The new semester has begun and I have less than an hour before the first meeting of my graduate seminar in Modern African History. I have time to roll off a few stories that warrant some discussion:
Former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba has been acquitted of using his country’s treasury like his own personal bank account. Most observers see the decision as a step back for those pushing for strong anti-corruption safeguards across the continent.
In Sunday’s New York Times Magazine Deborah Solomon had an interview with Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. I have to admit, I am always befuddled when people argue that the world would be a more peaceful place if women were in charge. Margaret Thatcher and Golda Meir say “hello!”
Sao Tome: Mmmmmmm . . . . chocolate!
A number of African Union heads of state met at AU headquarters in Addis Ababa on Monday to address global climate change. They came up with the frankly not unreasonable proposal to have the affluent western nations help fund their transition to greener energies to the tune of some $67 billion annually. I would, however, argue that tactically it might not be the best approach to label the hoped-for funds as “damages.”
Kenya has kicked off its new census process amidst controversy over the appropriateness of asking for ethnic labels. One does have to question the utility of such labels given recent Kenyan history.
South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has embraced a public report issued by scientists who have questioned – sometimes scathingly – several aspects of the country’s public health policies. Although it may be too early to be making such assessments, this seems like another clear break between Jacob Zuma and Thabo Mbeki, whose administration rarely dealt with criticism well.
And for those of you who are interested, here is the reading list for my Modern Africa graduate seminar:
Roland Oliver and Anthony Atmore, Africa Since 1800
Curtis Keim, Mistaking Africa
Tim Jeal, Stanley
M.E. Chamberlain, The Scramble For Africa
Giles Foden, Mimi and Toutou’s Big Adventure
David Birmingham, The Decolonization of Africa
Paul Nugent, Africa Since Independence
Bill Berkeley, The Graves Are Not Yet Full
