African Football

In eight days the African continent will come to a standstill as Africa’s biggest sporting show case commences. The 29^th edition of the African Cup of nations (AFCON) to will be hosted by South Africa is truly unique tournament as it signifies a change in the tide for the competition. Traditionally the tournament was held every two years, with the rotation occurring during even years (1998, 2000, 2002 and so on) after the tournament hosted by Tunisia in 1965. This edition will take place in 2013 a year after the reigning champions Zambia won it in 2012

Nigeria celebrating after qualifying for the Olympic Final in 1996

When you assess football dominance in Africa it is evident that there has been a changing of the guard. Traditional powerhouses like Nigeria and Cameroon have lost their sting, with the latter failing to qualify for this year’s tournament. These teams were seen as Africa’s teams, their participation in the World Cup was not only for their country, but for the continent at large. Who could ever forget Nwaku Kanu raising the ball and falling dramatically after the gold medal in the Olympics during the LA Games. Four years later Cameroon replicated the performance of their rivals Nigeria and won gold in Sydney 2000. This was followed by the dominance of Egypt who have won the trophy 7 times and have played 90 games. These three teams combined have won the tournament 13 times, but now the fear they used to instil into other countries has fizzled out. Back in my days I could name the entire Nigeria and Cameroon line up, but now I cannot even name five players for both teams combined.

Corruption, lack of patriotism and poor administration has led to the demise of these once storied nations. Okay that’s enough about history and facts that most fans are not interested in - as all that’s on their mind is winning. This year’s tournament will be hosted with the best facilities ever in the wake of the 2010 World Cup. South Africa, being the hub of Southern Africa and the greater part of the continent possess world class stadiums, hotels and training facilities will ensure a successful tournament. Personally, I hope this tournament will give birth to new football powerhouses as was the case 15 or 16 years ago. Ghana, Ivory Coast and Zambia have the potential to do so, but until Ivory Coast win the Final game they will always be the bridesmaid at the showcase, despite having some of the biggest names in football at the world stage. The name Ghana invokes joy and flashbacks of 2010, but it’s time for them to dominate the game and win their 5^th Cup. Well Zambia the second country to win the event in Southern Africa can solidify its place as an elite team by winning it again or finishing on the podium.

Soccer might be the most loved game on the continent, but passion is not the only factor responsible for the games development across the continent. Scandals like the Asiagate scandal in Zimbabwe should be resolved and avoided (SA 2010 scandal and Nigeria). Africa is tired of only dominating AFCON, it’s time to have an African nation hoisting the WORLD Cup, but this is only possible if nations deal with off the field issues so as not to destruct players. In 8 days the African drum will be beating, accompanied by dancing and on the 20^th of February one nation will in total jubilation. Let the games begin, but it’s time to learn, grow and develop the African game.

Déjà vu

Country Facts

Name: Republic of South Sudan

Capital: Juba

Neighbours: Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya and Ethiopia.

Population: 8 260 490 (2008)

President: Salva Kiir Mayardit

Independence: 9 July 2011

Lingua Franca: English

This week our journey takes us to the north west of Nigeria to what was once part of Africa’s biggest country-Sudan. Due to never ending turmoil Sudan was partitioned creating a new country in Africa named South Sudan. Not long after its establishment violence has erupted and ethnic tension is the chief culprit responsible for the mayhem.

The term ethnicity has many definitions, but certain characteristics are constant in the explanation. Pertaining to this article, ethnicity will be defined as a named human group with common ancestry, sharing memories, culture and territory or homeland. Ethnic groups are a symbol of pride and identity for the members giving them a sense of affiliation. In as much as ethnic groups enable people to have a sense of belonging they also create artificial boundaries with other ethnic groups thereby creating strife amongst them. Therefore, ethnic violence is based on the idea that one’s ethnic tribe is far superior to the other and thus the other groups must submit to their authority.

On the 11 of March 2011 Africa and the world welcomed South Sudan after a civil war based on ethnic, religious and economic grounds. The conflict was between Muslim Arabs in north Sudan and Christian Nilotes and animists from the south. Due to the nature of the grievances faced by these two groups, no resolution could be passed and the bloodless coup de tat by Omar al-Bashir who introduced an Islamic legal code across the country exacerbated the situation. The stance taken by al-Bashir was strongly opposed by the south coupled with the banning of political parties and press censorship. These irreconcilable differences led to the partitioning of Sudan in 2005 and the birth of Sudan.

Map of South Sudan

The creation of the 54^th state in Africa was seen as a move to usher in peaceful coexistence among the people of South Sudan. On the contrary, the country is currently immersed in another bloody battle, but in this case the cause is ethnic. Since January 2012 the Lou Nuer and the Murle tribes in the Jonglei region have pitted gruesome attacks on each other’s ethnic villages. This has led to the region being declared a ‘disaster area’. Historically, these two tribes have constantly fought for power and cattle. Cattle in an African context are a symbol of wealth and power. Livestock is used to pay dowry, making it a form of currency.  These attacks are marked with cattle raids, burning homesteads and abduction of women and children who are engaged in forced labour. During the long civil war the Murle were seen as traitors. They were accused of regularly abducting their neighbours'  (Lou Nuer and Dinka) children, a practice not uncommon across South Sudan. Competition for scarce resources and for arms that were left over after the civil war has also contributed to the violence.

Eight Thousand Lou Nuer youths stormed the Pibor town burning Murle homes resulting in approximately 60 000 people fleeing their homes. The Murle launched a counter-attack which left more than 3 140 people dead with most of the victims being women and children according to local government officials and the United Nations. The Lou Nuer also began burning and looting fields and raiding crops which has caused severe food shortages. Armed forces have been deployed in a bid to curb the violence. The army intends to create a buffer zone between the tribes in a bid to disarm them and stop the carnage.

The ongoing crisis is decapitating a crippled economy, with 80% of the country depending on agriculture. Minority groups like the Anyuak, Jie and Kachipo have also been affected by the violence bringing the country to a standstill. Therefore the crisis is hindering growth in the new state and seriously increasing poverty in the country recovering from war with the north. Furthermore, the country is now dependant on food aid from organisations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) which is feeding close to 7 000 people in the Pibor region. reports from the United Nations suggests theat the ethnic violence has affected 120 000

The issue of ethnicity has always been a sensitive one in Africa after independence. It has always hindered government’s attempts to build a nation, which is a community of people sharing similar language, culture and ethnicity. However, Africans have more allegiance to their clan more than their country because African nations were colonially manufactured. Various methods have been undertaken to foster nationalism and not ethnicity in Africa. Nelson Mandela famously used the 1995 Rugby World Cup to unite the Apartheid ridden country of South Africa. South Sudan has deployed armed troops to hoard off the violence, which is a stop gap measure. In the long run government must also address the root causes of violence among minority communities through fair political representation, disarmament and equitable distribution of natural resources. A comprehensive and deliberate educational system tailor made to promote integration with emphasis on civic lessons on citizenship and what it means to be a South Sudanese citizen can be done to foster nation-building. Targeting youth is particularly important for breaking intergenerational attitudes towards ethnicity, because this group can be easily mobilised to take part in violence as was the case with the Lou Nuer tribe.

Ethnic violence has no clear cut victors no matter how long it takes and how much one tribe annihilates the other. It is however detrimental to the economy and political climate which is not determined by colour, creed, religion and ethnicity, but is hinged on harmony and on corporation amongst the diverse ethnic groups.

Nigeria a nation divided

When diversity kills!

 

One attribute Africans have is their inclination to belong, whether it’s to their traditional beliefs, ethnic tribe, or religious group. This sense of belonging is so strong that people are prepared to die for their beliefs. The down side however is the inability to live together despite the differences which have made civil war an ongoing crisis on the continent. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country and is home to approximately 455 ethnic groups who mainly believe in Christianity, Islam and animism (belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings).

The recent turmoil in Nigeria is not primarily caused by its ethnic diversity, but by religious affiliation which has split the country into two sections with the Muslim to the north and Christians on the south.  Religious tension is not new, but is a deep sited issue. In 1967 the Nigerian Civil War demonstrated the level of tension between these two groups. The causes of the civil war were fourfold economic, cultural, ethnic and religious. So seven years after independence cracks began to appear in the state that was artificially created by colonial rule.

The pressure between these groups has forced the People’s Democratic Party to enforce a rotation system when electing the party’s president. The presidency rotates between the two groups to maintain peaceful coexistence between both sides of the religious border. At the present moment Goodluck Jonathon a Christian is the president and he faces the religious clash and the ongoing general strike.

In 2002 the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad which means people committed to the propagation of the Prophet’s teachings and jihad was formed. Their actions on the other hand, prompted them being known as Boko Haram which means ‘Western education is sacrilege’, due to their animosity towards western teachings. Their aim is to nationalise Sharia law which is largely practised in the northern. Their agenda categorically opposes Christianity, and thereby making conflict inevitable. Their activities have included of late the 2010 bombings in Jos led to the death of 80 people in the north coupled with the multiple bomb blasts after the inauguration of Goodluck Jonathon in 2011 and the 2011 Christmas day bombings.

Boko Haram’s reign of terror has led to retaliation from Christians. Ayo Oritsejafor the leader of the Christian Association of Nigeria instructing his members to riposte. This stance has led to a stalemate as both groups are slaughtering members of the opposite religious sect in their area. On the 11^th of January 16 people were killed, 8 victims from the north and the remainder from the south. In the northern state of Zamfara churches have been attacked with 19 arrests being made. Approximately 7000 people from Hausa, a community found in the south has taken refuge in police station and army barracks. These actions, coupled with the general strike in the country have led to Jonathon to call for a state of emergency. Troops have been ordered to patrol the streets of major states and cities to deter violence and protests. However, these efforts are being thwarted by Mr Shekau who is the leader of Boko Haram. He has posted videos on Youtube calling for his people to unite and exterminate Christians if they refuse to leave the country.  

The strife in Nigeria is even escalated by economic due to the removal of oil subsidies by the state. This has led to an increase in oil prices causing schools, businesses and shops to close due to the strike. So the country is faced with religious and economic turmoil instigating a civil war. Wole Soyinka a winner of the Noble prize for literature has called for national unity because failure to do so will result in a bloody war.

To prevent a bloody war the African Union and Arab League must work together. Shekau’s stance implies he will only listen to diplomats with the same religious belief as him. If an African solution to an African problem cannot be reached, the international community will step in making the situation more volatile because of the fundamentals of the Boko Haram. Wars have no victors because the image, economy and social life of the country will be dented and in some instances a generation may be wiped out before conditions stabilise.

Introduction/ January

Nothing beats the African sun and the amazing people found on the continent.

Its 2012 and the sun is still shining but unfortunately more than half the continent

is struggling to put food on the table due to unemployment, poor education and civil

unrest.

The beginning of the year is always met with high expectations in the form of new

years resolutions and the bulk of Africa's wishes revolve around basic needs and

not purchasing the latest iphone or going to Disney World.

Through this blog I hope to bring to light the events that will occur in Africa from

2012 and beyond. These issues will include politics, social and sport.

let's blog away!