So What?

I am a young, patriotic South African. I am proud to be a descendent of this African continent.
The present state of affairs in South Africa and Africa as a whole causes my being to shudder.

Historically, we have been colonised, enslaved and oppressed. But our pride would not let us cower for longer. Many fought, and many laid their lives for the emancipation of oppressed citizens.
We followed democracy, and received the vote. But are we better off?

The new dispensation ushered forth the rise of the elite black, known as black diamonds. And the growing gap between the rich and the economically deprived. Ubuntu bethu is determined by your address, your Lambourghini and designer wear.

In the name of entertainment, We create senseless reality shows to glorify the lifestyle of excess. Eating sushi off scantily clad women, sitting in bath tubs filled with expensive champagne. We observe a young woman Ridiculing hard working women who wake up early to set up their trading stalls in the market, because they wont accept American currency and wont swipe your credit card. All in the name of entertainment the young woman disrespects women older than her, likening them to apes and Tarzan.

Darkies, have we completely lost the plot, our values, and sense of ubuntu?
Mr, Mrs, Miss Black Diamond, will it hurt to help build underprivileged communities.
Yes, you, Tendertrepeneurs. Will it hurt your pockets to dig down and donate to uplifting the area/community that is filling your coffers?
Mr, Mrs, Miss Politician will it hurt to try to bridge the gap of economic inequality?

Please wake up ubuntu benu. This is Africa!

Vuyokazi S Yonke

16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence

Call for Submissions: African Women's Millenium Initiative "Share Your Thoughts" 16 Days of Activism Campaign
Deadline: 19 November 2010

Every year since 1991, the time period of November 25 (International Day Against Violence Against Women) to December 10 (International Human Rights Day) has been recognized as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence. Throughout this period, women and youth groups, development practitioners, human rights activists, every day people like you and I, have stood up in their own way to discount gender violence and promote human rights. This year's theme focuses on violence in the context of conflict, and with gruesome instances like the high incidence of rape in Congo, it couldn't come at a better time.

Since its inception in 2005, AWOMI has worked with local African women and youth on issues pertaining to gender violence and human rights. During our biannual Young Women's Knowlegde and Leadership Institute (YOWLI), young activists from Africa and the Diaspora are trained on gender violence issues like rape, female genital mutilation, domestic violence and so on. Such workshops not only help in informing our YOWLI participants and graduates, but also promote story sharing.

YOWLI 2008 participants using silent theatre performances to depict rape during their Gender Violence training

In that vein, AWOMI would like to invite its YOWLI network - past, present (and maybe even future) - partners, and supporters to participate in the AWOMI's "Share Your Thoughts" 16 Days of Activism Campaign by submitting articles, blog posts, videos, commentary on publications, creative writing - anything really - for publication right here on the AWOMI blog.

By sharing your thoughts, experiences, concerns and so on around the theme "Structures of Violence: Defining the Intersections of Militarism and Violence Against Women", particularly as it relates to Africa, you will help put a face and voice to the millions of women who haven't the opportunity to share their stories and realities, and in so doing help reverse the trend.

YOWLI 2008 Participants using silent theatre pieces to depict domestic violence.

Some suggested topics from the 16 Days of Activism official website include:

- Economic consequences of war on women
- Women’s role in peace negotiations, peace-building, diplomacy and decision-making positions
-Abuse of sexual and reproductive rights in conflict situations
-Women and girl’s vulnerability as refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs)
-Environmental contamination by military operations and its consequences for women and children
-Suspension of rule of law and basic human rights in an “emergency”
-Military spending by government – cost-analysis compared to social programs

(For the full list, kindly visit http://16dayscwgl.rutgers.edu/2010-campaign/theme-announcement)

Submission Guidelines:

-All submissions should relate to Africa and/or the Diaspora
-Submissions can be English or French
- Entries should be a maximum of 500-700 words (for written submissions) or 5-7 minutes (for audio and video)
-Please include your full name, age, and nationality with your submission. If you are part of the YOWLI network, include your country chapter and/or year of participation
-Entries should be sent to awomiweb@gmail.com by Friday, November 19 at 12 midnight GMT

We hope to hear from you and look forward to sharing and learning! It takes one person to influence the state of events.

The 16 Days Campaign has been used as an organizing strategy by individuals and groups around the world to call for the elimination of all forms of violence against women by:

* raising awareness about gender-based violence as a human rights issue at the local, national, regional and international levels
* strengthening local work around violence against women
* establishing a clear link between local and international work to end violence against women
* providing a forum in which organizers can develop and share new and effective strategies
* demonstrating the solidarity of women around the world organizing against violence against women
* creating tools to pressure governments to implement promises made to eliminate violence against women

More information here.

She is by Mpho Matsitle

Mpho Matsitle
She is…
Alluring in her eyes
Confident in her stride
Captivating in her thoughts
Right in her wrongs

A beaut of note
Too kind to loathe
A forgiving lady
Somehow a lil crazy

She is…
Too sweet for words
Out of this world
An envy of lords
Water to the desert
Part of no regrets
Not one to forget

A fountain of love
Gift from above
Peaceful as doves
Not one to be mean
In goodness has no twin
A true Queen

She is…
Always a highlight
Brings about no fright
Committed in her plight
A champion in her fight
Fair in judgement
A star in entertainment
Not too shy to lament
Not too proud to repent

Pretty immaculate
Oh so great
Never too late
In finding a mate
The one and only
She loves entirely
Gives of herself completely
And most importantly

She is…
In love with me

Mpho Matsitle

... on women... to women... for women...

I know a lot of women who continue to inspire the nation and many households in Azania, however, I feel I have to be bold enough to admit;
even though sistahs have shown to possess the skill and knack to accumulate 'cheese' and other artifacts of modern civilization,
women (as a collective), have a long way to walk before finally overcoming the pervese masculine domination meted against them by ignorant niggaz like me.

In virtually all animate creatures, the survival of the family genes is the responsibility of their female kind.
Females, whether they be lions, ants, flies, african wild dogs, elephants and other creatures I've been lucky enough to observe or read on, are more successful and industrious food-gatherers than their male counterparts.
In fact, by instinct, when we seek nourishment we turn to a 'mother-figure'.

The animal and insect species, sans the lion, are led by a strong alpha-female, but when you look at human beings; that phenomenon is almost constrasted.
In modern and previous civilizations alike, women have been denied any place of prominence in society.
Popular cultures and religions are based on gender discrimination whereby a woman's role is to serve a nigga's interests; however pervese those might be.

Even though common sense may suggest that Jah is a formless, omnipresent and therefore omnipotent nameless being(cannot be contain'd in a single definitive word), people are encouraged to imagine a blue-eyed bearded man to whom to direct their prayers.

With all that said, the road to real emancipation might be longer for sistahs, but we'll walk with them.

Kaiza Gongxeka