Far From the Africa Crowd

As published in The Denver urban Spectrum: June, 2006

Nigeria is often called “the Soul of Africa,” and for good reason. It is in many ways the cultural and business center of the motherland. It has also been called, “an African giant,” “the most blessed amongst the blessed,” “the bread basket of Africa,” and “the comedy nation.” Remember the saying that “one in every five Black people on earth is a Nigerian”? It has been called other things, some of them negative. I call it the “beacon of Africa’s hope.” Nigeria’s leadership comes not only from oil and trade. It comes from new ways of thinking and the business of culture, leadership and diplomacy. As Nigeria goes, so does the rest of Africa.

The country is a vast territory that stretches roughly 356,668 square miles and neighbors Benin, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. It is famous for its cities: Lagos, Ibadan, Abeokuta, Benin City, Kano, Kaduna, Ile-Ife, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Zaria, Sokoto and many others. Its culture, languages and tourism industry are unique and unmatched anywhere in the world. Its movie industry is famously called Nolly-wood to feel and sound like America’s Hollywood, while embodying the culture and traditions of Africa. According to the Film Makers Cooperative of Nigeria, Nollywood is a multi-million-dollar industry with about 600 movies made last year alone.

Nigeria has its own rappers too, and some of them have gone international, like 2Face Idibia, whose African Queen album won the MTV Europe, Africa Artist of the Year award in 2005. Others, like 50 Kobo and the UK based group-Gidi Unit aka JJC-SkillZ, though controversial, are less known. They have styled themselves after famed American rapper 50 Cents. They aggrandize themselves with expensive cars, money and women. (The actual kobo is the lower denominator of the naira, the national currency, and is used for millions of transactions in the international market place). Some of Nigeria’s more renowned artists, like King Sunni Ade and Fela Anikulapo Kuti, are admired worldwide for their juju and high-life class of music.

Nigeria is a former British colony that became independent in October 1960. Today, it is composed of about 66 states containing an estimated 450 ethnic groups. After recently completing its first census in 15 years, Nigeria was determined to be the most populous African country with over 120 million people. It has the most Muslims of any Africa nation.

Its president is Olusegun Obasanjo. He is a tall, dark Yoruba man, 69-years-old. He always wears a traditional Nigerian outfit, and appears laid back and soft spoken. Like him or hate him, he’s been shaping the face of Africa for some time, both through encounters with U. S. leaders in Washington and at home in Nigeria.

Obasanjo is a former military ruler credited with voluntarily handing over power to a democratically-elected civilian government in 1979. With the exception of Nelson Mandela who stepped down as South African president in 1999, and is now retired as an international diplomat, and Kofi Annan, who heads the UN, he is the most visible leader amongst Africa’s 53 heads of state. From when it gained independence in 1960 and until Obaganjo was sworn into office in1999, Nigeria’s history was fraught with numerous coup attempts and takeovers: 1966, 1975, 1976, 1983, 1985 and 1993.

Nigeria experienced secessionist movements such as the 1967 Biafra war, civil unrest and strikes over military rule, oil and minority rights issues. In 1993, election results were annulled after declaring Moshood Abiola the winner. There were also human rights abuses that culminated with the slaying of prominent playwright Ken Saro-Wiwa in 1995. Also, several northern states defiantly adopted Islamic or Sharia law. Nigeria has faced suspension from the Commonwealth of Nations and the withdrawal of aid by the United States as a result of these problems.

Today, after nearly 15 years of military dictatorships, the re-emergence of Obasanjo and his subsequent election as president marked the dawn of a new era. Wherever he travels, he projects a new attitude about Africa’s leadership, its peoples, cultural diversity, strong diplomatic ties and transatlantic trade. U.S. and international leaders in Washington and around the world have been watching and listening.

Under Obasanjo, Nigerians have been working to undo negative perceptions about their country. With his visibility and international presence, he gives the impression of a man with a mission. He is showcasing Nigeria’s role as the leading African nation of the 21st century. One example is the launch of the Heart of Africa Project. According to Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, it is a cohesive information program for Nigerian Image management and economic progress. The broader context of the project is that it seeks to cleanse the country’s image, tarnished by 419 scammers and drug dealers, through the enforcement of a stricter code of conduct by its citizens, at home and abroad. Former Commonwealth Secretary General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, is leading a presidential advisory council on International Relations, and recently cautioned foreign diplomats in Nigeria against making negative comments about the country.

Whichever direction Africa’s number one nation takes, bears implications for the rest of the continent. Under Obasanjo’s leadership, Nigeria has strengthened ties with its African neighbors. Recently there were cross-border skirmishes and tension with Cameroon over the oil rich Bakassi peninsular. The southern Cameroon region was part of Nigeria until it decided in a 1961 United Nations plebiscite to join French-speaking East Cameroon. The United Nations International Court of Justice ruled in 2002 that the peninsular belongs to Cameroon. Since then, Obasanjo has visited Cameroon to help strengthen bilateral relations.

Bill Clinton visited Nigeria in August 2000, barely 12 months after he was elected, to discuss support for the country’s nascent democracy, and increase the fight against HIV/AIDS throughout the continent. George W. Bush visited in July 2003 to discuss, among other things, trade and Nigeria’s role in combating terrorism in the world,. In January 2006, Laura Bush, accompanied by her daughter Barbara visited to discuss the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Conversely, Obasanjo’s been to Washington D.C. many times, most recently in March 2006. Before his arrival, reports surfaced that former Liberian president Charles Taylor, indicted for war crimes, was on the loose. Many wondered why Taylor was still under protection by Nigeria. He was later caught by security officials and handed over to the Sierra-Leone War Crimes Tribunal where he stood trial. Handing over Charles Taylor, the former leader of an Africa Nation, for trial, earned him many friends in D.C.

According to Chido Nwangwu, a Nigerian journalist based in Houston who writes for USAafricaonline.com, Obasanjo, because of his record number of foreign trips, has become the most frequent-flyer president of Nigeria ever. Nwangwu credits Obasanjo with progress made in technological development of the oil and gas sector, and for investments made in Nigeria by many Houston-based firms.

Obasanjo has been chair of the Africa Union, and is now taking a leading role, working alongside the United States to bring peace to the Darfur region of Sudan. Nigeria was the first to volunteer peacekeeping troops for Darfur. And Obasanjo was the first to condemn the military take-over in Togo in 2005 after the late president Gnassingbe Eyadema’s son, Faure Gnas
singbe, violated the country’s constitution and assumed power with the support of the army. Faura was pressured to organize elections and was subsequently elected president.

Nigeria and its president are at a delicate time. Tensions are said to be high in anticipation of next year’s presidential elections. While the issues of immigration, abortion and race are dividing America, it is talk of a possible third term by Obasanjo that is splitting Nigeria into various political camps. The country’s constitution allows for only two terms of office for the president. If Obasanjo respects the rule of law, he will set a new precedent of higher standards for other Africa leaders. He is known to be at odds with his vice president, Atiku Abubakar, a Muslim and northerner over this third term controversy. Abubakar, whose Potomac, Maryland home was raided by the FBI last year, is openly planning his own run for President in 2007.
While testifying to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in an open hearing in February, John Negroponte, U. S. Director of National Intelligence said “Some good news is coming out of Africa,” but the most important election on the African horizon will be held in spring 2007.

Writer’s note: In May, the Nigerian National Assembly rejected the motion for a third term. Obasanjo accepted the outcome, and, at an emergency meeting of the National Executive Council of the Peoples Democratic Party, called it a “triumph for the democratic process and legislative independence,” according to Vanguard newspaper. For many in Africa and the world, it was welcome news. So Obasanjo will be out in 2007, having served two full terms as president. He is preparing to make way for elections and a new leader in 2007. If this holds, then Nigeria and Africa have another cause to rejoice.

His full name is Kofi Atta Annan. Many of us have not reflected on or digested the role that he has played in international relations, diplomacy and world affairs since he took over leadership at the United Nations almost nine years ago. We looked away out of a lack of interest in real leadership from people of African descent, we’ve been watching more hip-hop than learning about the Africa we ought to know better. We have also been been pushed off by talk about scandal at the UN. But the Kofi Annan at the UN is the man that the world looks to for strength in todays tupsy turvy world. In lay mans terms, he is the top dog of the world, often holding a fragile balance of diplomacy to make sure the world is not blown apart by the irrational folks from far and near.

The “chief administrator” at the UN is from Ghana, an African nation known for its gold, slave trade, ancient kingdoms, ashanti and fante tribes. Ghana is the country of Kwame Nkrumah, the man who championed Africa’s fight against colonial rule and helped it become the first African nation to gain independence from Britian in 1957. Today, Ghana is also a multi-party democracy.

It’s a big deal for whoever holds the role of UN chief at anytime. The UN has had only seven Secretary Generals since its founding. Annan’s tenure as chief ends in December 2006. The selection process for a new secretary general is often compared to the selection of a new pope because of their similarities. While he still has 6 months to go, the bikering has already started. Former US president Clinton is being touted as a contender because of his diplomatic, negotiation skills and connections around the world.

If it’s the big issues of global warming, nuclear proliferation, terrorism, poverty, human rights to the basic things of electricity, sanitation and drinkable water, no organization does more than the UN. It is the most important organization in the world today. Every UN chief is expected to play the crucial role of “world moderator” and “chief administrator” at the same time. It is even so because we live in the age of the so-called axis of evil, shoe bombs and computer viruses and there is no job as tough as to be the man the world hold accountable if things break loose. Annan holds the tight rope the world is now walking. “I am a cheerleader, I am a promoter, I am a salesman, I am a debt collector, I am a father confessor…” Annan has said in describing his role.

Remember some history-The Leaque of Nations was the organization that preceded the UN. The impetus to create Leaque came through democtratic US president Woodrow Wilson even though the US never became a member. At the time leaders such as Hitler and Mussolini-defied it on matters of border security and arms control. In the end-the Leaque failed and the world was plunged into the most horrific catastrophe of all times –WWII. Historians have advanced many reasons for why the leaque collapsed and one of them is a lack of leadership. Lacking leaderhip meant that-as an organization-the Leaque lacked the vision that was needed to produce change that eluded dictators and tyrants at the time.

The UN that Annan leads came into being on October 24th 1945 from a meeting of 50 nations held in San Francisco-Califonia right after WWII ended. Today, It operates through various organs that include the UNDP, the UNICEF, the IAEA, WHO, UNHCR and others. Since 1945 , the UN has been through many crises. Some-like the Korean and Vietman wars exploded. Others, such as kashmir, the Israeli-Palestanian conflicts, have lingered, remained tense or fragile. Yesterday-it was the Asian earthquakes and Tsumani. Today-the UN has the bird flu and the HIV/AIDS pandemic to deal it. Tomorrow, no one knows. If the Iraq war put the UN to a real test, then the current contentions with Iran have created a monumental challenge for it.

Annan is part of the UN’s brain thrust and together with 191 member nations, helps it with critical thinking and analysis about what to do and not do in matters of war and peace. The UN is not a country it itself. Like the defunt League of Nations it does not have an army. The UN is an entity of choice with every member voluntarily becomig part of it out of shared interests. It is bounded by set norms, guidelines, treaties and agreements. But we live in times when the it cannot afford to be seen as a failure.

The US is the largest contributor to the UN-basically contributing about a third of its budget. These contributions are dollars from every US taxpayer. The US likes to hold the UN accountable, accoring to members of the US congress. The UN headquarters is located in New York. The general assemply, the yearly meeting of all 191 members of the body meets every December at its New York Heaquarters. Besides the 5 permanent members of the security council; the US, China, Russia, Great Briatain, France and German, there is a rotating membership of the council. Here- every member nation is given a shared responsibilty and opportunity to partcipate and make an impact on the very smallest to the toughest of decisions. The UN has its own radio and TV unit and other media to create and dessiminate information.

The man from Ghana is the face of the UN to enemies and foes alike. He is also the face of Africa to the world. We have seen his picture for many years in the major magazines that celebrate black culture and history. He was was born and raised in a continent many of his admirers still dream to visit. He is often calm under pressure like the oil-for-food debacle involving his son Kojo. He is also very thoughtful like during his May 2006 Newsmaker interview with Jim Lehrer on PBS.

During the interview, Annan was methodical in his answers about where he wants to lead the UN at this day and age. He demonstrated what diplomats are made of-patience. He said his vision was to see diplomacy take its course on many of the pressing international matters of the moment in response to questions about Iran and relations between the UN and the US.At the top of his agenda, he said, is reforms meant to reflect the changing dynamics of the world today. Other questions included the situation in Chad and Sudan. It was talk about what the Africa Union was doing to deal with the Sudan crisis that made news. Annan lauded the role that the African Union was playing to bring peace in Darfur. He mentioned the involvement of former OAU chair Salim Ahmed Salim, Nigeria’s president Obasanjo and current AU chair Denise Sassou Nguesso in bringing the waring factions in Sudan to the peace table. Days afterwords, a peace deal was announed in Sudan.

He is an an inspiration to many young people around the world. He gave the May 2006 comnmencement address at George Washington University in DC. He received a thunderous applause after his speech about the role of the United Nations in the world. One of the undergrad students in international relations-speaking on behalf of her fellow graduates-said they wanted to walk in the foot steps of Mr. Annan.

He is a career UN officer who got his start at the UN in 1962. He has been secretary general since January 1997. After the completion of his first term in January 2002, member nations of the UN were impressed with his performance and decided to keep him for a second term. He is the only UN chief ever to have come from within the ranks of the UN. Annan basically worked his way to be UN chief from various other positions as an administrator, budget officer and under secretary general. As part of his job, Koffi Annan has to criss cross the world and meet with leaders-many of whom may not like the idea of peace with their neighbors. He continues to work around the clock as UN chief to get everyone to the communion table.

He
is a grey-haired blackman-born and raised in Ghana. He attended college in Ghana, Switzerland and the US. The only other African to have been secretary general was Boutros Boutros-Ghali from Egypt. At 68-he the father of three. Currently he is married to Nane Maria Annan, a Swedish lawyer and artist. He was previously married to a Nigerian, Titi Alakija.
Back in Ghana where he was born-a man of his stature -in a position to be UN chief-gets a red feather in his hat. It is a sign that he not only holds an esteemed leadership role in the community-but that the wisdom of the ancestors guide his daily deliberations and decisions. Annan was born to Henry Reginald and Victoria Annan in the Kofandros section of Kumasi in Ghana. In the Akan tradition-his name signifies the day of the week he was born and his position in the family. He was born on a Friday and is the fourth child in the family. He is also a twin(Atta in fante) and that is seen as special in Ghana. His family is part of an elite circle; his grand fathers were chiefs and his father worked as an export manager for the Lever brothers cocoa company and later became governor of the Ashanti province of Ghana.

In Ghana, there is the Kofi Annan international Peace Keeping training center is named after him. Annan himself helped commision the ceter in 1998 after is was approved by the Ghana ministry of defence.

His accomplishement are unique for someone with his background. Its not only working deligently within the world body, it is helping the UN define itself and its role in the 21st century. In 2001, Annan, together with the entire UN won the Nobel Prize for Peace. It was an acknowlegement of the UN’s role “for a better organized and more peaceful world”He’s been under a lot of fire and lots of heat too- about the inadequacies of the UN and inability to function. We all thought he would be pressured to quit prematurely in 2005. Annan is hanging in there and seems determined to serve out his full term.

The word blog in technology terms has come to mean an online journal. It is the place where many online users create a journal that tells of their day to day to activities, thoughts and stories.

These days, everyone seems to have their own blog. Its how people express themselves. Its part of the democratic process worldwide. I rather like to call it work or perhaps some sort of activism. It is the place to be engaged, to create some thought process and trail of involvement with the things that matter at the meoment. For me, its all about Africa. Africa really matters. It should be on everyone’s agenda. I am working for Africa.

Why i am working for Africa? Will anyone listen to anything i have to offer? Ofcourse yes. If you are reading this , then you like to get involved with creating a better future for future. As i like to say, many roads lead Rome. To build genuine societies in Africa, for our next generation, requires the participation of todays generation of young people all over the world. That is what its is about.

This Wednesday, i had the opportunity to meet some interesting people from all shades of opinion who came together to talk about how they like to get African-Americans involved with the things that will help get them recognized and led to positions of leadership in their communities. Many folks showed up to listen to what everyone had to say.

For me-it was an opportunity for us to create our little presence-however small it may be. They say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. We are taking the baby steps and heading in the direction our mission calls “awareness”.

Its about time that Africa wakes up from sleep and be counted. It is one reason i like the president of Nigeria-Olusegun Obasanjo. Like him or hate him, he seems to be the most visible African leader of our times after Nelson Mandela and Koffi Annan. A leader is he who is visible and not secluded from the issues of the day-Darfur, Liberia, HIV/AIDS, poverty etc. We have to invest in what we have-our leaders, young and old.

Often times-we don’t get recognized not because we cannot be recognized but because we don’t seize opportunites of the moment. Africa’s moment is in here. Blogging does not stop with this blog, it is just a piece of the pie.