The world is being told to go green. Reduce carbon emissions or we will all die. The icebergs are melting, water levels are rising, and puny islands in the middle of the pacific nowhere are facing challenges in controlling the rising levels.
And yet with all this bleakness that surrounds the Copenhagen Climate Summit, people still have time to point fingers and blame someone else.
If I’ve ever heard a whole load of baloney it had to come from China’s vice foreign minister who said that the US climate negotiator (wow, they negotiate about the destruction of the world) is extremely irresponsible for saying that no US climate control funding should be going to China. Excuse me good people, but when did China get so barmy? They are the ones who have rising carbon emissions in the whole world and they want the USA to finance them.Okay.Interesting. Because the USA is also guilty of high carbon emissions. It is second on the list of carbon emissions; rivalled by China; and the latter wants the US to give them money to contain their emissions. This has to be a classic case of blind leading the blind.
Yes I know that the USA has been adamant on this issue of controlling global warming. They did not sign the Kyoto protocol because it would affect their “economic performance”. Look where that got them. A recession, job losses, and poor distraught bankers committing suicide. So much for maintaining the economy.
So it is amazing how 187 countries have signed this protocol ( a binding agreement that commits industrialised countries to reduce carbon emissions), and one of the major contributors of greenhouse gases does not sign. The USA is truly a global hegemon. They just have a way of getting away with it don’t they? But we must thank God for Obama. He is one US president who seems to be moderately concerned about the environment. So we wait to see what concessions the delegates at the conference will make. It better be good.
But, China and USA need to get their act together.
They seriously need to get it together.
Image
Pon and Zi
Clint Eastwood does it again!
Mr Eastwood's new movie Invictus has written 2010 Oscar all over it!
As a South African, I was tremendoulsy excited when I heard that Eastwood was directing a new film that is a look at life for Nelson Mandela after the fall of apartheid during his first term as president when South Africa campaigned to host the 1995 Rugby World Cup. This historical event united many South Africans and bridged equility gaps.
Invictus stars Morgan Freeman as Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as former South African rugby player Francois Pienaar. Hopefully, Damon masters the South African accent and we are not left with another Dicaprio Blood Diamond fiasco.
The film was shot in Cape Town and feautures a lot of South African talent. I cannot wait!
The film is being released 11 Desember 2009 from Warner Bros. View the trailer here.
Ghostwriter
The List
Assignment: Road-test your journalistic shoes by doing something you have never done before and blog about it.
Mission: Retrieve ‘The List’ from Cullen Bowles.
Warning: DO NOT GET CAUGHT.
The thought of the mission is making my heart race and my bones rattle. I am ready to seize the moment of excited curiosity in a realm that I have never encountered before; a boys residents on top of ‘Hate Hill’. The risky hill is as steep as scaling a pyramid. Luckily, it has never been necessary for me to conquer it, until today. This has to be done, I have to retrieve ‘The List’ no matter how much my body craves water and no matter how much my muscles throb.
My partner and I prepare ourselves for the ultimate mission, we both know that if we pull this off, it would be remembered as the greatest heist of the year. We adjust our black clothing and zip up our knee-length black leather boots. We commence our mission up the hill.
There are so many people around and hiding behind trees is starting to get annoying. As we draw closer, we hit the ground and drag our aching bodies the last couple of meters. I could hear voices nearby, my head starts rushing at the thought of getting caught. My fingers finally curl around Cullen Bowles’ brick pillars.
We find a great back entrance, but a little climbing is unavoidable. We hurl ourselves over the wall and cautiously approach the door. My partner swings it open and quickly pops inside. On her okay, I follow. Hastily, we started looking around for ‘The List’. I don’t see it. I spin around on the sound of movement behind me. Beady eyes blankly stare back at me; the cleaning lady looks scared but doesn’t make a noise as we single her the quite. My partner taps me on the shoulder and points to the wall – ‘The List’.
An overwhelming feeling of accomplishment sweeps over my whole body. My partner grabs ‘The List’ off the slab wall and we head for the exit. Unfortunately, our exit strategy was interrupted by the sight of the res’ roof. Bravado has the better of us and we climb up the fire escape to reach it. We arrogantly fish out a couple of cigarettes and light them with glee. The tobacco satisfaction and triumph can’t alleviate the panic I experience as I witness a small white ball slowly rolling down the corridor inside. I raise my head and catch sight of a handful of boys starting back at us.
The mission has been compromised. They immediately start towards us and suddenly every single body leaps towards the door. Relieve … the door is locked. My partner and I impulsively grab our belongings and ‘The List’ and vault off the roof to dash down the fire escape. We are not looking back, we dare not. We run down ‘Hate Hill’, trophy in hand, hearts racing, blood pumping, heels clicking. We finally touch safe ground and catch some air and surprisingly start laughing. We did it! We have acquired ‘The List’.
We position the list in proper lighting to examine it and it turns out to be exactly what we expected; the list contained the rankings of the girls res’ according to achievements and eligible dates. Our res appears second last. No one will ever see the list again and our reputation will forever be safeguarded, well that is, until they print out a new copy. Mission accomplished.
Ghostwriter
A life as a journo after all
As first year Rhodes bloggers our first mission with our blogs was to give them a name, which for any blog is crucial in out lining the theme as well as well as the target audience you want to attract. Of the blogs that I searched for review, the title “What life I do journ?” appealed to me because, one of the main challenges that we were tasked with, was to create a blog that was relevant and one that students journalists could be able to relate to their own daily path of learning and practicing the craft. Out of a scale of 1 to 10, they were very successful in attracting me to their blog because as a student journo, the name led me to expect them to find innovative ideas through the narratives published, in detailing their own experiences that caused them to believe that a life outside of our craft is impossible. When I logged into their blog, I found that their palette which is painted with different colours that complement each other and interesting gadgets, although menial allow one to search the blog without trouble. Their titles were striking and fairly well written, particularly Camagwini Dolweni’s (Blogging Shmogging), an opinion piece on how she does not consider blogging as journalism. I must confess myself disappointed that the blog does not do enough to convince us that journ students do not have lives. The blog could have stuck to the title by publishing and engaging first year experiences of journ students more.
The click on my X
Ndiye emva kokuba ndive ukuba bazakuqala isiXhosa apha kwesi sikolo semfundo ephakamileyo…….I really never imagined that as a first language Xhosa speaker I would never be able to speak, pure, untainted Xhosa with no ishaas for the whole day let alone for an hour. In the event that there will be a Xhosa course being introduced to the Rhodes bjourn degree I attempted to get with the program and prove myself worthy of this language. Xhosa people in general are renowned for being unable to speak their language with conviction, something I have always refused to admit. It just hit me and I realised that as a “patriotic” Xhosa speaking individual I really have never spent one day, not one day apart from the days before I could speak English, speaking traditional, home grown Xhosa. I spent the whole of Wednesday morning without having said anything besides Molo (morning) to my roommate who is Zimbabwean and cannot speak a word of Xhosa. I’d told myself that I had to stay clear of all my Xhosa friends of for the day. To my own utter dismay, by the time I got to my first lecturer, even though I had spent time with only my Xhosa friends, they too were no help at all. I had already started mixing all languages with my Xhosa. Now I wonder whether or not I will ever be able to speak proper Xhosa. I wonder if this is even possible.
Res-food theory
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And herewith my final blog post as a first year journalism student…As future journalists, or so we are told, we shall work in a very diverse field and find ourselves in an array of scenarios very different to our own backgrounds. From this came our last assignment in which our lecturers required of us to go out and do something we’ve never done, and blog on it. Having done several drastic things throughout the year, I decided to take a subtler approach and instead look into the res[idence]-food-theory, one that states that res-food (doesn’t matter which dining hall) will never match mom’s cooking (with the only variable here your mom being a bad cook!). For this experiment I went to dine with my friend Dee at her dining hall on the other side of campus so to speak. The result - simple:
On arrival I was surprised by how different the dining hall looked to the one I usually eat at: this one being much older and lacking the modern design of all round glass windows and sliding doors. Once you enter through its old wooden doorframes you enter a whole different era and space than that on the other side of the threshold you crossed a second ago. Dee summed it up very well when she told me a while ago that it has “a Harry Potter feel to it”.
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This was quite clear, with the wooden floor, wooden chairs and tables – all probably older than me - and a collection of coats of arms of all the residences making up the hall, hanging on the wall opposite of the entrance, boasting with a definite authority that speaks of valued tradition. The line to get food was also much shorter than the usual one I wait in, and apparently always is. They have a functioning toaster too, one people in my dining hall would kill for, and a practical layout of the juice machine, coffee mugs and other minor things. Once through the food line I joined Dee’s friendly table, and there I found the universal truth in their first words: My mom said it, my dad said it, my friends from all over the country say it, and probably anyone who ever lived in a varsity residence said it…so you can now take their word for it: res food will never match mom’s cooking! You might however want to try out the different layouts and toaster though…
One Brick Short of a Load
Bam! An explosion of URL’s; the list of my fellow journalism student’s blogs is daunting. We were assigned to select one and write a review. In all honesty, I started filtering through them based on their titles. One in particular caught my eye; Yellow Brick Rhode.
I instantly identified with the title seeing that I am a huge diehard fan of The Wizard Of Oz (novel and film). Yellow Brick Rhode is structurally clever and provokes ideas associated with its genre, as all students are on a journey – a road leading to somewhere incredible.
I expected a burst colour and images, but when the page finally loaded, the palette 101 Beige blankly stared back at me. I despise beige as my mother insisted on painting almost every wall in our house a different shade of brown. Our house was a big taupe mushroom hell. Despite my extreme dislike of the layout, I continued.
I was surprisingly impressed by Welcome to the Yellow Brick Rhode, the first post I read. I enjoyed how the blogger utilises the ‘Oz’ imagery. With every click, my mission became more and more interesting. The jargon is structured with proper grammar and spelling (thank goodness), yet remains engaged with the audience with youthful diction. The blog features posts on world affairs, politics, entertainment, sports and exciting community events.
Yellow Brick Rhode might not be the brightest crayon in the box, but it offers stimulating posts and has heaps of potential.
Ghostwriter
The Horrors of Hat Head!
A cowboy hat on a cold, yet still supposed ‘summer’s day’ in Grahamstown, who would dare pull off such a fashion faux pas? I did despite an assortment of mixed emotions because, after all, I would be ruining what I like to call my own style by wearing, oh the horrors, a cowboy hat. I expected to feel out of place yet maybe experience a different side of Grahamstown by wearing the dreaded cowboy hat. The feeling of being ‘out of place’ is something I am not used to, being a very friendly person, and I believe I needed to step out of my comfort zone by doing something that I view as strange.
Stepping out of my residence, I felt anxious about what was going to happen and who I was going to see because, after all, I looked rather weird in a cowboy hat and a hoodie. This look is not exactly in Vogue’s (or any fashion magazine) top ten best looks category and I do enjoy dressing nicely. The wind, blowing my hat off at every opportunity it got, making me feel even more stupid than I already felt. People walking past me oddly enough did not really pay me much attention which is not what I expected at all. A few perplexed glances were the most attention I got from strangers and even then, I probably imagined most of it owing to my own insecurities about wearing the cowboy hat. My friends walking past did however comment on my unusual attire and asked “What the hell are you wearing Kait? Are you going somewhere?” or went “Yihaaaw ride ‘em cowgirl” which did bring a smile to my lips. At a friend’s braai, in the afternoon, my friend hosting the party kept stealing my hat off my head and it became almost a novelty item funnily enough!
These reactions were totally unexpected and for the most part I found the day to be rather entertaining than awful. People laughed at my hat but I would also laugh and think it was for some special occasion. The hat became a talking point and no-one (that I know of) judged me for wearing it! What I did not foresee, however, was the hat head that I discovered on taking the cowboy hat off, and this was the worst thing that had happened the whole day, which I see as having a great day! A cowboy hat on a cold day, I could see myself wearing that…
Spotlight on the Pencils
BluntRedPenicil, a fellow journ-student blog, falls under the spot light. It seemingly fails to impress with its very basic layout that looks slightly dull, although it saves one having to search the site to get around. I also miss the “About” box somewhere close to the top of the page. There is also the issue of consistency, with different fonts and font colours being used, and occasional typo or spelling errors occur. There is however a “blog archive” section on the right-hand tab that further eases navigation, and there are also some pictures uploaded.Don’t let looks fool you however, as the other side of the coin is shinier with their posts: Even though not all posts are specifically journalism/journ-student related, with random posts ranging between anything from an ANC/Malema article to “free the weed”, it offers commentary and thoughts, interesting and entertaining, for both journalism and other students. One of my favourite articles is “Attention to detail or the lack of it”. You’ll find it a very opinionated blog, and you have to look no further than their first article to see that. Although I don’t agree with all they say (such as their weed article), it comes to show that they live up to their promise made in their manifesto, of a blog “…dripping with the honesty and conviction that only an opinionated young student…could give!”
Overall a very good first try at blogging and worth spending a few minutes browsing.
Is “Tree Pants” a blog because it isn’t worth the paper?
Glancing at the title of “Tree Pants” blog I immediately assumed it was just another forum to post love letters about saving the trees and other clichéd ideas. I was wrong. “Tree Pants” applies journalistic skills in a very student orientated manner, for example, reviewing the latest CD’s and generally having a colloquial, yet still appropriate tone throughout the blog. This blog also assumes a delightfully humorous tone with sexual innuendoes such as “we are not talking about the tree in our webmaster’s pants”. Sexuality, politics, writing, reading and religion are all topics you can expect to read about on this blog as they all relate to student life, in particular, a student journalists life. The links are a nice touch because they relate to the blog, its interests as well as the blogs target market. However, I did find a few minor problems with blog such as: consistent spelling errors, some topics have been overdone (politics) and it is missing a Twitter feed, which I believe would enhance the blog. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the blog because it is attractive, funny, interesting, and relevant to its target market and it gives the reader a unique view on the world. Instead of saving the trees, save some time to check out this blog!
Word issues from a simplistic point of view
A way to while away time while waiting for the water to boil is to read world issue bloggers. This is a simplistic blog that focuses on issues like global warming, racism, student funding, music, politics and sport. The name is reflective of their aim to see the world as a village, where people can talk about things that affect them. However, very little of this actually happens on the blog. For a blog that was supposed to cover “current affairs”, they do not do justice to this vision, which was bold and impressive in itself.
The blog posts are uncomplicated, but do not focus on the core issues like why are rap music is said to be evil; why corrupt ministers are allowed do what they do; or why global warming is accelerating at such a speed. The blog posts mainly state the facts that have been presented already. They elaborate, but do not analyse or explain. Punctuation is mediocre. Most sentences are not properly constructed, and this makes reading the posts more difficult.
The layout of the blog is very attractive. It lures you to read the stories that are there. It is very uncluttered and organised. Bright pale colours are used to make this blog generally reader friendly. However, the font is small, so this might be a problem for those who are long-sighted.
This blog is perfect for those who cannot stand reading intensely analytical stories. It is for those who have simple minds, which cannot absorb in-depth and critical blogging.
A walk to remember
It is the day I think outside of the box by walking outside of the box. The road to Eden Grove suddenly seems very long. I step out of the library and I hesitantly perch a book on top of my head. I feel as if everyone is watching me, although there are not a lot of people. I firmly clutch my bag as if it will support me from the self-consciousness I am feeling. I take small steps, afraid that at any moment the book will fall from my head. I meekly turn into the corridor absorbing all the funny looks I am getting from other students.
My res mate shrieks out to me. “Ruth! What the hell are you doing?”“What does it look like?” I ask. “I am walking with a book on my head.”I groan inside. She is walking with a cute guy. I groan again. He probably thinks that I am a confused student who is having an identity crisis. “Are you working on your posture?” she asks. “No!” I vehemently deny. “It’s for journ. Can you believe it?” I sound so ludicrous. I continue to walk. A girl passes me with an amused look on her face. Another passes me without even batting an eyelid in my direction. It seems as if students who walk with books on their heads are normal to her. There is a puzzled look on another girl’s face. She probably did not expect such odd behaviour from me.
My body is tense and although it is not hot, I feel myself perspiring. I can feel…no, I can hear the blood rushing to my brain. My friend Yolanda passes me with some of her friends. She tolerantly looks at me and says like a mother would, “Ruth, I worry about you sometimes.” I chuckle uncomfortably, and carry on walking. The book nearly falls off my head, and intense devilish sniggers creep up from behind me. Two male students are obviously enjoying the free live comedy they are getting. I step into Eden Grove, swinging my hips, trying to look like an African woman who is practising her cultural obligation. It does not work.
When I get into the Eden Grove Blue lecture room, I quickly remove the book from my head, and I calmly settle in my seat. That was quite an experience. However, it is good to be back to my normal self, my normal, sane, composed and lady-like self.
I blog what I ask
Avuyile Maselwa in thought (Term 4 day one). Please read very very very lugubriously.
Blogging, blogging, is this really necessary? So on top of all the monies that I have spent here already, I must now pester my parents for an unbudgeted for pair of reading glasses, because I will be staring at an LCD screen the whole day, when will this year end”
Ok so it was only when I started waking up to the idea of this new age of journalism that I realised that whether I like it or not, journalism is absolutely not what it used to be. In fact it is not what it was on February the 23rd when we were tasked with our first assignment and at no major stretch it is not what it was when I started typing this article. As I thought, global media as it is termed now is breaking boundaries which traditional forms of media, as advance as they have become over the years, have not been able to break. I, me, myself, am able to jump onto this moving train and navigate its course, an achievement which would have otherwise taken me a few coffee errands and paper cuts to achieve.
The thought of my learner colleagues and I swimming as the little fish that we are, in this sea of new experiences, where knowledge is in abundance and the prospects of being able to share that knowledge with the rest of the world, is exciting. Online journalism and in particular, blogging in its fullest sense can be seen as a means of communication that most journalists yearn for.
As Journalists, we aim to be informed, by immersing ourselves into society and by reading widely and translating what we have read into narratives that inform the lives of those societies. Global media is the foundation for this.
I become stuck between a rock and a hard place when I am excited by seeing my own work come alive on the blog that I have created. And still when I commute myself to my Mdantsane home I am confronted by the very people that these blog posts are meant to represent, but because they are marginalised,they will never see it. It is however unfortunate that this form of journalism as exciting as it is, seems to be elitist, in that it is exclusive of the very people that we define ourselves to be representing. This all makes me wonder whether traditional forms of media and in particular print(which at the moment is said to be dying slowly but surely) will be surpassed by the new age media? It made me question my reasons for being a journalist, which is to inform those that are not informed and whether or not I can still do this with this new media
These facts, and the fact that I have now exceeded my 250 word count that is indicative of a suitable blog post , forced me to seek help in answering some of the questions that I need answers to. As my 50% blog lecturer says, "Good journalism is achieved in doing"
Diligent ne? (Oops sorry I forget that this group of first years missed out on the Xhosa course, ne means right.)
I spoke to journos from Tv, Radio, print as well as student journos
People interviwed:
Unathi Nkayi (METRO FM)
Gill Rennie (RHODES LECTURER)
Lumko Jimlongo (SABC NEWS)
Sibongile Mkani (DAILY DISPATCH)
Sinethemba Makhasi (City Press)
Monique Senekal (RHODES TUTOR PGdip)
Kaitlin Britz (Bjorn 1st year and INKSLINGERS101)
Olwethu Xabanisa (WSU STUDENT and Eastern Cape today)
Xolani Kondile (RHODES 2ND YEAR BJOURN)
Questions:
Titles: WHAT IS JOURN IN A 6 WORD NARRATIVE
1.WHY DID YOU GET INTO JOURNALSIM
2.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE IDEAS THAT PRINT IS DYING AND THE FACT
THAT ALL THESE OTHER MEDIA SOURCES THAT ARE DOMINATING THE INDUSTRY
NOW, ARE MORE AFFLEUNT THAN PRINT BUT STILL DO NOT INFILTRATE TO THE
MARGINALISED?
3.WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A JOURNO IN THE FUTURE?
4.What do you think of the inclusion of a Xhosa course to Journalism and media studies course at Rhodes?
Blogging, blogging, is this really necessary? So on top of all the monies that I have spent here already, I must now pester my parents for an unbudgeted for pair of reading glasses, because I will be staring at an LCD screen the whole day, when will this year end”
Ok so it was only when I started waking up to the idea of this new age of journalism that I realised that whether I like it or not, journalism is absolutely not what it used to be. In fact it is not what it was on February the 23rd when we were tasked with our first assignment and at no major stretch it is not what it was when I started typing this article. As I thought, global media as it is termed now is breaking boundaries which traditional forms of media, as advance as they have become over the years, have not been able to break. I, me, myself, am able to jump onto this moving train and navigate its course, an achievement which would have otherwise taken me a few coffee errands and paper cuts to achieve.
The thought of my learner colleagues and I swimming as the little fish that we are, in this sea of new experiences, where knowledge is in abundance and the prospects of being able to share that knowledge with the rest of the world, is exciting. Online journalism and in particular, blogging in its fullest sense can be seen as a means of communication that most journalists yearn for.
As Journalists, we aim to be informed, by immersing ourselves into society and by reading widely and translating what we have read into narratives that inform the lives of those societies. Global media is the foundation for this.
I become stuck between a rock and a hard place when I am excited by seeing my own work come alive on the blog that I have created. And still when I commute myself to my Mdantsane home I am confronted by the very people that these blog posts are meant to represent, but because they are marginalised,they will never see it. It is however unfortunate that this form of journalism as exciting as it is, seems to be elitist, in that it is exclusive of the very people that we define ourselves to be representing. This all makes me wonder whether traditional forms of media and in particular print(which at the moment is said to be dying slowly but surely) will be surpassed by the new age media? It made me question my reasons for being a journalist, which is to inform those that are not informed and whether or not I can still do this with this new media
These facts, and the fact that I have now exceeded my 250 word count that is indicative of a suitable blog post , forced me to seek help in answering some of the questions that I need answers to. As my 50% blog lecturer says, "Good journalism is achieved in doing"
Diligent ne? (Oops sorry I forget that this group of first years missed out on the Xhosa course, ne means right.)
I spoke to journos from Tv, Radio, print as well as student journos
People interviwed:
Unathi Nkayi (METRO FM)
Gill Rennie (RHODES LECTURER)
Lumko Jimlongo (SABC NEWS)
Sibongile Mkani (DAILY DISPATCH)
Sinethemba Makhasi (City Press)
Monique Senekal (RHODES TUTOR PGdip)
Kaitlin Britz (Bjorn 1st year and INKSLINGERS101)
Olwethu Xabanisa (WSU STUDENT and Eastern Cape today)
Xolani Kondile (RHODES 2ND YEAR BJOURN)
Questions:
Titles: WHAT IS JOURN IN A 6 WORD NARRATIVE
1.WHY DID YOU GET INTO JOURNALSIM
2.WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE IDEAS THAT PRINT IS DYING AND THE FACT
THAT ALL THESE OTHER MEDIA SOURCES THAT ARE DOMINATING THE INDUSTRY
NOW, ARE MORE AFFLEUNT THAN PRINT BUT STILL DO NOT INFILTRATE TO THE
MARGINALISED?
3.WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF AS A JOURNO IN THE FUTURE?
4.What do you think of the inclusion of a Xhosa course to Journalism and media studies course at Rhodes?
The difinitive of my soul ignited
Unathi Msengana
References : Former Rhodent, now Entertainment journalist (metro fm)
Pass times : Gym, hanging out with friends and family
book : Nervous conditions-Tsitsi Dangarembga
1. My initial plan was never to study towards a degree in journalism. I wanted to study sports management at PE TECH. Both my parents being academics and former Rhodents,refused the idea and hence I ended up studying at Rhodes. I’m generally a creative person, which is why I opted for my major at Rhodes to be drama, and journalism and media studies as my second major. During the course of my years I fell in love with journalism, hence I followed it as a career path.
2. One has to be careful in terms of the research analysis that they use. In South Africa, print, television and radio, being the traditional forms of journalism serve as the guide for the new age media that is creeping into the industry to date. I believe that this is an exciting form of communication which brings new challenges. As much as it can be helpful, it can also be very dangerous in that there are few limits to information that is put out there. I do feel though that, South Africans should not look at the changes that global media is bringing in an American context, as the economic demographic of this country does not allow us to do so. The majority of the people are marginalised and hence they do not have the capabilities to move with the times of this new age form of journalism. This is why new media concepts for instance blogging will always be guided by traditional forms of media.
3.I am not one for making future plans. Every decision that I make is informed by where I am at the time. I do however still plan to continue in the path of informing those that want to listen, through entertainment journalism.
4. It is about time and I do not mean this in a racial context but it is long overdue. I think that journalism involves one being able to utilise their unique selling points and if that means that you have to speak the language of the people that you are practising your craft around, then so be it. Rhodes University is an institution renowned for its merit and the students who have had the unique opportunity of becoming students there should see this as a privilege.
Word for students: You are very privileged to have had the opportunity to study at Rhodes. Never take this opportunity for granted. Treasure it and use it to the best of your ability.
References : Former Rhodent, now Entertainment journalist (metro fm)
Pass times : Gym, hanging out with friends and family
book : Nervous conditions-Tsitsi Dangarembga
1. My initial plan was never to study towards a degree in journalism. I wanted to study sports management at PE TECH. Both my parents being academics and former Rhodents,refused the idea and hence I ended up studying at Rhodes. I’m generally a creative person, which is why I opted for my major at Rhodes to be drama, and journalism and media studies as my second major. During the course of my years I fell in love with journalism, hence I followed it as a career path.
2. One has to be careful in terms of the research analysis that they use. In South Africa, print, television and radio, being the traditional forms of journalism serve as the guide for the new age media that is creeping into the industry to date. I believe that this is an exciting form of communication which brings new challenges. As much as it can be helpful, it can also be very dangerous in that there are few limits to information that is put out there. I do feel though that, South Africans should not look at the changes that global media is bringing in an American context, as the economic demographic of this country does not allow us to do so. The majority of the people are marginalised and hence they do not have the capabilities to move with the times of this new age form of journalism. This is why new media concepts for instance blogging will always be guided by traditional forms of media.
3.I am not one for making future plans. Every decision that I make is informed by where I am at the time. I do however still plan to continue in the path of informing those that want to listen, through entertainment journalism.
4. It is about time and I do not mean this in a racial context but it is long overdue. I think that journalism involves one being able to utilise their unique selling points and if that means that you have to speak the language of the people that you are practising your craft around, then so be it. Rhodes University is an institution renowned for its merit and the students who have had the unique opportunity of becoming students there should see this as a privilege.
Word for students: You are very privileged to have had the opportunity to study at Rhodes. Never take this opportunity for granted. Treasure it and use it to the best of your ability.
A great way to be ailve
Gill Rennie
References: Award wining journalist, my 50% blog lecturer
Pass times: Reading, picnics, reading some more
Book: To kill a Mocking bird- Harper Lee
1. Life in South Africa was very different; the battle lines were clearly defined. There were good guys and bad guys and I had to decide which side I was on. Journalism had a really important role, but unfortunately then, freedom of the press was non-existent. There were hundreds of laws governing the way the press reported, and as many volunteers as possible were needed in order to change this.
2. The changes that are occurring in the world are influencing the skills that I hope to equip my students with. This means that I have to start thinking and teaching on a media landscape. I feel that the new forms of journalism are very important in the times that we live in. As journalists, it is our duty to try to inform those that are unable to inform themselves and with this global age media we are able to do this much faster and more effectively. I am a print journalist by nature and I see that my industry is changing, but I do not think that it will die. The sad reality in this country is that, the majority of the people, the people that we are meant to represent are still very marginalised. This means that they are unable to move with this new age media. The fact that even students who are being trained in this field, in particular here in the Eastern Cape, do not have access to computers let alone the internet,is indicative of the fact that print and the other traditional forms of media still have a huge role to play.
3. My aim is to continue to help students through the challenges that the changes to this course will always bring. I want students to know that there are always ways to work around any obstacles that they may encounter along their path to becoming capable journalists. I want to encourage them to read widely, so as to take in as much information as possible in order to be in a better position to have an opinion worth being heard. They need to learn to be able to communicate with their sources confidently and for that to occur they must learn to be innovative in their ways of acquiring knowledge.
4. I have been living in Grahmstown for 5 years now and I am ashamed to say that I can only say "Molo". I think that the introduction of Xhosa into the course is a positive initiative that will alow students to understand the people whose narratives they tell.I commend the department and I wish it success.
Word for students: Good journalism needs you to practice what you learn
References: Award wining journalist, my 50% blog lecturer
Pass times: Reading, picnics, reading some more
Book: To kill a Mocking bird- Harper Lee
1. Life in South Africa was very different; the battle lines were clearly defined. There were good guys and bad guys and I had to decide which side I was on. Journalism had a really important role, but unfortunately then, freedom of the press was non-existent. There were hundreds of laws governing the way the press reported, and as many volunteers as possible were needed in order to change this.
2. The changes that are occurring in the world are influencing the skills that I hope to equip my students with. This means that I have to start thinking and teaching on a media landscape. I feel that the new forms of journalism are very important in the times that we live in. As journalists, it is our duty to try to inform those that are unable to inform themselves and with this global age media we are able to do this much faster and more effectively. I am a print journalist by nature and I see that my industry is changing, but I do not think that it will die. The sad reality in this country is that, the majority of the people, the people that we are meant to represent are still very marginalised. This means that they are unable to move with this new age media. The fact that even students who are being trained in this field, in particular here in the Eastern Cape, do not have access to computers let alone the internet,is indicative of the fact that print and the other traditional forms of media still have a huge role to play.
3. My aim is to continue to help students through the challenges that the changes to this course will always bring. I want students to know that there are always ways to work around any obstacles that they may encounter along their path to becoming capable journalists. I want to encourage them to read widely, so as to take in as much information as possible in order to be in a better position to have an opinion worth being heard. They need to learn to be able to communicate with their sources confidently and for that to occur they must learn to be innovative in their ways of acquiring knowledge.
4. I have been living in Grahmstown for 5 years now and I am ashamed to say that I can only say "Molo". I think that the introduction of Xhosa into the course is a positive initiative that will alow students to understand the people whose narratives they tell.I commend the department and I wish it success.
Word for students: Good journalism needs you to practice what you learn
Different life aspects and fair objectivity
Olwethu Xabanisa
References:Student at WSU and writes for Eastern Cape today
books :Dinner with Mugabe by Heidi Holland
Pass times:Brand house and SAB promotions Djing there and there
Getting to know how other people feel about a certain issue, listening to other people’s opinions and meeting different people who are in different professions.
Different life aspects and fair objectivity. Be passionate about everything in this career and work very hard at all times to fulfill your dreams and whatever you want to eradicate.
1. I felt that South Africa needed a change in terms of portraying a clear picture to society regarding what they should really know and for them not to be told what to think about but rather think about what is really happening at present and off cause solutions to these kinds of problems they are experiencing.
2. Yes, print is kind of depreciating if I can put it that way but off cause everyone is entitled to their own opinion. For less privileged people this would be a problem because they won’t have an entire access to the “dominant” internet and if the good old newspapers and magazines die there would be some kind of censorship affecting a large number of poor people in and around the world. Remember TV is not enough as the only source of media because different stations are pushing different agendas and in SA for instance most people can’t afford satellite TV.
3. This is a very versatile profession therefore I wouldn’t predict my position but off cause somewhere in the media world.
4. That should have happened ages ago, Rhodes University is one of the excelling journalism institutions in SA and based in the Eastern Cape which is the Xhosa dominant province therefore I am entirely condoning this phenomenon.
Word to students:Be passionate about everything in this career and work very hard at all times to fulfill your dreams and whatever you want to eradicate.
References:Student at WSU and writes for Eastern Cape today
books :Dinner with Mugabe by Heidi Holland
Pass times:Brand house and SAB promotions Djing there and there
Getting to know how other people feel about a certain issue, listening to other people’s opinions and meeting different people who are in different professions.
Different life aspects and fair objectivity. Be passionate about everything in this career and work very hard at all times to fulfill your dreams and whatever you want to eradicate.
1. I felt that South Africa needed a change in terms of portraying a clear picture to society regarding what they should really know and for them not to be told what to think about but rather think about what is really happening at present and off cause solutions to these kinds of problems they are experiencing.
2. Yes, print is kind of depreciating if I can put it that way but off cause everyone is entitled to their own opinion. For less privileged people this would be a problem because they won’t have an entire access to the “dominant” internet and if the good old newspapers and magazines die there would be some kind of censorship affecting a large number of poor people in and around the world. Remember TV is not enough as the only source of media because different stations are pushing different agendas and in SA for instance most people can’t afford satellite TV.
3. This is a very versatile profession therefore I wouldn’t predict my position but off cause somewhere in the media world.
4. That should have happened ages ago, Rhodes University is one of the excelling journalism institutions in SA and based in the Eastern Cape which is the Xhosa dominant province therefore I am entirely condoning this phenomenon.
Word to students:Be passionate about everything in this career and work very hard at all times to fulfill your dreams and whatever you want to eradicate.
Reading to be informed to inform
Sibongile Mkani
References: Former WSU student, now withDaily Dispatch
Book : I read what i like- Steven Biko
Pass times: I read, sleep and read some more
1.I wanted to be a journalist, because I wanted to be ontop of things (know what is
happening around me). Journalism involves travelling and I love meeting people. More importantly, journalism meant that I would be informed and so be able to inform, help and educate those that are not.
2. I do not think that print is dying, but it is being overtaken by the new forms of journalism. Online journalism means that the message is being put out there much faster. I do believe though that, people will always want to have a copy of the paper, because it is easier to get a full of the story, unlike online where you get bits and pieces. Print media is advantageous, because unlike online services, a story that was put up in the morning will not still be there in the evening. As for the marginalised, we could say that they are the reason that print will not die, because the fact that they can not afford access to internet services and the like means that they will continue to buy the paper.
3.I'm am not sure, maybe heading up a news desk and assigning stories. Being a print journalist though, I have found that I constantly need to feul my passion, because there is no money in this profession which is why one has to really love it to survive.
4.I am Xhosa so I think that this is a wonderful idea. It is sad to see that we have still not incorparated African languages to our ways of communication. Congratulations to Rhodes this a positive step forward.
word for students: Passion for this career will be your wealth
References: Former WSU student, now withDaily Dispatch
Book : I read what i like- Steven Biko
Pass times: I read, sleep and read some more
1.I wanted to be a journalist, because I wanted to be ontop of things (know what is
happening around me). Journalism involves travelling and I love meeting people. More importantly, journalism meant that I would be informed and so be able to inform, help and educate those that are not.
2. I do not think that print is dying, but it is being overtaken by the new forms of journalism. Online journalism means that the message is being put out there much faster. I do believe though that, people will always want to have a copy of the paper, because it is easier to get a full of the story, unlike online where you get bits and pieces. Print media is advantageous, because unlike online services, a story that was put up in the morning will not still be there in the evening. As for the marginalised, we could say that they are the reason that print will not die, because the fact that they can not afford access to internet services and the like means that they will continue to buy the paper.
3.I'm am not sure, maybe heading up a news desk and assigning stories. Being a print journalist though, I have found that I constantly need to feul my passion, because there is no money in this profession which is why one has to really love it to survive.
4.I am Xhosa so I think that this is a wonderful idea. It is sad to see that we have still not incorparated African languages to our ways of communication. Congratulations to Rhodes this a positive step forward.
word for students: Passion for this career will be your wealth
WHY-WHY-WHY-WHY-WHY-WHY??????
Lumko Jimlongo
References:formerly at WSU in Eastern Cape now with (Sabc news)
Books: Your very own Dr Saleem Badat’s “Black Man You Are On Your Own.”
I have not yet had the opportunity to read it but from the extracts I have come across- it is long overdue especially given the apparent loss of identity from today’s generation of children of the soil.
Pass times: Not much time for that I’m afraid. So I guess I’m researching the
next story
1.I would like to believe that it was curiosity and the very naïve notion of saving the world through creative means and wanting to be the voice of the voiceless. I thought it would be the perfect platform for me to write about people in need and get government to account etc. Needless to say, that is an objective I still hold but now it has been coupled by the realisation that – with it, comes a lot of red tape and gate keeping which makes it just a tad more complicated than I had originally thought it would be.
2.Being a man who has worked in broadcasting throughout my rather short career, I feel already my response to this one is of a biased nature.
But seriously though – if we are to look at it from an environmental perspective - then maybe it should die.
But with my environmentalist hat now off, I feel one can’t run away from the fact that newspapers have a history that dates back hundreds of years but with the advent of radio and TV, their circulation started to decline. This just meant that people did not have to rely on print as the only source of news anymore (especially talking of breaking news where information is just simply conveyed in a more speedy manner via broadcasting.)
I also wish to differ with the view that these so called “more affluent” platforms do not infiltrate to the marginalized.
I just think that multi-media is a way, more accessible than print media.
Print to me is more discriminatory as I am sure the illiteracy levels nationwide will attest. Add to that, multi-media stories make use of the visual element as well, in a way that bridges any communicative gaps that the written word could promote.
Back to the question of the assumed 'affluence' of non-print media: I would like to think that you may have conceived of this from an online perspective? That is to say, you access multi-media stories via the internet only? Not necessarily so. One doesn’t have to have a high-end laptop to access this content. It is a fact that, communities in East and West Africa are accessing the internet via mobile phones: this has penetrated internet usage into rural communities at a rate faster than your average suburban home with your PC scenario.
3.Well life would be rather plain without the odd bouts of delusions of grandeur so I guess I’d like to see myself in a managerial post somewhere.
Seriously though, all I wish to see my response to question one, moving a bit closer to being a reality.
4.Why it hasn’t been done already is a question I would rather be asked.
If we are to prioritize the issue of language amongst students and encourage them to learn at least one African language – then it should be a matter of priority that this is encouraged.
References:formerly at WSU in Eastern Cape now with (Sabc news)
Books: Your very own Dr Saleem Badat’s “Black Man You Are On Your Own.”
I have not yet had the opportunity to read it but from the extracts I have come across- it is long overdue especially given the apparent loss of identity from today’s generation of children of the soil.
Pass times: Not much time for that I’m afraid. So I guess I’m researching the
next story
1.I would like to believe that it was curiosity and the very naïve notion of saving the world through creative means and wanting to be the voice of the voiceless. I thought it would be the perfect platform for me to write about people in need and get government to account etc. Needless to say, that is an objective I still hold but now it has been coupled by the realisation that – with it, comes a lot of red tape and gate keeping which makes it just a tad more complicated than I had originally thought it would be.
2.Being a man who has worked in broadcasting throughout my rather short career, I feel already my response to this one is of a biased nature.
But seriously though – if we are to look at it from an environmental perspective - then maybe it should die.
But with my environmentalist hat now off, I feel one can’t run away from the fact that newspapers have a history that dates back hundreds of years but with the advent of radio and TV, their circulation started to decline. This just meant that people did not have to rely on print as the only source of news anymore (especially talking of breaking news where information is just simply conveyed in a more speedy manner via broadcasting.)
I also wish to differ with the view that these so called “more affluent” platforms do not infiltrate to the marginalized.
I just think that multi-media is a way, more accessible than print media.
Print to me is more discriminatory as I am sure the illiteracy levels nationwide will attest. Add to that, multi-media stories make use of the visual element as well, in a way that bridges any communicative gaps that the written word could promote.
Back to the question of the assumed 'affluence' of non-print media: I would like to think that you may have conceived of this from an online perspective? That is to say, you access multi-media stories via the internet only? Not necessarily so. One doesn’t have to have a high-end laptop to access this content. It is a fact that, communities in East and West Africa are accessing the internet via mobile phones: this has penetrated internet usage into rural communities at a rate faster than your average suburban home with your PC scenario.
3.Well life would be rather plain without the odd bouts of delusions of grandeur so I guess I’d like to see myself in a managerial post somewhere.
Seriously though, all I wish to see my response to question one, moving a bit closer to being a reality.
4.Why it hasn’t been done already is a question I would rather be asked.
If we are to prioritize the issue of language amongst students and encourage them to learn at least one African language – then it should be a matter of priority that this is encouraged.
Journalism is my way of interpreting the world
Kaitlin Britz
References: First year Bjourn student
Contributor to Inkslingers101
Pass times :writing poetry, reading, facebook (haha), going out, causing trouble and wine
(it is a hobby)
Books :Anything by Paolo Cohelo, John Gray, Naomi Campbell- I am a reading creep
I think that Xhosa is a good idea, but maybe they should include other African languages as well.
References: First year Bjourn student
Contributor to Inkslingers101
Pass times :writing poetry, reading, facebook (haha), going out, causing trouble and wine
(it is a hobby)
Books :Anything by Paolo Cohelo, John Gray, Naomi Campbell- I am a reading creep
1.I got into journalim because I have always had a passion for the media and I really enjoy writing
2. I do not think that print will ever die;however, the internet has revolutionised journalism and I do believe that the net will remain a strong influence on journalism and will also continue to change the face of journalism. The marginalised will most probably continue to not have access to non- print journalism, but because of this, there will continue to be a market for print journalism.
3. I see myself as either a travel writer or an editor.
I think that Xhosa is a good idea, but maybe they should include other African languages as well.
Journalism is one thing I do right
Journalism is one thing I do right
Xolani Kondile
References: 2nd year bjourn student
books :There are two actually the first is by Allan Paton (Cry the beloved country) and Kahlil Gibran (Broken Wings)
Pass times : I enjoy lots of things but I enjoy spending time with my childhood friends, I don't see a lot of them lately. I also like spending quality time with little cousins and lastly I enjoy church and spending time with the youth in my church.
Lastly I enjoy church and spending time with the youth in my church.
Writing, if I could master the craft of writing I'd be the happiest man alive. Photography as well, call me a thief but I love stealing moments in time.
1.It’s the love of information, and research. It’s more like teaching, which is something I'd like to do later on in my life
2.Each industry will always have its ups and downs. I understand that things are changing in journalism as a whole. I personally think that print as a mechanism of writing has been modified or rather developing, not necessarily dying. I believe that print is bread and butter of journalism.
4.I am more interested in media research, as a journalist id like to contribute by maybe freelancing. I want to travel Africa so that I can contribute to journalism by writing or commenting about other African countries politics from an outsider’s perspective if that makes sense.
5.I think it’s important that more African languages should be encouraged in this institution especially if it wants to attain an African image. It’s a disgrace to have more European languages than African languages especially South African indigenous languages, for instance isiXhosa and the like.
Xolani Kondile
References: 2nd year bjourn student
books :There are two actually the first is by Allan Paton (Cry the beloved country) and Kahlil Gibran (Broken Wings)
Pass times : I enjoy lots of things but I enjoy spending time with my childhood friends, I don't see a lot of them lately. I also like spending quality time with little cousins and lastly I enjoy church and spending time with the youth in my church.
Lastly I enjoy church and spending time with the youth in my church.
Writing, if I could master the craft of writing I'd be the happiest man alive. Photography as well, call me a thief but I love stealing moments in time.
1.It’s the love of information, and research. It’s more like teaching, which is something I'd like to do later on in my life
2.Each industry will always have its ups and downs. I understand that things are changing in journalism as a whole. I personally think that print as a mechanism of writing has been modified or rather developing, not necessarily dying. I believe that print is bread and butter of journalism.
4.I am more interested in media research, as a journalist id like to contribute by maybe freelancing. I want to travel Africa so that I can contribute to journalism by writing or commenting about other African countries politics from an outsider’s perspective if that makes sense.
5.I think it’s important that more African languages should be encouraged in this institution especially if it wants to attain an African image. It’s a disgrace to have more European languages than African languages especially South African indigenous languages, for instance isiXhosa and the like.
Sharing information, influencing thoughts and ideas
Sinethemba Makhasi
References: Former Rhodent,City press
book :A book I wish to write rather is a xhosa, easy to read book with
childern's stories. The erotion of indeginous languages amongst the
youth is frightening and I think that as the media, we are not here to
only tell stories but should also be at the forefront of promoting
development issues in our country.
pass times:Going to church, going-out with friends , meeting different people and
going to interesting places and reading
1.I've always had a passion for news and reading newspapers
and magazines. I've known since I was about 10-years-old that I wanted
to become a journalist.
2.Personally, I do not think print media is dying. While times
have changed and new forms of telling stories have since emerged (I.e
New Media/Online journalism) there is still plenty of room for our
newspapers and magazines in the media. Not all South Africans have
access to these new mediums. While we have pioneers (i.e The Times) who
have set the pace for online media in the country, Africa and South
Africa still have a long way to go before we can pride ourselves of a
thriving "digital" or "virtual" media. Africa is still faced with
telecommunications and infrustractural problems when it comes to
availing access to the internet, especially to rural communities..This
unfortunately has hindered progress in e-journalism. Last year, about 5
million (please check stats) South Africans out of the almost 45 million
population, have access to the internet. It is still a huge drop in the
ocean. Acces to the media should not be the privilege of the affluent
only, but also our rural communites should be able to be part of the
media. Remember, South Africa is still a developing country. Also, a
number of our newsrooms have not woken up to the opportunities which the
digital media provides- a number of traditional journalist are still
uninitiated when it comes to new media.
3.Owning a media company which focuses on online media. Also,
branching into broadcasting and doing a Masters degree ( not in
journalism though)..:)
4.It's about time that our ivory towers/institutions staarted
recognising the role of indeginous languages in South Africa, especially
in the dissemination of news and information to citizens. My former
lecturer at Rhodes University, Rod Amner once said to use that its
important for a child to first master theirr mother-tongue because you
are able to think and articulate your ideas better in your mother-tongue
first before articulating them in a foreign dilect.
5.I'm actually very jealous of you guys because I really wanted to take
Xhosa at varsity but unfortunately none of the institutions I went to
offered it! LOL
word for students:Work harder and party later. Use the resources (lecturers such as Rod, Guy)
to grow in your respective field. Read to stay abreast of what is
happening out there and to help yourself grow as a writer
References: Former Rhodent,City press
book :A book I wish to write rather is a xhosa, easy to read book with
childern's stories. The erotion of indeginous languages amongst the
youth is frightening and I think that as the media, we are not here to
only tell stories but should also be at the forefront of promoting
development issues in our country.
pass times:Going to church, going-out with friends , meeting different people and
going to interesting places and reading
1.I've always had a passion for news and reading newspapers
and magazines. I've known since I was about 10-years-old that I wanted
to become a journalist.
2.Personally, I do not think print media is dying. While times
have changed and new forms of telling stories have since emerged (I.e
New Media/Online journalism) there is still plenty of room for our
newspapers and magazines in the media. Not all South Africans have
access to these new mediums. While we have pioneers (i.e The Times) who
have set the pace for online media in the country, Africa and South
Africa still have a long way to go before we can pride ourselves of a
thriving "digital" or "virtual" media. Africa is still faced with
telecommunications and infrustractural problems when it comes to
availing access to the internet, especially to rural communities..This
unfortunately has hindered progress in e-journalism. Last year, about 5
million (please check stats) South Africans out of the almost 45 million
population, have access to the internet. It is still a huge drop in the
ocean. Acces to the media should not be the privilege of the affluent
only, but also our rural communites should be able to be part of the
media. Remember, South Africa is still a developing country. Also, a
number of our newsrooms have not woken up to the opportunities which the
digital media provides- a number of traditional journalist are still
uninitiated when it comes to new media.
3.Owning a media company which focuses on online media. Also,
branching into broadcasting and doing a Masters degree ( not in
journalism though)..:)
4.It's about time that our ivory towers/institutions staarted
recognising the role of indeginous languages in South Africa, especially
in the dissemination of news and information to citizens. My former
lecturer at Rhodes University, Rod Amner once said to use that its
important for a child to first master theirr mother-tongue because you
are able to think and articulate your ideas better in your mother-tongue
first before articulating them in a foreign dilect.
5.I'm actually very jealous of you guys because I really wanted to take
Xhosa at varsity but unfortunately none of the institutions I went to
offered it! LOL
word for students:Work harder and party later. Use the resources (lecturers such as Rod, Guy)
to grow in your respective field. Read to stay abreast of what is
happening out there and to help yourself grow as a writer
Spokesman may be in the wrong ministry.
“If your paper goes on the streets of Harare without a license I will send my boys to get you in your office.” This was George Charamba, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Information and spokesman for President Robert Mugabe, shrieking at the owners of the independent newspaper News Day. Yes, Newsday does not have a license to operate, but does that mean you have to tyrannically threaten them? What happened to speech etiquette?
Spokespeople are supposed to be professional people who are cool, calm and collected. They know that they are representing who they are speaking for. They know that if they slip up, they will not be held accountable, but the person whom they are representing will be. Now that Charamba speaks like this, I understand the statements some of the government ministers (his bosses) say.
Robert Frost said that half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can't, and the other half of people who have nothing to say and keep on saying it. Charamba definitely belongs to the latter half. He seems to think that being called a media practitioner means you have to get militant about it. What kind of a spokesman has his “boys” who get people in their offices? Obviously one who does not know what being a spokesman is all about.
Spokespeople do make mistakes. US State Department’s press briefer, Christine Shelly screwed it up when speaking about Rwanda. But, her statements were nowhere near President Mugabe’s radical spokesman’s statements. Hitler had Goebbels and Robert Mugabe has George Charamba.
Questioning "Black"
This is a questioning blog post. Entry in dictionary: a blog post that contains many questions.
I am all for telling it like it is. Call a kettle black, if it’s black. But reading Maya Angelou’s poem “Televised” made me stop to ponder. She poeticises (is there such a word?) about watching lunchtime news and seeing faces of starving children. Then she asks the question “Why are they always Black?” (Note capitalised B)
Black. That is a complicated word (apart from the fact that it’s a colour) I know all the stereotypical characteristics that are associated with being Black. I mean, if you love food you are Black. If you dig basketball and hip-hop you are sooo Black. All this is in an American context by the way. If you are an ex-con and you are unemployed you are most probably Black. Worse, if you are in jail there’s a big chance that you are Black. (Sigh!)
I know the scientific explanation given about being Black. I remember something from my bio lessons, when I was still a child. Those were the days. There was something called melanin that gives Black people the Blackness, although it is possible that some people have more melanin than others, ‘cause they are so dark they are nearly green.
When Barack Obama was elected president of the USA, he was called the first Black president of the USA. I’m sorry to be to be this daft, but why wasn’t Bush called the 43rd white president of the United States? Why was it so important to point out that he is Black?
So, if this word “Black” were to be entered into a dictionary, what would the definition be? If you are Black, what are you? Please don’t say being in jail; being out of jail; living in jail; dodging jail etc. It’s bad for my mental health. But seriously, is it about the dark skin? Is it a philosophy or a way of life? Is it a myth or a mystery? Is it about Africa? Is it a social construct that has been created to make out some people to be better than others? What does is mean to be Black?
Oh by the way I’m in denial (whisper: “I don’t think I’m Black!”) Just kidding!
If we are going to say someone is Black, then “Black” needs to have a definition. I just don’t want to be told about Obama or Bolt or some Black man who has made it in this dreary world. I’m an academic. I want it written and defined. I need something to refer to when I’m writing a linguistics essay.
What is “Black”? Does “Black” even exist?
Relax my afro
Relax my afro
Black women need to embrace who they are, with every fiber of their being.
I mean duh, beauty is the epitome of your monthly visit, even if it is at the cost of a minimum of R120 depending on the location and how beautiful you really want to be.
I was at the hair salon the other day, ironic on the grounds that my “hair” I’d had on for the past two months had now hit expiry and it was now time to go “black” to my natural state. Seated next to me in an almost anticipatory manner, was a young girl. Drawn on her face was the same expression that was forced on me the day before photo day in preparatory school. My own mother pre photo shoot, in order to comply with the circulation notice as well as her oppressed notions of beauty, hinted that beauty, in its fullest would be achieved with a quick press, iron and even burn more often than not.
Recently there has been a row over this social construct that has been dictating to the black woman worldwide for centuries. Chris Rock recently did a documentary inspired by his daughters after their mother relaxed their hair for which he could not understand the purpose. Lebo Mashile says that we ought to embrace our diversity, I think that means not deter from our natural state (and yes she too has an afro).
Perhaps the term “Goodbye my nation” used in the olden days was an appropriate one; because the more we chemically treat our hair is the further we get from our roots.
Black women need to embrace who they are, with every fiber of their being.
I mean duh, beauty is the epitome of your monthly visit, even if it is at the cost of a minimum of R120 depending on the location and how beautiful you really want to be.
I was at the hair salon the other day, ironic on the grounds that my “hair” I’d had on for the past two months had now hit expiry and it was now time to go “black” to my natural state. Seated next to me in an almost anticipatory manner, was a young girl. Drawn on her face was the same expression that was forced on me the day before photo day in preparatory school. My own mother pre photo shoot, in order to comply with the circulation notice as well as her oppressed notions of beauty, hinted that beauty, in its fullest would be achieved with a quick press, iron and even burn more often than not.
Recently there has been a row over this social construct that has been dictating to the black woman worldwide for centuries. Chris Rock recently did a documentary inspired by his daughters after their mother relaxed their hair for which he could not understand the purpose. Lebo Mashile says that we ought to embrace our diversity, I think that means not deter from our natural state (and yes she too has an afro).
Perhaps the term “Goodbye my nation” used in the olden days was an appropriate one; because the more we chemically treat our hair is the further we get from our roots.
Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s indulgent stay using tax payer’s cash.
I found the recent coverage on Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa’s expensive (R570 000) hotel stay exceptionally interesting because every single report that I read condemned it; I expected at least one ‘pro-government’ organization to try and justify the clear misuse of tax payer’s money but on a positive note, I found none. What I did enjoy however, was the different slants each report took. In the Mail & Guardian article, they made it very clear that the Congress of the People party was extremely angered by this abuse of government funds which, perhaps, points at a fondness for the party because it suggests that COPE would never accept such behaviour if they were in control. On the whole, they covered the event very briefly in comparison to the News24 article which I found, that was of a good length and contains all the facts and figures that the Mail & Guardian article does not. I found the use of quotations interesting because News24 and the Times Live have mostly the same quotations throughout both of their articles and also have a similar factual style of writing that does not hint at an allegiance with any organization; be it COPE or the ANC. In general, I found the News24 article to be the most valuable because it is easy to read for the average person, presents all the facts, contains strong headings, relevant quotations and lastly, is not overtly opinionated (which lets the reader decide for themselves what they think) because an ‘unclouded’ view is what we aim for!
Mugabe and Bennett and jail. Oh my!
The Zimbabwean Mugabe and Bennett saga is at the news front yet again with another arrest.
Roy Bennett is the treasurer for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and a key ally to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the party's leader and President Robert Mugabe's chief domestic rival. Bennett was first arrested in February and has been free on bail since March after his arrest on charges of banditry, terrorism and acts of insurgency.
On 14 October, Mutare Provincial Magistrate Lucy Mungwari ruled that Bennett be apprehended. The MDC called the jailing “another serious attack on the credibility of the inclusive government” (Associated Press) and according to The Christian Science Monitor, the recent ZANU-PF activities is pressuring the MDC to either fight back harder or completely pull out of the unity government.
The local independent radio station, SW Radio Africa, has released a comment by an unidentified human rights lawyer, “The previous Magistrate who ruled in favour of Bennett in the same matter was committed to prison and arrested at some point. So we believe there is a lot of fear and clearly political interference”.
The saga has even crossed international borders. BBC News has reported that The US has called for Mugabe to stop “harassing” his rivals and the EU also said it was "deeply concerned" that "politically motivated abuse persists".
Will Bennett be granted bail? Will Tsvangirai announce party withdrawal? It looks like the whole world has to play the waiting game.
Ghostwriter
Roy Bennett is the treasurer for the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and a key ally to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, the party's leader and President Robert Mugabe's chief domestic rival. Bennett was first arrested in February and has been free on bail since March after his arrest on charges of banditry, terrorism and acts of insurgency.
On 14 October, Mutare Provincial Magistrate Lucy Mungwari ruled that Bennett be apprehended. The MDC called the jailing “another serious attack on the credibility of the inclusive government” (Associated Press) and according to The Christian Science Monitor, the recent ZANU-PF activities is pressuring the MDC to either fight back harder or completely pull out of the unity government.
The local independent radio station, SW Radio Africa, has released a comment by an unidentified human rights lawyer, “The previous Magistrate who ruled in favour of Bennett in the same matter was committed to prison and arrested at some point. So we believe there is a lot of fear and clearly political interference”.
The saga has even crossed international borders. BBC News has reported that The US has called for Mugabe to stop “harassing” his rivals and the EU also said it was "deeply concerned" that "politically motivated abuse persists".
Will Bennett be granted bail? Will Tsvangirai announce party withdrawal? It looks like the whole world has to play the waiting game.
Ghostwriter
Can the women be beyond gossip pages
On Sundays I usually read our Sunday papers as I feel that they cover in depth the happenings of the week as well as follow up stories. Even though I am a serious journalism student and read detailed accounts of hard news stories I do tend to be drawn to the entertainment pages more often then not. Lately though, I have been disturbed when reading these pages following an article that I read late last month that has identified most of these gossip columnist to be women.
It is worrying to note that of the masses of women that study towards a journalism degree, few of them follow the path of hard news, let alone hold management positions or even run news desks. According to a survey conducted by the SADC in September of this year, only 39% of South African women are on boards in media companies, 25% in top management postions and 35% in senior management.
The above makes me wonder whether the gossip and entertainment side of journalism is innate in women and whether or not the gap between men and women in the industry will ever be bridged.
It is worrying to note that of the masses of women that study towards a journalism degree, few of them follow the path of hard news, let alone hold management positions or even run news desks. According to a survey conducted by the SADC in September of this year, only 39% of South African women are on boards in media companies, 25% in top management postions and 35% in senior management.
The above makes me wonder whether the gossip and entertainment side of journalism is innate in women and whether or not the gap between men and women in the industry will ever be bridged.
Educaction Storm brews in Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape has seen controversy around the tertiary institutions, which has resulted in violent riot, primarily around financial issues. The Daily Dispatch has recently covered a few related stories, that are all well written in that they give for a first hand account of the issues that have been probing these institutions, from the tertiary sources.
In Fort Hare female bursary holders were alleged to have been coerced into extending sexual favours to the lectures in exchange for an increase in marks so that their bursaries are maintained www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=351177. In the same location Mugabe has stripped students in support of the MDC of bursaries http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=20919. Shortly after these incidents, violent disputes broke out at Walter Sisulu University over a steep hike in fees http://thezimbabwe.com/?p=20919.
It is sad to see that to this day students are still being opressed by powers that are beyond their control and that all the promises that are being made by the government, to make attaining an education more of a reality, have still not come to life. Instead we have the minister of education blowing enough money to fund a Rhodes student for the duration of their bjoun degree on a party http://news.iafrica.com/sa/1989300.htm. This behaviour is unacceptable because it is a demonstration that the political party that governs this country extends false hope to its voters. It seems that the efforts of June 16, 1976 are falling short.
We need a government that is inclusive of the needs of the least well off and one that uses the monies of tax payers wisely in fulfilling such.
In Fort Hare female bursary holders were alleged to have been coerced into extending sexual favours to the lectures in exchange for an increase in marks so that their bursaries are maintained www.dispatch.co.za/article.aspx?id=351177. In the same location Mugabe has stripped students in support of the MDC of bursaries http://www.thezimbabwetimes.com/?p=20919. Shortly after these incidents, violent disputes broke out at Walter Sisulu University over a steep hike in fees http://thezimbabwe.com/?p=20919.
It is sad to see that to this day students are still being opressed by powers that are beyond their control and that all the promises that are being made by the government, to make attaining an education more of a reality, have still not come to life. Instead we have the minister of education blowing enough money to fund a Rhodes student for the duration of their bjoun degree on a party http://news.iafrica.com/sa/1989300.htm. This behaviour is unacceptable because it is a demonstration that the political party that governs this country extends false hope to its voters. It seems that the efforts of June 16, 1976 are falling short.
We need a government that is inclusive of the needs of the least well off and one that uses the monies of tax payers wisely in fulfilling such.
Touch my blood on stage
My learner colleagues and I have had the task of doing research on one of the most popular writers that this country has seen. Fred Khumalo, Sunday Times columnist as well as award winning book writer who has had the pleasure of having one of his books, which happens to be his autobiography being adapted as a stage play.
The book, “Touch my blood”, was adapted as a stage piece, by one of South Africa’s leading directors, James Ngcobo and was show cased in our very own Rhodes theatre during the national arts festival this year. Being a drama student and having watched the play after reading the book, I must confess myself disappointed by the efforts made by James Ngcobo and his chosen cast. This is surprising seeing that he is renowned for being able to take a literary piece and give it theatrical value which I have seen him do with “The Suitcase” by Es’kia Mphahlele and a few other adaptations that have had wonderful ratings. Unfortunately, the play, “Touch my blood” was lacking in capturing the most important aspects of the book which was impressively well written. The performance levels, although not of a poor standard were not fitting for a theatre piece which requires for the performers to show the story to the audience rather than to tell it. The long, yet crucial monologues could hardly be heard over the exaggerated use of the props which ended up taking away from the dramatic tension rather than adding to it.
James Ngcobo is a good director, but he missed the mark on this play. I think that he should re-vist the idea and give the piece another try. With the correct directing, Touch my blood as a play could become award winning.
In the video, see a snippet of the play and Fred Khumalo’s thoughts on the work done.
http://www.myvideo.co.za/video/premiere-of-touch-my-blood
The book, “Touch my blood”, was adapted as a stage piece, by one of South Africa’s leading directors, James Ngcobo and was show cased in our very own Rhodes theatre during the national arts festival this year. Being a drama student and having watched the play after reading the book, I must confess myself disappointed by the efforts made by James Ngcobo and his chosen cast. This is surprising seeing that he is renowned for being able to take a literary piece and give it theatrical value which I have seen him do with “The Suitcase” by Es’kia Mphahlele and a few other adaptations that have had wonderful ratings. Unfortunately, the play, “Touch my blood” was lacking in capturing the most important aspects of the book which was impressively well written. The performance levels, although not of a poor standard were not fitting for a theatre piece which requires for the performers to show the story to the audience rather than to tell it. The long, yet crucial monologues could hardly be heard over the exaggerated use of the props which ended up taking away from the dramatic tension rather than adding to it.
James Ngcobo is a good director, but he missed the mark on this play. I think that he should re-vist the idea and give the piece another try. With the correct directing, Touch my blood as a play could become award winning.
In the video, see a snippet of the play and Fred Khumalo’s thoughts on the work done.
http://www.myvideo.co.za/video/premiere-of-touch-my-blood
Hilarious journalism
Journalism is not always all that serious…And as it is human-made, mistakes slip in and funny stuff can happen. The next video is ridiculously hilarious, showing a journalist working in the field…and the influences of the field on him...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK9_DPYlve4
*AllStars*
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK9_DPYlve4
*AllStars*
Rwanda genocide criminal pleads not guilty
One of the men involved in the Rwandan genocide was recently captured and is being tried at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in Arusha. Idelphonse Nizeyimana pleaded not guilty to the charges laid against him.
There are many reports on his capture and subsequent trial. The Al-Jazeera news site explains his trial in much detail, and gives background information about the genocide. It gives extra information that other sites do not give. It tells the reader about the $5 million bounty for his capture, and how he has been on the run for 15 years. This is important because it shows that the genocide criminals are being brought to justice. Although the process of bringing them before the courts has been slow, it encourages the victims to know that justice is being achieved for them. Al-Jazeera, however, reports that the tribunal can only hear appeals until 2010. This is puts it under pressure to search for the remaining criminals, so that they can be arraigned before the courts.
Other websites report the basics of the story, and add little or no background information like the BBC and Reuters. The most nonchalant of the reports I read was on Bloomberg. It was a very short report on the trial, which does not say a lot about Nizeyimana and about the genocide. It is as if they don’t care about the genocide and that criminals are still being brought to book about it.
Holding out for a Hero: Gladiator of the hard news world
A thought on the movie “State of play”As awkward as this may sound, one can’t help but faintly hearing Bonnie Tyler’s “Holding out for a hero” playing in the back of one’s mind after watching State of play.
In short, without giving the story away, daily paper investigative reporter Cal McAfferty (Russell Crow) starts working on a story that has much more to it than the surface reveals. It becomes even more intriguing when there are personal interests at stake and decisions become vital in his search for truth, and all of this comes at a cost. (Good cast, includes Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams)
In short, without giving the story away, daily paper investigative reporter Cal McAfferty (Russell Crow) starts working on a story that has much more to it than the surface reveals. It becomes even more intriguing when there are personal interests at stake and decisions become vital in his search for truth, and all of this comes at a cost. (Good cast, includes Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams)
Like most Hollywood movies it has its fair share of unrealistic elements, one being a cop selling info in return for a cup of coffee early on in the story. But despite its flaws I like it for the important journalistic values it displays: One of the main issues I came to think about after watching it was the question of how I would act if my story contains a personal relationship, one I had not really though of before. It also highlights the very important idea of the search for truth, an element I personally believe to be at the very heart of journalism – independent of what type of journalism you are doing…be it features, science, politics... Also important is that it showed that journalist can have an opinion and still act “objectively” by bringing froth the truth.
State of Play is slightly idealistic at heart (a little like myself I guess) but is a movie I would recommend for any aspiring journalist. Some might perhaps critique it as a very stereotypical and perhaps even mainstream view on journalists and journalism, but this didn’t really bother me in the movie.
If nothing else the movie captures what I always admired in a journalist, and would aspire to be myself: were journalists are seen as truth seekers and watchdogs for the public; people who seek the truth in the interest of their readers. Rather this than the over saturated world of reproducing news without any depth, and with too much focus on sensation as to sell news.
To conclude I leave you with a quote from the movie that I really liked…one that seems to leave a little light at the end of the tunnel for those who sometimes feel overwhelmed with spicy tabloid and sensational rubbish:
"You know, in the middle of all this gossip and speculation that permeates people's lives I still think they [readers] know the difference between real news and bullshit and they are glad when someone cares enough to get things on the record and print the truth." - Cal McAfferty, State of Play
*AllStars*
Apocalyptic predictions of the melting Arctic ice cap
The melting Arctic ice cap recently made headlines with the release of the extensive Catlin Arctic Survey and WWF (World Wildlife Fund) data ahead of the UN’s climate summit, finding that the ice is too thin to survive next summer’s melt season.
Image: Arctic ice photograph by Paul Nicklen
This news was reported differently from one publication to the next, ranging from “Arctic Largely Ice Free in Summer Within Ten Years” to “Arctic ice will be completely gone in 20 years” and several other reports with more vague headlines like “Arctic to be 'ice-free in summer'”
All the stories’ (I looked at) reliability lies in that authoritative (mainly on grounds of their histories) publications like BBC, AFP, National Georgrapic etc reported first hand on them, except for The Tech Herald. Most publications wrote informing pieces explaining the study and its findings in understandable terms to the average reader, while science publications went into greater scientific depth. The Tech Herald reported disappointingly little on the topic. In my opinion National Geographic was by far the best middle way read between a deeply scientific and a general explanation.
A flaw seems to occur with reference to “Wadhams said the results agreed… Recent changes in wind patterns in the Arctic have also contributed...,” as a reader would reason that “wind” itself is influenced by global warming – a possible reporter misunderstanding?
From all the reports it remains clear: Global warming is here and we urgently need solutions!
Reference:
How advertising saved a newspaper
TBWA’s advertising Campaign to save The Zimbabwean
"We don't believe that information is a luxury, which is why we believe so
strongly in this campaign." - Damon Stapleton, executive creative director of TBWA
I recently found this article that includes a video about how South African Advertising company TBWA came up with a concept to help raise awareness for its neighbour country’s news paper, “The Zimbabwean”. This is after the Zimbabwean has been heavily taxed as one of Mugabe’s last methods to try and make it unattainable for the general Zimbabwean public – as we all know, Mugabe fears nothing more than a newspaper and freedom of speech! Not only does TWBA succeed in their goal to subsides the paper, they also won several awards for this campaign. Very creative and definitely worth a look!!
*AllStars*
"We don't believe that information is a luxury, which is why we believe so
strongly in this campaign." - Damon Stapleton, executive creative director of TBWA
I recently found this article that includes a video about how South African Advertising company TBWA came up with a concept to help raise awareness for its neighbour country’s news paper, “The Zimbabwean”. This is after the Zimbabwean has been heavily taxed as one of Mugabe’s last methods to try and make it unattainable for the general Zimbabwean public – as we all know, Mugabe fears nothing more than a newspaper and freedom of speech! Not only does TWBA succeed in their goal to subsides the paper, they also won several awards for this campaign. Very creative and definitely worth a look!!
*AllStars*
Laws of relativity in the Newsroom
Objectivity & quality – the age old debate
Words like “objective” and “good journalism” are very relative terms and have no clear cut definitions. These two words are also the topics of age old debates in the newsrooms, amongst journalists, and among their readers as for that matter. As “Everything in life is relative”, for my future posts unless otherwise stated, I’ll go on the ‘objectivity definition’ given by Gill Rennie, saying “One can still have an opinion, and be fair, and show both sides of an argument at the same time.” As for good journalism: I like to think it is critically, well though through writing. Writing that does not only inform, but also analyses and discusses and, if nothing else, influences the way the reader perceives the world and make decisions.
I do not hold a high regard for tabloid papers, but sadly they seem to sell better than the rest; growing in size while major papers close their doors. Like some journalists, I value ‘good’ content and don’t like dumbed down articles: even though a newspaper in my believe should inform the general public, it might as well be a bit educational while at it.
I also see journalism as comprising of two elements: investigation and reporting. And I would even go so far as to say that this applies to about any style of journalism, whether it is a profile piece of other feature or a hard news story. Each of these two subdivisions has a role to play, although I tend favour investigation slightly over reporting. This is because investigation to me is a search of truth – although this is not a label I will put on all investigative work. It seems like the emphasise in the ‘new media’ news world becomes one of mere reporting, telling the public what is happening through live twitter feeds rather than analysing and investigating deeper motives - a part of a journalist’s service to our readers.
*AllStars*
Words like “objective” and “good journalism” are very relative terms and have no clear cut definitions. These two words are also the topics of age old debates in the newsrooms, amongst journalists, and among their readers as for that matter. As “Everything in life is relative”, for my future posts unless otherwise stated, I’ll go on the ‘objectivity definition’ given by Gill Rennie, saying “One can still have an opinion, and be fair, and show both sides of an argument at the same time.” As for good journalism: I like to think it is critically, well though through writing. Writing that does not only inform, but also analyses and discusses and, if nothing else, influences the way the reader perceives the world and make decisions.
I do not hold a high regard for tabloid papers, but sadly they seem to sell better than the rest; growing in size while major papers close their doors. Like some journalists, I value ‘good’ content and don’t like dumbed down articles: even though a newspaper in my believe should inform the general public, it might as well be a bit educational while at it.
I also see journalism as comprising of two elements: investigation and reporting. And I would even go so far as to say that this applies to about any style of journalism, whether it is a profile piece of other feature or a hard news story. Each of these two subdivisions has a role to play, although I tend favour investigation slightly over reporting. This is because investigation to me is a search of truth – although this is not a label I will put on all investigative work. It seems like the emphasise in the ‘new media’ news world becomes one of mere reporting, telling the public what is happening through live twitter feeds rather than analysing and investigating deeper motives - a part of a journalist’s service to our readers.
*AllStars*
Cry the beloved Bondesia
Before I even say anything else may I just mention that I am totally and utterly in love with the man who inspired the topic for this blog! That is quite a mouthful for one sentence.
But seriously, I am in love with him, in the figurative sense of course. Let me be a little bit more specific. I love how he writes. When I first read a novel by him, I was blown away. Don’t worry; it was really windy that day. It was love at first read. He was writing about a man I used to admire: Robert Mugabe. The book Our Votes Our Guns was a quite accurate account of the rule of Robert Mugabe.
Anyway back to the real issue. Martin Meredith. Ever heard of him? He is a journalist, who has travelled across Africa extensively. He kinda knows what he is talking about. Anyway, I read one of his books: The Fate of Africa. It has a lot of stories about African dictators who destroyed their countries and looted national coffers for their own benefit. My attention was drawn to Jean- Bèdel Bokassa, an African dictator in the 1970’s. Bokassa was one of those looneys, who thought that having a monarchy( with him as supreme king of course) in the French- colonised Central African Republic would establish it as a “cool” African country. The French had kinda developed the country, but he ran down the Central African Republic into the core of the earth. This got me thinking about Africans and their non-golden touch.
What would happen if the whole of France relocated to Bondesia (the fitting equivalent name for any African country), and the whole of the Bondesia moved to France? I hate to say this. All my African brothers forgive me, but the French would probably develop Bondesia into a First World country. And the Bondesians…
They would run down France so bad that Belgium, Switzerland and Germany would hurry to impose sanctions on them for violating the beauty of France. Even poor Napoleon would turn in his grave. The street light poles would be torn down and used to build chicken pens. Laundry would be hung on telephone wires. The vineyards would all be uprooted and replaced with cassava fields. There would be a civil war over who could control the Eiffel Tower. All the beautiful, cultured chateau gardens would be turned into grazing land, and donkeys would become the mode of transport in Marseille. Soon, all the Bondesians who want to live the good life would leave France and migrate to Bondesia in search of greener pastures. Worse, the French franc would fall 1 000 000 % in the first three-quarters. Nah…that’s an exaggeration, but it would lose value in some way. All the roads would be decorated with boreholes of potholes. Life would be most definitely nasty and brutish, but not short.
Thank goodness Bondesia is only a figment of my imagination, otherwise I would have been sued for every worthless Zim dollar I possess. But the attitude I have shown above is a typical stereotypical view of Africans: everything we touch seems to turn to mould; we will never develop; we are uneducated, primitive and don’t know what is going on. Well, we are not that bad. Although we have a tendency to mismanage affairs, we are the ones who give boring capitalist life a tint of humour. So, all of the Africa haters out there need to relax. My beautiful Africa is on the road to discovery and recovery.
But seriously, I am in love with him, in the figurative sense of course. Let me be a little bit more specific. I love how he writes. When I first read a novel by him, I was blown away. Don’t worry; it was really windy that day. It was love at first read. He was writing about a man I used to admire: Robert Mugabe. The book Our Votes Our Guns was a quite accurate account of the rule of Robert Mugabe.
Anyway back to the real issue. Martin Meredith. Ever heard of him? He is a journalist, who has travelled across Africa extensively. He kinda knows what he is talking about. Anyway, I read one of his books: The Fate of Africa. It has a lot of stories about African dictators who destroyed their countries and looted national coffers for their own benefit. My attention was drawn to Jean- Bèdel Bokassa, an African dictator in the 1970’s. Bokassa was one of those looneys, who thought that having a monarchy( with him as supreme king of course) in the French- colonised Central African Republic would establish it as a “cool” African country. The French had kinda developed the country, but he ran down the Central African Republic into the core of the earth. This got me thinking about Africans and their non-golden touch.
What would happen if the whole of France relocated to Bondesia (the fitting equivalent name for any African country), and the whole of the Bondesia moved to France? I hate to say this. All my African brothers forgive me, but the French would probably develop Bondesia into a First World country. And the Bondesians…
They would run down France so bad that Belgium, Switzerland and Germany would hurry to impose sanctions on them for violating the beauty of France. Even poor Napoleon would turn in his grave. The street light poles would be torn down and used to build chicken pens. Laundry would be hung on telephone wires. The vineyards would all be uprooted and replaced with cassava fields. There would be a civil war over who could control the Eiffel Tower. All the beautiful, cultured chateau gardens would be turned into grazing land, and donkeys would become the mode of transport in Marseille. Soon, all the Bondesians who want to live the good life would leave France and migrate to Bondesia in search of greener pastures. Worse, the French franc would fall 1 000 000 % in the first three-quarters. Nah…that’s an exaggeration, but it would lose value in some way. All the roads would be decorated with boreholes of potholes. Life would be most definitely nasty and brutish, but not short.
Thank goodness Bondesia is only a figment of my imagination, otherwise I would have been sued for every worthless Zim dollar I possess. But the attitude I have shown above is a typical stereotypical view of Africans: everything we touch seems to turn to mould; we will never develop; we are uneducated, primitive and don’t know what is going on. Well, we are not that bad. Although we have a tendency to mismanage affairs, we are the ones who give boring capitalist life a tint of humour. So, all of the Africa haters out there need to relax. My beautiful Africa is on the road to discovery and recovery.