Homosexuality in Africa

Among Swahili-speakers on the Kenya coast, particularly in the port of Mombasa, mashoga are
transgenderedtransgendered prostitutes who have all the liberties of men and are also welcome in many contexts in which men are prohibited. The paid partner usually takes the receptive role during intercourse, but it is likely that his inferiority derives from the fact that he is paid to provide what is asked for, rather than from his undertaking a particular sexual role. The one who pays is called the basha (derived from "pasha," a high-ranking official and the local term for the king in packs of playing cards).
Among the Fon, the predominant people in Dahomey (now Benin), Melville Herskovits in the 1930s reported that, after the age at which boys and girls may play together, "the sex drive finds satisfaction in close friendship between boys in the same group . . . . A boy may take the other 'as a woman,' this being called gaglgo, homosexuality. Sometimes an affair of this sort persists during the entire life of the pair" (though he earlier referred to homosexual relations as a "phase" through which adolescents pass).
Egalitarian Homosexual Relations
Most of the reports of homosexual relations not involving differences in age or gender status involved young, unmarried men's sexual relationships with each other. Kurt Falk wrote about an especially intimate bond of association, soregus, among the southeastern African Naman that included sex both between men and between women (with mutual masturbation the most common form of sex, but also males taking turns at anal penetrations and females using dildoes on each other).
An "exceptionally reliable" Nykakyusa (a people living around what is now the Tanzania/Zimbabwe border) reported to Monica Wilson in the early 1930s that male friends, who live in villages of age-mates when not out herding cattle, generally sleep together. The Nykakyusa accepted that male friends who danced together would have sexual relations. "Even if people see them in flagrante delicto, they say it is adolescence (lukulilo), all children are like that: they say that sleeping together and dancing is also adolescence," according to Wilson's elder. He reported that interfemoral intercourse is "what boys mostly do" and also reported anal and oral sex, ("some, during intercourse, work[ing] in the mouth of their friend, and hav[ing] an orgasm").
Female Homosexual Relations
Controversy continues about the purported chastity of female husbands in various African cultures. An Ovimbundu (in Angola) informant, told an ethnographer, "There are men who want men, and women who want women. . . . A woman has been known to make an artificial penis for use with another woman." Such practices did not meet with approval, but neither did transvestite homosexuals of either sex desist.
Among the Tswana (in addition to homosexuality among the men laboring in the mines), it was reported that back home "lesbian practices are apparently fairly common among the older girls and young women, without being regarded in any way reprehensible." Use of artificial penises was also reported among the Ila and Naman tribes of South Africa.
There is more surmise than documentation of sexual relationships in female compounds in various African societies, though there are attestations of female homosexuality in some of the same places in which male homosexuality was more intensively studied (including Mombasa and among the Azande).
The most extensive discussion is of "mummy" and "baby" (that is, age-differentiated) roles in Lesotho. Relationships are initiated voluntarily by one girl who takes a liking to another and simply asks her to be her mummy or her baby, depending on their relative age, according to Judith Gay. "The most frequently given reason for initiating a particular relationship was that one girl felt attracted to the other by her looks, her clothes, or her actions. . . . Sexual intimacy is an important part of these relationships." Over time, a Sotho may undertake both roles (with different partners) or play the same role with different partners.
Conclusion
With reports from hundreds of sub-Saharan African locales of male-male sexual relations and from about fifty of female-female sexual relations, it is clear that same-sex sexual relations existed in traditional African societies, though varying in forms and in the degree of public acceptance. Much of this same-sex activity was situational or premarital, though there were long-term relationships, too. The special Christian animus toward homosexuality was carried to Africa by Europeans and stimulated denials that "the sin not named among Christians" existed among "unspoiled" Africans.


Many forms of ambiguous sexuality can be found throughout the traditional arts of Africa, including images of androgyny, hermaphroditism, and transvestism; and much of erotic sculpture and theater can also be seen as homoerotic.literature
The treatment of same-sex relationships in African literatures has been influenced by the traditional belief systems of various African societies, the imported views of Christianity and Islam, and the political and legal legacies of European colonialism.social sciences
Anthropology, the first of the social science disciplines to take sexuality--and particularly homosexuality--seriously as a field of intellectual inquiry in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, has achieved a new impetus in the post-Stonewall era.
social sciences Beginning in the 1960s increasing numbers of ethnographers have conducted research on glbtq issues, spurred by the premise that studies of diverse sexualities are crucial to understanding human behavior and culture.
social sciences "Indigenous" is a concept important in the history of anthropology, particularly as it regards anthropology's treatment of same-sex sexual relations.
social sciences
Santería, Vodou, and related belief systems comprise a complex of religious ideas, practices, and imagery whose origins can be traced to West African traditions.social sciences sciences/situational_homosexuality.
Situational Homosexuality
Situational homosexuality is same-sex sexual activity that occurs not as part of a gay life style, but because the participants happen to find themselves in a single-sex environment for a prolonged period.social sciences
Although evidence of his own homosexual leanings is inconclusive, in his lifetime Sir Richard Burton was regarded with suspicion because of his knowledge and understanding of same-sex sexual activity.


bibliography

Besmer, Fremont E. Horses, Musicians, and Gods: The Hausa Possession Trance. South Hadley, Mass.: Bergin & Garvey, 1983.
Donham, Donald L. History, Power, Ideology: Central Issues in Marxism and Anthropology. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1990.
Epprecht, Mark. "The 'unsaying' of Indigenous Homosexualities in Zimbabwe." Journal of Southern African Studies 24 (1998): 631-51.
Evans-Pritchard, E. E. "Sexual Inversion among the Azande." American Anthropologist 72 (1970): 1428-34.
Falk, Kurt. "Homosexualiät bei den Eingeborenen in Südwest-Afrika." Geschlecht und Gesellschaft 13 (1925): 209-11.
Gay, Judith. "'Mummies and Babies' and Friends and Lovers in Lesotho." Journal of Homosexuality 11 (1985): 97-116.
Herskovits, Melville. Dahomey. New York: Augustine, 1937.
Murray, Stephen O., and Will Roscoe. Boy-Wives and Female Husbands: Studies of African Homosexualities. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998.
Shepherd, Gill. "Rank, Gender and Homosexuality: Mombasa as a Key to Understanding Sexual Options." The Cultural Construction of Sexuality. Pat Caplan, ed. London: Tavistock, 1987. 240-70.
Wilson, Monica. Good Company: A Study of the Nyakyusa Age Villages. 1951. Rpt. Boston: Beacon Press, 1963.

HOLOCAUST FOR NIGERIAN GAYS?

I have followed this debate with a lot of interest but it is not easy to stay quiet in the face of indirect mobilization of people to do harm to others and themselves. Many people may shy away from this topic or address it superficially of falsely because of societal prejudice.

What did we know of gays, homosexuals, transgender etc while growing up in our villages and towns in Nigeria? I dare say almost nothing? Some smart ones in the south who do not even know how to explain its dynamics say ‘it is something evil Moslems (Hausas) do in the north. Probably the case/accusation will be the opposite when you get to the north ………It is always other people’s problems.

Why all these ‘kill them, exterminate them, don’t allow them, the bible said……, God said….., nature said……. etc’ that is going on in our communities now? The rat said that he is not annoyed with the person who hit him with a broom as he is with those who were shouting “don’t allow him to escape”. We should rethink and moderate our words. i.e the weight and influence they might have on others.

This brings to mind the killing of twins and other little complications our level of scientific knowledge couldn’t arrive at until the missionaries arrived. Who would have convienced our ‘ignorant’ grand parents that they weren’t defending nature and the laws set by God. ‘……..A WOMAN SHOULD GIVE BIRTH TO ONLY A CHILD AND NO MULTIPLE GESTATIONS LIKE GOATS…….’ These were considered words of God because 98% of the populace did so.

My auntie told me that when they were kids their neighbour had a son very normal and very lively, but they noticed that he was using more his left hand so they hung a stone on that left hand so that he would not use it as it was clear the child was becoming left handed; something not still accepted in many Nigerian cultures. The kid used his right hand and my auntie told us that the very boy at a point became strange and was always strange, did not associate with people and spoke rarely to anyone. When he grew up at about the age of 22 he committed suicide. I do not want too much psychology but any reader will understand the role suppression and psychological repression played here.

The writer from Abuja claims that one is trying to change what God has created by being a gay, transgender etc. Who created the Gay or do we believe he went through a process to learn it or are we associating it to a vice like stealing that should be addressed through re education? There are so many mechanisms and dynamics that one must have undergone before expressing his homosexual attitudes.

Following some of your debates one will even attribute it to God. I do not think that God will punish my father for opening the earlobes of my sisters for the ear rings nor put him in hell fire for circumcising his male children, with the accusation of changing what he GOD has created. Nobody told God how to create him but the society decides who stays in the society; is this against Gods wish? Some people are born genius and some imbeciles; the society takes the genius and the imbecile is condemned to death in one way or the other according to the social education of the populace. How do we put Gods wish here. Why are there less imbeciles, down syndrome persons etc in our Nigerian society? Someone opined that we are more blessed than the Oyibo people who he claims indulge in many unnatural activities. We all know the truth; they are either put to death knowingly or unknowingly in our society. You may see cases of children with such syndromes in many educated/schooled families in Nigeria. Why? High level of Social and cultural understanding which in many cases advances also economic levels as simple as this.

Every religion is claimed to condemn homosexuality. This is alright and true. My preacher in Nigeria whenever he comes in and sees my girlfriend in trousers was always fast in showing me where it is written in the bible that men should not wear clothes of women or the other way round (pardon but I cannot remember that verse). I do not know if that portion is still in the holy book. I do not intend to blaspheme anyway. I had always pointed out to him that Jesus (from the images were made to see and believe) never wore trousers i.e men’s cloth but attires I as a Nigerian may associate with women’s dresses ). Therefore, that the application of that verse is relative and may still change with time and places. Don’t remind me I know “….everything will change but the words of God will remain……” this is also somewhere, but I cannot remember…….heeelp!!! This is just a little insight into how things can change or applications may vary.

Why are we intolerant to things we do not understand instead of getting to know what and why it is happening? Why do we see homosexuals as evil and never wonder if the other person is thinking the same of us who may still be the majority? How have we transformed ourselves to ‘super beings’ quasi gods capable of assigning and interpreting feelings?

I will stop here because I may be having inspection in the office.

Later I will say something of my working experience with homosexuals, Tran’s genders, prostitutes etc.

Charles Okey.C

(Roma-Italia)

GENITAL MUTILATION & IMMIGRATION

AG: Don't deport genital mutilation victim

From Terry Frieden
CNN Justice Producer

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The U.S. attorney general is trying to prevent immigration authorities from sending a Muslim woman to her home country, where she was a victim of female genital mutilation.

Attorney General Michael Mukasey ordered an immigration court to reconsider an African woman's case.

In a stinging order overriding federal immigration courts, Mukasey blasted a decision that said a 28-year-old citizen and native of Mali should be expelled "because her genitalia already had been mutilated [so] she had no basis to fear future persecution if returned to her home country."

Calling the rationale "flawed," Mukasey sent the case back to the Board of Immigration Appeals with orders to reconsider.

The woman, a native of Mali, begged the court not to send her back to her Bambara tribe.

The 28-year-old said if she returned and had a daughter, the child also would be subject to mutilation. The woman also said she faced forced marriage if she had to go home.

Mukasey cited what he concluded were two significant factual errors in the court's rejection of her appeal.

Don't Miss

• Read Mukasey's full letter to the court

"Female genital mutilation is not necessarily a one-time event," Mukasey said. He noted that the board in a previous case had granted asylum in to one woman whose "vaginal opening was sewn shut approximately five times after being opened to allow for sexual intercourse and child birth."

He also concluded that the Board of Immigration Appeals was wrong to assume that the woman "must fear persecution in exactly the same form [namely, repeat female genital mutilation] to qualify for relief."

Mukasey had been urged to look into the matter by angered members of Congress in the wake of the January decision.

"This recent action taken by the Board of Immigration Appeals is a step backward for the rights of women worldwide," declared Rep. John Conyers, D-Michigan, in a January letter.

"Female genital mutilation is a gross violation of a woman's human rights and has traditionally been grounds for the granting of an asylum claim," Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-California, said in the letter.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, issued a statement applauding Mukasey's action, and declaring female genital mutilation a "barbaric practice widely regarded as a human rights abuse."

The Justice Department acknowledged it is extraordinarily rare for an attorney general to jump into a relatively low-level immigration case. The immigration courts decide about 40,000 cases a year, and an attorney general has issued an opinion on a case only three times in the past three years.

Female genital mutilation is common in parts of Africa, Asia and in some Arab countries, according to the United Nations. The operation is viewed by some ethnic groups as a means to control a woman's sexuality and is sometimes a prerequisite for marriage or the right to inherit.

The procedure can cause tissue injury, severe infection and fever, among other complications. The U.N. has recorded cases in which hemorrhaging and infection lead to death.

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/09/22/genital.mutiliation.immigrant/index.html?eref=edition

BUCO NERO

Nel buco nero di Castelvolturno dove la vita vale 25 euro al giorno

Eduardo Di Blasi

Si chiama Nency, ma il nome l'ha da tempo napoletanizzato in Nunzia. Viene dal Kenya, anche se quando le poni la domanda risponde: «Da Roma, ho fatto due anni per spaccio di droga a Rebibbia». Ha quasi cinquant'anni, i capelli bianchi, tre figlie e un ex marito che le passa 500 euro al mese. È una madre di famiglia che in questi due anni ha inventato una bugia («ho detto che sono andata in convento») per non raccontare alle figlie una verità difficile da nascondere.

Oggi, uscita da quel convento, è tornata a Castel Volturno e ha lasciato le figlie a Roma. Ha fame, in tasca non ha nemmeno i soldi per le sigarette, gira per strada con uno scialle leggero mentre inizia a fare veramente freddo. Eppure è tornata qui. Perché? Perché solo qui Nunzia può sopravvivere, può arrangiarsi, può grattare qualcosa per se, può nascondersi assieme agli altri suoi connazionali nell'enorme buco nero che da quasi trent'anni cancella le storie degli africani d'Italia. Troverà un tetto, troverà dei soldi, spacciando o mettendosi sul ciglio della strada a vendere quello che resta di se stessa. Ce la farà: sopravviverà. Troverà la sua fetta di vita alle spalle della Domitiana, in queste case basse attraversate da stradine piene di rifiuti e di facce di neri. Manderà i soldi a casa da questo nuovo convento senza indirizzo. Nessuno le chiederà nulla.
Come nessuno chiederà mai niente ad Alex, ghanese di 30 anni, faccia incazzata mentre cerca di mettere in fila due parole in italiano. Nessuno gli chiederà nulla, tranne l'affitto per il letto (150 euro al mese) e le sue braccia, che sono in vendita tutte le mattine alle cinque, in una piazza di Pianura, davanti al bar Ferrara. Una giornata di lavoro senza alcuna copertura assicurativa viene via per 20-25 euro, sei giorni la settimana domenica esclusa, sempre che il padrone non decida che preferisce picchiarti e non darti nulla, perché tu, in fondo, non sei niente.
Ecco perché nessuno chiede loro nulla, perché loro non esistono. Sono ventimila gli immigrati irregolari nella provincia di Caserta, almeno 11mila quelli di Castel Volturno, che sono per la stragrande maggioranza africani.

«Non esiste un posto così nel mondo», avvisa Antonio Casale, direttore del centro Fernandes, da 12 anni fiore all'occhiello della Caritas di Capua nel cuore di questo buco nero. Non esiste, non fa fatica a rispondere, perché qui, in 30 anni, non è successo niente. «Prima arrivavano i francofoni del Benin e della Costa D'Avorio, poi è stata la volta dei ghanesi, dei togolesi, dei nigeriani. Oggi arrivano i sudanesi, i liberiani, sempre più poveri e più ignoranti». Arrivano a Castel Volturno per due motivi fondamentali. Il primo è che in nessun posto del mondo un immigrato irregolare potrebbe trovare una casa. Non ci sono barboni a Castel Volturno. Tutti hanno un tetto dove ripararsi in questo paradiso di seconde case cadenti. La seconda ragione è che qui ci sono gli altri africani, da sempre. E allora puoi creare una microcomunità.
Eccolo il «modello Castel Volturno», la non integrazione di bianchi e neri che ha portato a quella che Casale definisce «la separatezza». Nel buco nero senza legge, dove anche un occupante di casa napoletano può chiedere l'affitto a un africano e la cosa sembra normale, dove le automobili non solo non hanno l'assicurazione esposta, ma alcune nemmeno il posto dove esporla, le comunità vivono per conto proprio.

«Hanno i loro negozi, i loro quartieri, anche le loro chiese». Tutti. Ognuno per sè. Ecco perché anche quelli che vivono qui da dieci anni non parlano una parola di italiano: perché sembra non dovergli servire. «Se ne accorgono appena vanno via da Castel Volturno». È un circolo vizioso che crea questi mondi paralleli, questi traffici leciti e illeciti. È l'obiettivo di trovare i sessanta euro a settimana, le due-tre giornate di lavoro.

«Cacciar via gli immigrati non è la soluzione al problema di quest'area. Per Castel Volturno e il litorale Domizio occorre altro: un organico progetto di riqualificazione». A parlare è l'arcivescovo di Capua, monsignor Bruno Schettino, che presiede la fondazione Fernandez, che accoglie ogni giorno 60 immigrati con un servizio mensa che offre il pranzo a 100 persone. «Hanno paura ed è comprensibile: per mia esperienza personale questa è gente che non fa alcun male». Ma quel che ci vuole è una strategia: «Il discorso è più ampio e non si risolve mandando via alcune centinaia di stranieri, che qui fanno lavori che altri non intendono svolgere».

Fabio Basile, anche lui da anni nella trincea di Castel Volturno a metterci tutto quello che può metterci la società civile in un processo del genere (è tra gli animatori del centro sociale "Ex canapificio" di Caserta da sempre impegnato sul mondo migrante), non fa fatica a descrivere il modello suddetto: «È così, e nessuno se ne importa. Il governo, ancora una volta, pensa di farne un problema di sicurezza pubblica, ma qui è chiaro che stiamo parlando d'altro».
Vediamo bene di cosa stiamo parlando allora. «Noi siamo un piccolo comune campano con i problemi di una metropoli», sintetizza il sindaco di Castel Volturno Francesco Nuzzo e per fare un esempio dell'enorme mole di lavoro che si trova a fronteggiare nella sua scomoda posizione spiega: «Abbiamo ventimila irregolari, venti vigili urbani e una sola assistente sociale, perché con i tetti di spesa non possiamo assumerne nemmeno un'altra, e non sto dicendo che ne servono due».

Non va meglio a polizia e carabinieri che dovrebbero presidiare un territorio in cui le regole non solo non esistono, ma sembra quasi non possano esistere, con la camorra che possiede case, negozi e bar, che spara e commercia, costruisce, investe, interra rifiuti speciali e fa mozzarelle. E queste centinaia di facce scure, schiavi composti di questa terra, che solo per identificarli ci vorrebbero 5mila giorni e per sequestrargli la macchina un deposito giudiziario di diversi chilometri quadri. Angelo Papadimitra, segretario della Cgil di Caserta, non ha dubbi: «Da questa storia si esce solo con una legge speciale per Castel Volturno. Ci vuole una sanatoria». Invece il governo si fa portabandiera di un nuovo «ordine pubblico», in un posto in cui i sei africani ammazzati giovedì scorso aspettano ancora un funerale. Tra sabato e domenica non si è trovato nessuno che facesse l'autopsia di quei corpi crivellati di colpi.

http://www.unita.it/view.asp?IDcontent=79205

SOFTWARE UPGRADE

Dear Systems Analyst,

I am desperate for some help! I recently upgraded my program from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 and found that the new program began unexpected Child Processing and also took up a lot of space and valuable resources.

This wasn't mentioned in the product brochure. In addition Wife 1.0 installs itself into all other programs and launches during systems initialization and then it monitors all other system activities.

Applications such as 'Boys' Night out 2.5' and 'Golf 5.3' no longer run, and crashes the system whenever selected. Attempting to operate selected 'Saturday Football 6.3' always fails and 'Saturday Shopping 7.1' runs instead.

I cannot seem to keep Wife 1.0 in the background whilst attempting to run any of my favorite applications. Be it online or offline.

I am thinking of going back to 'Girlfriend 7.0', but uninstall doesn't work on this program. Can you please help?







---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AND THIS IS WHAT THE ANALYST SAID:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Customer,

This is a very common problem resulting from a basic misunderstanding of the functions of the Wife 1.0 program. Many customers upgrade from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 thinking that Wife 1.0 is merely a UTILITY AND ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM. Actually, Wife 1.0 is an OPERATING SYSTEM designed by its Creator to run everything on your current platform.

You are unlikely to be able to purge Wife 1.0 and still convert back to Girlfriend 7.0, as Wife 1.0 was not designed to do this and it is impossible to uninstall, delete or purge the program files from the System once it is installed.

Some people have tried to install Girlfriend 8.0 or Wife 2.0 but have ended up with even more problems. (See manual under Alimony/Child Support and Solicitors' Fees).
Having Wife 1.0 installed, I recommend you keep it Installed and deal with the difficulties as best as you can. When any faults or problems occur, whatever you think has caused them, you must run the,

C:\ APOLOGIZE\ FORGIVE ME.EXE Program and avoid attempting to use the *Esc-Key for it will freeze the entire system.
It may be necessary to run C:\ APOLOGIZE\ FORGIVE ME.EXE a number of times, and eventually hope that the operating system will return to normal.
Wife 1.0, although a very high maintenance program, can be very rewarding.
To get the most out of it, consider buying additional Software such as 'Flowers 2.0' and 'Chocolates 5.0' or 'HUGS\ KISSES 600.0' or 'TENDERNESS\ UNDERSTANDING 1000.0' or even Eating Out Without the Kids 7.2.1' (if Child processing has already started).

DO NOT under any circumstances install 'Secretary 2.1" (Short Skirt Version)
or 'One Nightstand 3.2' (Any Mood Version), as this is not a supported Application for Wife 1.0 and the system will almost certainly CRASH!

....Do you think it's always advisable to upgrade?

"THE NIGERIAN MAFIA...........?"

The recent happenings in Castelvolturno (massacre of 7 Africans) by people suspected to be members of the CAMORRA (the Naples mafia) has seen fingers being pointed to the CASALESSI family. In this havoc there are many things that people in the Nigerian community in Italy may be worrying about.

The first report that hit the press was of the killing of 6 Nigerians by the mafia because of non payment of drug royalties. The killings had every indication that would make anyone point to an organized group like the Camorra; hundreds of bullets form automatic Kalashnikovs by 6 people on 'fake' police jackets and cars……….

Later in the day the news came out clearer and the identities of those killed were known; 4 Ghanaians, a Togolese, and a Liberian. There was no Nigerian involved. The poor Africans were all working in their textile and tailoring shop where they sew and mend cloths for Italians and foreigners.

The story changed and some press reports had it that since they were non Nigerians it would have been a mistake by the commando that carried out the operation, insinuating that the Napoli mafia (Camorra) was really annoyed with the Nigerian mafia which has an alliance with them but in the recent past started to disobey and have their own (Nigerian) bosses thereby stopping to pay royalties from drug proceeds. It was also reported that the Nigerian group that had signed pacts of alliance many years ago with the main mafia for the indirect control of drugs, prostitution, illegal labor, illegal immigration etc were gathering too much powers ;therefore should be thought a lesson or re-dimensioned. http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2008/settembre/19/Camorra_strage_extracomunitari_co_8_080919002.shtml

http://archiviostorico.corriere.it/2008/settembre/19/Roberti_Una_pulizia_etnica__co_8_080919003.shtml

The police still insist that those killed were involved in drug movement in the area (they are Africans after all) notwithstanding that no drug was found in their workshop or in their residences.

The Nigerian mafia had their first clash with the Italian mafia 22 years ago (1986) when 6 Nigerians were 'kneecapped' . There was apparent peace and cooperation with the two mafias until the night between 23^rd and 24^th April 1990 when the camorra organized a commando that hit a group of their Nigerian allies in bar Centro di Pescopagano- leaving two deed and many who were not even connected with drugs wounded. In the month of January this yare 3 persons were charged with the death of those Nigerians.

These are just little bits of the 'Black mafia' which has in the past 17 years gained a lot of powers and is peculiar for the its tribal based set-up and the sort of impunity it has amongst other organized criminal groups.

According to the report it is hard to believe that among the numerous drug pushers none of the Nigerians has ever collaborated with the justice to reveal what happens within the group and they have continued to propel their activities from Italy to all over Europe growing from the sells of heroine to the control and wholesale of the cocaine and the control of prostitution.

The recycling of the black mafia money is through money transfer and other complicated connections that are difficult for the Italian central bank or the European Central Bank (ECB) to discover and dismantle. The report claims that the Nigerian Mafia in this form has shown a great competitiveness that makes it the 5^th Mafia in Italy.

http://www.positanonews.it/dettaglio.php?id=16812

Some question I would ask members of the community who read all the press reports , analysis and tv reports on Nigeria and her nationals in Italy:

· Are we all prostitutes, mafians, and drug pushers?

· What is the population of Nigerians in Italy and what is the percentage involved in these vices?

· Who speaks or will speak for the community and defend her and the Nation for all the exaggerations and accusations that has been going on these days in the press?

· what is our mission (embassy) doing to see that the numerous Nigerians that are resident in Italy and are highly law abiding do not face unnecessary harassments and molests from Italians and the serotypes of the Italian law enforcement agencies? many African ambassadors went or sent their representatives to Castel Volturno some days ago; did anyone from the Nigerian mission travel to that area to ascertain the security of law Abiding Nigerians living in that region?

There are more questions to be asked and to be answered on this issue Do you have any?

Okey. Chukwubike C

Colonia: un esempio per tutti

l contatto tra gli autonomi che protestavano e le forze dell'ordine ha provocato il divieto
Erano previste 2.000 adesioni europee, si sono presentati poche decine di naziskin italiani

Colonia si ribella alla xenofobia
vietata la manifestazione islamica

Ha preso la parola solo Borghezio, subito interrotto dallo stop della Polizia
La risposta civile della città. Il borgomastro: "Non c'è posto per razzismo e tolleranza"
dal corrispondente ANDREA TARQUINI

COLONIA - I populisti di destra, gli xenofobi, gli antiislamici, di tutta Europa hanno incassato in Germania la loro Stalingrado. La "conferenza contro l'islamizzazione" indetta qui dal movimento 'Pro Koeln' (per Colonia) e con la partecipazione di gruppi e partiti ultrà di tutto il continente, è stata proibita all'ultimo istante per imperativi di pubblica sicurezza dopo che la città intera si era mobilitata con cortei, sit-in e blocchi stradali per sbarrare il passo ai populisti sulla via della piazza del mercato, luogo previsto per il loro comizio.

"E'una vittoria di Colonia, città tollerante dove abita gente di 180 etnie e oltre venti religioni, ma città che ha tolleranza zero contro l'eurofascismo", ha detto esultante il sindaco democristiano (Cdu, il partito della Cancelliera Angela Merkel) annunciando il divieto ai manifestanti democratici in piazza.

Si è conclusa così, con uno smacco dell'euroultradestra, la giornata che aveva fatto temere il peggio, la giornata che si preannunciava segnata da ore di violenze, tumulti etnici e guerriglia urbana tra estremisti di destra e di sinistra. Con l'appoggio del governo federale di Berlino, il borgomastro e la polizia hanno all'ultimo momento vietato il raduno convocato prima di tutto per condannare la decisione (appoggiata dal borgomastro) di costruire a Colonia una nuova, modernissima moschea che sarà la più grande di Germania.

VIDEO: DALL'INVIATO ALESSANDRA LONGO

La giornata era iniziata alle 9 del mattino, quando migliaia e migliaia di dimostranti anti-populisti avevano cominciato a radunarsi a Piazza Papa Roncalli, sul lato destro del maestoso, gotico duomo cattolico di Colonia. Militanti democristiani e socialdemocratici, verdi, sindacalisti, operai metalmeccanici, minatori della Ruhr, giovani venuti in treno o in autostop da ogni parte della Germania, avevano risposto all'appello del borgomastro Schramma e dei sindacati. Schramma, l'eroe della giornata, è stato il primo oratore. Ha detto che "a Colonia non c'è posto per razzismo, intolleranza, discriminazione e ogni odore di fascismo", ha aggiunto che "a questa cricca marcia di eurofascisti noi possiamo indicare solo la porta d'uscita e cacciarli, non sono i benvenuti". Fin da ieri venerdì, la resistenza passiva della città aveva reso la vita difficile ai manifestanti populisti: tassisti e conducenti di bus a noleggio si erano rifiutati di prenderli a bordo, ristoranti e alberghi hanno disdetto le loro prenotazioni.

A Piazza Roncalli ci sono stati i primi scontri tra polizia e gruppetti di autonomi e di black bloc che contestavano l'iniziativa xenofoba da posizioni estreme. Alcuni giovani hanno tentato di rubare la pistola d'ordinanza a un agente, la polizia ha subito reagito. Gruppi di estremisti hanno puntato su Heumarkt, la piazza del mercato luogo previsto del raduno di destra. La piazza già era bloccata da cordoni di dimostranti pacifici, gli autonomi hanno attaccato la polizia che ha reagito. Decisa ma senza esagerare, senza andare all'escalation. Manganelli e cariche a cavallo per contrattaccare, ma niente lacrimogeni né pestaggi. Intanto la piazza restava chiusa, solo pochissimi militanti di destra riuscivano ad arrivarci. E la tensione in strada restava alta. A quel punto è giunta la decisione di vietare il raduno. E all'euroultradestra non è restato che cercare la strada verso la stazione centrale o l'aeroporto.

In piazza, per il comizio, era arrivato solo l'eurodeputato leghista, Mario Borghezio. Ha potuto pronunciare solo qualche parola, poi l'audio è stato spento e anche lui è dovuto scendere dal palco. Borghezio se n'è andato urlando: "Europa cristiana, mai muslmana" e sibilando: "La decisione delle autorità tedesche di impedire la manifestazione 'stop Islam' indetta dal comitato Pro-Koeln conferma pienamente la nostra tesi: siamo di fronte a una strategia islamista di criminalizzazione di chiunque osi parlare".

Alla manifestazione dei democratici erano presenti anche politici dell'opposizione italiana: c'erano Laura Garavini, eletta deputato nelle liste europee del Pd, Eugenio Marino, responsabile pd per l'emigrazione italiana, e Rossella Benati della comunità italiana di Colonia. Hanno portato la loro bandiera, sono saliti in tribuna, hanno detto "La nostra presenza qui è contro la xenofobia e il razzismo, e per l'identità multiculturale". La Benati ha aggiunto: "I nostri padri venendo qui da emigrati vissero la discriminazione, oggi i bambini tedeschi giocano insieme ai bambini figli di immigrati". Schramma accogliendoli sul palco li ha abbracciati, li ha salutati come simbolo dell'altra Italia.

-----PHOTO THOUGHTS----: 7 AFRICANS EXECUTED.... CAMORRA?#links

-----PHOTO THOUGHTS----: 7 AFRICANS EXECUTED.... CAMORRA?#links

AFRICAN WOMEN

Women to rule Rwanda parliament Rwanda already holds the world record for highest proportion of female MPs Rwanda will be the first country where women will outnumber men in parliament, preliminary election results show. Women have taken 44 out of 80 seats so far and the number could rise if three seats reserved for the disabled and youth representatives go to females. Rwanda, whose post-genocide constitution ensures a 30% quota for female MPs, already held the record for the most women in parliament. The ruling party coalition won 78% of seats in Monday's vote. Indirect elections for women's quota seats took place on Tuesday and votes for two youth representatives and a disabled quota seat are taking place on Wednesday and Thursday. It is the second parliamentary elections since the genocide of 1994 when some 800,000 minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus were slaughtered by Hutu militias in just 100 days. 80-SEAT PARLIAMENT Elected seats: 53 * RPF: 42 seats, 78.76% of the vote * Social Democratic Party: 7 seats, 13.12% of the vote * Liberal Party: 4 seats, 7.5% of the vote Quota seats: 27 (women 24, youth 2, disabled 1) Women total: 44 seats, 55% of parliament Preliminary results Rwanda National Electoral Commission President Paul Kagame was instrumental in establishing the Tutsi-led 's Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) - the rebel force which took power and ended the genocide. The BBC's Geoffrey Mutagoma in the capital, Kigali, says the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party have conceded defeat. In the outgoing parliament, 48.8% of MPs were women - the world's highest rate. It is now set to be at least 55%. Women who stood in seats reserved for female candidates were not allowed to represent a party. "The problems of women are understood much better, much better by women themselves," voter Anne Kayitesi told the BBC's Focus on Africa. "You see men, especially in our culture, men used to think that women are there to be in the house, cook food, look after the children... but the real problems of a family are known by a woman and when they do it, they help a country to get much better." http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7620816.stm

Quote rosa in Rwanda

In Rwanda il parlamento è donna
di Umberto Martini



In Rwanda il parlamento è donna. La commissione elettorale dello stato centroafricano ha reso noti oggi i risultati delle elezioni politiche terminate il 18 settembre. La notizia è che per la prima volta al mondo, in un parlamento democraticamente eletto, il numero delle donne supera quello degli uomini: su 80 seggi infatti, 44 si declinano al femminile. Il Rwanda – alla sua seconda elezione politica all'indomani del tragico genocidio del 1994 che causò la morte di più di 800 mila persone – supera così la Svezia dove le donne sono il 47% dei parlamentari e Cuba, dove si fermano al 43,2%. La forte presenza femminile in politica rispecchia la composizione della società che è costituita per il 54,9% da donne. Per molti versi, questa è una conseguenza delle persecuzioni razziali tra hutu e tutsi che hanno caratterizzato l'intera storia del Rwanda dal giorno della sua indipendenza dal Belgio nel 1962.La notizia storica del primo parlamento rosa ha fatto passare in secondo piano la vittoria, ampiamente prevista alla vigilia, del partito del presidente della Repubblica Paul Kagame. Il Fronte patriottico rwandese ha infatti conquistato 42 dei 53 seggi disponibili nelle elezioni dirette. In tutto sono 8 le forze politiche del paese, ma soltanto tre sono rappresentate in Parlamento. Oltre al già menzionato Fpr, dei restanti 11 seggi, 7 sono stati assegnati al Partito social-democratico e 4 al Partito liberale.Paul Kagame, eletto presidente nel 2003 con il 95,05% delle preferenze, è stato spesso criticato dalle forze dell'opposizione per non rispettare i principi democratici, ma secondo gli osservatori della Comunità europea, che hanno controllato lo svolgimento della consultazione, le elezioni si sono svolte in un "clima di libertà di espressione e partecipazione al dibattito politico". Il capo degli osservatori, Michael Cashman, si è complimentato con il Comitato elettorale nazionale (NEC) per l'ordine nei seggi e per la trasparenza nello spoglio delle schede sottolineando che "in confronto alle elezioni del 2003, si sono visti molti miglioramenti anche dal punto di vista dell'informazione".In questo campo, però, il Rwanda ha compiuto pochi progressi rispetto al passato. Al momento, esistono soltanto un quotidiano e un canale televisivo a diffusione nazionale ed entrambi sono di proprietà dello stato. Pochi i media privati ed indipendenti. Uno di questi, Umuseso (in italiano "L'alba"), denuncia di frequente pressioni e minacce da parte di uomini dell'esercito e della polizia. Mentre nella classifica sulla libertà di stampa di Reporter senza frontiere, il Rwanda occupa un poco onorevole 147 posto dietro a Russia, Egitto e Tunisia.Ma in molti settori di questo paese, che ha la più alta densità di popolazione in tutto il continente africano (281 abitanti per km²), si respira un'aria di ottimismo. Da quando Kagame è al potere, gli investimenti stranieri sono aumentati vertiginosamente, mentre sanità ed istruzione iniziano finalmente ad avere a disposizione delle strutture adeguate, malgrado l'aspettativa di vita non arrivi ai 50 anni e oltre il 60 % della popolazione viva sotto la soglia di povertà.Di fatto l'esito scontato di queste elezioni non cambia nulla a livello politico. Paul Kagame, già molto potente, ne esce ancora più rafforzato. Il voto, probabilmente, è stato influenzato anche dal clima di tensione che si respira al confine con il Congo. Secondo il presidente Joseph Kabila, il governo ruandese "non è innocente" nella ripresa dei combattimenti lungo la frontiera del Nord-Kivu tra l'esercito congolese e le armate di ribelli tutsi guidate Laurent Nkundae. Questa delicata situazione, che molte volte ha già rischiato di trasformarsi in una vera e propria guerra tra vicini di casa, può aver spinto i ruandesi a scegliere un leader autorevole e carismatico, capace, come già fece nella guerra di liberazione del 1994, di imbracciare il kalshnikov e guidare l'esercito. Le prossime elezioni saranno nel 2010 quando si eleggerà il presidente della repubblica. Kagame, senza ombra di dubbio, punta ad un secondo settennato e in questo momento nessuno sembra in grado di proporsi come una valida alternativa. Per le vie di Kigali, come per quelle di Butare o Nyanza quando si parla di politica e potere si pensa subito a "mister Paul"!
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