to put right our wrong, who would put country before self and make the common man and woman the reason for the season. The upright are in the minority and the rank of the unjust increasing but the PEOPLE will always overcome!

Jerry Rawlings of Ghana the Dance and the Glory!

Jerry John Rawlings served the people of Ghana. He did not do everything right but he laid the foundation for a new Ghana. A new beacon of hope not just for West Africa but the Black Race! Will Nigerian leaders learn from Rawlings? So they can dance in retirement without the burden of regret.

African Bloggers Statement on the Murder of David Kato. Uganda

"We the undersigned wish to express our deep sadness at the murder of Ugandan human rights defender David Kato on 26th January 2011. David's activism began in the 1980s as an Anti-Apartheid campaigner where he first expressed a strong passion and conviction for freedom and justice which continued throughout his life. David was a founding member of Sexual Minorities Uganda where he first served as Board member and until his death as Litigation and Advocacy Officer and he was also a member of Integrity Uganda, a faith-based advocacy organization.



David was a man of vision and courage. One of his major concerns was the growth of religious fundamentalism in Uganda and across the continent and how this would impact on the rights of ordinary citizens including lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered / Gender Non-Comforming and Intersex [LGBTIQ] persons. Years later his concerns were justified when the Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Bill backed by religious fundamentalists was outlined in 2009. David was also an extremely brave man who had been imprisoned and beaten severely because of his sexual orientation and for speaking publicly against the Anti-Homosexuality Bill.



Many African political and religious leaders in countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Zambia, Gambia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Malawi and Botswana, have publicly maligned LGBTIQ people and in some cases directly incited violence against them whilst labeling sexual minorities as “unAfrican”.



In October 2010, the Ugandan tabloid, Rolling Stone published the names and photographs of "100 Top homos" including David Kato. David along with two other LGBTIQ activists successfully sued the magazine on the grounds of "invasion of privacy" and most importantly, the judge ruled that the publication would threaten and endanger the lives of LGBTIQ persons.



The court did not only rule that the publication would threaten and endanger the lives of LGBTIQ persons but it issued a permanent injunction against Rolling Stone newspaper never to publish photos of gays in Uganda, and also never to again publish their home addresses.

Justice Kibuuka Musoke ruled that,



"Gays are also entitled to their rights. This court has found that there was infringement of some people’s confidential rights. The court hereby issues an injunction restraining Rolling Stone newspaper from future publishing of identifications of homosexuals."



Every human being is protected under the African Charter of Peoples and Human Rights and this includes the rights of LGBTIQ persons. We ask the governments of Uganda and other African countries to stop criminalizing people on the grounds of sexual orientation and afford LGBTIQ people the same protections, freedoms and dignity, as other citizens on the continent."



1. Alix Mukonambi, Molisa Nyakale
2. Anengiyefa Alagoa, Things I Feel Strongly About
3. Anthony Hebblethwaite African Activist
4. Barbra Jolie, Me I Think
5. Ben Amunwa, Remember Ken Saro-Wiwa
6. Bunmi Oloruntoba, A Bombastic Element
7. Chris Ogunlowo, Aloofaa
8. Eccentric Yoruba, Eccentric Yoruba
9. Exiled Soul ExiledSoul
10. Francisca Bagulho and Marta Lança, Buala
11. Funmilayo Akinosi, Finding My Path
12. Funmi Feyide, Nigerian Curiosity
13. Gay Uganda , Gay Uganda
14. Glenna Gordon, Scarlett Lion
15. Godwyns Onwuchekwa, My Person
16. Jeremy Weate, Naija Blog
17. Kayode Ogundamisi Canary Bird
18. Kadija Patel Thoughtleader
19. Keguro Macharia, Gukira
20. Kenne Mwikya, Kenne’s Blog
21. Kinsi Abdullah Kudu Arts
22. Laura Seay, Texas in Africa
23. Llanor Alleyne Llanor Alleyne
24. Mark Jordahl, Wild Thoughts from Uganda
25. Matt Temple Matsuli Music
26. Mia Nikasimo, MiaScript 27. Minna Salami, MsAfropolitan
28. Mshairi, Mshairi
29. Ndesanjo Macha Global Voices
30. Nyokabi Musila, Sci-Cultura.
31. Nzesylva, Nzesylva’s Blog
32. Olumide Abimbola, Loomnie
33. Ory Okolloh, Kenyan Pundit
34. Pamela Braide, pdbraide
35. Peter Alegi, Football is Coming Home
36. Rethabile Masilo, Poefrika
37. Saratu Abiola, Method to Madness
38. Sean Jacobs, Africa is a Country
39. Sokari Ekine, Black Looks
40. Sonja Uwimana, Africa is a Country
41. Spectre Speaks, Spectre Speaks
42. TMS Ruge, Project Diaspora
43. Toyin Ajao StandTall
44. Tosin Otitoju, Lifelib
45. Val Kalende, Val Kalende
46. Zackie Achmat, Writing Rights
47. Zion Moyo, Sky, Soil and Everything in Between

What does Nigeria's President Goodluck Jonathan Stand for?

"Agbako" In Yoruba Land Chief Bisi Akande's Satanic Verses. Short musing by Kayode Ogundamisi

"Agbako" In Yoruba Land Chief Bisi Akande's Satanic Verses. Short musing by Kayode Ogundamisi

“This is not a matter of an individual but the party. Nobody should accuse ACN of imposition because that is our style. Anyone that is not comfortable with that should go and contest in another political party. So if you see anyone carrying placard around, he is wasting his time." Chief Bisi Akande Chairman Action Congress of Nigeria

I read the above statement over and over again, I was in self denial, Chief Akande would not have made the above statement, I rushed to the Vanguard LINK http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/01/why-acn-imposes-candidates-akande/, read it, I was not sure, called the reporter and he confirmed it, that Akande is justifying the present ANTI-DEMOCRATIC practises on going in the party I had hoped will bring change to my people is a STAB IN THE BACK.

They do not deserve to be called ELDERS, what we now have are what I will refer to as AMUNISINS how can they just fling the hope and aspiration of the people into the drain, when we remained in the barricades they where holed up in their homes granting press interviews and drinking tea, when Yoruba land was under blockade, how many of them came out to defend the land on the streets, we asked for good governance, they gave us corruption, we asked for exemplary leadership they gave us despotism, what is now the difference between them and the PDP described as the “nest of killers”?

They had the chance to change the region and what did we get in return some sort of expectation that when they cough we should catch cold, when their children sneeze we should fret. I am a free-born Yoruba man and slavery is no longer in fashion, people should vote according to their conscience.

Accepting internal dictatorship so as not to fall under the dictatorship of the foreigner is unacceptable. Democracy must and should reign supreme in our region. If they are going to continue with the same “amunusin” democracy, what was the point of destroying Afenifere and the Alliance for Democracy?

So now what we see was the removal of our people from the enchantment of a group cult to the pocket of ONE man. Not one of all those calling themselves Yoruba leaders now are worthy of cleaning Awolowo’s shoes. Forget the Awo cap they use in deceiving us, judge them by the number of roads they fix, the transparency in government and the democratic practice.

Sincerely what was the point in destroying Afenifere? What was the point of destroying Alliance for Democracy? Was it not the same argument former Lagos State Governor Bola Tinubu put forward in 2003 and we rallied around him, thinking all we wanted and look forward to was the opening up of the democratic space so that ALL in Yoruba land and in Nigeria can aspire to be whatever they want to be so long they are capable of serving our people in a democratic dispensation and so long those who aspire are free from corruption and evil deeds, what transparent government have we been able to deliver since the overthrow of the old guards? So all those talk about making Yoruba Land a “shining example of modern democracy” was all TALK to bring relatives, cronies, praise singers, and sycophants into government, cant we see that the imposition that is taking place now is worse than the one that took place during the Awolowo days, Awolowo was not imposing his children, neither did he impose his girlfriends, I am not sure he would have imposed Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate if he were to be alive in 2003. I am not sure the collegiate system being touted by beneficiaries of fraud today was meant to submit a whole race to the pocket of one man.

Did we not all sing NO MORE BABA SOPE in Ijebu Igbo against the OLD GUARDS and Pa Abraham Adesanya? Did we not condemn the old man for allowing his daughter to serve under Olusegun Obasanjo what are we now doing that is different from the dictatorship of the past, cant we re call 2003 and heed the wise counsel that the PEOPLE CAN HAVE THE FINAL SAY? Those who remain quiet now for fear of being labelled can live ever happily, our ancestors, the blood of the ordinary Yoruba who died crying and campaigning for LIBERTY will never let the fraud go for long. If those who are now raping our land fail to heed the voice of the people, ADABI will reward them, if not when they are alive, their children and offspring will pay for the RAPE ON DEMOCRACY