My Contribution to Chapter Book in French Edition

 LES AUTEURS

Assamala AMOI - Odome ANGONE - Aïssata BA - Kadiatou BALDÉ - Bénédicte BIDJECK SONG - Koumanthio Zeinab DIALLO - Ann EL SAFI - Mariéme FAYE - Monique ILBOUDO - Fatoumata KANE KI-ZERBO - Oumou KANE - Fatoumata KEïTA- Germaine ANATÉ KOUMAÉLO - Adan MAKINA - Ndeye Dieynaba NDIAYE - Berth NTANGA - Yvonne OUATTARA - Nathasha PEMBA - Cécile SOW - Fatou Warkha SAMBE - Aîcha YATABARI - Mamadou CAMARA - Pape Bakary CISSOKO - Pape Ladjiké DIOUF - Ndongo MBAYE - Club des jeunes filles leaders de GUINÉE.

ISBN : 978-2-36296-011-6

French edition Chapter Book Jusqu'à ce que mort s'ensuive !: Livre collectif sur les violences basées sur le genre en Afrique (French Edition) meaning “Until Death Ensues!: Collective book on gender-based violence in Africa (French Edition).”

MEMORIALIZING THE PAST

Yesterday, I had a hectic day searching for a memory card for my Sony HI-8 Camera. Finally, close to sunset, a Gikuyu friend sold one to me. It was bought in Mororo. Strange enough, even the memory card is Sony. Nowadays, every Dick, Tom, and Harry is a Photographer. The same applies to every Diifley, Deredleey, and Dareenleey with a Smartphone.

Due to globalization and human inter-connectedness and the world transforming into a global village, our own Geeljire and Jilley, whether in Addoo Booddaa, Wallu Gabaaba, Dheekaa Harja, Asaaqo or Kamoor Arba or Arba Daboolo, can now, with ease, teleconference and as well video-conference with the livestock owners anywhere in the world as long us data bundles are available from Safaricom and other carriers.

To better memorialize our past, I'd suggest we look for hand pictorialization or graphic experts who can redraw the special changes or events our people have been through that are worth recollecting. We need to have a vivid recollection or depiction of the old bridge, the one and only loudspeaker around the main prison that blazoned "Dheerow, Dheerow, Dheerow--Dheerooow adigana Dheeroow--dhinaca iga soo joogsoo dhunkashada mar ii dhiibee", and the only two main gates--one around where Garissa Yarey and Sankuri Road converge near the graveyard where there was a mtaro and the other one was near the old Father John. This was the era of forced villagization--a kind of concentration camp.

The old town deserves pictorial recreation. It is worth recollecting the afternoon and evening children's play times and playgrounds. The hide-and seek after maqrib song like:

Loo loo loow
Loon daaroow
Kureydi ciddaa
Waan boornaa
Waana bakisnaa
Sac la booranaa
Waa balaayee
Soo baxaay...

Boys teasing of young girls with the song:
Foodleey fajo
Fiijaan isgeli
Faataxa burburi
Loodaayn horteed
Heey noo dheh

The insulting language can be paraphrased to give it better, appealing taste that rhymes with modernity.

The dress code of the men and women of old should be put into perspective. The men's bafta and hidha (ceylon) and ladies' baluugleey that were garxir (gareys) with one breast visible on one side, the kabo Carbeed sandals (dacas) and men's Dood and Leylon (nylon) shoes, the hagoog headscarf, and other olden regalia could be included.

Fauna and flora of all types deserve enumeration. What were the favorite fruits children ate those days? Later miraa chewers started from munching the Kamoora shrub. Mareer fruits, Janow branches, Dheekaa Booneed, Lika, and roots and tubers were delicacies. Those who could not afford Big-G or chewing gums enjoyed Hambaq (xabag). What happened to the Dana plant?

Please note that I'm a trained Photographer previously (1998) employed by QUALEX Inc, USA.

The African Union Stakeholder Analysis

Formerly the Organization of African Union (OAU) and founded in 1963 under the auspices of the former emperor of Ethiopia Haile Selassie, OAU changed named in 2002 to become the African Union (AU). With headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, AU constitutes over fifty states excluding the Maghreb kingdom of Morocco. Stakeholder analysis can be used as a tool to determine the purpose and information to be used and help focus on more or various dimensions that will help set the stage for analyzing past, present, near or distant events (Brugha and Varvasovszky, 2000). Since the AU is an amalgamation of third world nations and that it cannot sustain its commitments to the continent by itself, there are economically powerful nations such as those in the western hemisphere that make it operational by providing the necessary financial resources and military gear.

Making stakeholders out of advocates requires a structured approach, mapping out advocacy, and finally closing the gap (Dewhurst and Fitzpatrick, 2005). Of the various organs of the AU, the most important stakeholders that make the organization effective include the Assembly, the Executive Council, and the Pan-African Parliament. However, it is the Assembly that holds the banner for the AU as it is thus far the most important stakeholder in policy implementations. The Assembly is the gathering of Heads of States who converge at a certain venue once every year to deliberate on the issues affecting the continent. The Assembly has the power to expel any rebel state from the Union for a certain period of time. The Executive Council gets directives from the Assembly on matters pertaining to war and restoration of peace by supplying peacekeeping troops where applicable especially in conflict-prone areas. Also, it is the prerogative of the Assembly to appoint the African Court of Justice Members and the Chairman of the Commission. As for the Executive Council, ministers are drawn from member states and they deliberate on certain areas that include foreign trade, social security implementations, agriculture and food subsidies and communication.

The three stakeholders described above work in concert to create a common ground for spearheading the interests of member states. They generally constitute an assemblage with common interests that include a governing body, a union, and interest groups. They are bound by a charter which is inviolable and commensurate with union legislation. However, some countries may have leverage over others for providing the financial means necessary for driving the activities. An example of a country that enjoyed greater influence in the Union was the North African state of Libya whose previous leader, Muammar Gaddafi, shone above every other leader because he spent a lot of money either for a just cause or through using manipulative means to drive a particular agenda to his advantage. Muammar Gaddafi’s economic clout enabled the Union to have a sponsor to give it legitimacy.

By striving and working collectively the AU has developed an initial agreement which is to advance the political, economic, and cultural values of the nations that constitute the broader union. This system has materialized since the founding of the Union in 1963. Finding the right people has been made possible by the various branch members that come together at certain times of the year to choose the right people for the right functions. So far, the Union has had tangible process-oriented outcomes in its determination to succeed. The Union has a process guideline which is separation of powers as in a democratic institution where every level of government strives to reach required expectations while keeping in touch now and then to sort out differences. The level of support given by the sponsor and the joint workings of the three branches is what is giving the Union legitimacy while at the same time driving it to the right course. The participation of stakeholders in the Union increases the chances of buy-in and commitment. Co-optation is another aspect that makes the Union to succeed in its endeavours.

References

Brugha, R & Varvasovszky, Z. (2000). Stakeholder analysis: A review. Health policy and planning, 15(3): 239-246.

Dewhurst, S. & Fitzpatrick, L. (2005). Turning stakeholders into advocates. Strategic communication management, 9(6), 6-7.