Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa gives insight into: Reassigning Religious Extremism in Africa into a tool for development and redress: with examples from Nigeria and Uganda

In this paper, I want to draw a line as far as extremism goes. I want to present this word as a descriptor of those forces of transformation. It is what made the ancient tribes dare to change. It prompted them to get out of their comfort zones. It stretched the goals, as it were. It is what equipped them with motivation to explore and understand the world around them. It was supposed to be a transition for positive transformation. It demands action, allegiance, results and accountability.

There is a type of extremism that employs violent means, it is used as an excuse to kill or abuse other humans e.g:

1. The ‘honour killings’ in Pakistani (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/pakistani-court-sentences-four-men-to-death-for-honour-killing-of-pregnant-woman-9871366.html)
2. Racism, disenfranchisement e.g. by Ku Klux Klan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ku_Klux_Klan).
3. Discrimination and denial of enjoyment or pursuance of happiness e.g. by Boko Haram ("Western education is forbidden"), officially called Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'Awati Wal-Jihad (People Committed to the Prophet's Teachings for Propagation and Jihad) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boko_Haram).
4. In Uganda the religious networks are behind actions intended to hound those they term ‘homosexuals’ (http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/I-signed-anti-gay-law-to-reaffirm-Uganda-s-sovereignty/-/688334/2264484/-/38sap7/-/index.html), sex-workers and people living with HIV. Activities in Uganda targeting these three categories of persons have led to abuses and unrest ( http://barthsnotes.com/2007/08/21/religious-rally-against-homosexuality-in-uganda/); the shift in the Ugandan laws adopted from the British law system to the French Law, where suspects are deemed guilty until proven innocent will make difficult for many to even live peacefully in Uganda (http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Suspects-to-be-declared-guilty-first---Lokodo/-/688334/2526892/-/l1sgkn/-/index.html).

Africa is a continent where the model of transcendentalism, animism, liturgy and utilitarian aspects of religion had nascence. The tribes that populated the continents shared venerations and incantations about: the rulers, animals, physical features such as rivers, lakes, valleys, mountains, sun, moon and stars. The light, sound, smell produced stimuli that attracted the ancient tribes to design the prototype on which organized religions thrived. Africa was a garden from which these tribes arose to form communities from which civilizations arose. The networks so formed allowed for other forms of commerce. The commerce was in form of: exchange of agricultural skills and products; tolerance or mediation ceremonies; initiation; rite of passage; understanding differences; dress styles; artisanry; exchange of aspirations; technology; medicines; stories and folklore; skills exchange; and exchange of consumables. Religion encouraged these forms of amiable extremism as opposed to catastrophic extremism. Sub Saharan Africa was the nursery from which the build up of a repertoire of religious ceremonies in the Horn of Africa, Middle East and North Africa arose. The Egyptians borrowed from the other tribes keeping the Nile basin, so did the Ethiopians. These two civilizations, Egyptian and Ethiopian, enabled the extension of these religions to Asia Minor, Arabian Peninsula, the Syrians, Greeks and Romans. Abrahamic religions in turn have lessons they picked from this too.

Coffee is a commodity that is used in various religious and traditional rituals in Africa.

Some of the Artifacts from Sub Saharan Africa that were used to teach sculpture in Egypt and beyond

Ssezibwa is one of the falls on the Mighty Nile River. This  particular place is a shrine where many priests and priestesses from time immemorial have sought spiritual retreats from.

Animism was a major way Africans named, humanized, demonized and deified objects, experiences, events or non-objects. The rivers, lakes, rain, rush of wind, rapids, falls and other features drew many tribes to develop a Calendar or motif. The motif helped improve on the understanding of the world around them. There were those who reminded others of this Calendar. This produced a college of faithfuls. They were the ones who gave oration on all these wonders and from these, spiritual leaders were chosen. The phonic stimuli was copied by humans and repeated in form of animation. Thus began a ritualized event which could be packaged and taught to other communities. Religion became a public utility in which all could subscribe. These practices and mysticism spread all over Africa. As the ancient tribes were migrating from Africa to roam the world, they went with these practices. These religious practices had less entry complications and less apostasy. They were tied to a reigning personage, high priest or priestess. This was a model that has been reproduced ever since. Soon this led way to other leadership models of most African communities which became chiefdoms or kingdoms or empires after being practiced for many ages. With the advent of writing, three major religions: Christianity, Buddhism and Islam came up with a check list of do’s and dont’s.  Theocracy arose, Preachers were originated and spiritual leaders were made deities with supposedly stronger powers and authority. Minority demographies or those going against the preachings were denounced and abused in all manner of despicable acts.

Humans have treated each other in various inhumane ways over time. From the narratives of the Aztec, Chinese, Syrian, Greek, Roman, Egyptian, Zulu and Baganda ruling dynasties, one cannot fail to collect and write about those wrongs. Medieval and Victorian scientific thought promoted the cultural arguments of Western superiority which had a manifest destiny to subjugate other non-Western and inferior people with no punitive consequences! Africa suffered tragically because of this. The Spanish Inquisition era as well as the Portuguese Trade ships brought this kind of discriminative attitude to whatever shores they docked. Africans were shipped in big numbers to go and work as slaves. In his book, The Half has never been told, Edward E. Baptist, 2014, one sees how in spite of being those treated as the worst of the worst, people of the black skin or those who were categorized as negroes helped bring financial superiority to America. Capitalism and wealth in USA was created absolutely dependent on the forced labour of African-Americans. unfortunately, these kind of abuses have been institutionalized and can be brought into force by people who have the wherewithal once they feel threatened.

Catastrophic extremism may start in a small pocket but it destabilizes governance, public order and government functions. In many cases in Africa, there are armed groups behind these groups. It disrupts the way of life of people, enterprise and in case of epidemics, leads to absence of interventions. The groups promoting catastrophic extremism have a tendency of clinging on very destructive ideologues with ‘annihilation in tow’ such as: “Black people should be killed,’ ‘Anglo- Saxon races are superior,’ ‘Aryan are a master race,’ ‘this race or that is more intelligent,’ ‘the skin reflects higher or lower intelligence,’ ‘ certain people are poor because they are lazy,’……. In a world where we have been bold enough to scale Mt. Everest, forge the oceans, chart the lands and name planets, we still have un addressed race based anxieties. In his book, Myth of Race, Jefferson Fish, 2012, shows that race does not actually exist in human species. Instead, what exists is gradual variation in what people look like. This he termed biological race. He also categorized social race as a set of cultural categories for labeling people based on how their ancestors were classified, selected aspects of what they look like, or various combinations of both. These sets of categories vary widely from one culture to another.

Africa has its fair share of pockets of catastrophic extremism, whose consequences have been chronicled as follows: deaths, evictions, rape, mutilations and displacements. The people suffering most are: children, women, people of non-conforming gender/sexuality, Albino, poor people and those categorized as non-desirables (a description that depends more on whim of those wielding power). Catastrophic extremism sometimes elevates certain traditions while it does away with others.

The "Religious" in Uganda with President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni use all means to bring the issue of "homosexuality" to his radar. The religious in Uganda have made it a 'tradition' to parade 'homosexuality' as a slogan, bias and the movement builder.

Africa gave to the world the model of religious organizing so it will be defeatist if Africans do not refer to such evidence before remarks about ‘western’ religions are made. In his book, Egyptian Mythology, W. Max Muller, 2004 points out how the tribes on the Nile basin formed the medium and trainers of those who eventually came up with an Egyptian religion. 

I have 8 strategies I want to share:

1. The first strategy is to understand this kind of extremism in Nigeria and Uganda. There is a rise of power camps with resources to mobilize crowds to carry out decrees punishing the non desirables. The punishments come in form of: denial of services; naming and shaming; eviction; abandonment; lynching; and arbitrary arrests. There is need to have long term action plans against abuses.

2. There is need to provide provide logistics to rent space to be used to capture narratives from the persecuted persons. These narratives are to be printed in form of hard copies and soft copies which can be shared via social media. The narratives may include the fears, organization and interventions on the ground. When the world outside Uganda continues to hear these stories, it deters religious factions engaging in activities that would otherwise bring harm to those they think are undesirables.

3. In Africa the term ‘sexual minorities’ needs to be nuanced and made culturally sensitive to address sexual orientation and gender identity. This could lead to a more accurate understanding of their issues. The words “lesbian,” “gay,” “bisexual,” “transgender,” and “inter-sex” (LGBTI) are terms that need un packaging. In Uganda such terms like Gender normativity, hetero-normativity, homo-normativity, same sex, same gender and sexual- gender nonconformity (SGN) are used. These are more inclusive and take into consideration narratives and expressions derived first hand. They even point towards immediate or underlying psychosocial needs to be addressed.

4. Moderate Religious groups should be facilitated to start a dialogue on sexuality, orientation, gender, identity and health. Religious actions affect medical, employment, school and housing services. These in turn affect government procedures. In Uganda, Anti-homosexuality Bill gained notoriety following religious mobilization and denunciation of homosexuality under what was termed the “anti-gay agenda.” Same-sex sexual activity is criminalized under Uganda’s Penal Code, which prohibits “unnatural offences” and “acts of gross indecency.” Popular support for new laws imposing harsher punishments for persons believed to be ‘homosexual’ culminated in the movement to enact the Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2009 see: ANTI-HOMOSEXUALITY BILL OF 2009, 102 UGANDA GAZETTE 74, Bill Supplement No. 13 (Sep. 25, 2009) [hereinafter ANTI- HOMOSEXUALITY BILL], available at http://www.asylumlaw.org/docs/sexualminorities/UgandaBillNo18AntiHomosexualityBill092509.pdf.

5. Create a follow up platform on social issues in Africa. A culture of documenting activities creates evidence of interventions and experiences.

6. Religious and Social organizations should initiate education retreats, camps and embrace empowering communities in understanding diversity in all its forms. Community dialogues on hygiene, dignity affirming, development, sexuality, orientation, gender, identity and health should become inbuilt core and value sub-programmes for NGOs. NGOs have helped fill gaps where government is absent and have helped to raise voices of the poor; improve service delivery and fight corruption. NGOs are complementary with communities in addressing anti poverty drives. Where NGOs have failed is in accumulating utilities in form of vehicles, fancy offices and fueling status/symbol by exorbitantly paying staff huge salaries, allowances and travel expenses. These tendencies drain funds that would have otherwise helped in interventions. This capitalization is a metastasis of the good intentions of NGOs. There is need to address these flaws.

7. Students are looking for guidance outside their ivory towers. They are scared and do not see job opportunities after school in Africa. There are many uprisings, with this and many other reasons behind, taking place. Uganda(http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Students-body-regrets-having-Museveni-as-patron/-/688334/2528108/-/wc9das/-/index.html), Swaziland,  Gabon, Cameroon, Djibouti, and Burkina Faso  have seen massive student unrest and worker demonstrations brutally suppressed in most cases.

8. Africa should address the issues of its huge young unemployed population. This is where governments should put effort. It is this population that will use their income to live sustainably. Otherwise, this large young and unemployed population may be the next time bomb of discontent.

Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa points us towards; Building and maintaining critical mass will help Africa stay the Industrialization course

Africa has had both indigenous and exotic cultural institutions for a long time. These have been developed a long time since the African started roaming the world or Africa became both an internal and external destination. The cultures are perceived to be important to, or traditionally valued among, its members for their own identity. From time immemorial these became fixtures and instantiations in form of: catering, ideology, entertainment, social-political organization, urbanization, rural development, poetry, cinema, sports, science, norms, fork-lore, sexism, gender roles, cuisine, music, literature, Art, nutrition, medicine, home-steading, agriculture, lifestyles, religion, relationships, education, agriculture, pastoralism, governance, war, peace-making, skills development and initiation rites.

This paper is an attempt to construct a story on role the “cultures” play in defining who an African can be and what it takes to improve on levels of development. In the paper I have deconstructed attributes that are negative. If Africans are able to distance themselves from these negative attributes, that is when they will be able to see themselves as contributors to the beauty enjoyed by many in the world.

General examples and themes have been drawn from Europe, Asia, Africa and America. The assumption is that an African will continue redefining her/himself using the primary cultural touchstone. But, at the same time will also embrace newer cultures wherever she/he may go . Be it among northern Europeans, southern Europeans, Arabs, Chinese, Native Americans, Asians, Africans from other cultures or Australia.

For there to be a cultural aspect, certain practices have to continue repeatedly. The repetition in turn brings about accumulated knowledge and wisdom. There must be those who pass on information and those who are receptive of this. The continued grooming, education, training in skills and dialogue sessions, knowledge and information is what creates what will be passed on to next generations. One can also say culture is a depository of skills and know how. There are technologies created. There has to be a big number of those who engage in this kind of techno-development.

Culture can be a fuel through which society is able to sense critical economic independence, nationalism, language, symbolism, identity and uniformity. Distance and time create identity. Identity in this case can be a level of material accumulation and the size of political institutions or standards. Africa has seemed to be left behind when others are moving their communities into sophisticated societies and well organized nation-states. There are some reasons brought forward to explain this. One has root in the way the partitioning of Africa was made. Africa became a testing ground of different European countries at a time when these European countries where competing with each other. This competition was passed on to the colonies. Unfortunately, the divisive structures have long since been stripped away in Europe but not in Africa. This has continued to be the bane of development in Africa. Africa has been lost between the tempest of embracing western styles and the calmness of some obsolete traditions. No one seems to be deciding on an African style. Yet, catering, entertainment, social-political organization, poetry, cinema, sports, fork-lore, cuisine, music, literature, Art, nutrition, African medicine, home-steading, agriculture, lifestyles and social media, education, nature and the wild, peace-making, skills development and initiation rites are a starting point in Africa. These can even be pop-commercialized. After all such activities like: car washing, soccer, American football, Halloween, Christmas, Ramadhan, fast foods’ preparation to name but a few have taken on industrial proportion in the Western world.

The other is the change in commerce after the 12^th Century. These two scenarios changed the perception about Africa among the then powerful Europeans, Arabs and Asians. Africa was looked upon as a source of raw -materials that enriched all other nations. A period of extraction begun and by the late 60's, all Africa had to show were gaping mines, depleted soils, modernization that looked like pin point patch work over large tracts with minimal infrastructure. Once one left the cities, one was not assured of piped water! It is still the case to-date. The African who was once upon a time was the originator of civilization, was assigned lower positions. At one extreme were those who are developed at the other were the primitive. The tendency to stereotype and ridicule certain communities by those that are more materially endowed has now become the culture we all need to undo. Our coming here is one way to break ourselves from chains of lethargy and lack of plans for development. It is little known that Africa actually had many very old and well organized city-nations. One such is Kerma in Africa. Recent excavations have uncovered an old civilization that flourished beyond 5,000 years ago: http://wysinger.homestead.com/kerma.html

Victorian philosophers slapped the label on Africans as backward. According to late 19th century science, human development took place in three stages: savagery, marked by hunting and gathering; barbarism accompanied by the beginning of settled agriculture; and civilization, which required the development of commerce. Scientists of the time believed that Africans were stuck in the stage of barbarism because they lived in a place with such good soil and climate that it provided "tropical abundance." The ease of life in Africa made Africans fat and lazy. Africa contributed and provided the template on which religious organization thrived. That was the door to other forms of social organizations that have passed the test of time. Africa had several Kerma scattered all over the continent. I come from a region that sits on past ancient civilizations. One such place is called Bigo-bya-Mugenyi. It is clear that Africans of old time were hard working and as mothers and fathers were able to provide for children, train them well enough to go out and roam the world.

Africans have all that it takes to create development institutions. In West Africa, Samory Touré of Senegal made powerful alliances with "the business community" of long distance West to East traders. The Great lakes regions were set up as small kingdom states and this made the area a long standing bread basket in Africa. These areas were destinations for long distance salt routes. There are other examples in North and Southern Africa. The elements that made this possible involved technological confidence. This can be popularized and made available again in Africa. We can see a resurgence of technological sophistication. Investments in built infrastructure, railroads, communication technology today can enable a raw material producing rural African community remain in touch with processors in USA. Advances in medical science, particularly in the field of tropical disease, make it safer for USA citizens and investors to go to Africa. This means that it is easier and cheaper to have American experts in Africa. The rule of law that is becoming vogue in Africa sets the stage for tourism and investor confidence.

As I conclude, the fixtures and instantiations in form of: ideology, entertainment, social-political organization, poetry, cinema, sports, science, norms, fork-lore, sexism, gender roles, cuisine, music, literature, Art, nutrition, medicine, home-steading, agriculture, lifestyles, religion, relationships, education, pastoralism, governance, war, peace-making, skills development and initiation rites are the same raw materials Africans, Americans or anyone should use to promote critical enterprise. They can not be treated in isolation but in unison. These are the areas of investments. They have to be factored in long term plans. That way they will be the enduring cultural development factors. They will produce a more practical African who will be able to support her/his home or hold court with the best entrepreneur from Europe or America or China.

Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa highlights the need for Commercialization of African Indegeneity; Food industrialization for Africa with two cases from Uganda and addendum from San Francisco, CA, USA

Quick review:
This article is comparing the trends food preparation and catering is taking on the continent of Africa. The examples are from Uganda. Particularly from the Central region where there is rapid urbanization and propensity for rapid modernization. The terms "Ttoninyira," "Kafunda," Kikomando," and "Gadafi," are used in the hope that they will soon be the culinary lexicon that will be in vogue. See glossary at end of this write up

Nope, I am not here to talk about the recent efforts to push for patented foods, legumes and cereals. They have been talked about in various fora. Am not here to demean the term ‘GMO.’

As a scientist, I know that one generation of crops modifies itself to produce offsprings in a subsequent generation. That is logical and for many who have read further, it is also Huxleyian or Darwinian commonsense. Plants, animals and humans have for millennia mutated and modified themselves to adapt and “move with the times.”

This article will only mention something that benefitted Africans and at the same time provided seeds or cereals that continued to be bred for years to come (i.e. the beans). This kind of GMO that feeds so many thousands is what is mentioned in this article.

Africa, can be seen in the light of a benefactor continent. A continent that feeds it's people and the spare foods are shared at the tables outside of it. Indeed, it is easier for, say, Americans to name an exotic dish from a one day visit to,say, China or Mexico, but not one from Africa! Although, they will have gone to China, Mexico or even Africa under the auspices of the most borrowed word from Africa: ‘safari.’

Before we talk about food and its industrialization as a means of getting Africa back on an industrialization track. we need to know the kind of continent we are dealing with.

Based on the projected population by the year 2050 and the previous population, the population in Africa is estimated to reach 1.069 billion people in the year 2014. As a result, it still remains the second most populous continent in the world, but it makes up around 15% of the entire world. There are sixty-two nations and territories in the geographical region of Africa. Some of these countries are under the jurisdiction of European nations, but they are in the region of Africa. The country with the largest population in Africa is Nigeria, which was estimated to be just over 170 million in 2012. The country with the smallest population in Africa is Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha, which is a territory under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom. As of 2012, this territory had just over 7,700 people. The territory is also the smallest in land area, totaling 420 square kilometers. Lastly, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has the largest total land area of African countries, totaling around 2,345,410 square kilometers (http://www.worldpopulationstatistics.com/population-of-africa-2014/).

Africa has existing potential in form of: catering, hospitality, tourism, ideology, entertainment, social-political organization, urbanization, rural development, poetry, cinema, sports, science, norms, fork-lore, sexism, gender roles, cuisine, music, literature, Art, nutrition, medicine, home-steading, agriculture, lifestyles, religion, relationships, education, pastoralism, governance, war, peace-making, skills development and initiation rites. Investments can be made in these social domains, many people can be trained to manage the different domains professionally. These domains can be elevated to both formal and informal levels. For the sake of this article we shall talk about examples in the food industry and a small town in Uganda serves as our case study.

African dishes are mostly organic and during growing or harvesting there are literally no chemicals used. The foods are cultural and have been part of African forklore..."luwombo," "mashaza," "nyamachoma," "Injera"......come to mind. Local nomenclature may perhaps be the reason why they remain on the shelf and not make it to the “exotic travel lexicon." Many may be dismissive, after all Africa itself is an exotic lexicon for many travelers from say, USA!

America and Mexico are facing an obesity epidemic on their plates (excuse pan). African dishes are the solution! African or American investors should package these foods. Pop-commercializing African foods like: Dunkin Donut, Denny’s, Starbuck, Peet's, Macdonald,  KFC, ...have done is the way to go.

In Uganda, the "kikommando" is a meal that is the outcome of combining locally grown foods and preparing them as quick foods. This kikomando is like a Mexican burrito but this time it is not made with Pinto beans but "Kamenyamiggo" beans that grow well in the Equatorial-Tropical climate of Uganda. A flat flour bread called chapati (itself a relative from one in Middle East and Asia) is rolled together with beans, spices, various recipes and salads. This is baked until ready. It is mouth watering and holds together, not to mention it is a whole food. There can be a Vegetarian or Fish or Meat or Smashed Irish Potato of Green  edible leaves version too.

The "Gadafi" is a sandwich with hotdogs, bacon, or a pancake or a chapati marinated with spices and eggs. A name like Gadafi may take long to be liked in USA! But, it is popular in this African country, Uganda.

These two food kinds are so popular in a town called Wandegeya which is part the Kampala Capital City Authority-KCCA. Food preparation, sale and catering make up a very big industry in this small town that reaches a population of 200,000 people during day time. Wandegeya is a neighbourhood of Kampala which is also in the most populous division called Kawempe. It is bordered by the Bombo Road/Gayaza Road Roundabout to the north, mulago Hill to the northeast, Kamwokya to the east, Nakasero Hill to the south east and to the south, and the main campus of Makerere University (has a population of 5,000-15,000 students) to the west and northwest. This location is approximately 2.5 kilometres (1.6 mi), by road, north of Kampala's Central Business District. There are about 150 food serving points from tiny one table and 4 bench establishments called “Kafunda,” or "Ttoninyira" to medium size restaurants, a large shopping mall and 1 star hotels. In the evenings, prepared hot food is wheeled in on wheel barrows, mobile food canteens and ovens are seen sizzling managed by males and females in white uniforms. This place feeds about 100, 000 a day. The orders vary. It is an economy that has thrived steadily since early 1980’s.

There are lessons to learn from this scenario:

1. African countries can empower those in the food industry to develop machinery, culinary skills and standards reflecting professionalism as far as food is concerned. In turn those from the production to consumer side of the chain will benefit in form of assured markets. There will be more opportunities for young and energetic people to engage in this industry.
2. It is possible to reproduce this kind of activity over a large number of towns in Africa. Each town can use appropriate tools, raw materials and influence the demand of foods.
3. As tourism is increasingly integrating social activities, Africa will see more tourists coming to sample foods. If the services can be regulated and information on recipes provided, it will make their consumption easy and popular.
4. With food preservation techniques, it will be possible to package African foods for export. This will increase on demand and number of people involved in the food production.

Africa must popularize its dishes on the continent before others hijack them like many local African articles have met with the same fate e.g., Kikoyi to Lubugo (bark cloth) that have patents in a country outside Africa!

GLOSSARY:

1. Ttoninyira: A small room, where clients avoid stepping on toes of each other as they look for places to sit to be served: fruits, tea, food, beer, sodas...

2. Kafunda: Means small. Also it means a place without so much fuzzing and hassle.

3. Kikomando: All in one food. A cocktail of foods. The idea took root after the famous commando films or one-person army.

4. Gadafi: A brand of quick foods that are Halal. Muslims agree with them.

5. Safari: To make a journey or to go on a journey.

6. luwombo: A dish prepared in green banana leaves. This is one of way of cooking  edible white ants or grasshoppers.

7. Mashaza: cowpeas or beans mixed with ghee.

8. Nyamachoma: Roasted meat.

9. Injera: Ethiopian bread.

Comparisons with San Francisco

Food is a mainstay in the culture of going out, eating out and running food preparation businesses in San Francisco. But, in order to understand food in San Francisco we have to understand San Francisco. San Francisco is officially the City and County of San Francisco. It is the cultural center and a leading financial hub of the San Francisco Bay Area. The population is 833,447. There are Hispanic, Non Hispanic White, African Americans, Chinese, Burmese, Japanese, Asian Indians, Vietnamese, Laotian, Indonesians, Thais, Cambodians, Mongolians, Koreans, Pacific Islanders, Jamaicans, Filipinos and Africans. These people are thriving in their communities and have established food preparation and services around their own cultures. Very many people eat out in San Francisco. The 24th Street& Mission has over 50 eateries and restaurants. These open from 10 am and close at 12 midnight with some serving all night!

These pictures show how one small street in San Francisco ( 24th Street and Mission) is organized to provide very good atmosphere for food services. Africa should copy these models.

Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa shares tips on how to: Stop othering and start bothering: Ebola is our concern

“……….Meanwhile Ebola, a master virus with the ability to infect humans is doing all the havoc. Like Nero going on with piping while humans burn!..”

Africa, the Motherland, once again has been hit by a frenzy of curiosity. On one side there is genuine Public Health response driven by a sense of care. There is a side that has helped accumulate large gigabytes of aspersions cast at Africa and all who mention they are from there! This is so because of Ebola!

The African nations are yet to come out fully to help in this fight. Africa has to consolidate the AU. The AU needs to strategize around poverty and ensuring the communities are supplied basic services. As far as Ebola is concerned, the AU needs logistics to stop it spiraling both in form of infections and stigma.  Africans in many areas outside Africa are fearful,  are stigmatized and discriminated today just because they happen to be Africans! The long term intervention should be against poverty and the chronic lack of medical care, infrastructure, and supplies in countries such as Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia are driving the disease. The emergency response to Ebola has been hampered by systemic poverty: Liberian medical workers went on strike to protest a rampant lack of proper equipment, and burial teams in Sierra Leone also struck after not being paid for their work. 

Africans in the Diaspora who can make noise about the Ebola crisis need to come out strongly. By now, we would be hearing of efforts to: assuage the hysteria around Ebola; they need to talk about Ebola at their community levels and this will galvanize response and help demystify it as well. There are stories of discrimination, stigma and scares at the Airports or points of entry where Africans are concerned. 

Africa needs to work with the international community as much as it needs to come up with an African Union led intervention. USA has the Ebola Czar in place and so has the European Union. The US federal government is revising protocols for health workers handling Ebola patients. one of several changes to the medical system resulting from the arrival of the disease in the USA is calling for protective gear "with no skin showing." President Obama named Ron Klain as the Ebola Czar, to coordinate the US response to the outbreak. The leaders of the 28 EU nations are behind the Ebola response as well and soon they too will come up with an Ebola coordinator to bring together resources and funding to tackle the deadly disease before it becomes a global disaster.

The international response is so detailed and getting thorough every single moment:  the USA has mobilized its resources variously at White House level and at the US NIH; Private sector in USA is also mobilizing logistics and the CDC continues to take a prevention lead as well through: The newsflashes; actual health interventions; actual airlifting of infected persons; intervening by guiding the response and further improving the protocols.

On the African realm, there have been in-country efforts in Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Guinea and Liberia. But there is much work needed to address the crisis in Africa as well as the fear and mistrust of health workers and governments. Dr. Peter Piot, the person who helped in designing early interventions against Ebola in DRC in 1976 says, “we are a long way off catching up with the current outbreak, and even further from being in control of it."

Ebola outbreak was first identified in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1976 (then known as Zaire). Then it was quickly contained, whereas the current outbreak rapidly spiraled out of control. The 1976 outbreak was confined to one village and affected 318 people, resulting in 280 deaths. This one began in early 2014, more than 7,400 people have been infected and about 3,400 people have died of Ebola, according to the World Health Organization.

It is possible to contain this if we all stop the stigmatizing and discriminative tendencies towards Africans or any one who has Ebola. Instead we need to engage in efforts that will not allow Ebola to prevail. This is what is required.

Dr. Thomas Rogers Muyunga-Mukasa, worked with others in Uganda during the 2000 and 2007 Ebola outbreak there. He currently lives in San Francisco and has helped moderate talks on Ebola there.

Africa

Liberia Town

Sierre Leone

Yambuku, near Ebola River

Ebola Virus

Thomas Rogers Muyunga Mukasa shares his artistic connoisseurship by giving us the different hues of Mona Lisa