Academia!

Those dear to me would attest to being occasionally reminded of my stated desire to wriggle my way into academia and end the rest of my days there. So it was not much of a surprise that I ended up in Ireland's biggest university (University College Dublin) as a research scholar, albeit for a few months. As fate would have it, this exciting research opportunity popped up almost as my enjoyable sojourn with an immigration NGO was about to end. Briefly, the Egalitarian World Initiative/Combat Poverty Agency Civil Society Research Scholarship (quite a mouthful, hey?) provides an opportunity for research ‘time out’ for civil society activists (that's me!!!) to reflect on and re-engage with their work at an intellectual level. The quite generous scholarship provides scholars with the opportunity to take ‘time out’ from their work on the ground to pursue a research or policy theme of their choosing related to their work. My research focuses on the plight and needs of unaccompanied minors or separated children seeking asylum in Ireland. As one of the two 2009/2010 scholars, I am based in the Equality Studies Centre, UCD School of Social Justice and have access to the university library and most significantly to the highly regarded expertise and knowledge in the Centre. It is gratifying to be sharing the same working space with such academic luminaries who have shaped my own personal, professional and academic interests in equality and social justice.

More of how I get on later!

Writing about Africa

I was on a studio panel discussion on radio this week discussing western perceptions of Africa and one of my fellow panellists (via the phone) happened to be Binyavanga Wainaina, the Kenyan author, journalist and winner of the Caine Prize. This reminded me of his thought provoking satirical piece on the strereotypical western coverage of Africa. If you haven’t already come across How to Write about Africa, I would certainly recommend it, especially for its sarcastic wit.

Africa Day in Ireland

Having been on a two-year self-imposed hiatus from any sort of public engagements, I decided that this year I would foist myself on an unsuspecting public. The first opportunity that presented itself is the Irish Aid sponsored Africa Day celebrations in Ireland which kicked off in Limerick on May, 17 and moved on to Dublin on May, 24.

Thanks to the wise counsel of the good folks at DHR (who have superbly organized the celebrations for the second successive year) it was deemed that I was incongruously suitable for a return behind the microphone and also in a fit state to provoke and stimulate a bit of debate about the perceptions of Africa in the Ireland.

Despite the typical intermittent mid-western downpours, I enjoyed being back in Limerick (I once lived in the city and worked for the local newspaper) and had a great time in what was a great venue and great atmosphere and great craic was had by all. More of the same and better weather in Dublin would be swell.

Ah yes, is that quizzical eyebrow I see? Yes, you may wonder how it came about that Africa Day is celebrated in Ireland with such zest and effort.

Well, Irish Aid, which is the Irish government’s programme of assistance to developing countries, particularly in Africa (Ethiopia, Mozambique, Uganda, Lesotho, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi and through bilateral aid for specific projects in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Liberia) decided last year to mark the official day of the African Union by celebrating African diversity and success (a rare thing in this hemisphere).

Most importantly and highly commendable, was Irish Aid’s quick realization that they could tap into the vibrant African community in Ireland and help highlight all that was good about the continent. Fair play to them, as the saying goes here!

So if you happen to be in these parts, make sure you make a beeline for the Iveagh Gardens on Sunday.

South Africa Votes 2009

When I wrote back in September last year that a split in the ANC would not be a bad thing at all for democracy in South Africa, I had not realized what form or guise the split would take. Seeing as I was writing before the formation of Congress of the People (COPE) I could not see how the opposition led by the Democratic Alliance could whittle away at the ANC’s two-thirds majority in parliament in tomorrow's elections.

With one of the most progressive constitutions in the world, the fear has always been that there could come a point in the future when the ANC would wield this majority to alter the constitution, if they were so inclined.

So as millions of South Africans go to the polls to vote for a new president and parliament, it is perhaps worth noting that without a strong and robust opposition, South Africa may regrettably tread the path taken by other African countries where liberation war movements have morphed into tyrannical dictatorships.

So with most commentators seemingly in agreement that the only question is on the size of the margin by which the ANC will trounce the opposition, one does hope that for the sake of democracy, the combined opposition parties can muster enough votes to keep the ruling party in check. If between them, the Democratic Alliance, COPE, Inkhatha Freedom Party, the United Democratic Movement, the Independent Democrats and the rest of motley crew can at least get more than 35 percent of the vote, that would be a good election for those interested in maintaining South Africa’s strong and young democracy.

Of course, my thinking on this is largely influenced by what has happened in the rest of Africa and it may be tad bit unfair to assume that South Africa will go the same way. Who knows, perhaps Jacob Zuma - for all his many transgressions - may turn out be an inspired leader who feels he has a (whole) lot of people to prove wrong. Already some pundits are saying that compared to the aloof and distant Thabo Mbeki, he does have that common touch and dare I say, charisma that most successful leaders in history seemed to possess. Not sure about his judgement though and indeed surrounding himself with a bunch of nutcases.

Let's wait and see.

The Viriri Fraternity

With my brother in Washington DC