Comments for Africa's Turn? Blog http://blog.africasturn.com Ideas and debate about African economic development, politics, society, and life Thu, 18 Mar 2010 17:43:27 +0000 hourly 1 Comment on Will the economic downturn push Sierra Leone back to war? by Toby Donaldson http://blog.africasturn.com/2009/03/will-the-economic-downturn-push-sierra-leone-back-to-war/comment-page-1/#comment-51 Toby Donaldson Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:58:01 +0000 http://blog.africasturn.com/?p=64#comment-51 It is clear that the consequences of economic downturn will not be very good. There is no need to war, guys. Make love, not war! It is clear that the consequences of economic downturn will not be very good. There is no need to war, guys. Make love, not war!

]]> Comment on Getting to know Jacob Zuma by Alex http://blog.africasturn.com/2009/04/getting-to-know-jacob-zuma/comment-page-1/#comment-47 Alex Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:34:04 +0000 http://blog.africasturn.com/?p=99#comment-47 I think Zuma has his head screwed on straight, and if he doesnt cave to corruption or political agendas I feel he can do quite a good job for not only South Africa but Africa too! I think Zuma has his head screwed on straight, and if he doesnt cave to corruption or political agendas I feel he can do quite a good job for not only South Africa but Africa too!

]]> Comment on Is Kenya’s coalition doomed? by Coolest African http://blog.africasturn.com/2009/04/is-kenyas-coalition-doomed/comment-page-1/#comment-46 Coolest African Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:47:57 +0000 http://blog.africasturn.com/?p=96#comment-46 African politics is the same all over, from Nairobi to Harare, its a dirty game that will never change......the same things that are happening in Zimbabwe we would expect to happen or to have happened in Kenya African politics is the same all over, from Nairobi to Harare, its a dirty game that will never change……the same things that are happening in Zimbabwe we would expect to happen or to have happened in Kenya

]]> Comment on Getting to know Jacob Zuma by Diane http://blog.africasturn.com/2009/04/getting-to-know-jacob-zuma/comment-page-1/#comment-36 Diane Sun, 19 Apr 2009 19:38:58 +0000 http://blog.africasturn.com/?p=99#comment-36 A change of leader is a test of the strength of institutions in any country. With South Africa's history, Mr Mbeki's uninspiring (at best) contribution in recent years, and Jacob Zuma's track record, it will be quite a challenging test. A change of leader is a test of the strength of institutions in any country. With South Africa’s history, Mr Mbeki’s uninspiring (at best) contribution in recent years, and Jacob Zuma’s track record, it will be quite a challenging test.

]]> Comment on Ngugi has done it again by Kamalika Saha http://blog.africasturn.com/2009/02/ngugi-has-done-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-35 Kamalika Saha Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:34:52 +0000 http://blog.africasturn.com/?p=21#comment-35 Renaissance of mind In the present essay,he had replied some unsolved questions which he discussed in ‘Decolonising the Mind’. Kenya, his motherland and Gikuyu, his mother tongue. His works always marks a feeling of proud when he describe his native land. Such a devotion and love should be hpnoured. I salute you passion for your country. This theme is discussed in his present book.This is the scenario of all the Third world countries. Renaissance of mind
In the present essay,he had replied some unsolved questions which he discussed in ‘Decolonising the Mind’. Kenya, his motherland and Gikuyu, his mother tongue.
His works always marks a feeling of proud when he describe his native land. Such a devotion and love should be hpnoured. I salute you passion for your country. This theme is discussed in his present book.This is the scenario of all the Third world countries.

]]> Comment on Ngugi has done it again by Kamalika Saha http://blog.africasturn.com/2009/02/ngugi-has-done-it-again/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Kamalika Saha Thu, 16 Apr 2009 12:31:00 +0000 http://blog.africasturn.com/?p=21#comment-34 Renaissance of mind In the present essay,he had replied some unsolved questions which he discussed in 'Decolonising the Mind'. Kenya, his motherland and Gikuyu, his mother tongue. His works always a marks of proud feeling when he describe his natuve land. Such a devotion and love should be hpnoured. I salute you passion for your country. This theme is discussed in his present book. Renaissance of mind
In the present essay,he had replied some unsolved questions which he discussed in ‘Decolonising the Mind’. Kenya, his motherland and Gikuyu, his mother tongue.
His works always a marks of proud feeling when he describe his natuve land. Such a devotion and love should be hpnoured. I salute you passion for your country. This theme is discussed in his present book.

]]> Comment on Is Kenya’s coalition doomed? by muigwithania2.0 http://blog.africasturn.com/2009/04/is-kenyas-coalition-doomed/comment-page-1/#comment-32 muigwithania2.0 Sat, 11 Apr 2009 13:00:36 +0000 http://blog.africasturn.com/?p=96#comment-32 Kenya's coalition will last until 2012 .But i doubt that Kenya will hold on as a nation for long . The ideological differences between the two groups can not be bridged no matter how hard the international community tries . Kenya is currently in the early stages of what looks like Yugoslavia after the death of Tito. If Kenya holds together for now it will be followed by a federal system that will eventually break up . Kenya’s coalition will last until 2012 .But i doubt that Kenya will hold on as a nation for long . The ideological differences between the two groups can not be bridged no matter how hard the international community tries . Kenya is currently in the early stages of what looks like Yugoslavia after the death of Tito. If Kenya holds together for now it will be followed by a federal system that will eventually break up .

]]> Comment on More worrying authoritarian trends in Africa by Diane http://blog.africasturn.com/2009/03/more-worrying-authoritarian-trends-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-18 Diane Fri, 27 Mar 2009 17:46:02 +0000 http://blog.africasturn.com/?p=90#comment-18 Recently I came across two interesting articles touching on this question. This one was about Rwanda: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/134/special-report-rwanda-rising.html?page=0%2C0 and this in today's Guardian by a correspondent leaving Africa after reporting there for 20 years - also mainly about Rwanda: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/27/chris-mgreal-africa-final-dispatch Both well worth a read for nuanced views about politics and economic prospects Recently I came across two interesting articles touching on this question. This one was about Rwanda:
http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/134/special-report-rwanda-rising.html?page=0%2C0
and this in today’s Guardian by a correspondent leaving Africa after reporting there for 20 years - also mainly about Rwanda:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/mar/27/chris-mgreal-africa-final-dispatch

Both well worth a read for nuanced views about politics and economic prospects

]]> Comment on More worrying authoritarian trends in Africa by emiguel http://blog.africasturn.com/2009/03/more-worrying-authoritarian-trends-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-13 emiguel Thu, 19 Mar 2009 02:28:45 +0000 http://blog.africasturn.com/?p=90#comment-13 You've raised a key concern, and in many cases - Kenya is a classic example - the colonial period set up patterns of governance that still haunt the society today. (David Anderson's <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Histories-Hanged-Dirty-Kenya-Empire/dp/0393059863" rel="nofollow">"Histories of the Hanged"</a> lays out the brutality of colonial Kenya is graphic terms.) Despite these toxic legacies, I am also with you in feeling that there is hope despite recent setbacks. Mobile technologies are changing the organization of social movements. And, crucially I think, most countries have some experience with multiparty elections. There is a foundation to build on. The only question is how much of the edifice will be left standing at the end of the current global economic crisis. You’ve raised a key concern, and in many cases - Kenya is a classic example - the colonial period set up patterns of governance that still haunt the society today. (David Anderson’s “Histories of the Hanged” lays out the brutality of colonial Kenya is graphic terms.) Despite these toxic legacies, I am also with you in feeling that there is hope despite recent setbacks. Mobile technologies are changing the organization of social movements. And, crucially I think, most countries have some experience with multiparty elections. There is a foundation to build on. The only question is how much of the edifice will be left standing at the end of the current global economic crisis.

]]> Comment on More worrying authoritarian trends in Africa by Diane http://blog.africasturn.com/2009/03/more-worrying-authoritarian-trends-in-africa/comment-page-1/#comment-12 Diane Wed, 18 Mar 2009 17:17:48 +0000 http://blog.africasturn.com/?p=90#comment-12 To what extent do the disappointing politics of African countries still reflect the long shadow of colonialism? The pre-1960s experience of the state was that it was exploitative, and still so many people in so many countries grab power as something to be exploited, without a concept of the common good. Taking the whole of the continent, the political signs still seem pretty mixed, despite recent setbacks. My hope is that the spread of communications including mobile (which is, crucially, two-way) do mark a permanent shift in political possibilities - but we still wait to see. To what extent do the disappointing politics of African countries still reflect the long shadow of colonialism? The pre-1960s experience of the state was that it was exploitative, and still so many people in so many countries grab power as something to be exploited, without a concept of the common good. Taking the whole of the continent, the political signs still seem pretty mixed, despite recent setbacks. My hope is that the spread of communications including mobile (which is, crucially, two-way) do mark a permanent shift in political possibilities - but we still wait to see.

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