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African journalism. November 7 2020 ISSUE
NO. 28
The Continent
with
Ethiopia
at war
Peace Prize-
winner
sends in the
troops
(Photo: Eduardo Soteras/AFP)
The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 2
Inside: Share real news
We believe that everyone
deserves access to top-
COVER STORY: Ethiopia is on the brink
of civil war. We explain what exactly quality journalism, which
is going on (p5) and how the country’s is why The Continent
Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime is free to read. But if
minister let it come to this (p26) you like our journalism,
there is one thing you
A day in the life of an African
can do for us. Please
opposition leader (p8)
forward the publication
Joe Biden is the likely president-elect.
to your friends, family
What does that mean for us? (p12) and colleagues – not
What it was like to photograph Bob indiscriminately, but only
Marley (p17) to those who you think
A plague of locusts: That’s right, will value it. The best way
they’re coming back for more (p22) to fight fake news is to
Analysis: This is not the Tanzania that share real news.
Nyerere promised us (p29)
The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 3
The Week in Numbers
10 94.3% 1,540,801
The number of species The share of the vote The number of people
at risk of being won by President in Africa who have
eliminated in or along Alassane Ouattara in recovered from
the Mara River, which Côte d’Ivoire’s election Covid-19, according
runs between Kenya last Saturday. The to the World Health
and Tanzania, according vote was boycotted by Organisation. Some
to a biodiversity report. opposition parties, who 44,244 people have died
Hippos, shoebills, say it is unconstitutional and a total of 1,843,581
grey-crowned cranes, for a president to serve cases have been
Victoria tilapia, three terms in office. recorded.
Madagascar pond-
herons and various
killifish and crab
species are under
threat from pollution,
poor land use and
overfishing.
59
The number of
Egyptians sentenced
to 15 years in prison
by a court in Cairo.
They were found
guilty of organising Photo: Nobel Prize Archives
and participating in
a protest against the
military government in 48 years
2013. The protest was The time that has passed since Wole Soyinka
violently dispersed by (pictured here in 1986) last published a novel.
security forces, who The celebrated playwright and author has
killed hundreds of announced that his new novel, Chronicles of
protesters. The men the Happiest People on Earth, will be published
who pulled the trigger in Nigeria before the end of the year.
have not been charged.
datadesk
Datadesk, the M&G centre for data Brought to you by the Mail & Guardian’s Data Desk.
journalism, produced this story
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ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 News Page 5
Ethiopia
Abiy Ahmed “military confrontation”.
“I call on Ethiopians to remain calm,
won a Nobel be on high alert and back the military
effort,” Abiy wrote. Several commentators
peace prize. described this as tantamount to a
declaration of war against one of Ethiopia’s
Now Ethiopia own regional states.
About an hour later – still in the early
is on the brink hours of the morning – Abiy appeared
on state television. He said the Tigray
People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – the
of civil war party that governs the Tigray region
– was guilty of “treason”. According to
Ethiopia’s central Abiy, Tigray regional security forces had
government has launched assaulted Ethiopian military bases in the
towns of Mekelle and Dansha, killing and
a major military operation
injuring soldiers based there.
– including airstrikes – The Ethiopian army’s Northern
against one of its own Command, one of four regional
regional states commands, is based in Mekelle, the
Tigrayan regional capital which is more
Zecharias Zelalem than 700km north of the country’s capital,
Addis Ababa.
A t about 2am on Wednesday morning,
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy
Ahmed took to his Facebook page to
Tigray’s regional government has
announced the closure of its airspace,
and claimed that the Northern Command
make a grave announcement. will “stand with the Tigray people and the
“The Ethiopian Defense Forces, run by regional government”.
a command post, have been tasked with Tigray is home to about six million
saving the country,” he said. of Ethiopia’s population of 110-million
The regional government of Tigray, a people, and is located in the north-east of
northern province, was guilty of “crossing the country, along the border with Eritrea.
a red line”, he said, and Ethiopian troops On Friday, Abiy told reporters that
had been ordered to commence a airstrikes had been launched against
The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 6
targets in and around Mekelle in what he
described as “the first round of operations”.
He said the airstrikes destroyed rockets
and other heavy weapons. There was no
mention of casualties.
A dramatic escalation
Tensions between the federal government The ‘peacemaker’: Prime Minister
in Addis Ababa and Tigray’s regional Abiy Ahmed has ordered military
government have been running high strikes against the Tigray region.
for some time, and relations had soured (Photo: Eduardo Soteras/AFP)
considerably in recent months. Although
this escalation remains shocking, analysts troops heading northwards were
have warned for months that conflict was reported in the days before. Meanwhile,
looming. last Sunday, Tigray regional president
Efforts by the Mail & Guardian Debretsion Gebremichael announced
to contact residents in Tigray were that his forces were prepared for conflict,
fruitless, because internet and phone stating that “if war is imminent, we are
lines were not functioning. Internet prepared not just to resist but to win”.
tracking organisation Netblocks revealed A year ago, few could have predicted
that there was a considerable drop in these developments when the prime
Ethiopia’s internet usage that began minister of Ethiopia posed for cameras
about an hour before the prime minister’s in Oslo at the award ceremony after
announcement. As such, Abiy’s claims receiving the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.
remain difficult to authenticate, and the Hailed for bringing two decades of
region is virtually cut off from the outside military hostility with neighbouring
world. Eritrea to an end, the peace deal in
BBC journalist Desta Gebremedhin, 2018 sparked wild celebrations in both
from the BBC’s Tigrigna language desk, countries and was a rare feel-good story
was able to make contact with a relative from the often conflict-ridden region.
in Mekelle on Wednesday. “My cousin in Yet already the seeds of conflict with
Mekelle could hear the raging gun battles,” Tigray were being sown, as Abiy moved
he said. This indicates that the fighting to consolidate his authority – in the
is within the vicinity of a major urban process alienating the TPLF, which had
centre. dominated political life in Ethiopia for
Despite the prime minister’s claims that decades. ■
his soldiers were ambushed and pushed
into the war, preparations for the eventual
Abiy Ahmed’s declaration of war against
escalation were made days in advance. Tigray is a gamble on the future of Ethiopia
Large-scale movements of Ethiopian itself. Find out why on page 26.
The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 7
Côte d’Ivoire
Prosecutor face a minimum of 10 years and as long
as life imprisonment if found guilty.
accuses According to the prosecutor, Bédié does
not face arrest or house arrest.
opposition of The National Transitional Council was
formed by several opposition groups and
‘terrorism’ is led by Bédié, a former president, with
the objective of forming a transitional
government and organizing fresh
Leanne de Bassompierre in Abidjan elections. Shortly after the announcement,
the government warned that it was illegal
C ôte d’Ivoire’s public prosecutor on
Friday accused opposition leaders
of acts of terrorism and murder. The
and that the public prosecutor would be
investigating.
accusations came after the opposition At least 10 people
launched a civil disobedience campaign have died in election-
and announced the formation of their related violence
own National Transitional Council,
following last Saturday’s presidential Former rebel leader Guillaume Soro,
election which they had boycotted. who is living in exile in France, urged
These actions were intended to the Ivorian military to back the so-called
“undermine the authority of the state in National Transitional Council proposed
order to achieve the overthrow of the by the opposition. “You must act to restore
Republic”, prosecutor Richard Adou told our constitution to its former glory,” he
reporters. said in a statement on his Facebook page
At least 10 people have died in election- on Wednesday. “Put an end to the spectre
related violence since Saturday, according of civil war that threatens our country.”
to government estimates. The court action is likely to enflame
On Tuesday, 21 people were arrested at tensions in the West African nation
the home of President Alassane Ouattara’s after last week’s vote, which was won by
main rival, Henri Konan Bédié. Nine have Ouattara with nearly 95% of the vote.
subsequently been released. Two other Both Bédié and N’Guessan asked their
leaders of smaller parties, Pascal Affi supporters to not to vote in protest against
N’Guessan and Abdallah Albert Toikeusse Ouattara seeking a third term they deem
Mabri, are being sought, said Adou. They illegal. ■
The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 8
A day in the life of an
opposition leader
The election in the United States was the only story on anyone’s news agenda on Tuesday.
But that does not mean that nothing else was happening. At least four governments on
the African continent took advantage of the distraction to take action against opponents
and critics. But if they hoped their actions would go unnoticed, they were wrong.
Bobi Wine en route to his official
nomination on Tuesday, shortly
before he was arrested. (Photo:
Sumy Sadurni/AFP)
NEWS ANALYSIS this historic moment. As soon as the
Andrew Arinaitwe in Kampala, paperwork was confirmed, he turned to
Kudzai Mashininga in Harare face the audience and punched his fist
and Simon Allison in the air.
“We are not planning to cry today, we
O n Tuesday morning in Kampala,
Kyagulanyi Ssentamu Robert –
aka Bobi Wine – made his way to the
have cried for long, but we have opened
a new chapter,” he said, brimming with
confidence. “We have not witnessed a
electoral commission tent in Kyambogo, peaceful transfer of power from one
Kampala. He was there to formally file leader to another since our country
his nomination to run for president of became independent in 1962.”
Uganda in the next election, scheduled But his good spirits did not last long.
for early next year. A huge crowd of As the crowds grew larger, in anticipation
supporters had gathered to watch of a speech that Bobi Wine was due to
The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 9
deliver at his National Unity Platform Magufuli’s ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi.
headquarters, the police presence But the vote was marred by claims of
grew larger too: campaign rallies and vote-rigging and irregularities, and
demonstrations have been outlawed due several opposition leaders have since
to Covid-19 restrictions. At some point, a been arrested, including Tundu Lissu,
threshold was crossed, or a decision came presidential candidate for the main
down from above, and the crowds were opposition party, Chadema.
sprayed first with water, and then with Kabwe had received word that the
tear gas. police were looking for him, too. He
Similar scenes were repeated in Kiseka decided to make it easy for them. “I’ve
Market, and in the town of Masaka, been arrested 16 times since 2016. It was
where former presidential candidate not something new. I just went to the
Abed Bwanika suffered head injuries after police myself and asked for my colleagues
being accosted by policemen. who have been arrested, and they told me,
The police came for Bobi Wine too. by the way you are under arrest yourself,”
His vehicle, a white Land Cruiser, was he told The Continent.
surrounded by policemen outside the Kabwe was charged with organising
nomination venue. One of them smashed illegal demonstrations, and released on
the window with a tyre iron and dragged bail. He disputes the charge. He also
him from the vehicle. He was accused of points out that Tanzania’s Constitution,
organising an illegal protest. which prevents elections from being
Wine has been arrested several challenged in court – no matter how
times before, and tortured in custody. irregular – leaves opposition parties no
Following this arrest, Lieutenant General choice but to organise protests.
Muhoozi Kainerugaba – President Yoweri “The only court that can challenge
Museveni’s son – tweeted: “I told you the results of the election is the court
my young brother that you can NEVER of the public opinion. So challenging
intimidate us. We are much stronger than presidential results means going to the
you can ever imagine to be. If you want to people, telling them to challenge, because
fight we will simply defeat you. We want there is no court that will receive any
peace! But if you attempt to fight us then petition,” he said.
bring it on!”
A little later that same evening, journalist
At around the same time, Zitto Kabwe Hopewell Chin’ono was at his home in
was making his way to his local police Harare when suddenly the police were
station in Dar es Salaam. He is the head at his door. He was arrested earlier this
of ACT-Wazalendo, an opposition party year after being accused of inciting
in Tanzania. Kabwe lost his parliamentary Zimbabweans to protest, in contravention
seat in last week’s election, which was of Covid-19 restrictions.
won in a landslide by President John The arrests came after Chin’ono
The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 10 published a series of investigations into corruption that implicated senior government officials. After spending six weeks in atrocious conditions in Chikurubi Maximum, he was released on bail in September. But now he is back in jail, accused of violating his bail conditions. Government prosecutors have said that he used his influential Twitter account (@daddyhope) to post messages that “impaired the dignity, reputation and Short-lived freedom: Journalist authority of the court whilst clearly Hopewell Chin’ono, left, poses for a intending to do so”. selfie with lawyer Doug Coltart after Coincidentally – or not – his re-arrest his release on bail in September. comes shortly after he revealed details of (Photo: Jekesai Njikizana/AFP) a high-profile gold-smuggling syndicate that implicated government officials. Even though all these arrests occurred As Tuesday drew to a close, on the other in different countries, in different parts side of the continent, heavily-armed of the continent, Tanzanian opposition police vehicles in Abidjan pulled up leader Kabwe sees a common thread. outside the home of Henri Konan Bédié, He said: “There is an increasing the former president who ran against authoritarianism across the continent. incumbent president Alassane Ouattara The civic space has been narrowed and in last week’s election in Côte d’Ivoire. democracy is under attack. It could be Tear gas was used to disperse a small a global phenomenon, we are seeing it crowd of supporters who had gathered in the US, but many African leaders are outside. Although Bédié himself was resorting to autocratic rule. not arrested, 21 of his party officials and “That’s what we see in Uganda, in supporters were. Zimbabwe. Now Ethiopia, which was a Just days before the vote, Bédié told rising star, is sliding back into civil war. his supporters not to participate, because Ivory Coast just recently saw a 95% result. he believed that Ouattara’s bid for a third A third term [for President Alpha Condé] term in office was unconstitutional. in Guinea. Zambia, with the struggles of Consequently, Ouattara won in a [opposition leader] Hakainde Hichilema landslide, with nearly 95% of the vote. But and colleagues. Bédié and other opposition leaders have “Authoritarianism is the new fashion refused to accept the result and formed for governing. And the attacks are on a National Transitional Council, which journalists, on civic space and, mostly, Bédié heads. on the opposition.” ■
The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 11
Uganda
$136,000: monthly salary of about $8,000.
In every region, candidates who won
the cost of spent more on average than those who
did not, meaning many Ugandans –
running for particularly women and young people
– are increasingly excluded from running
office in for office because they cannot afford it.
In 2021 the cost of politics could rise
Uganda further. When asked, more than three-
quarters of survey respondents said they
would spend more when running again
Emmanuel Kitamirike for office.
and Peter Kisaakye Several factors contribute to this:
weak local government places service
W ith elections scheduled for early
2021, the growing cost of running
for election in Uganda is important to
delivery burdens on MPs; high and rising
privileges for MPs; no effective oversight
of campaign expenditure; low levels of
consider. voter education; and the way elections
New research, which draws on data offer a chance to rise in the ruling party.
from over 250 aspirants who ran with Promoting local accountability,
varying degrees of success for office in tackling patriarchal politics and
2016, shows the average spending of a strengthening the Electoral Commission’s
parliamentary candidate during the ability to enforce regulations are steps
2016 primary and general elections was that could remedy the country’s situation.
$136,000. But they will require sustained
The overall costs were higher political will to enable Uganda to build
in western and central regions and a policy-driven electoral system, instead
consistently below the average in of a monetary one. ■
eastern and northern parts – a pattern
that broadly reflects the distribution of
poverty.
Emmanuel Kitamirike and Peter Kisaakye
The outlay continues in office, with work for the Public Policy Institute in
MPs spending about $9,000 on average Kampala, Uganda. The research was funded
by Westminster Foundation for Democracy
each month to meet constituent demands and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty
and obligations – more than their official DemocracyThe Continent
ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Comment Page 12
America’s a roaring trade advising African
governments on how to hold free and fair
democracy is elections.
Yet many of the markers of free
broken. What and fair elections – a universal voters’
roll, centralised election management,
does that uniform rules and regulations – are absent
in the American system. Much of what we
mean for us? Africans have been trained to recognise as
good electoral conduct has never existed
in the US. It turns out that the world’s
Many African countries model democracy is not that democratic
modelled their political after all.
system on the United New York Times columnist Jamelle
Bouie wrote last month that Donald
States. But given the flaws Trump is not an aberration, he is a
in the model, it may be continuation of the racism, indifference
time to reconsider and corruption that has defined many US
presidencies. Bouie called on citizens to
Sithembile Mbete “take the opportunity to look with clear
eyes and assess this country as it is and
I f there is one thing that we’ve learned
from the United States’ elections
this week, it’s that democracy is hard
as it has been or again seek the comfort
of myth”.
Africans should do the same. Can
work. As the first country to become a we take this opportunity to assess our
democracy, the US has long been held up American-modelled democracies with
as a model for other countries to follow clear eyes and examine whether they
to achieve accountable and representative benefit us?
government. Free and fair elections, rule While the world was preoccupied
of law and liberty were the American way with the US election this week, Africa
– and we would all achieve the American witnessed a number of significant
Dream if we adopted them. democratic reversals in Cameroon,
This was especially the case for Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe,
newly democratising African countries among others. There is a pervasive sense
in the 1990s, which modelled their throughout the continent that democracy
constitutional systems on the US. yields sub o ptimal socioeconomic
American democracy institutes made outcomes and leaves people feeling moreThe Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 13
House of cards:
If this election
is anything to
go by, American
democracy
is about as
sturdy as this
cardboard
cutout of Joe
Biden. (Photo:
Drew Angerer/
Getty/AFP)
alienated from those who govern them. do not improve the quality of people’s
Elections seem to fuel conflict rather than lives.
resolve it. If we want accountable, responsive and
In a prescient article published in 1993, representative governments, what kind
Nigerian political scientist Claude Ake of systems do we need? Can we identify
argued that democracy in Africa would existing models in our own societies to
have to be designed to fit the cultural build on?
context and would emerge from “practical With Joe Biden looking set to become
experience and improvisation in the the 46th president of the United States,
course of a hard struggle”. He cautioned we must guard against the temptation to
against an approach of adopting Western breathe a sigh of relief and pretend that
liberalism because this would “achieve things will return to the pre-2016 normal.
only the democracy of alienation”. The hard work of defining democracy
A cursory examination of the and good governance decoupled from
continent’s democracies indicates that the model of the US is just beginning.
Ake has been proven right. Africans must now take responsibility
So where to now? As my colleague for developing our own systems of
Shuvai Busuman tweeted on election accountable and responsive government
day: “Why then as Africans are we holding that will work for us. ■
on to this system that is clearly not
working for us?” Academics, democracy Dr Sithembile Mbete is a senior lecturer in
practitioners, civil society activists and the department of political sciences at the
University of Pretoria where she lectures
ordinary citizens must ask hard questions international relations and South African
about why democratic politics in Africa politics.The Continent
ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 News Page 14
The Cameroonian
schoolchildren caught
in the crossfire
Sending your child to class can be a
life or death decision
Daniel Ekonde campus. They broke into a second-
floor classroom and opened fire on the
I n 2017, Pastor Boniface Tamangoua
chose not to send his eight-year-old
son Victory Camibon to school. It was
students. Children screamed and ran for
their lives. By the time the gunmen were
finished, seven children were dead and 13
too dangerous, he thought. The family were injured. Victory Camibon did not
lived in Kumba, in southwest Cameroon, come home that day.
and that year fighting broke out in the “It was our neighbour’s son who
region between the goverment and rebels attends the same school with my son
demanding independence for English- who came rolling on the floor and crying
speaking Cameroon. that Victory is dead,” Tamangoua told the
The next year, Tamangoua took the Mail & Guardian. “I was helping my wife
difficult decision of sending Victory to wash clothes because she is recovering
a school in Littoral, the French-speaking from surgery. When she heard about her
province where the economic hub Douala son’s death, she collapsed. This was his
is located. His son would be far away, but first year in secondary school; he had just
at least he would be getting an education been three weeks in school and was very
— and he would be safe. excited.”
In 2019, there was a lull in the fighting. No group has claimed responsibility
It looked like tensions were easing. Pastor for the attacks; the separatists and the
Tamangoua brought his son home, where government are blaming each other.
he completed primary school. “This massacre is a grim reminder
This year, Victory — now 11 — started of the horrific toll that the crisis in
at a new school: the Mother Francisca Cameroon’s English-speaking regions
International Bilingual Academy in has had on children and their education,”
Kumba. On October 24, at least nine said Ida Sawyer, deputy Africa director at
armed men arrived at the school’s Human Rights Watch.The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 15
President Paul Biya reacted to the
incident two days later, in a tweet.
“I have also instructed that appropriate
measures be taken diligently to ensure
that the perpetrators of these despicable
acts are apprehended by our defence and
security forces and brought to justice,”
he said.
Children have been targeted
repeatedly during the conflict. In
February this year, 14 children were
among the 22 people killed in a massacre
in the village of Ngarbuh, allegedly
carried out by state security forces.
Separatists have called for English- A life cut short: Victory Camibon was
speaking parents not to send their just 11 years old when he was slain
children to school, as a protest against
the institutional inequalities they believe school again.
are baked into the national curriculum. As the news of the Limbe attack
Cameroon’s national government is spread across other schools in the area,
dominated by French-speakers. students began to flee school premises
Over the past three years, dozens of and teachers shut down campuses.
schools have been damaged in attacks. In Kumba, parents are once again
Last year, the United Nations Children’s having to assess whether it is safe to send
Agency Unicef said that 80% of schools their children to school at all.
in the affected areas were shut, and more Cameroon’s interior minister, Paul
than half a million children had no access Atanga Nji, has visited the city in the
to education. wake of the attack, promising to provide
And although some separatist a military guard for the school. But few
leaders have now called for students to parents are convinced.
resume their education, the attacks have Grace, who asked to be identified by
continued. her first name only, is a mother of two
This week alone, 11 teachers were schoolgoing children. She has made the
taken hostage by an armed group in decision to withdraw them from the
Kumbo, a town in the Anglophone school in Kumba.
northwest region, and have yet to be “I thought school was returning to this
released; and students in a school in place [Kumba] for good since more than
Limbe in the southwest were stripped three years now. But I’m not convinced.
naked by gunmen who threatened to I will only send my children to Douala
burn them alive if they ever came to again,” she said. ■The Continent
ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Music Page 16
Wizkid’s Ella Mai as well as fellow countrymen
Tems and the self-proclaimed “African
testimony Giant” himself – Burna Boy. The two
come together on Ginger, half a decade
of hustle, after their last collaboration. The club-
ready track swings between Afrobeats
betrayal and and dancehall, and features a captivating
pitch-change in the 30-second outro.
blessings Both Piece of Me and Gyrate – which
pays homage to “brothers wey dey hustle
REVIEW and bussle” – can be ticked for both
Timileyin Omilana dancefloors and bedrooms.
Smile, No Stress and True Love, on the
‘S howered in blessings, now my cup’s
runnin’ over,” Wizkid sings on the
opening track of his new album Made
other hand, are made for sunnier, slower
outdoor grooves.
Although the long-awaited Made In
In Lagos. Leading with smooth bass and Lagos bears clear influences from the
commanding saxophone, Reckless sets the United Kingdom and the Caribbean, it
tone for the rest of the album. is also unmistakably African: sonically
The track spotlights Wizkid’s troubles, smooth, melodically enjoyable and
noting that despite those who “pray for his cohesively put together.
downfall”, he is “still a winner”. The theme Wizkid’s run of form continues. ■
of triumph is carried right to the end of
the album, where he emphatically sings
about running his own race on Grace.
Made in Lagos resonates beautifully
with sounds more consistent with
traditional Afrobeats, indicating a return
to his home – Lagos – after his previous
album Sounds From The Other Side, which
showcased WizKid in the context of the
international stage with varying genres.
This album clearly exhibits a maturity and
growth in the sought-after superstar.
The 14-track effort has pleasant Root loops: Made in Lagos brings
additions from international heavyweights in global voices, but feels distinctly
such as Damian Marley, Skepta, H.E.R., African. (Photo: Kwaku Alston)The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 17
‘What’s it
like to be a
black man in
England?’
In this excerpt from a
longer essay published in
the Mail & Guardian, the
writer Percy Zvomuya
speaks to Dennis Morris
– the iconic British
photographer – about
Them Belly Full: Bob Marley at a
what it was like to house on the King’s Road, Chelsea,
photograph Bob Marley 1978. (Photo: Dennis Morris)
S ometime in 1973, Dennis Morris,
then a teenager in his last year of
high school, read in a magazine that The
Elton John, The Rolling Stones, Jimi
Hendrix and The Beatles, was a suitable
venue.
Wailers were coming to tour Britain. “When he eventually turned up I
Instead of going to school, Morris took asked could I take his picture, and he
his camera and waited at the entrance of said, ‘Yeah man, come in.’ So I went in
Speakeasy, a club in London, where The and he was asking me how it was like to
Wailers were to hold a gig. be a black man in England. I was asking
“I was very much into music, and him what Jamaica was like and he really
very much into his music, so I decided I took to me — and he told me about the
wanted to take a picture of him and didn’t tour and asked me if I would like to come
go to school that day,” Morris told me on along. I said yes. So the next morning I
Zoom from his base in Los Angeles. didn’t go to school and I packed my bag
The ground-breaking album Catch A and went to the hotel and jumped into
Fire had just come out, and Bob Marley’s the van and there is a famous picture
producer, Chris Blackwell, was trying to of him looking back. He said, ‘Are you
promote it to an audience beyond reggae’s ready, Dennis?’ and I said, ‘Yes.’ And so
traditional listeners. Speakeasy, on 48 the adventure began.”
Margaret Road, once host to Pink Floyd, The opportunities that Morris, partThe Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 18 Nine miles ahead: Bob Marley in The Wailers’ tour van in 1973 (above), and at the Hammersmith Odeon, 1979. (Photos: Dennis Morris) of the Windrush generation [the half a million people who emigrated from the Caribbean to Britain between 1948 and 1970] later found wouldn’t have come easily had it not been for the encounter with Marley outside the Speakeasy club. In the film When Bob Marley Came to Britain – released in August this year – Morris recalls the reggae musician telling him, “Dennis, you have to remember that you are an exotic tropical plant that has been uprooted and replanted in a concrete soil. So you have to be strong to push through.” ■
The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 19
SO, YOU THINK YOU’RE How did I do?
A REAL PAN-AFRICAN? WhatsApp ‘ANSWERS’
to +27 73 805 6068 and
Take this quiz to find out how well we will send you the
you really know our continent answers immediately.
1. Who was the victor country?
in Tanzania’s recent
election?
7. Who wrote the
book-length essay 'We 0-4
2. Who was the victor Should All Be Feminists', “I think I need to
in Côte d’Ivoire’s recent published in 2014? start reading more
election? 8. Is Didier Drogba or newspapers.”
3. This week marked Didier Zokora the most
the 90th anniversary of capped Ivorian football
the coronation of which player?
monarch of Ethiopia?
4. Vaya, a South African
9. True or false: Seretse
Khama is the son of Ian
5-8
“I can’t wait to
film, was directed by Khama.
explore more of this
which Nigerian director 10. Which legendary
continent.”
and son of writer Kole reggae musician
Omotoso? performed in Harare for
5. Which Kenyan social Zimbabwe’s independence
media star recently celebrations?
reached one million
followers on Instagram
11. Samora Machel died
in office in 1986. True or
9-12
“Here, let me
after having several false?
decolonise that
videos go viral during 12. Which Somali-
for you.”
Covid-19 lockdowns? American retained her
6. Monrovia (pictured) seat in the United States
is the capital of which Congress this week?The Continent
ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Continental Drift Page 20
On your marks,
get set, oppress!
Samira Sawlani
All right, everyone, settle down. Elections beaten by his younger cousin. The
aren’t a competition. Or rather, they wedding guest determined to outshine
are, but they’re not a race between the the bride. That friend of your mother
presidents of different countries. who, after learning someone else made
Yet there they are, constantly trying school prefect, goes on about how their
to outdo each other. The only incumbent precious Binky and Dudu are so busy with
focused on his own race is Donald Trump ballet, archery and rocket science they
over in the United States – but let’s not couldn’t possibly take on extra duties.
worry about the amateur leagues: the (Until they drop a bar into the school kitty
African premiership is where it’s at. and suddenly the delightful duo are head
Competition at this level is boy and girl.)
understandable, of course: it takes But even Binky and Dudu would
a certain kind of person to run for struggle against Tanzania’s President John
president in the first place, after all. Magufuli, who won his recent election
You need a strong sense of civic duty, a by a staggering 84% of the vote, which
compulsion to serve your fellow human gives him a high score to boast about, you
beings, an unwavering commitment to would think. But not in this game!
equality, justice and… oh wait, no, sorry, Enter Alassane Ouattara, who
wrong notes, that’s for if you want to be a floated over his own finish line into a
tuckshop assistant. third term as Côte d’Ivoire’s president
Let’s see, psych profile for presidential with a whopping 94% of votes cast. His
candidate… had it written down strategy of running unopposed – after
here somewhere... ah yes, here we go! the opposition boycotted the vote – really
What you need is: an ego the size of a seems to have paid off. Although it’s
planet; a not inconsiderable amount of strange he didn’t quite make it to 100%. I
moral flexibility; and an unwavering guess that’s democracy for you.
commitment to coming out on top, no The Great Game isn’t just a duel
matter what. between Ouattara and Magufuli, there are
You know the type. The guy who others who need the spotlight if they’re to
knocks over the board game after being stay in play. Which brings us to Uganda:The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 21 Race to the bottom: John Magufuli was inaugurated as president of Tanzania for a second time on Thursday. in January, President Yoweri Museveni Abiy Ahmed. You’ll remember his big win will be lining up a sixth term in his race last year when he bagged no less a trophy against musician-turned-MP, Bobi Wine. than the Nobel Peace Prize. Earlier this week Wine formally That was last season, but peace is still registered as a presidential candidate, important to him, and he’s flexing his whereupon authorities celebrated by armies to prove it. Accusing the Tigray arresting him in violent fashion, firing People’s Liberation Front of attacking an tear gas at his supporters, and then army base, Ahmed mobilised the military helpfully dropping him off at home. It was and announced a state of emergency. He almost like a wild bachelor party, except is testing the theory that the only way to where the best man has a crush on the defuse conflict is to escalate it until peace bride and also he gets VERY cross if you breaks out. compare him to Idi Amin. Perfectly reasonable, by 2020 Meanwhile, President Emmerson standards. But is it enough to give him the Mnangagwa must be feeling left out. edge in our continental game of thrones? Zimbabwe won’t go to the polls again until Or will he remember that this isn’t a 2023, but that doesn’t mean he can’t play. game at all. No matter whether you’re So what is his play? Nothing fancy, just setting high scores, or settling old scores. arresting journalist Hopewell Chin’ono Because once they’ve all finished and suppressing freedom of speech again winning at “peace”, it’s the rest of us who – go with what you know, right? are left to pick up the pieces. But the top of the table this week must If we’re still here. Lucky us. surely belong to Ethiopia’s Prime Minister So. Meet you at the tuckshop? ■
The Continent
ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Environment Page 22
The swarm: Locusts engulf
farmers’ fields near Jijiga
in Ethiopia (Photo: Minasse
Wondimu Hailu/Anadolu
Agency via Getty Images)
The locusts those clouds really are.
“You see it’s not a rain cloud but a
are coming cloud of insects and realise this is a desert
locust swarm. They will eat absolutely
back for more everything. By midday, you’ve lost your
entire crop for the year and maybe for the
next year. It’s devastating.”
Sheree Bega This year, destructive, desert locusts
have swarmed in gigantic numbers in
A t first, to a farmer, it looks like a
promise on the horizon: a dark rain
cloud, sometimes so big it can block out
countries including Kenya, Somalia,
Ethiopia, Uganda and Eritrea, gobbling
valuable cropland and decimating
part of the sun. livelihoods. A separate infestation has
Then the penny drops. struck farms in southern Namibia and
Keith Cressman, senior locust north-western South Africa.
forecasting officer at the Food and In January, the swarms that invaded
Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the northern Kenya were as big as the country
United Nations says it’s a moment of pure of Luxembourg.
horror when the farmers realise what But while aerial and groundThe Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 23
operations have exterminated an very well prepared. Now, they’re well-
estimated 500-billion locusts in the past equipped to manage and respond to this
10 months, there are worrying signs of type of breeding and any kind of invasion
resurgence. that might occur by the end of the year.”
Somalia, he adds, has not used one
drop of chemical pesticides, wiping out
Destructive desert
its locusts with biopesticides made from
locusts have swarmed a natural fungus that only attacks locusts
in gigantic numbers in and grasshoppers.
countries including Kenya, More than 860 000 hectares of land
Somalia, Ethiopia, Uganda in 10 countries have been surveyed
and treated for locust infestation since
and Eritrea, decimating January to counter the desert locust
livelihoods outbreak. Control operations have
prevented the loss of 1.7-million tons
Early, ongoing rains have led to a of cereal – enough to feed more than
new cycle of breeding with fresh swarms 10-million people a year – in countries
forming in Ethiopia, Somalia and Yemen, already hard hit by acute food insecurity
warns the FAO. and poverty.
In good conditions, desert locusts Kenya has contained the locust to just
reproduce like wildfire – their numbers two northern counties. West Africa is no
surging by a factor of 20 with each three- longer at risk of invasion. ■
month reproductive cycle.
The new wave wasn’t unexpected, says
Cressman, who describes desert locusts
as “professional survivalists. When there’s
really good rain, the locusts respond.”
Winds over the northern portion of
the Horn of Africa now starting to blow
southwards again could trigger a re-
invasion in Kenya later this year.
But with almost a year of
locust-fighting experience
under their belts, affected
countries are in a far stronger
position to manage and contain
the infestations, says Cressman.
“L ast year this time,
countries such as Somalia,
Ethiopia and Kenya weren’tThe Continent
ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Report Page 24
Nigeria’s
queer
community
finds its voice
Dika Ofoma
O n October 10, a video surfaced
online of Matthew Blaise, a Nigerian
LGBTQ+ rights activist, chanting at the
top of his voice that queer lives matter.
He was at one of the #EndSARS protests
in Lagos.
Just a few days after the country’s 60th
independence anniversary on 1 October,
young Nigerians had taken to the streets
to demand an end to police brutality.
A unit of the Nigerian police force, the Stand up for your rights: Activist
Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), had Matthew Blaise at a protest in Lagos.
become notorious for brutalising and (Photo: yagazieemezi/Instagram)
harassing young Nigerians whom they
profiled as criminals or fraudsters because Victor Emmanuel, an openly gay man in
of their hairstyles, their grooming, or the Nigeria and a YouTube vlogger, protested
electronic gadgets they carry. in Enugu, a city in southeastern Nigeria,
The protest, which started in Lagos, and credits Blaise for inspiring him.
spread to other cities and towns, uniting “His actions and the video inspired
Nigerians against a common enemy. me as well as many others to write
The country is torn not just by ethnic #QueerLivesMatter on our placards
and religious differences but also along alongside #EndSars,” Emmanuel says.
ideological lines; coming together in unity While Blaise had only been gaped and
of purpose is no easy feat. stared at in Lagos, Emmanuel experienced
Just like Blaise, other queer people open hostility in Enugu. He and other
across the country joined in the protest. queer people at the protests were verballyThe Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 25 attacked and told to put down their took place, despite Instagram Live video placards. On another occasion, a man evidence showing otherwise. There have tauntingly mimicked his effeminate been also been multiple reports of looting friend: it was an attempt to goad them and the burning of properties, including into a physical confrontation. Emmanuel malls and supermarkets. and his friend bore the humiliation But the spirit of the Nigerian youth has and resisted reacting for fear that other not been dampened. The call for an end homophobic protesters would gang up to police brutality has grown to include against them. calls for better governance; protests have Emmanuel’s experience wasn’t an continued in some cities; and online the isolated incident. There were reports hashtag #EndSARS is still trending, and a across social media of similar attacks on consensus is building around those using LGBTQ+ people at protests organised in the hashtag that it is time for youth to other towns and cities. Demonstrators re-strategise if they are to reclaim their apparently felt the queer community was country from menacing leadership. trying to hijack the protest. This conversation includes queer But LGBTQ+ Nigerians have long Nigerians, who are finding their voice as been a particular target of SARS brutality. they stand up to the country’s homophobic Although Emmanuel has not been laws. In 2014, Nigeria’s former president, harassed before, he said his friends with Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, signed into a preference for androgynous dressing or law the Same-Sex Marriage Prohibition who are ostensibly effeminate have been bill, which did not only ban same-sex harassed and dehumanised by the rogue marriage, but it also criminalised sex police unit. between humans of the same gender, as After more than a week of continuous well as organisations that advocate for the peaceful protests across the country, the rights of the LGBTQ+ community. These demonstrations turned violent. Protest “crimes” are punishable by up to 14 years leaders say that the violence was caused in prison. by state-sponsored thugs who infiltrated Emmanuel and Blaise, along with the protests, attacking participants two others, are creators of the hashtag and destroying cars. In response, state #EndHomophobiaInNigeria. Emmanuel governments imposed curfews. plans to take this activism to the streets In Lekki, Lagos, on the night the of Nigeria to demand that the Same-Sex curfew was imposed, armed military Marriage Prohibition Act be repealed. men shot at protesters who were He is confident that the resilience waving flags and singing the national shown by other queer protesters during anthem. At least 15 people were killed. the protests – despite the homophobia There are reports of a similar occurrence they experienced – proves that Nigeria’s in Alausa, Lagos. queer community is ready to demand The government denies these attacks their rights. ■
The Continent
ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Analysis Page 26
Ethiopia political vehicle that the TPLF refused to
support.
crosses the Ever since, Abiy has sought to
contain the influence of the TPLF to the
red line Tigray region, while TPLF leaders have
questioned his authority to rule over
them, leading to a series of spats and
Yohannes Woldemariam mutual accusations and recriminations.
These tensions had been simmering for
O n 3 November, Ethiopian Prime
Minister Abiy Ahmed declared war
on the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front
some time, but reached boiling point
following Abiy’s decision to postpone
scheduled general elections on the basis
(TPLF), launching a military offensive in of the coronavirus pandemic. Determined
response to a series of attacks and incidents to embarrass the prime minister and
that he claims reveal his former allies to simultaneously assert their own authority,
be “traitors”. This dramatic escalation TPLF leaders went ahead with their own
of tensions between the Tigray region election in Tigray, directly flouting Abiy’s
and the federal government represents a objections.
major gamble on Abiy’s part that could
result in the collapse of Ethiopia itself. Tensions had been
If the country’s slide towards civil war is
not halted immediately, the consequences
simmering for some time,
for Ethiopian people and the wider region but reached boiling point
will be disastrous. following Abiy’s decision
But how did we get here? to postpone scheduled
Historically, both the TPLF and general elections on the
Abiy were part of the Ethiopian People’s
Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) basis of the coronavirus
government. However, since Abiy came epidemic
to power in 2018, the relationship with
the TPLF has deteriorated, with Tigrayan The growing conflict between
leaders increasingly relegated to play a the prime minister and the TPLF is
backseat role in a “coalition” that they had particularly explosive for three main
previously dominated. The relationship reasons. First, Ethiopia is plagued by
finally broke down when Abiy announced intractable ethnic politics, and Abiy
plans to dissolve the EPRDF and replace already faces an uphill battle to retain
it with his own Prosperity Party, a new political stability amid growing politicalThe Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 27 Uncertain future: An Ethiopian Orthodox priest casts his ballot at a polling station during Tigray’s controversial regional elections, in the city of Mekelle in September. (Photo: Eduardo Soteras/ AFP) violence. Second, the government lacks regions and movements – quickly the capacity to win a decisive victory, becoming a situation over which Abiy as the TPLF has considerable military has little control. Already, reports suggest capacity and is used to protracted armed that an attempt to capture TPLF leaders in struggles – having come of age fighting Mekelle via a commando operation have against the Derg government as a guerilla proved unsuccessful. group in the late 1980s. Third, Ethiopia’s This is certainly the prediction of constitution recognises the right of ethnic Seyoum Mesfin, a veteran TPLF member communities to campaign for political and Ethiopia’s foreign minister from 1991 autonomy, and secession is a constant to 2010, who says that if civil war comes topic of conversation in areas such as Ethiopia will be like Syria, Yemen or Libya Tigray, the Southern and Somali regions – a failed state in which foreign players and Oromia. sponsor proxy armies to further their own Against this backdrop there is a real interests. The potential foreign influence chance that conflict between the federal currently being debated by Ethiopians on government and the TPLF will be long social media is that of Isaias Afwerki of and drawn out, and will suck in other Eritrea and possibly Egypt over the Grand
The Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 28
Ethiopian Renaissance Dam dispute. Much therefore depends on whether Abiy
But what Seyoum is alluding to is a far retains full control over the Ethiopian
more extensive intervention involving Defense Forces, which includes Tigreans
actors from the Gulf States as well as non- within its ranks. The growing political
state actors. polarisation suggests that maintaining a
cohesive national army will be particularly
challenging.
Against this backdrop Abiy has appointed a new general to
there is a real chance take control of the Northern Command
that conflict between the – historically one of the four military
federal government and divisions in Ethiopia with responsibility
for Tigray and the Eritrean border – but
the TPLF will be long and
the TPLF has blocked his path. Whether
drawn out the military remains united under these
circumstances will heavily shape the
In particular, the close relationship course of the conflict.
between Abiy and Eritrean dictator Isaias The fragmentation of the army, or
Afwerki has triggered numerous rumors, defection of troops to Tigray, would
the truth of which is hard to pin down. dramatically weaken Abiy. In turn, this
It does seem, however, that both Isaias would encourage other groups such as the
and Abiy feel that they have scores to settle Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) to step up
with the TPLF. While Abiy sees the group their efforts, accelerating the country’s
as his main barrier to asserting control disintegration.
over Ethiopia, Isaias blames the TPLF Such a development would push
for past conflicts, standing in the way of Ethiopia into a full civil war that could
his regional ambitions and refusing to destabilise the entire region, creating
demarcate the Eritrean border. millions of refugees and undermining
The TPLF itself is certainly concerned economic trade and growth. Preventing
about the close relationship between the this is imperative – but if this is to be done
two men, accusing Abiy of treason for concerted international and domestic
his “conspiracy” with Isaias, and such action needs to be taken now, before there
suspicions are fanning the flames of are further clashes and before the state
conflict. comes apart at the seams. ■
So how will we know if things are
starting to fall apart? Yohannes
Conflict between the TPLF and Woldemariam teaches
international relations
the federal government is likely to be and follows the Horn
prolonged under any circumstances, of Africa closely. This
analysis is published
but is most likely to descend into a fully- in partnership with
fledged civil war if the military fragments. Democracy in AfricaThe Continent ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Page 29
This is not This has changed. Post-2015, the
ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi,
the Tanzania moved from a competitive hegemonic
party to an autocratic intolerant party.
envisioned by Between 2016 and 2020, it was close
to impossible for opposition parties to
operate.
Julius Nyerere Nevertheless, the parties, in particular
Chadema (the main opposition party)
Aikande C. Kwayu and ACT-Wazalendo, took innovative
approaches to continue organising and
F ollowing independence in 1961,
the core mission of Tanzania’s first
president Julius Nyerere was to build
mobilising. These efforts paid off during
the 2020 election campaign, when they
marshalled huge support in rallies across
unity among Tanzanians of different the country.
tribes, races, beliefs, education and Election day was a different story,
income. He called it a “National however. Violent incidents, threats and
Conscience”. irregularities at polling stations were
But the socialist principles that reported. The opposition accused the
underpinned this nation-building ruling party of rigging the vote on a grand
project were abandoned in the late scale. By the time the votes were counted,
1980s, and replaced by liberal economic the opposition had been reduced to less
and political policies in the early 1990s. than 10 seats in parliament – a result that
The multi-party system was introduced strained the bounds of credibility.
in 1992. Nyerere, wanting to protect the Given the suspicion surrounding these
national unity he held so dear, supported election results, the ruling party is now
this development, and even spoke operating at a considerable legitimacy
positively about those at the forefront of deficit. The only way it can maintain
establishing new political parties. power is through further polarisation of
Between 1995 and 2015, Tanzania citizens based on their party affiliation.
conducted five general elections under This is the opposite of what Julius Nyerere
a multi-party system. The overall envisaged. His National Conscience has
performance of opposition parties kept been well and truly dismantled. ■
improving. In 1995 the opposition won
46 elected parliamentary seats, which
increased to 68 in the 2015 elections.
Those five elections were not entirely
free and fair, but there was gradual
Aikande C. Kwayu is a political scientist in
expansion of space for opposition parties Tanzania and an honorary research fellow
to organise and mobilise. at the University of Wisconsin-MadisonThe Continent
ISSUE 28. November 7 2020 Economics Page 30
Covid pandemic drives
Kenyan e-commerce boom
Patrick Mayoyo of social distancing, lockdowns and other
measures in response to the coronavirus
A s you approach the entrance of
Artcaffé, along Kenyatta Avenue
in downtown Nairobi, a glossy banner
have led consumers to ramp up online
shopping, social media use, internet
telephony and teleconferencing, and
catches your attention. streaming of videos and films.
As tall as a person, it invites customers Nebert Najori, a web developer based
to “shop and select, pay online and order in Nairobi, says demand for e-commerce
before 2pm for same-day delivery”. websites is on the rise since the outbreak
Although Artcaffé is already a of the coronavirus.
renowned restaurant, it is now leveraging “Many businesses are shifting their
new innovations to sell various products services online and in the recent past
to its clients online. I have received inquiries from clients
On its website you can order interested in setting up websites and
beverages, bread, fruits, vegetables, social media marketing platforms,” he
flowers, meat, seafood, milk, ready meals says.
and much more, and have them delivered Another company that is changing
to your doorstep. how people are doing business in Kenya
The Covid-19 pandemic has altered is online payments service provider
global economics, traditional ways of DPO. The firm enables customers and
doing business and people’s lifestyles. merchants to transact securely online
Around the world, businesses have been and offline, facilitating the growth of local
forced to set up online shops and start businesses through the establishment of
experimenting with digital marketing e-shops.
innovations in attempts to turn the tide Despite these innovations, the
against the economic impacts of the economic picture remains bleak: annual
disease caused by the coronavirus. global GDP growth is predicted to decline
Kenya is no exception. to 2.4% in 2020, and may even be negative
In a report titled “E-commerce, Trade in the first quarter of 2021, according
and the Covid-19 Pandemic”, the World to the Organisation for Economic Co-
Trade Organisation says the enforcement operation and Development. ■You can also read
