Oscar Pistorius and South Africa's gun obsession

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-35006865

Not only is this a relevant article for the African Area Studies class however, it is relatable to the United States' growing gun obsession as well. It seems that the new in the US has blown up with (no pun intended) breaking news stories about innocent civilians being shot and almost always killed. This article uses the Paralympic gold medalist Oscar Pistorius as an example for the many people who develop an obsession of firearms. Pistorius was convicted of murder because he thought someone was intruding into his house. Instead, he ended up killing a loved one. In a prosecution video he stated while shooting at a watermelon that it is "not as soft as brains" (Nkosi). Whether joking or not, what kind of sane person jokes like this? Pistorius might have seemed like a good person dedicated to his health and determined to be successful. However, such a successful gold medalist must have had to work so hard. Perhaps, he overworked himself. Perhaps, unconsciously he felt subjugated to olympian training and shooting made him feel powerful and in control again.

In the 60s, the AK47 symbolized liberation from the Apartheid. "The liberation movements said they took up arms because the apartheid government encouraged white citizens to arm themselves against 'die swart gevaar' (the black threat)"(Nkosi). This type of mentality is dangerous and ironic because it is the mentality of fire combating with fire in place of strategic planning helping the authority understand that you are of value. "Good guys never win", perhaps this is why the liberation movement used guns as a symbol, to represent the power and control they regained over their lives. In this day and age it is difficult to feel in control of ones life. There seems to be no privacy, more and more rules to follow, more things to do that many feel forced to do and less time in ones day to reflect and partake in ones own passions. People sleep less nowadays, and trust me not sleeping can make you go a bit crazy. It is also difficult for families to be families and for parents to be parents and watch over their children. As a result, harmful habits are developed as a way to destress such as alcoholism which can make some violent, junkfoodism which can affect one's physical and mental health, and violent video gaming that can become addicting. The feeling of winning is a boost of self esteem that many are lacking due to feeling of loosing ones identity and free time to judgements and the responsibilities of every day life. Violence is a causation of anger. The gun obsession that is increasing nationwide will only become worse if education is not more enjoying for students, work environments are not enjoyable for employees and do not give employees enough time to spend with their families and if the media continues to make people feel watched and insecure.

They say most CEOs test as psychopaths, lacking empathy and remorse for others. Well, they had to get to the top somehow. Many idolize power and CEO means power. Power over others, over a business, and over capitalism and policy. It seems that in todays world successful businesses, such as Nike and Apple, are successful through unethical decision making such as child labor and working people to the death (literally). For example, Apple factories in China must have suicide nets to ensure none of the workers kill themselves at work.
The definition of success has seemed to change. It seems that success means being a part of the top 1% that controls almost everything. Money makes the world go around. Hunger makes you do crazy things. The lack of sleep makes you insane. What a combination. -_- But its ok because patience, family, love and the understanding that things need to change can fix this all!

Climate-Linked Poverty

http://allafrica.com/stories/201511302808.html
80% of the labor industry in Africa is dedicated to farming and fishing. With difficult climate conditions, due to global warming, it is imperative that policy makers not only come up with a plan to prevent further global warming but to also come up with a plan to help the massive job industry of farming and fishing in Africa. Not only is this the ethical thing to do, but it is also important to the rest of the world since Africa exports much of its produce. The World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim is working on a plan to restore "...degraded land to financing hydropower dams and creating jobs for refugees, the world needs to come up with more innovative solutions to the linked challenges of climate change" (Rowling). Because this plan costs about $16.1 billion he is asking for help from other first world countries. The World Bank is contributing $5.7 billion but it is clearly not enough but a little help from everyone can go a long way. Further, YOU could also help by taking steps to prevent global warming from getting worse such as eating less meat, carpooling and drinking tap water in place of water bottles. (Click the link below to learn more  http://www.coolantarctica.com/Antarctica%20fact%20file/science/Top_ways_to_save_the_poles.php )

Traditional Beadwork

Monkeybiz, a non-profit organization that provides a way for mostly woman to generate income in South Africa. At this organization, the women are able to express their unique creativity through reviving African traditional beadwork while also feeling proud of their work. Each finished product is signed by the artist giving the artist the credit they deserve. Many of these woman are HIV positive and/or are the "breadwinners" of the family. Through Monkeybiz, they are also taught about nutrition, micro-finance and even receive counseling. Many African woman are anxious to land a position with Monkeybiz for its great values and opportunities. Not only does Monkeybiz allow these women to express their creativity but it also serves the community and allows them to grow as individuals. 

http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2010/12/11/monkeybiz_bead_art/

To shop monkeybiz or learn more about click on the link bellow: 
http://www.monkeybiz.co.za/

3 sources for essay topic

Essay topic: What is it about the United States that African immigrants find so appealing?

US-based African immigrants more educated
http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=2014101521150498

5 Fast Facts About Black Immigrants in the United States

https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/immigration/news/2012/12/20/48571/5-fast-facts-about-black-immigrants-in-the-united-states/

African Immigrants: Highly Educated and Underemployed in America

http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2015/05/african_immigrants_highly_educated_and_underemployed_in_america.html

Monkeybiz

Monkeybiz, a non-profit organization that provides a way for mostly woman to generate income in South Africa. At this organization, the women are able to express their unique creativity through reviving African traditional beadwork while also feeling proud of their work. Each finished product is signed by the artist giving the artist the credit they deserve. Many of these woman are HIV positive and/or are the "breadwinners" of the family. Through Monkeybiz, they are also taught about nutrition, micro-finance and even receive counseling. Many African woman are anxious to land a position with Monkeybiz for its great values and opportunities. Not only does Monkeybiz allow these women to express their creativity but it also serves the community and allows them to grow as individuals. 

http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2010/12/11/monkeybiz_bead_art/

To shop monkeybiz or learn more about click on the link bellow: 
http://www.monkeybiz.co.za/

Ethiopia's Music in the Bay Area

Meklit Hadero, an Ethiopian-American singer song writer raised in San Francisco combines her native Ethiopian language and culture to the modern music she composes. Her style is unique and often comprised of sounds found in nature and in every day life such as a bird's tune or the sound of dishes clashing. Hadero described Ethiopian language as very musical sounding. This most likely contributed to her ability to recognize every day sounds as musical instruments. She is also co-founder of The Nile Project where she explored the music of the Nile basin, pulling influences from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt. 

She returned to San Francisco and immersed her self into the art culture and began collaborating. She has also worked with artists from Oakland. She fits in perfectly in the Bay Area, an urban area rich in culture and out of the box thinkers. People like her contribute to our rich diversity. Like Dr. Fitzgerald mentioned the most successful immigrants today came from African countries. Meklit Hadero is a perfect example of a successful immigrant contributing to the melting pot of the Bay Area.



https://www.ted.com/speakers/meklit_hadero

http://nileproject.org/meklit-hadero/

Culture Shock

The author of the article addresses things Americans would likely think is negative and haunting. The contrast between African and American culture can be seen through the authors diction and choice of examples. This article focuses on magic and witchcraft practiced in the sub-Saharan Africa. A gallup study was conducted in 18 different countries to measure the correlation between happiness and witchcraft. Within these 18 countries, 55% of people reported to believe in witchcraft. It was found that the older and less educated participants were more likely to believe in magic. A more critical feeling towards African culture witchcraft could be seen in the article when the author fails to mention anything positive or intriguing about believing in witchcraft. The article also mentioned that witchcraft was associated with the mutilation of albinos in Africa. In African culture, being born albino represents a curse. The author's conclusion states: "while personal belief in magic and witchcraft may seem harmless, the actions some people take based on those beliefs are clearly not" although witchcraft is associated with killings and of course this is immoral, we as American's have to consider the idea that perhaps these things happen because of the lack of education not so much because these individuals believe in witchcraft. In other words, maybe these people would have acted violently anyway. I would also like to know how happiness was measured because everyone has their own definition of happiness. In addition, like Ms Fitzgerald stated, Africans tend to expel what is not useful throughout history and keep what is useful. If witchcraft has persisted throughout the years into more modern times, that means it has to have some use to the African culture and has to benefit the lives of Africans in some ways. Perhaps citizens are too afraid to deviate away from witchcraft in fear that if they do, they will suffer. In conclusion, in order to avoid mis-judgement of Africa, it is always best to note the cultural differences and the effects of a lack of education.

http://www.livescience.com/8515-belief-witchcraft-widespread-africa.html

About the Khweta Circumcision Ceremony

The African Khweta Circumcision Ceremony is a South African tradition where boys are sent to a "circumcision lodge". The Xhosa boys reside in isolation for the winter months while they undergo difficult tests of stamina and get circumcised. In addition, the lodge master teaches the group of boys about the conduct, social duties, traditions, and political obligations. Because all knowledge comes from the lodge master, much of the lodge masters' character and knowledge resembles the lodge masters. The lodge boys/men keep details a close secret so it is difficult to know about exact details from the ceremony. It is concerning to think how much influence one man can have on a group of boys. It is even more concerning to think this man as corrupt. However, this ceremony is necessary in order to get married and in order to be respected as a man. Upon their arrival during the Spring, the men paint their bodies white, wear sheepskin as a coat, a reed skirt, a cone hat made out of reed, and lastly a mask made out of reed in order to keep evil spirits away. These costumes are worn while performing dances to the neighboring huts. Next, in the spring, the circumcision takes place. After, the costumes are burned and the young men are driven to a river by their initiators who thrash them ceremonially, they bath in the river where their white paint is washed off.



http://www.encounter.co.za/article/167.html

A Brief and Accurate Description of the Voodoo Relgion

http://www.ancient-origins.net/history-ancient-traditions/origins-voodoo-misunderstood-religion-002933


The Voodoo religion, also known as Voudon, is rather misunderstood and is not exactly what the media portrays it to be. While its roots are to still be determined, many believe it originates in West Africa. Voodoo in fact was the result of the 16th and 19th century slave trade and was brought to the Americas through the slave trade. However, a 1658 law prohibited the practice of African religions in order to spread Christianity. This is probably where rumors and Voodoo's bad reputation began. Instead of not practicing their religion or disregarding it, slaves decided to combine both Christianity and Voodoo. In addition, Voodoo is classified as a polygamous religion because Voudon practitioners worship many spirits which is also called Iwa or Ioa. For example, in Haitian Voodoo, "St. Peter is recognised as Papa Legba, the gatekeeper of the spirit world, whilst St. Patrick is associated with Dumballah, the snake lwa". Also, "loa can also manifest themselves by possessing the bodies of their worshipers". The practice of Iwa could be beneficial to Voudon practitioners because it gives the practitioner strength since they get to be a powerful spirit or superhuman for a second. Although they practice a polygamous religion, a supreme being, Bondye, overruled spirits and demigods, much like modern day Christianity's saints. 

The Use and Importance of the Lamba Garment

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lamba_(garment)

Sarongs in the western culture are mainly worn by women as skirts. In the African culture, a similar cloth that resembles a sarong is not only worn as a skirt but has integrated itself as a nifty and highly valued article of cloth amongst both men and women. Lambas are colorfully weaved in Madagascar and highly used in Madagascar and throughout different regions of Africa as a daily article of clothing. Perhaps this is why individuals wrap their Lamba's around a deceased individual before placing them in a family tomb as a respect to the deceased soul. Typically, Lambas are worn over the left shoulder but may be worn over the right shoulder if an individuals is in mourning. It seems that the Lamba has proven to be such an important part of everyday life that it has become a part of a person's personality. Furthermore, there are multiple ways to wear a Lamba and multiple types of Lambas. For instance, the Lamba that is placed in a deceased person's tomb is called a Lambamena. As a fashion statement, an individual may choose to wear it around their hip, as a shawl over shorts, as a slash, or headdress. In the winter, it is worn over a long sleeve tunic called a malabary. In addition to it being a fashion statement and a cultural tradition, one may see a Lamba being worn on an individual's head as extra cushion when transporting goods. Mothers will also use a Lamba as a means of transportation for their child. A mother will tie a Lamba to her back where a child could comfortably and securely rest. Although it may seem like a simple cloth, Lambas have proven to be a big part of the culture in Madagascar.