Category Archives: Natural Resources

Growth of Sierra Leone

In American media, Sierra Leone has been scrutinized to great lengths and in turn, has led to a very poor reputation amongst American people.  A major factor that has influence American’s beliefs of Sierra Leone was award-winning film Blood Diamond. This movie portrays a country torn apart by the struggle between government loyalists and insurgent forces and many of the atrocities of that war.  Blood diamonds are diamonds mined in African war zones and sold to finance conflicts, and thereby profit warlords and diamond companies across the world.  This has put an image into the people’s minds of Sierra Leone being a place filled with poverty, destruction and hate.  This is all that media has allowed to be seared into the minds of people, along with almost entirely negative stories about the struggles of Sierra Leone and other African countries.

However, this image does not do Sierra Leone its proper justice.  Sierra Leone is filled with prosperity in many different forms.  The small country is rich with gems and minerals, specifically diamonds.  The export of these minerals accounts for about 78 % of the countries revenue with diamonds making up about 46 % alone.  Along with the large amount of diamonds in Sierra Leone, there is also vast deposits of rutile, bauxite, gold, iron and limonite.  Even though Sierra Leone is a very small country in size it is still one of the top ten producers of diamonds worldwide and top five for rutile.

Sierra Leone is still recovering from a very recent civil war which was due mostly to illicit diamond trading.  The country is still recovering from this event, with a great deal of the diamonds mined being smuggled out of the country illegally or sold through corrupt individual officials, thus only creating profit for themselves.  Several years down the road, the Sierra Leone government will be able to put policies in place preventing this movement thus creating an even larger revenue from the mining of their natural resources.

Sierra Leone, along with its mineral and diamond wealth, is rich in ethnic diversity. The country is made up of 16 major ethnic groups.  The largest and most influential group is the Temne people followed by the Mende. These two groups make up about 2/3 of the total population in Sierra Leone.  The other groups make up small portions of the remaining population.  All these people interact reasonably and peacefully with one another, with most holding strong ties with select others.  Along with ethnic diversity, Sierra Leone also has religious diversity.  Large groups of Muslims and Christians make up the majority of the population.  These two groups both have large subgroups that practice a syncretic mixture of their belief with traditional indigenous beliefs.  There is an organization in Sierra Leone named the Sierra Leone Inter-Religious Council, which is made up of both Christian and Muslim religious leaders who promote peace and tolerance throughout the country.  Because of this there is very little religious conflict, causing Sierra Leone to be regarded as one of the most religiously tolerant nations in the world.

When it comes to children, much work is being done to improve the lives of many of the Sierra Leonean children.  One of the leading organization is the Craig Bellamy Foundation, a charity that offers underprivileged children in Sierra Leone the chance to reach their true potential through sport and education, enabling them to build a better life for themselves and their communities.  The CBF League was launched in 2009 with support from UNICEF. Using football to empower a new generation to bring about positive change they focus on increasing school attendance and respect for fair play, while delivering community development projects. Involving more than 2,000 boys and girls around the country the CBF League is having a considerable impact.

While all people in America hear about is poverty and war, Sierra Leone is much more than just the negative.  An accepting country, working every day to better the lives of the people.

 

Nigeria – The big bro of Africa.

Africa is the richest in natural resources continent in the world. Since the colonization period ended, African countries gradually become to be known as the next super-powered countries. Surviving from the British colonial, Nigeria now becomes one of the most powerful country in the Africa. Although there are some political problems, Nigeria has the massive of resources that could make it a great and wealthy country if there is a good administration on those national assets. Nigeria is also listed in the Next Eleven (N-11), among those high-potential economic countries. Furthermore, Nigeria has many cultural resources and places that help growing the tourism revenues, and its economy.

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa. It locates near Gulf of Guinea, and its neighbors are Benin, Niger, Cameroon, and Chad. Nigeria has long and interesting history. The first group of people that habit Nigeria was Nok (500 BC.) Then Kanuri, Hausa, and Fulani gradually migrated to the land of Nigeria. Islam religion was first introduced to the Nigeria in the 13th century. It was Fulani that ruled the region until British seized control by 1886 and become the colonial. On 1960, Nigeria got independence and join the United Nations as a member of the commonwealth nations. After that, there are many conflicts between ethnic groups, military coups. Somehow, Nigeria is now free and on its way to the greatness.

Nigeria is affected by 4 climate types and most of it are tropics. Tropical rainforest in the southern area contributes natural abundance for Nigeria. You can see many forests in that area. Tropical savanna in the western and central area of the country where it is less humid and less hot. Alpine climate in the highland parts of Nigeria offers nice scenario for tourists. Last but not least, Tropical dry in the northern part of the country. The variety of climates has been helping Nigeria’s natural abundance and economic since its history.

Nigeria has been produced great people throughout the time. There are many people that are recognized by the world populace, and some are the role models that later generations use. Hakeem Olajuwon is a great basketball player that is recognized by the world of sports. Fela Kuti who used music to encourage and increase consciousness to the society. It was the peaceful action to against the corrupted state and should be a model for the modern day political reforms. There are also many great scientists that are Nigerian. Nigerian people has the potential to drive the country and the world.

Since the great amount of Ebola-related news come out, almost every people in the world is in panic. Most of them think that every African countries has stained with dead virus. But in reality, it isn’t. According to the WHO (World Health Organization,) Nigeria is free of Ebola. Outside people use stereotype to judge sanitation in African countries for a very long time. The stereotype is also a barrier of African economic growth. Because tourists may think that African country (in this case, Nigeria) has poor sanitation and afraid to come to Africa. No one wants to be nasty just because what he/she is born.

In the vision of people outside, Nigeria and other African countries are not developed and has poor administration. But in the reality, these countries have potentials that can keep up with other super-powered countries in the world. It is stereotype that keep them (African countries) under the condition that slow down the countries’ development; for example, African’s Ebola administration that affect the tourism growth. If the ignorance are reduced, African countries (not only Nigeria) will rise as the new and shine super-powered countries, and greatly help the current world struggles.

(This is part of the Blog Assignment #6.)

The making of Idi Amin’s Regime

Amin-2

“His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular.”

– Self title

In 1971, General Idi Amin elected himself as President after over throwing the first established government of the nation under Milton Obote, post independence. He ruled as Commander in Chief for 8 long years. During that period of time, Idi Amin went on a rampage, killing over 300,000 Ugandans.

Obote was a well respected Ugandan politician but didn’t meet the Western standard in regards to English-Ugandan relations. He desired his country to be as liberated as possible, after all, that was aim of the fight for independence.

Let’s back track a little…

Interestingly, Amin was inducted into Britain’s Colonial African Troops, “KAR” at a young age with no significant educational experience. This military organization in question was a multi-battalion regiment, carried on by the British during colonial times, extending over most of East Africa.

As he was ascending through the ranks, he became infamous for his brutality and torture. From ordinary soldier, Amin excelled to  an “effendi”, the highest position achievable for an African soldier within the British army.

Once President, Idi Amin terrorized the entire nation of Uganda as England turned a blind eye.

One question I cannot help but ask myself: is it by pure chance, that the English bred one of the most ferocious dictators in the History of Africa, immediately after their Independence, at such a crucial, vulnerable and premature time period?

Idi Amin1

In recently declassified documents from England’s Colonial era, many of their atrocities lead and influenced  globally, including Asia and East Africa, were revealed. 

According to Sky News, a very reputable English TV channel, they quoted these British documents stating “Amin was reliable”.

Eleven days before the Coup against Obote’s government, Richard Slater, British High Commissioner in Kampala stated many issues the new regime caused the British, qualifying the Anglo-Ugandan relations as “deplorable”. What issues you may ask?

  • Obote’s new legislation gave all ownership of the import and export business to the Ugandan government.
  • 60% of the shares of oil companies, manufacturing industries, banks, insurance companies and others would be nationalized.

Normal right? Considering, Uganda was an INDEPENDANT country. But no, this was greatly challenging the British business interests in Uganda.

Moreover ‘there is a danger that other countries will be tempted to try and get away with similar measures with more damaging consequences for British investment and trade’. Three weeks after Uganda proceeded with all these new legislations, Sudan decided to nationalize foreign businesses in a “ even more unacceptable way”

African burden

Amin being a simple marionette, unconsciously  by his “allies”, he plummeted the country’s economy, racked up over 200 million dollars in debt, raised inflation to 20%, destroyed families, established poverty and unemployment but moreover mentally emotionally and physically scared an entire nation.

According to the British High commissioner , Ambassador Harold Smedley, Amin was ‘corrupt and unintelligent’ fully aware of his savagery but yet “despite his limitations Amin has considerable dignity and more the air of a leader than Obote.”

We’ve all seen Amin’s cruelty in class, dismembering his own spouse, using government officials heads as trophies. Now, is that the new definition of “dignity”?

Coming from a family of Ambassadors myself, the thought alone of someone of such stature conveying these thoughts is very frightening because this mindset itself can go a long way. And as we’ve learned, it did. It was only during the last few years when Idi Amin’s craziness made him turn against the English that they in return decided to stop any funding and ended relations with the country.

We need to open pour eyes and carefully inspect such situations in order for it to not repeat itself.  Nothing is really as it seems . A little food for thought.

” Nobody is as powerful as we make them out to be” – Alice Walker

http://www.biography.com/people/idi-amin-9183487

http://africanhistory.about.com/od/biography/a/bio_amin.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/17/world/idi-amin-murderous-and-erratic-ruler-of-uganda-in-the-70-s-dies-in-exile.

html://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/36/502.html

Colony in Africa and in America

Europeans started their colonization in late 16th century due to the fast development in European countries, especially in England and France. Both America and Africa was colonies of Europe in the past. However, the colonial experience of Africa was not quite similar to that of America even though they share some similarities.

The colonization of America started in late 16th century when several major European countries launched their colonization in north America. After many years of settlement, the colonization ended since American people fought for their independence. In 18th century, the United States of America established. The establishment of United States gradually ended the colonization of Europeans. Another place far away from America, Africa, also suffered from the European colonization. The colonization of Africa started roughly in the late 18th century and early 19th century because of European growing fascination with Africa. In the name of exploration and religious mission, the Europeans started their colonization in Africa.

There are several similarities in these two colonization. The settlers in both America and Africa were from Europe and most of them were from England and France. Besides this basic fact, the biggest similarity of these two colonization is that the colonization effected that region in a lot of ways and some of the effects have remained until nowadays. The colonization shaped the society in a huge way. The way people lived, the way government ruled and the way a country developed. Some of those effects were bad but some effects actually promoted the development in general. For example, colonization brought both America and Africa into world economy and promoted the trade. But meanwhile, the Europeans used all local workers but took nearly all the profits of the trades.

However, there are also differences between the colonization of Africa and that of America.   One of the differences is the slavery system. In America, the very first slave was brought to Virginia in the 17th century from Africa. After that, numerous slaves were brought to America for many years. The slaves in America were the major work forces at that time. They worked mostly at plantations in the South and did heavy jobs. Those slaves helped to develop the plantation economy in the South and gradually made the plantation become the biggest industry in the South. On the contrary, the slavery situation was different in Africa. Numerous African free people were transformed to slaves and then were brought to Europe, America and other places. The slave trade was prosperous at that time. Men, women and children were all involved in the big slave trade.

The trade of slaves from Africa to America was called Atlantic slave trade. Slaves once became the only “crop” to export from Africa. The Atlantic slave trade gradually became a “triangle trade”. First, Europeans traded cheap industrial products and munitions to some Kings or leaders in African countries for slaves or sometime they just “hunt” for slaves illegally. Then they sold slaves to the owners of plantations in North America in order to get minerals and crops. Last, they sold American minerals and crops in Europe to get profits. Almost every step in the triangle trade brought merchants numerous profits. As a result, the trade developed and expanded. For instance, in 1709, there was only one ship used for slave trade in Liverpool. Then in 1730, the number of ship became 15. Growing so quickly , in 1792, there were 132 ships used for slave trade just in Liverpool.

The slave trade brought African people pains and sufferings. African people never stopped fighting for themselves even though European countries promote so-called “peace trade”. Nobody wanted to become slave so that almost every slave in Africa tried to fight. There were several groups of people in Congo and Angola formed armed group to attack those tribes or villages which were involved in slave trade in order to free the slaves. Fortunately, in late 18th century and early 19th century, European countries started to abolish the slavery system. Britain abolished the system in 1807, then United States in1808, France in 1818 and Brazil in 1825. Although the abolishment was published, the slave trade hadn’t stopped until the Berlin Conference in 1885 and the Brussels Conference in 1890. The 4-century-long slave trade gave Africa people irreversible and huge lost.

Although the colonial histories are different in Africa and in America, there’s one truth always existing that colony brings sufferings and pains to people. We are so lucky that we live in a humane society right now and we hope that the colonization will never happen again.