WAPI Underground: WAPI ELEVATION

WAPI Underground: WAPI ELEVATION: "WAPI Kenya is back in effect new partners and new flavour. Going into it’s 6th year WAPI Kenya WAPI Community the first event of the Ke..."

This sato ni mambo byad, Sarakasi Dome, Ngara. Wasee wa Backstreet representing ama niaje?

The Month of Revolt?

Tunisian protesters                                                                                                     Photo by AP   

Today marks the day when Somali President Siad Barre's administration was ousted from power. The Barre administration was haunted by various clan-based rebel groups. In the northern part of the country, members of the Isaaq clan felt politically marginalized by Barre's government. The Isaaq clan consequently developed a rebel group named the Somali National Movement (SNM), who were morally and financially supported by Ethiopia. Also in the north, there developed a rebel group called the Somali Salvation Democratic Front (SSDF), which was led by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed and consisted of several former army officers opposed to Barre's regime. To combat this and other such groups, the government made many raids against the north. However, by the late 1980s, rival factional groups began to make substantial territorial gains, especially in the northern Somaliland region. These groups received weapons from Ethiopia in the hopes of overthrowing Barre's government, which eventually led to the Somali Civil War.

By 1991, factions led by warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid and his rebel group, the United Somali Congress (USC), invaded Mogadishu. Aidid fought against government forces, and Barre was finally overthrown on the evening of 26 January 1991. He was succeeded in office by Ali Mahdi Muhammad, a businessman of the Abgaal, a sub clan of the Hawiye, until November 1991. Though internationally recognized, Ali Mahdi's government never managed to exert political or military control over the majority of the country. Ali Mahdi and Aidid's personal clan-based militias eventually wound up fighting over control of the country in the wake of Barre's ouster.

With this in mind Tunisia too chased away its president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali was ousted from power 11th January 2011. This came after the Wikileaks released cables that the country was a police state. Wikileaks critisized Ben Ali for being out of touch with the people. In reference to this, the  "WikiLeaks Revolution." as the media calls it sent Mr Ben Ali parking.

Khaled Mohamed Saeed holding up Hosni Mubarak

                         

Egypt on the other hand, is experiencing riots against the 30 year rule of president Hosni Mubarak. January 25th, known as the "Day of Anger" marked increased protests. Opposition groups set the date for major mass protests. Armored police vehicles are manning streets in Cairo to ensure the protesters remain under control. In particular, the Tahrir Square has been cordoned off.

Crowds at Cairo's Tahrir Square January 25th 2011

Although January 25th was the only day marked for the protests, activists have called for the protesters to stay on the streets till the government of Hosni Mubarak falls. Opposition group "Sixth of April Youth movement" called on its Facebook page for protests to continue on Wednesday "and after tomorrow, until Mubarak's departure."

Ni Wakati, M1 of Dead Prez n Umi of POW in Kenya Hosted Xclusively by UKOO FLANI

People!, social change is what we require to make a difference in this country. This is a video from the people who are out to make a difference and not money, parse, Mau Mau Camp. The trip by Dead Prez to Kenya was a home coming tour for him. Also among them was Mzee Pete O'Neal, founder of UAACC and Mama Charlotte Hill O'Neal.

For those who missed the trip, here is an insider video excerpt.

The mission right now is to try and bring change to this nation. Do away with bad leadership and tribal allegiance. Do away with oppression, suppression and false impression we get from the media as well as the "leaders". For sure our rotting leadership dreads the day when the Kenyan, African youth will rise and declare that it is time. Time to clean up the mess that has been made over the years. Time to shed the second blood for the liberation of this country. Time to know the truth. 

The truth lies in our midst. Our heads. How on earth do we have a parliament that earns close to that of  the elite countries. We remain a country that is yet to fulfill its MDGs or whatever they are. We have people who go hungry days on ends. Children fill the streets in major and minor slums, waiting to come of age and pick the gun and the panga. 

Giving people hope of a possible turn around in their life in future is paramount to eliminating vices in the society today and tomorrow. Education is the backbone to all this. As I say this I do not mean just any kind of rogue syllabus by idiosyncratic old clout of fails.

What do you think could be done to make this a project that will have the backing of the youth? Bring back hope, sanity and dreams?

Dreams of the Ghetto Child

When the sun rises, a young son of Africa is risen before it. A smile on his face and a couple of ten shilling coins in his pocket. He grabs a mandazi on his way to the city center. He passes through the numerous Shs. 200 wage a day Indian owned  industries in Inda. His aim? Not to look for work but to make a painting of the skyline from the bridge on Mombasa Road near General Motors.

His is a life lead through the tough times of the City, Nairobi. His main aim to make a foot print in his community. Paint the bigger picture to the world. He sits down engulfed in deep thought. Tomorrow, the government says will be a better day. He knows he can make this his better day, butter his bread on both sides and see to it that hope is restored to his community.

His painting on that day earns him an honest amount enough for him to grab a matatu back home. Alongside a new canvass and a pair of shoes for his younger brother. Tomorrow he hopes to see the young lad through school. And maybe move from the brown iron sheets that he called home for the last 24 years. 

He knows his tools well, a set of sharp pencils, an eraser, a vision, hope and pride.