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Africa in DC

~ Exploring African affairs and cultural events in the DMV

Africa in DC

Category Archives: Analysis

Considering the Treatment of Justine, ‘Just Kidding I’m White!’, Sacco Via Personal Reflections

17 Friday Jan 2014

Posted by africaindc in Analysis, Events, Uncategorized

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Joshua Sacco, Just Kidding I'm White, Justine Sacco, Peace Corps Africa, South Africa, study abroad Africa, Twitter, white hypocrisy

About a month ago, just before Christmas, Justine Sacco, a New York-based PR executive tweeted the following before departing for South Africa.  Her not very articulate Tweet went viral, got her fired, and agitated quite a few folks.  Her remarks were certainly insensitive and reflect an unhealthy race-based appraisal of HIV/AIDS, yet I can’t help but feel the reaction was way overblown in light of previous racial discourse that I’ve frequently heard from whites on HIV/AIDS in Africa.

Justine Sacco

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Silly Sights for South Sudan from a Beltway Bandit

09 Thursday Jan 2014

Posted by africaindc in Analysis, DC Corridors of Power

≈ 1 Comment

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African Arguments, African Independence, Belgian Congo, cold war in Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, DRC, Hank Cohen, Herman Cohen, namibia, South Sudan, UN Congo, UN Trusteeship, White Man's Burden

A recent appeal on the online blogging forum African Arguments (a site I greatly enjoy) from the former US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Hank Cohen, for UN trusteeship of South Sudan has really set me off.  The piece epitomizes the narrative of Africa as a dangerous locale for exciting adventures in which the white man can nobly shoulder the weight of his burden, rather than illustrating the more hopeful economic narratives of Africa that are becoming more predominant in many corners (although those could also have the potential to set me off). Continue reading →

Homage to Tom Friedman & Latin/Ethiopian Fusions

11 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by africaindc in Analysis, Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

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Ethiopia, Latin, Spanish speaking Ethiopians, taxi drivers, Tom Friedman

Certain individuals frequently assess the pulse of a community or society by their conversations with taxi drivers.  While these tales can make for interesting reading at times, my general position is that this approach is a socially acceptable way for these writers to admit to being out of touch.

On a related note, I took a rare taxi ride Saturday night (technically Sunday morning), from West Hyattsville to my home.  My driver was from Ethiopia (had been in the US for less than 5 years) and he loaded three separate fares in his vehicle.  The other two were middle aged Latina women, with whom he conversed entirely in Spanish, a language that he said he had learned since moving to the US.

He noted that he had recently started driving a taxi, his only source of income, after working at gas stations and convenience stores.  He was very self-conscious about his English language ability and noted that it was difficult to develop his English as he circulated primarily in the Ethiopian Diaspora community.  He added that many caucasian customers had spoken to him very rudely, often noting that he should not be in a customer oriented position with weak English language skills.

In the events that I typically write about on these pages, (with some exceptions), I rarely encounter Ethiopians.  This opportunity was a little awkward.  Aside from that, I’m not sure what to make of it.  Does that make me less intelligent that renowned columnists like Tom Friedman who often distill crucial nuggets from such scenarios?  Does this encounter signal a looming Ethio-Latino political or cultural union?

The Spread of Africa in Africa: SA vs. Naija

18 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by africaindc in Analysis, entertainment, Uncategorized

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Afrobeats, Central African Republic, D'banj, Kanye West, Kwaito, Mr. Biggs Nigeria, Nando's, Nigeria, Nigerians in southern Africa, South Africa, spar

Ed: A non Africa in DC post to kick the weekend off, dedicated readers will know that a major mission of mine is to expose DC’s Africa policy wonks to African entertainment – Africa in 2013 remains a continent that is in many respects Eurocentric: think airline routes, education systems, etc.

Accordingly, I’m very interested in the engagement of major African powers on the continent.  For awhile, I’ve been very interested in the diffusion of South Africa’s commercial and economic presence across Africa (think establishments like the grilled chicken purveyor, Nando’s, which I will forever cherish as a result of this commercial and grocery stores like Spar and OK).  Continue reading →

Educating Americans About What They Can Do For Africa Through Metro Adverts

18 Friday Oct 2013

Posted by africaindc in Analysis, Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

African Studies Association, Aid for Africa, DC metro, Dupont Circle, International Relief and Development, SAIS, USAID, WMATA

2013-10-18 09.20.42

I find it very interesting when organizations engaging in the development field spend money to advertise on the metro.  International Relief & Development had a big campaign about a year ago.  I’ve even seen a USAID ad at the Dupont Circle Metro.  Are they trying to target SAIS students?  Do they think the interest is not already there?

I spotted this poster as I exited the metro on my morning commute.  I’m not familiar with Aid for Africa, but they apparently have a diverse array of members, from the African Studies Association, to country specific organizations (Ghana, Guinea, Rwanda, Mali, Uganda), and faith-based institutions.

My thoughts are that it is ‘time to do something’ beyond advertising on the metro.  Am I being unfair?

‘Damned is the Country Whose Leader is a Young Man’: DRC Opposition Staffer on Kabila, Regional Mediators, and More at SAIS

17 Thursday Oct 2013

Posted by africaindc in Analysis, Events, Uncategorized

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Albert Moleka, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Etienne Tshisekedi, Joseph Kabila, M23, Mvemba Dizolele, Paul Kagame, Roger Meece, SAIS, Stephen Weissman, Tony Gambino, Union for Democracy and Social Progress, William Zartman, Yoweri Museveni

2013-10-16 12.42.30

I heard Albert Moleka, the Chief of Staff to Etienne Tshisekedi, the Congo’s main opposition leader, speak in theory yesterday on “D.R. Congo: How the Kampala Talks and the Concentrations Nationales Undermine the Rule of Law and Fuel Instability” at SAIS.  Moleka is a SAIS graduate (’82) and expressed his esteem for William Zartman, a former head of SAIS’ African Studies Program who ‘impacted [his] intellect forever.’  He returned to the DRC where he briefly dabbled in business before turning to politics, where amongst other roles, he served as a prison chaplain (which may explain his biblical quote in the title of this post).  He has been a member of the Congo’s main opposition party, the Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDSP) since 1987. Continue reading →

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