Friday, December 23, 2011
Il Zont lumé 'Bidjan!
Mamoudou: Eh! Bou-ari, sh'est comment? On ti voit plus là? Tu s'en fous de nous ishi maintenant ou bien ti gagné PMU?
Boukary: Mais vous quartier là oo, c'est campement. Moi, yé travaille au Paris maintenant!
MM: Puatate! Regarde moi, un gnamogodé comme ça là! C'est qui, qui va t'envoyer derrier l'eau?
BK: Voilà! Toi, avec ton vié vélo, vous deux vous tournez dans campement ici seulement.. Fo venir au Plateau où nous on travaille.. làbàs, c'est Paris directe!
MM: Tchié, akodé lumière là?
BK: Môgô, yétédi, y a lumière, y a lumière. Cette fois-ci, Paris même est petit devant nous ooh!
MM: Donc tu fais partie de ces gens, ils s'en vont promener Plateau on dirait n'enfant là?
BK: Moi là, yé promène pas dêh! Tu sais, où moi je garde, c'est devant l'arbre là même! Je suis ashis, voila lui, voila moi!
MM: Ah bon? C'est ké ti est deveni patron vrai vrai.
BK: Non, ça là, fo voir pour croire. Blanc oo, Libanais oo, noir oo, shinoir oo, tout le monde vient regarder ça! Ca défile seulement la nuit!
MM: Mais ce que moi aussi je va serser prendre madame avec monz enfant pour venir voir..
BK: Wè wè! Le 31 là, ca va chauffer même! Feu d'entifices, tout ça.. moi yé demande pas Patron dêh, mais jé va envoyer ma famille labas tchô!
MM: Eh Allah! On dirait Houphouët vie encore oo..Dieu merci!
BK: C'es pas ça les gens disent là? Y en a sont content, y en a sont pas content..
MM: Quoi? Si l'homme dit qui'il content pas zolie lumière là, c'est un sorcier!
BK: Ah mon frère.. je 'tends beaucoup où je suis ashis là bas dêh.. ça bavarde seulement.. y en a il parle, y en a ils sont la faire bisous seulement..
MM: Tchié, c'est arrivé dans affaire d'amour encore?
BK: C'est ça là même! Ça tombe amoureux à gauche à droite dêh! Yédis, on vit au Paris oo!
MM: Safroulaye!! C'est dans ça il vont 'ceinter beaucoup beaucoup femme encore..
BK: C'est ça qui est là ooo, s'ils zon lumé 'Bidjan, c'est tout ça.. lumière, amour, bonheur.. en tout cas.. au travail la nuit, on est plus seul.. y a du monde au Plateau..
Eh! Abidjan.. Dieu merci oo
Monday, December 5, 2011
10 things Laurent Gbagbo said today to the Internation Criminal Court at the Hague
Laurent Gbagbo has just finished his first appearance at the tribunal of the Internation Criminal court. The Presiding judge was Silvia Fernandez Gourmendi. Here are the 10 things he said. Each point gives insight to what is to come, beginning from the 18th of June, 2012.
1. My name is Laurent Gbagbo. That is the official name. Koudou is also my name. But officially, I am called Laurent Gbagbo. I was born on the 31st of May, 1945, in Gagnoa, in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire.
2. I only speak French.
3. The circumstances of my detention at the Hague are fair.
4.I was arrested on the 11th of April, 2010 as the President of my country
5. It was the French army that arrested me. The bombed my residence for several days. 50 tanks surrounded my residence while helicopters bombed from above.
6. My Minister of Interior, Desiré Tagro, was killed before my eyes.
7. My son and my doctor were severely beaten before me
8.I only eat twice a day
9. All through my detention in Korhogo, I only saw the sun when my lawyers came to see me.
10. I was tricked into the Hague trip. I was told I was to go see a Magistrate. Then I was taken to the airport. I arrived with only the pair of trousers and shirt I had on me.
1. My name is Laurent Gbagbo. That is the official name. Koudou is also my name. But officially, I am called Laurent Gbagbo. I was born on the 31st of May, 1945, in Gagnoa, in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire.
2. I only speak French.
3. The circumstances of my detention at the Hague are fair.
4.I was arrested on the 11th of April, 2010 as the President of my country
5. It was the French army that arrested me. The bombed my residence for several days. 50 tanks surrounded my residence while helicopters bombed from above.
6. My Minister of Interior, Desiré Tagro, was killed before my eyes.
7. My son and my doctor were severely beaten before me
8.I only eat twice a day
9. All through my detention in Korhogo, I only saw the sun when my lawyers came to see me.
10. I was tricked into the Hague trip. I was told I was to go see a Magistrate. Then I was taken to the airport. I arrived with only the pair of trousers and shirt I had on me.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Senegal: waiting to explode
At about three months to the presidential elections in Senegal, the demons are rearing their heads. As the debates are heating up, and political sentiments are rising on the mercury scale, it is our duty to raise an alarm. Senegal is a political situation waiting to explode. Here are 5 points to consider:
The Constitutional Crisis
The country revised its constitution in 2001. Most of the revisions were linked to the office of the president, its prerogatives, tenure and duration. The revision shortened the duration of the tenure from 7 to 5 years. This tenure could only be renewed once. While obtaining an extension of presidential powers, the then President touted this "success in democracy", proclaiming himself as an avant-gardist and reassuring the population that he will no longer be a candidate in 2012.
Now 2012 is months away.. and someone is debating whether the 2 tenures should take into account the initial tenure.. The language is clear. The answer is Yes. But the president seems to either have lost a part of his democracy memory or forgot his language lessons!
The President who is looking for preachers of "another gospel"
As a legal person, the first reaction will be to refer to the constitutional experts of the country. Naturally. All of them in the country have spoken, except for one. All those who have spoken have said the same thing: President Abdoulaye Wade IS NOT constitutionally a possible candidate. And what do we see? The President who hires "International constitution experts" to a Dakar meeting so they can come read what Senegalese wrote. And these International preachers are insisting that "Yes", Wade can run for presidency in 2012 at the age of 86
Enter the Constitutional Council
Yes, the ultimate decision lies with the Constitutional Council. Though all its members are hand-picked by the President and some have attended the "International constitution conference" and that it has already jailed an activist wrote a strong-worded letter warning them of any unconstitutional decision in the Wade, issue, some people are still hoping that the constitutional council will render an unbiased decision.
The silence of the international community
I have not heard from the African Union. I have not heard from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The Union Monétaire Ouest Africaine is as dumb as ever. Neither have I read any official position of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. This silence is worrying.
A population that is thinking "we can handle it" and "it cannot happen to us"
Six months ago, many Senegalese were publishing on Facebook and Twitter, firm convictions of everything being under control. At about three months to the elections, the tendency is clear. The pro-Wade group are sure that nothing will happen and their candidate will win. The anti-Wade group are professing the same: nothing will happen. He wont get clearance. As the days approach, the die-hard believers are still there:
Folks who believe they have come a long way as a country,
People who believe that popular protests will give them victory,
Senegalese who continue to think that "everything is under control"
When it is only waiting to explode.
The Constitutional Crisis
The country revised its constitution in 2001. Most of the revisions were linked to the office of the president, its prerogatives, tenure and duration. The revision shortened the duration of the tenure from 7 to 5 years. This tenure could only be renewed once. While obtaining an extension of presidential powers, the then President touted this "success in democracy", proclaiming himself as an avant-gardist and reassuring the population that he will no longer be a candidate in 2012.
Now 2012 is months away.. and someone is debating whether the 2 tenures should take into account the initial tenure.. The language is clear. The answer is Yes. But the president seems to either have lost a part of his democracy memory or forgot his language lessons!
The President who is looking for preachers of "another gospel"
As a legal person, the first reaction will be to refer to the constitutional experts of the country. Naturally. All of them in the country have spoken, except for one. All those who have spoken have said the same thing: President Abdoulaye Wade IS NOT constitutionally a possible candidate. And what do we see? The President who hires "International constitution experts" to a Dakar meeting so they can come read what Senegalese wrote. And these International preachers are insisting that "Yes", Wade can run for presidency in 2012 at the age of 86
Enter the Constitutional Council
Yes, the ultimate decision lies with the Constitutional Council. Though all its members are hand-picked by the President and some have attended the "International constitution conference" and that it has already jailed an activist wrote a strong-worded letter warning them of any unconstitutional decision in the Wade, issue, some people are still hoping that the constitutional council will render an unbiased decision.
The silence of the international community
I have not heard from the African Union. I have not heard from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The Union Monétaire Ouest Africaine is as dumb as ever. Neither have I read any official position of the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie. This silence is worrying.
A population that is thinking "we can handle it" and "it cannot happen to us"
Six months ago, many Senegalese were publishing on Facebook and Twitter, firm convictions of everything being under control. At about three months to the elections, the tendency is clear. The pro-Wade group are sure that nothing will happen and their candidate will win. The anti-Wade group are professing the same: nothing will happen. He wont get clearance. As the days approach, the die-hard believers are still there:
Folks who believe they have come a long way as a country,
People who believe that popular protests will give them victory,
Senegalese who continue to think that "everything is under control"
When it is only waiting to explode.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Open letter to MENA of NIGER
Yeah, so you qualified for the 2012 African Cup of Nations? Okay, noted. We hear you.
This letter comes as a reaction to the fact that instead of planning your friendly matches, you are touring the country from South to North, East to West.. celebrating your victory.
We are sure that you know that in soccer, one man's joy is another man's misery. One team's victory means another team's defeat. While you are on the “high” and doing your joy-tour, we wish to bring the following to your attention.
MENA is going to AFCON with 9 points! Yes, that is 50% of possible points. Cape Verde, Cameroon, Uganda, Nigeria, and Malawi each have more than that and are home. It is only a reminder... we know you know.
We have a message from South Africa to you. Not only did you rob the Rainbow Nation of a place in the AFCON, you have dealt a blow on their national pride. You have exposed the “limit of the intelligence” of their Football Federation leaders. You have given them a very bitter after-taste. This blow is like pouring ash over the silver glimmer of the FIFA world cup which they so valiantly and brilliantly hosted.
There is also a message from from Nigeria. They have thousands of professional players. They had what it took to qualify and did not. Now everyone is comparing Niger and Nigeria. That makes Nigeria cry. The shared border makes it possible for people in Nigeria to smell your celebrations. Your victory reminds Nigeria of all of its failures.
Cameroon has sent their own missile to you. Niger does not have any “global star” like Eto’o. If you lost, there would not have been too much shame.. but now.. everyone is saying “Niger is there and Eto’o is absent’. Your victory is exposing the death of the old Lion.
Egypt says it wont forgive you. You must note that. In football, it may take 10 years, but some scores will be settled. In fact, Egypt will not only make you pay in soccer. In every sport where you will meet Egypt, be ready for a battle!
Finally, there is a message from FIFA and CAF. Yes. They have messages too. No, no, no. They are quite “congratulatory” about your qualification. They even have very positive things to say about you, and are actually hoping that you will go very far and maybe even show up for world cup in Brazil as you have started already dreaming.. Their message is simple: you only qualified for the competition. There are no trophies for qualification. The trophy is for the competition itself. Another way to say, this is only the beginning. You must now prepare for AFCON 2012.
Over here, we will fix our eyes on the draw of October 29. We are sure you know we are wishing you the “group of death”!
Signed: the miserable losers
This letter comes as a reaction to the fact that instead of planning your friendly matches, you are touring the country from South to North, East to West.. celebrating your victory.
We are sure that you know that in soccer, one man's joy is another man's misery. One team's victory means another team's defeat. While you are on the “high” and doing your joy-tour, we wish to bring the following to your attention.
MENA is going to AFCON with 9 points! Yes, that is 50% of possible points. Cape Verde, Cameroon, Uganda, Nigeria, and Malawi each have more than that and are home. It is only a reminder... we know you know.
We have a message from South Africa to you. Not only did you rob the Rainbow Nation of a place in the AFCON, you have dealt a blow on their national pride. You have exposed the “limit of the intelligence” of their Football Federation leaders. You have given them a very bitter after-taste. This blow is like pouring ash over the silver glimmer of the FIFA world cup which they so valiantly and brilliantly hosted.
There is also a message from from Nigeria. They have thousands of professional players. They had what it took to qualify and did not. Now everyone is comparing Niger and Nigeria. That makes Nigeria cry. The shared border makes it possible for people in Nigeria to smell your celebrations. Your victory reminds Nigeria of all of its failures.
Cameroon has sent their own missile to you. Niger does not have any “global star” like Eto’o. If you lost, there would not have been too much shame.. but now.. everyone is saying “Niger is there and Eto’o is absent’. Your victory is exposing the death of the old Lion.
Egypt says it wont forgive you. You must note that. In football, it may take 10 years, but some scores will be settled. In fact, Egypt will not only make you pay in soccer. In every sport where you will meet Egypt, be ready for a battle!
Finally, there is a message from FIFA and CAF. Yes. They have messages too. No, no, no. They are quite “congratulatory” about your qualification. They even have very positive things to say about you, and are actually hoping that you will go very far and maybe even show up for world cup in Brazil as you have started already dreaming.. Their message is simple: you only qualified for the competition. There are no trophies for qualification. The trophy is for the competition itself. Another way to say, this is only the beginning. You must now prepare for AFCON 2012.
Over here, we will fix our eyes on the draw of October 29. We are sure you know we are wishing you the “group of death”!
Signed: the miserable losers
Monday, September 19, 2011
The men who rape us
I am checking on the topics in Nigeria and I am horrified at the gang rape perpetrated by some five male students on a female students. Sugabelly, in her outcry blog on this issue has expressed my feelings and I see the students at the University are being pro-active too. It is good that #ABSURAPE is trending in Lagos and that the Honourable Abike Dabiri has taken the stand to raise this issue so it does not die out "just like that".
I took time to watch the video. Then I put the sound off so I could analyse it better. Whichever way, it is ugly and those men must be brought to book.
They must be brought to book for a criminal act. Rape is a crime and gang rape is a double crime. But a gang rape that is filmed and circulated is a triple crime. That is my feeling. These men must pay.
Cowards are the ones who rape women. Those who cannot find any other means of standing up to you as a lady. They lack the intellectual and moral strength. They cannot woo, they cannot groom themselves to appeal to women, they cannot command respect, they lack self esteem. They cant find ways to communicate their feelings, they are children inside, pretending to be men outside. Their insecurity is killing them. So they resort to sexual abuse.
From Cape to Tripoli, Somalia to Senegal, passing through Sudan and Nigeria.. African women are being raped. Raped by men who cannot face realities. men who are afraid of broad day light. Men who cannot stand up and defend their ideas. A woman is raped because her tribal or ethnic group is not in good terms with another. Another is raped because of land dispute. Some are raped for reasons that only politicians know.
The young lady at Abia State University was raped because the men said she insulted one of them.
Only the incompetent use violence as an arm. Only the weak will believe that sexual assault proves strength. Only cowards will believe that by humiliating another they gain value.
No, you dont gain respect by raping a woman. You are only demonstrating that you are incapable of living in a civilised world. You are showcasing your insecurity, your incompleteness.
Rape, violence and humiliation are arms only used by cowards.
You have to be little to belittle
I took time to watch the video. Then I put the sound off so I could analyse it better. Whichever way, it is ugly and those men must be brought to book.
They must be brought to book for a criminal act. Rape is a crime and gang rape is a double crime. But a gang rape that is filmed and circulated is a triple crime. That is my feeling. These men must pay.
Cowards are the ones who rape women. Those who cannot find any other means of standing up to you as a lady. They lack the intellectual and moral strength. They cannot woo, they cannot groom themselves to appeal to women, they cannot command respect, they lack self esteem. They cant find ways to communicate their feelings, they are children inside, pretending to be men outside. Their insecurity is killing them. So they resort to sexual abuse.
From Cape to Tripoli, Somalia to Senegal, passing through Sudan and Nigeria.. African women are being raped. Raped by men who cannot face realities. men who are afraid of broad day light. Men who cannot stand up and defend their ideas. A woman is raped because her tribal or ethnic group is not in good terms with another. Another is raped because of land dispute. Some are raped for reasons that only politicians know.
The young lady at Abia State University was raped because the men said she insulted one of them.
Only the incompetent use violence as an arm. Only the weak will believe that sexual assault proves strength. Only cowards will believe that by humiliating another they gain value.
No, you dont gain respect by raping a woman. You are only demonstrating that you are incapable of living in a civilised world. You are showcasing your insecurity, your incompleteness.
Rape, violence and humiliation are arms only used by cowards.
You have to be little to belittle
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