FREE PRESS
No. 14 December 2012 I Tel. +44(0)2071930899 I +44(0)7846062331 I +44(0)208 1665700 I Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
Fight HIV stigma, faith leaders urged
Stage set for UK Kenyan Achievers Awards
page 6
Public seminar on policing and mental health in Croydon page 3
Terrence Higgins Trust launches campaign asking faith leaders to champion anti-stigma message page 3
HRH Igwe to host Ofala Festival in Onitsha page 17
THE GUIDE Discipline Spare The Rod, Spoil The Child? page 12
Ochieng’ Kabaselleh song released posthumously page 19
Stop treating asylum cases “as administrative tasks” - Refugee Council
page 9
2
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
WHERE ACTION IS
Liverpool hosts William Kentridge’s print making exhibition Southbank Centre’s Hayward Touring has organised a major exhibition on the South African artist W i l l i a m Kentridge’s print making.
Telephone Lady (2000) Image Courtesy David Krut Fine Art, New York and London. ©William Kentridge and David Krut Fine Art, New York and Johannesburg.
Kentridge, who is an internationally renowned artist, is best known for his prints, drawings and animated films. His installation at Tate Tanks opened a few weeks ago. “A Universal Archive: William Kentridge as Printmaker”, a Hayward Touring exhibition is Kentridge’s first UK exhibition.
Carminho to perform at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall C a r m i n h o , Portugal’s brightest new star will perform at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on 18th January 2013.
Her first album, “Fado”, was a burning statement of intent from the 25-year old, who realised after attending University and travelling the globe that singing the music of her homeland was her calling in life. It went on to be named the best album of 2011 by Songlines, as Carminho starting performing concerts all over the world. Her new album, “Alma” (Portuguese for ‘soul’), was released in March 2012. It portrays a woman growing in spirit as well as talent. Carminho combines traditional fado songs resurrected
from the dusty tavernas of old with her own music and new arrangements of the work of Brazilian greats like Fernanda Maria and Vinicius de Moraes. Carminho’s voice glistens with potent, raw tenderness as it soars over quintessential Portuguese and acoustic Spanish guitars.
CARMINHO 18th January 2013 7:30PM Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, 2 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow G2 3NY Tickets: £23 - £20 + Booking fee To book: www.celticconnections.com
Opening on 7th December 2012, in Liverpool, the exhibition focuses solely on his work in all print media, which is central to his practice. With a stress on experimental and serial works, this exhibition will highlight Kentridge’s distinctive use of light and shadow and silhouettes, his concern with memory and perspective, and his absorption in literary texts. This exhibition coincides with an exceptionally productive period in Kentridge’s career, as over the last few years exhibitions of his work have opened at the Museum of Modern Art, New York, in Paris, Vienna, Jerusalem, Moscow and Melbourne. His presentation of Shostakovich’s “The Nose” at New York’s Metropolitan Opera opened to wide acclaim in 2010. In 2012 Kentridge gave the Norton Lectures at Harvard. His Hayward Touring exhibition at the Bluecoat will show 100 pieces, including new work
shown in Britain for the first time. Acclaimed for his animated films, drawings, theatre and opera productions, Kentridge started his career studying etching at the Johannesburg Art Foundation. Printmaking has remained central to his practice ever since. In the past two and a half decades he has produced more than 400 prints, including etchings, engravings, aquatints, silkscreens, linocuts and lithographs; often experimenting with challenging formats and a combination of techniques.
A UNIVERSAL ARCHIVE: WILLIAM KENTRIDGE AS PRINTMAKER The Bluecoat, School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BX 7th December 2012 to 3rd February 2013 Open daily, free.
Charlie and Lola’s Best Bestest Play at Bernie Grant Arts Centre Watershed Productions presents the CHARLIE AND LOLA’S BEST BBC Worldwide and Polka Theatre proBESTEST PLAY duction of “Charlie and Lola’s Best Bestest Play” at Bernie Grant Arts The Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Centre. Town Hall Approach Road The play is based on the characters created by Tottenham Lauren Child and adapted by Jonathan Lloyd. London N15 4RX Don’t miss everyone’s favourite brother and sister, Charlie and Lola, in their extremely everso wonderful stage show! The stars of the hit BBC TV series and books by Lauren Child are brought to life by a magical mix of puppets, live action and music. Will Charlie ever get Lola to sleep, even though she is not sleepy and will not go to bed? It won’t be easy - the Tigers want their bedtime milk, the Dancing Dogs have borrowed Lola’s pyjamas and Lola thinks there is an ogre hiding in the wardrobe! The play is ideal for ages 3+. “Charlie and Lola’s Best Bestest Play” lasts 1 hour 10 minutes including interval. For more details and free downloadable teachers’ pack, see www.charlieandlola. com.
Performances 18th December: 10:30am, 1pm 19th December: 10:30am, 1pm 20th December: 10:30am, 1pm 22nd December: 10:30am, 1pm, 3:30pm Booking To buy tickets, please call the box office between 9am and 5pm on 020 8365 5450. Adults £12/£10, Children £8, Family of four: £30 Discounts available for group bookings.
THE AFRONEWS | My Own Media Ltd. The Old Fire Station, 140 Tabernacle Street, London, EC2A 4SD, United Kingdom | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Stephen Ogongo Ongong'a Tel. +44(0)2071930899 | Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk | ADVERTISING: +44(0)7846062331 | +44(0)208 1665700| Email: sales@myownmedia.co.uk DISTRIBUTION: Email: info@myownmedia.co.uk | PRINTING PRESS: Trinity Mirror plc, London. | Advertiser and advertising agency assume liability for all content (including text representation, illustrations, and photographs) of advertisements printed or posted, and also assume responsibility for any claims arising therefrom made against the publisher | Supplement of Africa News, Registered at the Tribunal of Rome. Registration No. 22/2003 - 21-01-2003
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
3
COMMUNITY
Stand up against HIV stigma among African communities, faith groups urged Terrence Higgins Trust (THT), the HIV and sexual health charity has urged faith groups in the UK to play a leading role in fighting HIV stigma among African communities. To mark the World AIDS Day (1st December), THT launched its “Stand Up, Stand Out” campaign appealing to faith groups to pledge their support for people with HIV by championing the antistigma message. Despite huge progress in care and treatment of HIV, many people with the condition still report being stigmatised by others who have treated them badly, discriminated against them, bullied,
Public seminar on policing and mental health in Croydon Black Mental Health UK (BMH UK) is organizing a public seminar on policing and mental health on 12th December 2012 at the Maple Room, Fairfields Halls, Croydon CR9 1DG. The seminar will take place from 16:30 to 19:00. This free public meeting is sponsored by the South London and Maudsley NHS Mental Health Trust, and comes in the wake of the high profile inquest verdict of Sean Rigg, an African Caribbean patient, who died while in the care of this trust just an hour after he was picked up by the police back in 2008. The inquest verdict into his death was highly critical of both South London and Maudsley NHS Trust and the police and concluded that their actions had more than minimally contributed to his death. The 12th December’s event will be the second of these public seminars with a third event planned to take place in Southwark or Lewisham. The aim of these events is to engage
with communities in each of the four principal Boroughs served by SLaM. Thess public meetings are aimed at informing the community about the changes which have been made by both the police and mental health services, since Rigg’s death in order to ensure that such tragedies do not occur again. Matilda MacAttram, Director of Black Mental Health UK said: “The latest figures on deaths in custody show that 60% of people who lose their lives while in the care of the state are mental health service users. It is people from Britain’s African Caribbean communities who are detained in the system in greatest numbers. The findings from the Sean Rigg inquest have brought to light the very harsh treatment they receive from both the police and mental health services. This event is an opportunity to find out what changes have been made since the Sean Rigg Inquest verdict to ensure that we do not see any more deaths in custody.”
or even threatened them with violence. Africans are one of the groups most at risk of HIV, accounting for the largest proportion of heterosexual diagnoses in the UK. In 2009, a national study reported that over a third of people with HIV had experienced discrimination in the previous year. Fear of discrimination can have a profound effect, preventing people from being open about their condition, and inhibiting the discussion needed to challenge the stigma that still exists around HIV. THT is asking faith groups to show their support for the “Stand Up, Stand Out” campaign by pledging to: Embrace people living with HIV as members of the congregation equal to any other; Provide social and spiritual support to people living with HIV; Recognise the importance of anti-retroviral medication for people living with HIV; Encourage acceptance of people living with HIV within the congregation if they choose to speak openly about their condition to others and recognise their right to confidentiality if they choose not to. The faith leaders are also urged to
keep a list of the local HIV services and refer people to these services if they need them. Marcy Madzikanda, Health Improvement Specialist for African Communities at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “More than 30 years on from the beginning of the epidemic, HIV remains surrounded by a level of stigma unmatched by any other medical condition – this urgently needs to change. For many African people living in the UK, the church is the centre of the community. That’s why it’s so important that faith groups get behind our ‘Stand Up, Stand Out’ campaign, and lead the way in the effort to banish stigma for good.” Ms. Madzikanda added that faith leaders can show their support in many ways including talking to their congregation about stigma, remembering those who have lost their lives to the virus, and holding a charity collection to support people living with HIV. For further information about getting involved in Terrence Higgins Trust’s “Stand Up, Stand Out” campaign or for fundraising ideas, please visit www.tht. org.uk/worldaidsday.
Call home to AFRICA this holiday from just 1p per minute with PLANET NUMBERS! Just dial 0843 715 0000 and then dial the international number or text AFRICA to 68888 for £5 of calling credit as per our tariff. Your text will cost £5.
Visit planet-numbers.co.uk/africa today
4
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
COMMUNITY
Grenadian High Commissioner nominated for Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Award G re n a d i a n High Commissioner to the UK Ruth Elizabeth Rouse has been nominated for the first ever Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Awards. The award recognises outstanding diplomats and politicians in the UK for their dedication, commitment and selfless efforts in representing civilian matters at the highest level. Nominated under the Policy Driver category, High Commissioner Rouse has proven to be a vocal advocate in addressing the many challenges faced by female diplomats of all levels. As the founder of the Women in Diplomatic Services Organisation, Ms. Rouse has been active in creating avenues of equality and getting women from various country missions to work together as a unit.
GRASSROOT DIPLOMAT INITIATIVE AWARDS 2013 31st January 2013 5.30pm Westminster, London Dress code: Lounge/Cocktail For ticket information, please visit: www.grassrootdiplomat. org/awards.
Talyn RahmanFigueroa, Director of Grassroot Diplomat said: “Grassroot diplomacy empowers the voiceless, defines a path for the hopeless, and restores faith to influencers. The Initiative Award seeks to build trust again between the ‘us and them’ and bring people of all statuses together.” High Commissioner Rouse is committed to encouraging more women to go into diplomacy and helping other female diplomats form something similar in their regions, and for this, her efforts are being recognised. Over 50 high-level government officials have been nominated in three categories but only six will emerge winners. Grassroot Diplomat Initiative Awards 2013 will be held at the Vincent Rooms, Westminster, on 31st January 2013. Evening performance will be led by Euro-Vision Song Contest artist, Imaani.
Join AFRUCA in fighting trafficking of African children There is an increasing number of African children being trafficked into the UK for various forms of child exploitation and abuse. A F R U C A (Africans Unite Against Child Abuse) has developed a Community Education Programme to enable them work with community, faith and youth groups across London and the South of England to raise awareness of this issue. If you would like your organisation to be involved, please email
AFRUCA at info@afruca.org. You can visit AFRUCA’s website www.afruca.org to learn more about child trafficking.
Check out
latest immigration and other news affecting the Black Community on:
http://www.theafronews.co.uk
Grenadian High Commissioner to the UK Ruth Elizabeth Rouse
Ibukun graduates with an Msc degree UK based Nigerian supermodel Ibukun Jegede has graduated with Master’s Degree in Management and Entrepreneurial eBusiness at the Nottingham Trent University. Ibukun last year graduated with an honours degree in Information and Communication Technology at the same University. Describing his educational journey as a “challenging one”, Ibukun thanked God for seeing him through his studies. He said it wasn’t easy combining studies with politics, business and modelling. Ibukun celebrated his achievement with his close
friends including Ashton Leon, Abdou Saley, Mohammed Niameyze, Mosumade Fatima, Amaka Anabor Wale Ogunmola and Olabode Onanuga. The multi award winning supermodel has worked for Dolce and Gabanna, Paul Smith, Timberland, Hugo Boss and Gloverall. He has now created a new company called Aniibol Group with branches in Nigeria and the UK. “We deal with management consulting, Information System consulting, staff training and financial management,” Ibukun said.
1000 Minutes
#
Unlimited Texts & Data To Any UK Network for £20 To activate dial *139*12044# or text 12044 to 3535 Landline
Nigeria
Kenya
Uganda
Mobile
1 8 9 4 9 P
P
P
P
P
P
/min
/min
/min
/min
/min
/min
£15 FREE credit
* Get up to when you bring your mobile number to Lycamobile.
For your FREE Lycamobile SIM visit www.lycamobile.co.uk or call 020 7132 0322 Buy and top up online or in over 115,000 stores
Customers may not be able to use Electronic Top-Up at all locations where the top-up logo appears Prices valid from 01.12.2012 and until 30.12.2012. Any changes to rates will be notified on the rates section of our website at www.lycamobile.co.uk or you can call our customer services team on 020 7132 0322 to check rates or for more information. *This promotion gives up to £15 free mobile top-up credit when you bring your mobile phone number from a different UK mobile phone network to Lycamobile UK between 01/12/2012 and 30/12/2012. Free credit is given when the customer number is ported and live on Lycamobile UK and the first top-up is made. The amount of free credit given is dependent on the value of the first topup: If the first top-up is up to £10, £5 free credit is awarded; if the first top-up is £20, £10 free credit is awarded; and if the first top-up is £30+, £15 free credit is awarded. Customers can bring their mobile phone number from any UK network apart from GT Mobile, Toggle Mobile or Lycamobile. By taking part in the Promotion customers will be deemed to have accepted and agree to be bound by these terms and conditions. #Minutes are valid for 30 days from the date of purchase of the bundle. Any unused minutes will expire after 30 days from the date of purchase. A customer may only buy one Bundle at any time. This offer may be withdrawn at any time in full or in part at the absolute discretion of Lycamobile UK Ltd. Unlimited offer is subject to a fair usage of 3000 minutes/Text/Data per month per customer. Usage in excess of your allowance will be charged at standard rates. To activate a bundle /pack the customer must have a minimum balance of 20p on his account in addition to the cost of the bundle.i.e. if customer want to activate the £5 bundle he must have minimum £5.20 on his account. Valid from 01/12/2012 until 30/12/2012. The benefits given in this Promotion cannot be transferred.
LM_UK_Afro_News265x338.indd 1
04/12/2012 17:17
6
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
COMMUNITY
University of Westminster hosts premiere of ‘Joy, it’s Nina’ The University of Westminster hosted on 21st November 2012 an exclusive preview of the film ‘Joy, it’s Nina’ directed by University of Westminster’s lecturer Jane Thorburn and renowned African actress Joy EliasRilwan. Produced in England and Nigeria this evocative and original film builds on the experiences and emotional lives of West African women living in the UK who have been separated from their families. The stories are based on news, court reports and Joy Elias-Rilwan’s own life, including original voice mails left on her answer-machine by the legendary singer Nina Simone, her friend and self-proclaimed ‘Spiritual Mother’. The film explores how a woman of West African origin inhabits an alien and sometimes hostile landscape. Through performance and environment the film juxtaposes sound and image to offer moving interpretations of
identity politics and the place of a woman in two different societies, in Africa and the UK. Joy Elias-Rilwan features as herself narrating events from her past and as an actress portraying other West African women who are so desperate to reach Europe that they are prepared to risk their lives and those of their children in the attempt. Alan Fisher, Interim Dean of the School of Media, Art and Design at the University of Westminster, said: “At the University of Westminster we strive to be at the forefront of British cinema, offering our students the opportunity to be exposed to different cinematic influences as well as taking part in film projects. Being able to host the premiere of Jane’s film at the University of Westminster is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the talents of our academics and their links to the industry.” The short film is performed and written by Joy Elias-Rilwan, who has also appeared in top UK series “Silent Witness”, “The Bill” and “Holby
City” to name a few. It is directed, filmed and edited by Jane Thorburn, Principal Lecturer and Course Leader
for BA Television Production at the University of Westminster, with music by James Lascelles.
Stage set for UK Kenyan Achievers Awards The fourth UK Kenyan Achievers Awards (UKAA) will be held in London on Saturday 15th December 2012 at The Royal Regency. The prestigious award ceremony will be attended by high profile Kenyan and non-Kenyan guests to celebrate positive Kenyan achievements. Among dignitaries to grace the occasion will be the Kenya High Commissioner to the UK H. E. Ephraim Ngare. Previous winners of UKAA include misterseed.com - a
forum that provides news, information and brings together the East African community in UK and in the Diaspora; Ann Wafula-Strike - a remarkable author and Paralympics’ medallist who overcame disability to go on and become a world champion athlete representing Kenya; Janet Wainaina of UKENTV and more. Previous winner and an all round achiever and Managing Director of SACOMA Mr. Sam Ochieng’ said: “Recognising what people have worked very hard for in the Diaspora is absolutely amazing and I can only encourage more and more Kenyans to come forward and appreciate and support each other through.” UKAA 2011 nominee Councillor and Deputy Mayor of Barking Elizabeth Kangethe said: “There is a lot of pressure to get to where you want to be and you have to fight for it. UKAA is a unique awards ceremony that serves as a motivator and helps others realise their full potential. It’s a fantastic way of encouraging people to keep achieving and it also boosts morale for people to know
that it can be done and it must be done. I like it especially because it recognises unsung heroes achieving in different fields not just academics.” UKAA Ambassador Pauline Long added: “Being appreciated by my community and being honoured with a UKAA Award in 2009 opened so many doors for me. It gave me lots of encouragement to do more for my community. As a result I founded BEFFTA Awards, which is the premier prestigious red carpet award ceremony that recognises and promotes achievements of black and ethnic personalities in entertainment, film, fashion, television and arts in UK, US and Africa”. Do you know a Kenyan achieving highly in the UK or inspiring, young or old? It could be your friend, colleague, neighbour, boss, please send nominations to admin@london2gether. co.uk with contact details of the person nominated. For full nomination categories visit www.london2gether. co.uk or www.london2gether. com. For more information on how to purchase your ticket to this award ceremony please contact Ken on: 07856430127 or Mercy on 07898134675.
Afroterminal launches $3000 ‘I Love Africa’ Video Competition To celebrate the launch of their new ‘Communities’ feature, Afroterminal.com - the leading African Social Network, has partnered with OH TV (a UK TV Channel) to launch the $3000 ‘I Love Africa’ video competition. Afroterminal.com, touted by Forbes in 2012 as one of Africa’s hottest tech start-ups, is an online social network focused on creating and sustaining friendships for its African members. Explaining the thinking behind the ‘I Love Africa’ video competition, Charles Akpom - UK-based co-founder and CEO of Afroterminal. com said: “There is so much bad press about Africa - and yet, for those of us from the beautiful continent - we know Africa is the future. We want to allow everyone express why they love our Motherland, through video. Most Africans are proud of where we come from; we just need to tell the world and show Africa in a positive light. The competition encourages users to create
short videos showcasing why they love Africa. The videos can be as creative or simple as the users want it to be. It could be a dance, a song, a poem or a simple monologue (talking to the camera).” After a voting process by the public, the three most popular videos (those with the most Afroterminal ‘Likes’) will be shortlisted. A celebrity panel of judges from across Africa will vote to select the winner from the three finalists. The winner will receive a $3000 cash prize, plus an OH Box (OH TV’s portable digital TV modem). Entries for the competition opened on 19th November 2012, and the three finalists will be selected three months later. For details on how to participate in the ‘I Love Africa’ video competition, please visit the following link: http://www.afroterminal.com/ blog/1701/win-3000-in-the-ilove-africa-afroterminal-video-competition If you are not yet a member of Afroterminal.com, simply sign up (it takes less than two minutes) and post your video entry.
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
7
COMMUNITY
©Terrence Higgins Trust
46% of foreigners acquired HIV in UK
New figures released by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) show that last year, 46 per cent of heterosexual people born abroad who were diagnosed with HIV had acquired the virus inside the UK as opposed to overseas, the highest percentage reported to date. The findings follow research published in September, which
found that 43 per cent of HIV infections diagnosed among Africans in 2010 were acquired in the UK. The number of HIV diagnoses among Africans living in the UK peaked in the early part of the last decade as a result of a spike in immigration to the UK. The vast majority of these infections were acquired in Sub Saharan Africa. While the number of UK Africans being diagnosed with HIV has since been
declining, the new figures and the research from September suggest the proportion of Africans being infected with the virus here in the UK is now higher than ever. In 2011, 65 per cent of African men and 61 per cent of African women diagnosed with HIV were diagnosed late, after the point at which they should have already started treatment. Taku Mukiwa, Health Promotion Specialist for African communities at Terrence Higgins Trust, said: “In the past, UK Africans were far more likely to be infected with HIV overseas. But these new figures tell us that the epidemic is taking root among African communities in the UK. The growing trend towards Africans being infected here means there is no time for complacency. “Getting tested is the key to stopping the HIV epidemic from taking further hold among our communities. People who are diagnosed with HIV in good time are far less likely to pass it
on, yet still around one in four available nowadays, if diagAfricans living with the virus nosed and treated early someone don’t know they are infected.” with HIV can look forward to a Commenting on the latest normal lifespan, as well as proHPA figures, Dr. Valerie tecting their sexual partners Delpech, HPA head of HIV sur- from infection. That’s why it is veillance, said: “These figures vitally important that anyone are a reminder of how vital safe who has been at risk gets an sex programmes remain. HIV test, and that those in highPromoting HIV testing and con- er risk groups get screened regudom use is crucial to tackling larly.” the high rates of transmission, late diagnosis and undiagnosed HIV “Getting tested is the key to still seen in the UK. stopping the HIV epidemic National HIV Testing Week is a great opportufrom taking further hold nity to encourage peoamong our communities. ple to get tested. We People who are diagnosed also encourage cliniwith HIV in good time are far cians to take every less likely to pass it on, yet still opportunity to offer the around one in four Africans test to those in higher living with the virus don’t risk groups and, in high know they are infected” prevalence areas, to all general medical admisTaku Mukiwa, sion and new GP regisHealth Promotion Specialist trants. “The good news is for African communities at that with the excellent Terrence Higgins Trust services and treatments
8
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Mayor of London Boris Johnson has called on the Government to protect London’s status as a leading global centre for education. The newly introduced restrictions on student visas, such as limiting a student’s right to work during and after their studies, may be having a damaging impact on the city’s reputation and economy, the Mayor said. Mr. Boris has written to Theresa May, the Home Secretary and Vince Cable, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, asking them to remove students from the Government’s net migration target and introduce new measures to better protect genuine students if sponsors lose their licences. He also asked the Government to consider setting up an ‘Educational Exports Commission’, which would promote London’s universities abroad and help to secure the future of one of its greatest exports. Mr. Boris said: “As Mayor I will do all I can to promote London as a place
that is open for business and open to the brightest talent in the world. International students not only bring bright ideas that cement the reputations of our leading universities, they have huge spending power that boosts the UK economy.” Reacting to the Mayor of London’s comments on the G o v e r n m e n t ’s immigration policy, Chris Bryant MP, Labour’s Shadow Immigration Minister described Prime Minister David Cameron’s immigration policy as “nothing short of a complete shambles.” “The Director-General of the CBI has said it is putting people off coming to the
Victims of discrimination urged to contact EASS for help Those who have been unfairly discriminated against can consult the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) for help. EASS is designed to offer bespoke advice and targeted support on issues of discrimination to those who need it most. Individuals from across the UK can Women and Equalities Minister already access help Helen Grant and information from a range of expert adviencing unfair treatment can sory services including access the right help and supCitizens Advice and Acas, but port to resolve issues quickly.” where appropriate these organWhere possible the new isations will refer more comservice seeks to resolve issues plex cases to the EASS for informally, but can also offer further tailored assistance. referrals to mediation or con“Discrimination has no ciliation services, or help to place in modern society, but start a legal claim if necessary. sadly we know it still exists,” To contact EASS for help, Women and Equalities please visit: http://www.equalMinister Helen Grant said. ityadvisoryservice.com. “It’s vital that people experi-
©GLA
Ease foreign student visa restrictions, Boris tells ministers “As Mayor I will do all I can to promote London as a place that is open for business and open to the brightest talent in the world. International students not only bring bright ideas that cement the reputations of our leading universities, they have huge spending power that boosts the UK economy” Mayor of London Boris Johnson UK, and even the Tory Mayor of London realises that it is having a dreadful effect on the UK’s ability to compete,” Mr. Bryant said. He said the Home Secretary was “failing on all fronts”. Mr. Bryant went on to say that: “The UKBA and Border Force have spiralled
toward chaos and attempted to hide it from MPs, students are being discouraged from studying here, potentially costing us billions and the Home Secretary still has over a hundred thousand to cut in order to reach her own net migration target. When will she get a grip of her own policies?”
Don’t buy fake goods, festive shoppers warned footwear, watches, and cities across the UK. sports goods, toys and Kevin Sayer from Border electronic goods. Force at the Port of Felixstowe, Home Office said: “We are uncovering all Minister Mark Harper sorts of fake goods, from beauty said: “Cheap counter- products to children’s toys, and feits undercut honest we’re warning people to be partraders leaving shop- ticularly wary of buying cheap pers with goods that items online or from unofficial are at best inferior traders. and, at worst, harmful “It’s easy to be tricked into or unsafe. They are a thinking you’re getting a barserious threat to the gain, but in the run-up to Counterfeit goods seized by British economy in Christmas our message is that if Border Force terms of lost profits and something appears too good to The UK Border Force tax revenues. be true it probably is.” and Trading Standards “Border Force offihave warned festive shop- cers operate at ports, airpers to be careful about ports and mail sorting what they buy and where centres to intercept counthey buy it from to avoid terfeit goods to protect British consumers and fuelling the illegal trade. Border Force officers have business. The public can stopped millions of pounds play their part in disruptlatest immigration worth of fake goods from enter- ing the trade by ensuring and other news affecting ing the UK in the run-up to they only buy from genuthe Black Community on: ine retailers.” Christmas. In recent weeks Operating at UK ports and Border Force operations airports, Border Force help protect the UK economy and public at Felixstowe, which from the illegal trade in counter- handles around 40 per cent of the UK’s containfeit goods. In the last few months alone er trade, have stopped officers have seized tens of thou- more than £5 million sands of goods, including fake worth of goods preventdesigner clothing and luggage, ing goods reaching towns http://www.theafronews.co.uk
Check out
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
9
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Stop treating asylum cases “as administrative tasks” - Refugee Council The inspection examined how well It is “disgraceful” to force asylum seekers to wait for years the transition of work from CRD to for the outcome of their applica- CAAU was managed. It also examined tions, Refugee Council has said. the efficiency and effectiveness of the A recent report by John Vine, Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration, strongly criticised the UK Border Agency’s handling of the backlog of asylum cases. It showed that some people were left waiting an average of seven years for a decision on their asylum case. The report identified inefficiency, poor customer service and a lack of security and data checks as key failings in the way the Agency dealt with the legacy of unresolved asylum cases. In 2006 the then Home Secretary made a commitment that the UK Border Agency must “deal with” the legacy of unresolved asylum cases no later than the summer of 2011. The Case Resolution Directorate (CRD) was subsequently created in 2007 to ‘conclude’ these cases. The Agency stated that it had achieved this aim at the end of March 2011. However, 147,000 cases remained unresolved, some, where barriers to conclusion existed, as well as archived cases where applicants could not be traced. As a result, the Case Assurance and Audit Unit (CAAU) was created in April 2011 to specifically deal with these outstanding cases.
handling of legacy asylum and migration cases in general. Mr. Vine’s report accused the UK Border Agency of supplying inaccurate information to Parliament about the backlog of asylum cases. “I found that updates given by the Agency to Parliament in the summer of 2011, stating that the legacy of unresolved asylum cases was resolved, were inaccurate,” Mr. Vine said. “In fact, the programme of legacy work is far from resolved. On the evidence I found, it is hard not to reach the conclusion that cases were placed in the archive after only very minimal work in order to fulfil the pledge to conclude this work by the summer of 2011.” Many applicants, Mr. Vine said, were adversely affected by the flawed implementation of a policy change in July 2011 together with poor customer service. The flawed implementation of the policy change “led to lengthy and distressing delays for affected asylum applicants, including former unaccompanied asylum seeking children, whose cases should have been dealt with in a timely fashion,” Mr. Vine said. The Chief Inspector noted that the Agency was so inefficient in handling the
cases “that at one point over 150 boxes of post, including correspondence from applicants, MPs and their legal representatives lay unopened in a room in Liverpool.” Mr. Vine made ten recommendations to the UK Border Agency including conducting routine and regular data matching exercises on cases yet to be concluded. Noting that the UK Border Agency had started to tackle the problems at the time of his inspection, the Chief Inspector asked the Agency to “make a new commitment to the resolution of legacy cases and stick to it.” He also urged the Agency to provide “absolutely accurate” information about progress to Parliament and other stakeholders so that its performance “in this high profile area of work can be evaluated effectively.” Reacting to the report, Judith Dennis, Policy Officer at the Refugee Council said: “Yet another report shows that the UKBA is failing to sort the cases in the asylum backlog, causing ongoing suffering for those who have patiently waited for years for a decision.” Ms. Dennis asked the government to acknowledge the human cost of this administrative chaos. “It is disgraceful that people have been forced to wait for years for the promised ‘conclusion’ of their applica-
tion. In one case a person was left in limbo for 17 years,” Ms. Dennis said. “Some are extremely vulnerable, and include elderly people, and those who came here on their own as children. They are unable to get on with their lives, many living without support or access to basic services. We know from our own work that in many cases, people’s mental and physical health deteriorates as a result.” The Refugee Council criticised the UKBA for treating asylum cases “as administrative tasks on the bottom of their priority list, not as people whose lives are on hold.” Ms. Dennis asked the UKBA to “urgently put resources in to ensuring people are finally given a right and fair decision. Those who waited longest got the worst deal – ‘conclusion’ for them has been a grant of more temporary leave. It is only fair that those who are allowed to stay should be given permanent residence; after years of living in limbo, they must be allowed to put roots down and start rebuilding their lives.”
ADVERTORIAL
New technologies will change the way you call Africa Low cost Smartphones, fast mobile Internet and easy to use apps have made it very convenient for Africans to keep in touch with their loved ones across the globe. Rebtel, one of the world’s largest VoIP companies has developed free apps that work on most Smartphones and tablets making it possible to call Africa over 3G mobile data, Wi-fi or using local numbers. Rebtel is a new innovative service in the UK that caters to West African customers and provides calls with crystal clear sound even
when the user’s Internet is slow. Today, calling over the Internet is a reliable and popular alternative for consumers and small businesses. It provides significant cost savings over conventional phone systems with lower monthly expenses thanks to cheaper long distance and international rates. Rebtel has combined the convenience of traditional fixed and mobile phones with the advantage of low-cost routing over the Internet wrapped up in an app. Andreas Bernstrom, CEO of Rebtel says: “International calling is an industry that has been plagued by fraudulent practices, non-user-friendly experiences and the burden of having to carry two phones. We are proud to say that we have solved all those problems for millions of people that have a Smartphone and want to use it to keep in touch with their families in Africa for the lowest possible cost.” Rebtel uses the latest innovations in calling and makes it a convenient affair to call Africa as opposed to with a prepaid SIM that is commonly used in the UK. The app works instantly and elimi-
nates the need for the second phone. According to an independent survey commissioned by Rebtel in the UK, 85% of the respondents own a Smartphone, however 81% of them use a different phone for calling Nigeria. In America, Africa callers have been discarding old-fashioned international calling solutions for some time such as prepaid SIM cards in favour of these new services. Almost 1 million people have made calls to Africa using Rebtel to date and the company holds a 96.2% recommendation rating amongst its total of 17 million users. Rebtel is the world’s largest mobile VoIP Company after Skype. Today, Rebtel is growing rapidly with more than 17 million callers with a run rate of over 1 billion minutes per year. The company is on pace to hit $85 million in revenue at the end of 2012. Rebtel users call through Smartphone or desktop applications or any other phone to make free or cheap international calls. For more information, or to start using Rebtel, go to www.rebtel.com.
12
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
MANUAL ON CHILD PROTECTION FOR AFRICAN PARENTS IN THE UK
Discipline – Spare The Rod, Spoil The Child? “When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits an adult, we call it assault. When an adult hits a child, we call it discipline.” Haim Ginott Physical Chastisement UK legislation does say that parents can use “reasonable chastisement” to control their children’s behavior. However in doing so, they must not use any implements or leave a mark on the child’s body (Section 58 of the Children’s Act 2004). As an organization, AFRUCA believes “reasonable chastisement” can cause harm to children which might not be detectable not only because of the skin pigmentation of many African children but also because research has shown that regular beatings or even smacking can lead to long term emotional harm. The issue of physical punishment or “discipline” is very common among African families both in Africa itself and the Diaspora. Many parents grew up in environments where the notion of discipline and “good home training” were paramount in the upbringing of children. A lot of people strongly believe that children who are brought up with good discipline grow up to be respectful, courteous and know how to behave appropriately in society. However, discipline in the sense in which they understand it translates into physical chastisement and using violence to correct behavior. In particular, many Africans believe that the UK culture of “reasonable chastisement” means chil-
dren are being brought up with no respect for authority and society. Many parents who attend our parenting classes express their fear that a lack of discipline will lead their children into becoming disrespectful, uncontrollable and that they will end up joining gangs and become involved in crime and criminality. A recent debate generated by the MP David Lammy (Haringey) about lack of discipline among children leading to the 2011 London riots was seen to be widely supported by many parents, including many African parents. The key question we always ask parents at AFRUCA is: “Is it possible to instill discipline in a child without physical chastisement?” There are lots of African families nation-wide who have fallen foul of the laws because of their insistence on using harsh physical punishment as a way of disciplining their children, contrary to the dictates of the law. The statistics are there to confirm this. For example, in many London authorities, most of the black children referred into the child protection system are under the category of physical abuse and neglect. Every year, AFRUCA assesses many cases of child abuse. Almost all of them involve allegations of physical abuse against the parents. Many local authorities see physical chastisement, corporal punishments and similar harsh forms of discipline as Physical Abuse and will take strong action against parents who abuse their children in this way. AFRUCA believes it is possible for parents to bring up well adjusted, disciplined children without using any force or violence. Certainly, there are many African parents who do not beat their children, yet they are well behaved. We have therefore been working with parents to show how it is possible to do so.
rather than as punishment. Discipline should reinforce “positive behaviour” rather than create an atmosphere of harm or fear.
Discipline – What Should It Be? ©Dreamstime
SPECIAL UK LEGAL GUIDE
THE GUIDE
Discipline must be focused on teaching the child right from wrong and an understanding of how their actions affect others. It should not be about inflicting pain and fear on the child or forcing the child to obey orders without questioning.
Discipline should involve helping a child learn: • Good behaviour • How to respect the rights of others • How to realise behaviours that are acceptable and which are not • How to feel secure and loved, self-confident, self-disciplined and knowing •How to control his/her impulses, and • How not to get overly frustrated with the normal stresses of everyday life.
Self-Discipline
“Don’t worry that children never listen to you; worry that they are always watching you”. Robert Fulghum It is important for parents to understand that children watch their every move. Children are like sponges - they These values must be instilled into soak in their parents’ behaviours and the child during the early years founactions – whether good or bad. As pa- dation stage. Parents will find it hard rents it is important to be a good role to inculcate them after this stage has model for your child and to instill in been mishandled. them good morals and understanding about the world and relationships. Simply put: If you don’t want your child to do it, then don’t do it yourself! Self-discipline is the- • Discipline is not punishment. You don’t refore a very important have to beat your child to instill discipline in part of discipline and a them way to encourage go- • If you don’t want your child to do it, then od behavior in your own don’t do it children.
Key Points to Remember
• Discipline is about correcting behavior and teaching children right from wrong. It is not Discipline is Not about punishment Punishment • Discipline must start during the very early It is also better to think years. It will be difficult to instill discipline of discipline as teaching when the child is older
Managing Behaviour: What Should Parents Do? There are skills parents can use to manage their children’s behavior right from a very early age without resorting to smacking, beating, shouting or any other negative behaviour and we have provided some examples here.
ving ‘badly’, or are being ‘naughty’ or to wind you up. It is simply that something is wrong that they need to be taken care of.
BABIES (under 2s)
• Always ensure that your baby’s basic needs are taken care of, that they are well fed, clean, and not unwell (for example, from colic). • Introduce routines to give them a sense of normalcy and to start the process of boundary-setting.
Babies become tiresome and difficult when their needs are not being met. They behave as they do in order to have their needs met. When they cry or don’t sleep, they’re not beha-
Parents should:
• Babies thrive on love and affection so giving your baby lots of hugs, cuddles and kisses, from the earliest moment, will help give them a sense of contentment and stability. Communicating often with your baby, talking to them, reading and playing with them, all helps to make them feel safe, happy and secure. • ‘Baby-proof’ your home so your baby can start to move around with ease and discover things around them without the risks of injuries or accidents.
• Use distraction with older babies; take their mind off the issue if they are being particularly difficult, by focusing on something else.
TODDLERS (under 3s) Most naughty behaviour in toddlers is part of normal development. All toddlers test limits, try to be independent, get into everything, get mad
Continues on page 13
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
13
MANUAL ON CHILD PROTECTION FOR AFRICAN PARENTS IN THE UK and have tantrums. To deal with this:
Parents Should: • Praise and celebrate the good behaviour that you want to encourage. This is known as “Positive Reinforcement”. • Ignore behaviour you don’t like, it is less likely to be repeated because it is not getting any attention. This is called “Tactical Ignoring”. Be consistent with your approach. • Try not to use the word “No”. It is better to be more specific and positive. For example, say: “Please do not.....” • Allow your toddler to explore and be adventurous as much as possible as long as they are safe. • Always acknowledge your child’s feelings, telling them – “I know you’re upset”, etc. • Always remain calm and reasonable yourself. Remove yourself from the situation if you have to; always try to keep your temper under check. Remember calm parents often have clam children because children often imitate what they live with.
SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN (3-5) Being ‘cheeky’ or disobedient may show a natural desire in your child to assert independence and show that he or she has a mind of their own. To deal with this:
Parents should:
Parents Should:
• Encourage your child to think for themselves and be their own person, but be firm about which behaviour you find acceptable and unacceptable. • Listen to your child talk about friends, their day, any worries they may have that may make behaviour worse. • Keep criticisms to a minimum - only criticise behaviour, never your child. • A ‘broken record’ approach can work well - calmly repeating what you expect your child to do. • Develop a strong bond with your child, involve them as much as you can in your life, and try as hard as you can to be actively involved in their life.
• Try as much as possible to structure their routines. • Allow some negotiation on punishment and rewards- by having their input listened to, they feel more responsible and are more likely to adhere to your rules. • Try not to let their bad behaviour affect you. Remain calm but firm. • Draw up a contract if possible so that you can point out where they have succeeded or failed. This would make negotiations easier.
©Dreamstime
Continued from page 12
AGE 5 TO PRE-TEENS At this age, children are usually very inquisitive and adventurous. There would be a lot of opportunity for them to get into trouble or begin mis-behaving.
TEENAGERS It is normal for young people to challenge you more - their friends start to exert a greater influence and they just can’t go along with everything parents want.
Parents Should: • not take bad behaviour personally • keep communicating, keep talking, keep engaging • try not to use threats or orders • talk and negotiate solutions when there is a disagreement • speak in a non-judgmental tone • have open discussions about all subjects • share your personal experiences so they understand where you are coming from.
“Parents who are afraid to put their foot down usually have children who step on their toes” Chinese Proverb 1. Children imitate behavior. This is called “modeling”. Be careful about the signals you are sending out to your children. Be a good example of how you want your child to behave. 2. Criticise the behaviour, not your child. The focus should be on what your child has done, not on his or her personality. 3. Never compare your child to another child – even if they are siblings. 4. “Angry discipline” is wrong discipline. Never discipline your child out of anger, frustration or other negative emotions. If you are angry because of something that has happened, take time to calm down before taking any action. 5. If someone else has made you
angry, do not take it out on your child. 6. If a punishment is necessary, then removal of privileges, “time-out” or “natural consequences” all work better than smacking, shouting or using abusive or demeaning language. 7. Develop a strong bond with your child. Involve them as much as possible in your life and try to be actively involved in their lives. Spend a lot of positive time together with your children. 8. Set boundaries from a very young age. Establish simple rules with clear consequences for breaking rules. Very importantly, be consistent by following through if your rules are broken. You lose control if you enforce a rule one day and ignore the rule the next. 9. Reward good behavior with praises, hugs, kisses, approval and love so it will increase. 10. Enjoy, celebrate and encourage your children. Show your children you love and are proud of them. 11. Encourage your child to think for themselves and be their own person. But be firm about behaviour you find acceptable and unacceptable. 12. Calm parents have calm children! 13. No one is too old to apologi-
se. If you have made a genuine mistake, say sorry. 14. For younger children: ignore behavior you don’t want repeated. If it is repeated, deal with it within the boundaries you have set. 15. Spend time at the end of each day to talk to your child. Find out about their day in school, their experiences and discuss any problems they may have. 16. If you make any promises to your children, try and keep them. If you cannot, let them know why it is not possible. 17. If your child makes a disclosure or reports any abuse or bullying, make sure you deal with it as soon as possible. 18. Allow children some control– choices. Let them have some input into decisions in family affairs. They will feel more valued. 19. School-Parents evenings are important. Ensure you attend as regularly as possible. This will show your
©Dreamstime
AFRUCA’S 20 ways to be a great parent without beating or smacking
children that you care about them and their education. 20. Lastly, never ever call your child stupid, idiot or use other derogatory or demeaning language. This is the best way to break down their psyche and destroy their self-confidence. An extract from “Manual On Child Protection For African Parents in the UK” by Africans Unite against Child Abuse (AFRUCA).
SPECIAL UK LEGAL GUIDE
THE GUIDE
14
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
ADVERTORIAL
Western Union completes transfer of Falcao to support new PASS Initiative The Western Union Company (NYSE:WU), a leader in global payment services and new Global Partner of the UEFA Europa League, has announced the signing of one of the hottest strikers in world football, Atlético de Madrid and Colombian international striker, Radamel Falcao. Falcao will become a global ambassador for Western Union’s “PASS” initiative, which is turning every successful pass in this season’s UEFA Europa League into funding to support one day’s education for young people around the world. “I was intrigued by Western Union’s “PASS” initiative and immediately felt a connection,” said Falcao, who has twice won the UEFA Europa League with Porto and Atlético de Madrid, scoring a record 17 goals last season in the competition and is currently providing firepower for Colombia’s push to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. “I’ve played most of my professional football career outside of Colombia, but I am still incredibly proud of my home country and welcome the opportunity, through the “PASS” initiative, to raise funding for educational projects across Latin America.” The “PASS” initiative will provide teacher training and student scholarships through nonprofit, nongovernmental organi-
Atlético de Madrid and Colombian international striker, Radamel Falcao, a new global ambassador for Western Union’s “PASS” initiative zations (NGOs), with an initial focus on eleven countries – Brazil, China, Colombia, Jamaica, Mexico, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Romania, Russia and Turkey. To date there have been a total of 83,054 successfully completed passes in this season’s competition, meaning 83,054 days of education have been provided. Commenting on the signing, Marc Audrit, Global Brand Vice President said: “As well as his
exceptional footballing skills, it was Falcao’s ‘story’ that was the key factor behind our decision to sign him as a global ambassador for our “PASS” initiative. Although he was born in Colombia, he has played across the world in Argentina, Portugal and Spain and, like so many of our customers; he has had to make homes away from home.” “Moving money for better is at the heart of what we do, and education is one of the main
reasons our customers send money. According to UNESCO, 71 million bright, hardworking students globally are not enrolled in secondary or vocational education. Through “PASS”, we intend to harness the power of football – and players like Falcao - to build awareness of this challenge as well as deliver on-the-ground support that will make a difference to young people and their communities.”
Falcao joins former international football star, Patrick Vieira, as an ambassador to support the “PASS” Initiative. Both have originated from countries outside of Europe before making their names on the world stage. For more information on the Western Union “PASS” initiative, and for up to date passing stats on each team and individual in the UEFA Europa League, please visit, www.wu-pass.org..
Get your latest immigration news on Your news, your guides, your concerns, your beauty, your recipes, your people. This one is all about you! www.foreignersinuk.co.uk
Which way?
WESTERN UNION
5 WAYS TO SEND & RECEIVE MONEY
Play it your way
More than one type of consumer, more than one way to send. Funds may be delayed or services unavailable based on certain transaction conditions, including amount sent, destination country, currency availability, regulatory issues, identiďŹ cation requirements, Agent location hours, differences in time zones, or selection of delayed options. Western Union Payment Services Ireland Limited is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Š2012 Western Union Holdings Inc. All rights reserved.
16
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
WORLD NEWS
Remittances to developing countries to exceed $400 billion - World Bank
The report shows that remittances to developing countries are projected to grow by 7.9 percent in 2013, 10.1 percent in 2014 and 10.7 percent in 2015 to reach $534 billion in 2015. Worldwide remittances, including those to high-income countries, are expected to total $534 billion in 2012, and projected to grow to $685 billion in 2015, according to the latest issue of the Bank’s Migration and Development Brief. However, despite the growth in remittance flows overall to developing countries, the continuing global economic crisis is dampening remittance flows to some regions, with Europe and Central Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa especially affected. South Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) are expected to fare much better than previously estimated. The top recipients of officially recorded remittances for 2012 are India ($70 billion), China ($66 billion), the Philippines and Mexico ($24 billion each), and Nigeria ($21 billion). Other large recipients include Egypt, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, and Lebanon. As a percentage of GDP, the top recipients of remittances in 2011, were Tajikistan (47 percent), Liberia (31 percent), Kyrgyz Republic (29 percent), Lesotho (27 percent), Moldova (23 percent), Nepal (22 percent), and Samoa (21 percent). “Although migrant workers are, to a large extent, adversely affected by the slow growth in the global economy, remittance volumes have remained remarkably resilient, providing a vital lifeline to not only poor families but a steady and reliable source of foreign currency in many
poor remittances recipient countries,” said Hans Timmer, Director of the Bank’s Development Prospects Group. Regions and countries with large numbers of migrants in oil exporting countries continue to see robust growth in inward remittance flows, compared with those whose migrant workers are largely concentrated in the advanced economies, especially Western Europe. Thus, South Asia, MENA and East Asia and Pacific regions, with large numbers of workers in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, are seeing better-than-expected growth in remittances. For South Asia, remittances in 2012 are expected to total $109 billion, an increase of 12.5 percent over 2011; East Asia and Pacific region, is estimated to attract $114 billion, an increase of 7.2 percent over 2011; while MENA is expected to receive $47 billion, an increase of 8.4 percent over the previous year. Remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean are supported by a recovering economy and an improving labor market in the United States but moderated by a weak European economy. The region will, thus, see a modest growth of 2.9 percent in 2012, totalling an estimated $64 billion. In contrast, remittances are expected to remain flat to Europe and Central Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa regions, mainly because of the economic contractions in high-income European countries. Remittance flows to Europe and Central Asia are estimated at a virtually unchanged $41 billion and $31 billion to Sub-Saharan Africa this year, although both regions are projected to make a robust recovery in remittance flows in 2013. “Migrant workers are displaying tremendous resilience in the face of the continuing economic crisis in advanced countries,” said Dilip Ratha, Manager of the Bank’s Migration and Remittances Unit and lead author of the Migration and Development Brief. “Their agility in find-
ing alternate employment and cutting down on personal expenses has prevented large scale return to their home countries.” Going forward, the Bank expects continued growth in remittance flows to all
regulations, with many central banks prohibiting non-bank entities to conduct financial services. The Brief urges Central banks and telecommunication authorities to come
©Dreamstime
Remittance flows to the developing world are expected to reach $406 billion this year, a new World Bank brief on global migration and remittances shows.
regions of the world, although persistent unemployment in Europe and hardening attitudes towards migrant workers in some places present serious downside risks. Another obstacle to growth of remittance flows is the high cost of sending money, which averaged 7.5 percent in the third quarter of 2012 for the top 20 bilateral remittance corridors and 9 percent for all countries for which cost data are available. The average remittance cost for SubSaharan Africa was 12.4 percent, the highest amongst all developing regions. The Migration and Development Brief also notes that the promise of mobile remittances has yet to be fulfilled, despite the skyrocketing use of mobile telephones throughout the developing world. Mobile remittances fall in the regulatory void between financial and telecom
together to craft rules relating to mobile remittances. The Brief also discusses the implementation of the new remittance regulations in the United States and Europe and concludes that these regulations are likely to lower remittance costs in the long run by increasing competition and improving consumer protection. “The global community has made progress in three out of four areas of the global remittances agenda – data, remittance costs, and leveraging remittances for capital market access for countries. Progress, however, has been slow in the area of linking remittances to financial access for the poor. There is great potential for developing remittance-linked micro-saving and micro-insurance schemes and for small and medium enterprise (SME) financing,” said Mr. Ratha.
Migrants’ rights can’t be ignored – UN expert Migrants’ rights should become a central pillar of the agenda of the Global Forum on Migration and Development, United Nations Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, François Crépeau has said. The Global Forum on Migration and Development Forum is the largest stateled global forum dealing with migration and development. The 6th annual edition was held in Mauritius on 21st and 22nd November 2012. “Migration is certainly a complex phenomenon that must be considered from a wide range of perspectives, but the rights of the persons most affected by
migration, the migrants themselves, need to be an integral part of these discussions,” Mr. Crépeau said. The Global Forum on Migration and Development is a state-led, non-binding consultative process open to observers. It was created by States after the High Level Dialogue on International Migration and Development in 2006 and is formally outside the UN structure. “As the main forum where States meet annually to discuss migration related issues, the Global Forum presents an important opportunity to discuss the human rights of migrants at the global level,” the Special Rapporteur said. “However, the event is not yet fulfilling its potential to become a fully inclusive forum which anchors the human rights
dimension of migration.” He stressed the limited ability of civil society organisations to participate effectively. During this year’s forum, Mr. Crépeau announced that his next report to the UN General Assembly will focus on the global governance processes on migration, analysing how human rights are effectively included in such processes. “This study will contain an assessment of the evolution of the human rights considerations at the Global Forum which, although a non-binding forum, is currently the leading global forum in which States discuss global migration management,” he said. The UN expert hopes that his study will complement the two assessments
that have already been done on the Global Forum, one by States themselves, and one by civil society, and will also be constructive in the lead up to the second High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development, which will be held by the UN General Assembly in October 2013. “I remain concerned about the lack of effective human rights mainstreaming in the current debate on the global governance on migration to date,” Mr. Crépeau warned. “I hope the High Level Dialogue will be seized as an opportunity to ensure that human rights are considered a core element of international discussions on migration at the highest level.” The Special Rapporteur’s report will be presented to the UN General Assembly in October 2013.
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
17
AFRICAN NEWS
Rebel groups and local militias, as well as the government’s troops and officials are mercilessly preying on the communities in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in a vicious cycle of exploitation and abuse, a new report by international agency Oxfam shows. According to Oxfam, Congolese civilians are not only suffering violent abuse on a massive scale - including rape, kidnap and murder – but are also being subjected to an unprecedented level of financial exploitation, as belligerents loot and extort illegal taxes in their battle for control. Evidence gathered recently by Oxfam in a survey of more than 1,300 people in the provinces of North Kivu, South Kivu and Province Orientale shows that government soldiers and civilian authorities, including the local police, and armed rebel groups are vying for control over local communities to extort money and goods from them. In some areas such as northern Masisi and southern Lubero, vulnerable communities have become one of the most important sources of income for armed groups. The crisis in the DRC has deteriorated rapidly since April 2012 when former CNDP (Congrès National pour la Défense du Peuple) soldiers defected to form a new group, the M23 (Mouvement 23). Over the past eight months eastern Congo has seen increased activity among armed groups who consistently rape, kill, kidnap, torture and abuse civilians. Many of these groups are taking advantage of power vacuums left as government troops have moved to fight M23 rebels elsewhere. The most insecure areas are those where rebel groups are fighting for control and the number of contested territories has increased significantly in
2012. “Ruthless militias and government troops are both mercilessly exploiting local communities to help fund their war,” said Oxfam’s Associate Country Director, Elodie Martel. “Preying on people has become an extractive industry in which armed groups plunder money, food and whatever other resources they can find. People are leaving their homes every day to escape the terror of rebel rule and the relentless extortion that makes existence almost impossible as their lives and livelihoods are looted.” Oxfam said exploitation has reached appalling levels with people facing violent forced recruitment, forced labour and continuous illegal taxation. As battles rage back and forth over strategic territory and communities, people are fleeing many to rapidly growing camps where they are forced to live in terrible conditions with very little help. Since the beginning of the year, 767,000 people in North and South Kivu have left their homes due to conflict. In northern Masisi in North Kivu, the small market town of Kashuga was attacked 12 times between April and July 2012 by Congolese army troops, as well as the APCLS (Alliance des Patriotes pour un Congo Libre et Souverain) and FDLR (Forces Démocratique de Libération du Rwanda) rebel groups. They were fighting over control of illegal tax revenues imposed on local people selling or buying goods at the weekly market. Elsewhere in Masisi farmers said they had to pay 1,000 Congolese Francs (approximately $1 or the equivalent to 2–3kgs of beans) to the local rebel group, Mayi-Mayi Nyatura, for each person wanting to access their fields to farm their crops. In Irumu, Ituri, in Province Orientale, women market sellers said they had to
©Oxfam
Congolese forced to fund war that destroys their lives, says Oxfam
give wood and straw to the militia when arriving at the market, and that every household had to give 500 Congolese Francs ($0.5) to the militia each month. Oxfam was told that taxes are seen as a way of reducing the risk of abuse by armed groups and have become known as protection taxes labelled “lala salama” – Swahili for “sleep peacefully” – or “remger ubuzima” for “protect life”. The assessment found that communities face pervasive abuse by both armed rebel groups and government forces but around two thirds of people said that, despite the abuse and the environment of impunity, they felt more secure living under Congolese army (FARDC) control. In the absence of an effective state authority, many people said they feel abandoned by central government and in some areas have taken justice into their own hands by forming their own armed force – adding to the plethora of armed
groups in the east. “In the face of abuse and exploitation on this scale there is no room for apathy. This is a humanitarian catastrophe on a massive scale and the world cannot continue to turn its back on this tragedy. Communities in eastern Congo are living on the very edge of survival with the little they have being taken to fund the war. Not only does the conflict mean that people are under constant threat of violence, but it is taking the clothes off their backs and the harvest from their fields,” said Martel. “It is reprehensible that another year goes by with people telling us they go to bed afraid of killing, lootings and abductions and that women are too afraid to go to their fields for fear of being raped. The Congolese Government, the United Nations, the international community must listen and respond to the people paying the ultimate price for the conflict.”
HRH Igwe to host Ofala Festival in Onitsha The Nigerian traditional ruler of Ibagwa Nike Enugu, His Royal Highness, Igwe (Dr) Emmanuel Ugwu, will host the Ofala Festival on 30th December 2012. Ofala Festival is an annual celebration that commemorates a King’s coronation in Igbo land, the Eastern part of Nigeria. This year’s edition of Ofala kicked off on 23rd September, featuring a series of events throughout Onitsha. The Onowu-Iyasele of Onitsha, Chief Chike Ofodile (SAN), told www.ngrguardiannews.com that Ofala Festival offers a rare opportunity for the
His Royal Highness, Igwe (Dr) Emmanuel Ugwu
Igwe to interact with his people in a convivial and celebrative atmosphere. “The Ofala Festival is the most spectacular event in the Onitsha traditional calendar. The significance of the festival centres on the fact that it is the only day in the year when the reigning monarch interacts with his subjects publicly. Prior to this public outing, the monarch goes into spiritual retreat during which he makes supplications to God Almighty and our ancestors for all misdeeds of the past year,’’ said Chief Ofodile. HRH Igwe was recently interviewed by Ms. Rhoda Wilson, the host of Rhoda Wilson Show.
The full interview will soon be broadcast to mark the 7th anniversary of the Rhoda Wilson Show. The traditional ruler has invited Ms. Wilson to the Ofala Festival. HRH Igwe is a young man and not the typical older Igwe. He was chosen by his people because they believe he is the best person for the job. He is a Catholic yet seen as a spiritual leader. As a community leader, HRH Igwe dedicates his life to serve his people. He is keen on promoting development in the area, and works hard to promote education, security and investments.
18
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
ENTERTAINMENT
From bamboo sticks to an oil drum Filmmakers raising funds to tell history and influence of Steelpan “They didn’t care. A steelband man, you have sticks in your pockets; you would be the subject of police harassment.” That is the opening line from “Panomundo” (the promo), a 7-minute video that explores the history of the steelpan.
accepted in communities around the world, no one would suspect that it came from such a tumultuous background. “It was a great experience to talk to the men and women who witnessed or were part of the uprising,” Morton said. “Not many people know what a struggle it was to play The film uses a series of interviews to this music and that’s why we want give an account of the hardships that the to tell this story in its entirety.” pioneers of the steelpan faced. “Panomundo” (the word being a Award-winning filmmakers, British combination of ‘steelpan’ and the director Keith Musaman Morton and Spanish word ‘mundo’, which American producer Charysse Tia Harper, means “world”) is set to be a featravelled to Trinidad & Tobago in January ture-length film. Though the promo 2012 to uncover how the steelpan, which video gives an insight into the hisoriginated from an oil drum, became a tory of the steelpan, it does not highly respected musical instrument. explain how it is globally popular. “The slaves came with their African The next step will be to capture tradition of drumming and they used the influence that the pan has on bamboo sticks,” Morton explained. various cultures. Thus the duo has “Soon that was outlawed and other varia- set up a campaign on Indiegogo an tions of ‘improv percussion’ were intro- international crowdfunding site to duced until a dustbin was picked up and raise $30,000 US to complete the then an oil drum came into play.” film. More information on the camThe founding fathers of the steelpan paign is at: www.indiegogo.com/ uncovered they could make different Panomundo. pitches on the oil drum by tuning it in a “It would not be considered ‘hiscertain way, which is how the notes on tory’ if it did not have an impact on the pan evolved. By how widely it is people,” Harper explained. “In order to fully understand how strong that influence is, we will have to visit those “It was a great experience to locations and have them talk to the men and women explain it to us.” The deadline to raise the who witnessed or were part funds to complete the film is of the uprising. Not many 15th January 2013. Morton people know what a struggle and Harper will then shoot in 2013 and edit the project by it was to play this music and Spring summer. They have been asked to that’s why we want to tell preview “Panomundo” ahead of the Notting Hill Carnival in London this story in its entirety” in August 2013. “It will be an honour, really. Keith Musaman Morton, We’ve had such nice chats with Director of “Panomundo” Sterling Betancourt, Russ Henderson, Ray Holman and Ray Funk, to name a few. It will be a
pleasure to have their knowledge and story heard by an audience,” Morton said. In the meantime, the filmmakers will continue to screen “Panomundo” (the promo). They had two recent screenings in London, including one at the 4th International Steelpan Conference at the University of East London, and another in Los Angeles in October. The promo video can also be seen
online at YouTube: http://www.youtube. com/watch?v=gkFx9TzrN9U Towards the ending of “Panomundo” (the promo), international pannist Ray Holman sums it up nicely: “Pan has taken over the world....Canada, Africa, Germany and France. I’m very proud... that such a small country as [Trinidad & Tobago] could have music that will be interesting and so loved by people in large metropolitan cities.”
Nick Nola and Slim Burna join forces on “Oya Na” remix Uganda’s R&B Fusion artist Nick Nola and Nigeria’s Slim Burna aka Gabriel Halliday are working together on the official remix to Slim Burna’s recent smash single “Oya Na”. The new song will be one of two Nola’s first-ever collaborations with Nigerian artistes. It’s also a great opportunity for Port-Harcourt’s very own Slim Burna who is looking to extend his influence outside of his home country to other parts of Africa and the world. Nick Nola’s management, UGPulse, gave the assurance that the end product of the collaboration will enthral fans and critics alike. UGPulse also revealed that production
will be handled by one of Uganda’s top producers, Producer Washington, and will be mastered in the US by Lurssen Mastering. The new track is likely to be released soon. Nick Nola is in the final stages of releasing “Honey Moon”, his long-awaited debut album that features engineers and producers from around Africa and the world. The “Oya Na” remix is among the songs to be included in the album. Slim Burna recently began working on a new mixtape called “I’m On Fire”. It is expected to be one of the most anticipated mixtapes to come out of southern Nigeria music scene. He has already released two impressive singles from the project.
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
19
ENTERTAINMENT
Mathews Anyumba Juma
Ochieng’ Kabaselleh song released posthumously Whoever said that an artiste never dies was right. Fourteen years after Ochieng’ Kabaselleh died, “Mathews Anyumba Juma”, a new track he composed and only partially recorded has been released. By the time he died in 1998, Kabaselleh had only recorded the vocals and rhythm guitar. “Mathews Anyumba Juma” is a praise song Kabaselleh composed for his long-
“It took us more than three years to get the song to an acceptable level, so that shows you the amount of commitment we placed on it” Babu Kabaselleh, Leader of Lunna Kidi Band time friend Mathews Anyumba Juma. Singing in Lingala and Dholuo, Kabaselleh criticises many Kenyan musi-
Check out
the latest entertainment news on:
http://www.theafronews.co.uk
cians for being cheap, saying that some go as far as composing praise songs for those who buy them beer or give them a few Kenyan Shillings. Some he says, compose songs for those who give them lift, or offer them accommodation in Nairobi. Kabaselleh further criticises Kenyan musicians who keep on going to witch doctors in order to become famous. He challenges them to sing about significant events and societal heroes. Recording of the song “Mathews Anyumba Juma” was completed by Kabaselleh’s son Babu Kabaselleh and Madaraka Uledi. Aware that Kabaselleh was a perfectionist, it wasn’t easy for Babu and Madaraka to complete the project. Recalling how he felt working on the song, Babu said: “It was very hard more so emotionally. Both Madaraka and I felt like Mzee (the elder) was with us in the studio yet we could not reach him.” Babu added that they worked on the song a number of times in various studios just to get it right at least to the level that Kabaselleh would have wanted it to be. “It took us more than three years to get the song to an acceptable level, so that shows you the amount of commitment we placed on it,” Babu said. After being introduced to the music world by Fadhili Williams (the composer of the famous “Malaika” hit) and Daudi Kabaka, Kabaselleh honed his music skills in the company of Nairobi based Congolese musicians, helping to carry instruments in exchange for guitar playing lessons. Born Hajullas Nyapanji, the young musician chose artistic name Ochieng’ Kabaselleh partly to hide his music activities from his mother, partly because of great admiration he had for the great Congolese musician Joseph Athanase Tchamala Kabaselleh, popularly known as Le Grand Kallé. He joined the music scene in the late 60s, at a time when many Kenyan musicians were playing Benga music. Kabaselleh, however, wanted to play something different, complicated, modern but with a traditional touch. As he became one of the most versatile musicians in Kenya in the early 70s, Kabaselleh and his Lunna Kidi Band developed a unique blend of Kenyan and Congolese rumba, which he baptised “Mbuta Dance”. Without any doubt, Kabaselleh was the father of what is now called modern Kenyan rumba. He continues to influence many emerging Kenyan musicians. Kabaselleh was a great composer, a superb vocalist, an excellent guitarist and
Ochieng’ Kabaselleh was a great composer, a superb vocalist, an excellent guitarist and a captivating stage performer a captivating stage performer. He was an entertainer and social commentator who used his music to educate and inspire the society. Most of his songs released in the early 80s and 90s such as “Achi-Maria”, “Wuora Ogolla Adoyo”, “Zainabu”, “Nyager”, “Millicento”, and “Mbuta Mombasa” still get a lot of airplay on Kenya’s radio stations. They are also continuously played by live bands throughout the country.
Apart from being my favourite musician, Kabaselleh was a very dear friend who taught me so much. Rest in Peace Ochieng’ Kabaselleh alias Kallé, Mbuta Kidi, Obwogo Kwach wuod Ogolla, Mbuta Masanga. “Mathews Anyumba Juma” has been released by Equator Heritage Sounds and can be downloaded from www.cdbaby. com/cd/hnochiengkabaselleh. By Stephen Ogongo Ongong’a
20
No. 14 December 2012 I www.theafronews.co.uk
Tel. 02071930899 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
LIFESTYLE & RELIGION
London women unaware of different forms of breast cancer According to a recent research from Cancer Research UK, breast cancer is not one disease but ten distinct diseases (classified as IntClust 1-10). Yet when given a list of various forms of breast cancer and asked which they would associate with the disease, 60% of survey participants were unfamiliar with any of the terms mentioned. As well as this general lack of awareness about the types of breast cancer, 96% of women were unable to recognise a particularly aggressive form of the disease that is more likely to spread beyond the breast and to recur, triple negative breast cancer. This type of breast cancer accounts for 10-20% of all invasive breast cancers and is notoriously difficult to treat. It disproportionately affects younger women as well as those from poorer socio-economic backgrounds and certain ethnic groups, such as those of African or Hispanic origin, who are more likely to suffer from the triple negative form of the disease if they are diagnosed with breast cancer. Professor Andrew Tutt, Professor of
©Sugarsweetcookies
Women in London are unable to name a single form of breast cancer, a new survey has revealed.
Oncology at King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre, Guy’s Hospital said: “Breast cancer is now recognised to be of several types and can affect women at all ages and of all ethnicities, however some are more predisposed to developing certain types of breast cancer. Women of Hispanic or African origin and women under 50 who develop breast cancer are more likely to develop the forms that are negative for female hormone receptors and the HER2
Change stance on Israel, mainline Protestant Churches urged A group of Christian clergymen, intellectuals and activists from Europe, North America and Africa has published the Jerusalem Declaration calling on mainstream Protestant churches to strengthen their relationship with the state of Israel. The declaration also condemns the persecution of Christian and other minorities in the Middle East. The Protestant Consultation on Israel and the Middle East (PCIME), which met in Jerusalem in October 2012, said: “We are distressed to see how certain European and North American church officials approach the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. “They fall in line with the international campaign that purports to help the Palestinians by delegitimizing Israel. They target Israel alone for boycott, divestment, and sanctions. This approach is unjust, and it is unhelpful to the cause of peace.” PCIME added that such strategies encouraged the forces that have vowed to destroy Israel. Signatories of the Jerusalem Declaration are from various denominations including Lutheran, Anglican, Methodist, United Church of Canada and Evangelical churches. “We fear that this approach is not motivated by Christian love for anyone, but quite the opposite. We ask the zealous promoters of those strategies to examine their consciences in this matter,” said the declaration.
marker - so called “triple negative” breast cancers - than are other women. “These groups of women are particularly represented in the populations of large cities like London – suggesting that more women in the capital could be at risk of this potentially aggressive form of the disease than in other areas of the country. These forms of breast cancer can be effectively treated so it is important that women know what symptoms to look out for and that they consult their
GPs early should any arise.” Triple negative breast cancer is associated with a poorer prognosis and worse outcomes than other types of breast cancer. However, increased awareness of the different types of breast cancer, especially among women who are at higher risk of the more aggressive forms of the disease, can lead to earlier diagnosis and better outcomes for patients. Samantha Watson, Communications and Online Editor at the Afiya Trust, a national charity that works to reduce inequalities in health and social care provision for people from racialised communities said: “In light of ethnic inequalities in health and differences in cultural understandings of healthcare and lifestyle, it is very important that ethnicity is taken into account in the treatment of breast cancer, and that health education should be sensitively targeted to women of differing ethnic backgrounds to make it apparent that their needs can be addressed.” Over 40,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK and approximately 10% live in London. About 10-20% of breast cancers, which is more than one out of every ten, are found to be triple negative.
Dads still reluctant to take up flexible working – survey Only 20% of working mums’ partners work flexibly despite the fact that legislation on flexible working applies equally to them, an annual survey by Workingmums.co.uk has revealed. Four per cent of partners worked part time and 16% had some other kind of flexible working arrangement, according to the survey of over 2,000 working mums. The figures show that it is still overwhelmingly women who are seeking flexible working in order to balance family and work responsibilities despite moves to encourage shared parenting and despite the fact that over 35% are the main breadwinner (up 5% on last year). Flexible working was the most important factor helping women get back to work after maternity leave or a career break and a lack of new flexible jobs was the single biggest barrier they faced. That was even though 62% were willing to accept a less well paid job in return for more flexibility. Indeed,
58% were earning less than they did before they had children. Childcare was still another major barrier for women returning to work after a career break. Some 59% of working mums said childcare costs were a factor in stopping them going back to work. Many were getting around the problem by asking their own parents to look after their children. Some 48% used grandparents for childcare, up 5% on last year. The survey shows the career penalty women are paying by not going back to work. Some 53% of those who had taken a career break to bring up children said they could not find a job in their field. Only 10% found a job in their field quite easily. The economic recession also had an impact. Some 40% of mums said they had gone back to work earlier than expected because of cuts and the rising cost of living. And 54% thought employers were discriminating more against mums in the current economic climate. Some 29% of those who had been made redundant recently said that they felt it was linked either to their pregnancy, maternity leave or being a working mum.
The survey also asked women about whether they had considered setting up their own business to get greater flexibility. Sixty-two per cent had done so with 29% saying they were working on a business plan and were in the early stages of setting up a business. The biggest barrier they faced was access to funding. Gillian Nissim, founder of Workingmums.co.uk, said: “Our survey shows that, while the majority of women are happy with the flexible working they have, there are still a significant number working for employers who seem resistant to new ways of working. Although we welcome the Government’s recent announcement on extending flexible working and enabling shared parenting, our survey shows there is still a long way to go to change our work culture so that both employers and employees benefit from smarter working practices. “This has to begin with greater emphasis on spreading good practice from those employers who can see the advantages in terms of higher retention rates, greater productivity, happier staff and reduced overheads.”