Jesus in Africa

     Pope Francis, the current leader of the Catholic Church has just concluded his papal visit to several African countries. Each of the countries that he visited – Kenya, Uganda, and the Central African Republic (CAR) – has substantial Christian populations. This article, titled “Jesus Has Found a Home Here: The Rise of Catholicism in Africa” by Conor Gaffey for Newsweek, describes the increasing prevalence and resurgence of Catholicism in African countries. Gaffey writes, “There has also been an explosive growth in the number of Catholics in Africa over the past 35 years. The world’s Catholic population has grown by 57 percent since 1980, according to a June report by the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) at Georgetown University.” In addition, he points out that, “this growth is not uniform: Africa’s Catholic population has shot up by 238 percent in that period, compared to just a 6 percent increase in the European Catholic population” and that this could be due to variations in fertility rates. Overall, this is an interesting article that details the prevalence of Christianity in a continent largely influenced by Islam.

Source(s): http://www.newsweek.com/jesus-has-found-home-here-rise-catholicism-africa-399114

Possible Final Questions:
1) How did each of the colonial powers assert their influence on their colonies (i.e. British indirect rule vs. French assimilation)
2) Compare and contrast how Christianity played a role in "Things Fall Apart" vs. "The River Between."

Africa's Obesity Epidemic

     When one imagines the African continent, one would most likely come to the conclusion that Africa is a continent ridden with famine-induced starvation and depleting resources, prompting a need for more developed countries to provide aid to the continent. However, a  new study has found that Africans, mostly in South Africa, are now fighting a battle that no one expected them to - obesity. According to Shane Norris, head of the new African Centre for Obesity Prevention, "In terms of Africa, obesity is a growing problem. Some countries are really experiencing high levels. Some countries are already experiencing quite high levels of obesity, others aren’t. [But] the trend is that more and more African countries, as they economically develop, will face obesity-related challenges. We can’t stop economic growth and we wouldn’t want to, but how can we put other things in place to counter the potential ill-health effects of the economic development?" Overall, it seems that the economic development that Africa is now experiencing has produced increasing levels of obesity as an unintended side effect. Some reasons for this include the switch from traditional, nutrient-rich foods such as maize meal and vegetables to high-calorie fast foods such as fried chicken and chips. In addition, an increase in obesity could also be credited to culture, in which weight gain is viewed as a sign of affluence or happiness. Conversely, weight loss can be attributed to something going wrong in that person's life, such as possible depression, loss of job, or an illness. Therefore, this becomes an issue of not only tackling the obesity problem through diet, but through changing the cultural mindset as well. However, while this is an issue, obesity isn't considered a health priority for those affected as attention is focused more on preventing and treating infectious diseases such as HIV, AIDS, and tuberculosis.

Source(s): http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/nov/17/africa-faces-up-to-obesity-epidemic

Six Ethopoians Killed in South Africa

Six Ethiopians were killed in South Africa according to witnesses in Durban, South Africa, in what is allegedly xenophobic attacks. Yonas Fikru, an Ethiopian businessman in Durban says that he knew all six victims and they were attacked and killed at separate times, usually in broad daylight. Another member of the Ethiopian community in South Africa, Tegegne Aboye, states that locals have been trying in vain to report the incidents to the authorities, who fail to do anything about the situation. He says, "The killer vigilante mobs are thinking that it is their right to do what they are doing. Even when they are caught or when someone points out criminals, we see them released shortly. Some of them steal and we see them coming out the next day and committing more crime." Even the Ethiopian embassy has not provided help, according to Aboye. These attacks are not the only ones. Violent xenophobic attacks against foreigners have been increasing in prevalence over the past few years, which could be attributed to anger that poor South Africans have over the foreigners taking over their jobs.

Source(s): http://www.voanews.com/content/six-ethiopians-killed-in-south-africa/3044175.html

Sub-Saharan Africa's First Metro Railway

Citizens of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, now have the option to avoid the congested streets of the city with the opening of the new metro, which is the first of its kind in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ato Workeneh Gebeyehu, the country's Minister of Transport, says that more than 60,000 people use the metro each day, and they only have to pay 30 cents for each journey, making it affordable for workers with low-income. Getachew Betru, the CEO of the Ethiopian Railways Corporation, says that the reason for the metro is not for financial benefit and gain; rather, it is to provide a service to the city to further enable its growth. In addition, while many would think that the metro would end up being a competitor against the "taxi" system, which serves more like a minibus service,  Betru argues that the metro would actually be beneficial as it would be a cheaper way to cover larger distances and even link up travelers with minibuses at metro stations.

Source(s): http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/02/africa/addis-ababa-metro-system/index.html

Polygamy In Africa

     Contrary to popular Western belief, studies have found that polygamous families are better off than monogamous families in poor communities. According to author Katy Migoro, citing a study done involving 3,500 households, "In Tanzania, polygamous families owned more cattle and farmed more land than monogamous ones in the same villages." This is interesting as the United Nations and many Western nations tend to depict polygamy as a detrimental practice, specifically on women. In addition, as a sidenote, I thought it was interesting that this article mentioned the amount of cattle as if it had a significance to determining one's wealth, as mentioned in class. In terms of polygamy being detrimental to women, David Lawson, lead researcher of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, argues against that notion, stating that women actually benefit by being in a polygamous relationship. He notes that we must take into account the cultural values of the area, and that it would be more advantageous for women to be in a polygamous relationship. Lawson argues, "Most of the policy speak on this topic is not actually very evidence based... What we are arguing for is cultural sensitivity." He goes on to state, "Of course we want to improve the status of women. But if you just change marriage laws without addressing the underlying position of women within society, you may restrict their options, so it could be detrimental."

Source(s): http://allafrica.com/stories/201510271829.html

Drug-Resistant Malaria Poses Risk to Africa

 

     Scientists have discovered a parasite across Southeast Asia that is resistant to the drug Artemisinin, the leading drug in preventing and treating malaria. First discovered in Cambodia back in 2008, the drug-resistant parasite spread throughout Southeast Asia. The fact that, when tested in the laboratory by Dr. Rick Fairhurst from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID) in the United States, the parasite was found to be indiscriminate in terms of hosts. It turns out that Anopholes coluzzii, Africa’s main malaria-carrying mosquito, was just as readily infected as the two Southeast Asian mosquitos infected in the lab, thus raising concerns of a possible spread and infection of the drug-resistant parasite in Africa, which could prove fatal. The fact that the parasite could jump between two different species of mosquito, which have been separated by years of evolution, is concerning as this could lead to a global catastrophe due to the parasite’s resistance to the main drug in fighting malaria.

Source(s): http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-34583854

Teeth from China Reveal Homo Sapien Migration from Africa 100,000 Years Ago

     In an interesting and monumental find, archaeologists have now discovered teeth believed to be from Homo sapiens from a cave in South China. The teeth, along with remains from other species such as hyenas and extinct giant pandas, were discovered in limestone caves in the Daoxian County in Hunan Province, China. Further investigations of the teeth determined the teeth to be around 100,000 years old, countering the popular belief that humans had not trekked far from Africa during this time period. For a long time, researchers had argued that the humans who traveled out of Africa into Israel about 100,000 years ago, around the same time as the remains found in China, was a result of a failed attempt to further disperse.

     With this find, some researchers are wondering why these humans decided to travel to Asia rather than Europe, which was considerably closer geographically. Some have hypothesized that due to the Ice Age in Europe, the humans leaving Africa were not accustomed to the colder weather and decided to venture out toward Asia instead. In addition, these humans may have been prevented from being a dominant force in Europe do the heavy presence of Neanderthals, only being able to live there during the brink of the Neanderthal extinction. Interestingly, genetic evidence suggests that modern Asians are descendants of Homo sapiens who interbred with Neanderthals. Regardless, this monumental find will no doubt lead to other major discoveries that will allow us to further piece the puzzle together.

Source: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/teeth-from-china-reveal-early-human-trek-out-of-africa/

Possible Midterm Questions:
1) Compare and contrast the historical development of Australasia and Africa. (Chapter 1)
2) What roles do religion and magic play in the story of Sundiata?
3) Compare and contrast the spread of Islam in North Africa and West Africa. (Chapter 7)
4) What were the differences between the West African coast and the East African coast in terms of
     the sea trade? (Chapter 8)
5) What were the reasons why Africans were better suited as slaves in the Americas over Indians and
     Europeans? (Chapter 9)

10 Things You Didn't Know About Africa

     I feel like I always talk about this but this conversation is something that needs to happen and the mere existence of this article makes me so happy it's kind of crazy. So, basically, Huffington Post's Nadege Seppou decided to break down negative stereotypes about Africa by including fun facts that most of the world outside of Africa doesn't know. These interesting tidbits include the fact that there are more pyramids in Sudan (200) than there are in Egypt, that over 1 million Chinese citizens live in Africa, with over 350,000 of those Chinese living in Angola, and that Equitorial Guinea's 2014 GDP per capita was about $33,000, which is comparable to Spain's! While these are fun to look at, there is an underlying meaning behind this article. As Seppou puts it, she wanted to "increase the number of positive writings on the continent. Let your perceptions be changed!" Too many people see Africa as a barren, primitive land sparsely filled with "barbaric" people with the exotic fauna roaming freely about the continent. This is mainly due to the Western media's portrayal of the continent and while we can't blame ourselves for not knowing as we base our reality on what information we have been exposed to, we can certainly educate ourselves and change our negative perceptions of a continent that definitely has much more to offer.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nadege-seppou/10-things-they-never-told_b_8257004.html

The Second Scramble for Africa

In an article titled The Second Scramble for Africa by lawyer Jason McCue, McCue notes the damaging effects of international corporations scrambling for various resources throughout Africa, inciting political turmoil, injustice, and financial struggle in their wake. McCue mentions that with the meeting of international leaders in New York for the UN General Assembly this week, these leaders should not only focus on mainstream topics such as wars and the migration crisis, but also on the devastating effects of what he coins “the Second Scramble for Africa.”

Citing various destructive consequences of the First Scramble for Africa, in which colonists carved Africa into territories to reap the benefits of the abundant natural resources of the continent, McCue aims to spur the international leaders into action by drawing parallels of the modern issue to history. He notes that these international corporations, either inadvertently or intentionally, cause political coups for profit, strip the land of its natural resources, and reap the benefits of Africa, leaving Africans in the dust and struggling to survive. McCue argues that, “African resources must generate wealth for Africans,” and, to do so, the once divided continent must band together under the African Union to prevent the First Scramble for Africa from occurring once again.

Source:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-mccue/the-second-scramble-for-africa_b_8216990.html

Ayuvile "Avo" Namase: Surfing in South Africa

     Surfing. When someone (typically in the Western world) hears this word, images of the golden California coast immediately take form.  Not for a moment would people think of South Africa and even then, would they have thought of a black surfer. That is what makes Ayuvile "Avo" Namase’s achievements all the more commendable. In South Africa, surfing is typically thought of as a “White” sport, especially due to the effects of apartheid, in which segregatory laws were put in place to ban non-whites from public places such as parks, public transportation, and beaches. Even after apartheid was lifted, many blacks are still wary of the water, which could be due to the culture and financial struggles.

     At the age of 21, Namase has become a promising up-and-coming black surfer in a field overwhelmingly dominated by blacks. He notes the reactions of those who see him enter the water with his board as disbelief, seeing that most blacks in the area shy away from the water. In addition to the obvious challenges presented to him based solely on his race, Namase lost his brother in 2011 to a shark attack and took him months to recover. After finally getting back in the water, Namase notes the significance surfing has had on him to heal and as a form of therapy, deciding to volunteer with Surfers not Street Children to help disadvantaged children cope with trauma. Despite having faced insurmountable odds, Namase proves to be a promising force in the surfing world.

Source:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/22/africa/south-africa-black-surfers-ayuvile-ndamase/index.html

Africa and the Migrant Crisis

     Over the past several weeks, the world has had its eyes fixated on the current migrant crisis affecting Europe and the Middle East, with refugees attempting to enter Europe by any means possible. Much of the global media, however, has focused its attention on the refugees escaping the civil war in Syria in the Middle East. However, what the media hasn't placed much emphasis on is the sizable amount of African refugees as well. The difference, however, is while the Syrian refugees are attempting to escape from a country riddled with war, most of the African refugees are seeking economic opportunities in Europe, leaving countries that do not have active conflicts.
     With the exception of northern Nigeria, where Boko Haram, a terrorist group, has been waging a bloody war, refugees from other countries such as Gambia, Senegal, and Eritrea cite economic problems as their reasons for leaving. Unfortunately for the refugees, they will likely be denied from being able to find a home in Europe as they do not have proper evidence citing persecution as a reason for leaving their countries and will therefore be considered illegal immigrants. According to Tony O. Elumelu, chairman of Heirs Holdings and founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, focusing on providing more business and economic opportunities for Africans in Africa will ultimately be the solution to the problem rather than placing the burden upon European countries, who are having financial issues of their own, calling this plan "Africapitalism."

Source(s):
http://www.voanews.com/content/crackdown-fuels-africa-migration-crisis/2960123.html
http://time.com/4033366/progress-in-africa-will-help-ease-the-global-migrant-crisis/
http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2015/09/03/migrant-crisis-affecting-africa-too

African Geography and Environment: What We Think We Know

     When we think of Africa, most of us automatically assume images that were exposed to us within a Western context. You know, plain deserts and grasslands filled with wild fauna such as lions, zebras, and giraffes. To be perfectly honest, I'm pretty sure most of our knowledge of Africa comes from The Lion King or Madagascar. And if not that, then it's through other forms of Western media. We have this notion that Africa is sparsely populated by savages and primitives surrounded by wildlife in a continent (although too many people still subconsciously consider Africa as a country) filled only with deserts and the occasional grassland. However, that is far from the truth.

     In reality, and what the Western media fails to showcase, is that Africa contains a diverse variety of habitats similar to the North American continent. Remember: Africa is a CONTINENT not a country. And within that continent are over 50 countries. And within those countries are cities as big and as crowded as any major U.S. city. The city of Lagos in Nigeria is the seventh most populous city in the world, yet a majority of us didn't even know that because it didn't fit into what we were taught Africa was supposed to be like.

     The ignorance is so strong that some people forget that Egypt is indeed a part of Africa. Just because we learned about Ancient Egyptian civilization and we are exposed to modern Egypt in the media, does not mean that it is part of Africa. Yes, it doesn't fit into the mold of what we were taught Africa was like, but then again, most of Africa doesn't. While parts of Africa are covered by deserts and have wild animals roaming around, it also has climates that are similar to other "civilized" areas of the world, such as Italy, Greece, and even California. So rather than running around with our stereotypes of Africa the country, I think it would be to our benefit to learn more about this interesting continent that is more than meets the eye.