Negotiation and the need to identify an Ideology.

In some of my previous posts, i mentioned the importance of identifying an underlying ideology in the effort to challenge fundamentalist groups with a view of getting them into the negotiating room. While it may be often more convenient to think of your foe as a evil the manner in which he fights you means that you will never be in a position to win against him. This is what we have come to refer to as the unconventional war.

My reference in particular was to the Boko Haram group which i argued needed to be confronted about its Educational reform ideas. Because of the insistence that Western Education was forbidden, we needed to engage them about what they felt was lacking in local education systems. In a sense we needed to force them into a different battle field-that of the mind.

Now that the aforementioned group was seeking to form union with Al Quaeda and ISIS, this need is becoming more apparent. This is significant because even if the face of modern 'resistance' was changing, these groups were also feeding on each other and benefiting from the numerous research that was available on-line and with many media houses. While some groups (especially suicide bombers) were often encouraging their recruits to prepare for virgins in heaven, Boko Haram is instead creating a heaven on earth for its fighters by providing them young brides. This is a massive and notable change in Ideology. These shifts in thinking need to be exploited and utilized.

What these groups are saying, is that some of what was conventionally expected as heaven in its rewards can now be made available on earth. This is a two edged sword and can serve to fodder or prevent some of those who before were tempted to take their lives in acts of bravery. The downside of this though is that the same African (Nigerian Group) has also started using young girls to take part in acts of violence.  

A Word about the one percent

Luke 15:4-7

What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

We recently or not so recently found out that a large portion of all global wealth was in the hands of about one percent of the worlds population. At the moment, the world as we know it is really in the U.S. as a result a movement emerged which was designed to process this uneven distribution. The occupy movement was born and chose as its epicenter, wall street (the financial capital of the world). 

The crisis of 2008 which affected banks and other financial institutions as well as housing and mortgages did much to further complicate the issues. 

A new president was in office having ridden the change wave. Previous republican governments had dealt rather poorly with internal crises in the places like Louisiana (hurricane Katrina), and Americans needed a jolt of unity and patriotism and the good old speech. So this not so new face of politics used his Chicago suave and his ability to mobilize as well as a very well oiled election machine complete with adept mathematicians to sail all the way to the top. 

The state of affairs in the country meant that in 2008, many key players remained rather insulated from the job cuts and massive closures that we're affecting their peers. In fact, many culprits simply sailed through or enjoyed the protections that power an prestige had created for them over the decades. So the president took a few jabs at this group too and made some rather bold moves to stem the power of bankers and other financial elites. 

That he met some resistance is the understatement of the decade! Even if it was not direct, amidst the cheers, the pomp and circumstance, a much more frightening piece of legislation made it through which brought about some sweeping changes in campaign financing. 

While these effects meant little for his administration, future candidates would feel the pinch in much more subtle ways. Much closer home though, the president began to deal with a loss of voter support from one of his most valuable constituents-the tech savvy youth that had driven much of his campaign. Perhaps the nostalgia was over and maybe the sweeping reforms that he had preached about were taking much too long. Soon he was back on the trail canvassing campuses and industries trying to convince the electorate that his plan was working. Some of his detractors felt that the time to campaign for office was far spent and that He needed to shift gears into 'ruling' mode. We suspect that he sensed a need to remind his core voters that the plan was working and that even in the midst of the opposition, change had come and was making progress. 

To believe that he was working alone and for himself would be foolhardy. What he was also doing was setting the pace (as does Bill Clinton) for future democratic leaders and watching to see if any presidential hopefuls would merge out of the woodwork to pick up where he had left off.

A disaster in Jersey and handshakes with Chris Christie did little to help his image within the party but provided good ground to bring to the surface consensus building across blue and red lines. 

Changes in the house and in the Senate mean that his powers in negotiation have been tested but this has not prevented him from pushing for change in Health, Trade, Immigration and broadly speaking in the Military.

What the tea party and the occupy movement chose to do with some of the capital that they gained a few years ago remains to be seen. 

What we can now see though is the emergence of a few prominent campaign agenda issues that in my view will shape the path for some time to come. Gun control, Race, Religion and Energy. 

That FLOTUS has gained much from these eight years is obvious. How much she decides to make of this leverage will be seen in the years to come. It may be too soon to make any sudden moves but I suspect that her advisors are going to begin to point her to a future in a much more prominent place in politics. There have been few first ladies that have managed to have as much of an effect outside the U.S as she has-and that in the U.K!

So my advise for the 99%. Relax...either that or do as much as you can to become part of the 1%! No one in their right mind with all the privileges that accrue to the latter would want to leave this privileged group. They may be lost...but they are also loaded. Anyhow you can at least take comfort in the idea that you are part of God's fold and that you are safe in your numbers. 

1%, 99%, Tea Party, Republicans, Democrats, POTUS, FLOTUS,Bill Clinton, Senate, House, Chris Christie.

The House of Scotts

This month we saw a massive event in one of our local stadia. It brought together the national party and it's leader as well as a healthy chunk of our youthful populace. In a rare and possibly chance encounter, we saw drawn in one sitting two carriers of the sacred name from the house of Scotts. One one hand the founder of the miracle centre churches and on another the CEO of the Vision Group. 

I doubt that the man we fondly made reference to as the last king of scotland was the buffoon we tried to make him become. But he was wise enough to place around him two men who as fate would have it were both at least on the surface from the land of scone. We expect to see much more from his Progeny as politics begins to take on a more filial nature not just in this region but globally (the Clinton's, the Bush family, the Kennedy's, the Kenyatta's, the Moi's, Odingas, the Bhuttos?).

Back to the Apostle and the CEO. Have you ever met your replacement?

Pray to God that this never happens. You get this strange feeling when you meet someone who shares your name and a better portion of your virtues. That sense that in your absence this guy could actually replace you! 

Months ago I heaped praise (deservingly) on the Vision Group for its ability to transform itself from a simple news organization into a larger more complex development oriented profit making organization.

I talked about how a simple newspaper had used the print to transform itself into a large media giant now broadcasting in several languages both visually and in audio form. I talked about how this transformation had also taken place in the web and mobile space and how simple columns formerly dealing with dress and style were now producing influential magazines for brides and then holding large exhibitions and events for the same. 

More recently the CEO in another well designed move has not stopped there he had also made the decision to create a platform for our culinary experts-ordinary women (and I use that term loosely) who use their skills to feed the masses who congregate in the city.

This would help create a lot of interest in their work as well as raise the standard of their culinary delights. In addition to this, this would also help stem the effects of a new and conflicting interest in international cuisine that threatens to overshadow some very special traditional specialties. 

We see the rise or dawn of the age of franchising that was foreign in this part of the world but some level of stability means that we will soon have places in our country that will mirror cities like NY and California. My fear regarding this was simple. Why did we not have a corresponding drive to export our dishes like the juggernauts out there and why we are we not supplying our savory dishes across the continents in support of our hard working citizenry. Maybe ideas like this from Mr. Kabushenga will help create a drive that promotes our food. Maybe renewed interest in our Rolex (a local version of the wrap or barritto) will spark more related projects. Maybe the competition will help place our local dishes on the map and drive a greater interest in this meals. We can only hope that the vision that the people and The New Vision will help steer this ship in a great a tumultuous sea of uncertainty. 

That aside there are some other columns that can use a little more expansion. 

The first is from the Bukedde. The Thursday paper has a section in which it deals with traditional medicine? This Needs to be expanded. Maybe the section of news from this part ouch an be aggregated and presented in a monthly or bi-monthly edition that can then be used and critiqued by local practitioners. 

Then there is the controversial dream interpretation section. My sources tell me that some very influential men from the bible (Joseph and Daniel)both used their skill of interpretation in strategic ways that led them to larger leadership roles. 

Other sections in the English version such as Pakasa can also have a little expansion but should be devolved or taken away from the centre. Creating regional meets would eventually lead to an national event where the best groups from each section or region or district would then be given a chance compete. This has already began to expand with events branching out and bringing in much needed revenue to local venues such as Kampala Parents School and Freedom City and drawing in some amazing speakers from across the spectrum.

P squared

It's been a rather interesting few months in our East African politic.

Our friends in Burundi made some bold attempts to urge their leaders on and this for now seems to have failed. In the meantime right next door in the historically volatile Rwanda, another president seemed to have received the go ahead to keep his spot in the centre. 

I could not help but think about a tweet I noticed on the Internet in which a reference was made to stealing from 'Paul to pay Peter'. And so my thoughts run wild with ideas about Paul Kagame on one hand and Pierre (Peter) Nkurunziza on the other. 

Both military men. Both leading fragile democracies and both being urged to make room for others.

Saint Paul is still a formidable foe and by all accounts quite a military strategist, from what our sources tell us, he does not take to kindly to opposition movements and has managed to stretch the arm of his government all the way to South Africa and France.

Internally and regionally he has found it rather difficult keeping the calm with various groups attempting to wage war against his government from bases in the large Congo. The existence of minerals in the region has done little to help the situation- this as well as posturing from friends and foes alike in the area where the ethnicity card card has been played to the full. 

The South Africans have done their best to flex their muscle in the region and have often stepped in at crucial moments to help steer the movements of their northern neighbors. 

France on the other hand has had to deal with decades of guilt and off course the residue from its colonial years. In attempts to free itself from the disasters in the early nineties, the French have taken on the role of arbiter in the internal conflicts of the country but with limited success. 

The military move in Burundi (by the coup plotters) effectively robbed the rapidly evolving movement of its momentum thereby preventing civil society from claiming its largely peaceful drive towards the protection of the sacred constitution (and the contents of the Tanzanian peace accord and Agreement).

By seeming to attach themselves to the peaceful activity in the streets, the military and it's top men gave the absent president much more power to claim the existence of bad elements in the army and therefore to garner much more support in the center. 

The Politicization of Social Media

You've been there before. You are seated in a taxi and suddenly the
person next to you receives a message. You can tell it is from social media because a familiar sound pierces the silence and your neighbor begins mercilessly clicking away. Its fine until you enter paranoia mode and begin to think that you are being stalked.

We've written about a topic similar to the one above in a previous blog. We were concerned and rightly so because we observed the appearance of the Usual Suspects at a normally technology heavy event. Well dressed young men with a lot of 'bling' but suspiciously watching the crowd as if to monitor the activity of the participants for political or opposition connections. You were saddened that an innovation space so full of potential had been infiltrated by 'eyes' and 'ears' and any sign of true innovation was going to be stifled.   

You were angered because you are very aware that one of the hallmarks of democracy is the existence of political free zones where business, trade and a healthy interchange of idea can take place.
We fight for these free zones because in the absence of these spaces there can only be conflict.

And so the image we chose today is designed to illustrate the idea behind an invasion of a media tool by a political movement and the difficulty faced by citizens in expressing themselves in a politically charged atmosphere.
You and I have to think twice before we adorn ourselves with a T-Shirt of a particular color especially in those tense feverish politically charged moments such as the season in which we have entered.

Ok. We can see that the two bulls in the Kraal have began to appear together and their respective owners are itching for a fight between the two. Naturally as many would have expected, these two distinct groups have drawn in their respective tribes in a battle that we shall refer to as the 'Western Front Assault'.

There are some who have called for a rotation of leadership ala Nigeria where the Mainly Muslim North gets a chance to drive the train for a certain distance as does the Mainly Christian South. This has proved to be successful. Ideas have also emerged that have pushed for the creation if similar moves in ethno-centric areas. This is naturally controversial but in countries that thrive on culture it is a question that we must bring to the surface.     

So the need to monitor media in the shadow of your past fears is necessary but more important than this is to deal with the challenges as presented by your citizenry and to trust them enough not to repeat their mistakes.

War in Heaven-Ebony springs

This week we saw the dawn of what I will describe as an ebony spring. 

Previously with the exception of Burkina Faso, there were springs emerging from predominantly lighter skinned and mainly Arab Africa. 

Tunisia had emerged from its fog after a young man struggling with employment doused himself in petrol and then lit the match. This event had gone on to bring about an awakening in Egypt whose streets were soon overtaken by crowds of eager demonstrators calling for change. 

In previous blogs I had ruminated about the existence of an imaginary mason dixon line which roughly splits Africa into two sections much like the pre-independence America. I had gone on to describe the nature of this divide along mainly religious lines which also often take on a certain hue. 

So Burkina Faso was a breath of fresh air for many. For the first time, the sons of biblical Joseph seemed to have began a rebellion of sorts after decades and even centuries of casualness and passivity. This marked a spring that was now owned exclusively by black people.

The demonstrations in Burundi seemed to have taken in a similar format however my ears grew attentive when for a brief moment the activity in the streets was referred to as war. What this meant was that there was a brief opportunity to capture the narrative away from the agreements that were singed after the civil war (agreements preventing an extension of term limits) as well as ideas behind hallowed documents such as the constitution. Calling the activity in the city war, would therefore justify a measure of violence and if possible nip in the bud any commitments that would be made by any generals or top cops. 

Maybe this calculation would help prevent any strategic moves by influential leaders to steal the thunder from the activists and civil society groups or citizens for that matter. 

There were and are fears about driving a wedge between the two major ethnic groups a la Rwanda but the text was pretty solid and the variations clear. Regardless of the tribe or the current leader, the people...those that had managed to make it into the streets were calling for a respect of their sacred documents. They were challenging the member of the military to abide to the higher law. Similar sentiments were echoes in previous debates between the Congolese who struggled though the same concerns and other ideas would also emerge in neighboring Rwanda. 

All this was taking place across a complex backdrop of immense mineral wealth as well as the rise of well armed and well funded militias drawing in leaders across the region and causing convoluted relationships between states. 

So the involvement by a section of the army was a welcome development but it has not stolen the show from the civil society and the community at large. What it has revealed is a major or for some minor rift in the military machine and brought about a ratcheting up of an already strained management system. 

And while it might be attractive to summarize such complex ideas in such brief spaces, the hope is that we might distill a little more from the initial awakening in Tunisia which in my view was really about youth and unemployment. It should be noted that even after the massive and in some ways commendable changes in that country, the exodus of bright young North African minds has not ceased. If this is an invasion, then it's strategist has chosen an incredible method-and that by depleting the continent of its most prized possession-it's people. 

Regress or Progress: a film series drawn from a continent a far off

Its been a few months since black history month. I am planning to attend the event at the U.S Embassy in Uganda, thrilled that I have access to an impressive library of books and other resources. 

To get to the venue, I will have to negotiate Kampala's interesting transport and infrastructure system. One taxi from Mengo to Kla. The driver pulls a first one and decides to go through Lubaga instead of going down Namirembe Rd. there are some complaints in the Taxi but the driver and his healthy assistance are without response. 

We disembark many of us rather disoriented. The crew that had promised to take us to one destination have changed their minds and their route. I need a quick route to the taxi park that has been designated to take us to the Kansanga, Bunga, Ggaba area. I chose a boda boda. 

The chauffeur will use a complex route of interwoven streets interspersed with white chalk like covered males in narrow stretches of visibly prosperous but not so obvious business places. 

This is a hub of business for millers of maize. It is also home to a large Somali community as well as the headquarters of one of Kampala's most popular Christian ministries. 

Halfway in the chaos, I spot a young lanky dark lady bent and searching for something on the ground. She is barefoot and wrapped in dark clothes and picking beans and corn right behind the massive trucks that are transferring grain into the millers. 

This is not the first time I have seen a similar scene. I have seen this before in Owino Market or St. Balikudembe (they are in a state of peace). 

In another setting an louder lady is doing the same thing and collecting precious beans which she will evidently sell or at least cook for the young one who is not too far from the scene. 

Both women, if I am to go by there garb are Karamojong. A long way from home and living way below the level that Citizens of this country are supposed to live.

Then I remember that I am on my way to see a series covering slavery and it's history in the seventeenth century.