Africa
2000
The emerging giant of Africa
Nigeria
Nigeria is one of the most important nations in Africa. It is
a giant in many respects not least because of its immense population
which makes up nearly 25 percent of the continent’s people.
Nigeria is also the largest coastal state in West Africa and the
region’s economic dynamo as well as its political center of
gravity.
Although Nigeria has been blessed with vast natural wealth, its
greatest resource are its dynamic people, known globally for their
outgoing nature and entrepreneurial spirit. Nigerians are justifiably
very proud of their nation and will not pass any opportunity to
praise their motherland be they local residents or indeed, the large
diaspora, the members of which can be found in every corner of the
Nigeria, at almost 900,000 sq kms is roughly 20% smaller than Ethiopia
but is still a sizable (midsized in Africa terms) country. It is
ultra diverse -probably the most so of any country in the world
with the likely exceptions of Papua New Guinea, D.R, Congo and Brazil.
There are over 250 distinct ethnic groups making up for a total
population of over 131 million.
Its rapid rate of population growth has made Nigeria the ninth most
popuious country globally and by far the first in Africa (Ethiopia
is second with 81.2 mln followed by Egypt at about 79 mln). If Nigeria
keeps growing at this rate, it is forecast that in 2025, there will
be 207 mln Nigerians, and by 2050, 357 million!!
Nigeria - or the area we now call Nigeria, was the site of early
civilization as far back as 700 BCE. More reliably, sophisticated
cultures began to appear in the 12th century beginning in Yoruba
areas (Ife) and in the Muslim north. This nearly complete indigenous
development continued up to the 15th century when the inglorious
slave trade brought a blight on the societies.
Slavers, Portuguese and British, arrived with the latter capturing
Lagos in 1861 and ultimately expanding inland. By 1900 the British
had firmly established themselves and it was only in 1960 that the
giant of Africa became the proud, independent Federal Republic of
Nigeria. Modern Nigerian history has been eventful, to put it mildly.
Secessionist war (Biafra 1967), military rule, coups and counter
coups - this vast nation has seen it all.
Currently, Nigeria is in revival mode - it has been for several
steady years now - as it emerges as the largest democracy in Africa.
Nigeria is a pivotal gear in the machinery of African Unity and
has an established record of solidarity during the many liberation
struggles, including as a staunch moral and material supporter of
the anti-apartheid struggle. More recently, the crucial stabilization
role Nigeria has played in its region - Liberia, Sierra Leone and
in other countries, is yet another shining trait of this emerging
African superpower.
Facts and Figures
Location-South coast of W.Africa, Benin on west, Niger on north,
Chad and Cameroon on east
Area-923,768 sq km
Topography-Four regions; coastal mangrove swamps, tropical forests,
plateau and woodland, semi-desert in north.
Population-31,859,731
Distribution - 47 % urban
Ethnic Make-up-Over 250 groups, Hausa and Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo,
Fulani, Ijaw
Languages –English (official), Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo (Ibo),
Fulani
Religions –Muslim, Christian, indigenous beliefs
Capital City – Abuja, pop 612,000
Other Cities – Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Enugu, Ibadan, Aba
Government Type – Federal Republic
Head of State and Government – President Umaru Yar’Adua
Currency – Naira (NGM) 128.52 = $ 1 US
Gross Domestic Product - $ 174.1 bln
Per Capita GDP -$ 1400
Economy –Cocoa, peanuts, palm oil, cotton, crude oil, mining,
tin, iron ore
Electricity Production – 19.1 bln kwh
Literacy – 68%
Life Expectancy – 46.5 male, 47.7 female
AIDS Rate – 3.9 %
Airports – 36
Ports – 36
Railroads – 3556 kms
Vehicles – N.A
Telephones – 1.2 million lines
Radios – 226 per 1000 people
TV sets – 69 sets per 1000.
Daily Newspaper Circulation – 25.4 per 1000 people
Internet – 1.8 mln users
Facts and figures are the latest available at time of publication
and may not necessarily be the most accurate.
Kuchet - ‘remorse’
first Ethiopian film shot in U.K.
Directed by: Yohannes Terefe
Duration: 130 min
Production: MO and Kendil
By Kirubel Tadesse
Like most Ethiopian families, this one too hopes for a bright future
by sending its children to Europe. Three children were sent to the
United Kingdom to send a fortune back home to the father who sents
them with money borrowed from the bank. He was so sure that it was
a smart move; he puts his house as collateral. The film ‘kuchet’
(remorse) displayed how it could all go wrong with the first seventy
minutes of its scenes, all shot in the UK.
When the bank starts threatening to sell the house, the father couldn’t
even come up with the interest payments since he no longer has a
job. Out of three children living in the UK, only one was willing
to share the problems of his family. Too bad he didn’t have
a resident permit which would make it possible to find a decent
salary to help send his support the family.
‘Elias’, the irresponsible child who turned his back
on his family when it needed him most, walks the audience through
London’s streets, Ethiopian restaurants in the UK and Ethiopian
owned businesses until he takes you home to Addis. ‘Kuchet’’s
main character Elias needed something sad to wake up with his routine;
partying all night long, smoking pot and living with his brother
without contributing a cent. ‘Hirut’, the only girl,
who too found it was enough to ask about her family once in a decade,
has other priorities, covering her future husband’s university
tuition. ‘The future husband’ too had other things his
mind, graduating and marrying another girl! It makes you feel pity
for Hirut despite her neglect to her family.
‘Kuchet’ doesn’t only give us a chance to see
cool recreational places and amazing rivers at which many dream
of spending their honeymoons, but it is also a wake up call for
those who assume that going to Europe guarantees wealth.
Even if ‘Kuchet’ has many first timers, the one hundred
cast members, especially the main characters played their parts
to perfection. Sadly some of them were not necessary at all. The
130 minute film could have been shortened to ninety or less if the
characters that don’t have that much significance to the story
could have been cut out. The viewing audience Capital talked to
at the Sheraton Addis on Wednesday 14, 2007, felt that the movie
was nice but too long. When ‘Kuchet’ hits theatres,
make sure that you share the experience in the front row.
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trio chigago and friends
on ethiopia tour
By Our staff reporter
Trio Chicago and Friends, an American music ensemble, arrived in
Ethiopia on November 14, 2007 to tour Addis Ababa and Gondar. The
five American musicians performed at the Addis Ababa Municipal Theatre
on and are also scheduled to perform concerts at the U.S. Ambassador’s
Residence, Gondar University, the Fasilidas Palace in Gondar, and
conduct a master class for student musicians at the Yared Music
School. At the Addis Ababa Municipal Theatre Performance, the group
plays ‘Overture to Candide’, ‘first circle’,
‘love you madly’ and others before joining Ethiopian
String Group for ‘Ezra Menuet’ performance. The audience
invited by the Public Affairs Section of the US Embassy and the
Addis Ababa Millennium Secretariat gave a round of applause after
each performance.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Jendayi Frazer,
recently recognized Trio Chicago and Friends for their “exceptional
contributions and services to Cultural Diplomacy in Africa.”
US 2008 Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Barak Obama has
also hailed their contributions to international understanding when
he wrote, “As the world becomes increasingly interconnected,
it is crucial that America show its best face to the world and Trio
Chicago and Friends has exemplified what it means to bean ambassador.”
The group performed in Ethiopia in 2003, 2004, and 2005, performing
thefirst-ever live concert by any Western musical group in Jimma.
On previous visits, they also performed in Mekelle, Bahir Dar, Adama,
and Awassa. The five American musicians arrived in Addis Ababa from
Jordan, where they just completed concert tour.
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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory put on
performance
By Muluken Yewondwossen
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory is a story of an ordinary little
boy named Charlie Bucket. He was not faster, or stronger, or cleverer
than other children. His family was not rich or powerful or well-connected;
in fact, they barely had enough to eat. Charlie Bucket was the luckiest
boy in the entire world but he just didn’t know it yet.
This story was released on film in 2005 based on the famed children’s
story book by Ronald Dahl. Now the International Community School
of Addis Ababa’s students have performed it on stage at their
school’s amphitheater for parents and students from November
15, 2007 for two days.
Student actors ranging from 11 to 18 years old have been rehearsing
since September to entertain and inspire both old and young audiences
alike.
When Charlie is handing bits of his Wonka chocolate bar to his family
members, it can be seen that he hands his father two separate segments
of the chocolate bar, however, in the next scene when his father
goes to take a bite of the chocolate he’s been given, the
two segments are still attached to one another.
“This is the celebration of performance art, and we give an
opportunity to students that have some.” Enenet King, drama
director and English teacher said.
“We have been working on three hours a day and three times
a week to finalize this performance.” She added.
“These kinds of programs help students to develop confidence
and it also helps to show their performance in other countries,
because we have relations with the International School Theater
association (ISTA).” Stephen Plisiniski, the director of ICS,
told Capital.
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oriazul west african and Cape-Verdian tunes
in Addis
By Kirubel Tadesse
The Senegal-based group Oriazul with its unique mix of Cape Verdean,
Senegalese and West African music and its eight musicians from Cape-Verde,
Congo, Gabon and Senegal will perform in Addis at the Juventus club,
on Saturday November 24, 2007.
The band is scheduled to entertain eight hundred people at this
live concert organized by the Cape-Verde Embassy. Another live performance
is scheduled at Meskel Square for the Toyota Great Run 2007 grand
opening where thousands are expected to turn out.
Oriazul’s performances intend to introduce West African music
specially, Cape-Verde’s, which has been enjoyed by many Ethiopians
on previous occasions where Cape-Verde’s musicians performed
at Sheraton Addis and received a warm acceptance. The organizers
explained that the entrance fee for the Oriazul’s performance
at Juventus club will be 100 birr, minimized to create an opportunity
for every one to enjoy the concert.
Cape Verde is known internationally for morna, a form of folk music
usually sung in the Cape Verdean Creole, accompanied by clarinet,
violin, guitar and cavaquinho. The islands also boast funaná
and batuque music. The Republic of Cape Verde is a republic located
on an archipelago in the Macronesia ecoregion of the North Atlantic
Ocean, off the western coast of Africa. The country is named after
Cap Vert (meaning Green Cape) in Senegal, the westernmost point
of continental Africa.
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