A Graveyard for Lunatics

By Hakeem Babalola

Since they say that nothing lasts forever, not even gods can preclude this apocalypse. The economists who seem to be ruling the world also share the same sentiment through the theory of diminishing return. Even animals understand it. A goat is most likely to turn back and face its pursuer as the last resort. The holy books sanction such moment when circumstances inspired the meek to rise up against and defeat those reckless impetuous irresponsible peopleclick to read story

Adrienn Nyisztor Is On The Right Path

By Vincent Nnanna
Commentary

I completely agree with Adrienn Nyisztor regarding her project of documenting her personal experience with a view to instructing others against falling victims. Although she has not introduced herself as a Journalist, but what she has embarked upon is a journey into one important aspect of journalism. If I have my way, I would certainly lend some helping hand to facilitate Adri's bold project.

If someone had done some documentary on the human face of XENOPHOBIA, we would have been spared of the many lives that have been lost and all the mayhem against strangers in South Africa.

I live in a society outside of my home state. Here, the first language is not English. My first language is English. And everyone who speaks English in this place is automatically given a derogatory nomenclature that makes you know that you are not welcome. It doesn't matter what commitment you make socially, economically or morally to the upliftment of their environment.

Yet, they cannot boast of self-sufficiency in any area. They certainly need us (strangers), to open their hearts and eyes to the good that lie behind and beyond their primitive ideology. Unfortunately, even most of their intellectuals are not exempt from this xenophobic intimidating attitude.

The only way to get by in this tumult is to learn to speak more than one of their local languages in addition to their lingua franca.

I have had to speak publicly in condemnation of this attitude. I have gone on air several times to argue that they are many of their own people in other countries who are enjoying first class hospitality irrespective of their class, culture or language. But because the xenophobic tendency is deep-rooted in them, there is little respite from an insignificant number of the population.

I feel sorry to say that most of my co-strangers are not helping matters because of the way and manner they conduct themselves in this environment. There is so much arrogance, selfishness and dishonest practices among my kins over here. I believe that this is what they have exported to Hungary that makes Adrienn Nyisztor want to cry out.

Let her cry if that will bring about any positive results. She has my blessings, and I am ready to give her material some professional touch if she asks me.

Vincent Nnanna writes in from Cotonou

Africa Day Marked in Hungary

Archie Bonka Reports

Africa Day

This year's Africa Day was celebrated in Budapest by several civil societies connected with African activities on May 23 in Hungary at the Painters Club.

The occasion was used as a platform to discuss some of the issues affecting immigrants and minorities, especially the best way for their integration.

Participants include Gabriel Deen of Mahatma Ghandi Foundation, Lorince Marcel from the Art Mission Foundation, Zoltán from the Immigration Head Office, a representative from MENEDEK and a refugee from Sudan.

The participants debated on language barrier, lack of jobs, racism, and detaining of refugees in Hungary

Gabriel Deen seemed unhappy that refugees are not being adequately protected. "Refugees should not be sent to prison," he argued, adding that they should be protected because they left their different countries in order to escape from brutality.

A representative from the Immigration Head Office, Zoltán, disagreed saying, since most of those who applied for asylum came into the country illegally, they must face the law for illegal entry should their application be rejected.

Meanwhile, the Sudanese refugee appeared unimpressive during the debate. It was apparent that he was naive about the topic in question. For example, he seemed to lack knowledge about the happenings in Sudan - his country.

Business and Aid also feature during the debate. Many participants believed that before the aid packages could be meaningful, transparency and good governance must first be the priority otherwise most people will have died before the arrival of the aid packages.

Apart from debate, about three hundred school children from various Primary and Secondary schools around the country seized the opportunity to learn about Africa, especially paintings from TINGATINGA art collections in which Dr. Sarungi Emoke of KIKOA Art explained in details with so much enthusiasm.

However, the turnout of Africans were so poor that prompted a Hungarian lady who had spent thirty-six years in Lagos, Nigeria to ask a pertinent question as she registered her disappointment.."Where are the Africans?"

Even without many Africans in attendance, AFRICA-HUNGARY PLATFORM which was housed in a nomadic tent, took the participants to Africa through a big screen showing African films from Cairo to Cape Town.

Both Afro Magic and Chalaban Bands provided entertainment.

SAHARA FOUNDATION, AFRICAN-HUNGARIAN UNION, HELLO AFRICA, AFRIKAERT FOUNDATION and the AFRICA-HUNGARY PLATFORM are some of the organisations that grace the occasion.

Nigerians Are Ungrateful People

By Hakeem Babalola

Past leaders are expected to be widely known and esteemed like a glorious harmattan morning. But in the case of Nigerians, they have assumed an attitude of thankless towards their leaders. They often perform the ungrateful task of comparing cases of failure among their past leaders. Nigerians have wilfully turned their past leaders into villains. Ironically, they believe every preceding regime is always better. What’s the matter with Nigerians?click to read story

A Night Out at an African Party

Archie Bonka recently attended an African party where he marvelled at the way the Masai tribe managed to keep their culture and ways of life in this era of American culture that pervades our world. "I am proud of them," he says. Roll along with Archie in this detail account of the night in question click to read the full story