Global Voices Online

Africa is continent and not a country. Right? Not everyone knows that, even those that should know often failed to use the “right lingo” when making references to Africa.

Nneka rants on her blog Confessions of the Mind: “I am really tired of having my continent generalized and also having Nigerian folks here telling me that: “When I go back to Africa”. “Yeah I know Africa”, she writes, “but can you please be specific. You don’t get non-Africans going “when I go back to Europe or something like that. Or say they speak “European”… “In the continent of Africa …Africans come in different complexions ranging from dark-hued to really light-hued.”

“No I don’t live in a tree when I go back to my country Nigeria which is in West Africa…we have malls, supermarkets, cars, roads, buildings. Yes we were thought English, from school, at home, everywhere… 99% of Africans are multilingual, meaning we can speak 2 or more languages. No, not all Africans have flies circling our bellies and mouths. Yes we value our culture, very much, especially when we happen to find ourselves living in the western world.”

Nkem states “International borders are a scourge on the modern world. Just like war, what are borders good for? Absolutely nothing. In the unlikely event that I become Prime Minister of the World, I would get rid of all borders and allow people to roam as freely as the wind carries them.”

“Some see this as a recipe for disaster, but fear not brethren, there's a method to the madness. I've thought about this concept for a long time..” Nkem states. Read more about her desire on her blog: African Shirts .

Yoruba is a language spoken bythe Yoruba tribe found primarily in the south-western corner of Nigeria.

“There are many things I love about the language Yoruba writes Dotun the author of the blog Brosdee’s View.

“A sensible speech is not complete without the infusion of proverbs and analogies… I was born in a land where you are defined by your family history. Your resume is an accumulation of the deeds (sometimes wrongdoings) of your ancestor. People can deduce almost 20% of who you are (or supposed to be) from your name, “ile la n wo kato somoloruko” (visit the blog for the meaning of the phrase) . Hence you live your life not only for yourself but for the generations after you. When my aunty warned me to remember the son whom I am, she is encoding a sermon in history, character and family ethics in the statement.”

David blogging at Just Thots by a Naija Man muses about the just concluded constitutional review in Nigeria and the third term agenda of President Obasanjo.

“It is sad that virtually all (s)elected political office holders who swore to uphold the constitution on whose back they rode into power are now attempting to shift the goalposts at the last minute in order to entrench themselves in power. The popular swansong among most is that “continuity” is necessary to “sustain” the country's democracy. It would be appropriate to ask them how great nations such as the USA have been able to sustain over 200yr old democracies with some presidents staying less than 4 yrs in power. Surely our democracy must be a very different one!”

The music and social blog: Soul on Ice, authored by Obi (of-South-London), has this message for diamond-crusted rappers:

“…Rappers have to take responsibility for their actions. The yoke around your neck may just be destroying the lives of people elsewhere. It's not beyond the rappers to demand info on where the diamonds came from and obtain certificates of authentication. But why floss on diamonds anyway?”

His remarks is made in reference to the Sierra Leone’s diamonds, which have been tagged “Blood diamonds” because the revenue accrued from their sales is used to perpetrate the civil war in the country.

He also recommends reading/listening to a documentary made by Rodney P’s , a “heavyweight UK emcee and dj of Original Fever on BBC 1Xtra”, on his travels to Sierra Leone.

“So this is how I came into the world”, writes the blogger at Reality. He states: “Instantaneously, I felt guilty. The feeling of guilt was not because I saw a woman give birth. But because, I have caused my mama alot pain and embarrassment in the past. In my estimation, all women deserve the utmost respect from their children. And I say mama, I am sorry!“

He describes his experience on his blog, here is an extract:

“I have never seen a woman in the process of giving birth before. But I have seen one or two pregnant women in sporadic pain… in readiness to give birth. Yesterday however, I learnt something new. I watched a woman being delivered. It was not the most pleasant sight to behold though. But, it is something I feel all matured men should see.

This woman, I was made to understand had been in labour for two hours. Her man was by her side. And you could see anguish written all over him. I felt her pain too as I watched. Each time she screams, her husband flinches and I winced involuntarily where I was seated. Eventually, the tiny creature was shot out into the world after about four and half hour of torment. It shrilled with a wail… My attention went back to the woman. The look on her face was that of depletion. And then I focused on the tiny creature again…the cause of the pain and anguish of both mother and father…”

Finally, Emeka Okafor writes about Africa's largest retailer, Shoprite Holdings and its operations in Nigeria, via Timbuktu Chronicles :

“…[The company] actively empowers small local suppliers in virtually all the countries in which it does business in Africa for the delivery of a range of items, mainly fresh produce and perishable products. Most of these suppliers initially need assistance to meet the Group's requirements in terms of volumes and product specifications. To bring them to the required standard, the Group operates extensive support and development programmes aimed at assisting them to achieve the required standards and produce to our needs…”